NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

Please join us in buddy reading The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer. We have not chosen a date just yet. Edit: We will begin on March 10th.



Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the back of wardrobes—just in case—from the author of The Wishing Game.

As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell vanished in a West Virginia state park, 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, Jeremy is a famous missing persons investigator with an uncanny ability to find the lost, while Rafe is a reclusive artist unable to stop creating otherworldly paintings and sculptures he shows to no one. He bears scars inside and out from his disappearance but has no memory of what happened while they were gone.

Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth behind their time in the woods. While the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons.

But the time for burying secrets comes to an end when vet tech Emilie Wendel hires Jeremy to find her long-lost sister . . . the long-lost sister he and Rafe knew while living in that hidden kingdom. Now the former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories. Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy return to the enchanted world they called home for six months . . . for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.

I really loved The Wishing Game and am looking forward to this one.

Thanks for starting the discussion, Kristie! I’m super excited about this one. I loved The Wishing Game and the Narnia link sounds compelling.

How’s early March for a tentative start date?

I can do that. We have one on the 2nd and I'm not sure if either of you are joining that one, so maybe the 10th? Would that work for you?

Katrisa, does that work for you too?

I do have that one, Kristie. So the 10th sounds good to me.

I'm good for the 10th!

Excellent!

I got approved for this as well!

Yay! Welcome to the chat, Elyse. :)

Yay! Welcome Elyse!

I finally got approved for this one. The 10th works for me.

Oh yay!!

Excellent! This is looking to be a good discussion.

Ooh we have a group for this one! Yay!

Ok, so I know we are supposed to start tomorrow, but I couldn't help myself. I was too curious. I've already read the prologue and chapter 1. I was only going to read the prologue, but then you know... just one more chapter. lol

I have put it aside and I am a slower read than most of you, so I'm sure you'll fly by me tomorrow. Just wanted to pop in to let you know that after the first chapter I am still excited to read it. :)

That’s wonderful to hear!

I’m trying to finish the gathering today so I can start this one tomorrow.

I still have other books that I’m reading too. I should have been reading those instead of starting this one. Haha

Kristie is giving me serious FOMO ;)
So excited for this one. We had company the past few days so I’m too tired to read tonight. Looking forward to chatting about this one over coffee tomorrow

No hurry, Marnie! :)

I just read the prologue and am excited to settle into this book. I have read another book by this author ( who also writes as Tiffany Reisz) and think her whimsical books are more my taste.

I had no idea Meg Shaffer was a pen name! Kind of annoys me that it was marketed as a debut when it was written by a best selling author. No wonder I said you'd never know this was a debut. lol It wasn't!

I've only read one book by Tiffany Reisz, The Lucky Ones. I thought it was very good. I also had The Bourbon Thief on my TBR for a while, but never got around to it. I think I may add it back on my list now.

I am through ch 6 and I am enchanted and can't wait to see where it goes. I am having to split my eyeball reading between two books right now. (view spoiler)[I am intrigued as to why Jeremy can't talk to Rafe about what happened to them and why doesn't Rafe remember anything but Jeremy does. I like Emilie as a character. I stopped just where we are on the edge of venturing into Red Crow to find Shannon. I am so looking forward to reading more! (hide spoiler)]

Also I don't know if anyone else was curious about the Kentucky forest giant trolls but I was and looked them up.
Here is a link to see them
https://statebystatetravel.com/bernhe...

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing, Katrisa. I haven't gotten too much further, but I'm just settling in to read a little bit more before sleep. I have too many books going right now myself.

I made it up to chapter 5. I'm not a huge fan of when the storyteller cuts in. I feel like it disrupts the flow of the story.

Rafe is an interesting character. I have some general ideas about where the story is going just because it is based on The Chronicles of Narnia, but I'm curious to see how it all plays out.

