Review of “Lost in Wonderland” by Jack Quill

Score: 95+/100 (9.5+ out of 10)

When it comes to beautiful, compelling romance novels, they don't come much more beautiful and compelling than Lost in Wonderland by Jack Quill!

In what is already one of our favorite novels of 2024, Lost in Wonderland tackles a rather familiar premise and plot (that of an amnesiac partner). However, it expands and elaborates on it in such a powerful and eloquent way that it becomes something transformative, unique, and refreshing!

We loved this book!

So, where do we begin?

Well, this book introduces us to Jack Bayne, a seasoned firefighter (and fire captain) who discovers that his wife, Alareese, has been in a catastrophic accident that has claimed one life as well as his wife's memories of him.

Alareese retains some of her memories from her earlier life as well as some of her mother, but she doesn't recognize Jack as her husband, even going so far as to remove her wedding ring and sleep separately from him. The doctors tell Jack that Alareese may never remember him again, and Jack is confronted with the prospect of losing two loved ones in one night. We're told rather early on that Jack lost his child in the accident as well, and that gets elaborated on later on. The reader is left wondering if there's more to the loss of the child than Jack initially leads on, especially since he appears to keep the child's room locked and hidden from Alareese through most of the book.

However, like a real man--and like the great, inspiring protagonist he is—Jack pulls himself up by the boot straps and determines to make the best of the situation, no matter how terrible it seems. Rather than being pushy or forceful, Jack is respectful, compassionate, understanding of Alareese's cognitive state and apprehension to be around or accept him, even though it clearly hurts him. That's something we recognized and really appreciated about Jack, he really is a great person in more ways than one. He is self-sacrificing, not selfish. He is a giver, not a taker. He is accommodating, not demanding or insistent. He is exactly who you'd want as a husband or a fire captain. He could run for president and we'd vote for him!

His charisma and charm really are contagious, and you get a sense of why Alareese once loved and married him as well as how he became a fire captain at a relatively young age (30).

Anyway, Alareese is an excellent character in her own right.

Now, before we talk about her we should probably expand on this book's premise and plot being familiar. You've probably seen it in 50 First Dates (with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore), albeit in a much less serious light. We've seen it in Saving Sophie by Debbie Schrack, one of the best books last year (#3 overall in 2023) and what we named the “Best Fiction Book of Spring 2023.”

However, both 50 First Dates and Saving Sophie, were very much focused on the male leads in those stories rather than taking the perspective of the amnesiac herself.

Lost in Wonderland, on the other hand, actually takes us into the mind of the amnesiac, Alareese, as she wrestles with her thoughts, her memories (and lack thereof), and triggers. This really helps us to sympathize with her more because, rather than just being frustrated or finding it humorous that she doesn't remember things, we understand what she's thinking, what she's going through, and how it makes her feel.

One of the most interesting things about Alareese's psyche in this amnesiac state (and one of the underlying motifs of the book) is how her mind seems fixated on two particular children's stories: those involving Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and hose involving Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. It is also very possible and implied that Alareese was also exposed to the Little Golden Book (Disney) versions of these stories. In any case, she holds them very near and dear to her heart.

We gradually learn that she was a librarian before and during Jack courting her. And those flashbacks give us some of the most heartwarming (and humorous) scenes in the book! They really build on the chemistry that Jack and Alareese once had, making the tragedy of their separation (the “glass” between them) cut all the more deep. By the way, the “glass” between them is another allusion to Alice in Wonderland, more specifically the sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass. Again, there are constant allusions to Alice and Peter Pan, even with the chapter names.

Alareese is often compared to Alice while Jack, as you might expect, is often compared to Peter Pan. Similar to Peter Pan, Jack is brave, adventurous, and a born leader. However, as Alareese puts it, Jack is more noble and heroic than Peter Pan by virtue of how he's legitimately willing to risk his life to save others. We actually see that on display in the scenes involving Jack and his near-death experiences while firefighting. Those scenes are tense!

One of our favorite aspects of Alareese's flashbacks is how Jack pretty much babysits his best friend's cat, in part, to ingratiate himself to Alareese. This is because, as Jack puts it slyly, “guys with cats are adorable, aren't they?” Jack's affinity for animals is actually shown throughout. He is not only compassionate to Kevin, the cat, but also to Minah, the old Dalmatian at the station. This, again, just goes to show how great of a dude Jack is.

One of the reoccurring jokes in the book is that Jack can get Kevin the cat to jump seven feet, to which Alareese always says something along the lines of “there's no way” or “you're exaggerating.”

This might sound like a simple joke, but it really goes miles in showing the chemistry the couple has. They joke together and play off of each other constantly and perfectly! There's also a charming scene in which the two take turns tricking each other into getting wet in a playful and somewhat flirtatious way.

They are constantly teasing and joking about (and with) each other, which we love to see in a romantic pairing. It shows chemistry and camaraderie.

And they actually seem to make each other better and help each other to come to a better understanding or conclusion. For example, when Jack talks about the station's old dalmatian dog, Minah, being elderly and moving less, Alareese comes up with the idea of getting Minah a dog friend to keep her company. Oh, and by the way, she also jokes about how she thought Minah was a hot girl at the fire station. See what we mean about these characters having so much personality?

This book also has some great supporting characters. There's Hayden, Jack's best friend, former roommate, and coworker, who really knows how to tease him. He has a humor of his own. Then there's Tabitha, Alareese's mother (and Jack's mother-in-law), who is such a comforting person and a voice of reason for them both. Hey, where can we find mother-in-laws who are this cool and chill?

We really loved how this book gradually pulls back the curtain and reveals more about Jack's child, the secret room, and why they value the classic stories so much.

What a wonderful book!

Check it out on Amazon!