“Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is”.

Meg Shaffer did it again. She created a wonderful magical story full of hope, love and books. I’m utterly obsessed with the way she writes. It is a stunning book to read.
I did prefer The Wishing Game and felt like the plot was easily predictable but it was still magical. The romance in here was to die for and the found family trope so well done. The ending was PERFECT. The last few sentences are permanently inked to my brain. I cried of course. It’s Meg’s personal magic trick.

As a huge fan of the Wayward Children series by Seanan Maguire, this sounded right up my alley. It followed the same premise but that was okay with me because I was expecting this to be written more for adults.

It wasn't. 

Here's the thing...the beginning started off great. I loved that the young boys had aged to nearly 30 in their 15 years of being back and were figuring out a way to return.  I was ready for adult themes, dialog, mature queer romance, mystery, and knock me on my ass magical world building.

None of those things happened.

In fact, the Wayward Children series is more grown up, fleshed out, unique, and grappled with characters far more complex than this book even came close to. 

Instead, we got 30 year old men talking and acting like high schoolers. A weird uninteresting side character who just drove the plot to where it needed to go next, and some kinda foofoo ding dong let's make the bad guys go poof with a nose boop "magical land". Ugh. It was such a let-down. Especially once I got halfway into the book. But let it be said that the first 1/4th of the book had such promise!

Also, the whole narrator bit was unnecessary. 

The more I think about this book, the more convinced I am that it was written by a 9th grader.

I'm sorry that this was a total miss for me because I truly appreciate that I was granted the privilege by Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group: Ballantine to receive this ARC for my honest feedback and review.

I was such a fan of Shaffer’s last book that I had to read this one as soon as I heard about it. If you love Narnia, this is just your type of book! I plan to offer it as an option for my Children’s Lit class.

This is my new favorite book of all time. No exaggeration.

The plot…incredible.
The characters…well rounded, lovable, unique
Writing…extremely entertaining, funny, heartfelt.

The whimsy, magic, strong FMCs, representation, wonderful MMC, magical realism…it’s everything I want in a book.

I hope this is a series because I need to submerge into Shenandoah again 😭

Easy read. Enjoyed the theme of the magic of a book. This book may be difficult for some to read especially child abuse. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

4.25/5

Two teenage boys disappear for 6 months in the wild woods and mysteriously return with no recollection of where they’ve been. Years later, one of the boys has grown into a tracker with a reputation of finding lost women drawing the attention of the FMC who recently learned she has a missing half sister that she never knew who disappeared 15 years prior and suddenly the last begins to reveal. What if he had known where he was this whole time, and what if it was some place no one could ever have imagined?

A surprise take on the lion witch and wardrobe that I enjoyed thoroughly.

A beautiful book about love, family, fairytale kingdoms, and the love of stories. I really enjoyed this. I will be thinking of these characters for a while. While some heavy subjects are touched on, the book remains light. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a light fairytale read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was magic - really!

I was drawn in by the idea of a grown-up Narnia because as a kid I legit would walk in the forest or check wardrobe just hoping to get sucked in and I never really have grown out of it. I am happy to say this book did deliver on that concept. I really felt transported to this world and the characters were fantastic.

Good news it did close out nicely but also has promise for further stories - just the perfect kind of wrap up. I will definitely be checking out the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy!

Full disclosure: I never read “Chronicles of Narnia” nor did I see the movie, so I went into this book with zero expectations. I read MS’s
The Wishing Game” last year and thought it was a good book, and wanted to give her next book a chance. While not a genre I normally pick up, I think fans of fantasy won’t be disappointed with this read.

“The Lost Story” follows two boys turned men, Jeremy and Rafe, who at 15 disappear in a Red Crowe State Forest and aren’t found for six months. Only Jeremy remembers where they were during that time, and refuses to speak of it until someone comes to him for help finding their long lost sister. A sister, who unbeknownst to her, has special ties to their disappearance years ago.

