Elinor Haywood, 19, lives with her widowed father and helps him to run his fabric business. The man has become quite wealthy and is known as the Cotton King. They are surprised when they are invited to a ball at the home of their neighbors, because they are much above them in society. At the ball, Elinor is introduced to Frederick Coombes, son of an earl. His mother is at the ball and she chats with her father as Frederick seems to be smitten with Elinor. Soon, he is calling on her and finally asks her father for her hand. When they marry, they live at his home Winterton. Frederick receives a vast amount of money from her dowry. Elinor is chastised by her mother-in-law who lets her know she doesn’t really measure up. Elinor knows then that he only married her for her money to keep up Winterton. After she has a baby boy, Teddy, she is not allowed to spend but a brief time with him each day.

Elinor’s father presents Elinor with several first class tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Elinor and Frederick, along with Teddy, join her father for this trip. But when the ship goes down, Elinor and Teddy escape on a life boat.

Knowing that if she and Teddy return to England, Frederick's parents will have custody over Teddy, Elinor cannot bring herself to subject her son to that so she take on another woman’s name and inserts herself into another family.

I found Elinor to be a very brave woman who was not afraid to do everything possible to protect her son and allow him to have a normal life. I admired her strength and the family she adopted as her own. She has spunk and bravery. Of course, I did not like Frederick’s parents. Terrible people. A wonderful story and I hope many people will read and enjoy it as much as I did.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Elinor is a wealthy young lady but she is not from the British aristocracy. So, she is swept off her feet and she marries above her station. But, it doesn’t take her long to realize her marriage is not what it seems. Her father offers to take her and her family on the Titanic. After the ship goes down, Elinor grasps at the chance to take Teddy, her son, and start a new life in America: They can disappear completely if they are listed among the dead.

Elinor is a character that, at first, breaks your heart. But then she grabs her chance and nothing can stop her. She is someone I rallied behind and rooted for all the way through. And believe me, she has some struggles. But her intelligence and her love for her son keep her going forward.

This was very close to a five star read for me. It is captivating and intense. The only issue I had with this tale is that I predicted everything that happened. And no, I am not going to tell you…you need to read this for yourself. The story is just a bit predictable. But this book is still a super good read!

Need a dramatic tale with a strong woman character…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A woman believes she is marrying for love but that is not to be. She is stuck in a time where she has no say or voice. Her father gives her and her son tickets for the Titanic and well we know what happens there. Elinor takes the name of some other woman to start over for herself and child. This book was very detailed and if you like historical novels this would be a good one to read.

The Lost Passenger was an intriguing historical novel. I have always had a fascination with the Titaniic disaster and was glad to get a copy of this book.

Elinor Hayward is the daughter of the Cotton King of Manchester, at a ball at her titled neigbor’s house, Elinor makes the acquaintance of Frederick Coombes, heir to an Earldom. After a whirlwind courtship Elinor marries Frederick only to overhear her mother-in-law telliing a friend that Elinor was picked for her fortune and not for love as she thought. Elinor goes to live with her husband and in-laws who look down on her. They wanted Elinor for her money and her ability to provide an heir, but have no desire to treat her as one of them, The Coombe’s look down on Elinor and her father, but are more than happy to spend his money. Elinor to her credit sticks up for herself but is gradually worn down by the contempt her in-laws feel towards her. She gives birth to a beautiful boy named Teddy and all should be right in her world, or right enough, but Elinor is treated like a nuisance and afterthought in his life by her husband and in-laws.. Elinor’s father purchases tickets for Elinor, himself, Frederick and Teddy on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Well we all know how that ends, When the worst happens and Elinor loses her husband and father, she decides to create a new life for herself and her son, away from the soul destroying life she had in England. Elinor takes on the persona of another passenger, and through grit and determination makes a life for herself and her son in turn of the century New York.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was compelling and Elnior was a stronh character that made the best of a tragic situation.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House- Ballantine and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Happy Pub Day to 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑳𝑶𝑺𝑻 𝑷𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑹 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒏 a historical fiction novel graciously given to me by Ballantine Books via @netgalley and @prhaudio!

