Here are 9 books that The Lost Story fans have personally recommended if you like The Lost Story. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story

Peter David Shapiro Author Of Teacher's Pet

From Peter's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Consultant Student Worrier

Peter's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Peter David Shapiro Why Peter loves this book

Inside perspective on tech from consummate insider.

By Kara Swisher ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Burn Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Instant New York Times Bestseller

From award-winning journalist Kara Swisher comes a witty, scathing, but fair accounting of the tech industry and its founders who wanted to change the world but broke it instead.

“Swisher, the bad-ass journalist and OG chronicler of Silicon Valley…takes no prisoners in this highly readable look at the evolution of the digital world…Bawdy, brash, and compulsively thought-provoking, just like its author, Burn Book sizzles” (Booklist, starred review).

Part memoir, part history, Burn Book is a necessary chronicle of tech’s most powerful players. From “the queen of all media” (Walt Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal), this…


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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Book cover of The Book of Doors

Karen C. Murdarasi Author Of The Apprentice Highwayman

From Karen's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Historian Glaswegian Christian Linguist Crafter

Karen's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Karen C. Murdarasi Why Karen loves this book

I only discovered this book because it was shelved wrongly in the bookshop - a serendipity that feels appropriate, given the plot! Like most writers and readers, I'm a sucker for a book about books or libraries or bookshops, but I often find them a bit soppy or twee. This one is not twee! A fantasy that reads like a thriller - at times a very gritty one. So many twists and turns, but everything coming together perfectly in the end. And it also manages to be a meditation on regret that made me bawl my eyes out over the last two chapters. Beautiful, cathartic and not at all twee.

By Gareth Brown ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked The Book of Doors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

** A FINAL ROUND NOMINEE FOR READERS' FAVOURITE FANTASY NOVEL AND READERS' FAVOURITE DEBUT NOVEL IN THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS 2024 **

**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING DEBUT AND ONE OF THE BBC'S BEST DEBUTS OF 2024 **

'Joyful, exuberant, and crackling with adventure.' STUART TURTON

'A truly magical book: exciting, intricately plotted and emotionally compelling.' THE GUARDIAN

'A clever and beautiful novel about the power of books.' SUNYI DEAN

'Full of magic, wonder and heart.' ANITA FRANK

'A magical, mesmerising adventure from the very first page.' A. J. WEST

'A stunning fever dream of a story.' LEE CHILD

'A beautiful,…


Book cover of Scarewaves

Claris Lam Author Of Refilling The Well

From Claris' 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Musician Freelance writer Lifelong learner Gamer

Claris' 3 favorite reads in 2025

Claris Lam Why Claris loves this book

Scarewaves absolutely scared me in a good way. Even though I wasn't the target audience for this book, I felt a lot of thrills and chills while reading it! The book did an amazing job of immersing me into the worldbuilding as the characters living in Beacon Point and navigating the horrors they faced.

By Trevor Henderson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Scarewaves as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

Internet horror superstar Trevor Henderson is famous for his ghastly creations and hair-raising creepypastas. Now he brings that talent for the terrifying to this debut middle-grade thriller.

You don't stay out after dark in Beacon Point...

The small town of Beacon Point has always been plagued by eerie local phenomena. It's a town where disappearances are common, strange creatures have been sighted with unnerving frequency, and a ghastly secret lurks in the woods.

The adults in town are oblivious to these strange occurrences. Others prefer not to talk or even think about them. But over the course of several terrifying…


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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom

Claris Lam Author Of Refilling The Well

From Claris' 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Musician Freelance writer Lifelong learner Gamer

Claris' 3 favorite reads in 2025

Claris Lam Why Claris loves this book

The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom, despite its title, is a book about hope, perseverance, and challenging the obstacles that face us. The titular character is a highlight and I rooted for her the entire time while reading this book! I also enjoyed reading a few other side characters too.

By Temre Beltz ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

A hilarious and heartwarming stand-alone middle grade debut, The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom is a whimsically fractured fairy tale perfect for fans of Shannon Hale and Adam Gidwitz.

In the fairy-tale kingdom of Wanderly, everyone has a role.

Birdie Bloom is a Tragical—an orphan doomed to an unhappy ending. Agnes Prunella Crunch is a witch. The wicked kind.

In Wanderly, a meeting between a witch and a Tragical can only end one way: tragically. But with the help of some mysterious Winds, a few wayward letters, and a very unusual book, the two might just form the kingdom's unlikeliest…


Book cover of The House in the Cerulean Sea

Isabel Tutaine Author Of When Mist and Brine Touch

From Isabel's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Isabel's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Isabel Tutaine Why Isabel loves this book

This is just a fun book with an under lying moral tale that doesn't;t feel didactical. Very nice summer read.

By TJ Klune ,

Why should I read it?

29 authors picked The House in the Cerulean Sea as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not…


Book cover of The Midnight Library

Jordan Berk Author Of The Timestream Verdict

From my list on time travel as a therapy in disguise.

