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The Near Miss
Nick and Wren are meant to be. But Nick and Wren have never met. And now, fate is about to change everything…
Wren just wants a quiet life with no surprises. But one day, when she steps out of a bookshop, a sheet of glass falls from a window above and shatters at her feet. Walking off and not looking back, she doesn’t see the handsome sandy-haired man in the scruffy overalls who dropped it. Little does she know that he could change her life forever.
Nick is still reeling from a devastating breakup and just wants to keep his head down. But while restoring a bookshop, he drops a plate of glass from a window, just missing a young woman with beautiful brown hair and a bag full of books. He rushes out to apologise, but by the time he’s on the street she’s gone.
Luckily, over the next few months, he’ll run into her again. And again. And again.
But every time they cross paths something always gets in the way of sparks flying. Will they stop playing it safe and take a chance on love? Or are they destined to always be a near miss?
The Near Miss is a totally perfect, completely addictive feel-good romantic comedy of fated lovers and chance encounters that will have fans of Beth O’Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Abby Jimenez hooked from start to finish.
Wren just wants a quiet life with no surprises. But one day, when she steps out of a bookshop, a sheet of glass falls from a window above and shatters at her feet. Walking off and not looking back, she doesn’t see the handsome sandy-haired man in the scruffy overalls who dropped it. Little does she know that he could change her life forever.
Nick is still reeling from a devastating breakup and just wants to keep his head down. But while restoring a bookshop, he drops a plate of glass from a window, just missing a young woman with beautiful brown hair and a bag full of books. He rushes out to apologise, but by the time he’s on the street she’s gone.
Luckily, over the next few months, he’ll run into her again. And again. And again.
But every time they cross paths something always gets in the way of sparks flying. Will they stop playing it safe and take a chance on love? Or are they destined to always be a near miss?
The Near Miss is a totally perfect, completely addictive feel-good romantic comedy of fated lovers and chance encounters that will have fans of Beth O’Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Abby Jimenez hooked from start to finish.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2024
196 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Lily Joseph
2 books19 followersLily Joseph is a romantic fiction writer from North East England, a setting which appears regularly in her writing. Her work has been shortlisted for the Lindisfarne Prize, an award for northern authors. She lives in North Yorkshire with her partner, two teens and two cats, none of whom are interested in books whatsoever. At least the cats have an excuse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
April 11, 2024
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 2 stars
: ̗̀➛ ”sparks of light faded from
the sky as he kissed her.”
thank you to netgalley and the author for providing with with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
: ̗̀➛ ”it was eletric, and the fireworks on the harbour were nothing compared to the sparks that now flew between them.”
₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ my thoughts. i’m going to try my best to be criticaleven though i find it so hard to be but i just really didn’t enjoy this. disaster after disaster kept happening and it just felt super made-up and horrific honestly. i do like the idea of this book in being no matter how connected you are, you don’t meet the person until it’s the right time. i just feel as though it was executed poorly. i found quite a lot of the dialogue cringey for example nick’s brother saying ”sorry,bro. trigger warning.” like what?? i also didn’t feel a spark between nick and wren and nick kinda gave me the ick. i found this book really slow to get in to and i never really got into it. i just wanted it to be over to be honest. they didn’t meet until at least halfway into the book and spent barely any chapters together.
: ̗̀➛ ”she felt as inevitable to him as the sun coming up in the morning and setting at night.”
₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ plot. this is a story about fate, and how people meet when they’re supposed to. this story follows wren and nick. who keep having accidents caused by each other, but don’t end up meeting yet. when wren breaks up with her boyfriend, she goes on their planned holiday alone. and coincidentally runs into
nick. where they get to know each other well, but in the midst of chaos, don’t get each other’s numbers. they’re unsure if they’ll ever find each other again and then realise they live in the same city.
: ̗̀➛ ”how many different ways had wren been in his life without him even being aware?”
₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ characters.
.˚₊wren
: ̗̀➛ i liked wren, she was a cute character, she was very likeable. she works for a local journalist company and lives a quiet, simple life. she’s in a toxic relationship with her boyfriend alex, who controls most aspects of her life.
.˚₊nick
: ̗̀➛ nick is a single dad, who isn’t allowed to spend much time with his daughter due to not having his own house. he stays with his brother. he works as a handyman and was raised by his nanna due to his mom always travelling and he doesn’t know his dad.
.˚₊side characters
: ̗̀➛ i loved libby, she was super cute and i liked her and wren’s friendship. travis just annoyed me a bit honestly. the side characters in this book weren’t all that interesting.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 2 stars
: ̗̀➛ ”sparks of light faded from
the sky as he kissed her.”
thank you to netgalley and the author for providing with with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
: ̗̀➛ ”it was eletric, and the fireworks on the harbour were nothing compared to the sparks that now flew between them.”
₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ my thoughts. i’m going to try my best to be critical
: ̗̀➛ ”she felt as inevitable to him as the sun coming up in the morning and setting at night.”
₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ plot. this is a story about fate, and how people meet when they’re supposed to. this story follows wren and nick. who keep having accidents caused by each other, but don’t end up meeting yet. when wren breaks up with her boyfriend, she goes on their planned holiday alone. and coincidentally runs into
nick. where they get to know each other well, but in the midst of chaos, don’t get each other’s numbers. they’re unsure if they’ll ever find each other again and then realise they live in the same city.
: ̗̀➛ ”how many different ways had wren been in his life without him even being aware?”
₊ ⊹.𖥔 ݁ ˖ characters.
.˚₊wren
: ̗̀➛ i liked wren, she was a cute character, she was very likeable. she works for a local journalist company and lives a quiet, simple life. she’s in a toxic relationship with her boyfriend alex, who controls most aspects of her life.
.˚₊nick
: ̗̀➛ nick is a single dad, who isn’t allowed to spend much time with his daughter due to not having his own house. he stays with his brother. he works as a handyman and was raised by his nanna due to his mom always travelling and he doesn’t know his dad.
.˚₊side characters
: ̗̀➛ i loved libby, she was super cute and i liked her and wren’s friendship. travis just annoyed me a bit honestly. the side characters in this book weren’t all that interesting.
April 12, 2024
Wren and Nick keep missing each other at home, but when they meet in Capri, in yet another mishap, their heartbeats begin to sync.
Lily Joseph writes great settings, and I could feel the hot sun on my face and see the whitewashed walls while reading about Capri. Sadly, though, this was a disappointing read for me otherwise. While Wren and Nick were lovely characters, there were too many characters, too many incidents, too many sub plots, and a thread that kept thinning when trying to draw them together in a fluid way. I almost did not bother finishing, so it's a 2.5 for me.
That said, this is Joseph's debut romance, and I congratulate her on this effort.
Lily Joseph writes great settings, and I could feel the hot sun on my face and see the whitewashed walls while reading about Capri. Sadly, though, this was a disappointing read for me otherwise. While Wren and Nick were lovely characters, there were too many characters, too many incidents, too many sub plots, and a thread that kept thinning when trying to draw them together in a fluid way. I almost did not bother finishing, so it's a 2.5 for me.
That said, this is Joseph's debut romance, and I congratulate her on this effort.
May 28, 2024
“When you’re struggling, life gets very small. The bad things that happen feel much worse, and the good things feel much more significant. So when you’re treated kindly it leaves more of a mark.”
✧𓈒⋆ 3 stars 𓈒⋆✧
this is a story about fate and time, about finding your person when you least expect it, about invisible strings that tie people together. i love the concept of invisible stings, but more than that i love when characters, even being so connected through an invisible bond, take their time to meet each other. it's pretty impressive how many near-misses happened before wren and nick were able to finally meet, how fate kept dragging them together, but at the same time also keeping them apart, because they were not ready for each other at that moment.
i really loved the concept, and even though the amount of near-misses felt like too much at some point, the longing for the meeting was worth it! when wren and nick finally met i literally was screaming because from there everything made sense, every small detail played out from that moment and i really loved how lily joseph was able to craft this whole scenario in this book. i loved the dynamic between main characters, but also i loved how interconnected their lives were, how even their upbringings were structured in favour of finally drawing them together. the background characters were also fascinating, sometimes i was thinking that i want to read more about edie than about main characters because of how interesting her life seemed, how she captured my attention from the very first appearance.
“They were like magnets, not just now, but ever since the moment they’d met on the beach. Finding and losing each other but being drawn together back somehow.”
wren was an interesting heroine and it was amazing to follow her through her path of self-acceptance and self-discovery. i loved that by the end of this book she was able to find her own voice, to step up for herself. the side story with her father was incredibly touching, and their bond felt very precious to me. sometimes we all are feeling like wren and we need a little push from fate to keep moving, keep discovering ourselves and the world around us.
as for nick, i really wanted to like him as strongly as i liked wren, but i don't know, for me nick was kind of bland. for the most part, he was just there, not doing much, in the first half of the book all nick did was mope around because the world wasn't what he wanted it to be. maybe some people enjoy that, but i really don't. i feel like there should've been more exploration of nick's character as his development wasn't really noticeable for me. i'm not saying that he's bad, it's just he's not for me, i think.
still, the chemistry between wren and nick undeniable, it radiated through pages so brightly and, moreover, i feel like it was noticeable even before their first personal encounter. i absolutely enjoyed their journey together, how they felt that connection and built that bond, how such a concept as people help people describes them perfectly. i don't want to say much because i don't want to spoil the whole plot, but the wait for their meeting was definitely worth it!