Katrisa wrote: "I am through ch 6 and I am enchanted and can't wait to see where it goes. I am having to split my eyeball reading between two books right now. [spoilers removed]"

I'm wondering if (view spoiler)[ Rafe doesn't remember because he was unconscious when they were rescued. I'm thinking it had something to do with his injuries or recovery. Or maybe he just pushed it down because he woke up in a hospital and thought it was all not true, so he's just repressed it or something. I'm really curious to see how he reacts to it all. He clearly still has a different relationship to the animals in his woods. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, one more thought I had: (view spoiler)[ I was wondering if Jeremy only searches for girls because he's been looking for her, the princess. I'm not sure why he would turn her down initially, but I think when he paused was when he looked at the picture of Shannon and that's why he went and found her, of course.

Also, the animal connection explains why he seemed reluctant to hand back her rat and why she saved the rat to begin with and works at a vet clinic. Lots of animal connections. (hide spoiler)]

Kristie wrote: "I had no idea Meg Shaffer was a pen name! Kind of annoys me that it was marketed as a debut when it was written by a best selling author. No wonder I said you'd never know this was a debut. lol It ..."

I didn't know this either and it feels like a fake out! Takes a tiny bit of the magic out of The Wishing Game for me.

I’m about to start chapter 6.

I like The Storeyteller and in my head he sounds like the narrator from Winnie the Pooh. I can see where it may break the flow like Kristie mentioned but I guess I like breaks lol.

Katrisa thank you for that link. I bet kids would enjoy a troll walk.

Haha, maybe I should try using the Winnie the Pooh narrator voice. lol Actually, that is kind of how I imagined it, but the tone was a little more ominous. I'll definitely change that up now.

Katrisa wrote: "Also I don't know if anyone else was curious about the Kentucky forest giant trolls but I was and looked them up.
Here is a link to see them
https://statebystatetravel.com/bernhe..."

This is so cool! I was imagining them to be carved stone for some reason.

Through end of Ch 5

Stayed up way too late reading this last night and had to physically put the kindle away in the end.

(view spoiler)[
I like the way the story is growing. If Rafe is the iconic hero, perhaps he had to forget the other land as part of a sacrifice or something? There has to be a reason that Jeremy isn't telling him.

Did Jeremy have some sort of relationship with the missing sister? \

I have mixed feelings on the storyteller's interruptions. Sometimes I'm finding them amusing and sometimes I'm finding them jarring.

(hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 11

(view spoiler)[ Jeremy has been in love with Rafe since the day they met. The only time they were together was when they were “lost.” Jeremy said he doesn’t know what’s worse that Rafe doesn’t remember Jeremy loves him or that Rafe doesn’t remember loving him. Ughhhh so much emotion in that thought.

Looks like they are headed to the forest… (hide spoiler)]

Shruti morethanmylupus wrote: "Through end of Ch 5..."

I thought it was interesting that (view spoiler)[ Jeremy calls Rafe your highness and Emilie princess. I'm assuming her sister is the queen. I think Rafe and Jeremy had a relationship with her, not necessarily romantic, but they knew her. If either of them had a romantic relationship with her, I would guess Rafe.

Here's a thought... do you think the sister is aging at the same rate she was before she went wherever they went? Is she now 33? (hide spoiler)]

Side note:
So... my Kindle has decided that it is no longer able to be charged. I thought it was the charger and bought a new one, but after a little more investigation it seems it is the Kindle itself. Ugh. I may have to buy a new one. I should be able to get through another day or two before it dies. Still hoping maybe get one more charging and finish this book first. Though the chances are getting slimmer.

Kristie wrote: "Shruti morethanmylupus wrote: "Through end of Ch 5..."

I thought it was interesting that ..."

(view spoiler)[ ooh I bet you're right about her being queen. The boys did age while they were gone right? so I'm assuming she would age too? Although by Narnia rules, they wouldn't so I don't know. (hide spoiler)]

Oh Kristie, that stinks! Terrible timing. I'm hoping you can at least get through the book.

Tha's what made me think of it, Shruti. It would be pretty weird if (view spoiler)[ she was still 13! (hide spoiler)]

Yes, I'm so disappointed. I've had this Kindle over 10 years and I love it. I'm hoping to make it through this book, but feel like it may be a losing battle.

