I've been putting off this review for like a week because I find myself at a loss for words. First, special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advance reader copy. Now here's my best attempt at capturing this incredible story in words:

This book is SO. GOOD. It gets a lot of comparisons to the Narnia series, which is apt. But it's more. It's the Princess Bride and Lord of the Flies and some bad guys that feel like they stepped out of a Stephen King story. It's cozy and comfortable and scary and heartbreaking all at once.

I think going in somewhat blind is the best experience with this one, so I won't go into detail about the plot. I'll just say it's about friendship and family and the meaning of home. I fell completely in love with the characters, even ones that were only there for a short time. And the narrator of the story breaks the fourth wall in ways that had me laughing out loud and pinned to the edge of my seat. It's perfect for both fantasy fans and those new to the genre. A large part of the book takes place in a non-fantasy setting with everyday people, which is just as compelling as the lush, fantastical world full of unicorns and Valkyries that serves as the setting for the rest of the book.

I really can't think of a better word for this book than magical. It's my first five-star read of this year and I cannot recommend it enough.

I had high hopes for this book after The Wishing Game and honestly I thought this story blew it out of the water!

The characters were quick to root for, the surprise (but not so surprising) love story was a treat and the world building was easy & effective. Maybe most of all, I loved the narrator commentary- it felt reminiscent of The Princess Bride.

The premise of a man who was lost as a teen and is now an expert at finding people immediately piqued my interest. What I didn't expect was for the story to quickly turn into more of a romantasy type novel. In the acknowledgments the author says this story was inspired by seeing The Chronicles of Narnia next to The Lord of the Flies next to each other on her bookshelf- and that's exactly what it felt like. A conclusion/followup (although hopefully not until after a sequel) to characters similar to the ones we loved in the books we read growing up.

Favorite quotes:
"It was almost too beautiful to be trusted, too breathtaking to feel safe."

"Yes, in an infinite universe, wormholes have to exist. All possible worlds exist. In fact, there are no possibilities in an infinite universe, just eventualities."

Thanks NetGalley & Randomhouse Publishing for the ARC of this novel!

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley.
Overall, i really enjoyed this story. It felt very much like a middle grade read-for-adults; it was so very sweet overall.
It is absolutely a fairy-tale for adults who grew up reading fairy-tales.
I appreciated that the FMC was only forced suddenly into a friendship with the two MMCs and that there wasn't any romance involving her. Yay for gay, bisexual, and asexual representation. Yay for pet rats.
I did not love the Storyteller gimmack. It really added nothing but tedium for me.
I enjoyed this much more than Schaffer's The Wishing Game.

Thank you to the NetGalley and the author for the ARC. The Wishing Game was my favorite book last year and while this didn’t quite live up to the Wishing Game, there was a lot to love about this book. The story was incredible and magical and I feel in love with all of the characters. I don’t know the Narnia story well enough to know if it is a truly a retelling of Narnia, but the pieces I recognized felt true. The parts that fell down for me were the fantasy pieces, but I’m not a fantasy reader.

I loved the love story, and the overcoming obstacles, and the writing was just gorgeous. 4.5 stars. This will be some peoples favorite book of the year.

Unbelievable. I absolutely am going to be getting a hard copy of this book when it releases. This fantasy made me feel every single emotion I could have ever imagined. Genuinely loved following Rafe and Jeremy through their journey as individuals in a magical world. Written with a witty mix of story telling, an individual with no memories, and an individual with too many memories… watching their worlds collide was incredible. Not only was the writing wonderful, this read had me absolutely curled up envisioning their world due to perfect world building. Can’t wait to see if this is the beginning or the for this story, but I am thoroughly invested in finding out!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer.

This book really was magical; I loved it from the very beginning. If you were a reader of The Chronicles of Narnia, you'll find so much to love here. It's a new story that fills you with nostalgia, contemporary and also familiar. Jeremy and Rafe are such great characters that you'll be rooting for even long after the book is over. Magic, hope, heartbreak, romance, and adventure...what more do you need?