“Every time we’ve got close it’s like the sirens have called us into some dangerous situation. But then you coming into my life feels like I’m out of harm’s way.”
“Like I’m the lighthouse?”
Wren gave a quiet laugh. “It’s silly, I know.”
Nick said softly, “I think it’s very apt. And just so you know, I feel like you’re my lighthouse too.”
so, you would ask, why am i rating this book three stars in this case? i had several problems with this book and the first one and the main one, sadly, was that i got pretty bored in the first half of this book. i don't think that having both povs for different near-misses was needed, the plot felt dragged out because of that and i really was contemplating if i should just skip some chapters or not. don't get me wrong, in the end the wait made sense, but still.
i also think that some plot-related events should've happened on pages rather than being just briefly mentioned. like the situation with wren's ex boyfriend, for example. i understand that it would've made this book longer, but important stuff that affects the whole plot drastically should not be left off-screen.
“I’m thinking… are we meant to be where we are at all times? Or is it just random? Like we just stumble around and sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad?”
overall, i enjoyed this book. it's a fluffy summery romcom that explores the concept of invisible strings, of finding your person when the right time comes. if you're looking for something light and cute — this book is definitely for you!
thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Want to read
April 1, 2024𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚♡ — 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝
Here is another ARC 🥹
I really need it to be a sweet, cute romance.
Here is another ARC 🥹
I really need it to be a sweet, cute romance.
April 3, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars
July 7, 2024
This was an enjoyable read, but I feel as though it was missing something.
Our main protagonists Wren and Nick keep missing each other. This is amusing at first but eventually becomes tiresome after a while (46% of the book for example). Once they have met, it is captivating to see the two work out just how interconnected their lives are - although it occasionally felt unrealistic (the Italy meet 2.0).
Joseph was great at setting the scene, the way she describes atmosphere and landscape was thoroughly engaging, especially those where the characters were abroad.
The main characters were well fleshed out, I found myself hating those we were meant to dislike and liking those we got to meet in more depth. Unfortunately, I do feel as though the chemistry between Wren and Nick was lacking - they felt more like friends than lovers and I struggle to imagine the pair having feelings for each other. This is a shame as the book was marketed as a love story. The love was definitely not there for me.
I also wish that we got to see more of Wren's best friend, she felt like a filler character to fill space which was a shame as she had potential.
I would read more of Joseph's work in the future - depending on the themes. This would be a good holiday poolside book.
Our main protagonists Wren and Nick keep missing each other. This is amusing at first but eventually becomes tiresome after a while (46% of the book for example). Once they have met, it is captivating to see the two work out just how interconnected their lives are - although it occasionally felt unrealistic (the Italy meet 2.0).
Joseph was great at setting the scene, the way she describes atmosphere and landscape was thoroughly engaging, especially those where the characters were abroad.
The main characters were well fleshed out, I found myself hating those we were meant to dislike and liking those we got to meet in more depth. Unfortunately, I do feel as though the chemistry between Wren and Nick was lacking - they felt more like friends than lovers and I struggle to imagine the pair having feelings for each other. This is a shame as the book was marketed as a love story. The love was definitely not there for me.
I also wish that we got to see more of Wren's best friend, she felt like a filler character to fill space which was a shame as she had potential.
I would read more of Joseph's work in the future - depending on the themes. This would be a good holiday poolside book.
April 1, 2024
I loved this book - it was lighthearted and an easy read. I loved both Wren & Nick as characters and each near miss had me feeling disappointed and I became slightly impatient as the story progressed. I found some of the accidents far fetched and repetitive but that didn’t take away from how I felt about the book.
I loved Wren’s character and how she let loose after her break-up with Alex, it was refreshing & exciting.
Nick’s character was so charming & had me rooting for him from the start.
I really loved how everything ties together at the end, but wish we got to see more of Wren & Nick together and how their relationship blossomed.
Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2024
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!
It was a nice read. The whole 'If it's meant to be, it will happen' thing is one of my favs! although, a lot of 'accident' were repetitive and after SO MANY of them i was slowly getting annoyed at this book. Incidents happen, but that many? BUT it was still a good book, so i would recommend it anyway.
I was rooting for Wren and Nick from the start. I am so glad it got sorted out at the end!
I would give this book 4 of 5 stars, because although it was doing too much sometimes, it was still fun to read it.
It was a nice read. The whole 'If it's meant to be, it will happen' thing is one of my favs! although, a lot of 'accident' were repetitive and after SO MANY of them i was slowly getting annoyed at this book. Incidents happen, but that many? BUT it was still a good book, so i would recommend it anyway.
