Once Upon a Wardrobe Book Review
Check out my review of Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan, an emotional exploration of the power of stories to move and change us.
As I continue to add my personal book reviews to this site, I’m trying to work through my list of favorite books of all time.
For over a decade, I’ve been running the Peanut Blossom Book Club with the #1 Rule: No Tear Jerkers.
So when I tell you that Once Upon a Wardrobe made me cry and yet still made its way onto my list of favorites, I hope that tells you something about my love for this novel.
Though the book isn’t like our usual lighter and more fun book club fare, I wouldn’t classify this as a “tear-jerker.” Instead, I would use words like “heartwarming, moving, and amazing.”
Curious if this book is for you? Check out my full review below.
Summary of Once Upon a Wardrobe
College student Megs Devonshire sets out to fulfill her younger brother George’s last wish by uncovering the truth behind his favorite story. What transpires is a fascinating look into the bond between siblings and the life-changing magic of stories.
1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it’s just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: “Where did Narnia come from?”
Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C. S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers.
Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he shares the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real life.
After holding so tightly to logic and reason, her brother’s request leads Megs to absorb a more profound truth: “The way stories change us can’t be explained. It can only be felt. Like love.”
What I Liked
Here’s what I would tell my best friend about the book:
- C.S. Lewis: I’m a huge fan of both the Narnia series and the other works from this amazing author. The compilation of Letters to Children from C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite books. This historical fiction novel gives us a peek into his world through the eyes of young Megs, a 17-year old student at Oxford University.
- The Power of Stories: I’m a firm believer that stories are hugely important to the human experience and are an essential way for us to connect more deeply with one another. Many conversations and moments throughout the novel drive this message home.
- Reminds Us of What Matters: I read this book during a stressful season of life and the message that love and connection with our family matters more than anything is exactly what I needed. It was a fantastic reminder that life is not only worth living but truly precious and fleeting.
What I Didn’t Like
This is a rare instance where there is nothing to report that I didn’t like, I loved this book.
However, it is emotionally charged and sad at times so if that is not what you’re looking for right now, I have plenty of lighter reads I could recommend.
How Spicy Is It?
🚫: Once Upon a Wardrobe rates a Level 0 on my spicy books rating scale. This is not a romance novel.
Overall Score
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I give Once Upon a Wardrobe 5 stars. This book moved me to tears but in the best way possible. I don’t normally recommend books that make me get teary-eyed, but sometimes we need a story to wake up our heart and remind us what matters most in life.
If this is your first time reading one of my reviews, you may want to check out how I score my reads with this scale guide here.
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