Sometimes not all those who are missing are lost, and for a few who have gone missing the truth about their disappearance is far grander than what people might be willing to believe in Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story.
Best friends Jeremy and Rafe went missing in Red Crow state forest in West Virginia as boys, mysteriously reappearing months later with no explanation for where they’d been or how they managed to survive, and even thrive. Years later, Jeremy has become a missing person investigator, specializing in lost girls and has gained a fair amount of fame for it. Searching for her long-missing sister, Emilie asks for Jeremy’s help in finding Shannon. Jeremy agrees to help Emilie with some confusing answers and enigmatically states that they’ll need the aid of Rafe, who has no memory of their time in Red Crow but who will be able to guide them where they need to go, if he’ll set aside his resentment of Jeremy’s abandonment of him and agree to help them. Once ready and setting out into the forest an entirely new quest awaits them all in a world more enchanted and fantastic than could be imagined or believed but with the wonder and magic comes a cost to be confronted before the possibility of any happily ever after might be enjoyed.
With complex characters who sling witty banter without a second thought, cultural references strewn throughout, and a search for a missing person that becomes a most magical quest, the story is captivating and enjoyable as it taps into the childhood joys of fairy tales for the adults who still want to believe. There’s a distinct division between the magic and nonmagic realms and rules governing the magic realm are made clear, presenting difficulties in traversing between them and in divulging information about it as a measure of protecting it and the beings who reside there; there was blurring between the realms through dreams and Rafe’s art and then through the so-called king of the Bright Boys who Rafe had to confront, which raised a heavy topic of abuse and the narrative handled that topic with care. The brief chapters of Storyteller interjections provided both levity and some added context, sometimes for background on the characters or more generally in relation to how fairy tales typically function and how this particular story may then deviate from the norm, which was an entertaining aside from the main narrative thread that helped to round out the story. The events toward the end of this story pointed toward hope of a reunion, which offered an opening for another adventure with this motley crew.
Overall, I’d give it a 5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Meg Shaffer delivers a touching, emotional tale of loss reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia with The Lost Story. Following The Wishing Game, Shaffer shows just how strong of a writer she is by blending real world drama with fantasy tropes that are classics of the genre. This story allows Shaffer to show her strengths as well as continue her growth as a writer and makes her another author that I will follow from now on.

If I could give this book all the stars in the sky, I would, but since this is just a book review, I am forced to give it 5/5.

I’m honestly a little disappointed that I read The Lost Story, now. It’s not even published (coming July 16th!) and now I have to wait…and wait…and wait…for book two. I love this book too much to have to sit around and wait, but I guess if Jeremy had to wait 15 years to go home, then I suppose I can do my best to wait for Meg Shaffer’s next book.

The Lost Story has everything; suspense, thriller, fantasy, horror, adventure, love, an emotional rollercoaster that makes you shamelessly smile out loud and crushed every little inch of your soul into the deepest depths of darkness… I know how it sounds, but I promise I’m not overreacting.

This book is incredible.

Come on now. It even has a map.

“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, books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.” The Lost Story, Meg Shaffer

Pure fairy tale magic. True delight of escapism.

So different from The Wishing Game--one of my fave books I read last year--but just as enthralling and endearing.

Story 5, Characters: 5, Engagement Level: 5
Recco?: yes!
Eve advice: Don't skip chapter 17!

Highlights:
- Something for everyone: mystery, fantasy, action, and romance -- it covered it all.
- Relationships: from friendships to family to romance, they were all complex and heartfelt with such a range of emotions
- Storyteller corner interjections: comical Princess Bride style but better
- Intriguing dropping breadcrumbs of the story along the way
- Fun pop culture reference from Stevie Nicks to Gilmore girls, Firefly, Hunger Games and more.

Midlights:
- Starts a bit creepy so I was worried that theme would carry forward, but thankfully it did not.

Lowlights:
- Ending left the door open--hope it's not a tease and there will be more stories.

Have been anticipating this title ever since I heard the author was writing another book and thrilled to have been able to read it and share my delight to entice future readers.

Favorite quotes
"I want to be courageous, I swear. I just would prefer to be courageous inside my house."

"If you've never believed any impossible things before, now is a good time to start."

"All books are magic. An object that can take you to
another world without even leaving your room? ... Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper not flesh and blood?"

"Yes books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is."