I was rooting for Wren and Nick from the start. I am so glad it got sorted out at the end!
I would give this book 4 of 5 stars, because although it was doing too much sometimes, it was still fun to read it.
May 10, 2024
4,5 stars ⭐️
I just reviewed The Near Miss by Lily Joseph. #TheNearMiss #NetGalley
First of all I’d like to thank the publisher and net!galley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved reading The Near Miss.
It was such an amazing and easy read and made my emotions go all over the place.
The cat and mouse game going on between Nick and Wren was amazing.
You could definitely feel the build up going. But every plottwist or puzzle piece going in its place made it a 100 times better.
The moment Nick went to the Kayak spot in Italy, I just knew he would be paired with Wren!
I loved how they didn’t know each other but still had a lot of unknown connections.
Edie really stole my heart, such a sweet, old lady. Taking care of everyone. But always putting her grandsons first.
“Some obscure but strong Belgian beer”
Belgium represented 🤩
“I actually do believe there’s a plan for us all. A big library of books with our names written on them and a story inside.” CH3
How cute is this? I truly believe in this as well. So it was nice to read this in the book.
“If you think I didn’t see the way you looked at that ‘writer’ twat, then you’re wrong. I’ll know if you’ve slept with him.” CH7
I can’t even start to describe the hate I have for Alex. Such a toxic man! 😱
The first time I read about him, i got shivers from him, but not in a good way.
What I really liked about this book were the different (announced) POV’s between Wren and Nick. That way i could follow both their stories.
0,5 a star down in rating because i had to look up a couple different sentences. Which were difficult to read because English is not my main language.
I just reviewed The Near Miss by Lily Joseph. #TheNearMiss #NetGalley
First of all I’d like to thank the publisher and net!galley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved reading The Near Miss.
It was such an amazing and easy read and made my emotions go all over the place.
The cat and mouse game going on between Nick and Wren was amazing.
You could definitely feel the build up going. But every plottwist or puzzle piece going in its place made it a 100 times better.
The moment Nick went to the Kayak spot in Italy, I just knew he would be paired with Wren!
I loved how they didn’t know each other but still had a lot of unknown connections.
Edie really stole my heart, such a sweet, old lady. Taking care of everyone. But always putting her grandsons first.
“Some obscure but strong Belgian beer”
Belgium represented 🤩
“I actually do believe there’s a plan for us all. A big library of books with our names written on them and a story inside.” CH3
How cute is this? I truly believe in this as well. So it was nice to read this in the book.
“If you think I didn’t see the way you looked at that ‘writer’ twat, then you’re wrong. I’ll know if you’ve slept with him.” CH7
I can’t even start to describe the hate I have for Alex. Such a toxic man! 😱
The first time I read about him, i got shivers from him, but not in a good way.
What I really liked about this book were the different (announced) POV’s between Wren and Nick. That way i could follow both their stories.
0,5 a star down in rating because i had to look up a couple different sentences. Which were difficult to read because English is not my main language.
March 30, 2024
'The Near Miss' is a feel good rom-com, which I absolutely loved. Right from the characters, to the plot, for me, this book had everything. This book is a slow burn romance which may not be to everyones taste, but I for one, absolutely devoured it.
The main characters, Nick and Wren, were so lovable and I was rooting for them throughout the entirety of the book and had me giggling and kicking my feet, as for the secondary characters, Libby and Travis, they were an absolute delight. Ms Joseph, if you see this, I would like a book for Libby please x
As much as I loved the book, I found the ending slightly rushed and wished as a reader, I could've seen more of Nick and Wren as a couple, maybe through a cheeky little epilogue. Overall, 'The Near Miss' by Lily Joseph was a quick and easy light hearted romance, which should definitely not be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
The main characters, Nick and Wren, were so lovable and I was rooting for them throughout the entirety of the book and had me giggling and kicking my feet, as for the secondary characters, Libby and Travis, they were an absolute delight. Ms Joseph, if you see this, I would like a book for Libby please x
As much as I loved the book, I found the ending slightly rushed and wished as a reader, I could've seen more of Nick and Wren as a couple, maybe through a cheeky little epilogue. Overall, 'The Near Miss' by Lily Joseph was a quick and easy light hearted romance, which should definitely not be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
April 7, 2024
'I feel like you're my lighthouse'
Wren and Nick may have just set the highest bar ever in terms of meet cute.
