I was hooked by the beginning! Jessica Strawser pulls you in with vivid detail, raw emotions and such a compelling story that it is hard to put this one down. Something I love in a good book is successful character development and Strawser did not disappoint. You are taken on a journey between the past and present of a seemingly perfect couple where you soon learn about past heartache that just can't be overcome. You are introduced to not only interesting main characters but supporting characters that will have you laughing and hoping to hear more and learn more from them. I loved the flow of this book and I think the author did a fantastic job in revealing secrets and adding depth to this book. I highly recommend this one!

This book was definitely a page turner. I had no idea what to expect and I listened to the entire audiobook in one sitting. At the center of this book was a missing three-year-old boy and his frantic mother desperately looking answers to help her find him.

Violet and her husband Finn took their three-year-old son Bear to Florida for their first big family vacation. Finn takes Bear out so Violet can catch some sleep but when she wakes up, Finn and Bear have vanished. The question became, why would Finn take Bear and disappear.

I knew something wasn’t right after I heard how perfect Violet and Finn were. Those kinds of comments foreshadow some unfortunate revelation that the only insiders would be privy to know. Then there was Caitlin, Finn’s best friend but also a close friend to Violet who was caught in the middle.

The author weaved this tale using the viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin both using the past as well as the current situation. I was able to follow the audio without getting lost because each person has different voice and different motive. As the secrets began unraveling, the true fear and driving force behind each character’s actions were exposed.

This story reminds me that communication is the foundation of any lasting relationship. These characters didn’t divulge some seriously important facets of their pasts and those secrets came to threaten their shallowly built future. It was well written and completely absorbed in the story.

I was desperately trying to figure out what the mystery at the heart of the abduction of a little boy. The author did a job of creating sympathy for Finn, Violet, Caitlin and George. They were all flawed but were redeemable. This book was quite intriguing and it had a lot more depth than I was anticipating. The ending was satisfying and I would recommend this book to those who love suspense thrillers.

This was a fantastic debut novel! I enjoyed every page of this book! I liked the way that I was wondering what happened or what would happen next throughout the whole book. This made it hard for me to put the book down and led me to find more time to sit and read. And I frantically tried to turn the last page on my tablet many times disappointed the story was over. This is the story of Finn and Violet's relationship from the day they first met on the beach to the time right after Finn has disappeared with their young son Bear while they were on vacation. It is also the story of Finn's close friend Caitlin and her husband George. Caitlin and George have young twin boys close in age to Bear, and the two families have spent a lot of time together over the years. The story is told alternating between the past and the present time. So many things start to happen after Finn and Bear disappear. And secrets about everyone are learned, and everyone starts to question everyone else and their relationships. Marriage bonds, parental love, and friendships are tested. What happens next completely surprised me over and over. I felt that the characters were fully developed and described well. And life with the younger children was depicted very realistically. This would make a great selection for a book club!

This is one of those Bigger Picture novels told in alternating voices where friendship, guilt, chance meetings, marriage and emotional baggage are explored and what seems like a picture perfect lives are anything but.

ALMOST MISSED YOU moves back and forth in time telling the tale of two couples: Violet and Finn and Caitlin and George and a third woman Maribel, all of whose lives are inextricably inter-twined, and whose individual motivations, secrets and lies create more than one disastrous situation. Did fate play some role in these convoluted relationships? Is there some sort of pre-arranged destiny each of us is required to fulfill, or could it be that we are truly the masters of our own respective fates but prefer to believe that we are not responsible for our own actions nor the lies we tell ourselves and others?

The narrative begins with a question of sorts, that question being, “What would make a man take his young son and disappear without a backward glance, abandoning a loving wife and mother and a marriage that seems to have be made in Heaven”?

