Elinor Combes is the daughter of an American wealthy cotton manufacturer and visiting her friend in England. She is quickly romanced by what seems to be her Prince Charming but after the marriage she Elinor realizes it’s a front. The pedigree family was only 2 things, her money and an heir. Then throw in the fact that she will almost never see her son at all because there they believe in the children being raised by the nanny. On a chance her father sends her tickets, her husband and her son tickets on the maiden voyage of the newest luxury liner for a trip to the US so he can meet his grandson. Eilnor was looking for a way out and it came to her suddenly because of an iceberg and the chance of a taken someone’s identity. Now she has a chance but it means going to a place she has never been before, poor, homeless and struggling to make ends meet. But if she beats the odds she can be very successful in more ways than one.

Frances Quinn has written this an amazing book that catches your attention right from the start and holds on to it. This is a story about things that happened over 100 years ago and how different the world was then, especially for women no matter what class they were in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Historical Fiction is normally not a genre I would read, but I can say I really enjoyed this book. It was written very well and the character growth was great! I would definitely recommend this book.

Set in 1910 England, this novel follows Elinor Hayward, daughter of a wealthy mill owner, who enters a loveless marriage with aristocrat Frederick Coombes. Looked down upon by her in-laws and denied a role in raising her son, Teddy, Elinor feels trapped in a life of disappointment and isolation.

When her father secures tickets for the Titanic's maiden voyage, she sees it as a rare chance to spend time with Teddy and escape her stifling existence. But after surviving the disaster, Elinor makes a split-second decision—she assumes another woman’s identity, seizing an opportunity to start over in New York. However, living under a false name brings risks—can she truly leave her past behind?

Rather than focusing solely on the Titanic tragedy, the novel explores the aftermath and the survivors’ struggles to rebuild their lives. The second half follows Elinor’s journey in New York, where she works to create a new, fulfilling life for herself and Teddy, all while fearing discovery.

With rich character development and an immersive historical setting, this is a compelling and emotional tale of reinvention, resilience, and the cost of second chances.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballentine for an advanced copy I exchange for an honest review.

What a great story! This is not a romance but has elements of love, parenthood, and taking on a new identity all tied to the Titanic. Frances Quinn has written such an unputdownable intriguing tale, my first by her and definitely not my last. Not to be missed. 5 stars — Pub. 2/25/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is how you write a captivating historical drama. I was hooked from the first page and devoured within 2 days.

A mother would do anything to protect her child, even if that means taking another’s name when tragedy strikes. Elinor’s life was not what she was expecting when marrying Frederick, an aristocrat. His family estate just wanted her money and she is left unhappy, lonely and is supposed to just obey. After having her son & heir, Elinor is shocked to learn a nanny is hired to raise him and is only permitted to see her son for less than 20 minutes a day!

Joining her dad for the maiden voyage of the Titanic, a luxurious new ocean liner with her husband and son, Teddy sounds like a dream. I did guess what was going to happen while the family was on the Titanic but couldn’t put the book down when the titanic started sinking. I felt all the emotions!

Elinor's life in New York is not easy and I was truly impressed she was able to push through. And the pace really picked up. Overall, I really enjoyed this wonderful story and the emotional ride the author took me on.

Elinor Coombes is the daughter of the “Cotton King” and marries above her social class and marries the son of aristocrats. She ends up isolated in her husband’s family home and is only allowed 20 mins a day with her son. I was angry reading the first part of this book. I wanted to scream how unfeeling these people were. Elinor’s dad sends a gift, tickets for the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, a luxurious new ocean liner for her, her husband, son, and her lady’s maid. Elinor and her son survive, but she has a choice to go on to NYC or to go back to England.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy. #TheLostPassenger #NetGalley.

3.5 stars. This was an ARC from NetGalley. This book jumps right into the plot with very little backstory of our MFC. This is marked as a historical fiction, but the Titanic was nothing more than a few pages to set up the second half of the story. The real historical fiction element was the in your face reminder of how powerless women were just over 100 years ago. You feel the MFC's desperation to advocate for herself only to be threatened by a socital structure that can discredit and silence women. Overall, the plot wasn't the most memorable, and the characters felt a bit more one note for the challenges they faced. It felt high-level and ensured it ended on a Happily Ever After. Enjoyable quick read, just a lot lighthearted than I thought it would be for a historical fiction based on the Titanic. #netgalley #thelostpassanger #historicalfiction #womensright #titanic

Elinor is the only daughter of a cotton mill magnate. She is tricked into a loveless marriage, where her in-laws are only interested in her money...and her ability to provide an heir to their estate.

