Lost in the Moment and Found has a heavier start than the others, so definitely read the author's note before hopping in. That said, this addition to the series was excellent, and could definitely be read as a standalone. I loved the shop Ansty ended up in, and what it revealed about those who came to the shop before her. This is definitely one of the strongest stories in this series, and I look forward to the re-read once the book is released.
Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.

A Vivid exquisite reimagination of all things mundane. It is like exploring the known with new eyes. This book is a delightful read with the perfect length. You don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy it.

I think this is the best novella yet in McGuire's excellent Wayward Children series, perhaps because it is infused with McGuire's own personal background. Antsy finds her door at the age of 7 while running away from an abusive stepfather. The story is balanced perfectly between our world and Antsy's new world, where she works and lives in the Shop Where the Lost Things Go. The book is rich in metaphor without punching the reader in the face with it, and although it's a hard read, it's a hauntingly beautiful story that will linger with me more than any of the Wayward Children yet. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for a digital review copy.

I was genuinely very excited for this entry in the Wayward Children series. I really liked the brief glimpse of Antsy and the idea of her world that we got previously and I wanted to know more about this Thrift shop and more about the Doors themselves. Sadly the book immediately went off the rails in the first chapter and failed for me ultimately.

***The next paragraph may not be suitable to read for anyone who deals with Death or Death of a Parent anxiety, but I think it's necessary to describe why I feel the way I do:

Within the first chapter we see the vividly rendered death of Antsy's beloved father from her eyes. Seanan went out of her way to describe the way his shoes pointed, the glazed 'empty' look of his eyes, etc. A lot of effort is put into this scene, from the way Antsy focuses on the lights in Target and how she fixates on the one Target employee she knows. Furthermore after her father's death she refuses to go into that store, and it is mentioned on multiple instances of her aversion to any lights similar to those of Target. ***

This death is the reason that Antsy's mother remarries the man who ultimately gaslights and attempts to groom Antsy which causes her to flee her home and stumble into her Door. This door leads to the Thrift shop idea of 'where Lost things go' and the actual story of the plot unravels.

Where I take issue with this book is the unnecessarily vivid and brutal rendering of that death, especially after Seanan writes a message at the beginning of the book giving a Trigger Warning for the attempted grooming but mentions nothing about the Death. Furthermore that death, as impactful as it was to the reader seems to be nothing to Antsy. Once within her Door it is never brought up again, in fact she forgets it because of the nature of where she is. When she does eventually remember that death the only thing we get is one line of regret then there is nothing else. No acknowledgement of the trauma that sort of event could and likely would cause, or no catharsis for the reader. It was traumatic for the sake of trauma, and handled badly.

From there the story continues and in the end of course Antsy finds her way home to see some closure on her Mother and the Evil Step-Father (which I also don't completely buy) before she continues on to the School. The story comes swinging at the reader with a traumatic experience, possibly mirroring experiences readers might have had with no warning at all, then leaves it. It felt as if was there only to prime the readers to be sad, to connect to Antsy even if that trauma was never handled, or even addressed adequately. The detail that bothered me the most was the seeming fixation on the lights from Target - yet once through the Door and even once she was within our world again - it was never brought up.

This ruined the entire reading experience for me. As someone who deals with intense anxiety surrounding Death of loved ones, and with several loved ones with similar anxieties and triggers this felt like a punch to the gut. I can handle my anxiety and triggers when they're presented with care and respect, in fact I read a novel just prior to this that did that. That book also hit my trigger in a bullseye but did so in a way that felt respectful and I ended up loving the novel overall. This did not do that. For my friends and anyone else with these concerns, I advise(d) against reading the book or at least skipping to Chapter 5.

In the end that first portion, because it's not actually handled anywhere else in the story, made the book fell like the story of Antsy in the Thrift shop with some drama tacked on the beginning because it wasn't long enough or an editor thought it needed it. It felt like two disjointed halves and I left feeling angry I'd experienced it and like it was lacking overall.

2 Magical Doors out of 5

I'm not sure I realised that this was part of a series called The Wayward Children (no 8, in fact) before I requested and I've no idea how the other 7 compare but I will definitely be seeking them out.

The blurb assures me it can be read as a standalone so that's fine by me. It's an absolutely cracking novella that doesn't falter once in its 160 page duration.

It is also an emotional and – at certain pressure points – a harrowing read as it begins with a very traumatic incident and what follows is the aftermath as a family, specifically the young female protaganist, in grief comes to terms with everything.

Antsy runs away (and no spoilers, but rightly so) and finds a haven in Anthony & Sons, Trinkets and Treasures. But has she really found what she's looking for as she enters a magical universe full of doorways to other worlds – or is there a price for this little piece of happiness she has found?

This novella is beautifully written, it's also heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure.

As one door closes another one (or in this case, seven) opens. Start on Book 8 if you must – but I'm going back to the beginning to realise this story in its entirety.

