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The Story She Left Behind
The New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with a novel spanning three generations of women about a famous lost book, a famous lost mother, and an artist searching for both.
In 1927, in Bluffton, South Carolina, a famous American—former child prodigy author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham—disappears, abandoning her eight-year-old daughter and husband. She leaves behind a sequel to her children’s fantasy blockbuster about a young girl named Emjie who is caught between worlds. But the sequel is written in the author’s secret and untranslatable created language.
Now in 1952, Bronwyn’s lost words have been discovered in a private library in England by a man called Charlie Jameson. Bronwyn’s daughter, Clara Harrington, a children’s book illustrator and divorced mother of one, goes on a quest to England to retrieve the lost words of her mother, words she believes will translate the sequel and help her discover what happened and why her mother abandoned her. Clara takes along her own eight-year-old daughter, Winnie, who is precocious, funny, and wise, and who has an imaginary friend, also called Emjie, after her lost grandmother’s novel.
But when Clara and Wynnie sail to England, they arrive during one of London’s greatest natural disasters—the Great Smog. Wynnie is a fragile child with asthma and the air is deadly. Charlie Jameson helps them escape London and make their way to his family’s country home in the Lake District, where the tale unfolds in the wild and glorious landscape of Esthwaite Water and the land of Beatrix Potter. It is there that the tangled roots that tie Charlie and Clara together will be revealed, and the fate—not only of Emjie, but of Bronwyn herself—will come to light.
In 1927, in Bluffton, South Carolina, a famous American—former child prodigy author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham—disappears, abandoning her eight-year-old daughter and husband. She leaves behind a sequel to her children’s fantasy blockbuster about a young girl named Emjie who is caught between worlds. But the sequel is written in the author’s secret and untranslatable created language.
Now in 1952, Bronwyn’s lost words have been discovered in a private library in England by a man called Charlie Jameson. Bronwyn’s daughter, Clara Harrington, a children’s book illustrator and divorced mother of one, goes on a quest to England to retrieve the lost words of her mother, words she believes will translate the sequel and help her discover what happened and why her mother abandoned her. Clara takes along her own eight-year-old daughter, Winnie, who is precocious, funny, and wise, and who has an imaginary friend, also called Emjie, after her lost grandmother’s novel.
But when Clara and Wynnie sail to England, they arrive during one of London’s greatest natural disasters—the Great Smog. Wynnie is a fragile child with asthma and the air is deadly. Charlie Jameson helps them escape London and make their way to his family’s country home in the Lake District, where the tale unfolds in the wild and glorious landscape of Esthwaite Water and the land of Beatrix Potter. It is there that the tangled roots that tie Charlie and Clara together will be revealed, and the fate—not only of Emjie, but of Bronwyn herself—will come to light.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2025
2420 people are currently reading
64299 people want to read
About the author
Patti Callahan Henry
39 books6,682 followersPatti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels, including her newest, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. She’s also a podcast host of original content for her novels, Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry.
She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,407 reviews
March 24, 2025
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2.5 Stars
This book mixes historical fiction with a family mystery and has a dual timeline that dragged a bit for me. I love Patti Callahan Henry's style of writing and while her 2023 release The Secret Book of Flora Lea was a book I enjoyed, this one fell a little flat.
I am going to start with what I did like. The author does a great job with the atmospheric descriptions, especially in the earlier timeline. I love how we get to explore the mother-daughter relationships, the secrets families keep and how they can hurt us in the future. I liked that it was inspired by a real-life mystery which added to the intrigue.
What didn't work for me was the slow pace, while the historical sections were interesting the modern take was so slow that it made the pacing uneven. Some of the characters were well-developed and fully fleshed out but others felt two dimensional and were much less compelling. For my tastes, the magical elements were not done very well. I wanted more I think. For the most part, the experience was enjoyable, especially the historical sections. And overall this was an okay read if a bit predictable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
2.5 Stars
This book mixes historical fiction with a family mystery and has a dual timeline that dragged a bit for me. I love Patti Callahan Henry's style of writing and while her 2023 release The Secret Book of Flora Lea was a book I enjoyed, this one fell a little flat.
I am going to start with what I did like. The author does a great job with the atmospheric descriptions, especially in the earlier timeline. I love how we get to explore the mother-daughter relationships, the secrets families keep and how they can hurt us in the future. I liked that it was inspired by a real-life mystery which added to the intrigue.
What didn't work for me was the slow pace, while the historical sections were interesting the modern take was so slow that it made the pacing uneven. Some of the characters were well-developed and fully fleshed out but others felt two dimensional and were much less compelling. For my tastes, the magical elements were not done very well. I wanted more I think. For the most part, the experience was enjoyable, especially the historical sections. And overall this was an okay read if a bit predictable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
May 18, 2025
In a Nutshell: A historical mystery about a daughter searching for clues about her lost mother’s manuscript. Everything in the blurb made this book sound perfect for me. Alas! Insta-romance, convenient plotting, overly slow pacing in the second half, lacklustre historical feels, unsatisfactory finish. The lyrical prose helps, but prose alone doesn’t make a book for me. I’m so disappointed! Outlier review yet again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview: (I have gone much beyond the initial 10-15% of the book in this preview because there’s hardly anything happening at the start. No major spoilers though.)
Bookish Yays:
😍 The story is set in three locations in a linear order: South Carolina, London, and Lake District. Each of these is described beautifully.
😍 The details about the Great Fog of 1952. How funny that until a month ago, I hadn’t even heard of this fog, and within a month, this is the second book I've read that uses the London fog as a key development, the other being ‘A Dangerous Game’ by Mandy Robotham! Both books use the fog nicely but differently, with this one stressing more on the pollutants and poisonous stench. The foggy feels come out well.
😍 The author’s note at the end revealing several factual elements connected to the plot, including details about real-life author Barbara Newhall Follett, whose early publishing success and mysterious disappearance in 1939 at age twenty-five – considered one of the biggest literary mysteries of the twentieth century – inspired this fictional novel. I found this note more interesting than the book itself.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 The start is really good. The prologue coming from 1927 in Bronwyn’s perspective, the initial chapters about Clara’s life in South Carolina, and Charlie’s discovery of the dictionary are all interesting. Things start to dip after the story shifts to the Lake District, where it seems like the purpose of the narrative has morphed into something else entirely.
🤔 The novel has some really beautiful prose that brings the locations and emotions alive. However, it also feels like too much of a good thing, especially when the prose isn't supported by an equally strong plot.
🤔 Wynnie is a sweet child, I agree. But it’s getting tiresome to see fictional children who don’t speak as per their age and are mature way beyond their years, with this behaviour conveniently being attributed to precocity.
🤔 The novel contains some strong themes such as parental abandonment, grief, mental health issues, marital breakdown, gambling, child’s health issues, death, and divorce. However, most of these are explored only at the surface level. Some aren’t even utilised properly in the core plot.
🤔 Though the story is set in 1952, it hardly ever *felt* historical. Except for the modes of transportation and the fog/Churchill references, the rest could have been from any time period. I’m not sure why it felt so generic.
Bookish Nays:
😒 I didn’t find the characters well-developed. Many of their actions are impulsive and irrational. Clara’s actions were idiotically naïve at times. (Imagine taking your asthmatic child to a museum on foot in a new city engulfed in so much fog that you can’t see more than a couple of metres ahead of you!)
😒 Charlie is a good-hearted bloke. But even this doesn’t justify the establishing of a romantic relationship within just ten days!! And why was the romance needed anyway? Wasn’t this the story of a daughter looking for closure on her missing mother?
😒 Why does the blurb have two detailed notes from two timelines when the actual plot contains only one timeline? Except for the prologue set in 1927, the rest is all from 1952. Not gonna lie, I felt cheated. I truly expected a dual timeline, with the other one coming from Bronwyn’s POV, which would have been so interesting.
😒 The book keeps stressing on the “secret language” created by Bronwyn. Sorry to be a party-pooper, but its implementation wasn't convincing to me. This supposedly mysterious language, compared in the plot to what Tolkien created for his books, was utterly basic. Plus, we get only a few words from this “language” throughout this book, and for most of them, the meaning is quite guessable. (What’s so complicated about deciphering words such as “Miraculum” and “Adorium”?) It felt like the plot was trying to hype this up, but it didn’t succeed.
