I didn't know what to expect when I read the synopsis of this book, but right now, am still reeling from this story. Finn. I don't know what to say about the stupid excuse, or brain warp he got to take a son from his mother, but his reasoning (genuine to him) was very cruel and cowardly. He could pack himself up and leave Violet, or go jump off a cliff, (I really don't care), but kidnapping your own son? Now, what if he was never found, what will be the psychological cost to Bear? Or, Violet? What if? I wish I could physically punch him in the head, so he can go join his late fiancée in heaven. Geez **gulp water*, am so incensed. Then when the web started unraveling it is even more asinine. Caitlin, even though she tried to get him to take Bear back, should have called the police as soon as he appeared on her doorstep, blackmail or no blackmail.

This story kept me riveted to the exclusion of anything else until I finished it. My heroes in this book are Violet, her Grandma, Stephen (Caitling's husband) and my sweet Bear Cub. I am so happy he is okay. As for whether Violet should forgive Finn, I am still on the fence about that. The decisions she took were sound though. The ending was superb. It couldn't have been better. Let's leave it at that. If we can get what happened down the road that will be awesome.

This is a unique storyline. It kept me guessing. The time line might be confusing at times, or ramblings here and there, but it did not deter me from giving this a 5 star. It's been a while since I enjoyed reading a book. 'Bravo'!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF book for me, as such, I have elected not to review it on my blog. I may revisit this work at another time.

It all began the day that Violet and Finn took Bear to see the ocean for the
very first time. Violet and Finn had a story book kind of meeting on this very
same beach years ago, so it was a very special place to them both. As Finn takes Bear into the hotel room for his nap , Violet is left sitting on the sparkling beach, a refreshing drink in her hand, and heart full of precious memories, gratitude, and contentment. When Violet finds Finn and Bear and all of their belongings gone upon her return to the hotel room, it almost feels like they had been nothing but a dream of hers. There was
no trace of of her small family. That is the moment when Violet’s beautiful world falls apart.

The characters in this story are realistic and likable, in spite of their faults, so they are able to carry a plot filled with twists and turns quite effectively. Just when you think you have this one figured out, the author has more surprises for you. I highly recommend this twisting and turning mystery.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a few twists and turns, it kept the reader gripped for most of the book. It dipped a bit in the middle for about 10% then picked up again.
All the secrets were unravelled as you progress through the book. You do get to find out why Finn did what he did, he spent so many years feeling guilty it ended up culminating in taking his son and disappearing. I liked the character of Violet, but why didn't she ask him about his past?
The ending - it coming full circle - I can get why it would but I would have liked to see more in to the future.

I see this is this author's debut - I would read another!

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this wonderful debut novel!

I really liked this book - I just couldn't put it down until I unearthed all the secrets and twisted truths from all these characters.

Violet and Finn are a match made in heaven - with a little help from Craigslist. After a chance encounter at a beach, they find each other again in Cincinnati and a romance begins. When their little boy is born, Bear, Violet couldn't imagine a more perfect world. Until Finn leaves Violet while they are on vacation and takes Bear.

Finn's oldest friend, Caitlyn, and her husband, George, are Violet and Finn's best friends - even though George comes from a very wealthy political family. Caitlyn has twin boys who are practically raised with Bear. But each of these characters has a secret that threatens everyone else in their group. Is anyone really who we think they are?

I thoroughly enjoyed curling up with this book on a rainy day and racing through it to find out what happens. An amazing debut and I can't wait to read more from this author. Highly recommended!

As cliché as this is, I have to say it- I loved this book’s cover! It caught my attention, and after reading the novel, the cover actually was appropriate for the story. Once I read the book, I continued to be impressed.
“Almost Missed You” is a story about ‘missed connections’ (in more ways than one). This was one of the best books I have received and read this year

Enjoyed the suspense in this book that kept me wondering what was the secret. I thought the Craigslist part was a little far-fetched but added to the romance. This is definitely a book that readers will have to read to the end to find answers.

Almost Missed You definitely keeps you guessing, and needing to know what happens next - and what happened in the past, Without giving too much away, I found one character hard to like and forgive in the end so I did not like the ending - but I couldn't stop reading, even when I thought I knew where it was going.

Violet and Finn seem to have it all – a loving marriage that was meant to be and their little boy, Bear. But there are secrets in this marriage that Violet only begins to become aware of when Finn shockingly abducts Bear. Finn turns to his best friend, Caitlin, with a threat to reveal her marriage secrets to her husband, George, if Caitlin doesn’t hide him and Bear.

I’ve always enjoyed books that involve the mystery of fate or destiny. There’s something so compelling about how some things are “just meant to be”. The title of this book, “Almost Missed You”, is what drew me to it the most. We’ve all wondered at one time of another whether, for instance, our life would be completely different if we had decided to stay home that day instead of taking a walk on the beach. The plot of this book is a fascinating one and the author has done a good job of mapping out all of the coincidences and how they all play into the lives of Violet, Finn, Caitlin and George. She also does a good job of describing the torment Violet goes through dealing with the abduction of her child.

