This novel wasn’t quite what I expected. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a YA or middle-grade book. The alternating POV between Libby and Peanut wasn’t my favorite—I found it confusing, especially with similarities to Blue Skies and The Fallen Children. I also found it somewhat anxiety-inducing. I would have preferred if the story focused solely on either Libby’s struggles with her dementia diagnosis or Peanut’s journey to help her favorite author finish a beloved book series. The crossover between these plots didn’t work for me, and I struggled to get into the story. My heart broke for Peanut throughout. While I knew this would be about an author, I didn’t expect the book and its characters to take up so much of the plot. Overall just wasn’t my cup of tea, but I think the author did a good job of bringing all of the characters to life. Many thanks to the publishers & NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly did not make it very far in this title. When the author talked about Libby not finding her "partner" yet, it made me concerned about the agenda behind the book. So I quit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this title.

I love a book about books but for some reason, this one didn't hit for me. I think the story within the story became a little confusing and the ending was a bummer. I didn't dislike it but I really wanted to like it more than I did.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy to review.

I didn’t devour this book until just over the half way mark and not sure why it took me one month to read despite the fact I was enjoying so many parts of it. I got lost in the flow of the story a few times and skipped over the plots of The Falling Children. A good read all in all

***Booth cushions the blow of the main protagonist's early-onset Alzheimer's with a zany romp, lots of love for books, and heartwarming, unexpected friendships.***

Elaborate mythology swirls around the mysterious author of the blockbuster fantasy series The Falling Children, which was written under a pen name, F. T. Goldhero, and fans dream up fantastical stories about the writer and his life. He is often assumed to be living in outrageously wealthy fashion in a European castle.

But the real-life author behind the books is unassuming Libby Weeks, holed up in her apartment with her dog. She is private, isolated, lacking in self-esteem--and when she was starting out, she naively signed away most of her rights to the millions the series later garnered.

Now Libby has hit a writing wall. She's allowed the falling children to work themselves into a seemingly impossible conundrum that is sure to lead to their deaths, and she can't determine how to extricate them. She's months late delivering the newest installment of the series, and her publisher and fans are losing patience, to the point that online message boards, then newspapers, begin printing threats and promises to unveil the author's true identity and force a conclusion to the books.

But Libby receives a devastating diagnosis that changes everything: early-onset Alzheimer's. As she's reeling from the news and considering her potential legacy and the fate of the falling children, she becomes obsessed with finishing her book...but she's going to need some help.

Enter superfan Peanut Brixton--who may be even more familiar with The Falling Children books than Libby herself. Libby sets out with her dog on a quest to seek Peanut's wisdom...but she's starting to lose the plot of her own life, and the loner is in need of support that's far greater than writing inspiration.

The cover of Libby Lost and Found struck a light-fiction chord for me. The tone of the book is often playful--but dark humor often surrounds Libby's diminishing memory, and countless who's-on-first types of conversations occur as a result. This is a zany romp, as Libby's determination to push on to an ending for her series combines with her lack of commanding details around the mission she has set out on to cause upheaval at every turn.

The story is a quick read and somewhat of whirlwind. It often felt like a young-adult story because of the significant focus on young Peanut and her own challenges. Libby Lost and Found holds a tragic illness at its center, with lots of heart and redemption softening the blow.

I received a prepublication copy of Libby Lost and Found courtesy of NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

Libby Lost and Found is Stephanie Booth's first book.

𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝
𝐁𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏𝟎.𝟏𝟓.𝟐𝟒

I’m amazed that this is a debut novel! It is an imaginative, intelligent, and emotional story within a story—a true book lover's delight.

Libby Weeks is the author of the ultra-famous fantasy series The Falling Children. However, she hides behind the pen name F.T. Goldhero for her privacy. Libby lives a very lonely life, save for her dog.

The publisher and fans worldwide await the series's final installment; the children need saving. But Libby has just received a devastating diagnosis: early-onset dementia. Who will save the children now?

Enter Peanut Bixton, an eleven-year-old superfan of The Falling Children series. She has probably emailed F.T. Goldhero a million times about saving the children. But when Libby sends the wrong email to Peanut, their paths collide, and the results are nothing less than magical.


We talk about hugging books, and this one deserves it. Not only is the story of The Falling Children beautifully woven throughout, but Libby and Peanut’s unlikely friendship and unique connection is incredibly heartwarming. Both have hardship and heartache, yet they find solace in books and stories. I felt a gamut of emotions while reading this, but my heart was full when I closed the book.

𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿𝑖𝑏𝑏𝑦 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑!

Thank you @bookmarked and @stephanieboothwrites for this gifted book and ebook via Netgalley.

Thank you, #RBmedia, for the gifted audiobook. It was enchanting and I highly recommend it to audiobook lovers.