Why am I passionate about this?

The beauty of time travel stories is that under the tech, or the supernatural, they can be anything. And for me, they are everything. Paradoxes, puzzles, that oh-so-delicate space-time continuum: an infinite blank canvas for exploring human emotion, psychology, and choices. Just like everyone else, I have regrets, big and small, things that I wish I could change, sliding doors that may have taken me down the wrong fork in the road. With these books, each deeply personal and therapeutic in their own way, you may be able to see your own life choices anew, just like I did. Enjoy!

Jordan's book list on time travel as a therapy in disguise

Jordan Berk Why Jordan loves this book

Friendly tip: I do not recommend reading this novel while isolated from your family due to travel and illness, because this book hits hard in all the right ways.

It invites both the protagonist and the reader to explore the deepest wells of regret and the branching infinities that our life choices produce. In doing so, the novel beautifully confronts the seductive lure of “what could have been” while reminding us of the quiet beauty in what is.

As someone whose mind is often lost in the past or gazing into the future, this ultimate lesson of the book provided a much-needed sense of clarity.

By Matt Haig ,

Why should I read it?

40 authors picked The Midnight Library as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The #1 New York Times bestselling WORLDWIDE phenomenon

Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction | A Good Morning America Book Club Pick | Independent (London) Ten Best Books of the Year

"A feel-good book guaranteed to lift your spirits."-The Washington Post

The dazzling reader-favorite about the choices that go into a life well lived, from the acclaimed author of How To Stop Time and The Comfort Book.

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of…


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Book cover of Trusting Her Duke

Trusting Her Duke by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke with rigid opinions, a Lady whose beliefs conflict with his, a long disputed parcel of land, a conniving neighbour, a desperate collaboration, a failure of trust, a love found despite it all.

Alexander Cavendish, Duke of Ravensworth, returned from war to find that his father and brother had…

Book cover of The Wishing Game

Sherry Roberts Author Of Up There

From my list on magical realism books that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a Minnesota writer of cozy mysteries and contemporary fiction. I love the magical and care deeply about nature, the environment, and what is happening due to climate change. My novel was a chance to combine both interests. I wrote the first draft of Up There during the pandemic. While we were locked down, I spent time with a character who could fly. But while she was free, I discovered she was still lost. I spent so much of that year walking in the woods—thinking about how our world is changing, how confusing it is, and how we all are a little lost in these times.

Sherry's book list on magical realism books that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary

Sherry Roberts Why Sherry loves this book

I am a sucker for characters who find themselves through books.

In this novel, a girl enters a contest to meet her favorite author and win the only copy of his latest book. But first, she has to go to a mysterious island and compete with a band of ruthless opponents. I was never quite sure of anyone in this book, but that is a good thing when you are going after your greatest wish. It keeps you on your toes.

This is not a story of “be careful what you wish for”; it is a “keep wishing” story. 

By Meg Shaffer ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Wishing Game as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

“Clever, dark, and hopeful . . . a love letter to reading and the power that childhood stories have over us long after we’ve grown up.”—V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who…


Book cover of The Lost Bookshop

Tanya E. Williams Author Of Growing Into Greatness

From Tanya's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Lover of emotional stories History nerd Avid traveler Wine enthusiast

Tanya's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Tanya E. Williams Why Tanya loves this book

I loved this book because of its magical, immersive nature. I certainly don't need to be persuaded to read a book about a bookshop but I was delighted to be whisked away with the unique setting and strong story themes.

By Evie Woods ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Lost Bookshop as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Echo of Old Books meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets.

'The thing about books,' she said 'is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.'

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found...

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones…


Book cover of The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Sherry Roberts Author Of Up There

From my list on magical realism books that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a Minnesota writer of cozy mysteries and contemporary fiction. I love the magical and care deeply about nature, the environment, and what is happening due to climate change. My novel was a chance to combine both interests. I wrote the first draft of Up There during the pandemic. While we were locked down, I spent time with a character who could fly. But while she was free, I discovered she was still lost. I spent so much of that year walking in the woods—thinking about how our world is changing, how confusing it is, and how we all are a little lost in these times.

Sherry's book list on magical realism books that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary

Sherry Roberts Why Sherry loves this book

I have read all of Sarah Addison Allen’s books and have never been disappointed. She gives me quirky characters (which I love) and wondrous things, from wallpaper that changes to suit your mood to unexplained lights skipping across the yard to a woman who bakes hope into her cakes.

Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? I like to think so. I love that the extraordinary in her books are taken with a shrug and that the bizarre is not to be feared but to learn from. Although I have found my personal love and do feed and protect the hummingbirds, I wouldn’t mind tasting a slice of hummingbird cake.

By Sarah Addison Allen ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Girl Who Chased the Moon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The charming New York Times bestseller. Emily Benedict has come to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother's life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby, they're a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, not only wishing to satisfy the town's sweet tooth but…


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Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story
Book cover of The Book of Doors
Book cover of Scarewaves

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