“The stories of C. S. Lewis have long been a comfort and a beacon to me, lighting the way in my darkest hours. Reading Patti Callahan’s Once Upon a Wardrobe, I felt just as I did upon first discovering the wonders of Narnia: joy, hope, and the sustaining knowledge that grace can be found in the pages of a beloved story. This remarkably moving book deserves to be embraced and cherished as the classic it will undoubtedly become.”
—Jennifer Robson, internationally bestselling author of The Gown
“Once Upon a Wardrobe is a tender, enchanting tribute to the power of story and the myriad ways it can both break and heal our hearts. It is the story of a dying boy and a loving sister and the path a treasured story takes from one heart to the other. Perfect and timely and beautiful and poignant, it is everything the world needs right now.”
—Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène
“Beautiful, tender, and poignant, Once Upon a Wardrobe is a rare treasure. Written with elegant prose, warmth, and a clear passion for her subject, Patti Callahan has crafted a love letter to beloved Narnia, and to the power of story to inspire, connect, and heal. Truly magical.”
—Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author
“Callahan (Becoming Mrs. Lewis) once again visits the life and works of C. S. Lewis in this enlightening novel of logic and imagination, faith, and reason . . . this enchanting novel of faith and hope is a must-read for fans of C. S. Lewis. Readers will be eager to return to the world of The Chronicles of Narnia with new insights.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“Enchanting and luminous, filled with the love of family, this is a story for anyone whose life has ever been changed by a book. Megs and George will stretch your heart, perhaps fracture it, then shine light through the cracks and send your spirit soaring. It is impossible not to be swept away by Patti Callahan’s exploration of what lies beneath C. S. Lewis’s beloved land of Narnia. This is storytelling at its finest, deepest, and most profound. A triumph.”
—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends
“I so loved this story. Every page is filled with magic and wonder, with insight and wisdom. I am in awe of Patti Callahan’s talent.”
—Debbie Macomber, New York Times bestselling author
“From the very first page of Patti Callahan’s new book, Once Upon a Wardrobe, I was transported, as if I was finally stepping through C. S. Lewis’s famous wardrobe, something I’ve wanted to do since I first read the Narnia books. In this powerful, enchanting tale for all ages, readers uncover the inspiration for Lewis’s famous books, while at the same time discovering the way in which stories—and myths—weave through our existences, subtly transforming us in immeasurable ways. Stunning.”
—Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
“Exquisitely heartfelt, Once Upon a Wardrobe is a love letter to the magic of stories. I call it the Callahan Effect—from the first page to the last, Patti Callahan’s wise and beautiful prose draws you in and doesn’t let you go.”
—Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of First Frost and Lost Lake
“Once Upon a Wardrobe is a poignant meditation on the lengths we will go to for our loved ones as well as a fascinating glimpse into the early life of C. S. Lewis. Patti Callahan’s beautiful, life-affirming novel is a reminder that literature lives inside us, and that when we read someone else’s story, we understand so much more about our own. A gorgeous, compelling book.”
—Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library
“When it comes to a classic like the great C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, we all want to hear the story behind the story, just as Patti Callahan’s young, ailing George Devonshire does in the gorgeously wrought Once Upon a Wardrobe. And in the book, we get just that: a peek behind the curtain of a story that has enchanted generations. But the masterful Callahan—who has already shown us a more intimate, human side of C. S. Lewis in Becoming Mrs. Lewis (2019)—gives us much more, too; she delivers a great gust of enchantment, a draft of emotion, and a zephyr of spiritual insight that will sweep through you the way snowflakes rush through the wintry postwar Oxford countryside. Callahan starts with a simple enough question: where did Narnia come from? But the answer she delivers in Once Upon a Wardrobe—a tale full of forests and castles, hope and despair, first love and first loss—will leap from the page straight into your heart. With a touch of fairy tale magic, Once Upon a Wardrobe will take you behind the legend and deep into the English and Irish countryside, where you’ll encounter not only the inspirations for one of the 20th century’s most beloved works but also a tale of heartache, hope, and discovery that will forever change the Narnia you thought you knew. Callahan’s poignant, luminous Once Upon a Wardrobe honors the legacy of C. S. Lewis’s Narnia by giving us a new chapter, one born from the kind of real magic that is only possible when we open our hearts and let the lamplight in.”
—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars
“Patti Callahan seems to have found the story she was born to tell in this tale of unlikely friendship turned true love between Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis that tests the bounds of faith and radically alters both of their lives. Their connection comes to life in Callahan’s expert hands, revealing a connection so persuasive and affecting we wonder if there’s another like it in history. Luminous and penetrating.”
—Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife and When the Stars Go Dark
“I thought I knew Joy Davidman, the oft mentioned but little examined wife of C. S. Lewis, but in Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Patti Callahan breathes life into this fascinating woman whose hunger for knowledge leads her to buck tradition at every turn. In a beautifully crafted account, Patti unveils Joy as a passionate and courageous—yet very human—seeker of answers to the meaning of life and the depths of faith. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is an unlikely love story that will touch heart, mind, and soul.”
—Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author of The Dream Daughter
“Layered with personal reflection, poignant life events, and the Davidman-Lewis journey toward respect and love, Becoming Mrs. Lewis may very well become a literary classic of its own.”
—Hope by the Book, Gold Star Review
“Spanning more than a decade, this slow-burning love story will be especially satisfying to writers and C. S. Lewis fans, as there are many references to his literary canon and his famous stories of Narnia. Callahan’s prose is heartfelt and full of grace.”
—BookPage
“Callahan crafts a masterpiece that details the friendship and ultimate romance between the real Davidman and Lewis . . . Fans of Karen White and Mary Alice Monroe will enjoy this book. Callahan’s writing is riveting and her characters spring to life to create a magical and literary experience that won’t be soon forgotten.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“Readers familiar with the life and work of C. S. Lewis will relish learning about the woman who inspired some of his most famous books. Others will find the slow burn of the romance between the two mesmerizing. All fans of women’s fiction, particularly works with religious themes, will appreciate reading about this vibrant and intelligent woman.”
—Booklist
“Callahan (The Bookshop at Water’s End) vividly enters the life of a woman searching for both God and romantic love in this pleasing historical novel about writer and poet Joy Davidman . . . Making full use of historical documentation, Callahan has created an incredible portrait of a complex woman.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“In Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Patti Callahan Henry breathes wondrous fresh life into one of the greatest literary love stories of all time: the unlikely romance between English writer C. S. Lewis and the much younger American divorcée, Joy Davidman. Callahan chronicles their complex and unconventional relationship with a sure voice, deep insight into character, and eye for period detail. The result is a deeply moving story about love and loss that is transformative and magical.”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale
“Patti Callahan’s prose reads like poetry as she deftly unearths a lost love story that begs to be remembered and retold. I was swept along, filled with hope, and entirely beguiled, not only by the life lived behind the veil of C. S. Lewis’s books but also by the woman who won his heart. A literary treasure from first page to last.”
—Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends
“Becoming Mrs. Lewis is at once profoundly evocative, revealing an intimate view of a woman whose love and story had never been fully told . . . until now. Patti Callahan brings to life the elusive Joy Davidman and illuminates the achingly touching romance between Joy and C. S. Lewis. This is the book Patti Callahan was born to write. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a tour de force and the must-read of the season!”
—Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of Beach House Reunion
“Patti Callahan has written my favorite book of the year. Becoming Mrs. Lewis deftly explores the life and work of Joy Davidman, a bold and brilliant woman who is long overdue her time in the spotlight. Carefully researched. Beautifully written. Deeply romantic. Fiercely intelligent. It is both a meditation on marriage and a whopping grand adventure. Touching, tender, and triumphant, this is a love story for the ages.”
—Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène
“Patti Callahan took a character on the periphery, one who has historically taken a back seat to her male counterpart, and given her a fierce, passionate voice. For those fans of Lewis curious about the woman who inspired A Grief Observed, this book offers a convincing, fascinating glimpse into the private lives of two very remarkable individuals.”
—New York Journal of Books
“Becoming Mrs. Lewis illuminates the raw humanity of seeking faith in a distrustful world. We’ve heard C. S. Lewis’s narrative. Here, Callahan keenly demystifies poet Joy Davidman’s story and, in the telling, shows us the power of a greater love. I was wonderstruck by this novel.”
—Sarah McCoy, New York Times and international bestselling author of Marilla of Green Gables and The Baker’s Daughter
“This finely observed accounting of writer Joy Davidman’s life deeply moved me. Patti Callahan somehow inhabits Davidman, taking her readers inside the writer’s hungry mind and heart. We keenly feel Davidman’s struggle to become her own person at a time (the 1950s) when women had few options. When Davidman breaks free of a crushing marriage and makes the upstream swim to claim her fullest life, we cheer. An astonishing work of biographical fiction.”
—Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe
“With an artist’s touch, Patti has woven flesh and bone onto an unlikely love story and given us a glimpse into a beautiful and storied romance. I read this through an increasing sense of awe and admiration. By the final page, I realized Patti had crafted an intimate and daring literary achievement.”
—Charles Martin, USA TODAY bestselling author of Long Way Gone and The Mountain Between Us
“This book is a work of art. Intelligent. Witty and charming. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a stunning foray into the wilds of faith—from doubt and discovery to the great adventure of living it out. Patti Callahan’s invitation into Joy and Jack’s love story is as brilliant as the lives they led. I’m left as spellbound as the first time I met Aslan . . . with these characters now just as dear.”
—Kristy Cambron, author of The Ringmaster’s Wife and the Lost Castle series
“In Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Callahan peels back the curtain and allows a glimpse into Joy Davidman’s extraordinary life and her love and marriage with C. S. Lewis. With captivating prose, Callahan carries the reader across the ocean from New York to Oxford and into the private heart of this tender love story.”
—Katherine Reay, bestselling author of Dear Mr. Knightley
“In this unforgettable story of love and passion, piercing intellect and the power of the written word, Joy Davidman has come to claim her own resurrection, and the results are astonishing. Patti Henry has achieved a bold literary magic: Becoming Mrs. Lewis heals the cracks in the firmament of our hearts.”
