The Missing Pages is another beautifully written historical fiction novel by Alyson Richman. The story is told from the perspective of two protagonists, Harry Elkins Widener, a Philadelphian book collector and graduate of Harvard who perished aboard the Titanic, and Violet, a grieving student at Harvard in 1992.

The novel is part mystery and part romance. Most of the novel takes place on the campus of Harvard at the Widener Memorial Library. However, my favorite parts of the novel were Alyson's detailed description of Harry's meetings with Ada, his love interest, in New York City, London and aboard the Titanic. I enjoyed the clever dialogue between these two characters and the descriptions of each historical location. It is clear that this was a well researched novel. I felt like I was present witnessing each event. Alyson's lyrical writing and brilliant choice of words brought each of these memorable characters to life.

At its core, this novel is about the power of love and the connections we make with others through the shared love of literature. Alyson (through Harry) captures a book lover's love of literature while strolling through the expansive library on the Titanic -- "Our books were clues into our souls. Every day, our lives were filled with obligations, formalities, and constrictions. But in our libraries, our thoughts -- our longings- had a place to breathe. In that scared vault we were free."

I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and books generally. Although it is only June, I know this will be the best historical novel I will read this year!

Thank you to Net Galley and Union Square & Co. for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available on October 14, 2025.

Bibliophile Violet gets a job at Harvard’s Widener Library and begins to delve into the life of the library’s namesake who died when the Titanic sank. This story has a lot of wonderful elements: interesting tidbits about the Titanic and what the tragedy may have been like, insight into library science, thoughts about life after death, and the customization of pipe tobacco. The narration shifts in perspective and time, bring life to some of the characters and bringing others back to life. An enjoyable read.

I love reading about the Titanic and this didn’t disappoint. Alyson Richman’s writing style has always been a favorite ever since I read The Lost Wife years ago. Finished reading this book while in tears.

A lot of good things to say about this book.
First I would like to say that I enjoyed Widener's ghost point of view a lot!! It was written so well that at first I thought he'd survived the Titanic.
I enjoyed in getting to know him much better.
Second, I loved the setting of this book. People don't really realize that the sinking of Titanic has done and made a lot of changes for us today.
Three, I really enjoyed visiting the Widener Library. Libraries are my favorite places to go.
This book was very enjoyable so I'm giving it 5 stars for a well written story. I highly recommend it.
My thank for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Alyson Richman's newest novel did not disappoint ! The use of two timelines kept me page turning until the very satisfying end of this tale. References to the tragic sinking of the Titanic peaked my interest and I was not disappointed.
Great read!

This was a well researched historical fiction that will appeal to those interested in Gilded Age history, the sinking of the Titanic, rare book collecting in the 2oth century, and the history of the Widener library at Harvard. The modern day characters seemed less thought out than the historical people, but otherwise a well crafted story.

This was a good book overall. It is well written, and flows ok, but does have a few slow areas.
The characters were good for the most part, but I had a hard time getting into Violet's character, not really sure why. Maybe it was the grief aspect that seemed to drag on and keep her from life, which is understandable.
I loved the historical details of the Titanic and Harry and Ada's story that was a mystery for Violet.
There were a few unexpected things that added a lot of interest to the story.
I recommend this book and appreciate having an advanced copy from NetGalley.

I have a confession to make: for the majority of the book, I was under the impression this was a debut effort. I was surprised to learn it is actually the twelfth (or so) published work of a bestselling novelist. For me, while the premise had potential, the result felt very raw and unpolished.

I was initially drawn in by the Titanic background, the ghost story, and yes, the compelling cover. Though I do love me some ghosts, there is, unfortunately, a risk of maudlin sentimentality wherever they are found, and this book certainly jumps into the Hallmark factor from page one. Ouija board communication, signs from beyond, and cliches about love and loss ensue. The ironic comments of characters presaging the Titanic disaster are also a little on-the-nose and cringey.

What particularly bothered me was that the story was based on an actual figure from comparatively recent history. I completely understand the allure of a true story from history and wanting to expand and extrapolate from it, but I personally feel this should be reserved for historical people of a more remote time period. The amount of pure, unadulterated fiction here blows the Widener story out of all realistic proportion. I feel it would have more appropriate to create a completely fictional character to serve the story's purposes. Even if it bore more than a passing resemblance to the real Widener history, it would have been a respectful way to make it clear the author was inspired by real life but chose to go on a tangent of imagination--which is a perfectly natural and acceptable thing.

