The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry ⭐⭐⭐💫 Pub Day: March 18, 2025 Bethany's Review: A beautiful sweeping story with a lyrical writing style. The plot was OK, but the pacing was slow. Not much happened, and it was very repetitive. I loved the research that was put into creating the scene in the Carolinas, in London and in the English Lake District. I never fully connected with any of the characters. Clara, the MC, was obsessed with finding out what happened to her mother after she disappeared when Clara was a child, her mother’s mysterious language and finding the sequel to her mother’s children’s story. Wynnie, Clara’s 8-year-old daughter, didn’t speak or think like an 8-year-old. She seemed much older. I did guess the twist at the end early on. If the ending was stronger, perhaps I would have rated slightly higher? Sara's Review: I enjoyed this book, but honestly felt like very little happened! It flowed beautifully, the characters were well developed. I liked the history and the descriptions were incredible. However, I think that the story itself could have been half the length and we would have not missed anything. Although beautifully written, much of the book is descriptions and not some much drama, action, something new. The dual timeline was seamless and incredibly well done. A charming story about the magic of words, love and family. I just walked away feeling as if very little happened, leaving me very uninvested in the book. If you are looking for beautiful and descriptive writing, try this one. Thank you netgalley and goodreadsgiveaway for our arc LTKSeasonal LTKHome LTKFindsUnder50