While some of the situations are improbable, the narrative is nevertheless engaging offering the reader a front row seat in the drama unraveling before them where love and friendships are put to the test.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book is about Violet, her husband Finn, and their 3 year old son Bear. Violet and Finn had a short courtship compared to most, but Violet has never doubted that fate brought them together. Their story seems like a real life fairy tale and she is beyond happy with their family and their life together. And so she is blindsided when Finn disappears from their Florida vacation without a word, taking Bear with him. And after the FBI gets involved with trying to find Bear, Violet learns about the secrets that Finn has kept from her about his past and begins to wonder how well she really knew her husband. Meanwhile, Finn and Violet’s best friends Caitlin and George each have secrets of their own in their marriage and the most recent one added to the list is that Caitlin is allowing Finn and Bear to hide out in their family cabin at the lake. When Caitlin decides enough is enough though and that Bear must be returned to his mother, the secrets start to unravel with explosive consequences. And once everything is out in the open, we’ll see who’s left standing at the end.
Overall I liked this book a lot. To be honest the main topic (a mother having her son ripped away from her without a word or a clue) made me a bit sick to my stomach. I can’t even imagine the hopelessness and the pain that must have been unbearable for Violet’s character. The author did a great job of capturing this I thought but that piece of it is difficult for the reader to live through Violet’s eyes but necessary to the story. This was an incredibly intense novel that had my heart pounding for most of the novel. The author did an amazing job of building tension and creating drama, revealing secrets at just the right time and adding in perfect plot twists. At the end I still felt so bad for everyone involved but man it was a wild ride. I would definitely recommend this book, this one is going to be a must read for the summer!

I loved how things flowed effortlessly between the present and past, from three different characters: Violet, Caitlin & Finn.
This was a well-written story that allows the reader to connect with all the characters, which I found very interesting. Each has a secret they’ve been hiding, which slowly unravel as the story progresses. I really enjoyed getting to know Finn and what drove him to do what he did. He was one of my favourite characters.

an emotional novel...looking forward to reading more of ms strawser's work.

I found this a really compelling read. It is well written, fast paced with an engaging storyline. I thought the complex issues explored in this book were dealt with knowledge and empathy. The title is well chosen as the plot takes in all those chances missed in life, and the near misses we all have. It is full of emotion and will pull at your heart strings. A brilliant, compelling and emotive read, highly recommended.

Envy of all their friends, a perfect marriage, a young child, a unique way that they managed to find each other, a story told repeatedly to their friends, Vi and Finn seem to be the ideal couple. Why the. would he leave her with a drink in hand and take off with her son, leaving her alone, desperate and searching for answers?

I so wanted to love this book but unfortunately will just have to settle for liking it. Maybe it is because I never really took to Finn, or that I found the middle somewhat too long, the back and forth storytelling, or the soap opera quality of the ending, but somewhere along the way this just missed its mark for me. It is written well, is compelling in places, but I think that there is such a glut of these types of books being published that I have just gotten tired of them. The fault is with this reader , not the writer in that case. So many positive reviews, give it a try and see where you fall, this book has worked for many readers and will continue to do so, I believe.

ARC from Netgalley.

This was a gripping book and was so easy to jump into. I instantly loved Violet- a mum who loves nothing more than her son Bear. When she goes on holiday with her 'perfect family' everything changes and her whole world is ripped apart. Bear disappears and Violet is left confused and alone. This book had enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages well into the night. Longer review will be left on Goodreads and Amazon.

Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser is a debut novel that packs a punch mainly because of the secrets the characters keep from each other.

The story is told from three viewpoints - Violet, Finn and Caitlin. There is also a dual time line. At first I always resent that hop back or forwards, however in this case the transition back in time comes just at the right moment and some of the back story is revealed at the right point.

Secrets abound in this story, all of them keep back secrets or have shared the truth with the wrong person. There is a lack of being up front with the person who most deserves and needs it. So while a person might feel they are with the love of their life, just how much do they really know that person. How good is their marriage really?

Finn is a tormented character, full of guilt and regret. While he should be someone I really disliked I felt a sympathy for him, although not for his actions. He was definitely in need of deep therapy. Violet was an unsuspecting partner in her marriage, with a blindspot that prevented her from realising some home truths. Her grandmother though was wiser.

Caitlyn and George's marriage was interesting and I felt based on love, yet with each harboring secrets that were regrettable and sad. Oh for the truth to have been revealed by each at an earlier date. George was a sort of distant figure in the story, but Caitlyn was very much part of it. I felt sympathy too for her - her panic over what might be revealed, her desire to help Violet. In a way I liked her more than Violet.

