This wasn't for me. I LOVED Meg's first book, but found this one hard to get into and follow along with.

The Lost Story makes you long for a place you’ve never been. Shaffer weaves a heartbreakingly beautiful tale where every character carries pain, yet slowly finds their way to happiness. It’s a story that lingers with you, reminding you of the power of hope, healing, and love. And truly all books are magic. Shaffer nailed it.

I was really enjoying this and then suddenly I was bored. Not sure why that happened, but it did and now I feel unsatisfied

An enjoyable tale with engaging characters... nothing life-altering but definitely worth the read. Will watch for more from this author! Thanks to Netgally for this ARC.

I really enjoyed The Lost Story for most of its journey. Schaffer’s writing pulled me in with a vivid setting, engaging characters, and an overall sense of adventure that kept me turning pages. The story’s atmosphere felt fresh and immersive, and I was invested in where things were headed.

Unfortunately, the third act did not land for me. The pacing grew messy, threads felt rushed or left hanging, and the ending lacked the emotional payoff I was hoping for. It left me more frustrated than satisfied, which was disappointing after such a strong start.

Still, I would recommend it for readers who value atmosphere and character work. Just be prepared that the finale may not tie things together as neatly as you might like.

This gripping fantasy-thriller blends mystery, emotion, and otherworldly wonder in a story about lost time, hidden truths, and the bonds of friendship. The dual timelines and richly imagined magical realm create a compelling contrast between trauma and beauty. Jeremy and Rafe’s journey back into the unknown is as much about healing as it is about rescue, making for a powerful and emotionally resonant read. A haunting tale that explores what it means to be lost—and what it takes to find your way back.

2.5 stars
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

In The Lost Story we follow Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe as they set out to find Emilie's sister and regain things lost to them.

I enjoyed the beginning of the book and getting to know some of the characters' backgrounds. At some point, though, I felt like that dragged on a bit before they set off on their adventure. Once the adventure started, however, it all went downhill for me. I was not a fan of what felt to me like over-the-top fairy tale-ness. I do understand the book was meant to be a fairy tale but I felt as though the story was too forced and too sickly sweet, and childish with adult themes thrown in. I did not like how the characters interacted; it felt very childish, and it felt like Jeremy and Rafe were stuck in their teenage years, as though only a few years had passed since they went missing and not half of their lives.

I think this would be a good book for people who enjoy books that rely heavily on the fairy tale part of the story. I'm not one of those people.

The Wishing Game was one of my favorite reads last year so when I saw that Meg Shaffer penned another story I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I loved the premise for The Lost Story and had hoped to be brought back to my childhood and love for Narnia, instead I was left feeling cheated and let down.

Things started off good, I was enjoying getting to know the characters, the story was holding my attention, and I was eager to get to the magical place, but once I arrived, it felt like I was reading a totally different story from a different writer. What started off with so much promise went south very quickly and I couldn’t wait to leave. The writing became flat, the dialogue childish, and the characters whiny and immature. I kept waiting for something magical and exciting to happen but it never did. The Storyteller’s Corner was annoying and juvenile. I didn’t need a bad joke explainer, I needed and wanted better world building and more magic, instead I got childish and cheesy. I had to remind myself the love interests were in their thirties, not middle school. Poorly executed, flat writing and an unsatisfying ending left me utterly disappointed. 2.5 stars from me for this one.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this title. The opinions above are my own and this is my honest review.

I absolutely loved this. There’s something so nostalgic about the idea of slipping from our world into a magical realm born from a child’s imagination—it hit me right in the feels. Jeremy and Rafe’s return after disappearing into that dreamlike world was eerie and beautiful, and Emilie’s quest to find her sister pulled them all back together in the best way. A little bit fairy tale, a little bit emotional healing trip, and full of that “what if childhood magic were real?” wonder. I didn’t want it to end.

If you grew up reading books like The Neverending Story, anything by Roald Dahl, or the Chronicles of Narnia, you'll most likely love this book. I did not like it I am not really in to these type of fantasy books It was well written just not for me I would recommend it though to anyone that liked Narnia Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy for my honest review

Absolutely loved this book and I will forever be a fan of Meg Shaffer. GIVE ME ALL THE BOOKS!!

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this in exchange for my honest review!

I had to DNF this one because I made it about 100 pages & they made one of the main characters be in love with his best friend. So unfortunate. I loved all the Fleetwood Mac references. But that was about it. Had to put a hard stop to that one.

I was hoping for a bit more of the "Narnia inspired" that I had heard about, but still really enjoyed this story. Jeremy and Rafe went missing for 6 months as teenagers and didn't speak much about their time away when they returned healthier than before. 15 years later Emilie recruits Jeremy to help her find her lost sister that she just learned she had, who went missing in the same woods. I loved the fairytale vibes and how things were revealed as the story played out. I loved the found family aspect and how it deals with processing trauma. I enjoyed the good vs evil aspect in it as well. There was a romance in the story that I didn't feel was necessary at all. I wished those two had just had a very close friendship. Overall this one gets 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars from me.

What a wonderful story! This was a whimsical and wonderful adult type fairytale. The characters were wonderful and the story quite mysterious.

Thank you to Net Galley for provide an ARC for review. I really enjoyed this plot which combined an intriguing story in the "real" life as well as a crisis in the fantasy world. A truly surprising premise with an equally surprising conclusion. Highly recommended!

I thought this was really unique read and def loved the first half a bit more! i did love the main charaters alot but also soemtimes the narrive style felt a little confusing to me but it was fun time and i loved the vibes and the characters. I def would recommend this book as early winter read!!

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe for grownups. I gulped this down as fast as I could and I plan to read it again, because it’s such a perfect comforting fairy tale of a read. I loved it.

I was shocked at how much I loved this book! It’s a fairy tale that explores themes of yearning, grief, hope, and love and I didn’t want to put it down. If you’ve ever wanted to discover your own Narnia, a fantastical and magical world, this book will pull at every childhood heart string. It is wild and wonderous, and I loved every page.

I had high hopes for this after loving The Wishing Game, but unfortunately this was a case of great potential, lackluster execution. I really liked the concept and the beginning of the story, but it lost steam for me along the way. I also felt that for a story that deals with a lot of heavy themes, it felt a bit shallow and surface-level. It didn’t quite pack the emotional punch I was expecting. Still, I liked this well enough and don’t think it’s a bad book, and I’ll definitely check out whatever the author writes next.

Meg has delivered on magic and intrigue. Overall, I thought this story had a fun premise and the execution was great. The only part that felt lacking was the time spent in the actual world of Shanandoah. I felt like while we did get a small picture of what life was like, I just craved a little more. I am excited to dive into any more of Meg’s stories!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.