The Book of Lost Friends: A Novel

The Book of Lost Friends: A Novel

by Lisa Wingate

4.5 (27,681)

4.5 stars from 27,681 reviews. One of the highest rated Historical Fiction books we track.

416 pages~6.9 hr readPublished by Ballantine BooksPublished 2020-01-01

$1.99Deal87% off peak

Last checked: Jun 21, 2026

Price history: $1.99 $14.99

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Fans of these authors will like this...

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Perfect for you if...

  • You love historical fiction rooted in real events, especially stories of resilience after America's darkest chapters.
  • You're drawn to multi-timeline narratives that connect past trauma to present-day consequences.
  • You appreciate complex female characters who aren't simply victims but agents of their own survival.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You prefer fast-paced plots over character development and historical detail.
  • You want romantic resolution or feel-good endings rather than stories centred on loss and searching.
  • You're uncomfortable with frank depictions of slavery's aftermath and the violence of Reconstruction.

About this book

A historical novel set in Louisiana during Reconstruction and in 1987, following two interconnected stories. In 1875, three young women—Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, an impoverished plantation heir; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia's Creole half sister—embark on a dangerous journey toward Texas. Each carries personal wounds and secrets. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the trip stems from stolen inheritance and financial need. For Hannie, separated from her mother and siblings before slavery ended, the journey westward raises the possibility that her lost family might still exist somewhere beyond the swamps. In 1987, first-year teacher Benedetta Silva accepts a subsidized position at a struggling rural school in Augustine, Louisiana, hoping to pay down her student debt. She struggles to understand her impoverished students and the town's resistance to change. However, hidden within the town's history—among its live oaks and old plantation homes—lies the century-old story of three young women, their long-ago journey, and a concealed book that may hold significance. The novel draws from actual "Lost Friends" advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, in which newly freed slaves searched for family members who had been sold away.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$7.50$14.99Mar '20Apr '22Jan '23Jan '26
$1.99$14.99

Currently on sale at $1.99 — 87% off peak. Price has dropped 18 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 130 days. Typically stays discounted for 1 day.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#167#17,469#34,770Mar '20Sep '21Jan '23Jun '26

Currently around #27K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller. Sales have softened 118% recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

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4.0★4.5★5.0★May '23May '24Sep '24Mar '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.5★ from 27,681 reviews

Gaining approximately 146 new reviews per month. Reader interest is accelerating. Rating has remained stable at 4.5 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

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Free$7.50$14.99Mar '20Apr '22Jan '23Jan '26PredictedJun '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $1.99. It typically returns to around $14.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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Lisa Wingate

1 book on Vagrant Press

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