😒 There are hints of magical realism, but these aren’t fully explored. Why have it then?
😒 The pacing is quite slow, but in the Lake district sequences, it drags like anything. I struggled to keep my concentration in the second half.
😒 Everything in the book, from character actions to events to emotions, feels farfetched. All reactions are melodramatic, and all conversations include secret-keeping. Some of the subplots aren’t even utilised well, but possibly retained only for their dramatic value.
😒 The mystery itself is boring and the resolution also isn't too tough to figure out. The actual revelation, whenever it comes, is even more disappointing.
😒 The ending – so, so frustrating! An extended infodump lasting almost 15% of the book leading to an overly smooth and convenient finish. Some books work better with HFN endings than with HEA endings. This plot needed an HFN.
😒 The infodump contains certain details that are so absurd and unbelievable! All my sympathy for that character vanished after that infodump. It was more annoying than anything else.
All in all, while this book began really well for me, the rest of it, especially the second half, was quite an exasperating journey. I could empathise with neither the characters nor their quandary. Had the romance not been such a priority and the focus had stayed more on the two mother-daughter pairs (Bronwyn-Clara and Clara-Wynnie), I might have liked this a tad better.
Then again, all my GR friends have rated this novel 5 or 4 stars. So I am very clearly the outlier. I have read only one other book by this author prior to this: ‘Once Upon a Wardrobe’ and I was an outlier for that as well. So perhaps this author and I aren’t meant for each other. 😥 Please read the other reviews and take a more informed call on this book.
Recommended to those who love extended lyrical prose and romance tracks and don’t mind slowburn pacing and melodrama. None of these is for me.
2 stars.
My thanks to Atria Books for providing the DRC of “The Story She Left Behind” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview: (I have gone much beyond the initial 10-15% of the book in this preview because there’s hardly anything happening at the start. No major spoilers though.)
1952. Clara is an award-winning illustrator. A single mother, she lives with her father and her eight-year-old daughter Wynnie in South Carolina. Over the last twenty-five years, Clara has lived under the emotional shadow of her missing mother Bronwyn, a renowned author who disappeared off the coast with no clue and leaving behind a sequel to her bestseller. This sequel is written in an invented language no one can decipher. Now a stranger named Charlie calls up Clara from London, claiming that he has found a handwritten dictionary of the lost language. Though Clara is sceptical and can barely afford a trip across the ocean, she travels with Wynnie to London, only to arrive at the same time as a deadly smog engulfs the place. Charlie has a solution: escaping to his family country house in the beautiful Lake District. Is Charlie’s claim about the dictionary true? Will Clara finally find closure?
The story comes to us in the third-person perspectives of Clara and Charlie.
Bookish Yays:
😍 The story is set in three locations in a linear order: South Carolina, London, and Lake District. Each of these is described beautifully.
😍 The details about the Great Fog of 1952. How funny that until a month ago, I hadn’t even heard of this fog, and within a month, this is the second book I've read that uses the London fog as a key development, the other being ‘A Dangerous Game’ by Mandy Robotham! Both books use the fog nicely but differently, with this one stressing more on the pollutants and poisonous stench. The foggy feels come out well.
😍 The author’s note at the end revealing several factual elements connected to the plot, including details about real-life author Barbara Newhall Follett, whose early publishing success and mysterious disappearance in 1939 at age twenty-five – considered one of the biggest literary mysteries of the twentieth century – inspired this fictional novel. I found this note more interesting than the book itself.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 The start is really good. The prologue coming from 1927 in Bronwyn’s perspective, the initial chapters about Clara’s life in South Carolina, and Charlie’s discovery of the dictionary are all interesting. Things start to dip after the story shifts to the Lake District, where it seems like the purpose of the narrative has morphed into something else entirely.
🤔 The novel has some really beautiful prose that brings the locations and emotions alive. However, it also feels like too much of a good thing, especially when the prose isn't supported by an equally strong plot.
🤔 Wynnie is a sweet child, I agree. But it’s getting tiresome to see fictional children who don’t speak as per their age and are mature way beyond their years, with this behaviour conveniently being attributed to precocity.
🤔 The novel contains some strong themes such as parental abandonment, grief, mental health issues, marital breakdown, gambling, child’s health issues, death, and divorce. However, most of these are explored only at the surface level. Some aren’t even utilised properly in the core plot.
🤔 Though the story is set in 1952, it hardly ever *felt* historical. Except for the modes of transportation and the fog/Churchill references, the rest could have been from any time period. I’m not sure why it felt so generic.
Bookish Nays:
😒 I didn’t find the characters well-developed. Many of their actions are impulsive and irrational. Clara’s actions were idiotically naïve at times. (Imagine taking your asthmatic child to a museum on foot in a new city engulfed in so much fog that you can’t see more than a couple of metres ahead of you!)
😒 Charlie is a good-hearted bloke. But even this doesn’t justify the establishing of a romantic relationship within just ten days!! And why was the romance needed anyway? Wasn’t this the story of a daughter looking for closure on her missing mother?
😒 Why does the blurb have two detailed notes from two timelines when the actual plot contains only one timeline? Except for the prologue set in 1927, the rest is all from 1952. Not gonna lie, I felt cheated. I truly expected a dual timeline, with the other one coming from Bronwyn’s POV, which would have been so interesting.
😒 The book keeps stressing on the “secret language” created by Bronwyn. Sorry to be a party-pooper, but its implementation wasn't convincing to me. This supposedly mysterious language, compared in the plot to what Tolkien created for his books, was utterly basic. Plus, we get only a few words from this “language” throughout this book, and for most of them, the meaning is quite guessable. (What’s so complicated about deciphering words such as “Miraculum” and “Adorium”?) It felt like the plot was trying to hype this up, but it didn’t succeed.
😒 There are hints of magical realism, but these aren’t fully explored. Why have it then?
😒 The pacing is quite slow, but in the Lake district sequences, it drags like anything. I struggled to keep my concentration in the second half.
😒 Everything in the book, from character actions to events to emotions, feels farfetched. All reactions are melodramatic, and all conversations include secret-keeping. Some of the subplots aren’t even utilised well, but possibly retained only for their dramatic value.
😒 The mystery itself is boring and the resolution also isn't too tough to figure out. The actual revelation, whenever it comes, is even more disappointing.
😒 The ending – so, so frustrating! An extended infodump lasting almost 15% of the book leading to an overly smooth and convenient finish. Some books work better with HFN endings than with HEA endings. This plot needed an HFN.
😒 The infodump contains certain details that are so absurd and unbelievable! All my sympathy for that character vanished after that infodump. It was more annoying than anything else.
All in all, while this book began really well for me, the rest of it, especially the second half, was quite an exasperating journey. I could empathise with neither the characters nor their quandary. Had the romance not been such a priority and the focus had stayed more on the two mother-daughter pairs (Bronwyn-Clara and Clara-Wynnie), I might have liked this a tad better.
Then again, all my GR friends have rated this novel 5 or 4 stars. So I am very clearly the outlier. I have read only one other book by this author prior to this: ‘Once Upon a Wardrobe’ and I was an outlier for that as well. So perhaps this author and I aren’t meant for each other. 😥 Please read the other reviews and take a more informed call on this book.
Recommended to those who love extended lyrical prose and romance tracks and don’t mind slowburn pacing and melodrama. None of these is for me.
2 stars.
My thanks to Atria Books for providing the DRC of “The Story She Left Behind” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
January 27, 2025
What a lovely book with a beautiful cover! I loved this book about a missing mother, a daughter looking for answers, a secret language/words/writing and love. This wonderful book touched on a quest for answers, abandonment, love, loss, legacy, family, found family, longing, and forgiveness. I was intrigued by the secret language, the mystery, and the characters.
Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham was a world-renowned author who became a child prodigy when she wrote a bestselling book written in a secret language when she was 12 years old. When her daughter Clara was eight years old, she disappeared and left her husband and Clara behind.
Clara grew up to become a children's book illustrator with a young daughter named Wynnie. She is shocked when she receives a phone call from Charlie Jameson, in London informing her that a dictionary of her mother's secret language has been discovered. Clara and her daughter, Wynnie, set sail and arrive during the Great Smog of London. Clara hopes to find answers, obtain her mother's papers, and be able to move on.
