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The Lost Story
Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the back of wardrobes—just in case—from the author of The Wishing Game.
As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.
Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.
Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.
As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.
Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.
Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 16, 2024
About the author
Meg Shaffer
3 books2,416 followersMeg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,101 reviews
April 10, 2024
4.5 Stars!
In West Virginia, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing and vanished during an end of school field trip to Red Crow State Forest. They were gone long enough that people had stopped referring them as missing and now called them lost. They mysteriously reappeared six months later. They were in perfect health. They were taller, stronger with bright eyes and clear skin. How did they survive?
Fifteen years later Jeremy becomes a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a reclusive artist who lives in a cabin in the woods. He has scars inside and out and can't remember how he got them.
This book was such a delight!
The world where this book took me to was just amazing. It was so beautiful! Here is a sneak peak of the description of the Painted Sea. The shore off Painted Sea was swirled with colors, like a child had spilled their jar of rainbow sand everywhere. Pinks and Blues and Greens and Purples. The water was so clear that you could see through it like a window. Small Silver Dolphins and lazy rays played in the surf.
The trees in this world soared a thousand feet too tall. The trunks a hundred feet. These trees had leaves every color of Easter, pink and green and blue and yellow and white. They looked like the trees you might have scribbled as a child with fat Crayola markers to color one tree. Yes, these were a child's imaginary trees made real somehow.
This book was inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. This amazing novel is an adult fairytale. I loved her book, The Wishing Game and I loved this one even more. It was my favorite adult fairytale. I loved all the characters. They all were well done.
I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In West Virginia, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing and vanished during an end of school field trip to Red Crow State Forest. They were gone long enough that people had stopped referring them as missing and now called them lost. They mysteriously reappeared six months later. They were in perfect health. They were taller, stronger with bright eyes and clear skin. How did they survive?
Fifteen years later Jeremy becomes a missing persons investigator and Rafe is a reclusive artist who lives in a cabin in the woods. He has scars inside and out and can't remember how he got them.
This book was such a delight!
The world where this book took me to was just amazing. It was so beautiful! Here is a sneak peak of the description of the Painted Sea. The shore off Painted Sea was swirled with colors, like a child had spilled their jar of rainbow sand everywhere. Pinks and Blues and Greens and Purples. The water was so clear that you could see through it like a window. Small Silver Dolphins and lazy rays played in the surf.
The trees in this world soared a thousand feet too tall. The trunks a hundred feet. These trees had leaves every color of Easter, pink and green and blue and yellow and white. They looked like the trees you might have scribbled as a child with fat Crayola markers to color one tree. Yes, these were a child's imaginary trees made real somehow.
This book was inspired by C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. This amazing novel is an adult fairytale. I loved her book, The Wishing Game and I loved this one even more. It was my favorite adult fairytale. I loved all the characters. They all were well done.
I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2024
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." - C.S. Lewis
I adored this book! It's a fairy tale for adults which was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia! It is full of vivid descriptions of a faraway enchanted land called Shenandoah. It's magical, enchanting, gripping, moving, and wonderful. I was swept away and loved every page! This book is full of deep friendships, adventure, love, lost boys, romance, family, and found family.
"Books may well be the only true magic." - Alice Hoffman
Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell were best friends who were missing for six months after entering a local state park. They came back taller, stronger, and healthy. Where were they? What happened to them during their time away? The inseparable friends find distance between them when Jeremy moves to live with a family member after their return. Rafe, who was always drawing, continues doing his artwork while Jeremy goes on to find missing people.
"A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." - Carl Sagan
Emilie approaches Jeremy to help her find her missing lost sister. Jeremy knows that he met Emilie's long-lost sister while he and Rafe were lost themselves. Jeremy remembers where they were and what occurred while they were lost, while Rafe has no memory. After being approached by Jeremy and Emilie, the three set forth for an enchanted land....
"Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King
I love Meg Shaffer's writing. I love being transported to Shenandoah. Ahh, to spend some time there. It was such an engrossing and lovely read. It's full of being lost, being found, and all the things that come in-between. The descriptions are lush and vivid. I found this book to be atmospheric and lovely. I adored the characters, their connections, their humor, and their vulnerability. This book had moments of humor and I found myself smiling throughout the book.
"Books are where the true magic happens." - Jen Wilde
What a lovely magical journey Meg Shaffer took me on! I know this is a book that I will be re-reading. I found this book to be beautifully written, well thought out, endearing, and hard to put down. This book is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia but also reminded me of Peter Pan as well. If you have read Meg Shaffer's other book, The Wishing Game, you will love this book as well.
"Every time you open a book, a little magic falls out.” – unknown
Beautifully written, magical, and enchanting!
Highly Recommend!
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to see what she thought of this book!
4.5 Stars
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
I adored this book! It's a fairy tale for adults which was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia! It is full of vivid descriptions of a faraway enchanted land called Shenandoah. It's magical, enchanting, gripping, moving, and wonderful. I was swept away and loved every page! This book is full of deep friendships, adventure, love, lost boys, romance, family, and found family.
"Books may well be the only true magic." - Alice Hoffman
Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell were best friends who were missing for six months after entering a local state park. They came back taller, stronger, and healthy. Where were they? What happened to them during their time away? The inseparable friends find distance between them when Jeremy moves to live with a family member after their return. Rafe, who was always drawing, continues doing his artwork while Jeremy goes on to find missing people.
"A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." - Carl Sagan
Emilie approaches Jeremy to help her find her missing lost sister. Jeremy knows that he met Emilie's long-lost sister while he and Rafe were lost themselves. Jeremy remembers where they were and what occurred while they were lost, while Rafe has no memory. After being approached by Jeremy and Emilie, the three set forth for an enchanted land....
"Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King
I love Meg Shaffer's writing. I love being transported to Shenandoah. Ahh, to spend some time there. It was such an engrossing and lovely read. It's full of being lost, being found, and all the things that come in-between. The descriptions are lush and vivid. I found this book to be atmospheric and lovely. I adored the characters, their connections, their humor, and their vulnerability. This book had moments of humor and I found myself smiling throughout the book.
"Books are where the true magic happens." - Jen Wilde
What a lovely magical journey Meg Shaffer took me on! I know this is a book that I will be re-reading. I found this book to be beautifully written, well thought out, endearing, and hard to put down. This book is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia but also reminded me of Peter Pan as well. If you have read Meg Shaffer's other book, The Wishing Game, you will love this book as well.
"Every time you open a book, a little magic falls out.” – unknown
Beautifully written, magical, and enchanting!
Highly Recommend!
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to see what she thought of this book!
4.5 Stars
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 7, 2024
The fans of Wishing Game, what are you waiting for? Don't risk going blind to the magic Meg Shaffer offers in another book inspired by C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. It makes us believe dreams can come true at any time in our lives, as long as we open our hearts to embrace them.
I truly wished to get lost in Shenandoah and spend more time there until I let go of my insecurities, fears, troubles, and stress, shedding my old whining self and returning to innocence, laughing like a child. The world-building, metaphors, and Easter eggs hidden in the book, with references to Gilmore Girls and Batman, made me giddy.
The romance, friendship, and self-exploration blended in magical realism perfectly to immerse you in the secret lands of your mind.