The Near Miss by Lily Joseph focuses on Wren and Nick, the most unfortunate soulmates the universe has ever thrown together. When Wren leaves her best friends bookstore one morning, and narrowly avoids being crushed by a pane of glass, she can't help but think 'what if I had left the store seconds earlier'. From then on her life seems like a someone's bad idea of a prank, falling from one bad luck scenario to the next, and barley leaving each one unscathed. Nick feels awful, after nearly flattening a woman with a pane of glass, he hopes to put it behind him, but fate seems to have other plans, throwing him into multiple unfortunate happenings. They seem to be careening towards each other, but narrowly avoiding disaster each time, when they finally meet, will it be love at first sight, or does the universe have other plans for them?
I loved this book, the characetrs, all of it! Wren and Nick are so sweetly oblivious to each other but it made me so happy reading each chapter, and finding the little things that I guessed would be the thing in the next chapter that would connect them, (I was wrong more times than I cared to admit). There were so many times where I would be like 'they're both in the same place surely they have to run into each other' or 'ahh so thats why that was mentioned', and it just made the book so much more enjoyable each time. The sort of things that they got themselves into, (being trapped under a bookshelf, and nearly falling from a stair lift spring to mind) were so comical that I was laughing out loud for a lot of this book.
My favourite character by far was Edie, the most grandmotherly nanna to ever be. Her constant use of 'pardon my french' made me smile every time, and the way she was with everyone she came into contact with was the sort of woman I would hope to be when I'm older. I think we could do with having an Edie in our lives. She reminded me a lot of my nanny.
I was hooked on the book from the first 'near miss', and it never let up. I found myself rooting for them both to get what they wanted, found myself laughing at this a lot more than I thought I would, and when they finally met in person, I found myself nearly cheering with excitement. The chemistry that they had when they were in person was so good. I was so incredibly frustrated at how close they came to meeting each other after Italy, but the lightbulb moment was so satisfying that I could forgive it, even if it meant me shedding a few tears.
Overall I really enjoyed this read, and couldn't quite believe it was a debut novel, and I hope to read more by Lily Joseph in the future. I give it 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Lily Joseph, and Bookouture, for the opportunity to read this early copy. All thoughts are my own
Wren and Nick may have just set the highest bar ever in terms of meet cute.
The Near Miss by Lily Joseph focuses on Wren and Nick, the most unfortunate soulmates the universe has ever thrown together. When Wren leaves her best friends bookstore one morning, and narrowly avoids being crushed by a pane of glass, she can't help but think 'what if I had left the store seconds earlier'. From then on her life seems like a someone's bad idea of a prank, falling from one bad luck scenario to the next, and barley leaving each one unscathed. Nick feels awful, after nearly flattening a woman with a pane of glass, he hopes to put it behind him, but fate seems to have other plans, throwing him into multiple unfortunate happenings. They seem to be careening towards each other, but narrowly avoiding disaster each time, when they finally meet, will it be love at first sight, or does the universe have other plans for them?
I loved this book, the characetrs, all of it! Wren and Nick are so sweetly oblivious to each other but it made me so happy reading each chapter, and finding the little things that I guessed would be the thing in the next chapter that would connect them, (I was wrong more times than I cared to admit). There were so many times where I would be like 'they're both in the same place surely they have to run into each other' or 'ahh so thats why that was mentioned', and it just made the book so much more enjoyable each time. The sort of things that they got themselves into, (being trapped under a bookshelf, and nearly falling from a stair lift spring to mind) were so comical that I was laughing out loud for a lot of this book.
My favourite character by far was Edie, the most grandmotherly nanna to ever be. Her constant use of 'pardon my french' made me smile every time, and the way she was with everyone she came into contact with was the sort of woman I would hope to be when I'm older. I think we could do with having an Edie in our lives. She reminded me a lot of my nanny.
I was hooked on the book from the first 'near miss', and it never let up. I found myself rooting for them both to get what they wanted, found myself laughing at this a lot more than I thought I would, and when they finally met in person, I found myself nearly cheering with excitement. The chemistry that they had when they were in person was so good. I was so incredibly frustrated at how close they came to meeting each other after Italy, but the lightbulb moment was so satisfying that I could forgive it, even if it meant me shedding a few tears.
Overall I really enjoyed this read, and couldn't quite believe it was a debut novel, and I hope to read more by Lily Joseph in the future. I give it 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Lily Joseph, and Bookouture, for the opportunity to read this early copy. All thoughts are my own
May 19, 2025
The Near Miss delivers a classic romantic comedy premise: two people who seem destined to be together keep almost connecting. Lily Joseph explores this trope through the characters of Wren and Nick, creating a story driven by chance encounters and the question of whether fate will finally intervene.
On the positive side, the book excels at creating that "will they/won't they" tension that's essential to this kind of story. The repeated near misses are often charming and sometimes humorous, effectively drawing the reader into Wren and Nick's potential relationship. Joseph also creates likable protagonists. Wren's desire for a quiet life and Nick's post-breakup vulnerability make them relatable and easy to root for. The book leans heavily into the "feel-good" aspect offering a light and engaging reading experience.
