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.

I love stories about survivors of the Titanic and this one was no exception. Right from the first page, Elinor/Molly's story grabbed my attention and did not let go. I loved how fiercly she loved her son and hard she worked to make a safe, loving world from him, even if meant taking huge risks and lying to people she cared about. Heartwarming and full of twists and turns.

Frances Quinn is new to me and since I love any story involving the Titanic (even fiction), I grabbed this one up right away. Elinor is a well-to-do woman who from the beginning has a strong mind of her own but a marriage to a Lord turns her into someone she doesn't recognize (and to be honest, I wasn't terribly fond of). When their trip across the ocean turns tragic, she sees a chance to live a new life with her son. It isn't the easiest and she begins to show her strength. It isn't a happy go lucky story, not at all until the very end, but it felt realistic enough for the time and I was engaged throughout.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. Elinor is swept off her feet by a British nobleman. Elinor’s father is a very wealthy businessman, but she soon learns the aristocrats are a totally different breed. In fact, her new husband really only wanted her large dowry to save the estate. Elinor has a son and is shocked to learn she’ll have no part in raising the future Lord. There’s a nanny then private boarding schools, not to mention a pesky guardianship document cutting her out of his life in the rare possibility of her husband’s demise. Her father then surprises them with first class tickets aboard the RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage. We all know how trip that turned out. Elinor sees the disaster as a chance to forge a new path, so she assumes someone else’s identity when they dock in NY. Elinor soon learns how very different things are for poor immigrants in the city, but she proudly forges her own path. Will her secret past catch up with her? This book was a bit Harlequin romance-esque, but I really enjoyed it! Downton Abbey meets the Lower East Side! Thumbs up! #thetitanic #bookstagram #whatiread #reading #books #lowereastside #francesquinn #bookgram #bookworm #advancedreadercopy #goodreads #netgalley

*Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing|Ballantine, for providing me with ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*

Since I saw the movie when I was younger, Titanic has captivated me. I even wrote a research paper on the subject in high school. One of the things that drew my attention was that part of the story would take place aboard Titanic. I had assumed that the story would take more place aboard than it did, which surprised me. However, this did not stop me from enjoying the novel. The Lost Passenger is one book that makes you ponder every time you put it down. I enjoyed how detailed the book was on Elinor's journey. Every page will leave you wondering what will happen to Elinor next and if she will be discovered. Most of the plot was fantastic, although the first part of the book moved more slowly than the second. Once Elinor was rescued from Titanic , the story picked up, and I had trouble putting the book down.

I enjoyed sections of the first half of the novel, but there wasn't as much action. Plus, I couldn’t seem to connect with some of the characters. In the second part of the novel, I was on the edge of my seat, unable to get enough of the story and the characters. I was concerned for Elinor when she decided to use another woman's name; I was scared that she would be discovered, and if she were, it would not end well for her. Once she created a bond with others, I knew it would be harder for her to tell others the truth. It made me worry about Elinor's future. I loved most of the characters and the setting; I felt the novel transformed me there.

My favorite aspect of the novel was the character development, particularly Elinor's. It was as if she turned into a completely different person. When I picked up the book, I expected more romance, but The Lost Passenger is a story about family, survival, courage, and redemption. I would highly recommend this book to historical fiction fans!

