James Cameron’s Titanic film debuted when I was sixteen, and I’ve been a junkie for the survivors’ stories since I was introduced to Jack and Rose.

The Lost Passenger is a survival story, but an unexpected one. Elinor is the cotton king’s daughter in Manchester, England. Though she lost her mother at a young age, her father has done everything he can to make her whole, including letting her help with his textile business. With a head for numbers and an eye for trends, Elinor’s input is welcomed. Unfortunately, most of aristocratic society doesn’t see her the way her father does, and in marriage she feels trapped.

When the Titanic goes down, Elinor desperately clings to a chance for reinvention for her and her young son Teddy. Using another woman’s name, Elinor realizes she has an opportunity to escape the life that was suffocating her and can make a living in the hustle and bustle of the Lower East side of New York City. In the land of opportunity Elinor thrives. Her business savvy isn’t seen as unbecoming, but rather inspirational. Other than the lies she must tell to keep her secret safe, Elinor feels like she has made it, until a unplanned encounter proves it could bring her new world crashing down.

Elinor is trapped between societal expectations and her own desires in England. The Titanic disaster changes everything. Tensions rise in New York as she tries to balance her past, the lies she’s living, and her determination to make a fresh start. But Elinor is nothing if not resilient and her survivor story is one that would inspire even James Cameron.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballatine Books, and of course the author Frances Quinn for the advanced copy of the book. The Lost Passenger is out now. All opinions are my own.

Elinor falls in love and marries only to find out her that her husband and his family had reasons to want the marriage that have nothing to do with love. When her father offers her family a once in a lifetime trip on the Titanic’s inaugural voyage she uses what leverage she has to secure the trip and a bit of breathing room. When tragedy strikes and she survives a door opens that might change her life if she is brave enough to walk through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book. Reviewed on Litsy and IG.

This is an absolutely amazing and well written historical fiction! At the center of the story is Elinor, daughter of a wealthy self-made businessman. She is thrilled when she is invited with her father to a party at the home of an aristocratic family. She is soon swept off her feet and down the aisle to wedded bliss, only to discover it was her father's money and an heir that the family actually wanted. When their son is born, she hopes spending time with him will ease her heartache, but her husband's family restricts her time with her infant son, Teddy so he can be raised in the proper aristocratic way. When her father surprises the 3 of them with a voyage on the brand-new ship, the Titanic, she is thrilled for a chance to have some time with her son and her father. Fate intervened, as we all know, and Elinor makes a dramatic decision for herself and young Teddy. The author's description of that fateful voyage is vivid and chilling. Francis Quinn has written a beautiful and moving story of Elinor as she confronts the betrayals within her marriage, and her courage and determination to forge a new life after the tragedy of the Titanic. The author has created memorable characters that transported me back to that time period, and the challenges faced by people on both sides of the economy, particularly women. This was definitely a book that was hard to put down! Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. The opinions of this review are my own.

Young Elinor is conned into marriage (although how she didn’t figure up something shady was going on is beyond me) and then is stuck in a marriage that is rather convenient for her husband. Her in-laws are horrendous. Her father gifts her a trip on the Titanic and when the ship goes down she is able to escape her life by taking on someone else’s and starting over.

My drawback in this one was that it was a bit slow developing at times. Thanks to NetGalley for the read!

Marrying above her class is too much for Elinor. She fakes her death and her son Teddy's on the titanic to escape to America to start a new life. An historical drama with lots of unpredictable turns of events. A real page turner and a must read!

I really enjoyed this book about a wealthy young woman stuck in a loveless marriage and having to meet all of the expectations of British aristocracy who gets the opportunity to reinvent herself and create a more meaningful life for herself and her young son when she survives the sinking of the Titanic. A nice break from the dual timelines that are so common these days, this historical novel gives the reader a real sense of the oppressiveness and misogyny of being a titled woman in England in the early 20th century, and the challenges of immigrants making new lives for themselves on the lower east side in NYC. Elinor overcomes so much, and the ending is satisfying without being overly saccharine. The story meandered a bit in places but it never felt slow, and I found myself fully absorbed from start to finish.

4+ but not quite 5 🌟s

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC thru NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of this novel.

When Elinor married an English aristocrat, she soon learned it wasn't for love., but for her father's money. Her husband's family lived by the rule of maintaining their heritage at any cost. The family's control of Elinor"s life included the sad tradition of having a nanny raise Elinor's baby, leaving her alone and isolated in a loveless marriage, seeing her son only thirty minutes a day. When Elinor's father bought her passage on the new ship "Titanic," she goes for it, never expecting the outcome. The Lost Passanger climbed to the top of my chart. The first person narration easily pulled me into Elinor's story, her love, anguish and hope. The writing is superb with suspense and the flaws and wonder of family. From a country manor in England to the Titanic and A growing NYC, I was on the journey too. The settings were beautifully developed and were a perfect way to immerse the reader in the time and place. Easily a 5 Star read, I cannot give this book enough praise.