The story revolves around three unique, one-of-a-kind characters: two young teenage boys, Jeremy Cox, a privileged English boy, and Ralph Howell (known as Rafe to Jeremy), a middle-class small-town boy with artistic talents. Bound by pure friendship, maybe more, they get lost in Red Crow State Park for six months, presumed dead. When they return, physically stronger, well-fed, and taller, nobody can explain what happened to them. Were they kidnapped? If so, how did they appear healthier instead of malnourished? Unfortunately, neither of them remembers anything about their disappearance. Especially Rafe, who shows signs of PTSD, short-term memory loss, and sleepwalking issues. After their return, Jeremy leaves town to live with his grandmother in England, severing ties with Rafe when he needed his friend the most.
Fifteen years later, we witness Jeremy becoming a celebrity for finding lost women and young girls, mostly in the spotlight, while Rafe develops his art in seclusion, hiding in his cottage. When the young, quirky, eccentric woman Emilie enters their lives needing help finding her lost stepsister, the two friends reluctantly unite to assist her in returning to Red Crow. Jeremy is convinced that they met Emilie's sister during their time lost in the woods, and only Rafe can find the way to this secret place. As they delve into their memories, secrets begin to unravel, allowing Rafe and Jeremy to piece together their shared past and embrace their future. But this is just the beginning of the story, isn't it?
Overall, I was hooked from the first page, enjoying the characters, the sacred love story, and the reimagining of the Narnia world. I look forward to reading Meg Schaffer's next magical adventure.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I truly wished to get lost in Shenandoah and spend more time there until I let go of my insecurities, fears, troubles, and stress, shedding my old whining self and returning to innocence, laughing like a child. The world-building, metaphors, and Easter eggs hidden in the book, with references to Gilmore Girls and Batman, made me giddy.
The romance, friendship, and self-exploration blended in magical realism perfectly to immerse you in the secret lands of your mind.
The story revolves around three unique, one-of-a-kind characters: two young teenage boys, Jeremy Cox, a privileged English boy, and Ralph Howell (known as Rafe to Jeremy), a middle-class small-town boy with artistic talents. Bound by pure friendship, maybe more, they get lost in Red Crow State Park for six months, presumed dead. When they return, physically stronger, well-fed, and taller, nobody can explain what happened to them. Were they kidnapped? If so, how did they appear healthier instead of malnourished? Unfortunately, neither of them remembers anything about their disappearance. Especially Rafe, who shows signs of PTSD, short-term memory loss, and sleepwalking issues. After their return, Jeremy leaves town to live with his grandmother in England, severing ties with Rafe when he needed his friend the most.
Fifteen years later, we witness Jeremy becoming a celebrity for finding lost women and young girls, mostly in the spotlight, while Rafe develops his art in seclusion, hiding in his cottage. When the young, quirky, eccentric woman Emilie enters their lives needing help finding her lost stepsister, the two friends reluctantly unite to assist her in returning to Red Crow. Jeremy is convinced that they met Emilie's sister during their time lost in the woods, and only Rafe can find the way to this secret place. As they delve into their memories, secrets begin to unravel, allowing Rafe and Jeremy to piece together their shared past and embrace their future. But this is just the beginning of the story, isn't it?
Overall, I was hooked from the first page, enjoying the characters, the sacred love story, and the reimagining of the Narnia world. I look forward to reading Meg Schaffer's next magical adventure.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
March 8, 2024
4 stars★
🌌✨“Yes, in an infinite universe, wormholes have to exist. All possible worlds exist. In fact, there are no possibilities in an infinite universe, just eventualities.”🌌✨
This story follows around three characters: two teenage boys, Jeremy and Rafe .They share a bond of pure friendship, and maybe even something more. But things take a wild turn when they go missing in Red Crow State Park for six whole months! Everyone assumes the worst, thinking they're gone forever. But then, out of nowhere, they reappear, looking stronger, healthier, and taller than ever. It's a total mystery! How did they manage to stay well fed and in such great shape? Were they kidnapped? And why can't they remember a single thing about what happened to them? Poor Rafe, in particular, is dealing with memory loss and sleepwalking. To make matters worse, Jeremy up and leaves town to live with his grandma in England, cutting ties with Rafe just when he needs his friend the most.
Fast forward fifteen years later, and Jeremy is now a famous investigator specializing in finding missing girls and women. Rafe, on the other hand, has become a bit of a recluse, living in the mountains and creating incredible paintings and sculptures. Throughout all these years, Jeremy and Rafe haven't spoken to each other, nor have they uttered a word about what happened to them in the forest. Rafe genuinely doesn't remember, and Jeremy is bound by a secret he can't share, not even with Rafe. But now, the past is about to resurface when Emilie Wendel tracks down Jeremy and seeks his help in finding her long lost sister, who mysteriously disappeared in the same woods where Jeremy and Rafe were lost. The three of them join forces and return to the Red Crow Forest, diving back into a world of enchanting magic and breathtaking landscapes in their quest for lost memories and missing people. ✨🔍
Going into my first Meg Shaffer book, I didn't have any expectations at all. But let me tell you, if I did have any expectations, they would have been completely surpassed! The world building in this story was absolutely amazing. It was so immersive, like I could picture myself right there in that magical land. And the characters? They were so complex and captivating, I couldn't help but fall in love with them instantly! The way the author explored friendships and romance was truly exquisite. I give major props to the author for their incredible storytelling skills. 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 in here. The writing style had me completely hooked from the very beginning. And those moments where the storyteller directly addressed the reader. It added such a unique and engaging element to the story. But you maybe be wondering why wasn't this a 5 star since you loved it so much, well around 78-80 % marked i thought that story could have ended there imo and i just didn't get that 5 star feeling for this. But I would recommend this to anyone who loves whimsical fairy tales that have a mystery going on.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
────────
pre-review: i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨
🌌✨“Yes, in an infinite universe, wormholes have to exist. All possible worlds exist. In fact, there are no possibilities in an infinite universe, just eventualities.”🌌✨
This story follows around three characters: two teenage boys, Jeremy and Rafe .They share a bond of pure friendship, and maybe even something more. But things take a wild turn when they go missing in Red Crow State Park for six whole months! Everyone assumes the worst, thinking they're gone forever. But then, out of nowhere, they reappear, looking stronger, healthier, and taller than ever. It's a total mystery! How did they manage to stay well fed and in such great shape? Were they kidnapped? And why can't they remember a single thing about what happened to them? Poor Rafe, in particular, is dealing with memory loss and sleepwalking. To make matters worse, Jeremy up and leaves town to live with his grandma in England, cutting ties with Rafe just when he needs his friend the most.