THE LOST PASSENGER is the U.S. debut of acclaimed British novelist, Frances Quinn. It is an intriguing and engrossing historical novel about a young mother and the life she creates for her two-year-old son in New York after surviving the tragic sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage. When the story begins, Elinor Hayward is the nineteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy Manchester mill owner known as “the cotton king” who has made his fortune by his hard work and business acumen. When father and daughter are unexpectedly invited to a ball at Winterton, the home of an aristocratic English family nearby, they have no idea that Lord and Lady Storton have an ulterior motive for introducing their son Frederick to Elinor. After a whirlwind engagement and wedding, Elinor learns that Frederick only married her for her father’s money. When she gives birth to her son and future heir, Teddy, Elinor is kept from her baby’s life while his grandparents mold him into a clone of their own son. Miserable, Elinor jumps at the chance to travel with her husband, son and father on the maiden voyage of Titanic. But when the ship goes down, Elinor makes a desperate choice for herself and her son – to assume the name of a woman who perished and make a new life for herself with that woman’s family in New York. What follows is the amazing story of everything Elinor must do to survive and keep her identity a secret. I really enjoyed this thought-provoking and emotional story of a mother’s love for her child and the bond of found family. Highly recommended! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Elinor Haywood, the daughter of Manchester, England's "cotton king," is a romantic. She thought she had discovered true love with Fredrick Coombes, a charming aristocrat. However, she learns too late that to her new husband and his family, she is merely a source of a large inheritance from her father's fortune as money is needed for their decaying castle and estate. Elinor's father secures tickets for the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic for himself, Elinor, Fredrick, and their young son Teddy, along with a valet and maid. Elinor finds a way to assume a new identity as the ship sinks. She goes to Manhattan's Lower East Side to start a new life. Can she and Teddy conceal their true identities forever?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 by Frances Quinn was an enjoyable book. It started as a Jane Austen-style tale, featuring a woman trapped under the scrutiny of a spiteful mother-in-law. Following the Titanic drama, the story becomes even more captivating as Elinor reinvents herself in New York City, striving to maintain her secret while learning to survive for the first time while living in close quarters. This is a fast-paced, engaging story about a resilient woman. 

4,25 stars.

Elinor Coombes, daughter to England’s cotton king, finds herself marrying into one of England’s titled families. It’s not until after the wedding that she discovers this was not a love match and but rather she was chosen for her father’s wealth. She must quickly fall in line with many rigid social rules including limiting her time with her newborn son to only moments per day. It’s not until a fateful maiden voyage on the Titanic what disaster strikes that she is able to change her life.

This is a beautifully written novel that immerses you into the years before and after the fateful night of April 15, 1912 when the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic. Quinn’s descriptive prose and thorough research creates an amazing sense of time and place. This coming of age story from riches to rags was both unique and thought provoking. I loved the strong female story line that this book became in the end. Overall a great historical fiction novel.

I wasn't sure where this book was headed, but I went along for the ride. It turned out to be an interesting ride. Elinor is a naive, very rich woman, her father being in trade. When a young handsome aristocrat courts her, she is quite overwhelmed. She quickly learns he married her for her money and loves someone else.
She produces the requisite heir and soon learns she is not expected to raise him, but is allowed to spend a few minutes a day with him, and he will be shipped off to school at age 7.
She is appalled at this, and by how her mother in law treats her.
When her father invites the couple and their son on a trip to America, she is excited, her husband is not but knows he must pretend to be happy so agrees. We find out they are to sale on the Titanic.
Quinn does an excellent job of describing the lifestyle Elinor is expected to lead, as well as life aboard the Titanic.
It is not a spoiler to say Elinor and her son Teddy survive, and the rest of the book is a wonderful depiction of their life in New York. There is a character who also discusses what it is like to be a survivor and how the nightmares plague him. Elinor also has nightmares and is afraid of the sea. There are a couple of scenes of suspense, which highlight how Elinor has come into her own. There is a lovely epilogue.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the EARC. These are my honest opinions.

HE LOST PASSENGER by Frances Quinn is a work of historical fiction set primarily from 1910 to 1916 and features a young woman named Elinor Hayward whose father, a self-made man, is known in the Manchester area of England as the "cotton king." After a brief courtship, Elinor marries a local aristocrat, Frederick Coombes. She learns too late that the Coombes family wanted her money for their estate and the only way she can stay in their good graces and have time with their heir, her young son Teddy, is to submit to disheartening efforts to mold her in their image. Thus, she is excited for the brief respite of a trip with her father, Frederick, and Teddy on the Titanic's maiden voyage. That disaster, confusion, and huge loss of life give Elinor and Teddy a chance to disappear in New York and "find" a new family amongst the diverse immigrants there as Elinor assumes a new identity and learns new survival skills. [Swedish proverb: "You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair."] THE LOST PASSENGER, billed as "the U.S. debut of an acclaimed British novelist," made me think about another British author, Barbara Taylor Bradford, and her Harte family saga which began with the publication of A Woman of Substance over 45 years ago in 1979. That title is also a captivating story of a young, resilient woman who takes advantages of opportunities and makes a new life for herself.

