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!

When I saw this was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia, I instantly had a feeling this would be my new favorite book, and I was absolutely right.
Everything about this is perfect. It was one of the most wholesome, nostalgic, and endearing books I've ever read. I read it voraciously, unable to put it down, needing to know what happened. The writing is both simple and powerful...it felt pure and undiluted and made me feel like I was 10 years old again, lost in Narnia for the very first time. It is one of those rare books that you don't want to end, and when it does, you instantly want to jump back to the beginning. I love this book wholeheartedly and will be pushing it into the hands of everyone I know when it releases this summer. Absolutely obsessed.

Meg Shaffer does a great job taking a story that the reader is likely familiar with and making it her own. I enjoyed being able to following the characters in the present while learning about their past experiences. The Lost Story has some clever storytelling devices that keeps the reader engaged and the plot moving. The ending leaves it open for a sequel which I would enjoy reading. These are characters that I want to continue getting to know. Meg Shaffer is two for two with her amazing stories.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this Advanced Readers copy. I loved this book. The Wishing Game was one of my favorite books of 2023 so when I saw Meg Shaffer had another book coming out in 2024, I was ecstatic. This book was has the same whimsical style as the first, but with more adult themes. I love the once upon a time narrator storytelling and secret world, along with the slight change up of the love story. I hope Meg Shaffer continues to create more whimsical stories with beautiful characters as I will read them all.

A favorite memory from my childhood was listening to my father read to us at bedtime. His enthusiasm for tales and adventures of Narnia, mermaids, hobbits, and walking/talking trees set me up for a love of reading.

Meg Shaffer’s nods to these nostalgic and fantastical stories drew me in. I loved The Wishing Game and had excitement going in to The Lost Story as well. It took a beat for me to get accustomed to the format with the storytellers chapters, but I liked the quirkiness of it.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys magic and Fairytales.

**I was approved for an Advanced Read Copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this opportunity!

Super cute, easy, fun read that felt like a grown-up version of all the fairy tales we read as children. If you like fantastical stories with a bit of romance, this heartwarming book should be added to your list. I hope there will be a sequel and look forward to reading it!

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a wonderful, and fun read.

The characters in the story are lovable and vivacious. They all have distinct personalities and interests and offset each other beautifully.

The world is constructed perfectly for a fairy tale and to give you more would induce spoilers and this story deserves better.

The plot is that of your typical fairy tale and tells you as much itself. It hits all the tropes and is better for that.

While I generally only cover those three points, in this case I will also let you know that there are few authors who I would 'follow' and search out their other books and this author is one of those. This is the second book of hers I have read and I am a fan.

Sadly I just don't think Meg Schaffer's writing style is for me. I DNF'd this one at 19%.

I wasn't able to get into The Wishing Game and even though I was super interested in this story, I just couldn't get past the style. From what I read I did enjoy reading Rafe much more than I did reading Emilie. This seems to be a me problem though as both her books are widely loved.

Predicted rating 4 stars for the correct audience. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

I've discovered my new favorite book. I awarded 'Wishing Game' five stars. As for 'Lost Story,' it deserves five stars and the moon. It's a cozy warming heart fairytale about a found family and their adventures in a magical land. Infused with love and humor, this book explores various aspects of childhood trauma and different ways to dealing with it.