Fast forward fifteen years later, and Jeremy is now a famous investigator specializing in finding missing girls and women. Rafe, on the other hand, has become a bit of a recluse, living in the mountains and creating incredible paintings and sculptures. Throughout all these years, Jeremy and Rafe haven't spoken to each other, nor have they uttered a word about what happened to them in the forest. Rafe genuinely doesn't remember, and Jeremy is bound by a secret he can't share, not even with Rafe. But now, the past is about to resurface when Emilie Wendel tracks down Jeremy and seeks his help in finding her long lost sister, who mysteriously disappeared in the same woods where Jeremy and Rafe were lost. The three of them join forces and return to the Red Crow Forest, diving back into a world of enchanting magic and breathtaking landscapes in their quest for lost memories and missing people. ✨🔍
Going into my first Meg Shaffer book, I didn't have any expectations at all. But let me tell you, if I did have any expectations, they would have been completely surpassed! The world building in this story was absolutely amazing. It was so immersive, like I could picture myself right there in that magical land. And the characters? They were so complex and captivating, I couldn't help but fall in love with them instantly! The way the author explored friendships and romance was truly exquisite. I give major props to the author for their incredible storytelling skills. 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 in here. The writing style had me completely hooked from the very beginning. And those moments where the storyteller directly addressed the reader. It added such a unique and engaging element to the story. But you maybe be wondering why wasn't this a 5 star since you loved it so much, well around 78-80 % marked i thought that story could have ended there imo and i just didn't get that 5 star feeling for this. But I would recommend this to anyone who loves whimsical fairy tales that have a mystery going on.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
────────
pre-review: i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨i'm so excited to dive into this author's work for the first time. ready for the fairytale vibes this has to offer💙🪄✨
May 5, 2024
📚🪄✨
"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."
📚🪄✨
꧁•⊹٭𝙰𝙻𝙻. 𝚃𝙷𝙴. 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂.٭⊹•꧂
I mean... can we just take a min- THIS COVER!!! 🥹😍...k...moving along...
╰┈➤ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫
As young boys, best friends Jeremy and Rafe go missing in Virginia State Park. Mysteriously reappearing six months later with no explanation as to where they were or how they managed to survive.
Fifteen years later, Jeremy is a missing persons investigator with an almost magical ability to find find the lost, while Rafe is now a reclusive artist living in a cabin in the woods. He bears scars from the time of their disappearance both inside and out but has no memory of what happened.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth behind their time in the woods. While the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. However, Jeremy has not filled Rafe in on what happened... he's avoided him pretty much since they returned from being lost and they're not exactly on speaking terms.
But these two will have to learn to get along again, because a young woman named Emilie needs help from the both of them to locate her sister who disappeared in the same area they did…
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
This was such a good story! I mean- SO GOOD! I loved each and every one of these characters!
This world came alive in my mind and completely whisked me away from my day to day stress! I needed to savor this story! I want to live there!!
Such a cozy feel good fairytale! This book made my heart sinnggggg!!! 🎤🎼
This book has it all- a queen 👑, a princess 👸🏻, a knight ⚔️🛡️, a prince 🤴🏻, unicorns 🦄, sword fighting 🤺, mermaids 🧜🏻♀️, a red crow ❤️🐦⬛ and a magical land ✨🏰.
I was immediately pulled into the story and it kept it's grip on me from page one until the end. It's so whimsical ✨, magical ✨ and reminiscent of stories I loved to read as a child- wink 😉. Specifically, Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. There's just something so captivating and mesmerizing about the idea of walking through a door and into another world.
With all of the fun and magic going on Shaffer also tackles some tough issues such as suicide, adoption, death, abuse, family drama.
I'm telling ya'll, by the time I got to the last few chapters I couldn't hold back the tears- I just loved this so much that I couldn't even contain them!
I also really enjoyed the interludes where the Story Teller steps in and gives us helpful information. Normally, I'm not a fan of breaking the fourth wall but this was done masterfully!
I'm such a die hard Meg Shaffer aka Tiffany Reisz fan and she just continues to solidify all the reasons why with yet another banger!! 💖🌷
Instantly a forever favorite! 💖
Already on pre-order! If you enjoyed The Wishing Game- you will LOVE this one!!
╰┈➤ 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽
🐀 LGBTQ Rep
🐀 Found Family
🐀 Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac references
🐀 A pet fancy rat
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥰💘💐
꧁•⊹٭𝙰𝙻𝙻. 𝚃𝙷𝙴. 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚂.٭⊹•꧂
I mean... can we just take a min- THIS COVER!!! 🥹😍...k...moving along...
╰┈➤ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫
As young boys, best friends Jeremy and Rafe go missing in Virginia State Park. Mysteriously reappearing six months later with no explanation as to where they were or how they managed to survive.
Fifteen years later, Jeremy is a missing persons investigator with an almost magical ability to find find the lost, while Rafe is now a reclusive artist living in a cabin in the woods. He bears scars from the time of their disappearance both inside and out but has no memory of what happened.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth behind their time in the woods. While the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. However, Jeremy has not filled Rafe in on what happened... he's avoided him pretty much since they returned from being lost and they're not exactly on speaking terms.
But these two will have to learn to get along again, because a young woman named Emilie needs help from the both of them to locate her sister who disappeared in the same area they did…
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
This was such a good story! I mean- SO GOOD! I loved each and every one of these characters!
This world came alive in my mind and completely whisked me away from my day to day stress! I needed to savor this story! I want to live there!!
Such a cozy feel good fairytale! This book made my heart sinnggggg!!! 🎤🎼
This book has it all- a queen 👑, a princess 👸🏻, a knight ⚔️🛡️, a prince 🤴🏻, unicorns 🦄, sword fighting 🤺, mermaids 🧜🏻♀️, a red crow ❤️🐦⬛ and a magical land ✨🏰.
I was immediately pulled into the story and it kept it's grip on me from page one until the end. It's so whimsical ✨, magical ✨ and reminiscent of stories I loved to read as a child- wink 😉. Specifically, Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. There's just something so captivating and mesmerizing about the idea of walking through a door and into another world.
With all of the fun and magic going on Shaffer also tackles some tough issues such as suicide, adoption, death, abuse, family drama.
I'm telling ya'll, by the time I got to the last few chapters I couldn't hold back the tears- I just loved this so much that I couldn't even contain them!
I also really enjoyed the interludes where the Story Teller steps in and gives us helpful information. Normally, I'm not a fan of breaking the fourth wall but this was done masterfully!
I'm such a die hard Meg Shaffer aka Tiffany Reisz fan and she just continues to solidify all the reasons why with yet another banger!! 💖🌷
Instantly a forever favorite! 💖
Already on pre-order! If you enjoyed The Wishing Game- you will LOVE this one!!
╰┈➤ 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽
🐀 LGBTQ Rep
🐀 Found Family
🐀 Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac references
🐀 A pet fancy rat
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Meg Shaffer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥰💘💐
Want to read
February 8, 2024Eeeekkkkk I’m so excited!!! I got this ARC!!!
April 26, 2024
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.
Once upon a time in the Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, two boys, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, are lost in the woods for six months with no rational explanation except perhaps it’s just one of those rare miracles. Fifteen years on, Rafe lives a solitary existence and has no memory of those lost months whereas Jeremy does. He’s become a famous and successful missing person investigator. He’s hired by Emilie Wendell to find her missing half sister, Shannon, who disappears from the self same State Forest many years ago.The intrepid threesome, whose stories interlock, though not all of them yet know it, head to Red Crow State Forest to step into their pasts, into the unknown and into who knows what. Well, we all know how fairytales go, don’t we? Sit back, relax and just go with the flow.