However, it doesn't entirely escape some of the genre's familiar patterns. While the premise is engaging, the reliance on repeated near misses feel a bit contrived, potentially stretching the patience. The pacing, while generally smooth occasionally felt slow as the story builds towards its resolution. The focus remains primarily on the romantic plot, potentially leaving other aspects of the characters' lives and backstories somewhat underdeveloped.
Overall, The Near Miss is a pleasant and enjoyable romantic comedy that delivers on its promise of a feel-good story. It's a good choice for readers who enjoy lighthearted, fate-driven love stories with a focus on charming encounters and the slow burn of a destined connection.
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
On the positive side, the book excels at creating that "will they/won't they" tension that's essential to this kind of story. The repeated near misses are often charming and sometimes humorous, effectively drawing the reader into Wren and Nick's potential relationship. Joseph also creates likable protagonists. Wren's desire for a quiet life and Nick's post-breakup vulnerability make them relatable and easy to root for. The book leans heavily into the "feel-good" aspect offering a light and engaging reading experience.
However, it doesn't entirely escape some of the genre's familiar patterns. While the premise is engaging, the reliance on repeated near misses feel a bit contrived, potentially stretching the patience. The pacing, while generally smooth occasionally felt slow as the story builds towards its resolution. The focus remains primarily on the romantic plot, potentially leaving other aspects of the characters' lives and backstories somewhat underdeveloped.
Overall, The Near Miss is a pleasant and enjoyable romantic comedy that delivers on its promise of a feel-good story. It's a good choice for readers who enjoy lighthearted, fate-driven love stories with a focus on charming encounters and the slow burn of a destined connection.
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
June 10, 2024
3.5/5
"The Near Miss" is a contemporary romance novel that weaves the lives of two seemingly unrelated individuals, Nick and Wren, into a tapestry of near misses and fateful encounters. The book presents an intriguing premise where the protagonists' lives intersect in unexpected ways, eventually leading to an inevitable and dramatic meeting. It all starts when Nick accidentally drops a sheet of glass from a window, nearly injuring Wren. This incident sets off a chain of events filled with near misses, mishaps, and coincidences that keep drawing them closer together.
The strength of the book lies in how it constructs the intertwined lives of Nick and Wren. The author skillfully creates a series of incidents where their actions unknowingly affect each other's lives, building anticipation for their eventual meeting. While the build-up to Nick and Wren's meeting is well-crafted and engaging, the climax and resolution feel rushed. After investing in the slow burn of their near encounters, the hurried ending leaves much to be desired. The conclusion seems to gloss over crucial emotional developments, and the rapid pace undermines the depth of the connection that the narrative has been meticulously setting up.
Overall, *The Near Miss* is a good read for fans of romance and serendipitous love stories. It offers an interesting exploration of fate and how seemingly insignificant actions can have significant impacts on our lives. Despite its rushed ending, the book is enjoyable and heartwarming, making it a pleasant escape into a world where love is just a series of coincidences away.
If you enjoy stories about destiny, chance encounters, and the magic of unexpected romance, then this book might just be the perfect addition to your reading list!
"The Near Miss" is a contemporary romance novel that weaves the lives of two seemingly unrelated individuals, Nick and Wren, into a tapestry of near misses and fateful encounters. The book presents an intriguing premise where the protagonists' lives intersect in unexpected ways, eventually leading to an inevitable and dramatic meeting. It all starts when Nick accidentally drops a sheet of glass from a window, nearly injuring Wren. This incident sets off a chain of events filled with near misses, mishaps, and coincidences that keep drawing them closer together.
The strength of the book lies in how it constructs the intertwined lives of Nick and Wren. The author skillfully creates a series of incidents where their actions unknowingly affect each other's lives, building anticipation for their eventual meeting. While the build-up to Nick and Wren's meeting is well-crafted and engaging, the climax and resolution feel rushed. After investing in the slow burn of their near encounters, the hurried ending leaves much to be desired. The conclusion seems to gloss over crucial emotional developments, and the rapid pace undermines the depth of the connection that the narrative has been meticulously setting up.
Overall, *The Near Miss* is a good read for fans of romance and serendipitous love stories. It offers an interesting exploration of fate and how seemingly insignificant actions can have significant impacts on our lives. Despite its rushed ending, the book is enjoyable and heartwarming, making it a pleasant escape into a world where love is just a series of coincidences away.
If you enjoy stories about destiny, chance encounters, and the magic of unexpected romance, then this book might just be the perfect addition to your reading list!
June 9, 2024
First of all I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
The plot of this book was screaming my name, I had to!
