“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 Midwives and The Sandcastle Girls

“ALMOST MISSED YOU is an emotional powerhouse of a novel, filled with complex relationships and difficult choices, the secrets we keep, and the lies we tell to those we love while hoping to shield them from harm. Strawser’s tale of guilt, blame, redemption, and forgiveness is a must read for anyone who enjoys a well-told, compelling exploration of the human heart.” —Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain and A Sudden Light

“ALMOST MISSED YOU is the sensational debut novel by the gifted Jessica Strawser, who has expertly woven a tale of a marriage in crisis with elements of daring, danger, mystery, and secrets that will surprise and delight you. You will revel in the triangle of Violet and Finn, the perfect couple until they weren’t, and Caitlin, Finn’s best friend, who is pulled into the drama while hiding a secret of her own. 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

“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

NOW AVAILABLE from St. Martin’s Press / Macmillan in all formats—including a special paperback Reading Group Gold edition! 

Amazon • Amazon U.K. •  Barnes & Noble • Joseph-Beth Booksellers • Powell’s Books • Books-A-Million • IndieBound • iBooks • Google Play

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, 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.

Add ALMOST MISSED YOU to your “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads!

BOOK CLUBS: Find the complete Readers Group Discussion Guide here (warning: spoilers included!).

“Perfect for readers looking for something new after all of the ‘Girl’ thrillers … Gritty, witty, and a worthy addition to the recent slate of domestic dramas.” —Booklist Online

“Strawser’s explanation of marriage, its expectations, and motherhood are spot-on, making for an absorbing read.” —Publishers Weekly

“A book worth losing sleep over.” —RT Book Reviews

“Fans of smart women’s fiction mixed with a fast-paced plot should not miss this startling first novel.” —Library Journal

“Jessica Strawser hits all the right notes in her memorable debut. With twists big and small, the story is at turns heart-rending, unexpected, and delightfully devious. ALMOST MISSED YOU will give book clubs plenty to argue about, and the reader much to contemplate.” –Michelle Gable, New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment & I’ll See You in Paris

“ALMOST MISSED YOU is a rare sort of a book, one part page-turner, one part love song to motherhood, and one part examination of the things we owe each other in friendship. It is by turns tender, sharp, and thoughtful, and always impossible to put down. Book clubs will love this tale of friendship, marriage, and the things we do for love.”  —Barbara O’Neal, author of How to Bake a Perfect Life

“With its gripping blend of painful secrets and fateful connections, ALMOST MISSED YOU is a taut, emotional page-turner that satisfies.” –Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist and author of He’s Gone and The Secrets She Keeps

“Jessica Strawser’s richly textured debut novel never lets the reader forget that love is a complex equation, in which attraction and affection are balanced by the cost of forgiveness, the obligation of friendship, and the pain of loss. Compelling fiction from a brave new voice.” –Sophie Littlefield, bestselling author of House of Glass, Garden of Stones & more

“In ALMOST MISSED YOU, debut author Jessica Strawser meticulously weaves … a tangled web of secrets, lies, and unexpected alliances. This heartbreaking page-turner will make you question how well you really know everyone you hold dear.” —Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Glass Wives and The Good Neighbor

“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 & The Last Will of Moira Leahy

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