I haven't been reading as much hist.fic., so I wasn't sure this would be as gripping to me. I am glad to report, that while gripping may not be my word of choice, I was happy to be immersed into this world of so many changes!

Elinor has been brought up by her industrious father whose new money is appealing for a match with an aristocratic family. Shortly after taking her vows, she is made aware of the situation only to be humiliatingly forced to comply. When her father has tickets for the new ship, RMS Titanic, Elinor finds herself happy for a respite with her young son. This trip offers her a new way forward, and as she is asked her name after the tragedy, she names another woman.

I found this premise and the hope for new beginnings a heartwarming one. Even though the fear of discovery looms, found family and safe harbor fill Elinor with confidence and it reminds me of what America should really be about.

This story pushed no deeply contentious issues about immigration, politics, race, or any other issue you can think of, bit it did address a bit about class distinctions of that time and the opportunities America offered that England did not. I honestly found the lack of other heavy topics a bit of a balm. It does touch lightly on issues, bit it is not the point. It was nice to just read a lovely story with kindnesses shown.

The audiobook was quite a lovely pairing as well. Heather Long narrates and does a fantastic job giving life to the accents that are quite important in the story. A worthy read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Frances Quinn, and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ebook. This novel beautifully captures the resilience and determination of a woman fighting for the life she and her child deserve. Growing up in an oppressive society and entering an even more restrictive marriage is harrowing, serving as a stark reminder of past realities—and, for some, present ones. The backdrop of the Titanic, paired with a fresh perspective and compelling characters, made for an intriguing and immersive read. A truly captivating story.

After growing up reading Jane Austen and other stories where the couple of the story get married and, presumably live happily ever after, Elinor is wooed by a young aristocrat she meets at a ball and soon finds herself married. As the daughter of "the cotton king" of Manchester, Elinor brings a much needed infusion of cash to her husband's cash-strapped family and estate, but she is dismayed when she realizes that not only did her husband marry her for her money, he doesn't love her and has a mistress he would rather be with. Elinor's in-laws look down on her and she soon realizes that her new life comes with responsibilities and expectations that don't match her own desires. When her father treats Elinor, her husband, and their young son to a trip to NY on White Star's new ocean liner, the Titanic, she can't wait to get away from her in-laws for a bit and for her son to get to know his other grandfather. When the ship goes down, Elinor decides to take on another woman's identity rather than lose guardianship of her son to her in-laws, and the rest of the book tells the story of her new life in NYC. This was an absorbing historical fiction that makes me, as a woman, glad to live in the current era, where we have rights and are not just expected to generate heirs (if you're rich enough) or slave away at menial labor tasks to scrape by, your biggest dream being to move to an apartment building with indoor plumbing! Elinor is an inspiring character and Quinn does a superb job of capturing the perspective of a naive but intelligent woman of the period.

“I’ve got the weight of thirteen generations on me and I can’t let them down.”

If you love female led historical fiction then this is the book for you!

Imagine, if you will, that Rose DeWitt Bukater boarded the boat in Titanic already having had a baby. That is this story and it is an eye opening, heartbreaking, and heartfelt one.

It will never cease to amaze me how new mothers were treated not all that long ago. UGH! Threatening them with their babies and weaponizing their emotions and mental health. I have feelings about this. Strong ones.

Here here for those strong women in history that paved the way for change👏🏻. May we never stop fighting for what’s right and for our children!! What a fantastic story and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and @randomhouse #partner for the complimentary copy.

As an historical fiction lover this book checked all the boxes for me. Strong female characters. Twists and turns.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start over? While living a life of luxury, Elinor Coombes did. Her life was everything she could wish for, yet underneath the glittering surface was a loveless marriage, a blistering mother-in-law, and a fake friend. Elinor’s life was set to change, though, when she, her father, and Frederick boarded the unsinkable Titanic. What was set to be time well spent with Elinor’s father turned out to be life-altering in more ways than one.

The Lost Passenger tells the story of determination, perseverance and the willingness to do whatever it takes to start over. Quinn’s ability to develop a lovable character with consistent growth is admirable. I found it inspiring to watch Elinor develop into someone she always wanted to be all while doing what was best for her family. She was neither perfect nor imperfect. Her moral compass was always a guide – even when it wasn’t the most obvious.