It takes a great author to write a character the reader will root for through changes, mistakes, and mishaps, but author Frances Quinn did so brilliantly with Elinor Coombes!

The first third of the book we follow Elinor, a cotton king's daughter through a deceptive and less than pleasant marriage to a Lord who was hoping she'd be pleased to have a title, as much as he was to take her dowry. When the chance to get away on a trip arises, Elinor boards the RMS Titanic with her father, husband, and son. That fateful voyage changes everything and Elinor ends up in New York with a chance to start over in the 2nd half of the book. But can she do it and will her past find her?

I appreciated this story as much for Elinor as for details of life and living in England and New York. The side characters along the way are well written and the ending came together beautifully.

Read this book!

I will be reading more by this author. This book is so good. One I highly recommend. It has so much in it. Ups and downs. Laughter and tears. History and more. And it has the TITANIC... Of course that is the part that makes this story come together.

When Elinor Hayward falls in love with a man who is said to be above her, she is in for a lot of heartache. It seems to me that if he is marrying her for her father's fortune then how is she marrying up? I would say that he is. But alas that is not how it was in 1910 when Elinor married Frederick Coombes. Elinor is the daughter to a cotton king. A self-made man. He and her deceased mother had worked hard and made a great life. Worth millions. But he could not leave his empire to his daughter. I mean get reas. She's female. He had no male heir. So when she married Frederick he would have a son. In a way he would.

When Elinor gave birth to a boy Frederick's family were ecstatic. A boy to carry on their legacy. Of course they had a big fine home that was many generations in their family. It was what they had to offer her. Well her son. Things were not at all as she had pictured. Frederick didn't love her though he had led her to believe he did before marriage. His family were cold towards her. She was so miserable. So when she was offered a trip on the Titanic with her father of course she jumped at it. We know what happened with that. But it's what came afterwards that will leave you staggering. Leave you holding your breath.

When a young woman steps off the boat in the United States of America with a young boy in her arms there is family there waiting for her. Molly Mortimer was finally going to be with her family. But who was this young woman really. What was she running away from. Would they accept her with a baby. Would she be able to stay and make a life. Through lots of the hardest work she's ever done she can do this.

This is such a well written book. It's fiction at its best. You truly do not want to miss this one if you love a good historical fiction story. Of love, loss, and new beginnings. It's truly beautiful and perfect and sad and happy. It's the book you will want to read.

Thank you #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishing/Ballantine, for this ARC.

This book moved quite quickly and was interesting to read and easy to follow. I enjoyed it! A really nice story about starting over

This one had great promise, but I have enough anxiety in my life without reading a book full of impending disaster. Frances Quinn highlights all of the parts of the British aristocracy that brings out the worst in people and the misogyny of the early 1900's. She ties in a voyage on the Titanic to give the protagonist a possible escape. However, I just could not enjoy this tale with all of the doom around every corner. Historical fiction is so often my genre, but not this time. Quinn is a good writer and for someone with a stronger countenance might really enjoy it. Just not the time for anxiety inducing fiction for me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

What a fascinating book! Part historical fiction with an almost fairytale like darkness. to it. This is my first read of this author and I was an instant fan.

Elinor thinks she is getting a happily ever after, but immediately discovers her new husband had ulterior motives for marrying her which didn't include love. Elinor is smart and strong willed, which leads to her immediate downfall in her new family. Even more heartbreaking than the family trying to break her spirit as they control her, is the way they take away her right and time with her son.

Then the tragic trip on the Titanic...Elinor survives with her son (losing her husband, father, and new nanny) she takes the opportunity to claim a new life with a new identity.

The whole storyline was fascinating, showcasing intricate details of the time. The development and all the different layers of the characters was well done. The baring of the truth behind Elinor/Molly's fake identity when her two worlds collide...deeply moving. While I appreciated the newfound family, I was hoping Elinor would finally find love (more than alluding to the potential!)

