The Lost Spectacular Published by Erewhon Books on September 29, 2026 Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary, Fiction / Fantasy / Cozy, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Pages: 288
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Both magical fable and a tender love story, The Night Circus meets The Midnight Library in this dazzling ode to the life-changing power of books, as childhood loves-turned-rivals chase each other through the stories that shaped them, leaping through classic literature and famous paintings and private letters and family dinners, until all that’s left is to confront the grief they’ve been running from...and decide whether they might face it together, instead.
Everything you love must leave you.
Noon Bonaventure and Munro Forrest weren’t always rivals chasing each other through the pages of books. They grew up listening to stories from Munro’s grandmother and arguing over their favorites. But then one night, they discovered the Spectacular, a mysterious, ever-changing festival glittering with everything lost: lone pearl earrings and apple orchards, abandoned first drafts and shipwrecks, a skyful of umbrellas. This Spectacular, found only by invitation or in the pages of misprints, is the most precious thing in the world. In its wake, stories settle. Noon has always been the sort to move on with grace, and Munro goes into the business of never letting go—their divide starker than ever after a misstep abruptly closes the door on what could have been.
Now long estranged yet forever drawn to one another, Noon and Munro’s differences have defined their ways of life. Munro, an ambitious museum curator, vows his next exhibit will trap the Spectacular and return its lost treasures, while Noon, queen of cat-and-mouse, has been chosen as the next captain of the show.
As opening night for Munro’s exhibit draws closer, he and Noon will have to stop running and finally agree on how their story ends—and perhaps, find a way to start again.
A Beautifully Strange Celebration of Stories and Everything We Lose Along the Way
The Lost Spectacular is one of those books that feels a little like stepping into a dream. It’s whimsical, strange, imaginative, and occasionally has me wondering exactly where the story is taking me.
At the center are Noon and Munro, childhood friends who have become rivals after their shared history with the mysterious Spectacular. I loved the idea of a magical festival filled with things lost over the years. There is something both beautiful and a little heartbreaking about that concept, especially as the story begins exploring grief, memories, books, and the things we struggle to let go of.
The relationship between Noon and Munro probably kept me most invested. There is so much history between them, and watching them chase each other through stories while avoiding everything unresolved made their relationship complicated and interesting.
I will say that this isn’t necessarily an easy fantasy to sink into. The writing is very lyrical, and the world can feel almost dreamlike, which sometimes made the story confusing. There were moments when I just had to stop trying to understand every little detail and let the weirdness carry me along.
But underneath all that magic is a surprisingly emotional story about loss, love, friendship, and finding your way back to someone after life has changed you both.
The Lost Spectacular is wonderfully imaginative, unlike most books I’ve read. It won’t be for every reader, especially if you prefer straightforward worldbuilding. Still, readers who love books about books, unusual magic, and stories that feel like wandering through a strange dream may find something special here.
About Zoé Duhaime
Zoé Duhaime is a writer and occasional illustrator living in Montreal. Over the years she has worked as a parliamentary intern, a barista, a cemetery burial organizer, purveyor of sweet dreams, etc.
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