This book is one to get lost in and one to find yourself in. Whether you read in the morning or at night, The Lost Passenger will settle you into the blooming 1910’s New York City, when–while still more complicated than the rest of the world–times were simpler.
If you love a good women’s fiction doused in found family, growth, and courage, The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn is a PERFECT! The vibes are all there with this historical fiction read. I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Ballantine Books for the free digital copy of The Loss Passenger by Frances Quinn in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction involving women's stories, so this book was right up my alley. A "new money" woman, Elinor, married into aristocracy, and the "old money" people looked down on her because she had a normal upbringing. Unfortunately she did not get the knight in shining armor she thought she had married and instead was in a loveless relationship, only there to bring her family's "new" money to save the estate and to produce an heir, Teddy. Her new husband's family wanted nothing to do with her and he stayed true to his mistress, his true love. Her husband's will even stipulated that if anything were to happen to him, Teddy would become the ward of his parents, not her.

As a gift, her father bought tickets on the maiden voyage of the Titanic! Elinor and her husband were not getting along, but he had promised to go on this trip before they were married. Elinor, Teddy, her father, her husband and two of their servants were set to embark. At the last minute, Elinor's maid refused to get on the ship, as she thought it was too big to stay afloat. Molly, a third class passenger who was heading to the US for a new life with family she never met, overheard the conversation and agreed to help take care of Elinor and Teddy while aboard.

As we all know, the ship went down. Women and children of first class were given spots on the life rafts and Elinor and Teddy made it to NYC, but the rest of the entourage did not. Elinor quickly realized the only way she could keep Teddy was to take on the persona of Molly, a who had shared her story during the sailing. This was a difficult new life for her, but she was willing to sacrifice to keep Teddy away from her husband's family.

This was an interesting and new take on the Titanic story, as well as an immigrant story of how people lived and made a way for themselves once they arrived in America.

I enjoyed reading The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I’ve read other fictionalized accounts of Titanic survivors, but this one is the first where there’s a focus on the PTSD and survivor guilt they endured following the unspeakable tragedy.

Elinor Coombes, believer in true love and happily-ever-afters thanks to the books of Austen and Brontë, was tricked into a loveless marriage with an heir to an earldom so they could get a huge dowry from her industrialist father. Shortly after giving birth to a son and heir, she learns that aristocratic women don’t raise their sons, whose upbringing is left it to a nanny and then boarding school by age 7. When she finds out that, in the event of her husband Frederick’s death, her disapproving and hard-hearted in-laws would gain custody, it is an abstract worry since he’s young and healthy; that is, until the Titanic sinks and the worst comes to pass. Desperate to save her son from the cold, callous path set out for him, she assumes a deceased woman’s identity to start a new life, but will she always be looking over her shoulder?

Quinn paints a clear picture of life in the Lower East Side tenements of NYC, putting a human and compassionate face on the squalor and seeming chaos of the poor neighborhood. Her story is a testament to the immigrants who came from Europe for a better life and the hard work they put in to make their dreams a reality and to the human spirit and the strength and courage of women who are underestimated by both men and other women who see them as weak. Finally, it’s a beautiful portrayal of chosen family and the capacity for forgiveness. Fans of Susan Meissner, Fiona Davis, and Beatriz Williams will love this. Highly recommended.

This really took me by surprise ! I enjoyed the FMC. It was a very interesting story. Anything about titanic … I’m here for it, but this was more then that and i really liked it!

The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn is one woman’s journey to start a new life with her son after they survive the Titanic disaster. Elinor Hayward couldn’t believe her luck when Frederick Coombes, the future heir of the Storton title, wanted her to be his wife. Swept away by the fairy tale, she quickly realizes that the family only wanted her father’s hard earned wealth. Trapped and feeling suffocated by the rigid social rules, she finds herself looking at a long and lonely future. However, when her father presents her with tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic, Elinor sees it as a welcome reprieve. When the ship goes down, Elinor takes the opportunity to change their names and start a new life. Penniless and using another woman’s name, she must learn to survive in the harsh new world of New York City and hope that her secret stays safely hidden.
The story of Titanic and its disastrous maiden voyage has been a fascination of mine since high school. When the opportunity to read The Lost Passenger came up, I jumped at the chance. By coincidence, I had finished watching the 1997 movie, Titanic, before starting this book, so the disaster was fresh in my mind. Elinor is a young woman who was raised by a widowed father to be independent and resourceful. Filled with the romantic notions from her favorite novels, she is unprepared for the cold and oppressive nature of the English aristocracy. When her trip on the Titanic presents an opportunity for freedom, she truly breathes for the first time. The Lost Passenger is filled with drama as Elinor fights to live a new life, a life on her own terms. It is a story of fighting against adversity and finding hope after a great loss. I highly recommend The Lost Passenger.