This book was so sad. So so sad and depressing from the start to the end. I stuck with it because I wanted to see how things ended and I thought things would turn around. I had some ideas for directions it might go. It did not. It stayed sad. I have learned this year that if a book is described as heartwarming, it probably isn’t for me and this wasn’t an exception. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.

I would not recommend this book to people who like a straightforward narrative with a single focus. This book is actually two stories which are not exactly tied together while still maintaining a delicate balance.

Libby is a famous author of a series that has a crazed fan following. The complex world of ‘The Falling Children’ was so involved from the very beginning that I had to check to make sure I was not missing a prequel or something. The author does a great job of making it feel like we are the reader, can be part of the fandom by all the brief looks we get into the world and the parallels that are drawn. The author could even do a spin-off with the world within the fictional book.

I would have liked this book even better if not for the romantic relationship that felt just plain weird. There was not much reason for the relationship to turn out that way just to ensure a happy ending, but that just might be me.

Libby is having trouble finishing the series because of multiple reasons. While grasping at straws, she ends up meeting a mega fan called Peanut. This decision to meet and ask for help has unexpected consequences which ultimately all work out.

I would recommend this book to people who like to have to think a little on their feet as they read but still want a happy ending. I would definitely try another book by the author, maybe even the actual Falling Children series?

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This was an entertaining but strange story about a famous but anonymous children's author with dementia and a young girl who is a super fan. It reminded me a little of Backman's "My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologizes". I enjoyed the book, but was disappointed with the ending as it left me wanting more (and not in a good way). That said it was still a fun read, worthy of my time. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 3.5/5!

Love the recommendation for a customer who liked Lessons in Chemistry. Customers will connect with the themes of found family and loss. It’s on our bestseller wall and we will be sure to recommend this to our literary fiction customers.

Quirky, unique, and enjoyable, Libby Lost and Found is not your usual author-has-writer’s-block-and-her-book-is-past-deadline story! I loved the setup details: a terribly insecure, shy, socially awkward woman writes a children’s fantasy novel that becomes universally popular (under a pseudonym, of course). With the support of her publishing team, the author’s identity continues to remain a secret as the subsequent book installments become the wildly popular Falling Children series and spawn the clothing, gear, and accessories enticing children and teens everywhere. But how will Libby complete the long-demanded final book in the series as her early onset dementia and memory loss stifle her? In a lucid moment, she forges a solution: Fans to the rescue! An adult novel with humor and heart, this novel wasn’t perfect, but quite enjoyable.

This story has such an interesting concept. I was drawn in from the start.

Libby Weeks is the author of The Falling Children (think the Harry Potter fanatics times 100)! She writes under the name F.T. Goldenhero. The only people who know are in her publishing world. She is way behind on her latest edition and the world is growing edgy with anticipation. Libby lives a very quiet, lonely life filled with fear and anxiety and now, she is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. Her children, as she calls the book characters, are stuck in a very bad situation in the latest book and she is at a loss, mentally and otherwise, to save them. When she comes across a letter, one of many, from 9 year old Peanut Bixton, she believes Peanut can save the book. She is the number one fan after all. She flies to Peanut's little town and then things go off the rails. Peanut has her own story. She is such a wonderful spunky character. When a wealthy man offers a million dollars for whoever finds out the true identity of Goldenhero, people go crazy. Will the truth come out? Will the book be finished and the children be saved?

You will have to read for yourself. You will not be disappointed. Ms. Booth has created not just a sweet story about family but also a fantastic fantasy world where the children live in a toy store and so much more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy for review.

For those of us who’ve ever been totally drawn in to a story and worried about the characters weeks later, this novel is for you.

A children’s book author who was just diagnosed with dementia is desperate to finish book 6 of her series before her memory completely leaves her. In a panic she finds a young fan who knows her characters and plot and enlists her help in writing the ending.

There are a few gaps in the story that are noticeable and disconcerting but the main characters seem true to the novel. The ending was an interesting way to tidy it all up but it works with the storyline.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC to read and review.

This book was emotional and imaginative and closely resonated with me as someone who has had close family deal with dementia. I think that Libby trying to deal with her diagnosis, reality and life with work is something that is so common because she just wants to finish her last book. Her relationship with Peanut is my favorite part. The humor in this book was well placed and made it not so dark

4.5 stars

Libby is a middle-aged author of a childrens/ya fantasy series called The Falling Children. Libby was also just diagnosed with early onset dementia. In struggling to write the last book in her series, she is also struggling to remember a lot of different things, like her dog at the dog park for example. She takes to reaching out to a fan for help on how to finish the book. Since she writes under F.T. Goldhero, she acts as though she is Goldhero's assistant on this quest.

Peanut is starting Junior High and is obsessed with the Falling Children. She writes fan mail to Goldhero saying she knows the perfect ending to the series. When she starts school, she loses her best friend and has a rough start to the school year. The only thing she enjoys is working with Libby to help F.T. figure out the ending.