That being said, I enjoyed Harry's POV much more than present-day Violet's. Violet is another victim of the "dull modern character" syndrome which afflicts almost all dual timelines. Both her character and the writing style in her chapters feel immature. There is an overabundance of telling not showing, and stating the obvious. Having the same character speak twice in a row without the appropriate use of action tags also made it difficult to know who was speaking (this affected both timelines). The other present-day characters have no personality at all. The book slasher subplot turns out to be irrelevant.

There are two macguffins in the story--the "Little Bacon" and a bejeweled Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam--where there really needed to be only one. The fact that one of them is "cursed" is certainly a familiar Titanic trope. But it's not alone. There are two major reveals near the end, one of which is infamously overdone in historical fiction of the sentimental variety. The other reveal is blatantly ripped from the movie Titanic. I blushed to read it. In fact, I can hardly believe it made it past an editor.

Other things that should have been caught: the description of the bow rising up when it should have been the stern, as others have pointed out. This error occurs not once, but several times. So, too, the repeated use of a date given as 1916 when it should have been 1913. Hopefully the book is still in the editing stage and these can be corrected.

Despite some of these issues, it was refreshing to find an historical novel not set in WWII and I enjoyed the literature and poetry references. It was easy to connect emotionally with Harry and Ada--those were the chapters that kept me reading. There was one passage in particular, about the difference between a spirit and a soul, which I found especially apt and memorable.

I've already mentioned the cover but it bears repeating--absolutely gorgeous.

I found this to be an alright read. It felt rather dull despite the intriguing premise. The history this book spins on is quite interesting and the author's writing is well-done. There were quite a few passages that I found rather beautiful, and I think that overall writing ability is what saved the book for me. I'd normally give this a middle-of-the-road rating of 2.5 stars, but will round up to 3 stars for NetGalley.

The Missing Pages is first and foremost an exploration of loss and grief over and above all of its other aspects: a historical fiction, a light-touch of a ghost story, and a mild mystery. I found the exploration of grief in Harry's narrative much more compelling than Violet's. Violet's character came off stilted because much of her attachment to Hugo was told in reflections that didn't give me much emotional impact. For much of the book, she didn't display much forward momentum, and didn't seem like she wanted to move on from, or try to manage, her grief. This was a major cause of frustration for me because I prefer to see characters actively try to navigate their grief rather than wallow passively in it for large swathes of the narrative.

Harry and Ada's story is the highlight. I enjoyed their romance set against the backdrop of their love for literature and books, and the historical limitations of the era. I generally enjoy historical fiction for the exploration of history, and my experience here is no different. Harry's narrative was excellently executed, but I felt that it was unnecessarily interrupted, and its excellence woefully diluted, by the less captivating contemporary timeline.

The pacing of the story is on the slow side. The prose is elegant without being heavy-handed, but I wished that the plot beats were tighter. I especially found the first third to be meandering.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's interesting to read the history behind the Widener library. I had never heard this story and found it intriguing. This book will appeal to fans of historical fiction as well as the general readership.

I can fully appreciate what the author was hoping to achieve with this novel, and the premise really intrigued me. Unfortunately this read too much like a biography and not like solid historical fiction. I found it a tad boring and the “ghost” element didn’t really work.

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman was an absolute delight to read—one of those rare books that completely pulls you in. It’s been a long time since I found myself so immersed in a story that I stayed up far too late, needing to know how everything would unfold.

The novel centers around Violet, the compelling protagonist, as she navigates profound grief and a sense of isolation from those around her. Her journey takes a gripping turn when she becomes entangled in a mystery that seamlessly weaves together past and present. I especially appreciated how the story was rooted in historical truth; Richman builds her narrative from real-life fragments, which she thoughtfully introduces in the prologue—a section I found as captivating as the novel itself.

As a Massachusetts native, I particularly enjoyed the familiar backdrop of Harvard University and the surrounding areas—it felt like taking a literary stroll through places I know and love.

This novel has a bit of everything: love, friendship, mystery, a touch of the supernatural, and a deep appreciation for books and the written word. The Missing Pages is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant story that lingers with you long after the last page.

