The story if simple and engaging – a couple and their young child are on vacation. The husband takes the child into the hotel for a nap while mom enjoys time on the beach. When she returns to the room, they are GONE. Vanished as if they’d never been there. Only her things remain in the room. And thus begins a really interesting story that I found quite captivating!

The book explores this couple’s relationship as well as their own personal journey’s that led to that day. Interspersed with the historical part of the story is what’s happening today – for the wife, the husband and for a friend of the couple. I thought the author did a great job of weaving the today and the past together into a really nicely paced narrative.

Ultimately, this book is about deeply flawed people and what drives them to make the decisions they make. I found that the unfolding of the story was really well done – it kept things interesting and fresh.

This novel is a nice mix of women’s fiction, mystery and psychological thriller (without a ton of thriller). I highly recommend it!

Overall, I had a difficult time finishing this novel. It started off very promising but then tapered off considerably. While there was suspense, the book did not really pickup until the last 50 pages or so.

This was a book about love, loss and fate. I think this book could have been a much better read had the story come together much earlier on.

Don't read the synopsis here - I REALLY enjoyed learned about the characters as they were introduced to me, and continuing to learn more and more straight through to the end. The beauty of Ms Strawser's structure is that we get to know these characters much the way we would in real life, where even when we feel we know someone intimately, some of the deepest depths don't really get revealed until they are put in life-changing situations and forced to make some big choices.

Something that struck me as really special about this book was its ability to so neatly straddle two genres. It began feeling sort of contemporary fiction/ pseudo-romance, but as the plot played out, it became more and more of a thriller-type.

I especially appreciate the surprise element she employs - a few times I thought I'd had it all figured out, and Ms. Strawser took me down a path that I could not even have imagined working in this plot. There are some places where necessary suspension of disbelief is required which bothered me a bit when the rest of it was so well-conceived and planned out. But I suppose this is why we read fiction!

Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable book and I think would appeal to many different types of readers. Reads quickly, but heavier than your typical beach-read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Jessica Strawser, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Violet has a good life. Her husband Finn and three-old-son Bear are her entire world. While on a family vacation in Florida, Finn offers to take Bear back to the hotel room for a nap so that Violet can get some much-needed relaxation on the beach. Even when she's alone, all she can think about how lucky she is to have such a wonderful husband and son. She returns to their room refreshed and happy, but is shocked to find that there's no trace of either Finn or Bear. Only her belongings remain. It's like they were never there! She's completely devastated: "She was acutely aware that mother was both a noun and a verb, and left without the ability to take action, the reality struck her that it was no longer possible to be who she was without Bear." Where are Finn and Bear? How could her beloved husband do this to her?


I really enjoyed reading Almost Missed You! I almost forgot I was reading a book. The writing faded away as I got caught up in these characters' emotional journeys. The surprises are evenly distributed throughout the story, which kept it interesting. Both of the marriages in this book look happy from the outside, but they are on shaky foundations. The characters are deeply flawed, but I understood the fears and anxieties that were driving them. My heart even ached for the character that made me the angriest. I wished that it all could've turned out differently! Tone-wise, it reminded of Caroline Leavitt (Cruel Beautiful World). The story alternates between three characters:

• Finn's story starts six years prior, during his chance meeting with Violet. They lost touch after that initial meeting and it was years before they met again. People always love hearing the fortuitous way that they found each other after a series of missed connections. What was the path that led Finn back to Violet?


• Violet is easygoing and agreeable. She's never been a worrier and she typically takes the path of least resistance. She feels completely blindsided when her loving husband kidnaps her child. But maybe she had only been seeing what she wanted to see this whole time. She's surprised when some "new" feelings actually don't feel so unfamiliar after all. Every odd behavior takes on a new significance in light of new circumstances. Once she's honest with herself, all the weird things that didn't seem like a big deal individually add up to something being majorly wrong. Did she misinterpret all the signs along the way? Was the charming man she met at the beach all those years ago the same man she reconnected with? Did she ever really know Finn?


• Caitlin is an anxious person. These are her thoughts when her father-in-law suggest she take medication: "Beneath her smooth surface, Caitlin was far too anxious to take an anti-anxiety pill. What if it affected her strangely? What if she didn’t feel like herself? Or what if she liked it too much? What if she did something out of character in front of the boys? No. Not for her." She and Finn have been best friends since their school days, but she also became very close with Violet. They became mothers at the same time and were able to support each other during the sleepless infant days. When Finn and Bear go missing, she knows she should contact Violet about what she knows--but she also needs to ensure that her own family comes out of this situation unscathed. Caitlin has always worried about outside forces destroying her family, but it turns out the biggest threat was the person she trusted the most.