With a variety of characters, this story can break your heart and put it back together again. This found family is everything you'd want them to be. Secrets unravel and hard subjects are tackled, but it really makes you think about the struggles people go through that you may not see.

I didn't want to put this one down! I tried to find time to listen to the audio so I knew where it was headed. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Libby lost and found had an interesting synopsis that made me instantly want to read the book; famous author Libby is struggling to finish her book while dealing with a dementia diagnosis and finds help from a young fan of her book series who knows her characters as well as she does. The opening of the story hooked me I instantly liked Libby’s character and the authenticity she had as she struggled through life. Peanut was a likeable character as she was introduced as well. However after the first 20% of the story it all started to fall apart and became a jumbled story with to much happening while also nothing happened to move the story along. I stuck with the book only to see if the author somehow wove it all back together and had an interesting surprise conclusion but the ending was a let down and didn’t make any sense. There are serious plot holes in this story but it started with so much potential.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. i think this was an important read for me with having people in my family with the same kinds of disease and it was somehow comforting. it was well written and i would read another by her.

This book centers around Libby, a lonely woman struggling with dementia, but also a best selling author who writes under a different name. I loved Libby more than I think I have ever loved another character…. And Libby did it all! She made me laugh, made me cry, made me mad… she gave me emotional whiplash and I loved every bit of it.

This one felt a little disjointed to me. There were parts that felt super repetitive, and the structure of the book within a book didn't always work for me. There's a possibility that Booth was trying to create this effect because the story is centered around a young woman who has dementia, but as a reader, it just felt like I was reading the same part of a story over and over again. I did love all of these characters and felt like they were pretty unique. But I felt like there was going to be a bigger payoff at the end, and I was just left disappointed. Not sure if this is just me being dense, but I didn't really understand why some of the setting was the same as Libby's novel. Was the entire thing just a figment of her imagination? I hate having questions like this at the end, because it makes me feel like I missed something. This book just didn't gel for me, and as much as I liked all the nods to fantasy fans and the world of Harry Potter, I probably won't be recommending this one to other readers.

Sometimes its OK to believe without knowing why.

Once upon a time there was an enormously popular fantasy series written for children (but adored equally by adults) called the Falling Children mysteries, featuring fearless Everlee, laid back Red Vines-chomping Benjamin and sensitive Huperzine as they have adventures and outsmart the villainous Unstopping. Who authors the series is the biggest mystery of all….someone known only by the pseudonym of F. T. Goldhero, but whose real identity has remained a secret throughout the publication of the first five books in the series. The sixth and final installment is due out (it is, in fact, decidedly overdue) and speculation is rampant as to when it will be published and what it will contain between its covers. There is a really big problem, though, of which even the publishers are unaware….:Libby Weeks, the highly anxious forty year old woman without family or friends from whose imagination sprang the Falling Children has just been diagnosed with dementia. For the past few months Libby has been forgetting the keys to her apartment, the password for her email, even leaving her canine companion Rolf behind at a dog park….and she has found herself with a partial manuscript that has the Falling Children in a terrible pickle and she has no idea how to finish the story. As the online clamor reaches deafening heights, Libby (well, technically F. T. Goldhero) receives an email from a Falling Children superfan, 11 year old precocious social outcast Pandora “Peanut” Bixton, who technically lives in the small town of Blue Skies, Colorado, but prefers to inhabit her imagination, writing her own stories and reading the Falling Children books over and over and over again. In the email Peanut tells her hero that she herself could write the final Falling Children book in just days, so there is no reason why Goldhero can’t just finish the darned book. Libby thinks that maybe this is the solution to her problem, and sets out to meet Peanut and see if together they can’t save the Children and their world from a horrible end, finish the book at last and maybe usher in a happy ending for themselves too.
There are so many of us in the world, readers who fell in to a make-believe world and wanted to stay there at least for a while. Was it the Chronicles of Narnia, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Harry Potter? Especially for the last, with its midnight book release parties at bookstores worldwide and people creating quidditch leagues, the mania surrounding the Falling Children books, its mysterious author and its long overdue conclusion is all too believable. But that is only part of the appeal of this novel. With characters like Libby and Peanut, both of whom are far happier living within the stories they create than in the messy and unkind world in which they spend their days, the reader’s sympathies are engaged.as each struggles to make connections and find happiness. A fickle former best friend for Peanut, a possible love interest for Libby whose profession could prove catastrophic to her anonymity, and the anachronistic community of Blue Skies where their lives collide are all part of the many elements in this charming story chronicling the fears of flawed people and the lives they yearn to have. This is a must read for anyone who has considered fictional characters friends or has enjoyed the escape of a world within the pages of a favorite book, as well as for those who have enjoyed the books of Jasper Fforde, Elizabeth Berg and Ronald Dahl. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me early access to this clever story which wears its heart on its sleeve..