Narrators: Julia Whelan, Theo Solomon
ISBN: 978-1668011874
Publisher: Atria Books
Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: 03/18/2024
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
COVER REVEAL
Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.
In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more insatiable: her beautiful mother.
By 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost langauge. Clara is skeptical. Compelled by the tragedy of her mother’s vanishing, she crosses the Atlantic with Wynnie only to arrive during one of London’s most deadly natural disasters—the Great Smog. With asthmatic Wynnie in peril, they escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.
Told in Patti Callahan Henry’s lyrical, enchanting prose, The Story She Left Behind is a captivating novel of mystery and family legacy that captures the profound longing for a mother and the evergreen allure of secrets.
My Review
Master storyteller Patti Callahan Henry (favorite author) returns following The Secret Book of Flora Lea with THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND — a unique blend of a true literary mystery, a captivating story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter's search— told with Callahan's alluring signature style.
Lyrical, fully immersive, and evocative, the author keeps you turning the pages with the intriguing mystery surrounding Bronwyn's disappearance and the invented language she created. This mystery will keep readers on the edge of their seats, anxious to unravel the secrets hidden within the pages.
About...
1927, Bluffton, South Carolina:
Acclaimed author Bronwyn disappears without a trace after a disagreement with her husband and a fire—leaving behind her seaside cottage, husband, and her eight-year-old daughter, Clara. Vanished and never seen or heard from again.
Barbara Newhall Follett was a child prodigy of language. She started writing at age five, wrote a novel at age eight, and published “The House Without Windows,” —a hugely successful children’s book, at twelve—in an invented (secret) language that became a national sensation.
Twenty-five years later, Clara, now an adult, has grown up without knowing if her mother is alive or dead. Like her mother, Clara is an artist and an award-winning illustrator of children’s books. She is on an emotional journey, torn between hope, loss, and duty, as she emotionally grapples with the legacy her mother left behind.
1952, London, England:
Clara is raising her daughter Wynnie in SC. She receives word from a gentleman, Charlie Jameson from London, claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother's lost language.
Clara is overcome with conflicting emotions, torn between hope to learn what happened to her mother and her duty as a mother. She decides to make the trip to try with her daughter to try and solve the mystery of the past.
Upon their arrival in London, Clara and Wynnie are met with the Great Smog of 1952, a historical event brought about by the city's industrial nature. Though impossible to predict, the extremity of the conditions (based on historical fact) adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative.
Due to the dire situation where thousands died due to the Smog, the three escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson's family retreat nestled in the Lake District.
Will Clara find the truth about her mother and the story she left behind? A love interest? Can she ever forgive her mother and is she still alive?
My thoughts...
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND beautifully written and meticulously researched, an emotionally resonant story weaving an ode to language and storytelling, while exploring the importance of connection and love for one another. I loved it!
Inspired by actual events, Patti Callahan Henry brilliantly brings life to a mysterious story of an author that continues to be a cold case. She spins a magical and enchanting tale of a female child prodigy, Barbara Newhall Follett, reminiscent of writers like Beatrix Potter in this stunning setting where the idea of language and communication are front and center. A way to either protect one’s innermost thoughts or a new way to express them.
We learn the complex background of Bronwyn and Clara's strong desire for answers. Readers will be drawn into Wynnie's emotional journey and the magical world she has created with Emjie, her imaginary friend inspired from the protagonist of her grandmother’s book.
Crossing generations, emotional and heartfelt, the novel explores themes of family, legacy, genius, love, loss, grief, motherhood, identity, creativity, mystery, and the enduring search for belonging and acceptance, resonating deeply with readers on an emotional level.
Strong character development, mesmerizing, magical and imaginative, a blending of actual and imagined elements, the seamless weaving of dual timelines, and the evocative descriptions of SC and the lush Lake District all enhance the poignant storytelling.
A massive fan of the author (have read all her books - both historical fiction and contemporary) and this is another captivating tale to add to her impressive collection.
The story will transport readers from SC to London, where secrets bind three generations of women. Highly recommended. Top Books of 2025!
Author's note...
Don't miss the fascinating Author's Note, where the author shares her inspiration and research, a book club kit, and additional reading resources. These resources provide a deeper understanding of the story and its historical context, making this an ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions.
Recs...
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND is for fans of historical and literary fiction, lost-to-time stories, nature, historical events, and the lives of intriguing women from the past. For fans of the author and her previous historical fiction (The Secret Life of Flora Lea, Surviving Savannah, and Becoming Mrs. Lewis) as well as fans of C.S. Lewis, Sarah Addison Allen, Ariel Lawhon, Kate Morton, Julia Kelly, and Jennifer Moorman.
Thanks to Atria Books for a gifted paperback and digital advanced reading copy via NetGalley for my honest opinion. #CoverCrush
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 18, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Top Books of 2025
Praise
Indie Next April 2025 Pick • LibraryReads March 2025 Pick
“The Story She Left Behind is an intriguing novel that reminds us that the power of love and the power of words are one and the same. Patti Callahan Henry introduces us to a missing mother, her grieving daughter and their entwined, unforgettable journeys. Inspired by an unsolved literary mystery, and layered with magical storytelling it is both real and imaginative—in the way of all great fiction. Not to be missed!”
—Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and The Frozen River
"The spectacular Patti Callahan Henry is at the height of her literary powers with The Story She Left Behind. Bronwyn's story, steeped in secrets and an unsolved family mystery, is emotional and atmospheric. The author paints the dual settings, languid South Carolina in America and the haunting Lake District of England with color and veracity. This mother-daughter story is one for the ages."
—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone
"Once again, Patti Callahan Henry proves that she is a magician with words. In her newest novel, she conjures a story that is a lovely mix of so many elements sure to please her universe of readers, a magical mosaic of adventure, suspense, romance, mystery, and even a sprinkle of make-believe. Graceful in its telling and so very wise in its insights, The Story She Left Behind is a book that will capture your heart, lift your spirits, and delight your soul.”
—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember
“Brilliant, riveting, so beautifully written, impossible to put down. I wanted to know, needed to know, about the strange manuscript left to a daughter, and the odyssey it sent her on.”
—Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels
“Patti Callahan Henry’s engaging, compassionate new novel honors the magical way words and stories create meaning in our often messy lives. Rooted in vivid landscapes, endearing characters, and an intriguing mystery inspired by actual historical events, The Story She Left Behind offers something for every reader. Book clubs will delight in this celebration of family, hope, forgiveness, and the tender generosity of abiding love.”
—Shelley Read, International bestselling author of Go As A River
About the Author
Photo credit: Liesa Cole Photography
Patti Callahan Henry is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of several novels, including Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She receives the Christy Award, the Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer of the Year Award, and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year. She is the cohost and co-creator of the popular weekly online live web show and podcast Friends and Fiction. A full-time author and mother of three, she lives in Alabama and South Carolina with her family. Find out more at PattiCallahanHenry.com.