I do love the Wayward Children series. Not that I love how Antsy got to where she was. I love the idea of magic doors and strange worlds. I like that this one wasn't based solely around the school, but how Antsy came to be there. It's always fun reading a series that doesn't have predictability.

Seanan McGuire's incredible ability to build fresh and vivid worlds in just a few words is on show in "Lost in the Moment and Found." A darker tale involving the selfishness of adults and the perilous circumstances in which children sometimes have to grow up, Antsy's introduction fits well in the Wayward Children universe. While it works as a standalone novel, there are plenty of homages to our other heroes to catch the attention of fans of the series.

A more somber and sad story, this time, in the Wayward Children tales. We follow a young character who deals with death, major life changes, and abuse before embarking on one of the least adventurous adventures in the series. It is still a charming, touching story of life through a mysterious door, as readers are used to, but I have to admit that I didn't feel like the any of the characters were as full, developed, and understandable as they normally are. More importance was placed on the themes than on the people, which isn't my taste. I'm glad I read it, and will continue to avidly await each new book from Seanan McGuire, but I doubt I will return to this one.

Seanan McGuire can do no wrong, and I will fight for that. This is the latest installment in the Wayward Children series. You'll want to protect Antsy, but you'll also learn that she is perfectly capable of protecting herself. The story focuses on a balance of self preservation and self growth. Antsy gets to explore worlds, just like we have as we read through the series. She holds so much of us that have loved the series, even if (hopefully) not many of us have felt her same need to run.

I devoured this book whole in 2 days. This may be my favorite book yet of the Wayward Children series, and I do love them all. The writing kept me hooked, and I'm hoping to see more of Antsy in future books in the series!

In a series which uses portal fantasy and metaphor to explore all sorts of difficult subjects, LOST IN THE MOMENT AND FOUND is probably the most difficult read so far?

That’s not to say it’s not a marvellous story, but the content warning McGuire provides at the start is a good one – although no actual child abuse occurs, it’s only because Antsy runs, and the lead-up is uncomfortable to read – particularly for anyone triggered by child abuse or grooming. Antsy’s story also deals with gaslighting, parental death, lose of innocence and all sorts of grief.

LOST IN THE MOMENT AND FOUND is perhaps the least plot-heavy of the Wayward Children series. Although it presents Doors and new-worlds as all the others do, it feels like more of a character study, or a portrait of human nature, than the adventurous, plot-driven experiences in recent novels such as Across the Green Grass Fields or Where the Drowned Girls Go. That said, LOST IN THE MOMENT AND FOUND is hauntingly beautiful and will leave readers with much to think about regarding innocence, consent, and loss. It’s probably the most emotional and thought-provoking book in the series so far, if a little less grounded in the YA fantasy elements of previous instalments.

I would also consider this to be almost entirely readable as a standalone, or as a strong entry point to the series for new readers.

“Nothing comes free; ask them what it cost you.”

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy of Lost in the Moment and Found.

Tigger Warnings: themes of grooming and gaslighting
Seanan McGuire assures the readers in the author’s note that Antsy runs before anything can actually happen to her.

Holy crap guys. This might be the best Wayward children book so far.

Our main character, Antsy, is a young girl who lives with her parents. One tragic day that changes, leading to a new life with a new dad. Antsy has a run in with her new step father that causes her to leave. This leads Antsy to a different kind of a door, that warns her to be sure before entering. Antsy finds amazing worlds, delights, and adventures. But what will it cost her in the end?

The writing was so poetic; it was hard to choose a quote for this review, because every sentence was just so beautiful written. I love poetic writing and writing that twist and turns. Seanan McGuire does not write words just to fill space. These words build emotions and mystery within the reader. You can never guess what is going to happen next.
The plot was tense. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Not only was the book engaging, it also made you care about the characters (and hate other ones).
I could talk about this book all day long; it was an amazing read. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a shorter story with meaningful themes, magic, and hope.

**Disclaimer: I recieved a free advanced reader's copy of Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.

Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire is a fantasy novel in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series.  This novel revolves around a character named Antsy whose life when severely downhill after her father died.  She ends up running away from home and finding herself in the shop where all the lost things go.  The novel is set to be published on January 10th, 2023.  I rated it 5 stars on Goodreads.


Here's the summary from Goodreads:

A young girl discovers an infinite variety of worlds in this standalone tale in the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Wayward Children series from Seanan McGuire, Lost in the Moment and Found.
Welcome to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go.
If you ever lost a sock, you’ll find it here.
If you ever wondered about favorite toy from childhood... it’s probably sitting on a shelf in the back.
And the headphones that you swore that this time you’d keep safe? You guessed it….
Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again. But when Antsy finds herself lost (literally, this time), she finds that however many doors open for her, leaving the Shop for good might not be as simple as it sounds.
And stepping through those doors exacts a price.
Lost in the Moment and Found tells us that childhood and innocence, once lost, can never be found.

I cannot tell you how excited I was when I got approved for this novel.  I am obsessed with Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series, and it is an automatic buy for me.  I think I've given almost all of them 5 stars.  When I saw that I was approved for this one, I had to throw my TBR out the window because I needed to read it next.   I'm so glad I did because I was absolutely not disappointed.

