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

Two young boys go missing in the West Virginia woods and reappear six months later, years later Rafe can't remember anything from the six months they were gone and Jeremy can now track and find the lost. Emilie is now unmoored after the death of her adoptive mother but knows that she has an older sister that went missing in the same W. Virginia woods as Rafe & Jeremy. Emilie, Jeremy, & Rafe go on a journey to find her sister but find an enchanted world instead. This was an interesting twist on the normal missing kids/fae realm story. I enjoyed the characters and the world building that the author did with the other realm.

UPDATED
⭐️: 4.25
I gave this book another chance and I’m glad that I did. This story ended up utterly sweet and whimsical yet adventuresome and moving. The modern fairy tale that I needed.

⭐️: 2
DNF. I tried to get into it, but it didn’t hold my interest Maybe I’ll give it another chance at a later time.

I absolutely love Meg Shaffer's writing. This book was so atmospheric and made me feel like I was on the journey with Jeremy, Rafe and Emilie. The characters were endearing and could make me laugh and cry. 5 stars and can't wait to reread it!

Why did I take so long to read this book?
Why is no one taking about this book?
Ok, I may be a sucker for a good found family but when it's done right its the absolute BEST!
I also love a good quirky character and the nods to 60's and 70's rock music.
This book felt similar to watching Across the Universe in a lot of ways and I loved it!
I don't want to spoil anything so if this is your vibe then read it!

"The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer is a slow burn but hang in there. Once the story is set we're off! This is portal fairytale that digs into some emotions.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Calling all portal fantasy lovers! This book is basically Narnia meets adult romantic drama, but make it emotional trauma edition. And honestly? I'm conflicted.

The quick plot: Two high school besties vanish in West Virginia for SIX MONTHS, return mysteriously stronger (with memory gaps), then drift apart for fifteen years. One becomes a famous investigator, the other a reclusive artist. Enter: vet tech searching for her missing sister in THE SAME FOREST, plus one very important fancy rat.

The breakdown:
⏰ First 40% = slow burn setup had me checking my watch
🦄 Second half = MAGICAL MAYHEM - cyclops owls, silver mermaids, unicorns OH MY
🫂 Themes: Found family, queer romance, healing, forgiveness

What hit different:
🎨 Rafe's artistic soul journey resonated HARD
🌈 Whimsical worldbuilding that still tackles serious themes
🧠 Unexpected depth about trauma, mental health, chosen family
🐀 That fancy rat deserves a spinoff series

Real talk: That slow start nearly lost me. But once we cross into magical territory? The transformation is WILD. Suddenly magic isn't just sparkles - it's confronting real-world pain.

If you love portal fantasy with adult sensibilities and can push through a sluggish setup, the payoff is worth it. Patience is key, but sometimes books teach us that waiting yields rewards.

I really enjoyed The Wishing Game and this had sort of the same whimsical feel with some deeper themes intertwined. Very enjoyable and definitely recommend, although The Wishing Game is still a bit better in my opinion. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this E-ARC.

Thanks NetGalley and Megan Whalen for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Lost Story! From 'Once Upon a Time' to The 'End', The Lost Story was a delightful and thrilling adventure that managed to pay homage to its' predecessors while still feeling new & unique.

After reading The Wishing Game, and falling in love with Meg Shaffer's ability to write a story that played on the magic of reading fantasy as a young adult while expanding it to involve adult themes, I was overjoyed to read The Lost Story. From the beginning, I found passages and descriptions that felt taken out of my own heart, especially as a Folklore nerd who is constantly looking for fairy tale tropes and hidden meanings in names. For the most part, I was easily embedded into the worlds and into the mystery Jeremy, Rafe & Emilie need to solve. While I preferred The Wishing Game, as it felt more like a book for adults than The Lost Story which, at times, felt more like a YA book that happened to have adult themes, the characters were equally as lovable and the world-building equally as enchanting.

[minor spoiler here] Similarly, while I personally found the Storyteller asides unnecessary and, at certain points, hindered the story's ability to show instead of tell, in the end I didn't find they detracted from the story. All of this it say, while I didn't fall as deeply in love with The Lost Key upon my first read as I did with The Wishing Game, it is undoubtedly a book I will return to again & again--and I know, each time I'll find new details and moments that make me love it more & more. My only wish is for more books from Meg Shaffer that feel like love letters to my ten-twelve-fourteen year old selves, and proves that just because we grow up doesn't mean we can't go home again.

Loved the atmosphere for this one, and the characters were well developed. I enjoyed her first book as well and this one wasn’t quite as good but still held my attention the whole time.

With Narnia-esque vibes, this one was magical for my adult heart. I didn't find it quite as wonderful as her debut novel, but it was still an enjoyable, magical read.

This was a heartfelt blend of fantasy and emotional depth. Meg Shaffer masterfully weaved themes of friendship, love, found family, sacrifice, and courage into an enchanting tale filled with magical realms and forests as well as mystical entities. While it offers whimsical adventure and humor, it also bravely tackles darker, more mature themes such as child abuse/trauma, homophobia, and mental health, elevating it far beyond a simple children’s fantasy.
The dynamic between the three main characters is compelling, and the supporting cast is thoughtfully portrayed. The progression of the story sometimes felt like riding a roller coaster and the additional albeit smaller storylines felt a smidge overwhelming, however the story still remained impactful and beautifully told. I truly enjoyed this charming, emotionally rich fairytale. Read this if you love C.S. Lewis, T. J. Klune and fantasies with heart and substance!

This was a beautiful story. It was truly an adventure. The world reminds me of Peter Pan rewritten. I loved the lost memory and the knowing how to get back was a fun twist.

2 out of 5 stars not a favorite for me it was definitely hard to get through. It says it’s based on chronicles of narnia but with a forest and it’s nothing related I wouldn’t recommend

This was quite a story. There’s a magical world that the characters visit. There’s a lot in the story involving relationships. Family, sisters, friends. There are new relationships formed and old relationships repaired.

The premise of this story was intriguing to me as The Narnia series has been one of my all time favorite books. I was hooked on the synopsis when I realized that this book was set in a magical world for adults.

While I did enjoy the setting and most of the book I found myself skimming about half way through.

This is the second book I have read by the author and given 3 stars so I am not sure that I will pick up another of her works.