4.75 stars

The world-building in this story was absolutely amazing. And the characters? They were so complex and captivating I couldn't help but fall in love with them. The way the author explored friendships and romance was truly exquisite. I love that this book had all those cozy fairytale vibes, with a queen, princess, knights, unicorns, sword fighting, mermaids, magical land, and even a charming prince. Plus, this book tackled important issues like suicide, adoption, and family drama, which added depth and emotional resonance. And I absolutely loved the LGBTQ representation here. The writing style had me completely hooked from the beginning, especially when the storyteller directly addressed the reader. It added such a unique and engaging element to the story.

Bravo, Meg Shaffer. This was captivating from the start, very refreshing in comparison to other recent reads. It definitely had me wanting more and rooting for the characters.

I was very excited to read this book after absolutely loving Meg Shaffer's first book, however, it didn't seem to be as well done. I enjoyed the premise, going back to a special childhood place as adults, but it just seemed to fall flat when they actually went back. The beginning was great. I loved getting to know all the characters, the build up to the return wasn't bad, but when they actually returned it just felt like a middle grade book rather than an adult one. It came together a little too quickly, resolved too quickly, and then went into a happily ever after for far too long. I was a little confused as to why it had not ended until a last minute conflict followed by even more happily ever after.
It ended with, I think, a way to add another book but it definitely did not leave me wanting more. Not much character growth, despite 15 years passing, and too many loose ends that really didn't make much sense.

This is definitely a bit more magical than I first anticipated, but overall a great read. The story had everything from friendship, some romance, and of course some fantasy.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was SO close to being a better overall read, but a few things held it back. First, the good - the characters are likable, the fairytale vibe is enchanting, the love story is sweet. I mean, it was a "good" book. But just like her first book (which I could not finish for this one reason alone), this is an adult book written in such a middle-grade way. It lacks real depth, grit, or complexity. There is not enough tension for the story she's trying to tell. Just because you throw adult themes in a book - and here there's talk of suicide, kidnapping, domestic abuse, homophobia, drug addiction, and more - that doesn't make it an intellectually or emotionally layered journey fit for an adult audience. I mean, there is very little discernable difference between how the two male characters read on the page at 15yo and then later at 30yo. All this time has passed, and...so what? Same for their mutual female friend. And what is up with all of them? Are they a throuple? Why hint at that so heavily and then never take it anywhere? This happens a few times in the book, with plotlines just left hanging. The pacing of the story is also problematic. What I'm guessing is meant to be the main climax of the story (maybe??) is at about 60% into the book with a villain you can see a mile away, and it just kind of fizzles. The book then clunks along for another 40% of the time, with a few weak attempts at 3rd act conflicts and resolution. I liked the book enough to finish it, but it's probably not one I'll be putting near the top of my list for 2024. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced digital copy of The Lost Story.

“Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.” Meg Shaffer always does a beautiful job of writing books that make you feel like you are reading books from your childhood, but with the complexities and emotions of adult life. I absolutely loved this book! I laughed, I sobbed, and I was taken away into a magical world. This story has beautiful love of all kinds (romantic, sisterly, familial). I am a person who doesn’t read the back of books before reading (whoops), so when I first started this I really thought we were about to get Meg does a true crime book, but then I was suddenly flown into a magical world! I will say some parts did drone on for me while others felt rushed - but all that being said this is still a 5 star read for me! Also after that ending I really hope we get more to this story 👀👀

From the moment I picked up *The Lost Story* by Meg Schaeffer, I was completely hooked. The book takes readers to a magical world reminiscent of my favorite classic tales.

Inspired by *The Chronicles of Narnia*, this fairy tale for grown-ups follows best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, who disappear in a West Virginia forest. They return six months later with no memory of where they’ve been. Fifteen years later, Jeremy and Rafe must confront their past and return to the enchanted world they once knew.

What You Can Expect:
- 🌈 LGBTQ rep
- 👨‍👩‍👧 Found family
- 🎤 Stevie Nicks references
- 🐀 A cool pet rat
- 👑 Royalty, 🦄 Unicorns, and more

*The Lost Story* is a phenomenal read! I was captivated from start to finish. The enchanting atmosphere took me back to stories I loved as a child.

The interludes with the Storyteller reminded me of *The NeverEnding Story* and *The Princess Bride*. The book balances whimsy with tough topics like suicide, adoption, and family drama.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the #Arc.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book early. I loved the beginning, with Jack's special powers and the conflict between him and Rafe. I knew from the description that there would be a fairy tale element, but I didn't think too much about it. However I did lose interest a bit in that part. That is just me though! I am not as into fantasy as many others. Meg Shaffer is a great writer and I can't wait to read more.