This book is much heavier in the fantasy aspect than MS’s last book ‘The Wishing Game”, and as that’s not something I normally read, it took a little more for me to get through this book. The author’s writing style is great for this, very descriptive to help the reader form the world she’s built in their imagination.

The main reason I picked this book up is because in her last novel, Ms. Shaffer built these personal, beautiful stories within her world of fantasy, and she did a great job of incorporating them in this story as well. I love nothing better than reading a book that can tug at my heartstrings and was not disappointed.

However, there were definitely some slow parts of this book for me. I don’t know if it’s just that I don’t love fantasy books in general, or if they were truly slow, but there were times I was a bit bored. I also think the stories start off slow, and it takes a dedicated reader to keep going. Knowing I felt the same with her last book, I kept reading but not sure everyone else will do the same.

Because of this, I go back and forth between a 3 and 4 star rating. I think those unlike me who have read and are fans of Narnia will probably love this book.

meg shaffer won my heart with her debut novel but this was no exception. this was such a beautiful fairytale. found family and love is present althroughout

Thanks to Netgalley & Random House Publishing- Ballantine for the E-ARC! Loved this so much!! Beautifully written. I also loved the whole vibes of this story. Favorite author!

"The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer is a captivating and enchanting tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, fantasy, and adventure. Shaffer's vivid prose transports readers to a world filled with magic, danger, and the power of friendship.

The story follows best friends Jeremy and Rafe, who mysteriously vanished in a West Virginia forest as boys, only to reappear six months later with no memory of their ordeal. Now, years later, Jeremy is a renowned missing persons' investigator, while Rafe has become a reclusive artist still haunted by the scars of their past.

When vet tech Emilie Wendell seeks Jeremy's help to find her missing sister, the trio embarks on a journey filled with twists and turns as they confront the secrets of their shared past. Shaffer skillfully crafts a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending suspense and emotion in equal measure.

What sets "The Lost Story" apart is its imaginative world-building and compelling characters. From the magical realm where Jeremy and Rafe spent six months to the intricacies of their relationships, every aspect of the story feels richly developed and immersive.

Overall, "The Lost Story" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end. Shaffer's blend of mystery and fantasy creates a spellbinding tale that lingers in the imagination long after the final chapter.

Thanks so much to #netgalley and #randomhouse for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy of The Lost Story, which releases July 16th!

Admittedly, I went in completely blind to this book. (Shocker, I know) And I was so excited to find out it is set in West - by God! - Virginia! This book immediately drew me in with Emilie's inability to filter her thoughts before she said them, and Jeremy's British charm and Rafe's level headed sad, sort of calm. The banter was top-notch, and I really enjoyed the world building and them entering Shanondoah. This was a sort of play on Chronicles of Narnia. The author actually notes that she got the idea for the book when she set her Lord of the Flies book next to Chronicles of Narnia. I expected Emilie to be the main character, but somewhere along the lines, I believe it ended up being Rafe. I think once I saw where this was going, I expected it to be a little bit more whimsical, but it ended up having a very important real-life undertone of something people experience all the time. The pressures of living up to parental expectations and how that shapes us. With some whimsy thrown in. Something about the last 15% of the book didn't click with me, I can't decide if the ending felt rushed, drawn out, or somehow both. But if you like the story of Narnia and you love characters with good playful banter, then I definitely recommend you check it out when it releases in July and see for yourself.

For me, this was a 3.5 ⭐️ book, but I definitely want to check out Meg Shaffer's other books.

After being completely enamored with Meg Shaffer's debut novel, The Wishing Game, I was so excited to get my hands on her next book! The Lost Story is modern fairy tale for grown-ups who still dream of the imaginary worlds they created on the pages of their wide-ruled notebooks as kids complete with castles, knights, and an occasional unicorn.