Books are magic, well this one sure is. Fan-blooming-tastic and I LOVE it! This book is exactly why I read, to have an experience like this. I’ve read some great books so far this year and this one is up there with the best of them. Just like the original inspiration (CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia) the author transports the reader to another world allowing individuals to set aside any troubles and forget wide issues or concerns, and be enchanted by the beautiful, colourful prose. I love the tone throughout, but the little inserts between chapters are so clever and frequently very funny. There are some fabulous descriptions of places and of characters so you can visualise them with ease and just get swept along with the storytelling. The three main characters are so likeable as is Rafe’s mum, definitely a mum of the year. It’s an excellent fairytale, with Stevie Nicks, a read with a smile which entrances though it does have a dark side (every fairytale has to have a baddy or baddies) so sure not to stray into that.
Overall, it has all the ingredients you expect of a fairytale and it’s an excellent homage to the books that inspire it. It is imaginative, creative, funny and immersive. I highly recommend this even if this isn’t your normal genre and I can’t wait to read more by Meg Shaffer.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, Arcadia for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
My 1600th NG arc!!!!
Once upon a time in the Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, two boys, Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell, are lost in the woods for six months with no rational explanation except perhaps it’s just one of those rare miracles. Fifteen years on, Rafe lives a solitary existence and has no memory of those lost months whereas Jeremy does. He’s become a famous and successful missing person investigator. He’s hired by Emilie Wendell to find her missing half sister, Shannon, who disappears from the self same State Forest many years ago.The intrepid threesome, whose stories interlock, though not all of them yet know it, head to Red Crow State Forest to step into their pasts, into the unknown and into who knows what. Well, we all know how fairytales go, don’t we? Sit back, relax and just go with the flow.
Books are magic, well this one sure is. Fan-blooming-tastic and I LOVE it! This book is exactly why I read, to have an experience like this. I’ve read some great books so far this year and this one is up there with the best of them. Just like the original inspiration (CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia) the author transports the reader to another world allowing individuals to set aside any troubles and forget wide issues or concerns, and be enchanted by the beautiful, colourful prose. I love the tone throughout, but the little inserts between chapters are so clever and frequently very funny. There are some fabulous descriptions of places and of characters so you can visualise them with ease and just get swept along with the storytelling. The three main characters are so likeable as is Rafe’s mum, definitely a mum of the year. It’s an excellent fairytale, with Stevie Nicks, a read with a smile which entrances though it does have a dark side (every fairytale has to have a baddy or baddies) so sure not to stray into that.
Overall, it has all the ingredients you expect of a fairytale and it’s an excellent homage to the books that inspire it. It is imaginative, creative, funny and immersive. I highly recommend this even if this isn’t your normal genre and I can’t wait to read more by Meg Shaffer.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, Arcadia for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
My 1600th NG arc!!!!
Want to read
July 7, 2024Scrubbing my brain clean after reading eyeball horrors and teenage slashers with a Narnia-inspired tale. My heartfelt thanks to Quercus Books | Arcadia for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2024
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again." - C.S Lewis
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
This is a fairytale for adults that you can get lost in.
For all those who loved the Wishing Game, you'll enjoy The Lost Story just as much.
Teenagers, Jeremy and Rafe, go missing one day while they're art Red Crowe State park. It's safe to say that everyone immediately thinks of the worst-case scenario. Out of the blue, 6 months later, they turn up with no memory where they were or how they got there. They claim that they have no idea what happened. All everyone knows is that they come back in better shape than when they left. With all the commotion and mysterious circumstances, it's safe to say that these boys would need each other more than ever now, but Jeremy goes to live with his grandmother.
Time passes, and our is now 15 years later. It's safe to say that these events helped shape these two men into who they are now. Rafe is more of a hermit but an artist, and Jeremy is an investigator for missing people. Jeremy seems to have quite the knack at what he does, too. Rafe and Jeremy still haven't spoken about what happened in that forest. Rafe bears scars but still has no memory. Jeremy has harbored a secret all these years, and he knows exactly what happened during their time in the woods.
Along comes Emilie looking for their help. Her sister has gone missing in the dame woods. Can Rafe and Jeremy get along and put the past behind them to help Emilie?
What a fun and mystical ride this was!! I could not put this down. I will now always buy Meg Shaffer's books blindly.
Thank you, Random House/Ballantine books and netgalley, for the ability to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#TheLostStory #NetGalley
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
This is a fairytale for adults that you can get lost in.
For all those who loved the Wishing Game, you'll enjoy The Lost Story just as much.
Teenagers, Jeremy and Rafe, go missing one day while they're art Red Crowe State park. It's safe to say that everyone immediately thinks of the worst-case scenario. Out of the blue, 6 months later, they turn up with no memory where they were or how they got there. They claim that they have no idea what happened. All everyone knows is that they come back in better shape than when they left. With all the commotion and mysterious circumstances, it's safe to say that these boys would need each other more than ever now, but Jeremy goes to live with his grandmother.
Time passes, and our is now 15 years later. It's safe to say that these events helped shape these two men into who they are now. Rafe is more of a hermit but an artist, and Jeremy is an investigator for missing people. Jeremy seems to have quite the knack at what he does, too. Rafe and Jeremy still haven't spoken about what happened in that forest. Rafe bears scars but still has no memory. Jeremy has harbored a secret all these years, and he knows exactly what happened during their time in the woods.
Along comes Emilie looking for their help. Her sister has gone missing in the dame woods. Can Rafe and Jeremy get along and put the past behind them to help Emilie?
What a fun and mystical ride this was!! I could not put this down. I will now always buy Meg Shaffer's books blindly.
Thank you, Random House/Ballantine books and netgalley, for the ability to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#TheLostStory #NetGalley
Want to read
March 1, 2024જ⁀➴
ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ: ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ.
ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀʏ.🥲🥲
જ⁀➴
MY ARC GOT APPROVED!!
YAY YAY YAY!!🥹🥹🥹
ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ: ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ.
ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀʏ.🥲🥲
જ⁀➴
MY ARC GOT APPROVED!!
YAY YAY YAY!!🥹🥹🥹
April 1, 2024
I loved The Wishing Game by this author and was excited to see her new book being released. This was a fun reimagining of The Chronicles of Narnia.
I loved the relationships between all the characters, especially Jeremy and Rafe. The banter could be snarky, but in a teasing, loving kind of way.
This was a wonderful story, but it had an abrupt ending. It leaves you with the feeling that the story continues and you think you know what will happen, but it isn't actually written out. For this type of story, I would have preferred it to be a little more wrapped up.
As expected, this story was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves an easy, whimsical fantasy read. I can't wait to see what Meg Schaffer comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved the relationships between all the characters, especially Jeremy and Rafe. The banter could be snarky, but in a teasing, loving kind of way.
This was a wonderful story, but it had an abrupt ending. It leaves you with the feeling that the story continues and you think you know what will happen, but it isn't actually written out. For this type of story, I would have preferred it to be a little more wrapped up.
As expected, this story was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves an easy, whimsical fantasy read. I can't wait to see what Meg Schaffer comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 23, 2024
I do love me a plot about magical realms accessed via hidden portals, and this is no exception. Also, I agree that “Rafe” is a much better pronunciation of the name “Ralph”, and it’s certainly what I would choose if saddled with the latter moniker. 😆
Anyway…I loved many things contained in these pages. It does have everything you need for a good fairytale, including the horrors of the “real” world. The characters are well-developed and multidimensional, and you will root for them on their journeys.