A touching story about two secret lovers. It is told through multiple POVs (one being one of the lovers, the other, a Harvard student).
The Titanic elements are nicely balanced to make us enjoy the historical aspect without rewriting a story we all know.
This was my first enjoyable ghost story and I really liked this book’s atmosphere. So, if you like romance, historial stories and library vibes, this book is for you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Union Square for the opportunity to read The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman. Being a fan of Ms. Richman's earlier work I was happy to receive a copy of The Missing Pages. I loved it. I always appreciate well researched historical fiction which this is, and I always love a good ghost story, which this most definitely is. Love this book!

A richly imagined historical mystery that blends haunting romance, literary intrigue, and a touch of the supernatural. The Missing Pages explores the enduring legacy of Harry Widener, a young book collector lost on the Titanic, and the modern librarian, Violet, who unravels his secrets. Though the writing style leans poetic and occasionally becomes overly sentimental, the novel’s emotional depth, historical detail, and unique focus on grief, memory, and literature make it a compelling choice for fans of layered historical fiction.

Ok I’m just going to say the unpopular thing I did not like this book. I gave it 4 stars because the book is not bad nor is it poorly written. She tells a compelling story, just not in the way that I like stories told. She took the time to research, and I can feel her dedication to the topic in every description. I can tell you what I didn’t like and why but objectively Richman does accomplish the telling of a story rooted in actual history. (That some may forgive for her overly flowery language and dense descriptions designed to tug the heartstrings.)
The book is rich with history both of Harvard and of Philadelphia. I live in Philadelphia and have visited the Rosenbach townhouse and appreciated the attention given to accurately describing the city.

In my opinion this book does, however, read like a young adult novel. Something in the vein of The Secret Garden or A Little Princess. It’s about adults but it feels as though it’s written for adolescents. Which is not a bad thing but for me I was not overly fond of it. Every character is too perfect, too poetic, too romanticized. There’s too much hyperbole, simile and definitely too many metaphors.

I don’t know if it’s intentional, but the historical mystery is easily solved less than a third of the way through the book. The remaining chapters tell you how, but you already know the who and the why. It was difficult to connect with Violet because she spent so much time complaining about how she didn’t belong. Harry was likable enough, but his only qualities seem to be his obsession with books and his instalove for Ada. There was something about all the characters that kept their true selves just out of reach of the reader. I can’t put my finger on it, but it always felt like I was reading the emotions not experiencing them alongside the characters. The different POVs were good for gaining perspective but they weren't always clear and I wasn't sure at times who or when I was reading until a few paragraphs in.
I didn’t hate this book. It was well researched, and the story was obviously one of love and loss and grief and hope. Not my favorite in this genre but Richman crafted an interesting story, and the cover artwork is beautiful. I would recommend anyone who is looking for an easy to read historical mystery.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The book started off a little slow and there was a not very subtle hint dropped early on that laid on the rest of the story but I enjoyed some of the history and learning about another titanic tale. Didnt really go for the ghost parts etc but overall enjoyed the book

I’ll admit up front that I’m a sucker for stories about the sinking of the Titanic, but The Missing Pages is so, so much more than a story about this famous tragedy.

Richman has composed a narrative that anyone who has experienced loss can relate to and appreciate. She creates characters from two separate time periods that allow her to explore the all-consuming nature of grief, juxtaposing the agonizing pain of loss with the enduring and protective power of love.

As she tells the stories of Violet, Hugo, Harry, and Ada, she urges us to consider that we live in a universe where we are surrounded by all sorts of unseen connections to those we’ve loved and lost. She reminds us to cherish the power of memory and, to the delight of the English teacher in me, she also gives more than a nod to the way words - books, letters, essays - can continue to preserve someone’s legacy.

My only criticism, if indeed it counts as one, is that I didn’t need the everything tied in a neat, pretty bow ending. The story is strong enough on its own without it.

Visiting the Widener Library and seeing Harry’s flowers is now on my bucket list. This book is one I'll be thinking about for a while.

Thanks to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Missing pages is a captivating historical novel that blends mystery, romance, and history into a beautifully written story. The story follows Violet, a library worker who discovers a priceless book linked to the ghost of Harry, a young man who died aboard the Titanic. Harry's mother, determined to keep her sons memory alive builds a library in his name , which leads Violet into a moving mystery involving lost love and hidden secrets.

This story is both timeless and unforgettable. The novel is rich with historical detail with the Titanic tragedy, the tribute of love from a mother, mystery, the power of books to connect the past and present, and a true love story. I highly recommend !