The Story she Left Behind is about love lost and found. Clara Harrington's mother disappears when she is 8 years old. Her mother was an author.
Clara's life is shaped by her mother's disappearance. Clara becomes an illustrator. Fast forward 25 years, when Clara receives a call from someone in England who has information that belonged to her mother. Clara travels across the ocean and uncovers secrets that change the course of her life. Excellent book. ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I know that I’m in the minority on this, but this one was not for me. Though I did enjoy the exploration of mother/daughter relationships and the commentary on art, words, and stories, I found that overall, the story lacked any real urgency. Things moved slowly and despite the length, I found that several of the characters lacked much depth. I also found it very difficult to pull for the instalove romance that sees these two people ready to pledge their lives to one another after only 10 days of knowing each other.

Unfortunately, not a favorite. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Quick and Dirty
-1950s South Carolina and UK settings
-Mother/daughter storylines
-cozy mystery
-sweet love story subplot

As a long-time Patti Callahan Henry fan, I had very high hopes for this book. Lucky me, it did not disappoint! PCH has a knack for creating the coziest stories I want to live in and savor page by page. The central mystery of TSSLB kept me engaged and intrigued, but I stayed for the lovely relationships between the key characters. The mother/daughter storylines in this one hit hard, and the romance was extra sweet. And, of course, no PCH is complete without a little touch of magic. In the case of TSSLB, the magic of storytelling and the power of language were the central themes. I fell hard for the English countryside setting, envisioning tea parties and cozy characters from beloved childhood books. Overall, this book was everything I wanted and more, but it won’t be for everyone. Anyone who dislikes warm fuzzies and HEAs will probably want to look elsewhere.

This story is inspired by a true story of a successful author who went missing. Clara is 8 years old when her mother disappeared. Many years later she receives a call from a man who claims to have copies of Clara's mothers list language. Clara travels overseas with her daughter in hopes of finding out more about who her mother left behind. I was not familiar with the real life inspiration to this book so I found that really fascinating. I thought the story was well done but it did feel a bit slow at times.

At its best, this book felt magical and lush. The prose was lyrical and evocative, and it was easy to picture myself at each of the main locations of the book. The descriptions felt like you were walking onto the page itself. However, I struggled with Clara. She continued to make naive decisions, and it felt like the only time the plot moved forward was after these moments. It never felt like she herself was getting further into the mystery. The last 10-15% of the book felt like an info dump with a convenient ending. I’m not sure you can get over 25 years of pain and feeling in one day and decide you’re going to forgive and move on. Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel!

I absolutely loved this book. The author has such a way with her storytelling - being both descriptive and imaginative. I savored this book from the beginning to the very satisfying end. 4.5 stars

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a beautiful, well thought out and spellbinding book. Patti Callahan Henry does historical fiction the best. This story is about abandonment, lost love, childhood trauma, as well as new found love and hope. I suggested this book for our bookclub this month and everyone loved it.

The Story She Left Behind is a book about imagination. Unfortunately the plot lacked creativity. What little plot there was emulated The Secret Life of Flora Lea, like the hiding in plain sight twist.

Dislikes:
* It wasn’t obvious the book was set in the 1950’s until page 60
* There was no chemistry between Clara & Charlie
* I didn’t really care for the characters or their journey

Read if you like:
✨ 3 Generations of women
✨ Book about Books
✨ Dreamy settings
✨ South Carolina & England
✨ Atmospheric writing
✨ Magical realism
✨ Small town
✨ Mystery

I liked that I learned about The Great Smog of London. Also, the acknowledgement of the treatment of women during this time period.

The Story She Left Behind is a beautifully crafted story that captivated me from beginning to end. One of the standout aspects of the book is its intricate storytelling. The author masterfully weaves together multiple narratives, creating a tapestry of stories that intertwine seamlessly. This layered approach adds depth and keeps the reader engaged as connections between the characters and events unfold like pieces of a puzzle.
The characters are richly developed, with each voice distinct and compelling. Their experiences and emotions resonate, making it easy for the reader to become invested in their journeys. The interplay between past and present is handled with finesse, allowing the story to build with suspense and emotional impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced read copy of this book!

Patti Callahan Henry has quickly become one of my favorite authors! Like many of her previous books, The Story She Left Behind weaves together a heart-warming tale with historical fiction elements with small hints of fantasy and romance tied in.

The book takes place in the 1950's and follows Clara Harrington as she picks up the pieces of her past and moves forward to build a future from past hurts for her and her daughter. Beginning in South Carolina and ending England, Clara shares about a childhood centered around her mother's disappearance. When Clara receives a call that missing components to her mother's manuscripts and a dictionary of her secret language have been discovered in London, she quickly travels with her daughter across the ocean and is thrown into an adventure to solve the mystery to her lost mother. Full of such hope and healing, this book is a beautiful read!

This book was pure magic.

It opens in 1927 with young Clara Harrington’s world upended by the mysterious disappearance of her mother, a literary prodigy who became famous for a novel written in an invented language. The grief, the unanswered questions, the need to understand who her mother really was...all of it sets the stage for a gorgeously layered mystery that unfolds decades later in 1952, when Clara (now a mother herself) is contacted by a stranger who claims to have found a dictionary of that lost language.

