Title: Lost in the Never Woods
Author: Aiden Thomas
Series: Standalone
Publish Date: March 23, 2021
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Format: Print, Hardcover

Goodreads Summary:

When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don’t do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.

Review: I’m honestly not sure how I want to review this.

On one hand, this novel was a fun take on the classic Peter Pan tale. Wendy, while older, does remind me of the Wendy from the original story, as well as the classic Disney film. Peter very much grows from that classic almost-teenager attitude to near adult, and it fits.

On the other hand, I spent half the time bored, and I figured out two of the major twists early on (no spoilers here). The writing at times felt almost middle grade, or at least just at the beginning of YA. Some of the characters introduced present themselves as ones that will play a major role, but besides Peter and Wendy, only her parents really take any sort of role in the story. Jordan, Wendy’s friend, felt almost two dimensional at times.

One thing I was sad to see was that there were not that many memories/flashbacks to Neverland. I’d have loved to see more of Wendy’s time there, even just briefly.

So, I’d have to say that this novel has some high points, and some low ones. Very… meh.

Rating: 3/5

Goodreads Goal 21/52

(Quick note: I didn’t write a review for the 6th, 8th, 10th and 16th “books” I read this year, as they are the first three The Old Guard: Tales Through Time issues, which are 32 pages each. I decided I’ll just review the series as a whole when the final issue is released in September.)