The Lost Story was a whimsical and mesmerizing story that reminded me of all the magical fairy tales I grew up with. It is magical realism blended with romance and fantasy. The book drew me in from the first page and never let up. This story was so perfect and enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Random Publishimg House for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am so mixed on my feelings so I have decided on 3 stars.

I love Meg’s writing and the story overall. I couldn’t stand the characters interacting with each other at the beginning (honestly I think Emilie was just annoying me throughout the book). The beginning took a bit to get into. I started enjoying the story more once we arrived in the magical land and started learning about Jeremy and Ralph’s story from 15 years prior. I wish the first half of the book was shorter and the second half was expanded upon more.

First off, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this book checks off all the boxes for readers who grew up loving fantasy fiction. If you loved escaping to Hogwarts, Narnia, Frell, etc., you’re going to want to pick up this book. It’s a nostalgic throwback to days when you read for the magic of the experience. I’m a person that reads across many genres, but fiction is my first love. My only requirement is that the author transports me to their story and I’m fully immersed and invested in the tale they’re spinning. Schaffer is a master at this. If you read “The Wishing Game” you know what I mean. Schaffers writing keeps me entertained and wanting more throughout the entire book. She does dabble in some heavy topics such as abuse, cancer, and other real life conflicts that can easily drag a reader down, but the way she weaves it into the story is masterful and doesn’t leave you feeling heavy.
If you’re looking for a story that will take you away from reality for a while and remind you why you became a “reader” in the first place, look no further. Meg Schaffer delivers.

I didn’t think I’d be reading a book set in West Virginia this year, but here we are.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is an adult fantasy novel that gives Chronicles of Narnia vibes. This book follows Rafe and Jeremy, two guys who disappeared to a magical realm as teenagers yet only one of them remembers the experience. When Jeremy is commissioned by Emilie years later to find her older sister, he loops in Rafe, and the three of them embark on a quest to find her. Overall, I thought this book was a fun time! I liked the commentary interludes from the storyteller which I ended up making this book a fast read as portions of the plot that could’ve been more boring were just completely skimmed over. I will say, I thought more of the time could’ve been spent in the magical realm; the pacing and the plot got a little bit weird there, but regardless I ate this story up. If you want to read a relatively lighthearted story which had a noticeable amount of platonic(?) kissing, this book is for you.

P.S. I had mixed feelings about the ending.

This was for the most part a light fantasy read and was a creative story. It did have some darker themes of child abuse and parents pretty much suck and don’t accept their child for who they are. It was like but not love for me. I felt like some parts of the book flew by while other parts drug on a little. That being said I loved The Wishing Game so perhaps my expectations were super high. I do enjoy this Author’s imagination and will read future books from her. Fans of TJ Klune, Melissa Albert, and Travis Baldree will like this charming tale sprinkled with misfits, found family and a little Narnia and Stevie Nicks magic.

I’ve been in the worst reading slump, but 3 pages in Meg Shaffer changed that. I couldn’t get enough! Reading fairytales as an adult, it’s every bit as magical as it was as a kid (dare I say even more so?). The Lost Story is about lost boys, lost things, lost love, lost memories. You’ll be drawn to the world of adventure and hoping for the “happily ever after” for all 💜

I was hooked from the start of this book… such wonderful writing to merge the real world and the fantasy. Meg Shaffer is one to watch…so good! Thank you!!!!

I'm not a fan of reading about queer romances and none of the media on this book described it as such. So in that regard I felt a little blindsided. Apart from that I thought the writing was solid and was intrigued by the mystery and truth of what happened to Jeremy and Rafe, as well as Emillee's sister.

The Lost Story
By Meg Shaffer

This was an ode to all the books where children escape to a fantastical world. It was sweet, and magical, and a little cheesy. Bonds are formed with remarkable speed and nothing is too shocking. Just a lovely story.

