Almost Missed You is a beautifully written, emotional book that, as a parent, was sometimes difficult to read. The story revolves around Violet and Finn, a couple whose story was almost too perfect to be true. They met and got together years later through a series of coincidences that some described as Fate. Violet had a beautiful little boy named Bear and everything was perfect, until Finn suddenly disappears with Bear into the blue. Violet turns is devastated and turns to their old friend Caitlin for help and support.

This was a fantastic story. Told in alternating chapters between the past and the present, I read through the book anxiously awaiting the outcome while I was gripped by the story being told. The story shows how the trajectories of different marriages and friendships changed by the decisions, big and small, made over the years.

I wanted to cheat and go to the ending but held off and was rewarded for my time, although I would have reacted differently than Violet did. Jessica Strawser's writing is talented and her voice is unique. The characters are different they first appear, and their transformation is fascinating to behold.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I have been unable to review this book, please see notes for the publisher.

An engaging tale of relationships, of responsibility and changing dynamics, Strawsers tale of Violet and Finn is an atmospheric observation of complication, secrets and connections told from their opposing viewpoints. This is an emotional read about characters that Strawser has depicted with beautiful prose and clever insights.

Wow! Who needs The Young and the Restless when you've got the young and very foolish characters of Almost Missed You. Part suspense, part love story, and definitely a nail biting family drama, Almost Missed You is a carrousel of lies, betrayal, missed opportunities (the book's title can be interpreted in several ways), and dysfunction. The only person who is totally innocent is the one who is literally missing. There are several cautionary tales to the story-would you marry someone when you knew they were hiding crucial parts of their background, would you stay with a spouse if you had definitive proof they had cheated on you, but did not know you knew? And how many opportunities do we get in life for love and happiness, and should we take the first one that comes by even though it's not exactly "right?" The plot speeds by-mostly because you can't wait to find out what really bad decisions these people will make next, and not everyone gets the outcome they deserve, but with whip smart writing and a roller coaster of emotions, it's hard to believe Almost Missed You is Ms. Stawser's debut novel. Don't miss the opportunity to read it.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down - the story was quite compelling. I was shocked by the "tangled web" that was woven, but was very satisfied with the way the author worked out all the details. The ending was quite satisfying, as well.

This sounded like just the thing for an escape from reality: a story about a couple who “met cute,” got married and had a child, went on their first vacation as a family, and then…the husband and pre-school-age boy disappear completely! I thought it had “beach read” written all over it – not a bad thing! Also, the fact that Lisa Scottoline and Chris Bohjalian (a couple of authors I enjoy) had glowing things to say about it increased my interest, so I was pleased to receive an advance copy of Almost Missed You from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

We first encounter Violet and Finn, the married couple who are referred to by their friends as “meant to be,” meeting on a beach in the Carolinas. Although they had an instant connection, they didn’t actually meet F2F for some time. In the interim, Finn had a fiancée and Violet was restlessly single. Finn apparently still thinks about Violet and their brief encounter, and of course they end up together. Violet is happy as can be when they head out on their first vacation as a family…and then she finds herself in her worst nightmare. (The revelation of Violet’s dawning realization of the disappearance of her husband and child is particularly well done).

Other characters impact the story, particularly Caitlin, who has been friends with Finn forever, and who comes to be Violet’s BFF. She plays a critical role in the events that happen both before and after Finn and Violet get together.

The full story is told through alternating viewpoints of Finn, Violet and Caitlin, and has strong themes of marital betrayal, the role of fate in a relationship, secrets (both those kept and those revealed), and the relationship between a mother and her child.

Given that Ms. Strawser’s day job is Editorial Director of Writer’s Digest magazine, expectations are high for this, her first novel. For a beach read, it’s a five star (not literary fiction, but extremely entertaining, and well written).

Violet and Finn take their young son on vacation to see the ocean for the first time. While Violet relaxes at the beach,, Finn is trying to leave Violet. He realizes that he can't leave without his son, and sets in motion a tale of friendships, love and betrayals that keep the reader enthralled until all is finally revealed. I couldn't put this down.!

A stunningly well-written debut. Told from alternating perspectives, Almost Missed You is an examination of the secrets couples keep from each other. When Finn leaves Violet (and takes with him their son), he shatters the mirage of their perfect marriage. Reeling from his unexpected departure, Violet must sort through new and shocking information about her husband to figure out where it all went wrong.

Strawser magnificently plays with the idea of chance encounters, and how one decision can have multiple, complicated consequences.

An engrossing read that'll keep you turning pages to see where the characters lead you next. Recommended.