However, and this is very much a personal preference, I immensely dislike when a character breaks the fourth wall, at least in a book. It’s just one of my pet peeves, and it makes me groan inwardly whenever I see it being done. Let the story speak for itself. I opine that this could have done without the narrator entirely. Also, I guessed a twist right away, so I would’ve liked that to be a little more hidden.
With that said, I still had a lot of fun reading this, and I would happily read about more adventures!
4.25 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC! All opinions are my own..
Anyway…I loved many things contained in these pages. It does have everything you need for a good fairytale, including the horrors of the “real” world. The characters are well-developed and multidimensional, and you will root for them on their journeys.
However, and this is very much a personal preference, I immensely dislike when a character breaks the fourth wall, at least in a book. It’s just one of my pet peeves, and it makes me groan inwardly whenever I see it being done. Let the story speak for itself. I opine that this could have done without the narrator entirely. Also, I guessed a twist right away, so I would’ve liked that to be a little more hidden.
With that said, I still had a lot of fun reading this, and I would happily read about more adventures!
4.25 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC! All opinions are my own..
Read
February 13, 2024Ordinarily I raise a couple of eyebrows and side-eye any reference to Narnia as inspiration for a fairy tale, as I'm pretty much over C.S. Lewis being constantly bashed over the head with the Susan Stick (as if she couldn't find her way to Heaven via another route besides Narnia, if she wanted to), but I'm so glad I took a chance.
This is a lovely, generous, unpredictable fairy tale, gay-friendly, human-and-magical-animal friendly, complete with a queen, knight, magic, and a Storyteller. I loved the voice, the pacing, the characters. This isn't coming out until July, and almost anything I say would be a spoiler, so I'll leave this review short and unsatisfactory, and perhaps return to it after the book comes out.
Because I'm sure I will read it again; the surprises were a delight, but I relished the writing so much that knowing what is to come will just give me that delicious sense of anticipation of a good reread.
This is a lovely, generous, unpredictable fairy tale, gay-friendly, human-and-magical-animal friendly, complete with a queen, knight, magic, and a Storyteller. I loved the voice, the pacing, the characters. This isn't coming out until July, and almost anything I say would be a spoiler, so I'll leave this review short and unsatisfactory, and perhaps return to it after the book comes out.
Because I'm sure I will read it again; the surprises were a delight, but I relished the writing so much that knowing what is to come will just give me that delicious sense of anticipation of a good reread.
March 6, 2024
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." - C.S. Lewis
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abandonment, abuse, child abuse, child death, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, drug abuse, emotional abuse, grief, homophobia, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, sexual content, terminal illness, torture, violence.
There are no words for how sad I am that I didn't love this book. Everything about it seemed like it was created for me, but unfortunately the brilliant concept and the execution of said concept are two very different things.
The Lost Story was an overly ambitious novel, that attempted to fit an expansive story into 330 pages, whilst also struggling to ride the line between mature and whimsical. There were moments when this was successful, when the intention of the story was so clearly felt and realized that I knew I could have adored this novel if things had been different.
Unfortunately, they were not.
I struggled with the characters. I struggled with the dialogue. I struggled with the pacing. I struggled with the world-building or lack thereof (which gets explained at the very end, but by that point, it felt like it was being thrown in there so we didn't question the lack of world-building.) I struggled with the timeline (acting like the characters were there for years when it was only 6 months, felt weird). I struggled with the relationships between each of the characters. I hated the interjections from the Storyteller.
I say I struggled with many of these aspects because - for most of them - I could see what the author's intention had been, I could see that I would have liked them if they had been executed differently. As it was, attempting to create a contrast between the maturity of the characters and the magic of the enchanted world by having the characters say things like "Magical horses are whores for berries." did not work for me.
It made the story feel strangely like it was written by a homeschooled child trying to create an edgy story with how they think adults speak. (I can say that, I was homeschooled.)
This might be considered a spoiler so if you consider romantic relationships a spoiler, I wouldn't read this next paragraph.
Rafe and Jeremy's relationship was another one of those things that I could have loved if it was done differently. I appreciated the queer rep and how meaningful it was that the enchanted world was a safe haven for them to finally be their true selves. However. When the entirety of their relationship is built off of a year they spent together when they were fourteen (half of which one of them can't remember), and the reader is consistently reminded that they're a.) both nearly 30 and b.) how physical their relationship was at 14, on top of them being called brothers within the narrative... it made it really hard for me to feel much more than a topical concern for them.
This review is getting too long and at the risk of just becoming me ranting, which isn't what I want to do at all. Despite all of my criticism, this was an easy read and there were things I really liked about it.
I appreciate what Meg Shaffer was attempting to do with this book and I'm grateful for the ARC, but unfortunately, The Lost Story missed the mark for me.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abandonment, abuse, child abuse, child death, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, drug abuse, emotional abuse, grief, homophobia, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, sexual content, terminal illness, torture, violence.
There are no words for how sad I am that I didn't love this book. Everything about it seemed like it was created for me, but unfortunately the brilliant concept and the execution of said concept are two very different things.
The Lost Story was an overly ambitious novel, that attempted to fit an expansive story into 330 pages, whilst also struggling to ride the line between mature and whimsical. There were moments when this was successful, when the intention of the story was so clearly felt and realized that I knew I could have adored this novel if things had been different.
Unfortunately, they were not.
I struggled with the characters. I struggled with the dialogue. I struggled with the pacing. I struggled with the world-building or lack thereof (which gets explained at the very end, but by that point, it felt like it was being thrown in there so we didn't question the lack of world-building.) I struggled with the timeline (acting like the characters were there for years when it was only 6 months, felt weird). I struggled with the relationships between each of the characters. I hated the interjections from the Storyteller.
I say I struggled with many of these aspects because - for most of them - I could see what the author's intention had been, I could see that I would have liked them if they had been executed differently. As it was, attempting to create a contrast between the maturity of the characters and the magic of the enchanted world by having the characters say things like "Magical horses are whores for berries." did not work for me.
It made the story feel strangely like it was written by a homeschooled child trying to create an edgy story with how they think adults speak. (I can say that, I was homeschooled.)
This might be considered a spoiler so if you consider romantic relationships a spoiler, I wouldn't read this next paragraph.
Rafe and Jeremy's relationship was another one of those things that I could have loved if it was done differently. I appreciated the queer rep and how meaningful it was that the enchanted world was a safe haven for them to finally be their true selves. However. When the entirety of their relationship is built off of a year they spent together when they were fourteen (half of which one of them can't remember), and the reader is consistently reminded that they're a.) both nearly 30 and b.) how physical their relationship was at 14, on top of them being called brothers within the narrative... it made it really hard for me to feel much more than a topical concern for them.
This review is getting too long and at the risk of just becoming me ranting, which isn't what I want to do at all. Despite all of my criticism, this was an easy read and there were things I really liked about it.
I appreciate what Meg Shaffer was attempting to do with this book and I'm grateful for the ARC, but unfortunately, The Lost Story missed the mark for me.
June 3, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Two best friends, Ralph and Jeremy vanish in a forest in West Virginia. Only to magically reappear six months later with no explanation about where they were. This however was only the beginning of their story. Fifteen years later, a girl named Emilie seek their help in finding her missing sister. Along their search we embark on a magical and magnificient journey full of wonder, laughter, hope, and love.
