Thank you to NetGalley and thank you to the publisher for the chance to review this ARC. Full review coming soon.

This was such a cute and fun read. It was so short and fast paced that I read it in an evening. I loved the unpredictable twist for how Nick’s grandmother knew Wrens mother and father. The near misses between the pair were so funny

Highly recommend this book

3 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

conceptually this book had so much potential and i was definitely expecting more.

if this was written differently or took a different approach it could have been really good. but the constant accidents and mishaps were honestly annoying to read because you knew they were coming at some point in the chapter.

i was also not expecting them to spend so much of the book apart. i did enjoy their separate backstories but i can’t help but feel like it could have been shorter so that we could get to the actual romance and build up. like even 80% into the book there was no real romance just that they clearly have an invisible string and have a connection but they still don’t actually know each other at this point, which i thought was a weird choice.

honestly i definitely cared more about their separate lives than i did about their eventual love story, it felt more realistic and it was just overall more intriguing to see they kinds of things each of them were dealing and working through.

The Near Miss by Lily Joseph is a beautifully written, emotional rollercoaster of a romance that really hits you in the feels. The story follows two people whose lives collide in unexpected ways, leading to a connection that builds slowly but powerfully.

Joseph’s writing draws you in with its raw emotional depth. The characters feel real—flawed, vulnerable, and completely relatable—and their chemistry is both tense and heartwarming. I loved how the book explored the idea of timing and fate, and how sometimes love comes when you least expect it.

The pacing is mostly great, with just the right mix of tension and sweet moments. The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is that there’s a brief lull in the middle, where the tension drops a bit. But that’s a minor hiccup in an otherwise gripping story.

If you’re into romances that feel genuine and emotionally charged, The Near Miss is definitely worth your time. Really gave me Princess Diaries vibes and I’m here for it! It’s one of those books that sticks with you long after you finish it—perfect for anyone who loves a love story with heart and soul.

I haven't read a book by Lily Joseph before, and I'm intrigued to do so now! This was such a unique premise with a great execution and I'm curious to see what else her brain has cooked up

This book was interesting read. I loved the idea of fate getting involved when 2 people are meant to be.

Lily Joseph’s *The Near Miss* delivers a wonderfully whimsical love story that’s equal parts charming and bittersweet. It’s the kind of book that plays with fate and timing, keeping you turning the pages to find out if destiny will finally give Nick and Wren the chance they deserve—or if life will keep throwing obstacles in their path.

Wren’s character is easy to relate to. Her desire for a quiet, predictable life and avoidance of surprises makes her journey all the more compelling as she’s slowly nudged out of her comfort zone. On the other hand, Nick brings emotional depth to the story with his post-breakup vulnerability and the tension between wanting to keep his head down and his growing feelings for Wren. Together, they create a dynamic that’s tender, frustrating, and wholly captivating.

The premise—two strangers whose paths continually intersect but never quite connect—is cleverly executed. Joseph writes these “near misses” with humor, warmth, and just the right dose of exasperation for readers rooting for them to finally get it right. The moments where their lives brush past each other feel like tiny sparks that build anticipation with each encounter.

While the romantic tension drives the story, *The Near Miss* also explores themes of self-discovery, timing, and taking risks. It reminds readers that sometimes, finding love means stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the unexpected. The book’s blend of humor, emotion, and serendipity makes it a delightful read for anyone who believes in fate—or enjoys a good dose of romantic frustration before the payoff.

I should know by now that romances are not it for me. I feel like they rarely hit and that's so sad. I was a little bored while reading this one and some of the things that happened just didn't seem realistic to me. I could easily see other people really loving this book though. It just wasn't for me.

I enjoyed this it was fast-paced, fun, and kind of frustrating in the best way read. Wren and Nick, our two main characters, keep missing each other by mere minutes after near death experiences, and it takes a while for them to eventually meet, about halfway through, but when they do the sparks start fly but can they keep each other I'm their lives or will they lose each other again. This is really about the right person coming along at the right time, and I liked Wren and Nick together and seeing how far back their lives together truly went. I wish Wrens relationship with her ex Alex had been explored more as I feel it would've been a good subplot, but you get a good feel of how their relationship truly was. I enjoyed that this was really centred around family and friends and helping those closest to you. I will definitely be picking up more by this author.

The Near Miss is one of those books that sneaks up on you. At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the concept—a story built around chance encounters and near misses but Joseph’s writing made it all feel so organic and charming that I was fully invested before I knew it.

North East England is beautifully described, and Lily Joseph brings it to life in a way that feels personal and real. The supporting characters, particularly Wren’s father, added a lot of depth to the story too. His subplot about rediscovering himself in Italy was such a lovely contrast to Wren’s own journey.

That said, the pacing did test my patience at times. There were moments when I just wanted Wren and Nick to finally meet properly and get on with it! But when they did, the chemistry was undeniable, and the payoff was so satisfying.

Overall, The Near Miss is a charming, heartfelt read about fate, love, and the small moments that shape our lives. If you enjoy slow-burn romance with a touch of serendipity, this one’s worth picking up!