Kristie wrote: "Tha's what made me think of it, Shruti. It would be pretty weird if [spoilers removed]

Yes, I'm so disappointed. I've had this Kindle over 10 years and I love it. I'm hoping to make it through thi..."

I think you're right!

And 10 years is a great run. I do think the older ones seem to have been sturdier than the newer ones. My first generation Kindle lasted 10+ years, but now I'm on my 3rd one in the last 5 or so years. :(

Oh no. That's my concern with buying a new one. That and I don't want ads, but I also don't want to pay more to not have ads. 😑

11 chapters

(view spoiler)[
Kristy, were wrong about who was dating whom, and I'm so here for this version. I'm going to be SO upset if we don't get a happy ending for Jeremy and Rafe.

Also it seems that they were only gone about 6 months? Not years? So maybe we don't actually know whether they would have aged or not. So sister could still be 13. Or could be ancient. Depending on whether time is faster in the other world like it was in Narnia or if it's slower.

(hide spoiler)]

I didn’t get much further today. I spent way too much time messing with my Kindle and wasn’t able to charge it.

I just got to the carvings in chapter 6. I think they sound amazing. That must’ve been quite a sight.

I’m not sure if I already said this because I’m on the app and check spoilers, but (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Shannon sent the boys back to find the princess? I think I mentioned Jeremy looking for her when I was talking about why Jeremy only looks for girls, but couldn’t remember if I said I was thinking Shannon might have sent them.

Anyway, I can only imagine how surreal those carvings were for Emilie to see, so beautiful and strange. (hide spoiler)]

End of ch 17

I so wish I didn't have a busy day tomorrow so I could stay up and finish this book.

(view spoiler)[
So Shannon did send them back. Nice catch, Kristie!

Wonder where Ellie disappeared to though, hmmm.

It took so long to get to Narnia/Shanandoah - 40% into the book.

I'm excited for their adventures now that they're finally there.

(hide spoiler)]

That's good sign, Shruti.

Through chapter 16

The kingdom of Shanandoah (view spoiler)[ what a descriptive and beautiful place. You remember how older movies like The Wizard of Oz started out black and white then turned to color when Dorothy reached Oz. That’s how I felt when they woke up by the tree.

(hide spoiler)] Kristie I always get so annoyed when I have technological glitches. When my kindle died I started using my iPad. The biggest drawback is too much screen time so I try to mix up my reading with physical books too.

Chapter 20

Let me preface this by saying I have a cold right now and my emotions get wobbly when I’m sick :)

(view spoiler)[ When the two sisters are talking and Emily complains that Skya didn’t even hug her…Skya replies I can’t hug you yet because I might not let go… I started bawling. I always get more moved by understated emotions. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ I’m guessing the King who is Rafe’s old enemy is his father. (hide spoiler)]

I finished and (view spoiler)[ there will probably be a sequel. (hide spoiler)] it held up for me the whole way through. I think I liked The Wishing Game better but I’m still giving this one 5 stars.

I love that, Marnie! I was able to trick my Kindle into charging. I am heading out to walk the dogs, then back to reading after dinner. I'm so glad I was able to work this out, at least temporarily. :) Can't wait to read more!

Marnie wrote: "I finished and [spoilers removed] it held up for me the whole way through. I think I liked The Wishing Game better but I’m still giving this one 5 stars."

So happy to hear it held up for you! I've been annoyingly busy and haven't gotten as far today as I'd hoped. I think I'll manage to finish tomorrow.

Kristie wrote: "I love that, Marnie! I was able to trick my Kindle into charging. I am heading out to walk the dogs, then back to reading after dinner. I'm so glad I was able to work this out, at least temporarily..."

Oh yay!! That's wonderful!

End of ch 27

(view spoiler)[
They're adorable.

The sisters reunion was so great. Equal parts emotional and sibling dynamic.

And the dark king dude... That's Rafe's dead dad, right?

(hide spoiler)]

Done!

It definitely held up for me. Like the Wishing Game, this book left me feeling so happy.