What a wonderfully written and well thought out book. I was swept away along with Clara and Wynnie as they set out for answers and found more than they were looking for. I was fully invested in this book and the journey that each of the characters took as secrets and the truth merged between the pages.
This was my first book by Patti Callahan Henry, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Captivating, gripping, and a delight to read.
4.5 stars
*A witches words buddy read with Norma, Brenda DeAnn, and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to see their thoughts on The Story She Left Behind.
Thank you to Atria Books 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 📖
Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham was a world-renowned author who became a child prodigy when she wrote a bestselling book written in a secret language when she was 12 years old. When her daughter Clara was eight years old, she disappeared and left her husband and Clara behind.
Clara grew up to become a children's book illustrator with a young daughter named Wynnie. She is shocked when she receives a phone call from Charlie Jameson, in London informing her that a dictionary of her mother's secret language has been discovered. Clara and her daughter, Wynnie, set sail and arrive during the Great Smog of London. Clara hopes to find answers, obtain her mother's papers, and be able to move on.
What a wonderfully written and well thought out book. I was swept away along with Clara and Wynnie as they set out for answers and found more than they were looking for. I was fully invested in this book and the journey that each of the characters took as secrets and the truth merged between the pages.
This was my first book by Patti Callahan Henry, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Captivating, gripping, and a delight to read.
4.5 stars
*A witches words buddy read with Norma, Brenda DeAnn, and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to see their thoughts on The Story She Left Behind.
Thank you to Atria Books 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 📖
June 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Sweeping, emotional, and utterly entrancing!
The Story She Left Behind felt like stepping into a world where love, discovery, and secrets collide in the most breathtaking way.
I was completely taken by The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry. From the very first page, I was consumed by Clara’s journey and the legacy of her mysterious and captivating mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham. The 1952 setting, especially in the fog-covered streets of London during one of its most devastating natural disasters, felt hauntingly alive, it pulled me right into the uncertainty they faced, where danger and hope seemed to coexist in every moment.
What makes this book so extraordinary is Patti Callahan Henry’s writing. Her prose is lush and lyrical, and every word feels carefully chosen to draw you deeper into this world. Each layer of mystery, each revelation, unfolded like a carefully tended garden—growing, blooming, and flourishing into something truly breathtaking. It’s the kind of storytelling that keeps you utterly spellbound, pulling at your heartstrings with emotions that are thick and impossible to ignore.
The characters—oh, the characters! Clara’s longing for answers and her fierce love for her daughter, Wynnie, were so moving. Wynnie, in particular, was a delightful, fabulous character—her warmth and charm brought so much life and hope to this story. Bronwyn’s larger-than-life presence, even in her absence, was magnetic. And Charlie? Let’s just say he added an unexpected depth that made me love this story even more. I felt fully connected to their lives, their struggles, and the courage that carried them forward.
The mystery surrounding Bronwyn’s book and the invented language was like a thread I couldn’t stop pulling. And when everything came together? It was nothing short of breathtaking.
This book has everything—mystery, family legacy, love, and the enduring search for belonging. The ending? Absolutely beautiful, wrapping everything up in a way that left me reflecting on every moment and wanting to experience it all over again.
I was entranced by The Story She Left Behind, an unforgettable, moving, and gorgeously written novel that I cannot recommend enough.
A wonderful Witches Words read that I had the pleasure of buddy reading with Brenda, Debra, Mary Beth, and DeAnn. Be sure to check out their reviews.
Expected Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy, I loved every single second of it!
The Story She Left Behind felt like stepping into a world where love, discovery, and secrets collide in the most breathtaking way.
I was completely taken by The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry. From the very first page, I was consumed by Clara’s journey and the legacy of her mysterious and captivating mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham. The 1952 setting, especially in the fog-covered streets of London during one of its most devastating natural disasters, felt hauntingly alive, it pulled me right into the uncertainty they faced, where danger and hope seemed to coexist in every moment.
What makes this book so extraordinary is Patti Callahan Henry’s writing. Her prose is lush and lyrical, and every word feels carefully chosen to draw you deeper into this world. Each layer of mystery, each revelation, unfolded like a carefully tended garden—growing, blooming, and flourishing into something truly breathtaking. It’s the kind of storytelling that keeps you utterly spellbound, pulling at your heartstrings with emotions that are thick and impossible to ignore.
The characters—oh, the characters! Clara’s longing for answers and her fierce love for her daughter, Wynnie, were so moving. Wynnie, in particular, was a delightful, fabulous character—her warmth and charm brought so much life and hope to this story. Bronwyn’s larger-than-life presence, even in her absence, was magnetic. And Charlie? Let’s just say he added an unexpected depth that made me love this story even more. I felt fully connected to their lives, their struggles, and the courage that carried them forward.
The mystery surrounding Bronwyn’s book and the invented language was like a thread I couldn’t stop pulling. And when everything came together? It was nothing short of breathtaking.
This book has everything—mystery, family legacy, love, and the enduring search for belonging. The ending? Absolutely beautiful, wrapping everything up in a way that left me reflecting on every moment and wanting to experience it all over again.
I was entranced by The Story She Left Behind, an unforgettable, moving, and gorgeously written novel that I cannot recommend enough.
A wonderful Witches Words read that I had the pleasure of buddy reading with Brenda, Debra, Mary Beth, and DeAnn. Be sure to check out their reviews.
Expected Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy, I loved every single second of it!
March 13, 2025
I was enchanted by this book, from the stunning illustration on the cover all the way to the very end. It successfully weaves together mystery, make-believe, and historical fiction. This author's prose is as beautiful as the vistas that she creates with her words, from the coastal waters of South Carolina to the foggy streets of London. The characters are charming, and the story is delightful and engaging.
In South Carolina in 1927, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordam is missing. At the age of twelve she had published a story that was written in code. As an adult with her own family, she disappears and leaves behind her husband, her eight-year-old daughter Clara, and an unfinished sequel to her first book. Clara searches her whole life for answers to why her mother abandoned her.
Twenty-five years later, Clara has become a second-grade art teacher and an illustrator of children's books. She is also the mother of her own precocious eight-year-old daughter, Wynnie. One day, Clara receives a call from a gentleman in London who tells her that he has found a mysterious old satchel in his father's library along with a letter addressed to Clara. With the letter is something surprising.
Clara and Wynnie make their way to London from America to retrieve the letter and satchel from Charlie. They soon find themselves all scurrying to the countryside to escape a dense obstructing fog that has enveloped London in noxious fumes. The mystery becomes even more puzzling once they arrive at Charlie's family's manor.
Do YOU believe in make-believe and the power of love? You just have to use your imagination. This story is about the love and devotion between mother and child. And the magic of children and their imaginary friends.
Ms. Henry hit it out of the park with this book and it is going to be a big hit with her fans, as well as readers who love a little historical fiction with their mysteries. I have already started to highly recommend this to all of my friends.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
In South Carolina in 1927, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordam is missing. At the age of twelve she had published a story that was written in code. As an adult with her own family, she disappears and leaves behind her husband, her eight-year-old daughter Clara, and an unfinished sequel to her first book. Clara searches her whole life for answers to why her mother abandoned her.
Twenty-five years later, Clara has become a second-grade art teacher and an illustrator of children's books. She is also the mother of her own precocious eight-year-old daughter, Wynnie. One day, Clara receives a call from a gentleman in London who tells her that he has found a mysterious old satchel in his father's library along with a letter addressed to Clara. With the letter is something surprising.
Clara and Wynnie make their way to London from America to retrieve the letter and satchel from Charlie. They soon find themselves all scurrying to the countryside to escape a dense obstructing fog that has enveloped London in noxious fumes. The mystery becomes even more puzzling once they arrive at Charlie's family's manor.
Do YOU believe in make-believe and the power of love? You just have to use your imagination. This story is about the love and devotion between mother and child. And the magic of children and their imaginary friends.