Meg Shaffer is a whimsical wizard. Her writing is what dreams are made of, and you can not help but to get lost in her writing. A magical storyteller whose writing keeps you hooked and gives you the cozy and comfy feeling that I look for when reading. Writing that helps you escape reality and force you to imagine and dream. Readers should definitely give this one a go, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.
All this time, I've been lost without you, and you were the only one who could ever find me.
Two best friends, Ralph and Jeremy vanish in a forest in West Virginia. Only to magically reappear six months later with no explanation about where they were. This however was only the beginning of their story. Fifteen years later, a girl named Emilie seek their help in finding her missing sister. Along their search we embark on a magical and magnificient journey full of wonder, laughter, hope, and love.
Meg Shaffer is a whimsical wizard. Her writing is what dreams are made of, and you can not help but to get lost in her writing. A magical storyteller whose writing keeps you hooked and gives you the cozy and comfy feeling that I look for when reading. Writing that helps you escape reality and force you to imagine and dream. Readers should definitely give this one a go, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Shaffer, and Random House Publishing for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2024
i thought this one was just okay. mainly because for me, the first and second half felt like two totally different books?!
this author also wrote THE WISHING GAME which was everrryyywhere last year. i haven’t seen too many people review this yet (just released + is a BOTM pick) and i myself went in pretty blind… but overall, i think readers will prefer her debut.
whats sad is this had so much potential and i was loving the first half. it totally sucked me in—two boys disappear for 6 months and are magically found but one can’t remember anything and one won’t talk about it. now one of them makes a living helping find people who are missing. it was giving MAJORRRRR Adrienne Young and THE SPELLS OF FORGETTING or THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW vibes (loved both of those sooo much) and i so wanted it to continue but it just didn’t 😫😫😫 the backhalf felt so awkward and almost extremely YA? the romance felt random to me too honestly.
i did an audio/physical combo of this one and enjoyed both. but tbh likely i would have DNF in the backhalf if i didn’t do majority on audio tho 👀
i loooove magical realism but again, something about the backhalf just didn’t work for me. maybe it was more “telling” then “showing”? it was hard to picture and feel the forest and magic.
ugh!! can’t win them all. thanks to PRH audio for the gifted early audiobook.
if you read this, LMK what you think!
this author also wrote THE WISHING GAME which was everrryyywhere last year. i haven’t seen too many people review this yet (just released + is a BOTM pick) and i myself went in pretty blind… but overall, i think readers will prefer her debut.
whats sad is this had so much potential and i was loving the first half. it totally sucked me in—two boys disappear for 6 months and are magically found but one can’t remember anything and one won’t talk about it. now one of them makes a living helping find people who are missing. it was giving MAJORRRRR Adrienne Young and THE SPELLS OF FORGETTING or THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW vibes (loved both of those sooo much) and i so wanted it to continue but it just didn’t 😫😫😫 the backhalf felt so awkward and almost extremely YA? the romance felt random to me too honestly.
i did an audio/physical combo of this one and enjoyed both. but tbh likely i would have DNF in the backhalf if i didn’t do majority on audio tho 👀
i loooove magical realism but again, something about the backhalf just didn’t work for me. maybe it was more “telling” then “showing”? it was hard to picture and feel the forest and magic.
ugh!! can’t win them all. thanks to PRH audio for the gifted early audiobook.
if you read this, LMK what you think!
June 17, 2024
4.5 Stars
Do you want more magic in your life? How about some sword fights, romance, and gut-wrenching stories? The Lost Story is a wonderfully imaginative book! Emilie has hired Jeremy to find her long-lost sister. How can he tell Emilie that he already knows her sister . . . from when he lived in a hidden kingdom? One that he, alone, knows about.
You will walk away from The Lost Story, feeling satisfied by the love, loyalty, and friendship it contains.
For the most part, I adored this book!! All except the romance, which felt a wee bit clunky to me. But still, I couldn't put The Lost Story down!!
BIG thanks to both #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #TheLostStory. It has an expected publication date of July 16, 2024.
#MegShaffer #Magic #Fantasy
Do you want more magic in your life? How about some sword fights, romance, and gut-wrenching stories? The Lost Story is a wonderfully imaginative book! Emilie has hired Jeremy to find her long-lost sister. How can he tell Emilie that he already knows her sister . . . from when he lived in a hidden kingdom? One that he, alone, knows about.
You will walk away from The Lost Story, feeling satisfied by the love, loyalty, and friendship it contains.
For the most part, I adored this book!! All except the romance, which felt a wee bit clunky to me. But still, I couldn't put The Lost Story down!!
BIG thanks to both #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #TheLostStory. It has an expected publication date of July 16, 2024.
#MegShaffer #Magic #Fantasy
February 29, 2024
This started out with a great premise but the plot began to fall apart. The story became more telling than showing. The narrator is a bit jarring. It had a lot of promise but fell short. If you're going to compare your book to the Chronicles of Narnia, you need to deliver. This did not.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
June 22, 2024
4⭐️
This book is so whimsical and fun and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! It is inspired by the chronicles of narnia in the best of ways but also is entirely its own story. I loved the queer love story, adventurous storyline, and whimsical world so much. This book did take me a bit longer to get into than I was hoping for. It has a pretty slow start and I struggled with the first half but the second half makes it so worth it! This author’s debut book was one of my favorite reads last year so she is certainly an auto read author for me now!
This book is so whimsical and fun and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! It is inspired by the chronicles of narnia in the best of ways but also is entirely its own story. I loved the queer love story, adventurous storyline, and whimsical world so much. This book did take me a bit longer to get into than I was hoping for. It has a pretty slow start and I struggled with the first half but the second half makes it so worth it! This author’s debut book was one of my favorite reads last year so she is certainly an auto read author for me now!
March 24, 2024
4.75. Meg Shaffer is one helluva storyteller. This is a mystical, magical, magnificent journey through doors of wonder, bewilderment and amazement and I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment.
The Wishing Game, Shaffer’s debut book, was one of my favorite books of 2023 and one of my highest referred books to friends. I went into this one a bit skeptical knowing how hard it is to surpass the expectations that her first book soared past for a second book. It couldn’t be as good as the first, could it?
It could. Another book that draws you in right away and you just have to go with it. Don’t think …. Just dream. Just believe. This book offers a great escape to a world where we all wish could be a reality. I loved Shaffer’s references throughout the book of Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia and even her own Clock Island.
Two boys go missing for 6 months and then come back home. This book picks up 15 years later. One of the boys has become quite the expert in finding missing persons. One has lived quietly in a cabin in the woods.
I plowed through this book in one day - it was that good. I cannot thank NetGalley, Meg Shaffer and Ballentine Books enough for allowing me an ARC. I absolutely cannot wait for her next book.
The Wishing Game, Shaffer’s debut book, was one of my favorite books of 2023 and one of my highest referred books to friends. I went into this one a bit skeptical knowing how hard it is to surpass the expectations that her first book soared past for a second book. It couldn’t be as good as the first, could it?
It could. Another book that draws you in right away and you just have to go with it. Don’t think …. Just dream. Just believe. This book offers a great escape to a world where we all wish could be a reality. I loved Shaffer’s references throughout the book of Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia and even her own Clock Island.
Two boys go missing for 6 months and then come back home. This book picks up 15 years later. One of the boys has become quite the expert in finding missing persons. One has lived quietly in a cabin in the woods.
