6. Violet and Finn are both orphans by the time they meet. How does that affect their emotional attachments, separately and together?
7. Gram is the only one remaining at Violet’s side as certain hard truths come to light, and she serves as both a sounding board and a mirror. Do you find her assessments of Violet accurate? How is Gram right about her, and how might she be wrong?
8. Finn cannot accept the forgiveness of Maribel’s family because he cannot forgive himself. Can you relate to this point of view? Do you think he ultimately would have been any better off if he’d kept in contact with the Bransons?
9. Do you imagine that if Finn had never met Maribel, he and Violet would have had a happily-ever-after relationship?
10. Caitlin seems sure that Maribel was not “the one” for Finn, but one of multiple suitable matches. Violet seemed equally sure that Finn was “the one” for her—until she wasn’t. Do you think the concept of “the one” is hopeful, or damaging? Do you believe in an “only and forever” kind of love?
11. Did George ultimately surprise you, or were his reactions in some ways inevitable?
12. Do you think Caitlin and George get off too easily, or do you imagine they privately pay a higher price than others may be aware of?
13. What was the true role of fate in the story? Were there pivotal “almost” moments and near-misses that you didn’t fully absorb the impact of until they’d passed?
14. What do you make of the novel’s final encounter? What do you imagine the future holds for this family?
15. In our own missed connections, are we better off not knowing what might have been?
St. Martin’s Griffin
Advance Praise for Almost Missed You
“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
“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, 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 A Sudden Light and The Art of Racing in the Rain
“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
“With its gripping blend of painful secrets and fateful connections, Almost Missed You is a taut, emotional page-turner that satisfies.”
—National Book Award and PEN USA finalist Deb Caletti
“Jessica Strawser writes from the heart.”
—New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline
“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.”
—Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield
“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
“Jessica Strawser hits all the right notes in her memorable debut. With twists big and small, the story is at turns heartrending, 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 and I’ll See You in Paris
“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 heartbreaking page-turner will make you question how well you really know everyone you hold dear.”
—Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Glass Wives
“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
About the Author
By day, Jessica Strawser is the editorial director of Writer’s Digest magazine, North America’s leading publication for aspiring and working writers since 1920. By night, she is a fiction writer, and by the minute, she is a proud wife and mother of two in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Her diverse career in the publishing industry spans more than fifteen years and includes stints in book editing, marketing and public relations, and freelance writing and editing. A Pittsburgh native and “Outstanding Senior” graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, she counts her New York Times Modern Love essay and her Writer’s Digest cover interviews with such luminaries as Alice Walker, Anne Tyler, and David Sedaris among her career highlights.
She blogs at the WritersDigest.com “There Are No Rules” blog and elsewhere, and enjoys speaking at writing conferences and events that are kind enough to invite her. Connect with her on Facebook at jessicastrawserauthor, on Twitter @jessicastrawser, or visit her online at www.jessicastrawser.com. You can sign up for email updates here.