Ms. Henry hit it out of the park with this book and it is going to be a big hit with her fans, as well as readers who love a little historical fiction with their mysteries. I have already started to highly recommend this to all of my friends.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 18, 2025
4.5-5⭐️ When Clara Harrington’s brilliant mother, author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears from their home in South Carolina, leaving behind her only published book written at the age of 12 in her own invented language, her world is shattered. But years later, when a stranger reaches out claiming he has her mother’s handwritten dictionary of her created language, she takes her daughter Wynnie on a voyage of a lifetime, across the Atlantic, to London, where she hopes Charlie Jameson holds the answers to what happened to her mother.
Wow. I had originally intended to read just a few pages of this book, and wound up absolutely devouring it in an afternoon. Oops. What I love most is that this story, based on an actual literary mystery, offers a little bit of everything, making it a fantastic read for such a large swath of readers. With a fantastic mashup of historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery, and romance, and gorgeous prose, it’s hard not to be completely swept away to the tiny picturesque area of London, and into the world Patti Callahan Henry has created.
This is my first book by this author, so I am very new to her writing, but I was blown away by how evocative and atmospheric her writing is. As Clara and Wynnie brave the streets of London during the Great Smog, I felt as though I was right beside them, unable to breathe myself. For so much of the story, there was a cinematic quality achieved through her dynamic writing. And beyond that, the characters are spectacular. They are multi-layered and complex, each with their own unique backstory, and I enjoyed every moment I spent with them. I have surely been missing out here, and I cannot wait to dive into this author’s entire backlist.
🎧 Absolutely fantastic on audio, narrated by the queen of audio Julia Whelan, and a fantastic counterpart in Theo Solomon, I found myself wanting to read my physical copy, alongside the audio, to feel completely immersed in the beautiful story.
Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️literary mysteries
▪️mother/daughter stories
▪️dual timelines
▪️books about books
▪️romance subplot
Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
Wow. I had originally intended to read just a few pages of this book, and wound up absolutely devouring it in an afternoon. Oops. What I love most is that this story, based on an actual literary mystery, offers a little bit of everything, making it a fantastic read for such a large swath of readers. With a fantastic mashup of historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery, and romance, and gorgeous prose, it’s hard not to be completely swept away to the tiny picturesque area of London, and into the world Patti Callahan Henry has created.
This is my first book by this author, so I am very new to her writing, but I was blown away by how evocative and atmospheric her writing is. As Clara and Wynnie brave the streets of London during the Great Smog, I felt as though I was right beside them, unable to breathe myself. For so much of the story, there was a cinematic quality achieved through her dynamic writing. And beyond that, the characters are spectacular. They are multi-layered and complex, each with their own unique backstory, and I enjoyed every moment I spent with them. I have surely been missing out here, and I cannot wait to dive into this author’s entire backlist.
🎧 Absolutely fantastic on audio, narrated by the queen of audio Julia Whelan, and a fantastic counterpart in Theo Solomon, I found myself wanting to read my physical copy, alongside the audio, to feel completely immersed in the beautiful story.
Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️literary mysteries
▪️mother/daughter stories
▪️dual timelines
▪️books about books
▪️romance subplot
Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
March 6, 2025
Really good! Plus- a dual narration involving Julia Whelan, yes please!
This was a lovely journey with romance, adventure, mystery, forgiveness. So many great things to make for a wonderful book. I appreciated the authors note recapping the history aspects of this one but i think for me, it definitely leaned more into history-lite where it was a story that could have been set anywhere in the world at any time in history. Nothing stood out like oh ya I remember something about that. I did think this had sooooo many beautiful passages and descriptions. The middle felt a little draggy for me but for the most part, really really enjoyable.
This was a lovely journey with romance, adventure, mystery, forgiveness. So many great things to make for a wonderful book. I appreciated the authors note recapping the history aspects of this one but i think for me, it definitely leaned more into history-lite where it was a story that could have been set anywhere in the world at any time in history. Nothing stood out like oh ya I remember something about that. I did think this had sooooo many beautiful passages and descriptions. The middle felt a little draggy for me but for the most part, really really enjoyable.
February 24, 2025
i enjoyed this one so much! highly recommend the audiobook—narrated by the wonderful and amazing Julia Whelan with a dual narration/POV for the FMC and MMC which was such a good experience and really immersed me in the story 🎧🤍
if you like historical fiction that isn’t war focused, this will be for you! also read if you like family drama, dual POVs and genre benders (this one has mystery, romance, historical fiction, and fam drama).
i liked this one more than THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA. the story grabbed me right away. there’s just something about reading books about books ✨✨✨ the lost story + lost mother mystery aspect had me really invested to see how it all ended.
and the SETTING????? various settings actually. chefs kiss! wanted to transport into them. also don’t get me started on this book cover!!!!! 💖💗🌸💕 will easily be a 2025 fave. everything about it just feels like a big hug. i enjoy this author’s writing style a lot!
what i’d change: part of the ending doesn’t make the most sense to me. and i was personally craving/wishing it felt a bit more like historical fiction if that makes sense… i feel like a lot of what happened could have been in any time period and i was craving a bit of the “historical” aspect than we got.
all in all, a very good read! deff recommend adding it to your audiobook TBR when it releases
thanks to Atria Books and Libro FM for gifted early copies!!!
if you like historical fiction that isn’t war focused, this will be for you! also read if you like family drama, dual POVs and genre benders (this one has mystery, romance, historical fiction, and fam drama).
i liked this one more than THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA. the story grabbed me right away. there’s just something about reading books about books ✨✨✨ the lost story + lost mother mystery aspect had me really invested to see how it all ended.
and the SETTING????? various settings actually. chefs kiss! wanted to transport into them. also don’t get me started on this book cover!!!!! 💖💗🌸💕 will easily be a 2025 fave. everything about it just feels like a big hug. i enjoy this author’s writing style a lot!
what i’d change: part of the ending doesn’t make the most sense to me. and i was personally craving/wishing it felt a bit more like historical fiction if that makes sense… i feel like a lot of what happened could have been in any time period and i was craving a bit of the “historical” aspect than we got.
all in all, a very good read! deff recommend adding it to your audiobook TBR when it releases
thanks to Atria Books and Libro FM for gifted early copies!!!
October 29, 2025
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND is based on the true story of Barbara Newhall Follett, a child literary prodigy who disappeared at age 25.
Clara has grown up in the shadow of her famous mother, Bronwyn, who disappeared in 1927. It is now 1952. Clara is a divorced illustrator with a young asthmatic daughter, Wynnie. A stranger contacts her, claiming to have a dictionary of her mother's lost language. She is obviously skeptical.
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. The mystery and pacing were a little better than the reveal.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
Clara has grown up in the shadow of her famous mother, Bronwyn, who disappeared in 1927. It is now 1952. Clara is a divorced illustrator with a young asthmatic daughter, Wynnie. A stranger contacts her, claiming to have a dictionary of her mother's lost language. She is obviously skeptical.
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. The mystery and pacing were a little better than the reveal.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
July 20, 2025
This is an entertaining, beautifully written, historical fiction novel which is based on actual persons and events. It has wonderful characters, lovely, vividly described settings, an engaging mystery, and a gratifying conclusion. My favorite quote from the book is "We traveled too far, too fast, and waited for my soul to catch up". I listened to the audiobook, which was fabulously narrated by the truly talented Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon. The author's notes, which were read in her own voice, were enlightening and informative, and were greatly appreciated.
March 22, 2025
Officially Publishing Today. I am so Excited going to see Patti Callahan Henry this Friday at Quail Books in Raleigh! Love meeting Authors
Patti Callahan Henry writes so well.
Just Finished this Beautiful Book. Love the descriptions of Nature, Books, Stories, and Finding Home. Finishing Felt like Reaching Out and Getting a Big Hug.
Just Magical.
Thank you NetGalley, Patti Callahan Henry, and Atria Books for this book. I always leave reviews for books I read.
Had so much Fun at the Author Event. You learn so much listening to PCH speak about her book and how she created the characters. Really Loved Going to Quail Ridge Books. 📚 Meet lots of Great People.
Patti Callahan Henry writes so well.
Just Finished this Beautiful Book. Love the descriptions of Nature, Books, Stories, and Finding Home. Finishing Felt like Reaching Out and Getting a Big Hug.
Just Magical.
Thank you NetGalley, Patti Callahan Henry, and Atria Books for this book. I always leave reviews for books I read.
Had so much Fun at the Author Event. You learn so much listening to PCH speak about her book and how she created the characters. Really Loved Going to Quail Ridge Books. 📚 Meet lots of Great People.
