The Lost Passenger focuses on the daughter of self-made million who enters a loveless marriage to a Lord. When the take the inaugural trip on the Titanic fate gives her a chance to assume a new identity with her son.
I liked the concept of the book, but there were parts that were improbable and other parts that were rushed. For a woman who hadn't done a chore in her life to suddenly learn to sew and sew well seemed unlikely.
Also, her run-in with her former friend. New York City had over 9 million residents in 1912.
It was a quick read. 3.5 stars.

Frances Quinn’s The Lost Passenger presents a promising premise—a gripping mystery involving a missing passenger and a complex web of secrets. Unfortunately, despite its intriguing setup, it was too similar to other historical fiction books about the Titanic.

The story’s main issue lies in its pacing. The opening chapters are engaging and draw readers in, the story drags considerably.

Additionally, the characters feel underdeveloped. The protagonist, who is meant to anchor the story, often comes across as one-dimensional.
Another drawback is the writing style, which tends to over-explain events and emotions, leaving little room for reader interpretation. This approach diminishes the impact and makes the twists feel predictable rather than surprising.

In the end, The Lost Passenger is a novel with potential that ultimately fails to live up to expectations. While it may appeal to readers new to the mystery genre, seasoned fans may find it lacking in suspense and depth.
Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book.

It is ironic that the sinking of the Titanic provides Elinor Coombes and her young son Teddy a way to escape a suffocating life in aristocratic England. As a survivor, Elinor makes a life-changing decision to take on the identity of a dead woman that changes the course of her life as well as Teddy's.

Frances Quinn weaves an interesting story of Elinor -- the daughter of a wealthy man who gained his riches through hard work, the wife of an English aristocrat caught in a loveless marriage, and lastly, a Titanic survivor who takes on the identify of a penniless woman in order to find a new (and hopefully, happier) life in America. While the story line doesn't give a lot of details of daily life aboard the Titanic, Quinn does provide some interesting twists for Elinor as she navigates her new life in New York City.

A quick and interesting read of a young woman who needs to make a new life for her and her son at any cost. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Ballantine Books for this e-ARC of #TheLostPassenger.

🚢🗽 The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn 📚
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 384 pages
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - read this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own!

Synopsis:
Elinor Coombes is the daughter of a self-made wealthy man from Manchester, England. She is ecstatic to be wooed by and eventually married to aristocrat Frederick, whom she thinks is her true love. Shortly after the wedding, this love story becomes merely an illusion, made more difficult when Elinor has their son, Teddy. She is treated terribly, and not allowed to spend time with Teddy, also realizing that Frederick does not truly love her.

When Elinor's father gives Frederick, herself, Teddy, and their nanny tickets for the maiden voyage on the Titanic to NYC, Elinor is glad for the time away from the suffocating Winterton Manor. With the sinking of the ship, Elinor and Teddy are safe in a lifeboat and make it to NYC, but have lost her husband, father and nanny, Molly, to the ocean's depths.

With nothing left back in England, Elinor makes a quick decision to take on Molly's identity and re-invent herself to make a new life for her and Teddy. Living with Molly's relatives who have never met her, she succeeds until she is recognized one day on the Lower East Side. Can she avoid her true identity and escape those who will certainly be willing to sell her out for their own gain?

Opinion:
This book had me captivated from the very start. It has such a wonderful build-up and setting even before Elinor boards that fateful voyage. It really is a story of knowing one's worth and what you are capable of achieving just from pure will, grit, and love for your child. There were so many parts of the story when Elinor is living on the Lower East Side that connected me to my own relatives' story as immigrants from Greece, selling food from a cart to make a living and achieve the American dream. The descriptions and imagery made me feel like I was right there in the story and I could see it playing out like a movie in my mind. Beautiful book - I will definitely read more from Frances Quinn.

I knew there would be sad moments when reading a book about the Titanic. I expected it during the sinking but not towards the end of the book.
Just when you think that Molly is safe.....Lissy shows up and yet another plot twist. I liked how part of the book was about life with rich and hard that was and then in the tenements of New York, where she was happy.
I would be happy to read another book by this author.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

This is my first book by this author & I enjoyed it. It is a great historical fiction story of finding yourself and your own happiness your way.

This was a truly gripping read! I read it in two sittings after putting my boys down for bed! I have always loved Titanic and Titanic adjacent history. This story provided a unique narrative surrounding Titanic. Elinor/Molly is a lovable heroine.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

A historical fiction book that masterfully blends themes of resilience, reinvention, and defiance against societal constraints. Set between 1910 and 1915, the story follows Elinor, a bold and intelligent young woman who, at just 19, finds herself trapped in a life of privilege turned nightmare, only to rise again through remarkable strength and ingenuity.

