Some critics, such as those at Colloquium , praise the "authentic and credible" character voices. However, a review from Big Little Literature suggests the dialect used for Black characters can occasionally feel like a "cliché".
The novel has received praise for its emotional depth and historical research, though some reviewers have noted areas for critique: El Libro De Los Amigos Perdidos Lisa Wingate ...
Following the Civil War, Hannie Gossett, a formerly enslaved woman, finds herself on a perilous journey to Texas. She is joined by two unlikely companions: Lavinia, the pampered daughter of Hannie's former master, and Juneau Jane, the master's illegitimate Creole daughter. While the half-sisters seek their father to secure a stolen inheritance, Hannie’s deeper mission is to find her mother and siblings, who were sold off years prior. Some critics, such as those at Colloquium ,
“I learned about the lost friends project that I never knew about — fascinating!” The StoryGraph She is joined by two unlikely companions: Lavinia,
The narrative weaves together two distinct timelines that eventually converge:
Reviewers from The StoryGraph and All About Romance highlight Wingate's use of real historical newspaper ads as "heart-wrenching" and "illuminating".
Lisa Wingate’s (2020) is a compelling dual-timeline historical novel that explores themes of family, identity, and the enduring power of stories. Inspired by actual "Lost Friends" advertisements from post-Civil War newspapers, the book follows two parallel journeys in Louisiana separated by a century. Plot Summary