I really appreciated that the novel began with a trigger/content warning.  I'm not easily triggered by what I read, but I think it's really important that all books include at least a general trigger or content warning.  It's nice for people to be able to brace themselves and to know what they're getting into.  The way this one was written really left me prepared for what I was about to read.

I love the way that these novels are written.  The prose is always really lovely and descriptive.  I am always able to get a really clear picture of the world and how it is supposed to look.  I also really appreciate the pacing of them.  They're well developed and paced.  They're not overly long, and I feel the build up to the inciting incident wasn't over or under done. There was more than enough time to wrap up the story as well while still giving us a wonderful taste of different fantasy worlds.

I loved Antsy as a character.  She was really interesting and empathetic.  She was obviously quite young, but it was easy to understand her motivations and the reasons why she acted the way she did.  Her story absolutely made me cry as I watched her learn that adults were fallible and that she couldn't always trust the most important people in her life to have her best interests at heart.  

I really enjoyed exploring the premise of the shop as well.  It's a common question to ask where lost things go, and I appreciated that Seanan McGuire gave us an answer.  Now whenever I lose a sock I will have to imagine it in the shop somewhere.

Overall, I highly recommend this story, and the whole series.  It's easy to read and low-commitment because even though there are eight books in the series (this is the 8th), they're not all consecutive so you can kind of dip in and out as your interest dictates.

This book was everything I needed. Simultaneously so filled with sorrow and hope. I loved every moment from cover to cover and wanted more when it was over. I can't recommend the wayward children series enough, there is something for everyone in these books.

The latest installment in The Wayward Children series does not disappoint! Having read every book in the series, I enjoy the stories where the children are traveling into their door for the first time. Although this book hints at two popular characters from past installments, it takes you into the door of a type of thrift store with various odds and ends, but this story also takes you through so many other different doors in search of items to display in the shop, but there is always a price to pay in the end.
Throughly enjoyed this book and it is now among one of my favorites in the series.

This latest installment of the Wayward Children series is just as enchanting as the rest, though it does touch on some pretty dark subject matter. And it actually sheds a little bit of light on how the doors and worlds of the series work, which was interesting. I liked the protagonist, Antsy, a great deal, and I hope she appears in future installments. The book includes a trigger warning up front for the content that requires it, which I really appreciate. The things that happen are disturbing but thankfully Antsy runs away before things get bad.

CW: child abuse, psychological abuse, grooming, gaslighting

The Wayward Children series is one of my favourites - I was very glad to have been granted a copy of this book.

The writing and the worldbuilding was as touching and all consuming as it always is with Seanan McGuire's books. The universe of the series is well structured: there are rules that make sense and links between the books (I really enjoyed the teeny-tiny cameo of my favourite character). The writing, the effect of it is...difficult to describe, but I will try. Imagine you are playing dodgeball, and you're the last one left, right? Now, imagine dodging a ball: the feeling of relief, the adrenaline, the tiny celebratory feeling. Now, imagine that immediately upon turning around from successfully dodging you get hit in the face. That is the emotional equivalent of reading McGuire's writing.

Antsy was fine, she is not my favourite lead as I prefer the more gray ones. Antsy did have very understandable reactions to everything. This specific world is not my favourite either, but we get to find out more about the general structure of everything here so it balances out.

Overall, not my favourite in the series, but it's definitely not bad at all!

Children find doors for many reasons, but some barrel through them seeking safety. Antsy finds herself in the Place of Things that Are Lost and Found when she runs from a Very Bad Thing. There, she finds safety, and a home of sorts, but some places and some experiences come with an unexpected price, and you may not always know you're paying it until it's too late.

Another tale of Other Places and the children who need them. (Content warning: This one involves gaslighting and child grooming.)

Yet another delightful installment in McGuire's Wayward Children series. Works well as a standalone or even a series introduction, almost entirely self-contained. A little slight, perhaps, but as always very enjoyable.

First, I want to thank Netgalley and Tor publishing for giving me an arc copy of "Lost in the Moment and Found." I also want to thank Seanan McGuire for continuing to write this beautiful series!
I think this book has now tied for my favourite. Although a lot of the reasons it has become my favourite would be spoilers, so I can't say much right now. What I can say is that this is by far the darkest book of the Wayward children series, and that Antoinette might be my favourite protagonist along with Nancy.

This being a story set in another world instead of at the school, there aren't too many new characters but the ones who we meet are very compelling. You will fall in love with some, while others you will hate with a burning passion. Following Antsy on this journey felt so tense, while also fun and heartwarming to heartbreaking and nerve wracking. I believe Seanan Mcguire has said that she will continue writing these books for as long as people will keep loving them and let me tell you, my love for these stories will never end!

Again though, this book does deal with very dark and triggering themes. They are mentioned in the authors note at the start of the book so be sure to check them prior to reading.

Overall, five out of five stars and I am so sad I probably have another year to wait before the next book!