What follows is part literary mystery, part emotional journey, and all beautifully written. Patti Callahan Henry’s prose is enchanting and immersive. The story pulled me in completely, and I didn't want it to end. Now I will have to go back and read The Secret Book of Flora Lea stat.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Story She Left Behind tells the tale of a woman searching for the mother who abandoned her when she was 8 years old, though it is so much more complex than that. Intricately written and historically told, TSSLB is a captivating tale of the longing in all of us. I found the pacing to be a bit slow in parts and had trouble continuing the book once I reached the mid point. However, once I picked it up again I could not put it down. Overall it was a gem to read!

This book took me a little while to settle into, but once I got there I was in it! Yet another incredible read from Patti Callahan Henry and it most certainly won't be my last read from her!

Another winner from Patti! The magic, mystery, dreamy setting and endearing characters hooked me and kept me reading till the end!!

This heart-warming historical mystery was based on a real-life mystery of an author who goes missing. The main character, Clara, sets off on an adventure with her daughter to uncover the mystery of her mother's life and the story she wrote in her own made-up language. The novel takes place in South Carolina, London, and the Lake District in England. The setting is described in rich detail, and I enjoyed reading about all of these places. The story also includes the Great Fog of 1952. I've never heard about the London Fog, but I loved the historical aspect of the novel. The storyline was gripping, and I had trouble putting this one down. The only negative thing was that I didn't feel the chemistry between Charlie and Clara. Charlie seemed enamored by Clara, but it didn't come off as mutual, as Clara was much more occupied by discovering her mother's story. This may have been the author's intention, but I had trouble believing that 10 days with Charlie changed Clara's life. Overall, I enjoyed reading The Story She Left Behind and intend to read more books by Patti Callahan Henry. I recommend The Story She Left Behind to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, or mysteries. 4/5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this free digital arc in exchange for my unbiased review.

I love so many of Patti Callahan Henry's books - The Story She Left Behind mixes family drama with historical fiction that starts in Bluffton, SC and takes the reader on an adventure to London as Clara tries to find clues about a manuscript written by her lost mother. I found this book a little simplistic in comparison to some of Henry's other works. A sweet, easy to read family saga...

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

Thank you very much to the publisher and to netgalley! What a lovely book with a lovely cover! I have loved ALL of Patti Callahan Henry's books and her writing really works for me. I loved the atmosphere, the mother daughter story and overall the message of the book. This has romance, adventure and mystery. Now I need to go back and reread with the audiobook which is narrated by Julia Whelan!

Title: The Story She Left Behind
Author: Patti Callahan Henry
Narrated by: Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 12 hours and 26 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio. Thank-you!

What's the most beautiful book cover you own? I think the cover of The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is beautiful.

In 1927, a devastating fire burned down young Clara’s house, but even more devastating, her mother disappeared shortly after. Now in 1952, Clara is a single mother raising her daughter Wynnie. She is contacted by a mysterious Englishman, Charlie, who tells her that he has discovered her mother’s lost dictionary in his late father’s library. Clara’s mother, Bronwyn, is a famous author who wrote her first novel at the age of 12. Her second book is in her made-up language and has been unable to be translated. Will this dictionary be able to help translate the second novel? Will Clara be able to find out whatever happened to her mother?

My thoughts on this novel:

• I read this in March for the Brenda Novak Book Group. It was a great Facebook meeting at the end of the month and interview of author Patti Callahan Henry.

• This was an intriguing story that had everything – a literary mystery, family, beauty of nature, wandering the world, love, etc.

• The audiobook was great, and it kept me intrigued on some long drives for work last month. I enjoyed that there were two main narrators.

• The riveting story of the London Smog showing the real danger during that time period in London, especially for those with asthma. The main characters have to make a harrowing journey to get out of London. It was fun during the Brenda Novak interview that Patti Callhan Henry discussed the smog episode of The Crown, which was excellent. When I was teaching an environmental compliance class, I taught about this event as it was a precursor to our Clean Air Act. Environmental regulations don’t come out of the blue. Usually, a tragedy occurred that killed people and spurred new laws to be written.

• I was fascinated by the author’s note at the end. The story was based on real life author Barbara Newhall Follett. Follett was a child prodigy and disappeared never to be seen again when she was 25 years old.

• I loved the fairy tale like feel when Clara and Wynnie visit the Lake District in England. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the scenery, and it really made me want to visit the Lake District.

• There was also a fun exploration of children, make believe, and magical worlds.
Overall, The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautiful historical literary mystery. I thought the descriptions were beautiful and story was very engaging.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea was my introduction to Patti Callahan Henry, and I was completely captivated by her beautiful writing. Naturally, I was eager to read more of her work, and The Story She Left Behind did not disappoint — it’s another breathtaking, beautifully crafted novel. I think I’ve found a new favorite author.

The story is set in 1952, years after the mysterious disappearance of Clara’s mother — a renowned author who, remarkably, published her first book at age twelve. Though Clara still holds the sequel to her mother’s book, it was written in a language only her mother understood, leaving Clara with more questions than answers. For years, she has longed to uncover the truth about her mother’s fate.

When a new lead surfaces, Clara and her daughter set off from South Carolina to London, where the search for answers begins. Along the way, she meets Charlie, and the mystery of her mother’s disappearance slowly unfolds.

I don’t feel like words can fully capture just how special this book is. While it is firmly rooted in historical fiction, there’s a quiet, almost magical quality to the storytelling that sweeps readers into a deeply moving journey of personal discovery and long-awaited answers to a decades-old mystery.