Elinor, the daughter of a wealthy cotton magnate, is tricked into marrying Frederick, whose family’s only goal is to exploit her wealth. Her life quickly becomes suffocating as she is reduced to becoming a "baby factory" in order to produce an heir rather than assist in running the estate. When she does have a son, she is allowed to see her beloved Teddy for only 30 minutes a day. Then, just when all hope seems lost, Elinor receives tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic from her father, including enough tickets for her husband, son, ladies’ maid, and husband’s valet.

When tragedy strikes and the ship sinks, Elinor seizes the opportunity to escape her oppressive life by assuming the identity of Molly, a lady she knew on the ship who perished in the disaster. With remarkable pacing, the book shifts from Elinor’s life of luxury to the gritty realities of New York City’s Lower East Side. Living in a cramped tenement with a group of immigrant seamstresses who were Molly’s family, she reinvents herself as a pushcart vendor selling lace scraps.

The book takes a turn when a crewman from the Titanic recognizes her and attempts to blackmail her. Elinor’s clever negotiation, a skill she learned from her father, not only defuses the threat but also showcases her growth and adaptability. As she begins to rebuild her life, her past resurfaces in the form of Frederick’s mistress, Lissy, who unknowingly endangers Elinor’s carefully constructed new identity. In a gripping confrontation, Elinor turns the tables on Lissy, solidifying her resolve and agency.

The supporting cast, including Ruth, Per, and Anna—her roommates and the real Molly’s extended family—bring warmth and camaraderie to the story, while Frederick and his insufferable family serve as perfect antagonists. The dynamic pacing splits the book into three distinct parts: Elinor’s stifling marriage, her survival aboard the Titanic, and her eventual liberation and empowerment in New York.

The book concludes with a deeply satisfying resolution as Elinor fully embraces her identity as Molly. She secures a modest apartment for herself and Teddy near her newfound family and begins saving for a shop with Ruth, symbolizing her hard-earned independence and new beginning. Elinor proves that she can rise again through remarkable strength and ingenuity.

Rich with historical detail, emotional depth, and a compelling plot, The Collector of Burned Books is a must-read for fans of stories about resilience and transformation. I’ll be recommending it to everyone, pre-ordering a physical copy, and eagerly awaiting its official release!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was just wonderful. So much wonderful details and descriptions that I was transported back to the early 1900s during aristocratic era in England during the time of the biggest and unsinkable Titantic. The aftermath of this horrible tragedy is where this story shines and I believe does not get talked enough about. What about the survivors and how they learn to live on after going through this horrible and unthinkable nightmare. The author gives us such a great character development of Elinor and how she did everything she could for her son. This book was so hard to put down and would recommend to everyone.

Ellie thinks she’s marrying for love, but Frederick and his parents are only interested in her father’s wealth. They try to force her into their aristocratic lifestyle, they limit her time with her baby. She’s miserable. Then her father takes them on the Titanic. When Frederick dies, Ellie sees a second chance for freedom and a life with her son.
Her life in New York didn’t engage me. The blackmail, the anger. Not my cup of tea.

This book almost feels like the story of Rose from the movie Titanic, and I am here for it. Elinor marries into a boring high society family thinking she found her fairytale ending when in reality she is in an unloving marriage and isn’t allowed to raise her own son. When the Titanic sinks Elinor escapes with her son and she assumes the name of a passenger who died. Will she be able to escape her past life? Or will her in laws find her and take guardianship of her son. 

I was immediately drawn into Elinor’s story and felt all her feelings. Her anger when she was called “crazy” for wanting to spend time with her newborn son. The anxiety she feels that someone will discover her true identity. The love for her son and the life she wants him to have. 

The detail put into this story is amazing. You really feel like you are part of Elinor and Teddy’s lives. Even the Titanic scenes are immersive. The trauma Elinor experiences listening to the passengers die is horrific. Even though it is horrible, she does everything she can to give Teddy a better life. Perseverance is definitely a theme throughout this book. 

This story is well written and there is so much emotion throughout. I didn’t want to put this book down because I was so connected to it. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine for this eARC to review. All opinions are my own. This book is available on February 25th. 

Read if you like:
🛥️ Titanic history
❤️ Found Family
🔨 Rebuilding a life
💪 Emotional Strength

What made The Lost Passenger great was the development of Elinor's character, which is somewhat ironic, given that she changes characters in a way when she steals the identity of her maid who did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. Despite changing name and circumstances, Elinor does not change who she is deep down and often draws on her experience growing up with her inspirational father. As a frequent reader of historical fiction, I was definitely missing the Historical Note that almost always comes at the end of a novel such as this, so if I could request one thing, it would be the addition of one!