However, too much of this book just didn’t ring true to me; most importantly, Finn’s reasons for leaving Violet and for taking Bear. Also, most of the back story read too much like a romance novel and dragged on far too long for me, causing me to disconnect with the story of Bear’s abduction. This book is publicized as a psychological thriller but I didn’t really find much thrilling about it. The plot’s an interesting one, though, so if you can take some of the reasoning given with a grain of salt, this might be more your cup of tea than it was mine.

Violet and Finn are one of those couples that everyone believes is meant to be. Their story is one entwined with fate. They met once by chance and were reunited years later. Now married, with a young son, everything seems great for the couple. While vacationing in Florida, Violet cannot believe her good fortune. So imagine her shock when she returns from a relaxing nap on the beach to find their hotel room empty: Finn has vanished, and he has taken Bear, their son, with him. Violet has no explanation for this, and the FBI is quickly involved. Meanwhile, Finn's closest friend, Caitlin--who has become Violet's dear friend too--becomes entwined in the disappearance when Finn enlists her help. Will Violet ever see her son again? And why exactly did Finn vanish from that beach?

This novel definitely sucks you in right away. It's confusing and intriguing, as you're completely puzzled as to why Finn would run off and leave his beloved wife (and why would he take their son, too). In the beginning, I did not want to stop reading: the novel was completely addictive. Strawser slowly adds in additional details that thicken the plot, making Caitlin and her husband, George, as much as a part of the story as Finn and Violet. It's told in alternating points of view (Violet, Caitlin, Finn) and time periods, including after the kidnapping incident and before, leading up to Violet and Finn's history together. This effectively builds suspense and can drive you a tad insane, as a chapter in the past ends, leaving you dangling and wanting more details.

The problem for me was that, over time, the characters almost seemed their own worst enemies. Rather than a mystery/suspense novel, the book turns more psychological (nothing necessarily wrong with that) with each character bemoaning their various choices that have led up to this point. And seriously, they've made some stupid choices. It's one of those things where you want to scream: if you'd all just have talked to each other! Communication! Some of the ways of handling things seem awfully impractical for such serious issues (case in point: just about anything Caitlin does with her life, including her way of addressing the kidnapping).

Still, the novel continues to churn out some crazy twists, making it very interesting. The unveiling of Finn's past really carries the book about 3/4 through. You're continually wondering what happened, what he owes various characters, and why on earth he'd want to leave Violet (and take Bear).

As much as I enjoyed this novel and how suspenseful it was, I was frustrated by the characters - none of whom I cared for much at all beyond Violet. (I would have just strangled Finn if possible and potentially even Caitlin.) Again, some communication could have really saved some preposterous plot movements. There are a few times where characters seem to act way out of line for their development, etc. As the book nears a close, it drags on with their in-fighting and psychological messes, versus actual excitement, which was a little disappointing. I felt like we'd been through a lot of excitement for nothing and come out at the end with little but an emotional saga. The ending is awfully pat, too, and makes you think, really?

However, I truly did enjoy most of this book and found it incredibly suspenseful. It's easy to read and draws you in immediately. Even if you don't like all the characters, you'll be intrigued by their predicaments and the entire scenario. I'd certainly be interested in what Strawser comes up with next. 3.5 stars.

Violet Welsh is relaxing on the beach in Florida after a busy day with her husband and son, and is reflecting on their life together and how it almost never happened. Finn had taken three-year-old Bear back to the hotel for a nap, and when Violet returned to the room, she was stunned to find the room empty, stripped of everything that belonged to either Finn or Bear.

Caitlin and George, Finn and Violet’s best friends, were horrified at the situation, and Caitlin provided what support she could for Violet, even traveling from Cincinnati to Asheville, NC, to stay for a few days. When Caitlin returned home, she was surprised by Finn’s presence in her family room, and angry that he was willing to stoop to blackmail in order to get the key and the alarm code to George’s parents’ cabin in rural Kentucky.

So many secrets, such strong loyalties, and an incredible amount of heartache all poured out on these pages. Violet’s pain and confusion, Caitlin’s desire to help her friend while protecting her family, and Finn’s incredible feelings of guilt are all shown clearly. My only issue with the story was the ending. It didn’t really fit in with the rest of the story. No spoilers; I’ll just say that had I been Violet, I would have been considerably less charitable.

Despite the great reviews rolling in on this novel I wasn't impressed. The storyline just didn't feel unique and the ending was predictable and plain. I didn't connect with any of the characters nor really like any of them besides Bear. I can name a handful of other novels that pull off "plot twists" much better than this book. I wouldn't waste my time on this one.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I loved this book. Kept me reading well into the night. Highly recommend.

Violet and Finn were “meant to be,” said everyone, always. They ended up together by the hands of fate aligning things just so. Three years into their marriage, they have a wonderful little boy, and as the three of them embark on their first vacation as a family, Violet can’t help thinking that she can’t believe her luck. Life is good.