As a gift, Elinor's father purchased first-class tickets for the Titanic's maiden voyage. This break from the rigid estate and cold, controlling family and an opportunity to spend time with her son, Teddy.

Then....you know....iceberg, right ahead....

As a first-class passenger, Elinor and Teddy were on one of the first lifeboats. Elinor and the other lifeboat passengers watched in horror as the unsinkable ship split into two and sank deep below. The cries of those who weren't on the boats will stay with Elinor forever.

When the rescue ship arrives and the survivors start to assemble, Elinor realizes that only she and Teddy have survived. She risks it all, taking the name of her lady's maid, Molly. As the ship docks in New York, she sees the family waiting for Molly, and she takes the chance and the family welcomes "Molly" with open arms.

Elinor/Molly needs to survive in New York, the sinking of the Titanic is only the start of her journey.
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"The Lost Passenger" is a pretty middle-of-the-road historical fiction story. I couldn't help but think of the movie Titanic: rich girl, doomed to marry a terrible man, first class on the ship, only survivor of her family, etc.

I wanted a little more gumption from Elinor. I wanted her to really stick it to her in-laws. Her husband was the WORST, and it would have been nice to see him sink into the cold ocean. The confrontations towards the end were just...a little too convenient and wrapped in a bow.

I think this will be a good story for book clubs, but I don't know if I will suggest it to friends/family.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I went in to this with no previous knowledge of the author or this title and found myself quite enjoying it. Well written historical fiction about the Titanic. I enjoyed the characters and the twist of her taking on a new identity to protect her son.

I have always loved stories of the Titanic and was excited when I saw this book! However, this is a different type of Titanic story, much of it not taking place on the actual ship (a few chapters are devoted to time on the ship, but not much else). This story is about the life of one passenger, and starts long before her voyage on the fated ship.

Elinor Coombes is the daughter of the “cotton king” and finds herself swept into what seems to be a fairytale when Frederick, the son of an aristocratic English family, asks her to marry. Their tale is not as fairytale as it seems and after a long and detailed part of the book, much of the terrible truths are revealed including how horrible she is treated by Frederick’s family, and how, once they have their son Teddy (the coveted heir), she would need to give up her rights to her son should anything ever happen to her husband.

However, once Teddy is 2, Elinor’s father books them a trip on the famously lavish new liner, the Titanic. We all know what happens here and now Elinor finds herself a widow and single mother with a quick decision needing to be made of how she will protect her som from being taken from her and the life of becoming an English Lord. Now penniless, she will take on a new identity and try to make their way in New York.

Throughout reading, there were parts that were definitely slower paced and I found myself frustrated with the main character several times. However, the story was intriguing enough for me to want to find out what would happen.

The Lost Passenger was given to me to review by NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

My thanks to Net Galley and Random House/ Ballantine books for allowing me to review this arc

I have to say right off I loved this book! The story and characters grabbed me right away! Very highly recommend.!

Elinore Coombes is the daughter of the Cotton Mill King. She gets into an unhappy arranged marriage with an aristocrat and things done turned out as planned. When her father presents her , himself , and her family tickets on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, the tragedy allows her to assume the identity of a passenger that perishes to.start a new life in America for her and her son and escape her wealthy in laws that want her son Teddy.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I love stories revolving around the Titanic, but I’ve found shockingly few novels on the subject that truly engage me. However, The Lost Passenger is one of the few that I really enjoyed, although it is a bit rough reading at times.
Elinor’s situation is so bleak at the beginning of the book, with her illusions of a fairy tale marriage to an aristocrat soon dashed as her husband ignores her, and his family are otherwise cold to her, and make it very clear they were motivated by her family’s wealth. While not an uncommon story for this time period (Consuelo Vanderbilt and the Dollar Princesses was just a few decades prior), it still hurt to have to read about how awful things were.
But I admire Elinor’s perseverance, and how she took advantage of the situation the Titanic tragedy left her in to fake her death and assume the identity of someone else, and eventually adapt to a new life among her now-deceased maid’s relatives with her young son.
Plot and pacing wise, the story definitely feels a bit uneven, but in some ways, it’s out of necessity. The setup with an unflinching look at Elinor’s new gilded cage shows what she’s running from, and is a great juxtaposition with her new life, with lesser financial means, yes, but with more freedom of movement (at least until people who knew her from her old life sniff her out). And while there is an initial threat to her new life that felt a tad inconsequential to Elinor personally (although it does have impact on the “Titanic” part of the story), this was later followed up with a reveal that was much more personal, calling back to how miserable Elinor’s life was and reinforcing the choices Elinor makes throughout, not just for herself, but for her son, between a legacy he did not ask for that will leave him trapped by rigid expectations and true freedom to choose his path in life for himself.
This was a moving read, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in historical fiction with a dose of drama and a bit of suspense.