I received this book "Almost Missed You" from NetGalley and St Martin's Press for my honest review. The story is about "missed connections" and people you meet by chance. This story is about Violet and Finn and it keeps you guessing. Was it fate that got Violet and Finn together? Why did Finn leave Violet and takes their son Bear? I really enjoyed reading this book and wondering why things were happening. Maybe Violet didn't know Finn after all. The story is full of questions and secrets and I did enjoy the ending. This book is part fiction and part suspense and was a very quick read for me. A lot of times the cover of the book is what captures my attention. The cover of Almost Missed You is very good.

This was a request for review through NetGalley. When I get these emails, I get a bit skeptical on what I'm getting myself into, but the blurb on this one piqued my interest, so I went for it.
And I'm happy to say that this was a winner!

Solid characters that were perfectly flawed in their own unique way, a plot that held my interest up until the last chapter, and some clever little twists that helped keep the story fresh and moving forward.

My one criticism falls with the last few pages...I'm not sure I'm buying that ending, after everyting that transpired with these couples. The ending felt right, up until the last 2 pages.

But still a solid read and one that I have no problems recommending-I read it in 2 days, if that's any indication!

ARC provided by NetGalley

The story of Violet, Finn, Caitlin and George is told as chapters flip every August from 2016 to 2010 then upwards.

Violet's & Finn's paths have fleetingly crossed. Finn posts an ad on Craigslist Missed Connections - not his original identifiable ad but a more vague one that leads him to Maribel.

Finn's college BFF Caitlin is always there for Finn. Caitlin's husband George & his connected family continue the supportive relationship with Finn even after Finn marries Violet and both couples find themselves pregnant at the same time with baby boys.

Secrets kept to protect others result in hurt for all involved when those secrets begin their destructive eating away at peace of mind and honesty.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This was a gripping, emotional debut novel with a solid storyline which kept me interested throughout.

It had me hooked from the start. It is a little too close to my real life emotions for me to give it a proper review right now, but I will say that it was masterfully written and truly demonstrated how the course of your life can change in a split-second. Gah. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's. And Ms. Strawser I will definitely be looking for more from you in the future!

The premise of this book is what caught my eye. It seemed to have the possibility of a great psychological, suspense book. At the start it was that, but then it turned into more of a women's fiction read. I kind of wish it would have stayed a suspense as I think it would have been great, but I still ended up enjoying the book. I liked that there were only a few characters and because of that, they were developed pretty well. I gave this 4 stars on goodreads.

What a sad and terrifying and heartbreaking story of lives gone awry and what it does to the potential of love, and what it doesn't

4 stars

Almost Missed You is an impressive debut novel by Ms. Jessica Strawser. I would classify it as a mix of contemporary fiction and suspense with the emphasis on suspense. I found it more gripping than a lot of books out there advertised as psychological thrillers. I read most books over 5 days. This one I knocked out in 3 days, very quick for me, simply because I found it hard to pull myself away from the pages.

I strongly suggest you go in as cold as possible on this one. I hadn’t read the blurb in a couple of months before reading the book and didn’t recall the plot points at all; thus, I was able to read the book not knowing a thing about it. Afterwards, I did reread the blurb, and in my opinion, like most movie trailers these days, it tells too much. I was glad I had the opportunity to see this terrific story totally unfold without any knowledge of where it was headed.

The title is wonderful and refers to a major theme of the novel, which is how sharply the course of our lives can change depending on the “near misses” we experience. The tale makes us wonder whether to try to right those near misses or to simply let them pass. We are also led to ponder how much to sacrifice of ourselves to help out a friend desperately in need of help. And what secrets should be kept secrets and which should be revealed. These are difficult questions, and I was asking myself throughout the read how I would respond to these challenging issues.

I loved how many little shockers and twists peppered the story and how all of my predictions proved to be wrong. Despite a nonchronological timeline, the pace was lickety-split. I appreciated the final chapter, which functioned as an epilogue and kept the ending from being rushed.

The characterization was superb. Great job on personalizing your cast, Ms. Strawser!

I do have a couple of criticisms. As I said above, the plot is a winner, but I have to say the very end left me asking, “Say what?” It was not at all realistic in my opinion. I was also not always totally clear what Finn’s reasons were for doing the things he did.

Overall, I was thoroughly engaged by Almost Miss You and highly recommend it to everyone looking for a good suspenseful read. I think Jessica Strawser shows enormous potential in this, her debut novel, and I look forward to picking up her next book due out in 2018.