Jeremy and Rafe are best friends who go missing in the woods of West Virginia for 6 months and then return home. Fifteen years later, Jeremy has become a well-known finder of the lost and is approached by Emilie, who is looking for her sister who went missing in the same forest as the boys. He has become estranged from Rafe who can't remember anything from the time they were missing. Ultimately they set out together to return to the forest and seek answers as to what happened long ago and how Emilie's sister is connected.

What follows is a story of love conquering hate with the choice to follow hope over fear. It is a story of friendship, love, and family on a delightfully imaginative backdrop of a hidden world there for those that need it and seek it. The imagery in this story was unbelievable. I could picture every part of this colorful, magical world and it gave me a sense of peace and calm as a I read it. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for this preview in exchange for my honest review. I feel so lucky I got to experience this beautiful book ASAP!

I am struggling to find the words to describe how much I loved this book. It blew me away. Absolutely blew me away. It was magic, pure and simple. Complete and utter magic. The story itself is beautifully written. It was The Chronicles of Narnia meets Peter Pan meets Lord of the Flies meets Harlan Coben. A wild combo I’m throwing at you but trust me, it works. The intermittent narration kept the story moving so the entire book flowed flawlessly. I loved the main characters, especially Rafe and Jeremy - their relationship is everything. I loved the way all the characters interacted and loved one another. I loved the way the story ended, leaving us open to the possibility of a sequel? Please? Because I need more. That, I think, is my only complaint about this book. It needed more. More descriptions of the scenery, more background of how everything came to be, more about the secondary characters, more about Rafe and Jeremy’s first visit, and just generally more of the story. But what we were given is a gift and I’m so grateful for it. Wow. Just. Wow.

Incredible novel. I felt transported through this book. Narnia vibes but even better! I would highly recommend this book for a sweet easy read.

Beautiful, magical, fantastical. I felt the inspiration from Narnia, and other classics like Peter Pan, the Princess Bride, etc. and yet, it was unique and fresh and modern.

We follow Emilie, who is seeking the help of famous missing-person’s investigator, Jeremy to find her sister.
The catch is, she never actually met her. But reluctant Jeremy, in fact, has. Enter recluse Rafe, who along with Jeremy was once a missing person, but can’t remember a thing about his past. Together they begin a journey that means something very different to each of them.

I loved the ominous, uncertainty in the beginning and middle. The banter between Emilie and Jeremy felt like a romcom, but the pacing gave me thriller. It was an absolute page turner. And once we meet Rafe, everything turned on its head, but became even more enjoyable. The characters’ relationships were complex but sweet and satisfying. I also have to mention that I loved being pulled out of the story by “the storyteller”. It reminded me of The Princess Bride movie when the grandfather checks in with his grandson. It was totally a nostalgia hit of dopamine. 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy, and the chance to share my unbiased review!

I was so excited to read this second book by Meg Shaffer after loving her debut novel The Wishing Game. After finishing this one, I can say that I have all the warm fuzzies again!

This one ties in Narnia and follows the adult versions of Rafe and Jeremy, two boys who went missing as teenagers and then suddenly reappeared. Emilie has hired Jeremy to find her half-sister who has been presumed dead for over twenty years. By doing this, Rafe, Jeremy, and Emilie began a journey into a wonderful land where many secrets are revealed.

There were several times in the end of the book where I felt all the emotions -- sadness, love, and the whole "Awwww..." feeling.

I highly recommend reading this book if you believe in fairy tales and happily ever afters.

I LOVED the chronicals of Narnia when I was a kid, so I was so excited to read this “modern day fairy tale.” I thought it was a nice mix of dark and twisty (kidnapped girls, mean dads) and magical and beautiful. I loved the characters and the world of Shanandoah. I loved the idea of the magic pencil. I love the relationships in the book (kids and parents, sisters, Jeremy and Rafe).

I loved this book. It was a very fun fantasy read. I'm really hoping there will be a second! No smut but romance, found family LGBT friendly.