The Lost Passenger is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

I do not even know what to say. This book was absolute perfection. I think I held my breath the entire time I was in this timeline. I hated the way Elinor was treated by her husband and his family. I enjoyed her innocence at the beginning of the story and the way she evolved into a strong woman with her eyes open to what the world was. She dreamed of marrying for love like her favorite characters in her books. What she received, however, was a courting by a dishonest predator and his high-status family with money issues. She, being the daughter of a cotton mogul, made her prime pickings.

The mental abuse that she endured was difficult to read. You can feel her fear, loss, and pain throughout the book. She loved her father and son but was disappointed in the people around her who she thought would love and protect her and her child. He had to make tough decisions to ensure their safety, requiring her to do things that were outside of her character.

A gift from her father, Elinor, her philandering husband Frederick, her father, and her son Teddy were all on the Titanic's maiden voyage when tragedy struck and the ship sank. She befriended a pregnant ladies' maid who assisted her with Teddy while aboard the Titanic. Unfortunately, she did not make it into one of the liferafts and perished with the ship. Wishing to escape the life she married into, she assumed the identity of the ladies' maid and assumed her life.

This book grips you from the first chapter and doesn't let go. I finished it in 1 day!
I love that, ultimately, Elinor never loses who she is at her core; she holds her parents' memory and their teachings close.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Frances Quinn for the ARC of The Lost Passenger.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

Wowwwww what a great book!! It’s been a while since I’ve read historical fiction but I devoured this in 2 days. I loved the Titanic aspect of it.

The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn is out today 2/25! Everyone add this to your TBR!!

Thanks NetGalley for the arc and chance to read early.

Tricked into a marriage that was only for the benefit of the groom because his family needed money even though they were aristocrats, Elinor finds herself looked down upon and not even allowed to raise her own son.

Elinor was very unhappy, but when her father wrote and said he had tickets on the Titanic, Elinor had some hope that the voyage would get her away from this oppressive family and its rules for a few weeks.

We all know what happened on the Titanic, but what did the voyage mean for Elinor?

Could this be the break she needed?

Could it free her from the family she married into?

See what Elinor does in this well-written, pull-you-in read that proves tragedy can bring joy at times.

You will love Elinor for her bravery, for starting over, for her ambition, and especially for moving on after a tragedy.

Do not miss this one if you love historical fiction and a strong female character. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy stories surrounding the Titanic, and this did not disappoint. The contrast between English royalty and New York City poverty is stark and well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Elinor, a young woman in 1910 Manchester, is trapped in a marriage to a man who doesn’t love her and looked down upon by her husband’s aristocratic family. When she and her infant son survive the Titanic disaster, she makes a desperate decision— assuming her maid’s identity to protect her child from being taken back to England as his family’s heir.

While only a portion of the novel takes place on the Titanic, the heart of the story is in Elinor’s emotional journey in New York, where she navigates guilt, deception, and constantly looking over her shoulder. We get to know her new family as kind and supportive and she feels terrible for deceiving them—but her fear of losing her son prevents her from telling the truth. Her struggles feel real and compelling, especially as she adjusts to life in crowded, unsanitary conditions and having to work— far from her privileged upbringing. Quinn does a nice job at identifying Elinor’s state of mind as a survivor of a disaster but also burying those feelings. The novel moves at a quick pace while maintaining emotional depth, making Elinor’s predicament both gripping and sympathetic. Though I wished for more Titanic details to enrich the historical setting, the novel still delivers a satisfying blend of personal drama and suspense. I was fully immersed in Elinor’s story.