May 13, 2025
I will always recommend any book by Patti Callahan Henry, and her new one did not disappoint! She pulls you into the pluff mud of the Lowcountry and transports you to the English countryside and you are captivated to the very end. A wonderful tale about a woman's search for answers regarding the disappearance of her mother, and unlocking the secret words of a novel she left behind. Five stars!
March 17, 2025
I was captivated by the beautiful cover and immediately pulled into a spectacular story full of mystery, searching, secrets, and acceptance. Henry examines what we leave behind and what we take with us and the ripple effects of this in the present and future. Her magnificent story about a secret language, forgiveness and found family will stay with me for quite some time. As I finished the last page, I realized (1) that not everything lost needs to be found and not everything found was at one time lost and (2) that not every question needs or has an answer.
My inner intellect enjoyed an opportunity to get lost down a rabbit hole of all things pertaining to The Great Smog and Barbara Newhall Follett.
You won’t be disappointed with any Patti Callahan Henry book you pick up!
My inner intellect enjoyed an opportunity to get lost down a rabbit hole of all things pertaining to The Great Smog and Barbara Newhall Follett.
You won’t be disappointed with any Patti Callahan Henry book you pick up!
March 18, 2025
I felt so much from Clara whose mother abandon her when she was eight. Her father became her refuge and the stories left behind were not positive. The community had their take on what happened to the write/wife/mother Brownlyn.
Now Clara is a mother of an eight-year-old and is set on a quest to find out more about her mother’s past. This novel if magical, emotional and takes us on a journey surrounding their lives and what became of Brownlyn. Will Clara and her dad get the answers they hope or will it cause more heartache.
Patti Callahan Henry always takes us on an emotional journey in her books. The descriptions and details are rich and make you want to jump inside this story. A mothers love never dies, no matter what.
Thank you Patti for sending us another wonderful journey with this novel. A must read.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for this gifted e-ARC. Off to pre-order now.
Now Clara is a mother of an eight-year-old and is set on a quest to find out more about her mother’s past. This novel if magical, emotional and takes us on a journey surrounding their lives and what became of Brownlyn. Will Clara and her dad get the answers they hope or will it cause more heartache.
Patti Callahan Henry always takes us on an emotional journey in her books. The descriptions and details are rich and make you want to jump inside this story. A mothers love never dies, no matter what.
Thank you Patti for sending us another wonderful journey with this novel. A must read.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for this gifted e-ARC. Off to pre-order now.
April 2, 2025
The weight of secrets, the power of forgiveness and intergenerational connections.....this story has it all. Eighteen books strong and Patti Callahan Henry still writes amazing stories!!
📖Set against the backdrop of the Great Smog of 1952 in London and the serene Lake District, the
story follows Clara Harrington, an illustrator and single mother, who sets out on a quest to uncover the truth about her mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham—a celebrated author who vanished under mysterious circumstances in 1927. Bronwyn's enduring legacy includes a revolutionary book composed in an invented language. Clara's journey is ignited by the discovery of a dictionary that may hold the key to unraveling the secrets of her mother's enigmatic work and disappearance.
📖Upon arriving in London, Clara Harrington and her asthmatic daughter, Wynnie, face immediate danger from the smog, forcing them to flee. This disaster intensifies Clara's quest and also serves as a metaphor for the hidden truths surrounding her mother's mysterious disappearance.
📖I deeply admire how Patti Callahan Henry was able to intertwine Clara’s emotional journey with Bronwyn’s mysterious legacy, creating a beautifully layered narrative. The interplay between past and present, especially through the symbolism of the invented language and the dictionary, stood out to me as a remarkable storytelling choice.
🎧Narrators Julia Whelan (@justjuliawhelan -
favorite narrator) and Theo Solomon (@theo_solomon - new favorite narrator) together deliver a compelling listening experience, skillfully navigating the alternating points of view and a range of accents, both American and British.
Julia Whelan vividly conveys Clara Harrington's emotional journey, imbuing her portrayal with authenticity and depth. Meanwhile, Theo Solomon brings Charlie Jameson to life with effortless charm, perfectly complementing Whelan's performance.
📖Set against the backdrop of the Great Smog of 1952 in London and the serene Lake District, the
story follows Clara Harrington, an illustrator and single mother, who sets out on a quest to uncover the truth about her mother, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham—a celebrated author who vanished under mysterious circumstances in 1927. Bronwyn's enduring legacy includes a revolutionary book composed in an invented language. Clara's journey is ignited by the discovery of a dictionary that may hold the key to unraveling the secrets of her mother's enigmatic work and disappearance.
📖Upon arriving in London, Clara Harrington and her asthmatic daughter, Wynnie, face immediate danger from the smog, forcing them to flee. This disaster intensifies Clara's quest and also serves as a metaphor for the hidden truths surrounding her mother's mysterious disappearance.
📖I deeply admire how Patti Callahan Henry was able to intertwine Clara’s emotional journey with Bronwyn’s mysterious legacy, creating a beautifully layered narrative. The interplay between past and present, especially through the symbolism of the invented language and the dictionary, stood out to me as a remarkable storytelling choice.
🎧Narrators Julia Whelan (@justjuliawhelan -
favorite narrator) and Theo Solomon (@theo_solomon - new favorite narrator) together deliver a compelling listening experience, skillfully navigating the alternating points of view and a range of accents, both American and British.
Julia Whelan vividly conveys Clara Harrington's emotional journey, imbuing her portrayal with authenticity and depth. Meanwhile, Theo Solomon brings Charlie Jameson to life with effortless charm, perfectly complementing Whelan's performance.
April 6, 2025
I really, REALLY expected to like this novel. ‘Once Upon a Wardrobe’ was my favorite novel of 2023, so I went into this one with great expectations. Unfortunately, maybe too great.
There were too many things that seriously annoyed me about this story, most of them having to do with language choices.
I know that I cannot quote from an unpublished manuscript, but I believe I can use the servant Moira to illustrate several examples of my frustration since she is meaningless to the story, and it would not be giving anything “away”.
• The reason given for Moira making free use of the private library is lame. She lights a fire, puts on music and dances? - and no one cares.
• Why did Moira lie about knowing anything about the satchel, and then freely admits having messed about with it later in the story? – and no one really cares.
• Why does Moira refer to Charlie as “Mister Charlie” and Clara as “Miss Clara”, and her employer Mr. Jameson as Collum? – I find that hard to believe.
• Why does Moira invite Clara to join “us” for tea downstairs, instead of inviting her to join “the family” – that was a poor choice of words.
And Clara “allows” her hostess to take her hands! - Allows? Really?
It may seem like nitpicking to some, but the writing let me down. Everyone’s conversation seemed so theatrical and dramatic. Wynnie spoke like no 8 year old I’ve ever heard, and Clara’s conversations were affected and unnatural. Clara’s actions were not much better. (Don’t get me started on Clara taking Wynnie to the museum... in the fog... the day after Wynnie almost died... from being in the fog.) I found myself wanting to shake her for much of the story.
I’m sorry, but ultimately the one word I would use to describe this novel would be “tedious”. It took me 3 long weeks to read this - I usually read a book in 3 days.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
There were too many things that seriously annoyed me about this story, most of them having to do with language choices.
I know that I cannot quote from an unpublished manuscript, but I believe I can use the servant Moira to illustrate several examples of my frustration since she is meaningless to the story, and it would not be giving anything “away”.
• The reason given for Moira making free use of the private library is lame. She lights a fire, puts on music and dances? - and no one cares.
• Why did Moira lie about knowing anything about the satchel, and then freely admits having messed about with it later in the story? – and no one really cares.
• Why does Moira refer to Charlie as “Mister Charlie” and Clara as “Miss Clara”, and her employer Mr. Jameson as Collum? – I find that hard to believe.
• Why does Moira invite Clara to join “us” for tea downstairs, instead of inviting her to join “the family” – that was a poor choice of words.
And Clara “allows” her hostess to take her hands! - Allows? Really?