In Almost Missed You, secrets fester in the darkness. These characters feel like they have to deal with their troubles alone, but perhaps everything would've turned out better if they trusted their partners rather than suffering in silence. This book explores the natural impulse to romanticize the past and create a compelling story of our lives. Violet tends to find meaning in strings of coincidences and ignore any evidence that doesn't fit. She's always looking for outside signs to confirm her life choices, but maybe the universe more chaotic than that. All the coincidences that make up a life--is it fate or random?* Violet and Finn have two different worldviews that they neve really discussed or reconciled.

Fans of domestic fiction who like a little bit of mystery should definitely check this book out. I'm excited to see that Jessica Strawser has another stand-alone coming out in 2018!

This is a debut novel told in alternating chapters by Violet, Finn and Caitlin. This book traces the relationship between Violet and Finn from the past to the present. Having been married for three years with a beautiful little boy everything seems perfect-but while on a vacation to the beach this perfect scenario comes to an end when Violet returns to their room to find both her husband and son gone and the room empty. What did Violet miss or not see about Finn that would have allowed this to happen? Meanwhile Finn takes his don and goes to his closest friend, Caitlin-the one person who would hide them in exchange for Finn keeping a secret that would tear her family apart. This book will take you through the gamut of emotions, revealing secrets kept, a mother's love, betrayal and the bounds of friendship and forgiveness. I find this book to be part women's lit, part contemporary fiction all interwoven with a suspenseful plot. A fast paced, interesting story.

Many of us know of at least one couple that seems as though they were just meant to be together, that fate stepped in and put them in each other's path. So after reading the description for Jessica Strawser's debut novel, ALMOST MISSED YOU, I was intrigued.

I used to read the "missed connections" section of Craigslist quite often. I always wondered if people ever came across messages that were left for them and if it led to anything more.

The book opens in the present, August 2016. Violet and her husband Finn are on vacation in Florida. Their first vacation with their three-year-old son, Bear. Violet can't remember the last time she felt so relaxed. Since becoming a mother, relaxing is a foreign word. Becoming a mother...becoming Bear's mother has been the most rewarding thing she's ever done. The love she feels for her little boy only grows in its intensity.

Life was good.

Everyone loves hearing the story of how Violet and Finn got together. People call it fate and said they were just meant to be. She feels so lucky. To be loved the way Finn loves her, the gift of their precious baby boy.

She quit her job to stay home with Bear. Violet occasionally fantasizes about some time alone. Her husband has taken their son up to their hotel room for a nap, so she's relaxing on the beach with her book and a Piña colada. But all she can think about is Bear. She may have wanted a little time alone but now that she's had it, she wants to be there when her baby boy wakes up from his nap.

When Violet gets up to the hotel room she's excited to see if Bear is awake. But she opens the door to a silent room, devoid of their mess from earlier. The wet swimsuits and towels, open suitcases, toys...none of it is there. She thinks she must be in the wrong room, but then she sees her purse, her toiletries, all of HER things are still there.

But all traces of Finn and Bear are gone.

Caitlin and her husband, George are friends with both Violet and Finn, though Caitlin has been friends with Finn much longer. Why would Finn do this? He has left Violet. How horrible it is to be left by your husband. But to have him take your child too? Nothing is worse than that. How unnatural it would feel with her son gone....like she's missing a limb.

Caitlin gets home and hears noises coming from upstairs. A man's voice and a child's giggle? When the owners of the voices come in to view, a child yells "Auntie Caitlin!" and throws himself at her. It's Bear. And behind him is Finn.

Her first feeling is relief....until she looks closer at Finn and sees the look on his face.

"You might have gathered that this is not a social call"

Caitlin tells Finn that she is going to call Violet. He tells her that she won't be calling anyone.

"Mark my words, if you don't help me, I will tell George the thing we both know you would strongly prefer that George not know"

I wanted to know what he was talking about so badly that I almost skipped forward to check...but I didn't and remained gripped by the story. I hated having to put the book down. Racking my brain as to what could possibly be so bad that Caitlin would even consider helping Finn.

The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin. Events in the present, mixed with flashbacks shows us how Violet and Finn's relationship started along with their individual stories in the time they weren't together. As well, we see how Caitlin and her husband George fit into things. The chapters were dated which definitely helped keep things straight.

It's apparent very early that everyone involved has secrets, and with each chapter we learn more as these secrets are slowly revealed. The characters are flawed but human with many layers to each of them. We see how their experiences shaped them and their future decisions. I loved how everything was revealed.

How often do we just see what we want to see? How many times have you held back questions because you weren't sure you truly wanted to know the answers? We don't always ask the questions that we need to ask.