3.5 rounding up. I enjoyed! An oddly nostalgic read for me if that makes any sense. I by no means lived through the Titanic catastrophe but I did live through the 90s and it was a Titanic craze. This book resurrected my old Titanic hyper-fixation in a fun and cozy way. I though the plot moved smoothly and characters were well rounded and conveyed. I did find it a liiitttle slow though which is the main reason for the docked star, but I'd still recommend!

The lost Passanger tells us about a young lady from a wealthy family who was introduced to a gentleman who came from an aristocrat family. Elinor was fooled by Frederick into thinking he was in love with her when the whole time his family wanted him to marry someone of means who could help with the expenses of keeping up with expenses of running a castle. Fredrick was in love with someone else his whole life and only needed Elenor’s family money. The married and it was expected of her to become pregnant with a boy to carry on the legacy! Fredrick is having an affair with this other woman named Lissey while the whole time pretending to be Elinor’s fried. Elinor found out and while on a trip on the newly built Titanic threatened him to expose him if he didn’t allow her to have more time with their son. The Titanic sank and Elinor got on a boat to safety and stole her nanny’s identity when she died along with her father and husband when the ship sank. This was a story of bravery and a story of survival. Kudos to the author! I loved this book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

I definitely recommend, The Lost Passenger, especially if you have an interest in the history of the Titanic. Every emotion that the main character went through after surviving was felt. This book gave me a different perspective on not only the people that lost their lives but also the people that survived and how they coped with life after such a tragic event. This book was well written and the characters are well-developed. This book was a slower read for me which is the reason for my rating.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this book.

This book is about a young woman named Elinor Coombes who marries the son of a wealthy English family. Her husband swept her off her feet from the start. Elinor soon comes to find out that her husband only married her because of her father’s wealth. Elinor is faced with the reality that lkfe isn’t really as it seems. It was decided that after her son, Teddy, was born he would br raised by a nanny. Elinor was only allowed to see him for an alloted time each day. Elinor decides to board the Titaniic as a gift from her father. She brings along several people with her. As the ship sinks; Elinor dreams of a fresh start with her son, Teddy. The rest of the story covers her life after the Titanic. I thought this book was well written and kept me interested. I would recommend this book to others. Thanks Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. My review will also be published on Goodreads.

I loved The Lost Passenger! This historical fiction book was similar to the Titanic movie, but without the love story. It was actually better than the movie because it gave all the details before and after the voyage. It was also a quick easy read. I also liked the strong female character Elinor/Molly. I highly recommend this book! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Books - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of The Lost Passenger in exchange for an honest review.

To begin, the story and those stories affiliated with the Titanic have always interested me, so when I was asked to read and review The Lost Passenger, there wasn’t one part of me that could say no, and I’m so incredibly glad I accepted. The Lost Passenger is so well written, researched and detailed that the entire time I felt as if I was walking alongside Elinor in her journey that begins as a prisoner bride of a horrid English aristocrat family, through her perils that took place on the Titanic, and as she begins to build her new life in America under a new name and alias.

Let me tell you, my full force of feminine rage was on display as I read of Elinor’s transactional marriage to Frederick in hopes of saving his family’s estate and then the subsequent treatment of Elinor after the birth of her son and heir, Teddy. If it hadn’t been previously obvious to myself before this point, I now know for certain that I would NOT do well in British aristocracy circa 1900s.

Something that will always stick with me from this book was reading Elinor’s account of the Titanic’s final moments and how she watched as it slipped into blackness and the screams that rang out as she held her baby in the life boat. I read these chapters as I rocked my own daughter to bed in the comfort and warmth of our own home and my heart was absolutely broken wide open as I was reminded of those who had lost their lives so tragically while being so hopeful for the new lives and opportunities that awaited them in America. The tears that came forth were raw and powerful and I have not been moved by such words in some time.

While Elinor’s story is filled with trials, despair and tragedy, they are also filled with innovation, love, and resiliency. They lend credence to the belief that you are responsible for creating your own destiny and no one can take that away from you. You are capable of your own success and you have everything to prove to yourself in the process. This may not be a live story, many may not even consider this a happy story on many fronts, but this was an story for the ages that needed to be told and I loved every broken piece of it. Frances Quinn, thank you so much for giving us this work of art that we didn’t know we needed.

I’ve always been intrigued by the Titanic but this book combines English aristocracy and American dreams with it to make a great storyline!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

What would you do…the Titanic era edition.

Suppose you were married for your money and your husband’s family kept you from being the mother you wanted to be.

Suppose you were on the Titanic and presumed dead.

Would you take the chance at charting a new course for your life-even if it involved lying?

Get comfortable because you won’t be able to put down this book until you find out how Elinor Coombes answers this question.