It may seem like nitpicking to some, but the writing let me down. Everyone’s conversation seemed so theatrical and dramatic. Wynnie spoke like no 8 year old I’ve ever heard, and Clara’s conversations were affected and unnatural. Clara’s actions were not much better. (Don’t get me started on Clara taking Wynnie to the museum... in the fog... the day after Wynnie almost died... from being in the fog.) I found myself wanting to shake her for much of the story.
I’m sorry, but ultimately the one word I would use to describe this novel would be “tedious”. It took me 3 long weeks to read this - I usually read a book in 3 days.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
February 2, 2025
Please let me introduce you all to a true Word Witch: Patti Callahan Henry. She has wielded her words like a magic wand and has crafted a story that bewitched, and captivated my little coven of witches.
The Mystery That Lingers and The Timeless Power of Literature.
Now, let’s delve into the mystery at the heart of this enchanting tale. Clara’s mother, Bronwyn, wasn’t just any author—she penned a mesmerizing book that captured the hearts of many. Tragedy struck and Bronwyn went missing along with the secret language. Now, after years of her words being lost, they have been found. Clara embarks on a quest to bring her mother's words home and to keep the hope alive of ever translating the sequel to her beloved book.
The Enchantment of a Secret Language
One of the most bewitching elements of The Story She Left Behind is the secret language created by Bronwyn. She created magical words and crafted her very own secret language to protect her writing. This secret language is more than just a clever plot device; it’s a profound symbol of the power of love, words, and the enduring magic of make-believe. I adored this beautiful concept –magic that Has me dreaming of creating a secret language of my own.
The Power of Words
Patti Callahan Henry’s beautiful, magical story shows us the true beauty and power in words. It’s a book lover's dream, a narrative that will captivate your heart, and uplift your spirits.
Step into this one and feel the magic, and let every word cast its spell on you!!
A Witches Words group read with Norma, Debra, Mary Beth and DeAnn. Look for their magical reviews
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
The Mystery That Lingers and The Timeless Power of Literature.
Now, let’s delve into the mystery at the heart of this enchanting tale. Clara’s mother, Bronwyn, wasn’t just any author—she penned a mesmerizing book that captured the hearts of many. Tragedy struck and Bronwyn went missing along with the secret language. Now, after years of her words being lost, they have been found. Clara embarks on a quest to bring her mother's words home and to keep the hope alive of ever translating the sequel to her beloved book.
The Enchantment of a Secret Language
One of the most bewitching elements of The Story She Left Behind is the secret language created by Bronwyn. She created magical words and crafted her very own secret language to protect her writing. This secret language is more than just a clever plot device; it’s a profound symbol of the power of love, words, and the enduring magic of make-believe. I adored this beautiful concept –magic that Has me dreaming of creating a secret language of my own.
The Power of Words
Patti Callahan Henry’s beautiful, magical story shows us the true beauty and power in words. It’s a book lover's dream, a narrative that will captivate your heart, and uplift your spirits.
Step into this one and feel the magic, and let every word cast its spell on you!!
A Witches Words group read with Norma, Debra, Mary Beth and DeAnn. Look for their magical reviews
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
April 25, 2025
This is easily the biggest reading disappointment of the year for me so far. I loved the charm of The Secret Book of Flora Lea and had high hopes for a repeat performance. Unfortunately, however, I found this a flimsy yet overwrought narrative that was a slog to get through.
Clara's life is upended when she receives a call from a gentleman in England who insists he has a package only for her eyes, a satchel that's been discovered upon the death of his father. Inside is a secret-language dictionary written by her mother, a famous novelist who disappeared from her life when Clara was just a child. Desperate for resolution, Clara and her daughter travel to England in a search for answers and a hope to translate her mother's final novel.
While the book effectively whisks the reader away to a more gentle time and place, I couldn't fully settle in, as there were just too many things that nagged at me. Having been affected by her mother's disappearance, Clara is obsessed with being a good mother to her own daughter, yet this doesn't stop her from making continued poor choices and then berating herself for it. This self-flagellation became quickly tiresome. I think I would have loved this so much more if it were a story of motherly love and simply healing from past trauma. And then there's the supposed genius of Clara's mother, who was apparently off-the-charts gifted at a young age, and yet invented some rather mundane and transparent "secret" words. They are so close to our actual language that I can't see how her book would have needed translation. There is magic realism alluded to with Clara's daughter's invisible friend, but never fleshed out in a satisfying way.
Ultimately, it just failed to click for me.
2.5 stars rounded down.
Clara's life is upended when she receives a call from a gentleman in England who insists he has a package only for her eyes, a satchel that's been discovered upon the death of his father. Inside is a secret-language dictionary written by her mother, a famous novelist who disappeared from her life when Clara was just a child. Desperate for resolution, Clara and her daughter travel to England in a search for answers and a hope to translate her mother's final novel.
While the book effectively whisks the reader away to a more gentle time and place, I couldn't fully settle in, as there were just too many things that nagged at me. Having been affected by her mother's disappearance, Clara is obsessed with being a good mother to her own daughter, yet this doesn't stop her from making continued poor choices and then berating herself for it. This self-flagellation became quickly tiresome. I think I would have loved this so much more if it were a story of motherly love and simply healing from past trauma. And then there's the supposed genius of Clara's mother, who was apparently off-the-charts gifted at a young age, and yet invented some rather mundane and transparent "secret" words. They are so close to our actual language that I can't see how her book would have needed translation. There is magic realism alluded to with Clara's daughter's invisible friend, but never fleshed out in a satisfying way.
Ultimately, it just failed to click for me.
2.5 stars rounded down.
April 26, 2025
In 1927, Clara Harrington's childhood is torn apart when her mother, renowned and famous author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina and is presumed dead. Bronwyn wrote a book and invented her own language when she was just twelve years old and she leaves behind a heartbroken husband Callum and daughter, and any chance of translating the sequel and having it published.
By 1952, Clara is a divorced mother and award winning illustrator, and she raising her daughter Wynnie with her estranged husband Dan. When a stranger called Charlie Jameson contacts her from England saying he’s found a satchel belonging to her mother and a letter for Clara in his late father’s library.
Clara and Wynnie travel to England, they arrive during The Great Smog of London, for asthmatic Wynnie it puts her life in danger and they have no choice but to flee with Charlie to the family’s summer house in the beautiful Lake District.
Here they search for answers of how Charlie’s father ended up with the satchel and letter and his mother Philippa hasn't got a clue, and Clara wonders is Bronwyn still alive and did she fake her own death? Wynnie especially feels at home and loves it in England, with her imaginary friend Emjie by her side she can visit where Beatrix Potter wrote Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck.
I received a copy of The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry from Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Another enchanting and beautifully written dual timeline narrative about family and loss, love and being different, the magic of words and places and secrets.
Five stars from and a story where anything is possible and based around a real missing author, and I wanted to explore the Lake District with Wynnie and Emjie and visit the resting place of my high school librarian and now understand why she had her ashes scattered in this stunning area of England and not in Australia.
By 1952, Clara is a divorced mother and award winning illustrator, and she raising her daughter Wynnie with her estranged husband Dan. When a stranger called Charlie Jameson contacts her from England saying he’s found a satchel belonging to her mother and a letter for Clara in his late father’s library.
Clara and Wynnie travel to England, they arrive during The Great Smog of London, for asthmatic Wynnie it puts her life in danger and they have no choice but to flee with Charlie to the family’s summer house in the beautiful Lake District.
Here they search for answers of how Charlie’s father ended up with the satchel and letter and his mother Philippa hasn't got a clue, and Clara wonders is Bronwyn still alive and did she fake her own death? Wynnie especially feels at home and loves it in England, with her imaginary friend Emjie by her side she can visit where Beatrix Potter wrote Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck.
I received a copy of The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry from Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Another enchanting and beautifully written dual timeline narrative about family and loss, love and being different, the magic of words and places and secrets.
Five stars from and a story where anything is possible and based around a real missing author, and I wanted to explore the Lake District with Wynnie and Emjie and visit the resting place of my high school librarian and now understand why she had her ashes scattered in this stunning area of England and not in Australia.
June 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an excellent audiobook, incredible story and wonderful engaging characters.
This was an excellent audiobook, incredible story and wonderful engaging characters.
February 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
This is the kind of story that makes me fall in love. I started this book last night and woke early this morning to finish it. A tale of mothers and daughters who are linked together by stories and torn apart by secrets.
