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The Book of Lost Friends cover art

The Book of Lost Friends

Written by: Lisa Wingate
Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Sullivan Jones, Robin Miles, Bahni Turpin, Lisa Wingate, Lisa Flanagan, Dominic Hoffman
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Publisher's Summary

New York Times Best Seller

From the best-selling author of Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic historical novel 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.

“An absorbing historical...enthralling.” (Library Journal)

Best-selling 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.

©2020 Lisa Wingate (P)2020 Random House Audio

Featured Article: Historical Fiction Listens with Strong and Inspiring Female Protagonists


History teaches us what happened; historical fiction novels let us feel what happened. Without female protagonists in these historical fiction books, we’re only getting half the picture of what it might have been like to live through different time periods. Whether it’s a historical romance set hundreds of years ago or a twentieth-century drama based on actual events, discover listens that are both heartbreaking and humbling as female characters lead the way.

What listeners say about The Book of Lost Friends

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  • Overall
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a satisfying and aurhentic read

The characters in this book jumped off the page from the first sentence. I enjoyed the different voices for Hannie, Ms Silva and the newspaper ads. This story feels so real, I was a bit sad that it was fiction... and yet it is based so deeply in real events that it could have been the story of so many.
This is a story of brave women, in the early days in post-slavery Louisiana, and 1980s in a small town.
This is a story that sheds light on issues of race, income inequality, privilege, and generational patterns...
and yet it is hopeful. The characters aren't perfect, their stories don't wrap up in a neat little bow.... they are real and honest and they struggle for what they believe.
I cried with sadness in parts and with joy in others.
Lisa Wingate has become one of my most beloved authors, and this book, along with "before we were yours" have become 2 of my most memorable reads.

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7 people found this helpful

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excellent

Loved the story and the readers were bang on! I really liked the delivery of historical fiction by the author.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved this story

Lisa Wingate has such a wonderful story telling ability. Giving us different perspectives from different times. I will look for more titles written by her.

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4 people found this helpful

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Compelling

It was so hard to step away from this story to get anything else accomplished. A story to savour and to treasure.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Hard to follow

As I listened to this, I kept wondering, “Did I miss something?” It was VERY hard to follow ... it was as if not enough information was given to back stories and characters.

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2 people found this helpful

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my new favourite

This booked gripped me from its first pages. both stories were captivating and incredibly interesting. the characters were well developed and unique. i fell in love with them all.

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2 people found this helpful

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Could not stop listening

This book drew you in. I loved how the past and present are being pulled together .
The story tellers were amazing.

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1 person found this helpful

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The Book of Lost Friends.

I wasn’t quite sure at first. But I ended up absolutely loving this book. Thank you for sharing these stories. I did not see the reveal at the end. Bravo. The narrators brought the scenes to life, thoroughly enjoyable and, of course, heartbreaking to realize that these are in fact based on real people.

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1 person found this helpful

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Not Pooperooo at All

I really did enjoy this book.In fact I had to wean myself off it every day so that it would last longer.The narration was amazing and really brought the story to life.If I had one negative thing to say; it would be that the book was almost too descriptive.I like having events/places etc described but in some cases within the book, the descriptions almost took away from the storyline

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1 person found this helpful

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Thought Provoking

This was a great listen and well read.

it's a book about family and what would we do too find them again.

I like how it went back and forth between past and present and how the kids learned about their heritage.

What a great idea the advertisement of lost friends.

Happy Listening

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1 person found this helpful