Lisa Wingate

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a new historical novel: the dramatic story of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students' lives. Bestselling author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual "Lost Friends" advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had been sold away. Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia's Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery's end, the pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope. Louisiana, 1987: For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt--until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, is suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled live oaks and run-down plantation homes lie the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.

A Novel

The Book of Lost Friends

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'A tale of enduring power' - Paula McLain From the author of the No.1, two million-copy bestseller Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic story of a family separated, their search for answers, and an epic journey to reunite the missing... Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous aftermath of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest. For heiresses Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery's end, the pilgrimage westward reignites an agonizing question. Could her long-lost family still be out there? Louisiana, 1987: Arriving in Augustine, Louisiana, first-year teacher Benedetta Silva finds herself teaching students whose poverty-stricken lives she can scarcely comprehend. The town is impossibly set in its ways, suspicious of new ideas and new people. But amid the gnarled live oaks and ancient plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything. A heart-wrenching novel inspired by little-known historical events, based on actual "Lost Friends" advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones, lost to them when their families were sold off. ''Tragic, thought-provoking but ultimately uplifting . . . an enthralling adventure' Lancashire Evening Post

An unforgettable and emotional historical epic about love, loss and family

Lamia Hajani

I don’t think I’ll be reading another Wingate. The writing style is sometimes needlessly superfluous. The past story is interesting but I found myself rushing through the present day narrative.

Elizabeth Raines

I connected more with Hannie as a character than I did with Benny which is kind of funny as a I live in a time closer to Benny's but it might be because I am closer in age with Hannie than I am Benny. I just felt like the 1875 chapters had so much more emotion to them. I really cared about what would happen to all of the characters. They all developed and changed throughout the novel. That's not to say that our more modern counterparts were dull, they were absolutely well written as well. 

 America was at a really awkward stage at this point in history. Well, maybe the whole world was. Technology was rapidly being invented and changing as we had the industrial revolution take way in cities, the old world was becoming the modern world. In America, however, we were just getting out of a civil war. Tensions were still looming (and still are, if you ask me.) and it was not necessarily a safe place, especially for three female travelers like we see here. No one really writes in this time period, at least in American history, you will find a ton of books set in England during this time period but that is a different story. I really think this is an interesting time in our history and that it should be written about more, I applaud Lisa Wingate for doing so. 

 As I talked about the characters, the plot had a different impact on me. I preferred Benny's plot to Hannie's. I think it was just because the digging and the researching of Augustine, Louisiana's history. As most of you know, I love to research the history of my local area and my family. The plot with Hannie however is powerful and one that I will not forget, it just made me so emotional, this whole book made me feel that way, especially at the very end. Just seeing the stories of different people and knowing that people in real life lived lives so similar to these characters, it breaks my heart. One of the main plots is that slavery separated so many families, mother's from their young children, and just tearing these families apart. It is so hard to put into words how it feels to read that and to know that it is not fiction. This book really opens the eyes of the reader to the history of our country and that we cannot change the past but we can make the future better so we do not go back and make those same mistakes again. 

 I did not want to put this book down, I actually had my biggest reading day of the month, around 150 pages read. I was wanting to know so bad how the two plots would really connect. If you are a fan of ancestry, history, and even the game Red Dead Redemption, then you will enjoy this book. However, I think that everyone needs to pick up this book. It is so powerful and moving. It will definitely stick with the reader. I am so glad that I picked up this book on a whim at Target. I can only hope that you will pick up 'The Book of Lost Friends'. 
https://izzyreads.blog/2021/05/12/the...

Southern Today Gone Tomorrow

I loved this book so, so much. It does jump back and forth, pretty much 1 chapter to the next, between the two timelines so if that is something that bothers you, just go ahead and skip it. Bennie and Hannie were wonderful characters to go on this adventure with – both had some amazing strengths and experience to pull on, and they both also really made me think and take another look at the world.

Hannie was born into slavery and was emancipated when she was still a young girl, but after her whole family had been separated from her. Hannie didn’t set out to go on an adventure, she just wanted to get information so she could protect her adopted family and their future.

And Bennie, it was interesting to read a story with a character in the ‘modern’ area being over 40 years ago, and looking at the world that was created by a plantation family and the echoes it had at that point in time. Bennie just wanted to connect with people, and help them.

This is a book about discovery, about adventure, about tragedy and about relationships and friendships. If you are looking for your next GREAT romance novel, keep going, but if any of that sounds interesting to you, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you hop on this train and enjoy the ride.

Amy Arthun Lorton 

I loved this book but note that 2 people in my book club gave it 3 stars, feeling that the first half was slow. My interest started at about chapter 7 but continued on.

Jan Talkington

Another good historical fiction book from Lisa Wingate. The parallel stories worked well with an interesting thread connecting them. As it states in the book, it is a reminder that while history may not be pleasant, we can't change it. We can only learn from it and try to do better.

The Book of Lost Friends A Novel

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