One day as Wren is walking out of her best friend’s bookstore she almost gets hit with a window glass that falls from above where Nick is restoring the little building. Little does she know that fate is moving strings.
This is such a lovely and refreshing story, I fell deeply in love with the concept. You may think it’s only about the destiny between the main characters but I personally believe there’s so much more in it.
I did wanted to read a bit more of Wren and Nick together, I think at least with an Epilogue but I probably understand the writing process of their story.
💖 As all of my ARC’s (I just love discovering writers) I didn’t knew this author, and once again I’m so happy that I got the chance to read her work for the first time, and in advance. I was hooked since the first chapter, it’s a great debut novel. I’ll be happy to read more from her.
The plot of this book was screaming my name, I had to!
One day as Wren is walking out of her best friend’s bookstore she almost gets hit with a window glass that falls from above where Nick is restoring the little building. Little does she know that fate is moving strings.
This is such a lovely and refreshing story, I fell deeply in love with the concept. You may think it’s only about the destiny between the main characters but I personally believe there’s so much more in it.
I did wanted to read a bit more of Wren and Nick together, I think at least with an Epilogue but I probably understand the writing process of their story.
💖 As all of my ARC’s (I just love discovering writers) I didn’t knew this author, and once again I’m so happy that I got the chance to read her work for the first time, and in advance. I was hooked since the first chapter, it’s a great debut novel. I’ll be happy to read more from her.
July 30, 2024
Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.
This was overall a really cute, fun, and easy read. Nothing too memorable stood out but it was funny and sweet. I loved reading and learning about all the side characters, not just the main characters. This book really makes you think how many missed opportunities and near misses there are between people. Fate pulls you together at just the right moment. I really wished there was more of an ending or an epilogue than what was given. I wanted more bad things to happen to Alex for cheating and being a complete prick to 2 women. I wanted to know more about the budding romance between the debut author and Libby. I felt like there were too many stories and plots going on and none of them really finishing. This could have been a series with each book being about a different character/couple. Like Nick finding his dad was really anticlimactic. I enjoyed the fast pace of the book but I wanted complete stories and endings.
This was overall a really cute, fun, and easy read. Nothing too memorable stood out but it was funny and sweet. I loved reading and learning about all the side characters, not just the main characters. This book really makes you think how many missed opportunities and near misses there are between people. Fate pulls you together at just the right moment. I really wished there was more of an ending or an epilogue than what was given. I wanted more bad things to happen to Alex for cheating and being a complete prick to 2 women. I wanted to know more about the budding romance between the debut author and Libby. I felt like there were too many stories and plots going on and none of them really finishing. This could have been a series with each book being about a different character/couple. Like Nick finding his dad was really anticlimactic. I enjoyed the fast pace of the book but I wanted complete stories and endings.
July 11, 2024
Wren and Nick seem to have fate on their side or do they? After multiple near miss accidents they always seem to be in the same place at the same time. Wren is walking out of her favorite bookshop when a sheet of glass falls from a window above her. It shatters into a million pieces at her feet. By the time Nick arrives on the street below to apologize, Wren is already gone. But this isn’t the last time they have a “run in” with each other. They always seem to meet by accident, but is fate ever going to be on their side or will it always be an accident?
The Near Miss written by author Lily Joseph is a wonderfully written rom-com. I really enjoyed this story and Wren and Nick were utterly delightful. I loved the banter between the characters and this book had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed never knowing how they would meet again as it added mystery to the storyline. This lovely story is fun and a definite must read. I loved it and I highly recommend it.
The Near Miss written by author Lily Joseph is a wonderfully written rom-com. I really enjoyed this story and Wren and Nick were utterly delightful. I loved the banter between the characters and this book had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed never knowing how they would meet again as it added mystery to the storyline. This lovely story is fun and a definite must read. I loved it and I highly recommend it.
May 14, 2025
3 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
conceptually this book had so much potential and i was definitely expecting more.
if this was written differently or took a different approach it could have been really good. but the constant accidents and mishaps were honestly annoying to read because you knew they were coming at some point in the chapter.
i was also not expecting them to spend so much of the book apart. i did enjoy their separate backstories but i can’t help but feel like it could have been shorter so that we could get to the actual romance and build up. like even 80% into the book there was no real romance just that they clearly have an invisible string and have a connection but they still don’t actually know each other at this point, which i thought was a weird choice.
honestly i definitely cared more about their separate lives than i did about their eventual love story, it felt more realistic and it was just overall more intriguing to see they kinds of things each of them were dealing and working through.
conceptually this book had so much potential and i was definitely expecting more.
if this was written differently or took a different approach it could have been really good. but the constant accidents and mishaps were honestly annoying to read because you knew they were coming at some point in the chapter.
i was also not expecting them to spend so much of the book apart. i did enjoy their separate backstories but i can’t help but feel like it could have been shorter so that we could get to the actual romance and build up. like even 80% into the book there was no real romance just that they clearly have an invisible string and have a connection but they still don’t actually know each other at this point, which i thought was a weird choice.
honestly i definitely cared more about their separate lives than i did about their eventual love story, it felt more realistic and it was just overall more intriguing to see they kinds of things each of them were dealing and working through.
