In a Nutshell: A portal fantasy loosely inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia. Interesting characters, clever plot. A nice mix of light and dark situations. The last quarter was a slight drag, but I mostly enjoyed this.

Plot Preview;
When they were fifteen, best friends Jeremy and Rafe went missing in a vast state forest in West Virginia. They mysteriously returned six months later, with no clue about what happened in the interim.
Fifteen years later, the friends are estranged. Rafe is a recluse, using his art to handle the trauma that he doesn’t remember. Jeremy is a famous missing person’s investigator.
When Emilie approaches Jeremy to locate her sister, who had gone missing two decades earlier in the same state forest, Jeremy realises that he needs to reunite with Rafe and return to the location that changed their lives. It is time for the secret of the Lost Boys to come out, no matter how painful the memories.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of various key characters.

I had enjoyed this author’s debut novel, ‘The Wishing Game’, last year. So I had almost danced with excitement the day my request for this book was granted. Though the two books offer disparate plots and themes, my reading experience was almost the same.
This novel is loosely inspired by ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. The Narnia connection is somewhat thin, though a resemblance can be seen in a few character arcs and situations. Don’t expect a retelling; it’s not one and hasn’t been advertised as one.


Bookish Yays:
🔮 One of the best prologues I've ever read. Set 15 years before the main story and a perfect foundation to the main plot, exactly as prologues should be
🔮 The main trio of Emilie, Jeremy and Rafe. Loved their camaraderie, their almost ceaseless banter, their loyalty to the causes they have chosen, and their choices. Awesome characters for such a storyline.
(On an aside, I wonder if the author read the “Emily Wilde” series and decided to use a combination of the names of the two lead characters – Emily and Wendell – to create this adorable composite titled ‘Emilie Wendell’!)
🔮 There are several other secondary characters who, good or bad, leave a strong mark on the story. It was a great mix of human and ‘other’ characters.
🔮 A separate yay for Fritz! Though not in a speaking role, Fritz is very important to the story and is adorable. I’ll leave you to read the book to discover who Fritz is.
🔮 The plot has a larger-than-life feel to it, like a dramatic play we are watching on stage. It feels over the top in a positive way (almost like exaggerated stage acting that is still mesmerising.) I enjoyed the complex story with its myriad subplots.
🔮 The main plot is interrupted by interludes coming from an omniscient writer named “The Storyteller.’ I loved these sections! They have a perfect anecdotal feel. By breaking the fourth wall and speaking to us readers directly, these chapters made me feel more involved in the action. It was almost like listening to a live storytelling performance.
🔮 The story takes some time to get going – the initial 40% is just a build-up to the main adventure. But the content was so gripping and the characters so enjoyable that I didn’t mind the wait. Though slower in pace, the writing keeps things magical even in the real world.
🔮 I am never one to praise the appearance of romance in a non-romance genre, so when you see me listing it as a yay, know that I am very impressed at the way it went. (and not at all as I had assumed.) in fact, it wasn’t romance, but a love story, which might sound the same but is very different.
🔮 As a portal fantasy, the books fares wonderfully. Some of the fantastical content is bonkers and will require suspension of disbelief, but you shouldn’t apply logic to this genre anyway. I went with the flow and enjoyed myself thoroughly.; (It helps that I am not a Narnia superfan.)
🔮 The worldbuilding is good enough, with some of the magical elements getting more attention than others. The non-magical world - the mountains and scenes of West Virginia - is also beautifully described. It was very easy to visualise both the worlds.
🔮 The first three quarters of the book were fascinating in terms of characters and plot. However, the final quarter, though mesmerising in some ways, also included an unexpected twist. Thankfully, the twist is justified by the plot quite well. (Unlike in Shaffer’s debut novel, which also had a surprise twist at the end but which didn’t fit the need of the plot at all.)
🔮 The ending is more HFN than HEA, but it is perfect for the story as it doesn’t force in a neat tie-up of the pending threads, but allows us enough info to guess where things might lead next. I would be thrilled if this book gets a sequel in continuity. (The Chronicles of Narnia did have seven books, so who knows! 😉)
🔮 The author’s note – adorable!

Bookish Mixed Bags:
💫 Unlike Shaffer’s debut novel and despite the light-hearted banter, this book gets quite dark, not just in terms of the fantasy elements but also in some triggering content (which was well handled without being voyeuristic.) I did enjoy this mix to a great extent, but I wish it had been somewhat balanced. Most of the darkness is restricted to the second half.
💫 The characters, especially the male ones, read younger than their calendar ages. Then again, the earlier novel also was similarly twee in its main characters and situations, so I was better prepared for it this time around.

Bookish Nays:
💣 The final few chapters feel somewhat sluggish, almost as if the author didn’t want the novel to end. I wish these had been tightened as they brought down my overall satisfaction level.
💣 The spelling of ‘Shanandoah’ was a teeny bit annoying. The reason for why it was not ‘Shenandoah’ is clear in the plot, but why was it not ‘Shannondoah’? [You’ll understand this bullet point better if you have read the book.]

All in all, this was a mostly entertaining novel, though a bit too sugary-sweet at times. I enjoyed almost the entire ride, and had the final quarter got its act together better, this would have rated even higher for me.
If you are a fan of ‘The Wishing Game’, it is better that you not compare the two books. The first novel was a bit too cosy, while this contains much more darkness, grief and trauma. There are plenty of easy moments also, but it isn’t as overly saccharine.
Definitely recommended to those who enjoy portal fantasies, loveable characters, whimsical storylines, and a found-family trope. If you are someone who wants instant action and a fast-moving storytelling, keep some patience at the start, because the journey is worth it. In this world of instant gratification, such books help us remember that all good things come to those who wait.
Do check out the triggers online – there are quite a few.
4.25 stars.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing the DRC of “The Lost Story” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

While I do love magical realism, The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer was just not for me. Essentially, three characters find themselves in a real-life children’s fantasy similar to The Chronicles of Nardia. I was never a fan of these books, so it was hard for me to really connect with the story. It didn’t help that the author tried to create an epic story in 350 pages. Especially since she tried to also add dark themes, such as child abuse, mental illness, and kidnapping.

Without giving away the story, I was anticipating a different ending to the book . . . perhaps grounding it a bit more. But, I think the author wanted us to buy into the full story line, but without the big “chronicle” that we needed to invest in the characters and the fantasy.

First of all, this book had immaculate vibes. Whimsy, fairytale, adventurous… my kind of book.
It was charming and cute, and I enjoyed the “Storytellers corner” around each and every bend. The characters were sweet and emotions were big.
It wasn’t the traditional hero’s journey I expected, which I still can’t tell if I liked or disliked. But all in all, very enjoyable. Makes me want to read more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely loved this book! Meg Shaffer does it again! Who doesn’t want to be transported to another world. This book does such a great job of making you live in another world while also knowing the struggles of real world life. The road blocks that they still encounter in the fantasy land shows you that even in your dream world life still happens and not everything can be a fairy tale. 100/10 recommend!

Thank you publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the story, but not as much as I thought I would. The story read YA that I checked and was surprised that it’s not. Overall, I liked the romance it was cute. But that's about it.

Ok this is seriously one of my new favorite books ever. It's beautifully enchanting. Prepare to be completely submerged in a grown up fairy tale. The world building and character development is superb! Meg Shaffer did it again! Her other book " The Wishing Game" is soooo good too. So glad to have found such a talented story teller.

"Love was good in a dark place like this, Skya had told her. Love was their secret weapon."

