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.**

I wanted to love this book … I really did. Instead, the reaction I had was disappointment. The first half of the story took so long to tell (too long), the Titanic portion passed so quickly and the second half was a bit better. Overall, “just okay” for me.

This is my first introduction to Frances Quinn’s writing and will definitely not be my last. Though she is well known in the UK, The Lost Passenger is her debut novel here in America and is a Titanic story like no other I’ve read. Main character, Elinor, is manipulated by the charming Frederick into a quick fairy tale wedding with a foreboding mother-in-law. The restrictions of society and the accepted practices of parenting are especially saddening as Elinor is only allowed a few minutes a day with her son, Teddy. Extremely unhappy and suspicious of Frederick’s attentions, the stage for escape is set when Elinor receives tickets from her wealthy father for the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
The saga that unfolds is filled with astonishing descriptions and entrepreneurial spirit. The character development and pacing of the narrative kept me engaged, hopeful, anxious, and at times panicked! The element of historical fiction that I always appreciate is when the author sinks the reader into the scenes through sensory details. Readers will definitely get the sense of extreme differences between the divinely exorbitant amenities on the Titanic and the deplorable living conditions in the tenements of the Lower East Side of NYC.
Emotional attachments grow to overwhelming proportions as the novel progresses. A much-disliked mistress from London’s high society crosses the Atlantic and my favorite character Tommy Jenkins from the sinking ship, makes a remarkably emotional plea. The immigrant family squished into the tiny apartment shows fortitude, ingenuity, and Quinn’s pure unbridled handling of their feelings is realistic and truthful.
Can Elinor steal a life by keeping secrets and taking risks? Becoming aware of more than one kind of happy ending is a spellbinding treat for readers of The Lost Passenger.

Elinor, the daughter of a very successful cotton mill owner, is somewhat duped into marrying the son of British aristocrats and thus well above her station in life. She suffers in a loveless marriage, one that was orchestrated so that her husband’s family could get Elinor’s fathers wealth when he dies as well as an heir should Elinor have a son. A son she does have, but he is pretty much taken from her and raised by a nanny, and Elinor becomes even more miserable. When her father offers her tickets on the maiden voyage of a ship to the United States, a ship called the Titanic, she leaps at the chance to get away with her son. She does make it to America after taking the name and identity of another woman who dies when the ship went down, and she begins a new life in New York City. I was definitely intrigued by this novel’s plot line and eager to read, but I was disappointed by the time I finished — not because of the storyline itself but because I found the writing style to be somewhat discomforting and sort of sophomoric, one that I might find more often in a YA novel. I also thought that too much of the novel, nearly the entire first half, was devoted to Elinor’s suffering in her marriage. Nonetheless, overall I found this to be a good read, just not a great one.

"The Lost Passenger" by Frances Quinn tells the story of Elinor, the daughter of an affluent man, who finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage that she's been lured into for money. When her father gifts her family a holiday on the Titanic, she views it as an opportunity for a respite from the isolation of her everyday life and an opportunity to spend time with her young son. When tragedy strikes, Elinor must make a split-second decision that will change the course of her entire life and demand that she rediscover her boldness and courage. This is a story that examines how much we are willing to sacrifice for ourselves and our children and how far we will go to find out what we're made of.

Elinor is a great character, and she's easy to root for from the first page. Sometimes I find historical fiction to be a bit of hurdle for me to feel like I can immediately relate to characters, but Elinor's voice feels so modern and familiar, despite the period-appropriate language. She faces many of the same conflicts that I recognize in my life and the lives of my friends. This may be a bit of a spoiler, but I also appreciated that Quinn didn't feel the need to introduce a love interest for her, even though she longs for the loving and romantic relationships she enjoys reading in novels. Elinor is a heroine who could stand on her own as a strong, independent person whose focus was on her own survival and the wellbeing of her child.

The Titanic setting is interesting, but it really is just that- a backdrop for a portion of the book. The story doesn't dive too deeply into Titanic's culture, so readers hoping for a book about the ship might find this a bit disappointing, but I thought it was refreshing.

Those who appreciate historical fiction about strong female characters will likely enjoy this book. I found it to be a very engaging and quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced read.

Elinor Coombes thought she found her fairy tale ending, only to find out, even though her father was rich, she would never be able to fit into the high society she married into. Brow beaten and not allowed to look after her own baby, Elinor is devastated. When her father purchases tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic, Elinor convinces her husband to go and to take their young son. When her maid/nanny refuses to board, Elinor hires a passenger onboard the ship to help out. When the ship goes down, Elinor sees an opportunity to change her future. While life is hard, Elinor couldn’t be happier, but when a stranger approaches her and someone from her past recognizes her, will it all be for naught? This book was a fantastic read! Elinor was a character you couldn’t help rooting for every step of the way! Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

“The Lost Passenger” by Frances Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤓🤓🤓

This started out very promising, but lost its momentum halfway through (kind of like the Titanic itself). I enjoyed this story and liked the main character but I think the pacing of this was off. I’m still overall pleased with it and I didn’t ever consider not finishing, but it went from a 4 or 5 star read for the first half to a 3.5 by the end. If you like historical fiction, try it out and let me know your thoughts!