—Signe Pike, author of The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom
“It’s all here: Bill’s betrayals. Joy’s boundless hope. Davy and Douglas, energetic but vulnerable. The faithful Oxford don used by God. Jack and Joy, arguing over a kiss. In a novel awash with authenticity, we learn their story through the voice of Mrs. C. S. Lewis. I suspect the man himself would say of Patti Callahan, ‘She’s a corking good writer.’”
—Carolyn Curtis, coeditor of Women and C. S. Lewis: What His Life and Literature Reveal for Today’s Culture (Lion Hudson, Oxford)
“Fans of Christina Baker Kline and Kate Quinn will love this beautiful, richly detailed novel about a lost bit of American maritime history. In a seamless blending of fact and fiction, Patti Callahan has created an atmospheric, compelling story of survival, tragedy, the enduring power of myth and memory, and the moments that change one’s life.”
—Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Great Alone and The Nightingale
“In Surviving Savannah, Patti Callahan masterfully weaves a little-known historical tragedy, an enigmatic mystery, and a searing family saga into a mesmerizing tale that will captivate readers until the last page and beyond.”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris
“The astonishing story of the ‘Titanic of the South’ is brought to vivid life . . . This tale of survival, love, and loss, as well as Callahan’s epic portrayals of a trio of strong, passionate women, gripped me from the very first page. Simply masterful.”
—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
“Through the interwoven tales of three courageous women, Surviving Savannah grips the reader in a spellbinding novel full of mystery, tragedy, sacrifice, and resilience. Layering painstaking research with evocative prose, Callahan has penned an utterly transportive read while illuminating a heart-wrenching yet largely forgotten slice of American history. Superb.”
—Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday
“Hidden history rises from the watery depths in all its glittering glory but also in its intimate, human detail. Meticulously researched, beautifully written, underpinned by timeless themes of personal trauma and its aftereffects, Surviving Savannah is a journey readers and book clubs will treasure.”
—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends
“A luminous novel about bravery, connection, and resilience that resurrects a forgotten 19th-century shipwreck and interlaces it with a page-turning contemporary narrative. With lush historical detail and a graceful pen, Callahan raises questions about fate, faith, and human purpose that are timeless. Surviving Savannah has the luster of a secret that’s been pulled from the depths of the sea.”
—Signe Pike, bestselling author of The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom
“In Patti Callahan’s fiercely hopeful Surviving Savannah, the past and the present intertwine with ringing authenticity. Disaster and crisis become a powerful testing ground, as Callahan’s expertly drawn characters are forced to discover how to live past tragedy, and what matters most in the aftermath. This is exactly the kind of story we need right now.”
—Paula McClain, bestselling author of The Paris Wife and When the Stars Go Dark
“With an eloquent and effective narrative, a realistic continuing theme of unbreakable relationship bonds, and a fantastic multilayered story line of secrets, regrets, and a good dose of teenage drama, this is a solid summer read . . . [a] low-country treasure of new beginnings and an old mystery.”
—Library Journal
“A look at what family really means, and how the past affects the present in so many ways. The writing is superb.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A great summer read about finding yourself and returning home.”
—PopSugar
“Henry creates a world that feels rich and real—readers can practically hear the rushing river, see the ocean waves, and smell the hydrangea bushes . . . [an] atmospheric look at friendship, forgiveness, and second chances.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“This is a great beach read of the Dorothea Benton Frank and Anne River Siddons variety.”
—Booklist
“The Bookshop at Water’s End carries us along the graceful curves and outwardly serene story line of two childhood friends returning to their summer riverside home. But like the river she writes about, Patti’s plot roils with strong undercurrents of murky secrets, tragedy, and the pulsing tides of self-discovery. No one writes about the power of family and friends like Patti Callahan Henry. The Bookshop at Water’s End is a must-read for your summer!”
—Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of Beach House for Rent
“I adore Patti Callahan Henry’s new novel. The Bookshop at Water’s End is a juicy summer read about family secrets, forgotten friendships, and the power of books to change our lives.”
—Jane Green, New York Times bestselling author of The Sunshine Sisters
“Patti Callahan Henry’s stories are always woven with magic and mystery, and The Bookshop at Water’s End knots these elements into a deeply satisfying and heartfelt tale of loss and betrayal, friendship and forgiveness. The sun is shining, the tide is turning, summer and Patti Henry’s latest masterpiece beckon. Resistance is futile!”
—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Weekenders
“From the very first page, Patti Callahan Henry draws you in like the tide, revealing long simmering secrets that will test family and friendships and explores the question: do we tell our stories or do our stories tell us? In lush, lyrical prose, Henry explores the power of forgiveness, especially in ourselves. Every page was a treat.”
—Laura Lane McNeal, bestselling author of Dollbaby
“Patti Callahan Henry has written the best novel of her career with The Bookshop at Water’s End. I absolutely adored it and predict it will be one of the most loved books of the year. In fact, it’s so good I wish I’d written it myself!”
—Dorothea Benton Frank, New York Times bestselling author of Same Beach, Next Year