Frances Quinn's The Lost Passenger asks the question; how far will one woman go to save her son? Elinor Coombes is a young woman who was raised in a different life than most of her contemporaries. Her father, a wealthy businessman, has taught his daughter to use her mind, to read and to have her own business acumen. She dreams of making a marriage for love, falling in a romantic way for a dashing man much like the heroines of her favorite novels. And so, when a noble sweeps her suddenly off her feet, she becomes devastated to find that their marriage was based on a lie, and suddenly she no longer has any control of her own life is constantly mocked by her new family.

When she boards the Titanic in 1912 with her husband and son, suddenly Elinor finds herself presented with an opportunity to find a way out. Does she take it?

This novel is a quick easy read and I highly enjoyed it. If you are looking for a story focused on the Titanic, this may not be what you are looking for, but I would still recommend picking it up.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I very much enjoyed this work of historical fiction. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be my last.

The book takes place in three parts of the life of one woman - the British aristocracy, the Titanic, and life in NYC. Each section kept me captivated and I never found it slow or boring but the further into the book I got the more I couldn’t put it down.

It did deal with common issues in aristocratic marriages so it’s probably best for adults to read but I found it very clean overall.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m not the target audience for this book. I’d rather the book had started with the ship sinking, rather spending 20% or more of the book on exposition, dramatizing Elinor’s repressed life as a future earl’s wife. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5🌟

The Lost Passenger byFrances Quinn is a story about the love and determination of a mother fighting for the future of her son. Not agreeing with the plans her husband and his family have for Teddy, Elinor finds a way to “disappear” and start a new life after surviving the sinking of the Titanic.

I found myself holding breath for her, rejoicing with her and at times crying because of the compassion others had for her. I loved the relationship she built with the family who took her and Teddy in when they arrived in New York.

Other than being repetitive now and then I very much enjoyed The Lost Passenger.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Passenger is the story of a young woman, Elinor, who marries Frederick, a titled young man. After she is wed she finds that he has married her for her father’s money and not for love. Elinor’s father has gifted all of them a voyage on the Titanic. Elinor is the only one of them to survive. As she doesn’t want to return to England because her in-laws will have guardianship of her son she continues on to the United States once she is rescued and takes the identity of her maid on the ship who did not survive. The story continues with Elinor’s determination to build a life in the United States under a different name. She shows resilience and resourcefulness and the fight to find a new life with her new found family. A well written story and easily read.

Elinor is duped into a loveless marriage and a miserable life. When the Titanic goes down, Elinor takes the chance to escape and never return home.

A story of grit and resilience, the Lost Passenger is a solid novel for any historical fiction reader. The pacing varies at times, and I found myself pulled into parts more than others, but I was rooting for Elinor the entire time.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Frances Quinn’s The Lost Passenger follows Elinor, whose father started a cotton business from nothing, so she knows all about working hard for what she has. Frederick, the son of an aristocratic family who needs money for their expensive estate, arranges a marriage with Elinor to make sure the estate stays afloat. Elinor and Frederick have a son who will be the heir to the estate and title, and Elinor quickly realizes that the way people with titles raise their heir is not how she envisioned her life as a mother going. She doesn’t know how to get herself and her son out of the situation they’re in. An opportunity comes as her father, Frederick, Teddy, and her were sailing to New York on the Titanic. Once it sinks, Elinor and Teddy are able to reclaim their lives anew in New York. As long as no one from her past can find them.

The Lost Passenger is hands down one of my favorite books of the year, and I have no doubt it will hold that spot for the foreseeable future. This historical fiction novel revolves around the ill-fated Titanic. Elinor, along with her husband Frederick, their son, and her father, are all aboard the ship. Elinor and her son are the only ones who survive. Unbeknownst to Elinor at the time, her husband married her for her wealth. Coming from an aristocratic family, Frederick is in a completely different social class from Elinor, and she is deeply unhappy with the way she’s forced to raise their son as the heir to their family title. When the Titanic sinks, Elinor seizes the chance to escape her life and take on a new identity, assuming the life of another passenger who perished in the disaster.

I was captivated by this story, from the portrayal of the contrasting social classes to the backdrop of the Titanic disaster, and the raw struggle of being a single mother in America with no skills. If you love historical fiction, this is a must-read!