I plowed through this book in one day - it was that good. I cannot thank NetGalley, Meg Shaffer and Ballentine Books enough for allowing me an ARC. I absolutely cannot wait for her next book.
March 2, 2024
Oh, where do I even begin to express my love for The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer? This book swept me off my feet and plunged me headfirst into a whirlwind of emotions and wonder that I never wanted to end. From the moment I cracked open the cover, I was utterly captivated.
Let's start with the characters - Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe. They're more than just characters in a book; they're like old friends I've known for years. Their struggles, their growth, their jokes - everything about them felt so authentic and relatable. And when they reunited to embark on this incredible journey to find Emilie's sister Shannon, it felt like I was right there with them, cheering them on every step of the way.
But it's not just the characters that stole my heart; it's the world Meg Shaffer has created. Shanandoah is a place of magic and mystery, brought to life with breathtaking detail and vivid imagery. I could practically feel the cool breeze on my skin and smell the earthy scent of the forest as I followed the characters through its enchanting landscapes.
And then there's the relationships - the bonds between Rafe and Jeremy, the sisters finding their way back to each other, and the enigmatic Storyteller who weaves it all together with his magic pencil. It's a symphony of love, friendship, and adventure that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you longing for more.
Honestly, I could go on and on about how much I adore The Lost Story. It's a book that manages to tackle heavy topics with grace and sensitivity while still whisking you away to a world of enchantment and excitement. It's a true masterpiece, and one that I'll be recommending to everyone I know for years to come.
Let's start with the characters - Emilie, Jeremy, and Rafe. They're more than just characters in a book; they're like old friends I've known for years. Their struggles, their growth, their jokes - everything about them felt so authentic and relatable. And when they reunited to embark on this incredible journey to find Emilie's sister Shannon, it felt like I was right there with them, cheering them on every step of the way.
But it's not just the characters that stole my heart; it's the world Meg Shaffer has created. Shanandoah is a place of magic and mystery, brought to life with breathtaking detail and vivid imagery. I could practically feel the cool breeze on my skin and smell the earthy scent of the forest as I followed the characters through its enchanting landscapes.
And then there's the relationships - the bonds between Rafe and Jeremy, the sisters finding their way back to each other, and the enigmatic Storyteller who weaves it all together with his magic pencil. It's a symphony of love, friendship, and adventure that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you longing for more.
Honestly, I could go on and on about how much I adore The Lost Story. It's a book that manages to tackle heavy topics with grace and sensitivity while still whisking you away to a world of enchantment and excitement. It's a true masterpiece, and one that I'll be recommending to everyone I know for years to come.
April 23, 2024
I’ve been sitting on writing this review because I was finding it hard to put into words JUST how much I loved this book. If you grew up waiting for your Hogwarts letter, or checking the backs of closets for a sprinkle of snow and a doorway to Narnia… this one is for you.
This story follows the mysterious early adulthood years of two now-adults, then-teen-boys who went missing in the woods of Appalachia for 6 months and returned, suddenly and unexpectedly, one with no memory of his time away. Fate brings them together with the younger sister of a girl who went missing in the same woods twenty years ago, and the journey begins.
I will admit that I had some significant problems with the author’s previous book, which almost kept me from picking this one up - but it ended up being a LOVE for me. I suspended my disbelief, buckled up for wherever she was going to take me, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I loved the themes of found family, the magical and wondrous natural world, and the nod to the fantastical fictional worlds of our youth - marred by the unfortunate truth of the real world of adulthood. My only qualm is that the author absolutely and fully uses the concept of intrusive thoughts entirely incorrectly, and as a therapist, it felt like she heard it on tiktok and decided to make it mean whatever she thought it should mean and it totally took me out of the story. I’d love to see this edited before the final copy goes to print - a girl can dream!
Regardless, though, I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to get a copy for my forever shelves. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early copy!
This story follows the mysterious early adulthood years of two now-adults, then-teen-boys who went missing in the woods of Appalachia for 6 months and returned, suddenly and unexpectedly, one with no memory of his time away. Fate brings them together with the younger sister of a girl who went missing in the same woods twenty years ago, and the journey begins.
I will admit that I had some significant problems with the author’s previous book, which almost kept me from picking this one up - but it ended up being a LOVE for me. I suspended my disbelief, buckled up for wherever she was going to take me, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I loved the themes of found family, the magical and wondrous natural world, and the nod to the fantastical fictional worlds of our youth - marred by the unfortunate truth of the real world of adulthood. My only qualm is that the author absolutely and fully uses the concept of intrusive thoughts entirely incorrectly, and as a therapist, it felt like she heard it on tiktok and decided to make it mean whatever she thought it should mean and it totally took me out of the story. I’d love to see this edited before the final copy goes to print - a girl can dream!
Regardless, though, I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to get a copy for my forever shelves. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early copy!
Want to read
November 14, 2023I was obsessed with the wishing game, and I will be obsessed with this one too
February 18, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
What a delightful, heartwarming, imaginative fairy tale! I loved every single thing about this story and the magical world that may have been based on a picture on a Lisa Frank trapper keeper. Rainbow colored sand, unicorns, fire moths, and Valkyries are things I never knew I needed in my life. I loved Skye and Emilie and their sisterly bond. I loved Jeremy and Rafe and all of the things they went through and experienced together. I especially loved the storyteller parts of the chapters because it made the story that much more like a fairytale. The story is unique and fun and I may have shed a few tears but I also laughed out loud several times as well. I can't wait for the sequel! (Please tell me there really will be a sequel!!)
You need this book in your life. Go read it. Even if you're not generally a fan of fantasy, you will still like this book. It's more of a regular fictional story with some magic sprinkled in. I think you'll love it.
What a delightful, heartwarming, imaginative fairy tale! I loved every single thing about this story and the magical world that may have been based on a picture on a Lisa Frank trapper keeper. Rainbow colored sand, unicorns, fire moths, and Valkyries are things I never knew I needed in my life. I loved Skye and Emilie and their sisterly bond. I loved Jeremy and Rafe and all of the things they went through and experienced together. I especially loved the storyteller parts of the chapters because it made the story that much more like a fairytale. The story is unique and fun and I may have shed a few tears but I also laughed out loud several times as well. I can't wait for the sequel! (Please tell me there really will be a sequel!!)
You need this book in your life. Go read it. Even if you're not generally a fan of fantasy, you will still like this book. It's more of a regular fictional story with some magic sprinkled in. I think you'll love it.
July 8, 2024
This book captured me at the beginning and held me captive until the end. I couldn't read fast enough. I loved the magical world of Shanandoah. The book gave me the feel of a fairy tale. Loved the world building - it was seamless and flowed so well. The writing is lyrical - very well written and well plotted. There is a focus on friendship. There are elements of abuse, forbidden love, family ties, and growing up. The story is charming and the characters are wonderful. I liked the way Emilie sought Stevie Nicks music throughout. I also enjoyed the references to Batman and The Chronicles of Narnia found in the book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes magical realism or fantasy books. Meg Shaffer is a new author for me and I've heard about her book The Wishing Game and now I am planning to read it as soon as I get a chance. I look forward to more by this author.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.
