Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a beautiful and heartfelt story based on the Chronicles of Narnia. It is endearing and heartfelt in its descriptions of being lost and found. At its core it is the story of two young boys, Jeremy and Rafe who go missing for six months at a local state park. They come back strong, healthy and aged with no explanation of what happened. Life separates them as does the fact that Jeremy has memories of what occurred while Rafe does not. What follows is a magical story that takes the reader away to a magical and enchanting land.
Take this journey with these characters and you too may believe!

A modern day fairytale influenced by Narnia. This was a fun read. Love the magical realism with forest creatures. I am loving the cozy fantasy genre that is becoming so popular right now.

I loved this at the start. There was so much mystery, and I love books about missing people- particularly ones where they return!
I didn't mind the LGTBQ angle, although it was unexpected. It reminded me of TJ Klune and I love his books!
I just think the plot waned a lot. I adored Shaffer's previous book, so I hope her next one is as good.

Why are more people not talking about this book? This was absolutely lovely. I kind of didn't care about Emilie at all (or Skya for that matter) but Jeremy and Rafe were EVERYTHING. this book was for all of us who wish we could actually escape into our fantasy worlds. I loved the complexity of different/difficult family dynamics. Also, I honestly loved the focus on the culture of growing up in West Virginia being celebrated/not painted in a terrible light because let's be honest that state gets a LOT of hate and is always the butt of a joke, it's important to remember that it's also a beautiful scenic place. this ended on a note that could include a sequel and I really really hope we get one. 4.5/5

This was an enjoyable story with some whimsical parts/magical realism and likable characters you could root for.

The Wishing Game was one of my top reads of 2023, so I came into The Lost Story with high expectations. Which did mean I was mildly disappointed.

It was still a good book and I enjoyed the magical element, but it didn't have the (pardon the pun) magic that The Wishing Game had.

Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a WVA forest for 6 months. When they reappeared they had no answers for where they had been or how they survived. Upon return, they drew apart and didn’t talk for 15 years. Enter Emilee Wendell, who is looking to find her sister, who was lost in the same forest as Jeremy & Rafe. She connects with Jeremy who has spent his time becoming a famous finder of the lost. He agrees to help Emilee, but he needs Rafe to help him. So begins their reunion and a fantastical journey to bring Emilee and her sister back together. Lost memories and traumatic history have to come to light, so Emilee can be brought to the magical world of Shenandoah. Perhaps everyone can get back important things that have been lost.

Meg Shaffer’s the Lost Story is touted as a fairy tale for adults, and it does not disappoint. If you love fantasy, and a magical tale of a place beyond imagination, then this novel is for you. Part of the story was told by “The Storyteller” who talks directly to the reader in her “storyteller’s corner.” It’s a nice twist in the story and I loved each time she shifted to this voice. The rest of the book shifts between Emilie’s perspective and that of Rafe and Jeremy.

The book was well written, the story well thought out and the telling of the story was hard to pull away from. The characters were brightly woven and three dimensional for the reader to interact with, as was the world of Shenandoah. The reader cannot help but see this world in their minds eye. Seems like a place we all might like to visit from time to time. It is a tale that goes deeper than just the whimsy of this magical world into the importance of friendship, devotion, forgiveness, and found family. It is a tale worth reading if you ever enjoyed fairytales in your childhood and feel you can suspend your disbelief to enjoy them again as an adult.

My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books/ Arcadia for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was somehow even better than I thought it would be. Mystery, fantasy, found family, lost love, second chance are all brought together in a fun story that I feel will be a comfort read of mine for many years to come! I loved the influence of Narnia and how it wasn't a direct knock off at the same time. I was late getting to this eARC but it was worth the wait! I'm excited to read the next one!

An adult fairy tale that worked pretty well! I think you have to be in the right mood for this, but if you are, it can really take you to a fun place. The childhood nostalgia was heavy and it really was an escape from reality!

I may be the only person on the planet who doesn't love this one. As a major Narnia fan, I struggled with this adaptation and felt the inspiration was too direct. The style of narration also took me out of the story.

The List Story has a sweet concept and some heartfelt moments. Meg Shaffer explores themes of memory, connection, and second chances in a gentle, thoughtful way. While the pacing was a bit slow in places and some plot points felt a little predictable, the emotional core of the story still came through. It’s a cozy read that fans of character-driven fiction might enjoy, especially if you're in the mood for something light and reflective.

An old fashioned fairy tale. Classic characters, wonderful love story. Friendship that actually seems real. Evil that while it is out there, doesn't destroy your life, just spins you in a different direction. Just loved the magic of this tale.

Aspects of this story seemed created in a lab specifically to please me however it didn't fully stick the landing. It was an enjoyable but ultimately forgettable read.

Fifteen years ago, Rafe and Jeremy went missing in the woods of West Virginia. After 6 months they miraculously reappear with no memory of where they had been. Now they are the only ones that can help Emilie find her sister who is convinced she vanished into the same magical world.

I loved the magical world that this book takes place in but for me it was just a little slow and I struggled to keep picking it up to finish it. I had high expectations as I adored The Wishing Game. However, it just did not live up to my expectations.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

i enjoyed this book but i thought the plot was a little bit all over the place and the characters were kind of underdeveloped. i liked the fantasy world and the different things inside of it. there was a lot of smooching

So THE LOST STORY by Meg Shaffer had been on my TBR list for a bit. When I picked it as an audiobook a few weeks ago, I honestly couldn’t remember much about it except that it had a fairytale element. Simple put? It was lovely. It’s the story of the teenage boys who go missing in a forest in West Virginia, and who appear again 6 months later. The book follows the boys after their mysterious disappearance, through their healing, and then fills in all of the pieces on what/where/why. It’s vivid and imaginative with a sweet LGBQT narrative, and I loved that the narrator popped in and out throughout. Really a great book. Recommended. (And yes, there’s a 🦄!)

Here’s the thing. I didn’t particularly love The Wishing Game but I wanted to give the author another try. Unfortunately, The Lost Story didn’t really help me get on board.

I’m positive that most of this critique is based on personal preference and I know many people absolutely loved this story. My hope is that it’s a gateway for new fantasy readers to delve deeper into the genre.

I’m so sad because I loved the premise of this story and am always excited by pretty much any Narnia-inspired portal fantasy. Despite the potential, I felt this ultimately faltered. In a crowded genre, underdeveloped world-building makes it hard for me to lock in.

The story centers around two childhood friends who vanished into a magical realm as kids and returned with no memory of their time there. Years later, they embark on a journey back with a new character and a new mission. The central story — Jeremy and Rafe — is a great one. So much so that I believe it would’ve been strong enough to stand on its own without any fantasy element at all.

But it was hard to get over the candy-coated magical elements which made them feel more like last-minute add on than an integral part of the narrative and was clearly too distracting for me to give this more than 2 stars. In short, I’m glad I read it and I think I’d recommend it to others but I’m not exactly sure who.

I really enjoyed this book! If you’re a reader looking for a simple read (nothing too complex) with a mystery adventure this is the perfect book for you. If my life wasn’t so busy I would have finished it in one sitting!

Thank you, Meg Shaffer/NetGalley, for this amazing eARC in advance. All opinions are my own.

Meg Shaffer blesses us with her sophomore novel.

She amazed us with "Wishing Game" and blows us away with "The Lost Story."

You will absolutely want to pick this one up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback