The Chronicles of Narnia for growups! I don't normally like sweet books, and this is a sweet book, but I enjoyed it and am glad I read it. Grab this when you need a balm for your soul.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a mesmerizing journey that blends the beauty of storytelling with the enchantment of discovery. The novel beautifully explores the transformative power of art and storytelling. Jeremy and Rafe's connection is as touching as it is magical and watching their bond grow felt like witnessing something rare and precious.

By the end of The Lost Story, I was left with a sense of wonder and fulfillment. It’s a book that reminds us how stories can heal, connect, and even bring a bit of magic into our lives when we need it most. Meg Shaffer has crafted a narrative that’s as enchanting as it is heartwarming, and I’m certain this tale will linger in my thoughts for a long time to come.

P.S. I also want a pet unicorn now... so there's that.

Thank you, NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Ballantine Books | Random House, for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I first read The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer and loved it. I knew this one was going to be just as good. I love how Meg takes an old story and puts a fresh twist on it.

The Lost Story is about how two best friends, Jeremy and Rafe, reappear after 6 months of being lost in the West Virginia State forest. Rafe goes back home and surrounds himself in his painting because he cannot remember anything from his time being lost. Meanwhile, Jeremy goes on to becoming a missing persons investigator, who has an uncanny talent for finding lost girls. When a girl named Emilie asks for help finding her lost sister, Jeremy knows the only way to find her is with Rafe's help. With Rafe on board to help find Emilie's sister, Jeremy and Rafe head back to the place they once went missing in to search for the lost girl. During their time in the forest, the truths of what happened to them fifteen years prior are revealed and they are faced with some hard decisions.

After reading this book I immediately wanted to watch The Chronicles of Narnia. Meg did such a fantastic job of retelling this classic.

An amazing Narnia inspired tale with mystery and intrigue. This book caught me off guard in the best of ways. It walks a fine like between reality and fantasy. It has a great plot where you will find yourself anxiously flipping the pages to get to the bottom of the mystery. I am going to keep this review short and sweet. If you love Narnia inspired tales you will also fall in love with this book. I enjoyed it so much and highly recommend giving it a go. It was a quick read for me that I finished in a few evenings after work. Please note the characters will stick with you for some time after the story ends. 4.5/5.

The Lost Story started out super promising from the synopsis to the first half of the story. However, by the back half of the story I, like many other readers, felt it really fell apart. The world building, while interesting, felt rushed whereas the lead up to actually getting to Shenandoah was paced better. I know this story was marketed as a fairy tale for adults but I couldn't engage with our adult characters as they felt still frozen in their 15-year old states. That said, I did think there were aspects of all the characters I enjoyed. I loved Emilie's fondness for Stevie Nicks + her fancy rat. Fitz. Jeremy + Rafe were good, respectable men. I just wished we could've seen them be good humans instead of stumbling around their feelings for one another. I'm not sure I'd pickup a sequel as the end potentially purports but I do appreciate getting the opportunity to read an ARC - thank you NetgGalley + Random House Publishing Group!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.25/ stars

The narrator and production quality - fantastic, and easy to listen to!

This was very cute and relaxing, though not a book I think I would reach for to read again. I personally struggle with the whole explanation of "who knows, magic!" as the reason a plot or story exists or works.....but the writing was good quality, the characters interesting, and the second-chance romance was adorable. I was fascinated but the "because magic" takes away the depth that I wanted....I do think cozy fantasy readers will enjoy this one (I love the genre!), it just didn't click for me as well as some others.

This book is written for those who loved The Book of Narnia and Lord of the Flies as kids. I used to love fantasy as a child, but as an adult, it's a genre I don't often read. I felt like the magic world was a bit much. It felt kind of elementary and didn't feel like an adult book. I wasn't very into this.

The Lost Story was everything I wanted it to be! I love the narrator's voice, and each of the characters were fun to read and spend time with. The magic doesn't make a ton of sense, but it doesn't need to. Some things would have more significant consequences if they took place in reality, but I'm not hung up too much on those. Comparing it to the Chronicles of Narnia feels right, although I don't think it has quite the same depth. It, fittingly, seems more like a young girl who loves C.S. Lewis writing her own Narnia, and in many ways that's exactly what it is. While the story has all the highs of magic, wonder, and adventure, it also explores the lows of abuse, loss, and grief. However, it's not a dark tale by any means, despite the horrific things that happen. This book is an ode to the power of love, real love, between parents and children, best friends, siblings, and soul mates to overcome adversity and find peace and healing together.

Language: Moderate
Violence: Moderate (non-explicit child abuse, reference to sexual predators)
Drugs: None
Sex: Mild

This was a good story, it just didn’t hold my attention like I wanted it to, or rather hoped it would. The characters were well fleshed out and I could feel a connection with them.. The atmosphere and setting was descriptive enough that I was able to visualize how beautiful the scenery was. It was just the lull points in the story that lost me in between.

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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