Two young boys, Jeremy and Rafe, get lost in the woods and it seemed everyone had lost hope when they suddenly reappear 6 months later. Fast forward 15 years...Jeremy makes living as a missing persons investigator and has an uncanny knack for finding missing people. Jeremy and Rafe are no longer friends but it isn't clear why or what happened, as Rafe has no memories of being lost. Emilie is searching for her sister and she believes Jeremy can help her. The three enter into a journey to find the long lost sister.

I absolutely adored this whimsical, strange novel. It appears to be light and heartfelt on the surface but there are also dark themes throughout. This is a magical rainbow unicorn of a book about found family and sacrifice. The world-building is one of a kind.

The tender love story warmed me to the bones. The mystery was intriguing and the characters charming. I'd love to get lost in this world. The twist at the end was bittersweet and clever. This is a story of queer joy: finding self-acceptance and being brave in the face of oppression.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I loved The Wishing Game so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book! It did not disappoint! This was magical!

Jeremy & Rafe go missing during an end of school trip through a forest. They mysteriously reappeared six months later, looking better than ever. Taller, stronger, and having people wonder how did they survive. Fifteen years later Jeremy is a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a recluse living in a cabin in the woods.

This was such an amazing adult fairytale! I devoured this book and loved every minute of it! Everything was so descriptive and you felt like you were there. I really enjoyed this book and recommended to anyone and everyone!

📘: The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
🗓️: July 16, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads.

The Lost Story
by Meg Shaffer
★★★★☆

Meg Shaffer's books have the best blend of fantasy and reality that make them that much more magical to read. It's so easy to get lost in her worlds!

Jeremy and Rafe went missing in the woods when they were kids- but came back healthy and happy. One doesn't remember and one won't talk about it. Now years later, they are set to help find Emilie's missing sister- which means returning to the forest and what happened years ago.

These books are like adult fairy tales - without being fantasy. I just can't say enough how much I enjoy the magical realism that makes it so these just *might* be true. I just loved getting lost in the world of Shenandoah. The story was so cute and had a lot of plot, which kept me interested. Plus there was a neat twist that surprised me!

I think I did like The Wishing Game more, just because I didn't expect to love it and did, so my expectations were low. This one was still very cute and gave the same vibes!

Read if you loved Narnia or the Wizard of Oz as a kid, The House in the Cerulean Sea, or her first book The Wishing Game.

Thank for you the opportunity to read and review this book! I really enjoyed this story. It was a really nice adult fairytale that had a lot of the nostalgia vibes from childhood fairytale’s coupled with fun adult tropes. I thought this book was a cute and cozy read that still had the ability to illicit an emotional response from me. And I love a book that truly makes me feel while I’m reading it and getting captivated by the story. I think this is a story that would appeal to a wide range of demographics. The writing style was truly lovely and the story was captivating!

📖Book Review📖
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
My Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟

First, special thank you to Ballantine Books and @prhaudio for the complimentary copies. I feel blessed and happy to read this book!

I have read a ton of mixed reviews but for a Narnia fan like me, The Lost Story was the sweetest, heartwarming and magical story!

I honestly cannot say enough words to express how lovely this book was for me. The characters are lovable! It brings out a lot of emotions. A beautiful story of friendship, loyalty, secrets, trust, believing in dreams and as everyone has expressed- chosen family! Is there anything more magical than that?!
Yes it is fantasy, but I do not mind having my kingdom in a world that can really brings me all the happiness!
I highly recommend this read.
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#megshaffer #theloststory #prhaudio #prhaudioinfluencer #ballantinebooks #randomhouse #bookofthemonth #botm #bookreview

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this E-ARC.

Good lord. This book is actual magic. Imagine being able to create a book like this.

If you like Narnia, then read this book.

It’s about magic, love, unicorns and family. Rafe and Jeremy are meant to be. The end.

Jk, but also seriously. From the very first page this book hooked me. I loved everything about it. There better be another one coming out soon. I will not be okay if that’s the ending.