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley and Ms. Jessica Strawser for inviting me to read an advanced copy of this novel. The opinions stated in my review are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I don't know where to start with this book.. it was so much more than I expected. In my mind, I thought I was going to get a beach read about a happy marriage. I was pleasantly surprised to find a story that had me on the edge of my seat.

I couldn't put this book down!

Taut, gripping and emotional, ALMOST MISSED YOU blurs the lines of women’s fiction and suspense in a compelling way. It’s a story that tests the limits of love, friendship and ultimately forgiveness; all while dangling the reader over the edge.

What could possibly lead a seemingly happy husband to leave his wife on the beach and disappear with their 3-year-old son? That’s the burning question. The truth I was frantic to uncover. The nightmare that Violet finds herself living. How could Finn rip her little Bear cub away from her? And how does his best friend, Caitlin, find herself smack in the middle of it all?

Being the sentimental, bleeding heart that I am, the idea of fate playing the leading role in the life we live and the person we ultimately end up with, grabbed me and held on for dear life. I was glued to the pages of Violet and Finn’s story, desperate to figure out how a couple destined to be together could end up so broken. The harsh reality is, it's not always sunny days, piña coladas, vintage t-shirts or chance encounters that lead the way. Sometimes it's the ugly, dark and devastating mistakes we make instead.

This may be Jessica Strawser's first novel, but it certainly doesn't read like a debut. Equal parts women’s fiction and suspense, this twisted tale of lies, deception and blackmail takes the reader on a unexpected journey. One that explores what can happen when we turn a blind eye. When we refuse to face the truth because we finally have everything we've always wanted. Or so we thought.

“Don’t we all look for ports in the storm?”

My one minor issue with the story was the ending. I’m not saying I wasn’t happy with how things turned out; I just wish it had played out a little differently. After everything, it felt like one too many coincidences in an already long list. Although, the lover of love in me could argue, fate has a funny way of working things out.

Finn and Violet meet on the beach on her last day. There was an instant connection. The book follows their paths as they are separated and while trying to relocate, life happens. I don't want to include spoilers but Finn ends up doing the unthinkable and you get to read each person's point of view through the entire horrible ordeal. It's almost hard to figure out just who to cheer for. There are a lot of surprising twists and turns, right up until the very end. I love the ending. Perhaps, just perhaps, there really is a destined person for every one.

Received advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley

I can’t remember the last-time I pulled an “all-nighter” to finish a book that I just couldn’t bring myself to put down. Well, that’s exactly what I did last night – and the book was Jessica Strawser’s debut novel Almost Missed You. From the very first page, I was drawn into the story of Finn, Violet, their son Bear, their friend Caitlin, and the ill-fated vacation that went horribly wrong. With each turn of the page, I was on edge to find out what would happen next.

The premise of the book seemed simple enough : a loving husband and devoted father (Finn) all of a sudden decides to abandon his wife (Violet) on the beach during a family vacation and disappears without a trace, taking their 3 year old son (Bear) with him. The wife is clueless as to what happened until she returns to the hotel room and sees that only her own belongings remain – every single item belonging to her husband and son are gone. From there, we are thrown into a gripping tale of love, betrayal, friendship, forgiveness, and most importantly, the role of fate and its ability to change people’s lives forever.

This book is amazingly well-written, which is why I was quite surprised (ok, I guess “shocked” is more like it) to learn that this is the author’s first book. The story is tight and the events that unfold are told through the revolving perspectives of the 3 main characters -- Finn, Violet, and their best friend Caitlin – with a timeline that switches back and forth between the present (the incident with Finn abandoning Violet and taking their son) and the past (how Finn and Violet first met and the start of their relationship). Each chapter is written in such a way as to only reveal a few hints, clues, slight details on what possibly motivated Finn to do what he did, with everything eventually coming to a head once the truth is revealed and long-held secrets are finally out in the open. As I was reading, I actually felt like I was working a jigsaw puzzle, with each chapter revealing a new detail in the lives of the characters until ultimately, all the pieces fall into place in a non-traditional sort of way.

My only issue with the book (and the main reason I gave a 4 star rating instead of 5) was the ending, which was a bit too ambiguous in my opinion. While the ending did make sense, especially given the overall theme of fate, coincidence, and missed connections, I wasn’t really sure by that time whether I should be happy at the way things turned out or sad at all the sacrifices that were made to get there. And this could just be me, but I kind of sensed that the ending might have hints of a possible sequel, which I hope I’m wrong about because I’m not fond of sequels for one, and two, the story as written is powerful enough as is without need to further complicate things.

This is a great piece of contemporary fiction that is at once engaging, suspenseful, emotional, yet at the same time very much relatable, especially for those who may be going through similar issues in life. Highly recommended!!