So no one is more surprised than she when Finn leaves her at the beach—just packs up the hotel room and disappears. And takes their son with him. Violet is suddenly in her own worst nightmare, and faced with the knowledge that the man she’s shared her life with, she never really knew at all.
Caitlin and Finn have been best friends since way back when, but when Finn shows up on Caitlin’s doorstep with the son he’s wanted for kidnapping, demands that she hide them from the authorities, and threatens to reveal a secret that could destroy her own family if she doesn’t, Caitlin faces an impossible choice.

Told through alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin, Jessica Strawser’s Almost Missed You is a powerful story of a mother’s love, a husband’s betrayal, connections that maybe should have been missed, secrets that perhaps shouldn’t have been kept, and spaces between what’s meant to be and what might have been.

My Thoughts: From the very first pages of Almost Missed You, I felt a connection to the character of Violet, and her serendipitous first meeting with Finn. I was reminded of occasions in my own life when events happened in such a way that they seemed “meant to be,” so I could totally relate to Violet’s feelings about her missed connections with Finn, and how happy she was that they finally connected. It did seem fated.

But as we soon find out in this back and forth storyline, the fault might have been “in their stars.” Or in their overly persistent push to make these connections happen. Finn’s secrets were the huge stumbling block for them, once they did connect. And when events began to unravel, with secrets revealed in a most hurtful way, I was sure that his past would be too much for them to overcome. But could they find a new starting point?

Of course, Violet’s share of the responsibility lay in her failure to probe more into Finn’s past. Did she really ever know him?

Then there were the two “best friends,” Caitlin and George, and how their own actions and lack of transparency had contributed to it all.

I couldn’t stop turning the pages, hoping for some kind of resolution, eagerly waiting to see if Violet would reunite with her child. The fate of the other characters seemed less important to me, as I definitely rooted mostly for her. A book worthy of 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher, via NetGalley.

Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser

Almost Missed You is the profound love that mother's feel for their children. It's about being married to someone who you thought you knew but didn't. Finn met Violet on a beach and they both felt an instant attraction. When a young boy comes toward them crying because his mother is going into anaphylactic shock, Violet and Finn rush to get her help. The woman had been drinking one of those tropical drinks with almond liqueur and is allergic to peanuts. Violet volunteers to calm the little boy by riding in the ambulance to the hospital with him and his mother.

Neither Violet or Finn can stop thinking about each other when they return home. They didn't even get a chance to exchange names and they both live in the same city. Finn puts an article on Craig's list under the Missed Connections section hoping Violet will see it. He finally gets a response by email and the two make a date to meet. Only it's not Violet that shows up it is a completely different woman.

Six years later Violet and Finn are married and have a son named Bear. They are all three a seemingly happy family. Violet is thinking she can't remember how long it has been that she has felt so happy and relaxed. She is sipping a tropical Pina Colada on the beach reading. Finn has offered to take Bear back to their hotel and put him down for his nap. Life is wonderful. When Violet starts thinking about her son she goes back to their hotel and both Finn and Bear are gone. All that is left are her belongings. The story begins here.

Thank you to Net Galley, Jessica Strawser and St. Martins Press for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Almost Missed You is just about as vanilla as a novel could be. Basic in both it's premise and style, the story was flat, and the indiscriminate, aimless climax was feeble and short-sighted. What began as an interesting plotline, failed to come to fruition and I finished it lacking any sense of satisfaction.

I received a copy of "Almost Missed You" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jessica Strawser for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was a nail-biter from beginning to end. I read it in long spurts usually at bedtime and had to struggle not to fall asleep as I wanted to keep reading it!

This book had really good character development and had several good plot twists that caught me off-guard which I really loved. This book is well-written and really keep you on the edge of your seat while you are reading it. It is a difficult genre to describe, but I would just say it is a family thriller or a family struggle. Any way it is categorized, it is a good novel!

This is a book that I would think would be the perfect beach-side or pool-side read during spring break. It is a good book that I highly recommend!

2.5 rounding up because well written, but...

Coincidental note: this is the third book in a row I've read that's had twins!

The story is a relative page turner. And to the author's credit, I did not figure it all out [but some was fairly obvious]. As touted: "Told through alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin, Almost Missed You is a powerful story of a mother’s love, a husband’s betrayal, connections that maybe should have been missed, secrets that perhaps shouldn’t have been kept, and spaces between what’s meant to be and what might have been."

There are two [three?] meet cute moments, and many, many trust issues [and lack of] and betrayals.

Starts in August 2016 [where most of the novel dwells], then goes back to August 2010, and finally ends in August 2017. Sort of spoiler alert: I did not care for the ending.

The characters are well drawn but not terribly appealing--and all somewhat needy.

This is Strawser's debut novel. I do look forward to seeing what she can do with her next one.

Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser is an interesting book dealing with love, loses, and second chances. Ms Strawser tells the story by going back and forth in time with various characters pulling the reader into the story immediately in the first chapter. I was given an early copy to review.