We think we know someone so well....

I really enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and the writing was great. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, flaws and all. Just like these characters, our experiences, our losses, connections, and missed connections affect us all in different ways. How our choices, both small and large can cause a chain reaction (almost like dominoes). Our secrets can cripple us and often others as well.

Almost Missed You is a novel I won't soon forget.


Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jessica Strawser for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.

Violet and Finn are on vacation with their young son, Bear. Violet relaxes on the beach while Finn takes Bear up for his afternoon nap. When she goes to check on them, both Finn and Bear are gone and it is obvious that they have left for good. What could possibly be going on?

I was hooked on this story from page one. While some questions are answered early on, the author saved the best for last. This was a complex story about why we make decisions and how those decisions impact us down the road. I would not call this a fast paced novel but one of those slow burning stories that keeps you turning the page because you must know what is going to happen next.

A very well written debut!

ARC from St. Martin’s Press, via Netgalley. Publish date: March 28, 2017

Violet and Finn met on a beach and there was an immediate chemistry and after some near misses they finally got together and married having a lovely son called Bear

After a move and Bear now three they decide to go on holiday and when Finn and Bear do not return from the room one day Violet goes in search of them to find that they have disappeared - all of their stuff gone from the room and no sign of them - a mothers worst nightmare!

Caitlin has been friends with Finn for ever and she cannot believe that he would do this to Violet - something must have been very wrong for him to act so out of character but what on earth could make him do this

A good debut novel - plenty of suspense and told from the points of view of Violet, Finn and Caitlin so that you get to see all sides of the story - looking forward to more books by this writer

I thought this book was wonderful and well written. The characters were relatable and entire story kept me on edge. I have already recommended to friends!

It is incredibly hard to believe that this is Ms. Strawser's debut novel; she writes so skillfully it's as if she's been at it for years. "Almost Missed You" is a story of connections; missed connections, connections made, and some made that perhaps should have been missed. Throughout the novel the questions of coincidence and fate raise up again and again. If only....

How well do we know our spouse? His/her background? What secrets should couples and friends keep from each other? At what point does it become betrayal? How much can we expect others to forgive, especially if we can't forgive ourselves? The story is told in three voices, Violet, Finn and Caitlin, and they work together well. The characters are rich and deep, the suspense brutal and heartbreaking.

This book grabs the reader immediately and doesn't let go until the last page. This is one awesome read! I will definitely be looking for more books by this new author!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the privilege of reading an e-ARC of this book.

I was quite attracted by the premise of this novel, but it didn't quite keep it's promise for me. The beginning was quite suspenseful and set the scene really well. The characters were engaging and well drawn. What I found difficult was the motivation of the main character. His actions were a bit extreme for me and didn't really fit the storyline. The story flows well, the action seemed balanced. I enjoyed the experience of reading Almost Missed You, it wasnt as suspenseful as I would have expected given the synopsis.

While on a vacation solo, Violet meets a stranger she falls for and cannot forget. All she knows is that they both live in the same city but they have no way to reach each other. For several years Violet pines for this mystery stranger, wondering what could have been, and one day an ad appeared in the local paper describing her and their brief encounter on vacation and asking her to meet him. The connection survived the set of time and their love grows: this second chance meeting was a sign for Violet that she and Finn, her mystery man, were meant to be.
Violet and Finn, now happily married, take their 3 year old adored son, Bear, to the beach where they first met for a special vacation, and while Violet is relaxing at the ocean, Finn and Bear mysteriously disappear without a trace.

Caitlin, Finn's old friend from high school, and her husband George and their twins live next door to Violet and Finn back home. Finn and Bear shockingly appear in Caitlin's house asking her to hide them, and threatening to blackmail her with secrets that will ruin her family.

Violet is alone and distraught waiting for her son to be located, Finn is desperate and looking for a safe place where he can think things through, and Caitlin is faced with harboring a kidnapper and his son or divulging secrets that will surely ruin her marriage.

This gut wrenching debut is fast paced and well written as the details of the past trickle in and the truth is revealed. The tangled web of lies by omission has the lives of Violet and Finn along with friends Caitlin and George hanging in the balance. "All the wrong people know all the wrong secrets" and in Almost Missed You, author Jessica Strawser skillfully shows us the price one pays for keeping it under wraps in this suspenseful story of love, loss and the quest for a happy life.