A story from the age of the sinking of the Titantic. A young lady that was brought up with new money was married into old money, but they didn't have any money. That is why they married Elinor. Frederick Stroton of Winterton Hall was not in love with Elinor. When Teddy came along, Frederick gave guardianship to his parents if something happened to him.
A trip on the Titantic changes everything. Elinor sees that she can become Molly, the young lady who was helping her with Teddy.
She finds what she has not had in several years while at Winterton Hall.
I found the book an enjoyable book to read that will keep your attention.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

Even though this is about a survivor of the Titanic very little of the story takes place on the Titanic. This is the story of Elinor taking an unconventional chance to change her life. She was trapped in an unhappy marriage and after the Titanic sank she saw an opening to be someone else and took it. This is one of those stories where one sentence could’ve solved a lot of problems but there’s more drama with Elinor withholding important details. Even with that I enjoyed Elinor taking charge of what she wants.

This book was just beautiful historical fiction. Part of it felt like echoes of the movie The Titanic, but it veered off and focused on so many other aspects of Elinor’s life and her story. I loved the second half - her grit and determination in the face of frightening odds and circumstances. While this is historical fiction, I can easily imagine that there might have been women who took this very same chance. I tried to find fault in it and wasn’t able to. I will be digging in to Quinn’s backlist.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I loved this story! It was so easy to identify with and fall in love with the main character. She’s a dreamer who finds herself deceived and in a life that makes her miserable. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The Titanic story was a heart wrenching backdrop to a story about love and difficult choices.

I am so glad that I did not read one word about this book - in the synopsis or the reviews! I saw the cover, the title and the word "Titanic" written on the ship on the cover. This was enough for me. I enjoyed the journey the author took me on in this book . I won't spoil it for anyone else except to say Elinor was one smart and very brave woman.

My thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this e-book.

The Lost Passenger is historical fiction related to the Titanic. Elinor is a nouveau riche British woman, who marries into gentry and then immediately regrets it. But her father has gifted her, him, her husband and son the trip of a lifetime on the Titanic. Elinor and her son make it to a life boat, but her family and servants do not, and she realizes this is a way to escape her in-laws. She impersonates a servant, and lets everyone think she and her son are among the lost. The early days in America are interesting to see, as immigrants from around the world create a chaotic and vibrant culture in New York City.

A really great read that explores a Titanic passenger who assumes another’s identity. But really at its heart it’s a book about defining family and familial love. I thoroughly enjoyed it and made me wonder about all those people who disappeared after 9/11. Could some of them have done the same thing - just walked away from their lives?

I absolutely lost myself in The Lost passenger by Frances Quinn! A story of love and the lack of love, money and the lack of money, power and the need for more power. A Titanic story like one you've never read before. When the most unlikely, unthinkable thing happens, and in the face of great heartbreak, Elinor Coombes has a split second to make a decision. Go back or move forward? A comfortable life but under someone else's control or probable poverty with an almost certainly happier future. No one will know so who would it hurt? Until someone knows... Such a fascinating story, I wish we could give half stars on Goodreads because this is a 4.5 for me.

A real life historical maritime disaster, a suspenseful class difference situation, and a woman’s quiet battle for freedom and survival were a heady combo and enticed me into trying The Lost Passenger by new-to-me author, Frances Quinn.



The Lost Passenger begins with a little framing teaser and then dips back into the past for the beginning of Elinor Coombes’ tale. Elinor’s hardworking manufacturing giant of a father, who started from next to nothing to rise and become one of the wealthiest men in England, could ill-prepare her when they are inexplicably invited into the genteel aristocratic high society world of Edwardian England. Elinor rapidly progresses from meeting, falling for, and marrying the handsome, charming son of an earl. Just as swiftly, she learns she was married for her dowry, and she is disdained by her in-laws and all their ilk.



The confining restrictions of the aristocracy and the loneliness and misery she feels are choking her when her dear father presents her, her husband, and their young son with first-class tickets to join him on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. When the ship goes down, Elinor is presented with an incredible possibility.



Author Frances Quinn did a bang-up job delivering a historical setting and situation for a class-difference story. Quinn didn’t skimp coloring in Elinor’s character, creating strong sympathy for her lot. Actually, the motivations of her upper-class husband, his family, and friends were made clear as well. The Coombes were not true villains but people of their time and class. Yet, they felt like villains to Elinor, who was woefully in over her head...and alone. I saw the heartbreak and disillusion coming from the first pages, even while Elinor was still happy and feeling like a character in the romances she loved to read.

There were three distinct parts to the story: Elinor’s life in England from manufacturing heiress to future Countess, her period aboard Titanic, and then her life after the disaster in bustling New York City, living among other poor immigrants in the teeming tenements. In New York, Elinor showed courage and authentic struggles, starting over after surviving Titanic’s sinking.



With bated breath, the crisis moment had me flipping pages madly to the satisfying ending. Stellar historical details, well-paced plot, character development made for on-the-edge-of-my-seat suspense. I heartily recommendThe Lost Passenger for historical fiction readers—you won’t be disappointed.

In THE LOST PASSENGER by Frances Quinn, a young mother trapped in a stifling, aristocratic marriage where her fortune was her primary value dares to disappear after the Titanic goes down and presumably, her and her son with it. I loved the premise of the story and the hard realities for a woman attempting to disappear, penniless and with a child in tow, without raising suspicion and being discovered. I loved the way Elinor fought against the requirements and expectations for a new future for herself and her child, but no easy ways out magically appeared for her. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.