Almost Missed You

A Novel

By: Jessica Strawser

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

"Almost Missed You is a skillful, insightful debut: a deft exploration of the mysteries of marriage, the price we pay for our secrets, and just how easy it is to make the worst choices imaginable." —Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of The Sandcastle Girls and Midwives

"Almost Missed You is an emotional powerhouse of a novel." —Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of A Sudden Light and The Art of Racing in the Rain

"This is a rich read which will keep you turning pages long into the night. Glorious!" —Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars in the Heavens

"Jessica Strawser writes from the heart." —New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline

"Almost Missed You is compelling fiction from a brave new voice." —Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield

Violet and Finn were “meant to be,” said everyone, always. They ended up together by the hands of fate aligning things just so. Three years into their marriage, they have a wonderful little boy, and as the three of them embark on their first vacation as a family, Violet can’t help thinking that she can’t believe her luck. Life is good.

So no one is more surprised than she when Finn leaves her at the beach—just packs up the hotel room and disappears. And takes their son with him. Violet is suddenly in her own worst nightmare, and faced with the knowledge that the man she’s shared her life with, she never really knew at all.

Caitlin and Finn have been best friends since way back when, but when Finn shows up on Caitlin’s doorstep with the son he’s wanted for kidnapping, demands that she hide them from the authorities, and threatens to reveal a secret that could destroy her own family if she doesn’t, Caitlin faces an impossible choice.

Told through alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin, Jessica Strawser's Almost Missed You is a powerful story of a mother’s love, a husband’s betrayal, connections that maybe should have been missed, secrets that perhaps shouldn’t have been kept, and spaces between what’s meant to be and what might have been.

©2017 Jessica Strawser (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Once in a great while, along comes a novel that defies the odds, a true mystery that bars no holds and plays no tricks, leaving the reader both deeply moved and thoroughly astonished. Almost Missed You is just such a book, a debut that asks if we can ever really know another human being, by a writer’s writer with talent to spare. You may not have heard of Jessica Strawser today, but by tomorrow, everyone’s going to be talking about her and about this story." — Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean

"A thought-provoking debut about the true cost of emotional stress fractures and the jolts that finally crack them open. Strawser’s novel is layered with secrets, and will stay with you long after you finish reading." — Therese Walsh, author of The Moon Sisters

"In ALMOST MISSED YOU, debut author Jessica Strawser meticulously weaves together a kidnapped child, friends in turmoil, and a Craigslist ad into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and unexpected alliances. This heart-breaking page-turner will make you question how well you really know everyone you hold dear." — Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Glass Wives

Very Good to Listen too!!

Would you listen to Almost Missed You again? Why?

Yes!! Because sometimes you catch something maybe you missed from before

What about Therese Plummer’s performance did you like?

Yes she was very good!!

No sympathetic characters

That was a train wreck of a story. And there weren’t even any particularly sympathetic characters (except Violet, sort of), which makes it difficult to get through. The ending was ridiculous, too far-fetched a coincidence. And who names their kid Bear? I kept waiting for them to tell us his real name. The only moment I enjoyed was when George shoots Finn. It gets 3 stars only because I finished.

Hooked

I really liked this book and enjoyed getting to know each character. I listened to it in like two days, I couldn't stop!

Twist and Turn Love Story

I loved this book. It kept me interested the entire read and the plot was not a cookie cutter love story. Also the reason behind the main event was plausible but it also left room for both condemnation and forgivenesses. The characters were not fully drawn out but it would have made the book better it did not terribly hinder the story.

Amaaaaazing!!!!!

This book was so good, I read it in one day! Every page left me wanting to know more. Twists and turns, loss and betrayal, all wrapped up in love- love for a spouse, a friend, a child... very very good book!

Good timelines

I enjoyed the variable timelines and how the story unfolded. So many lies, it’s sad but believable. I had guessed the same thing that George assumed there were still some surprises in the way this book ended.

Better as a short story

By half way in I started to fast forward, the narrator is excellent but the story is far too long.

Good book for the genre

This book explores the depths of emotion both started and unstated and their impact on the lives around them. It's a good book for the genre. Interesting how the author works thru the issues.

Twisted

Loved the back and forth of the story it made me keep reading long into the night

Fantastic!

If you could sum up Almost Missed You in three words, what would they be?

Gripping, twisting, real.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the way the story is told. From the beginning, I was hooked and then the story unfolded and kept me wanting more throughout!

Which character – as performed by Therese Plummer – was your favorite?

Violet, although all were performed extremely well.

If you could take any character from Almost Missed You out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Violet!

Any additional comments?

I will be looking forward to the next book!