Once all secrets have been revealed each one makes their necessary choice to move on in life. Marked with suffering, and yet hopefully wiser and ready to embrace the life they now have.

My Thoughts:
I have to say I was a bit surprised by the outcome of this book. I went into the book thinking it was going to be something completely different than what it actually turned out to be. Was that good? Absolutely! It was a great change for a Psychological Thriller. Usually, in my experience, most books in this genre are about some mentally deranged person who goes off this rails, so this was a nice change of pace.

As for the mechanics of the book, Ms. Strawser is known in the world of writing as a top Editorial Director, so as you can imagine – the writing is spot on! The story flows well, the characters are believable, and the plot is imaginable.

Would I Recommend?
Definitely! Almost Missed You is definitely a heart-stopping-edge-of-your-seat thriller, but it also includes some amazing introspection about what it means to be a parent, a partner, and a friend. Wonderful story and amazing read! I highly recommend!

One day on vacation you suddenly find your family has vanished without a trace. What happens next in “Almost Missed You” is page-turning suspense with peeling layers of betrayal, twists and secrets. Told from 3 shifting perspectives - husband, wife and long-time friend, the storyline alternates between past and present. As more and more was revealed, I got hooked and couldn't wait to find out how it would end. I finished the book in two days.

Debut author Jessica Strawser has a strong sense of language and insight into human nature. She really understands her characters, down to the nuanced details.

WOW!! What a wonderful debut novel. I was pulled in from the first chapter and led on the suspenseful ride until the last page.There is not another book like this out there. I get tired of feeling like oh I've already read this book, because they all have the same feel. This book was new and exciting. I loved it and can't wait for book two from this author!

What should have been a relaxing, enjoyable vacation in Florida, turns into a terrible nightmare for Violet, when her husband, Finn, disappears from their hotel room taking their three-year-old son, Bear, with him. Violet is distraught but also baffled. She thought her marriage to Finn was solid and they both loved being parents to Bear. Meanwhile, Finn manages to solicit the help of his high school friend, Caitlin, to stay under the radar of the FBI. Caitlin had also become close friends with Violet as her husband, George, was away a lot and their twins were of a similar age to Violet's and Finn's son, Bear. Caitlin understands how devastated Violet must be and feels torn about aiding Finn but is forced to remain quiet in order to protect her own secret and her family.
The story switches between August 2016 when Finn disappears and various times in the past when the reader learns about all the events that finally led to Finn and Violet getting married. Told through the three alternating perspectives of Finn, Violet, and Caitlin, it slowly becomes clear that all the characters have been keeping secrets.
I really liked that every character managed to surprise me and the way the revelations were made was well done. All the little twists kept me glued to the pages. The story contained a compelling mix of suspense, mystery, and emotion. It's been a while since I've been this absorbed in a domestic suspense novel. From the convincing writing style, the unanticipated plotting, and the solid characterization I would have never guessed this was the author's first novel. I thought it was really impressive. My only minor issue was with the epilogue. It's not that I didn't like it as such, but it was just a bit too high on the serendipity scale for me.
I will, however, definitely be looking out for Jessica Strawser's next novel due out in 2018.
I received an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is a brilliant, modern story. I read it in one day. Violet is on vacation with her 3 year old son and her husband Finn. When Violet returns to the hotel, one afternoon, she finds all her husband and son's belongings gone. Violet believed she was happily married and is heartbroken. She calls the police and the FBI. Violets best friend Caitlin comes to console her. In the hunt for Finn and Bear we discover many secrets and lies, which hopefully will lead to Bear coming home to his mother.

There are some couples whose How We Met story simply begs to be told. Matt and I definitely had a whirlwind instalove romance ripped straight out of a YA novel – complete with an “it turned out we actually crossed paths before” moment. A good friend of mine was convinced her now-husband would forever be a great friend…until, years after doing the whole friend thing, it turned out they really, really liked each other. In Almost Missed You, Violet and Finn meet on a beach (she, newly single and more than happy to take a ‘mecation’ and he, the awkward man out in a group of ridiculously wealthy wedding guests). Just like randomly running into an acquaintance when you’re both traveling abroad, Violet and Finn realized that, despite being multiple states away from home, they’re actually from the same town. Better yet, they were among the tiny handful of kids who attended an all too shortly lived summer camp.