May 15, 2024
Set in West Virginia, as the story begins, this is a story that requires an ability to lose yourself in a story that, for some, might feel too much of a fantasy, but knowing that this is ’a fairy tale for grownups’, I enjoyed it. This isn’t a light and fluffy story, there is some degree of abuse, and a darker side to this at times, but there is also a lovely, lighter side, as well.
This is a magical story of family, as well, and abuse, danger, but also a wonderful journey of finding oneself, and as a result, finding love, as well.
Pub Date: 16 Jul 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books
June 2, 2024
"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again" - C.S. Lewis
Concept: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing and World Building: 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was completely drawn to this story for two reasons - 1) the author: Meg Shaffer's "The Wishing Game" was an incredible 5 -star debut and 2) It's an admitted nod to The Chronicles of Narnia, my favorite series written by my favorite author.
Drawing from the concept of returning from a fairytale world, "The Lost Story" asks the question "How could life resume normally?" Jeremy and Ralph were found in the West Virginia woods after they had been missing for 6 months. Authorities and rescue teams searched for weeks, then suddenly two hikers see them in the woods. They are well fed and have grown substantially. Ralph doesn't remember any of it, yet he has strange dreams. Jeremy has since become a search and rescue expert, finding missing girls with 100% accuracy. Jeremy distances himself from Ralph after the day they were found, until a strange girl named Emilie shows up, asking him to help her find her missing sister who vanished in the very same woods. Jeremy is the only one who remembers the magical realm where he and Ralph were for months. Now he needs Ralph's help to find Emilie's sister there. Ralph has been a reclusive artist since that day isn't exactly on good terms with Jeremy since Jeremy won't even talk to him. After Jeremy explains himself, Ralph is reluctantly on his side and together, with Emilie, they face their shared past, getting back everything they've lost.
"Jeremy took a long breath, then said, 'To quote the great lion Aslan, 'Further Up and further in'."
The concept of this book is brilliant. There are countless references and nods to Narnia and the characters there. The character of Ralph is actually drawn from one of the characters of the Chronicles of Narnia series. It is genius for Meg Shaffer to take these characters and have them experience the modern world as extraordinary, complex boys with modern struggles. I loved those aspects of the storyline. There are a few reasons I did not give this book a 5 star rating.
1. The world building was not adequate. The concepts were definitely there. The outline was there and VERY imaginative and original. There simply was not enough time spent or development of conflicts in the magical world. Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie don't even go there until 50% of the way through the book. And even then there is really only one quick conflict they face. If this book is admittedly going to be attributed to Narnia, we need more from this magical realm.
2. Much of the language of the characters feels completely out of place. There was too much modern sexual language for a book like this. It felt out of place - like graffiti on the walls of this respectable realm. It didn't fit and took me immediately out of the world of which I wanted more! In one section, she even admits this, writing, "Very sorry, but we'll have to close the door here...After all, this isn't that kind of story".
Over all, I do think this book will do well. I highly respect Meg Shaffer. She's brilliant! I know this will reach a wide audience... as it should.
Thank you so much Meg Shaffer, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for this excellent ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Concept: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing and World Building: 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was completely drawn to this story for two reasons - 1) the author: Meg Shaffer's "The Wishing Game" was an incredible 5 -star debut and 2) It's an admitted nod to The Chronicles of Narnia, my favorite series written by my favorite author.
Drawing from the concept of returning from a fairytale world, "The Lost Story" asks the question "How could life resume normally?" Jeremy and Ralph were found in the West Virginia woods after they had been missing for 6 months. Authorities and rescue teams searched for weeks, then suddenly two hikers see them in the woods. They are well fed and have grown substantially. Ralph doesn't remember any of it, yet he has strange dreams. Jeremy has since become a search and rescue expert, finding missing girls with 100% accuracy. Jeremy distances himself from Ralph after the day they were found, until a strange girl named Emilie shows up, asking him to help her find her missing sister who vanished in the very same woods. Jeremy is the only one who remembers the magical realm where he and Ralph were for months. Now he needs Ralph's help to find Emilie's sister there. Ralph has been a reclusive artist since that day isn't exactly on good terms with Jeremy since Jeremy won't even talk to him. After Jeremy explains himself, Ralph is reluctantly on his side and together, with Emilie, they face their shared past, getting back everything they've lost.
"Jeremy took a long breath, then said, 'To quote the great lion Aslan, 'Further Up and further in'."
The concept of this book is brilliant. There are countless references and nods to Narnia and the characters there. The character of Ralph is actually drawn from one of the characters of the Chronicles of Narnia series. It is genius for Meg Shaffer to take these characters and have them experience the modern world as extraordinary, complex boys with modern struggles. I loved those aspects of the storyline. There are a few reasons I did not give this book a 5 star rating.
1. The world building was not adequate. The concepts were definitely there. The outline was there and VERY imaginative and original. There simply was not enough time spent or development of conflicts in the magical world. Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie don't even go there until 50% of the way through the book. And even then there is really only one quick conflict they face. If this book is admittedly going to be attributed to Narnia, we need more from this magical realm.
2. Much of the language of the characters feels completely out of place. There was too much modern sexual language for a book like this. It felt out of place - like graffiti on the walls of this respectable realm. It didn't fit and took me immediately out of the world of which I wanted more! In one section, she even admits this, writing, "Very sorry, but we'll have to close the door here...After all, this isn't that kind of story".
Over all, I do think this book will do well. I highly respect Meg Shaffer. She's brilliant! I know this will reach a wide audience... as it should.
Thank you so much Meg Shaffer, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for this excellent ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2024
Absolutely brilliant. I adored every page and was completely entranced by the world Meg Shaffer created. It was so beautifully built that I was transported there without any effort and it felt like I’d known Shanadoah for years and was simply coming back home. Highly recommend this one, it’s pure magic and delight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advance digital copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advance digital copy!
February 27, 2024
5 ⭐️
A fantastical fairy tale about two boys who were lost in a West Virginia forest for 6 months as teenagers. The story meets them 15 years later when they return to not just any old forest, but a portal to another world.
Meg Shaffer’s writing is such a delight. Her story was detailed without being verbose. I could taste the Golden Apples and hear the mermaids whisper. I want to catch falling stars and watch the sunrise over the Blue River. If there will be additional books in this series, I will absolutely read them. And if there won’t be, I will happily imagine the fairy tales Skya will write with her unicorn-erasered pencil.
📚Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Meg Shaffer for the ARC of The Lost Story.
A fantastical fairy tale about two boys who were lost in a West Virginia forest for 6 months as teenagers. The story meets them 15 years later when they return to not just any old forest, but a portal to another world.
Meg Shaffer’s writing is such a delight. Her story was detailed without being verbose. I could taste the Golden Apples and hear the mermaids whisper. I want to catch falling stars and watch the sunrise over the Blue River. If there will be additional books in this series, I will absolutely read them. And if there won’t be, I will happily imagine the fairy tales Skya will write with her unicorn-erasered pencil.
📚Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Meg Shaffer for the ARC of The Lost Story.
March 8, 2024
“Books are magic. Maybe even the strongest magic there is.” This book is truly a fairytale for grownups! I love “the storyteller corner” sections. I also love how the author writes in such a way that you feel like she’s talking directly to you. It’s a predictable read but I didn’t mind that. I enjoyed getting lost in the fairytale. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
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