And then we have the “Storyteller” interruptions and I hated them. There was no need. It felt like a gimmick. Mostly they pointed out things that were obvious. Other times gave snapshots or fast forwarded time. It brought me right out of the story and I resent it. Intrusive narrators can be done well, but this wasn’t one of them.

Ok, back to things I liked. The FMC wasn’t involved in the romance. The enemy was nuanced. The relationships were all very sweet.

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical at how Meg Shaffer could follow up her smash hit, The Wishing Game, but this adult fairy tale mixed with real world was a very valiant attempt. This novel was nothing like I've ever read before (see also: I have no reference point for the Chronicles of Narnia, but given the comparisons made in the blurb and how much I enjoyed this novel, maybe I should pick it up?) and I very much enjoyed escaping into this world. I LOVE Meg Shaffer's witty writing style and she remains an automatic-pick-up author for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me access to this wonderful eARC-- add this to your summer reading list!

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Like most of my reviews, I'll keep this short and to the point. The Lost Story is everything a fairytale is supposed to be and more. Full of fantasy, sass, a little snark, love, heartbreak, magic, and whispers of the unknown. I am so appreciative I was able to read this beautiful story! Well done, Meg.

West!-by God-Virginia! What a story!!
I cannot thank you enough, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for the great honor of getting my grubby paws on this delicious piece of literature!
An adult fairytale that hits Every fairytale bullet point. And the best part of the whole book? The narrator! Those little "interruptions" throughout the story took this novel to a whole new level of storytelling. SO much fun!
This would be the perfect book to read for anyone in a reading slump. It will awaken your imagination and help you remember why you love to read.
You want magic, faraway lands, dark and scary lands, mystical creatures, queens and knights and valkyries, a heartwarming love story, a story of personal growth, a little bit of mystery, a little bit of action, and a little bit of Fritz (fancy rat)? Then look no further. "The Lost Story" has it all and so much more.


*While it ends nice and tidy, it is totally open for a Volume 2... (eeeeek!, Please!!)
Meg Shaffer, keep on doing your thing girl!! I am Here for it!

The Lost Story
By: Meg Shaffer

“All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, nooks are magic. Maybe even the stronger magic there is.”

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 - All of the stars!

First and foremost, a huge thank you to @netgalley, @megshaffer, and @ballentinebooks / @randomhouse for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review. I’m forever grateful.

Meg Shaffer did it again! She had me hooked on “The Wishing Game”, and I could not be more excited that she decided to write another story.

This book is amazing! It is magical, captivating, and full of love and growth. The loving and careful representation of the LGBTQA+ community was welcomed and refreshing. The four main characters, Skya, Emilie, Rafe, and Jeremy, are loveable and easy to relate to. Having a solid cast that you can feel genuine empathy and compassion for is so special.

I love the spin and inspiration Meg takes from our childhood fairy tales, this one inspired by Narnia. The nostalgic vibes these books provide are so healing to my inner child. I hope we can visit the land of Shanandoah again real soon!

Meg Shaffer writes books that make you feel good, and I can’t wait to read this again when the final copy is available in the summer.

Thank you, Meg Shaffer, for making the days feel better a few hundred pages at a time!

The blurb starts with: "Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the back of wardrobes—just in case"

Well, that was highly specific and accurate to a tee. And the book, even more so. I'm still thinking of the perfect words to describe it - delightful, whimsical, wholesome, nostalgic, heartwarming. Unputdownable, for sure. Is the writing a bit childish? Yes, but: the good news is that it hits the wholesomeness and fairytale nostalgia and classical references so well that I put up with it happily. There's a particular plot point that makes the writing style make sense as well. This is a soft, feel-good book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's really fun to read! The plot points are a fun puzzle of references - I went in blind and loved it regardless. If you've grown up loving old classic fantasies: everything from The Wizard of Oz to The Chronicles of Narnia to Lord of the Flies, you will love, love, love this book.

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
― C.S. Lewis

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!