4 stars

Have you heard the old saying "marry in haste, repent in leisure?" Yeah, that's this story. When the opportunity arises, the main character Elinor makes a brave decision to take control of her life. I love a good Titanic book and while the Titanic is the setting, the most compelling part of the story is Elinor's struggle to build a new life in New York as she deals with the constant fear of discovery of her deception as well as survivor's guilt. Years ago,

Trapped in a loveless marriage, Elinor uses a disaster as cover for escape for herself and her son. This is an interesting story of survivor's guilt, paranoia - looking over her shoulder, lies, and daily survival in a world she's not used to - all to protect her son. However, it felt info dumps at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes life isn’t what one expects. And this is the story of Elinor Coombes born to well to do loving parents, she seeks to find the same love. Thrilled when invited to a ball, something that seldom happens if not born to the Ton. She meets Freddy son of an Earl and very likable. So much so that a marriage proposal was in the near future. When after the wedding she overhears her new mother in law and the hostess of the ball claiming their plan worked. That she was just a pawn to get her dowry to support the estate. Things only get worse for Elinor, looked down by one and all. The only thing that her mother in law is please about is when she delivers a healthy heir, but even that is controlled by her.
After a couple of years and barely knowing her son, she has a chance of a finally having him to herself a few weeks. Her father came through with tickets for her and her family to sail on the Titanic. Having to blackmail Freddy to get her way to sail and pretend to her father all is well between them.
As one all knows what happens to the Titanic this is a story of second chances and finding the courage to take control of one’s own life. The story draws one in and just wants to read one more chapter. Love that in my mind there were several ways the story could go and love the ending. Thank you #NetGallery for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #TheLostPassenger

The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn is a gripping and immersive historical drama that explores themes of survival, reinvention, and the pursuit of freedom. The novel follows Elinor Coombes, a young mother who fakes her and her son’s deaths aboard the Titanic to escape a suffocating marriage. With sharp writing and vivid detail, Quinn draws readers into Elinor’s harrowing journey as she navigates the challenges of starting anew in the bustling, unforgiving world of New York City.

The novel shines in its depiction of Elinor as a protagonist. Her emotional depth, resourcefulness, and determination to protect her son make her a compelling and sympathetic character. Quinn also excels at capturing the tension between Elinor’s past life in the rigid, oppressive world of English aristocracy and her struggle to thrive in the more chaotic, yet liberating, landscape of America.

Overall the novel’s attention to historical detail and its exploration of identity and survival make it a standout read. The Lost Passenger is an evocative and emotional journey that will captivate anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong, well-drawn characters.

The Lost Passenger starts out in 1910 where Elinor Coombes is excited for her life. Her father has arranged for her to marry into an English aristocratic family. Although it is above their social class, Elinor has high hopes for love. She comes to realize that the marriage is more of a business transaction and she has no control over her life, including when she has a son, the heir to the family. Her father arranges a trip on the maiden voyage of the Titanic sailing first class. Elinor, her husband and son and her father all set sail. After the tragic sinking, Elinor sees a way to escape from the confines of her life and changes her name so that it appears all of them have perished. Elinor now must make make her way in New York with no money and with a young baby. Elinor's story of perseverance and ambition is inspiring as she creates a new life very different from the pampered one that she left behind. The Lost Passenger kept me intrigued and I read it very quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of The Lost Passenger.

This book has an intriguing concept. After the Titanic sunk, a woman pretends to be a woman that died in order to escape from a life that she does not want. Elinor is the daughter of a wealthy man who makes fabric in England after working himself up from nothing. But with her being an only daughter, he is working on other arrangements for his company after his death. This is a well written story about taking chances to get what you want in life. I would give it 4.5 stars.

This is a great choice for any historical fiction fan. It is well written and the characters are believable and empathetic. I wish this had gotten more attention on release day!

I am a sucker for stories about the Titanic, so when I read the synopsis of “The Lost Passenger”, it was a story that I could not pass up. While I found the story interesting, I couldn’t help but feel there was something missing that would have taken this book to the next level.

First the good bits…what millennial doesn’t love a story about an oppressed socialite who gets on the Titanic, has a life altering experience and tries to build a new life?? While the plot isn’t one we haven’t somewhat seen before, Ms. Quinn gives this story a unique spin that keeps the story interesting for the reader. There are some great characters in this story with lovely personalities that are easy to really like, for me they were Mr. Coombes, Ruth and Anna. Elinor, the FMC, is a character who’s decision and flaws force the reader to consider whether her actions are acceptable or not. While the beginning was a bit slow, the pace at the midway point picks up considerably.

My biggest challenge with this book was in the writing style. This story was written in the first person, but the storytelling felt more like someone was reading Elinor’s journal or telling her story for her. This was especially difficult in the first half of the story, when Elinor explains her life before the Titanic and the reader is expected to understand her despair or fears. For me, these moments felt detached and never came across as expected, which then carried on to the rest of the story. I feel like there was a lot of missed opportunities to explore those emotional moments more (especially post Titanic and all that was lost then) and have the reader relate to Elinor more. For me, having that kind of connection to the characters is the difference between a great book and an ok one. For me, while a quick read, was just an ok book.

**Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I appreciate the opportunity.**