((Rounding up from my rating of 3.5 stars.))

I wish I could have reviewed the two halves of this book separately. The first 45% was such a fun read— I couldn’t put it down and I gushed about it to tons of friends, who would also enjoy the silly banter, found family, queer MCs, and the very millennial references that were woven in. I was so excited to see where this one was headed and how the author would weave in the fantastical elements of the story that were clearly coming. It was cozy and quick at the same time. It was easily a five star start for me.

Then our three main characters stepped into the second half of the book, and the moment they stepped through the portal, the writing changed for me dramatically. For context, I have a middle grade reader at home, so I’m very familiar with that style. The second half of this book felt like it was written for that middle grade audience, for good narrative reason, but that reason wasn’t enough to keep me from feeling frustrated at the switch. I wanted so badly to love it but the magic and world building of the second half of the book felt so loose that I couldn’t get invested in the secondary stakes the book sets up. The topics are still aimed at adults (childhood abuse for being gay, for example), but the shift in writing was jarring for me. Please note there is a narrative reason for this shift, which would be a spoiler to share, so flagging that it may not be as troublesome for some readers as it was for me.

However, the characters were compelling and I still absolutely enjoyed my time with them. I just spent a lot of time in the second half of the book missing the writing from the first half, which felt as cozy and fun as Meg Shaffer‘s other novel, The Wishing Game (five stars for me).

If you liked the tone of the Wishing Game as much as I did, or if you enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia as a child, I think you’ll have a great time for the first half of the novel. It’s a quick read that I think would make an immersive vacation read this summer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the advance copy of The Lost Story.

Rating: 3.75/5

"The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer invites readers on an enchanting journey into a magical kingdom hidden within the depths of Red Crow State Forest. As Rafe and Jeremy stumble upon the portal during their youthful escapades, the narrative unfolds with a sense of wonder and discovery. While the slow-burn LGBTQ+ relationship between the protagonists lacks spicy moments, it adds depth and authenticity to their connection. Although character development could be more robust, and the pacing occasionally feels hurried, Shaffer's vivid storytelling captures the imagination, leaving readers yearning for more immersive world-building. Despite a slight dissonance between its adult fairy tale aspirations and whimsical nature, the enduring bond between Rafe and Jeremy shines as the novel's heart. Although the intermittent "storyteller corner" interjections may disrupt the flow for some, they add a unique touch to the narrative. Received as an ARC on NetGalley, "The Lost Story" from Ballantine Books is a captivating read that earns a commendable 3.75/5 rating.

4.5 rounded down. I enjoyed The Wishing Game but Meg Shaffer has topped it with her sophomore novel! The book was uniquely written with intermittent notes from “The Storteller” in between chapters, which I really enjoyed. There’s romance, amazing friendships, a magical adventure, and a wonderful fairy tale world. What more could you want?! Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for the ARC in consideration for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. This is a story about missing relatives and found family, rejection and redemption, love and loss. A rather sad version of the real world mixed with the most enchanting fairytale realm. I thought the use of the storyteller as a character was a brilliant way to tie it all together. The Wishing Game was interesting, but this story stole my heart. I will definitely read whatever Meg Shaffer writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this book. I’m not much of a fantasy or sci-fi reader but I did enjoy this book. Took me a while to finish it, but I Definitely recommend picking this book up

All the whimsy and magic of The Wishing Game has been rekindled in The Lost Story. This is truly a gift for those who have been looking for Narnia or waiting for their Hogwarts letter well into adulthood, but tainted with the darkness that a life lived offers.

I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of this novel through Netgalley and Ballantine books (thanks guys!) This book follows Emilie, who has lost her sister, even though she never knew her. It also follows Jeremy and Ralph, one who is good at finding and one who needs to be found. Oh yeah, and it also has a magic kingdom. This book on paper is exactly what I like, It involves magic, found family, discovering oneself, discovering a sense of belonging, pet rats, funny horses, and self aware third person. AND it is a fairy tale written for adults who loved books as children and love books now. HOWEVER. None of the characters felt round to me. Everyone had their little quirk, but they didn’t have any depth. I was super engaged until about 60% through, and then I felt like the story lost me. I’m so sad because The Wishing Game changed me, and this book didn’t quite meet my expectations. However, I did really enjoy my time in Shannandoah, and loved that Shaffer made West Virginia a magical place. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend, but it’s a great read if you chose to read it!

Such a beautiful story with wonderful characters and a great journey throughout the story. I loved following the characters throughout the story and the world-building. Definitely a good book to read!