I liked that the story was inspired in large part but true events. The central conflict is inspired by events that happened in 1927 but most of the story takes place in 1952 South Carolina and London, England.
I feel after reading the book that I am replenished and joyful and it is because of the beautiful writing and incredible characters, Clara, Wynnie, Charles and others. Hands down, is one of my favourites of 2025.
Expected Publication Date 18/02/25
Goodreads Review Date 24/02/25
This is the kind of story that makes me fall in love. I started this book last night and woke early this morning to finish it. A tale of mothers and daughters who are linked together by stories and torn apart by secrets.
I liked that the story was inspired in large part but true events. The central conflict is inspired by events that happened in 1927 but most of the story takes place in 1952 South Carolina and London, England.
I feel after reading the book that I am replenished and joyful and it is because of the beautiful writing and incredible characters, Clara, Wynnie, Charles and others. Hands down, is one of my favourites of 2025.
Expected Publication Date 18/02/25
Goodreads Review Date 24/02/25
June 19, 2025
Bronwyn was an extraordinary girl, full of wonder and creativity. At just twelve years old, she wrote a book using an invented language. But she is viewed as odd in how she escapes into the natural world and stories in her head, and her family has her institutionalized for a time. As Bronwyn becomes a woman, marries, and has a daughter Clare, her behaviors are still considered odd. Then in 1927, when Clare is eight years old, her mother disappears. Interestingly, this part of the book is inspired by a literary mystery about the disappearance of a real-life writer.
Clare grows up with her loving father. She marries and has a daughter Wynnie. Circumstances put her back in her father’s home, when she is contacted by a stranger in London. Charlie discovered papers after his father’s death… papers that appear to be Bronwyn’s, with a sealed letter to Clare. She feels compelled to travel there and see if they really are her mother’s, so she and Wynnie travel by boat from the US to England.
When they arrive, they discover that London is experiencing a deadly natural disaster - The Great Smog. This is especially dangerous to Wynnie, who suffers from asthma, so Charlie takes them all to his family’s property in the Lake District. There, Clara meets some lovely people, but many coincidences appear that seem linked to her mother. Soon, secrets are discovered that lead to unexpected discoveries and change for Clara and her daughter.
The book is slowly paced, but I did not grow bored. It’s like a walk through nature, where you slow down to discover beautiful hidden gems. You discover how life’s hardships can lead to difficult choices. But you also find healing and love. It really is a beautiful book. In some ways I expect my 5-star reads to be bigger, more eventful, dramatic… and this is gentle. It’s like wrapping up in a family quilt and enjoying a cozy spot. If you’re looking for a book that’ll give you that cozy feeling, I suggest this one.
So I’ll go with 4-1/2 stars rounded to 5. The audiobook was beautifully narrated.
Clare grows up with her loving father. She marries and has a daughter Wynnie. Circumstances put her back in her father’s home, when she is contacted by a stranger in London. Charlie discovered papers after his father’s death… papers that appear to be Bronwyn’s, with a sealed letter to Clare. She feels compelled to travel there and see if they really are her mother’s, so she and Wynnie travel by boat from the US to England.
When they arrive, they discover that London is experiencing a deadly natural disaster - The Great Smog. This is especially dangerous to Wynnie, who suffers from asthma, so Charlie takes them all to his family’s property in the Lake District. There, Clara meets some lovely people, but many coincidences appear that seem linked to her mother. Soon, secrets are discovered that lead to unexpected discoveries and change for Clara and her daughter.
The book is slowly paced, but I did not grow bored. It’s like a walk through nature, where you slow down to discover beautiful hidden gems. You discover how life’s hardships can lead to difficult choices. But you also find healing and love. It really is a beautiful book. In some ways I expect my 5-star reads to be bigger, more eventful, dramatic… and this is gentle. It’s like wrapping up in a family quilt and enjoying a cozy spot. If you’re looking for a book that’ll give you that cozy feeling, I suggest this one.
So I’ll go with 4-1/2 stars rounded to 5. The audiobook was beautifully narrated.
October 29, 2024
One of my faves this year!
Synopsis: This book follows the story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter's search for them both.
My thoughts: I went into this book pretty blind - I had not read any Patti Callahan Henry books and didn't read the synopsis or know anything before I started reading it. I am happy to share that this is one of my favorites for 2024. I feel very lucky to have gotten an early copy of this book. I couldn't put it down!
It was the perfect mix of intensity, romance, and flow. I loved every single character. The setting was magical and mysterious and just a breath of fresh air. The tension that I felt when the main character was trying to process hard emotions was palpable. There was just enough whimsy and magic that it didn't feel cheesy in the slightest. This book was a warm, wholesome hug that I didn't know I needed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the early copy!
Synopsis: This book follows the story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter's search for them both.
My thoughts: I went into this book pretty blind - I had not read any Patti Callahan Henry books and didn't read the synopsis or know anything before I started reading it. I am happy to share that this is one of my favorites for 2024. I feel very lucky to have gotten an early copy of this book. I couldn't put it down!
It was the perfect mix of intensity, romance, and flow. I loved every single character. The setting was magical and mysterious and just a breath of fresh air. The tension that I felt when the main character was trying to process hard emotions was palpable. There was just enough whimsy and magic that it didn't feel cheesy in the slightest. This book was a warm, wholesome hug that I didn't know I needed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the early copy!
January 30, 2025
A story of family, of a mother who seems to have disappeared from her daughter’s life, and the daughter’s need to find her. Ultimately, it is a love story, not necessarily in the romantic sense, overall, but a story of finding answers, and, in the end, the love she’d ultimately left to find.
This story revolves around a book, and the daughter’s hope for answers as to her mother’s disappearance, while also adding so much more. A journey to the place where she seems to feel she might, finally, find her mother.
I haven’t read all of this author’s books, but I’ve read several of her books, and loved them all. This one was no exception.
Pub Date: 18 Mar 2025
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books!
March 29, 2025
Just as Clara's mother haunted her for her entire life because she disappeared, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham also became a mystery and an obsession for Charles Jameson who found Bronwyn's satchel inside his father's office.
The satchel had made it to London from Bluffton, South Carolina, but how?
Everyone thought Bronwyn and her satchel filled with the sequel to the book she wrote when she was twelve were both at the bottom of the ocean.
When Charles called Clara and said that he found these papers with a note attached saying they had to be returned to Clara Harrington in person, and he could NOT mail them to her, she had no choice.
Clara had to retrieve them, but how?
London was a long way from South Carolina, and it was an expensive trip to make.
Does Clara make the trip?
Does she find her mother's papers to be what she thought they would be?
Does she do anything with them since they were to be a sequel?
What else happens in London?
You will find out everything in this beautifully written, detailed read you won't be able to put down and a read with absolutely wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting.
It is filled with love, longing, and fulfillment. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The satchel had made it to London from Bluffton, South Carolina, but how?
Everyone thought Bronwyn and her satchel filled with the sequel to the book she wrote when she was twelve were both at the bottom of the ocean.
When Charles called Clara and said that he found these papers with a note attached saying they had to be returned to Clara Harrington in person, and he could NOT mail them to her, she had no choice.
Clara had to retrieve them, but how?
London was a long way from South Carolina, and it was an expensive trip to make.
Does Clara make the trip?
Does she find her mother's papers to be what she thought they would be?
Does she do anything with them since they were to be a sequel?
What else happens in London?
You will find out everything in this beautifully written, detailed read you won't be able to put down and a read with absolutely wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting.
It is filled with love, longing, and fulfillment. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2025
The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
4 Stars
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
What a beautiful book of mothers, daughters and the magic of storytelling. I really enjoyed this one. Patti sure does know how to engage you in a book and keep you there needing to know what happens up until the end. I loved Flora Lea and this did not disappoint.
We follow Clara - a daughter still haunted by the loss of her mother, Bronwyn. Her mother was a child prodigy and literary sensation who vanished off the South Carolina Coast in 1927. Cut to 1950s when Clara is now a mother herself and gets a call from a man in London, Charlie, who says he found her mothers dictionary of invented language, stories and a letter for her that brings her from America to London on a journey through grief, motherhood and discovery....all set against the 1952 Great Smog of London.
