The Lost Story: A Novel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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.
“This is the book you’ve been waiting for.”—Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls and the North Bath Trilogy
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
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.
“This is the book you’ve been waiting for.”—Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls and the North Bath Trilogy
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
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.
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Community Reviews
Another perfect story from Meg! I really enjoyed this book. After I read The Wishing Game, I knew I found a new favorite author. This book has the same feel as TWG~ found family, magic, and creating a beautiful life. I loved the Stevie Nicks references, the LGBTQ+ rep, and everything about Shanandoah. I wanted to spend more time in this world, and would love a sequel (golden apple Christmas cake, anyone?!)
There are some incredible lines in this novel, Meg is one of those writers that is just naturally spectacular at the craft. I love the worlds she dreams up & truly can’t wait for her 2026 novel!
There are some incredible lines in this novel, Meg is one of those writers that is just naturally spectacular at the craft. I love the worlds she dreams up & truly can’t wait for her 2026 novel!
3.5: I was a solid 3 until the end. There were definitely some redeeming qualities regarding how the story wrapped up as well as some poignant/heartfelt writing.
I received this DRC from NetGalley.
I would've liked this book more... if it weren't for the constant narrator interjections. They were supposed to be snarky fourth wall breaks to add a bit of levity/wit, but they were just corny and unnecessary. The reason for them being there was not justification enough for their existence. As an example, one chapter ends in a fade to black situation. The narrator then comes in to tell you that it's stopping there without adding graphic detail, and that's it- no addition of anything substantive, just reiterating what you could already infer from the very common writing device.
Narrator aside, I enjoyed the story enough. It was a quick read. I found the relationship between Rafe and Jeremy to be sweet and believable. The girls were necessary for plot points, but didn't feel that important. The story had several fantasy elements, but felt mostly rooted in reality, since a lot of the focus was on the boys' relationship and dealing with past traumas.
I would've liked this book more... if it weren't for the constant narrator interjections. They were supposed to be snarky fourth wall breaks to add a bit of levity/wit, but they were just corny and unnecessary. The reason for them being there was not justification enough for their existence. As an example, one chapter ends in a fade to black situation. The narrator then comes in to tell you that it's stopping there without adding graphic detail, and that's it- no addition of anything substantive, just reiterating what you could already infer from the very common writing device.
Narrator aside, I enjoyed the story enough. It was a quick read. I found the relationship between Rafe and Jeremy to be sweet and believable. The girls were necessary for plot points, but didn't feel that important. The story had several fantasy elements, but felt mostly rooted in reality, since a lot of the focus was on the boys' relationship and dealing with past traumas.
✨ A cozy, part mystery, part romance, and mostly fantasy that had me hooked from the start.
✨ This was an overall easy read, but it did delve into serious topics such as abuse and mental illness.
✨ I loved the main characters and felt as though their character development was done in a way that was both realistic and inspiring.
✨ This truly was a small adult version of Narnia!
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✨ This was an overall easy read, but it did delve into serious topics such as abuse and mental illness.
✨ I loved the main characters and felt as though their character development was done in a way that was both realistic and inspiring.
✨ This truly was a small adult version of Narnia!
••• quotes •••
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