The Book of Lost Friends

by Lisa Wingate
The Book of Lost Friends cover
Good Books rating 4.38
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99
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  • ID: 1570
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-08
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
trishasheffield.com · Unknown · 2025-10-19
captivating 4.50

The Book of Lost Friends is a beautifully written historical novel that weaves together the stories of three women across different time periods. The themes of loss, resilience, and the power of friendship are explored with depth and sensitivity, making it a compelling and emotional read.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a captivating historical novel that seamlessly blends the lives of three women from different eras. The story is rich in detail and emotion, exploring themes of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of friendship. The characters are well-developed, and their journeys are both heartbreaking and inspiring. The novel's setting in post-Civil War Louisiana adds a layer of historical depth that enriches the narrative. Readers will find themselves deeply invested in the characters' lives and the connections that bind them across time. The Book of Lost Friends is a poignant reminder of the importance of memory and the bonds that transcend generations.

Quick quotes

    The story is rich in detail and emotion.

    The characters are well-developed, and their journeys are both heartbreaking and inspiring.

    The novel's setting in post-Civil War Louisiana adds a layer of historical depth that enriches the narrative.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-19
captivating 4.50

The Book of Lost Friends is a captivating historical fiction novel that delves into the post-Civil War South, exploring themes of family, identity, and resilience. The story is inspired by actual 'Lost Friends' advertisements and follows three young women on a perilous journey, intertwining their past with a modern-day teacher's discovery of their story.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a beautifully crafted novel that brings to life the stories of three young women in post-Civil War Louisiana. The narrative alternates between the past and present, following Hannie, Lavinia, and Juneau Jane as they embark on a dangerous journey to find family and identity. The book is inspired by real 'Lost Friends' advertisements, adding a layer of historical authenticity. In the present, a young teacher named Benny discovers their story and uses it to connect with her students, creating a meaningful project that bridges the past and present. The novel is both educational and emotionally engaging, highlighting the resilience and humanity of its characters.

Quick quotes

    This is a wonderful story based on true facts and records.

    I felt the beginning was a bit slow but this book is very much worth sticking to it.

    Miss Wingate has again written a captivating and intelligent historical fiction novel which teaches while it takes hold of the reader’s heart.

bookshelffantasies.com · Unknown · 2022-07-21
brilliant 4.50

The Book of Lost Friends is a captivating historical fiction novel that intertwines the stories of three women from different backgrounds and time periods. The inclusion of actual 'Lost Friends' advertisements adds a poignant layer to the narrative, highlighting the enduring impact of history on the present.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a beautifully crafted historical fiction novel that seamlessly blends the past and present. The story follows three women—Hannie, Lavinia, and Juneau Jane—on a perilous journey through post-Civil War Louisiana, each carrying their own secrets and hopes. The novel's unique inclusion of real 'Lost Friends' advertisements from that era adds a deeply emotional and historical dimension, making the characters' quests for family and identity even more compelling. The narrative also shifts to 1987, where a young teacher discovers the interconnected stories of these women, revealing how the past continues to influence the present. The novel's themes of resilience, identity, and the enduring power of history are beautifully explored, making it a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

Quick quotes

    …everyone has history. Just because we’re not always happy with what’s true doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know it. It’s how we learn. It’s how we do better in the future. Hopefully, anyway.” (p. 221)

    Tough times make good people and bad people.” (p. 237)

    We all have scars. It’s when you’re honest about them that you find the people who will love you in spite of your nicks and dents. Perhaps even because of them.” (p. 370)

tobyasmith.com · Unknown · 2021-05-09
engaging 4.00

The Book of Lost Friends is a compelling family saga that weaves together two storylines set in post-Civil War America and modern times, all connected by an old plantation. The novel skillfully uses multiple timelines to explore themes of race, family, and historical connections, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a captivating historical fiction novel that seamlessly blends two distinct storylines. One storyline is set during the Reconstruction Era, following three women on a perilous journey to find important legal documents related to a plantation. The other storyline follows a young teacher in a small town, struggling to engage her students and uncover the secrets of the local community. The novel's strength lies in its ability to connect these two narratives through the shared history of slavery and its lasting impact. The use of 'lost friends' ads from a Methodist newspaper adds a poignant and historical depth to the story, highlighting the pain and desperation of separated families. The novel is praised for its engaging plot and skillful execution of multiple timelines, making it a standout in historical fiction.

Quick quotes

    Lisa Wingate’s two story threads are easy to follow and clearly connected by the US history of slavery, which continues to impact all of us today.

    Central to that connection is a fascinating publication I knew nothing about before reading this book — the “lost friends” ads that were placed in a Methodist newspaper, The Southwestern Christian Advocate.

    For decades, placing ads in this publication (which were then read aloud around the country during church services) was one of the only ways former enslaved people had to try to locate family members who had been sold off years before, during the period of slavery.

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