This is Jessica's first book, I loved the eye catching cover and found the premise of the book very intriguing. The way it was written with alternating chapters was very well done. Unfortunately the plot itself didn't draw me in. At first I was intrigued but the more the book went on I found myself looking at the percent on my kindle and the chapters I had left. The book was repetitive and parts of I was like really? I actually kept reading because I thought the secrets and lies were going to have lots of twists and turns and shocks. I was surprised at some of the outcomes but not enough to get me captivated.

Despite this, I will read Jessica's next book as I enjoyed the writing style.

Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

ALMOST MISSED YOU by Jessica Strawser is about a couple's marriage torn apart when Violet's husband Finn unexpectedly runs off with their son Bear.

Started out great, halfway in I felt it became extremely repetitive. I found myself skimming pages to get to the heart of the story. I never felt invested in any of the characters. I felt like the story has been told before; not many surprises for me.

While on a family vacation, husband (Finn) disappears with young son (Bear) leaving wife (Violet) stranded and confused.

Told through alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin, this one sucked me in at the very beginning. If you life twisty, turny stories with lots of secrets revealed along the way, then this one is for you!

While the story and the secrets kept me entertained while reading the book, it all felt a bit too contrived by the time I reached the end. I doubt that one person would be affected by so many different tragedies, accidents and medical issues in his life. Last but not least, the chance encounter at the end seemed like way too much of a coincidence. Can you say stalker? I wavered between a 3 and 4 star rating, but overall, it was a 3 star read for me. I do, however, look forward to trying another one from this author!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Finn and Violet first meet on a beach and are immediately attracted to each other, when an incident occurs with a woman having an allergic reaction leaving her little boy in tears, the two of them help out and are separated, neither of them think they will ever see the other one again.. Years later we see them back on a beach, this time as a married couple with a little boy of their own, Finn leaves Violet on the beach while he takes Bear for his afternoon nap and when she goes back to their room they've both disappeared, where have they gone and why? The circumstances that lead them to what has happened are revealed throughout the story and slowly things start to fall into place. Will Violet ever see Finn and Bear again?

This story is full of surprises throughout and I was very surprised to see that it's the author's debut novel, it's very well written and kept me intrigued all the way through, I found it very difficult to put down.

I would like to thank the author and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book and will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon UK and US.

Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser is a nuanced novel that openly explores the price of secrets in a marriage and friendship.

The novel begins with the central character’s husband running off with their young son. According to Violet, they had a great marriage and were meant to be. However, as Violet is interviewed by the FBI, she learns that her husband has hidden a powerful truth about his life before her and what ultimately led to the two of them having a child and getting married.

Here is the thing – lots of novels attempt this same thing. But, Strawser does a great job of making her big reveal much more believable and relatable to the audience. It is still extreme, but because her characters are fully developed, it is much easier to consider how these occurrences shaped their lives. I have always been a fan of the “butterfly effect” novels, and that is what you get in this novel. How only chance meeting leads to one thing which leads to another and another.

Enveloped within the story of Violet’s marriage ending and her child’s kidnapping, readers also come to learn about her best friend, Caitlin. Caitlin’s is put into a difficult place between protecting her own secrets and telling someone else’s.

This was a book that I could not put down and am recommending to all my book club friends. I think it has the potential for interesting conversations about secrets, love, marriage, chance, fate, betrayal and friendship.

3.5 stars. What a tangled web of secrets! Almost Missed You grabbed me at the beginning. Great first chapter. Violet and Flynn and their three year old son Bear are on a beach vacation. The next thing Violet knows, Flinn and Bear have disappeared. The story then moves back and forth in time, revealing what lay in Violet and Flinn's past and how things unfold after the disappearance. Mixed in with Violet and Flinn are close friends Caitlin and George. And the plot comes down to these four characters' web of secrets, and how they get untangled. I loved the story of how Violet and Finn "met". I liked that some of the secrets were really not what you'd expect. I generally liked the characters -- I especially liked Caitlin. My one complaint is that I wasn't always convinced by the emotional reactions these characters had as secrets were revealed -- especially Violet's reaction to the big reveal. And in the end, who knows whether anyone can get over all these secrets. I'm being purposefully obtuse because this book would be worthless if you knew the secrets from the beginning. It was entertaining. It was clever. It could have been better. But it was a good debut and I would definitely take a chance on Jessica Strawser's next book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

A great story that keeps you turning pages. This is especially appealing for anyone who has ever had a "missed connection."

Although I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher (via netgalley), all opinions remain my own.

What a story. Not sure I can even put into words how I am feeling right now. The mystery kept me guessing the entire story. As more and more pieces came together, I thought I figured it out, but nope. The ending of this book was simply wonderful. I love how the different characters all get to have a time narrating. You hear each side of the story, in its own time. This book also jumps back and forth between the present and the past.

If you love a good mystery, pick this one up!