I enjoyed this book even more than I expected to! I'm not sure why I don't read more historical fiction, because I always enjoy it when I pick it up and learn something new along the way. This one gave me a deeper understanding of the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic (which I don't think I've read about in a fiction book before). It is important to note that this book is about so much more than the sinking of the Titanic though - that is only a small part of the book. Quinn did a great job of developing her characters and her plot, and I love how the characters changed as their life circumstances changed. The author also did an excellent job of creating the backdrops and scenes throughout the book. Definitely recommend if you are in the market for a solid historical fiction read!

I enjoyed this story that takes place with the Titanic in the forefront. A tale of a woman who married into British aristocracy but finds herself in a loveless marriage. Subjected to overbearing in-laws who try to mold her into acceptable ton material and take charge over her life. To the tune of taking custody of her young son should her husband succumb to an untimely death. Threatened with this future, as a survivor of the Titanic, Elinor chooses to take on the identity of her maid Molly to hide in America and embrace a new life. Elinor would do anything to protect her son, Teddy. But she is still in danger of discovery. Interesting historical fiction story. Many thanks to #netgalley, #thelostpassenger for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of The Lost Passenger. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first historical fiction novel based on the Titanic.
I have never seen the movie. I think I am the only one.

Life as an "upperclass" lady is not all it's cracked up to be. Poor Elinor finds out the hard way when she is tricked into marriage and faces the horrible reality of what her husband really thinks of her.
Fast forward to that fateful Titanic crossing and Elinor is given an impossible choice.
Return home to her husband's family or start fresh with a "borrowed" name.

This is a heartbreaking story of the consequences of making bad choices when put into an unthinkable situation. I commend Elinor for all she does to make the right choices for her and her son.

It will make you angry and sad at the same time regarding the treatment of women in the early 1900s

This book started very slowly and I almost didn't continue, but I am SOOO glad I pushed through. Elinor's the daughter of the cotton king. She discovered after getting married, that her marriage to an aristocratic English family was all for money, not for love. She is forced to follow her new family's social rules, unable to spend more than a limited amount of time a day with her son and lives a very lonely existence. When her father sends her tickets for the Titanic, she jumps at the opportunity to have a break from her husband's family. When Elinor and her son, Teddy, are the only survivors from her family, she jumps at the opportunity to start a new life in New York City. She struggles to find her footing in this new country and figure out a way to keep her secret (and her son) safe. The research was incredibly well done. The characters were well developed, interesting and dynamic. I truly enjoyed this book, despite the first 25% moving too slowly. The pace picks up and moves along perfectly. A great read for anyone.
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This was a beautiful historical fiction novel. I loved the characters and the setting. We follow young Elinor as she is somewhat "tricked" into a marriage to an aristocrat, forever changing what she thought would be her future. She boards the titanic with her son, father, and husband, and is faced with a choice after the ship sinks. I loved this book!

Thank you to Random House Publishing/ Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn is a historical fiction based on, yes, the Titanic. The premise is a mother, Elinor, uses the sinking of the Titanic as the impetus to completely change her life and that of her son. With sweeping descriptions of the English aristocracy set against the trauma of the Titanic’s sinking as well as the bright swell of opportunity that New York City brings, this novel grasps hard to the moral that only you can set the course for your own successes.
4 stars, excellent writing!

They had me at "Titanic." That particular ship continues to fascinate and entice me to read books I might not have noticed otherwise. This was an engaging historical drama.

Here are four things I liked:
🤩Elinor is star-struck about romance. Her marriage is a disappointment and the trip on the Titanic will give her more time with her son and her dear father.
🚢The Titanic and its sinking is a significant piece of the plot. I found Elinor's description of her lifeboat experience to be a haunting piece of the narrative.
🍎Starting over in the Big Apple is not easy. I loved the slice-of-life view of the Lower East side that we get through Elinor/Molly's eyes.
👗Elinor grows up as the daughter of the King of Cotton. How will the skills she honed at the mill fuel her pursuit of the American Dream?

While this was not what I expected, I did enjoy this read very much. Elinor's commitment to caring for Teddy was a constant motivation to do hard things. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good book! The sinking of the Titanic was a horrific night that leaves Elinor with nightmares. But she soon learns that she'll do anything to protect her child, and that you don't have to be related to people to create a family.