Unfortunately, a medical emergency caused the two to lose track of one another that night, ultimately leaving their brief spark as just that. Fate intervenes once more when Finn posts a Missed Connections ad on Craigslist. The woman who responds most definitely is not Violet, but shockingly the pair hit it off and wind up madly in love – even engaged.

It takes a tragedy to finally, finally bring the two full circle and, this time, Violet is determined not to let this man slip away again. One wedding and a baby later, and Violet and Finn are that couple. The couple who still gaze adoringly at one another, who still hold hands as they walk down the street, the pair who just seem meant to be. Until the day Finn takes off with their son while on vacation, abandoning Violet in their hotel room and shutting off service on his cell so she’s unable to get in touch.

Instantly I was hooked. Told through alternating chapters (and an alternating time line) Almost Missed You details the night Violet and Finn meet, to the years spent without each other (and with other people) and their meeting once again, to the present day. When Finn leaves, he winds up at Caitlin’s house. Caitlin, his best friend. Caitlin, whose secret he holds and is so desperate for a safe haven that he’s not above blackmailing her. Either give him the security code to her family’s lake-front cabin or he’ll destroy her marriage. Now, it could just be that I’m VERY familiar with thrillers, but this terrible, horrible secret didn’t surprise me in the least. I certainly understood her fears however, and the length she felt she needed to go to in order to appease Finn.

What follows is a manhunt of epic proportions. Because Finn crossed state lines, the FBI have entered the fray. Violet is practically worrying herself sick, unable to move from her son’s bed, imagining how scared he must be, all the while unable to make sense of Finn’s abrupt disappearance. Caitlin is torn between keeping her secret safe – and doing what she knows is right. Finn is dealing with demons of his own which are rapidly spiraling out of control. The moment the stories collide together I couldn’t look away (not that I was able to tear my eyes from the book before!)

I’ll be honest. While I was utterly captivated, once Finn’s motives were revealed, I felt more sad than anything. Sad for Violet, for believing in what turned out to be a huge farce. Don’t let my feelings fool you, I seriously enjoyed this one to the point where, when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and counting down the minutes until I could get back to it. I’m wildly impressed by this debut and can’t wait to see what Strawser does next! As a side note, she’s a Pittsburgh gal! AND she’ll be at my local indie this Thursday! You better believe I’ll be there.

I don’t know what I was expecting when I came across this book. Being a die-hard romantic and loving suspense stories, I wanted there to be a good explanation why Hero hurt heroine the way he did and for everything to turn out okay with HEA. If you are expecting that kind of read like I was, this is not for you. For me, any book that contains triangles, lost loves or characters hurt/obsessed with others is a quick way to end my interest. Without spoiling it for others, this book contains that theme and this is why I could not rate it any higher.

This book has a fascination plot and story line and is a bit different from many of the other out there. It starts out really strong, loses some of that in the middle and then ends okay. Like another reviewer, I also thought the ending was a bit too much to take, but the book still held my interest. The story is quite well-done and flows along smoothly and steadily in most places. The characters are also well done.

From the looks of things, Violet and Finn were destined to be together. They have a young son, Bear. On a summer holiday/vacation, Finn suddenly takes off with Bear for places unknown, leaving Violet behind to figure out what happened, what is going on and how to cope. The story of her coping is well-done and realistic, and will tug at any parent’s heart strings. Mixed into this mess are the other two main characters, Caitlin and George. Cat is an old, old friend of Finn, and both share secrets that could easily break theirs, Violet’s and Finn’s and Cat’s and George’s marriages and lives apart. Finn uses this shared secret with Cat to play out Bear’s kidnapping. As the story progresses, you cannot help but wonder just who he and Cat are to continue so cruelly and just how important is the secret they share—is it worth ripping everyone’s lives apart or can things somehow be smoothed over?

As I said, the book starts out quite strong but slows sown in the middle. This part becomes a middling little romance, which, quite frankly, I got bit weary of. However, the book is a good read despite this. After reading this book, I will now look for them. This author is definitely worth the reader’s time and effort, as she does a fairly good job of things. I think readers will be pleasantly surprised at how good this one is. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.