Rafe and Jeremy disappear in the forest in Virginia. 6 months later they are found. Only Jeremy remembers what happened but he won’t tell Rafe. Jeremy spends his time finding lost girls, Rafe spends his time in the woods. 15 years later they are reunited for more magic. And it delivered. It’s magic. And beautiful. And I love it.

I will now be packing my bags to go to the woods in West Virginia and checking every tree trunk to see what I can find.
In the meantime, you should read this book.

This was such a sweet sweet book! It exists somewhere between a 3 and 4 stars for me because the last 30% dragged a little and lacked the action, excitement, and mystery that kept me turning pages at the beginning. However, I really loved the ending and enjoyed the book overall. Readers who love a cozy magical tale akin to House in the Cerulean Sea will love this.

A main character who loves Stevie Nicks? A fancy rat? I’m in!

I had read the wishing game and liked it well enough so when I was asked if I wanted an ARC of the lost story, I thought, why not. I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. It was a cute easy read that didn’t take itself too seriously. I also appreciated that the author didn’t over explain things or add a lot of filler, it made for a quick enjoyable read. The way the book left off leaves room for a sequel and I really hope that happens.

I was so disappointed by the Lost Story. Maybe I went in with too high - or wrong - expectations. I adored The Wishing Game, but I was so bored by The Lost Story. The pacing was so slow, I did not connect to the characters, and the magical realism fell flat for me. I also really disliked the narrative structure where we would hop around povs somewhat randomly and have lengthy flashbacks interspersed. It made the narrative feel clunky and took away from the magic of the magical realism. I also felt a little bait-and-switched by the marketing and the romance set up - but I won't get into details because of spoilers. I'm so sad to not have loved this one, but I will definitely try Meg Shaffer's next book.

Thanks to Random House, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.25 stars.
It saddens me to say that I didn’t like this one. I loved the author’s debut novel, The Wishing Game and thought it was so charming and unique. Although The Lost Story had the potential to be the same, it just did not land for me. It took me so long (3+ weeks) to finish this story and looking back, I wish I would have DNFed and moved on to something I actually liked.

It felt really disjointed with the first and second halves being very different from one another. I didn’t really like the Storyteller breaks either. There were parts that seemed interesting or sweet, but overall it just did not keep me wanting to come back to read and didn’t keep me engaged when I was reading.

This one just wasn’t for me.

Meg Shaffer can do no wrong. Her writing feels so whimsical/nostalgic/immersive & I loved every second of this story. Perfectly suspenseful but also really character driven! 5 stars.

A contemporary Chronicles of Narnia for adults. The first chapters are mysterious and magical, and the vivid storytelling continues straight through to the end. I like the narrator's little side-chapters, but am confused by the fluidity of the relationships among this group of friends/lovers. I am glad the intimate scenes are "closed-door" because, as the narrator so eloquently relayed, it really isn't "that kind of story."

2.5 stars rounded up

The beginning of this book is Amazing. Pulled me in with mysteries and unexplained events, just gave you enough information so you wanted more. I was so hooked. About halfway through this book, it took a turn from sophisticated and dramatic to very elementary level fairy tale type of description, details and events. I am not sure what happened and why the drastic change. The first half had such a serious tone which I really appreciated. This book is supposed to be an adult fantasy but had a more young adult fantasy feel to it. The writing and the overall story were fine, but it just lost my interest in the second half. I wanted a more in depth, detailed and complex storyline, that really matched the first half. I would not recommend this book; it ended up not being for me.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I really liked The Lost Story. I felt like it hit the feeling of a fairytale right on the head. The settings were lushly described and the plot was well done.

However, I think The Lost Story really flourishes because of the relationships between characters. I was absolutely rooting for Rafe and Jeremy, I loved Emilie from the moment she was introduced. Each of their relationships were fun and interesting. I wont spoil anything, but this holds up throughout the book with other characters as well. Even the relationships with the more minor characters are fleshed out and feel important.

This book was really good and if you find the summary in any way interesting, I definitely recommend it!