The Near Miss by Lily Joseph is a fun rom-com full of charm and funny moments. This is a lighthearted and sweet romance with a good chemistry between the two main characters. However, i felt like it was lacking some depth to the story and a more stable pace. Where some parts of the book had a nice pace, others felt a bit rushed. I did enjoy the humor to the story but felt like they obfuscated the romance. It was a nice read, but i hoped a bit more. I still recommend it to those who enjoys a fun romantic comedy.

*The Near Miss* by Lily Joseph is a fun, feel-good romantic comedy with plenty of charm and heart. The story follows the journey of its protagonist as she navigates love, friendship, and personal growth, all wrapped up in a lighthearted and humorous package. The romance is sweet, and there’s undeniable chemistry between the main characters, which keeps the story engaging.

However, while the book is enjoyable, it lacks some depth and can feel a bit formulaic at times. The pacing is uneven, with some sections dragging while others race to the conclusion. The humor is mostly spot-on, but occasionally it feels forced, taking away from the emotional moments that could have been more impactful.

Overall, *The Near Miss* is a solid, easy read that delivers on the feel-good factor but doesn’t quite break new ground in the romantic comedy genre. It’s a fun escape, but not one that will stick with you long after the last page.

While walking out if her favorite bookstore, Wren is nearly hit with a pane of glass. By the time Nick makes it down to the street to apologize, Wren has left. It seems like them meeting is just not in the cards...or is it? After several run in's, a seemingly neverending overlapping of commonalities, Nick and Wren finally end up meeting.

This was an absolutely adorable book that had me laughing at the twists and turns Wren and and Nick took. Despite being a slow burn romance, the character development and how their world's are so small was fantastical. I loved the writing, loved the story, loved the near miss.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

A really sweet and enjoyable read with a great concept, it's nothing groundbreaking but with an interesting plot. There is a little bit too much going on which at times means the book lacks pace, but overall it's a cute little romance!

Started reading this as a change from my usual thrillers and what a cosy read it was - perfect for snuggling up with between Christmas and New Year. Sliding Doors meets The Holiday - sometimes its all about being in the right place at the right time - or not! :)

I fell in love with the characters and while its. a little predictable in parts, this almost adds to its charm,

this is a story about fate and time, about finding your person when you least expect it, about invisible strings that tie people together. I really loved the concept, and even though the amount of near-misses felt like too much at some point, the longing for the meeting was worth it! i loved the dynamic between main characters, but also i loved how interconnected their lives were, how even their upbringings were structured in favour of finally drawing them together. the background characters were also fascinating, sometimes i was thinking that i want to read more about edie than about main characters because of how interesting her life seemed, how she captured my attention from the very first appearance.

I loved the idea and premise of this book so much! I found the writing really lovely and the arc of the story was good but I just didn’t love or connect with the characters unfortunately! I really was rooting to love this one as it feels like such a me book but sadly it just didn’t work out that way! For anyone who loves fate/serendipity based trope books then it’s definitely still worth checking out!

I absolutely loved this one and it was just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump.

Light, fluffy and a lot of fun. My favourite part was some of the secondary characters. I would love a cup of tea and a chat with Edie and Travis seems like THE BEST person to go shopping with. Fun story with great characters and a good heart.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this arc and give a full, honest review.
I was engrossed in the story and its characters, so I truly enjoyed reading it. Nevertheless, I believe that something was lacking; a deeper examination of specific themes or more complex character development would have enhanced the story. Joseph was great at setting the scene; the way she described the atmosphere and landscape was thoroughly engaging, especially those where the characters were abroad.
The main characters were well fleshed out; I found myself hating those we were meant to dislike and liking those we got to meet in more depth. Unfortunately, I do feel as though the chemistry between Wren and Nick was lacking; they felt more like friends than lovers, and I struggle to imagine the pair having feelings for each other. This is a shame, as the book was marketed as a love story. The love was definitely not there for me.

Nick and Wren have never met, yet their path keep crossing over and over again, and something is always getting in their way.

This is a really frustrating one for me, because I really liked the concept, yet I couldn't really get into it. I found the plot itself to be so original and so interesting, which is what attracted to me to the book in the first place. It's honestly also very well crafted, and the build-up to Nick and Wren's official meeting was fun and engaging, but it ultimately makes the ending feel rushed. A good half of the book is centered around their missed encounters, and when they finally manage to me, it is great, but it's still so fleeting. And by the end of the book it's still more time they've spent apart than together, which made it very difficult for me to care about them as a couple. The characters themselves were fine, but nothing exceptional, really, and the same applies to the side characters, who were just... there. There also were so many subplots going on, and it feels like not all of them were really satisfyingly wrapped up, which was incredibly annoying. The pacing felt odd, with the way it kept going back and forth in time when it switched POV, which was understandable at times, but it could have been very well avoided in favor of advancing the story many other times. Overall, it just felt unsatisfying in a way, which is sad, because I really expected to love this, and I really, really did love the concept, I think it had the potential to be great, and the pieces are definitely all there, and it has its strong points for sure.

Many thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.