Overall, this was a really layered story with lots explored - loved Clara's daughter Wynnie, she added so much to the story. Seeing the circumstances around the Great Smog of London was also interesting to get more details and added higher stakes to the plot.
My only issues I had with this was I wasn't in love with the ending with the aftermath once things were revealed, I would have liked a bit more exploration there with the ending. It felt like it was wrapped up too soon after things were solved and that things went "back to normal" almost too quickly for the family. Also, I was not a fan of Charlie and Clara's relationship - there is a "fade to black" scene with them, while not explicit, there is mention of them sleeping together all the time and they had only known each other a couple of weeks, so it did not really add anything to the story for me personally. That was very brief mentions though and doesn't necessarily take away much enjoyment from the story for me, I still really liked it. I think if Charlie and Clara had more developing feelings for each other vs outright sleeping together all the time so quickly, that would have been better and made more sense for the story.
Really liked the last chapter from Wynnie's POV - that added a lot to the end and the author's note where she explained all the real life story tie ins was nice.
Reading this with my friend Melissa was also a wonderful experience! Looking forward to reading more books by Patti!
Content: few mild curse words like H*ll, D*mn, fade to black bedroom scene before marriage, parental abandonment feelings, asthmas attacks, grief explored
4 Stars
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
What a beautiful book of mothers, daughters and the magic of storytelling. I really enjoyed this one. Patti sure does know how to engage you in a book and keep you there needing to know what happens up until the end. I loved Flora Lea and this did not disappoint.
We follow Clara - a daughter still haunted by the loss of her mother, Bronwyn. Her mother was a child prodigy and literary sensation who vanished off the South Carolina Coast in 1927. Cut to 1950s when Clara is now a mother herself and gets a call from a man in London, Charlie, who says he found her mothers dictionary of invented language, stories and a letter for her that brings her from America to London on a journey through grief, motherhood and discovery....all set against the 1952 Great Smog of London.
Overall, this was a really layered story with lots explored - loved Clara's daughter Wynnie, she added so much to the story. Seeing the circumstances around the Great Smog of London was also interesting to get more details and added higher stakes to the plot.
My only issues I had with this was I wasn't in love with the ending with the aftermath once things were revealed, I would have liked a bit more exploration there with the ending. It felt like it was wrapped up too soon after things were solved and that things went "back to normal" almost too quickly for the family. Also, I was not a fan of Charlie and Clara's relationship - there is a "fade to black" scene with them, while not explicit, there is mention of them sleeping together all the time and they had only known each other a couple of weeks, so it did not really add anything to the story for me personally. That was very brief mentions though and doesn't necessarily take away much enjoyment from the story for me, I still really liked it. I think if Charlie and Clara had more developing feelings for each other vs outright sleeping together all the time so quickly, that would have been better and made more sense for the story.
Really liked the last chapter from Wynnie's POV - that added a lot to the end and the author's note where she explained all the real life story tie ins was nice.
Reading this with my friend Melissa was also a wonderful experience! Looking forward to reading more books by Patti!
Content: few mild curse words like H*ll, D*mn, fade to black bedroom scene before marriage, parental abandonment feelings, asthmas attacks, grief explored
October 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Story She Left Behind.
I've never read this author before but the premise sparked my interest so I was excited my request was approved.
I really liked how the premise was inspired by real life events but I wished I liked this better.
First, the writing is great, but it's too wordy, too heavy, the narrative filled with exposition and filler.
Second, popular tropes in these genres are all here; a single mother, an insta-romance between her and the main male character, and a precocious child.
Third, the pacing is slow and not much happens, not even when the mystery of Clara's mom is revealed.
I mistakenly thought deciphering the language and the book's sequel was an intricate part of the story but it wasn't.
Fourth, I didn't connect with any of the characters; there was no emotional connection and despite the beautiful writing, no warmth in the development of Clara and Charlie's characters.
I didn't even like Wynnie very much; does a precocious child really talk like that?
Fifth, not surprisingly, the ending is too pat.
Every loose end is tied up and everyone lives happily ever after.
I've never read this author before but the premise sparked my interest so I was excited my request was approved.
I really liked how the premise was inspired by real life events but I wished I liked this better.
First, the writing is great, but it's too wordy, too heavy, the narrative filled with exposition and filler.
Second, popular tropes in these genres are all here; a single mother, an insta-romance between her and the main male character, and a precocious child.
Third, the pacing is slow and not much happens, not even when the mystery of Clara's mom is revealed.
I mistakenly thought deciphering the language and the book's sequel was an intricate part of the story but it wasn't.
Fourth, I didn't connect with any of the characters; there was no emotional connection and despite the beautiful writing, no warmth in the development of Clara and Charlie's characters.
I didn't even like Wynnie very much; does a precocious child really talk like that?
Fifth, not surprisingly, the ending is too pat.
Every loose end is tied up and everyone lives happily ever after.
May 8, 2025
Such a satisfying read! This was one that was so good, the minute I was done I re-read it, to soak in all the good stuff.
This is a knot of a story, tangled up and aged over decades. Told from the perspectives of various characters, about the messes families get themselves in, and how the choices of others made in a crisis play out in the lives of those who remain behind.
For the sake of those who choose to read, I leave the rest to you to discover in your favorite reading spaces. You've made a lovely choice.
*A sincere thank you to Patti Callahan Henry, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:10c
This is a knot of a story, tangled up and aged over decades. Told from the perspectives of various characters, about the messes families get themselves in, and how the choices of others made in a crisis play out in the lives of those who remain behind.
For the sake of those who choose to read, I leave the rest to you to discover in your favorite reading spaces. You've made a lovely choice.
*A sincere thank you to Patti Callahan Henry, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:10c
April 5, 2025
From the very first page, Patti Callahan Henry's The Story She Left Behind completely captivated me. The dual timelines, skillfully woven between the past and present, created an immediate sense of intrigue and kept me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the secrets connecting them. It is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of family, identity, and the enduring power of the past. It's a perfect read for those who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery and characters that feel like old friends. Highly recommend.
April 30, 2025
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry
Thank you @simon.audio & @librofm for my gifted copy!
📖 The Story She Left Behind is a beautiful blend of historical fiction and mystery, with a dash of romance and a sprinkle of whimsy. ✨ This sweeping novel tells the intertwined stories of a mother and daughter across three decades.
In 1927, renowned children’s author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham vanishes, leaving behind her young daughter Clara, and the unfinished sequel to her bestselling book, written in a made-up language.
By 1952, Clara is now a single mother herself when a call from London delivers unexpected news about her long-lost mother. Desperate for answers, Clara and her daughter journey across the pond to uncover a truth more astonishing than they could have imagined.
💭 I absolutely loved Once Upon a Wardrobe by this author, but dare I say… this might be even better?
The Story She Left Behind is an engaging, atmospheric, and beautifully written exploration of love, imagination, mother-daughter relationships, and sacrifice. It’s the very definition of unputdownable; I loved every second.
🎧 Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon give a spectacular audio performance. Their voices are perfectly complementary, creating an unforgettable listening experience. I highly recommend this format.
Patti Callahan Henry officially has my full attention—I can’t wait to explore her backlist.
📌 Available now!
Thank you @simon.audio & @librofm for my gifted copy!
📖 The Story She Left Behind is a beautiful blend of historical fiction and mystery, with a dash of romance and a sprinkle of whimsy. ✨ This sweeping novel tells the intertwined stories of a mother and daughter across three decades.
In 1927, renowned children’s author Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham vanishes, leaving behind her young daughter Clara, and the unfinished sequel to her bestselling book, written in a made-up language.
By 1952, Clara is now a single mother herself when a call from London delivers unexpected news about her long-lost mother. Desperate for answers, Clara and her daughter journey across the pond to uncover a truth more astonishing than they could have imagined.
💭 I absolutely loved Once Upon a Wardrobe by this author, but dare I say… this might be even better?
The Story She Left Behind is an engaging, atmospheric, and beautifully written exploration of love, imagination, mother-daughter relationships, and sacrifice. It’s the very definition of unputdownable; I loved every second.
🎧 Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon give a spectacular audio performance. Their voices are perfectly complementary, creating an unforgettable listening experience. I highly recommend this format.
Patti Callahan Henry officially has my full attention—I can’t wait to explore her backlist.
📌 Available now!
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