April 5, 2024
A really exciting debut novel from Lily Joseph that is all about fate and following your heart. I really enjoyed getting to know Wren and Nick in particular, and their trip to the Amalfi Coast really took me back to my time there!
I would have liked a bit more of Wren and Nick's relationship as I think the build up to them getting together was a bit too long. However, overall, I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC
I would have liked a bit more of Wren and Nick's relationship as I think the build up to them getting together was a bit too long. However, overall, I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC
April 18, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture Publishing for a chance to read this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I will be honest, I really liked the story line and where this book was going in the first 5 chapters. After that I didn’t love it. I felt like it drug on and on. I was hoping it was just one of those books that starts good, for boring, and got really good. But it didn’t.
I will be honest, I really liked the story line and where this book was going in the first 5 chapters. After that I didn’t love it. I felt like it drug on and on. I was hoping it was just one of those books that starts good, for boring, and got really good. But it didn’t.
dnf
August 5, 2024DNF At 5%
The premise seems extremely interesting but being American I genuinely can’t get past the British slang. It’s not that I don’t like Britain it’s just that I’m not familiar with the slang so it throws me off and out of the “reading experience”
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
The premise seems extremely interesting but being American I genuinely can’t get past the British slang. It’s not that I don’t like Britain it’s just that I’m not familiar with the slang so it throws me off and out of the “reading experience”
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 29, 2024
I'm sorry to say that this book was a near miss for me. Far too slow to get going for this genre. I nearly gave up as i was starting to think it was never going to happen. I don't think the dual POV added anything for me either, felt a tad repetitive at times too.
Was left wanting more.
Was left wanting more.
April 3, 2024
2.5 stars
Wren and Nick keep missing each other. I felt like this book was too many near misses and took a while to get into and then was rushed at the end. I wanted more romance
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc
Wren and Nick keep missing each other. I felt like this book was too many near misses and took a while to get into and then was rushed at the end. I wanted more romance
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc
April 9, 2024
so boring and i lost interest in it by the 3rd chapter, didn’t even know where this was going and i honestly skipped a lot bc i just didn’t want to read it, skipped to the end just bc i had to review it on netgalley but honestly i regret requesting this one a lot lol
Read
February 25, 2025DNF @ 20% I found this book difficult to get into, and the writing lacking a little bit of punch. The dialogue felt stinted and the plot a little contrived. Overall, I just don’t think this one was for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2025
This was a unique romance book. I appreciated the concept of this book and how it was told through dual points of view. I liked both the main characters, but this one struggled to keep my attention at times. Overall this was a good summer read.
Thank you to Grand Central Pub for the gifted copy.
Thank you to Grand Central Pub for the gifted copy.
December 19, 2025
Such a painfully average book. Not worth the read. Too many subplots, average writing, and a bunch of filler in between.
July 15, 2024
This is a sweet, slow-burn story about fate bringing people together. Wren and Nick are linked by a series of near misses (some of them near fatal!) but don’t actually connect until their paths cross in Italy. The writing style is engaging and the Capri setting is vividly depicted. The main character development is great, and there are lots of appealing supporting characters too. Fans of feel-good, serendipitous stories are sure to enjoy this one.
March 30, 2024
This book was a good rom com. Very much a will they won’t they book. It took a while to get into but once I got in to it I couldn’t put it down.
Nick and Wrens points of view throughout the book kept me to thinking when or if they will meet.
The characters were likeable and overall I really enjoyed the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
Nick and Wrens points of view throughout the book kept me to thinking when or if they will meet.
The characters were likeable and overall I really enjoyed the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
April 23, 2024
thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Sophie Ranald for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“i feel like you’re my lighthouse.”
nick and wren keep missing each other. it takes broken windows, a near car crash and a trip to italy for fate to throw them together. misfortune follows misfortune and when they finally meet, is it cupid’s arrow or plain old love at first sight?
i thought this was a cute debut. i do think that disaster after disaster got a little much and i would’ve preferred for their relationship to actually undergo some kind of development instead of having them finally meet and it being instant connection. i liked wren and nick as individual characters and one of my favourite parts of the novel was nick’s relationship with ruby. the familial dynamics presented in this were interesting, but overall my main critique is that 80% of the book was buildup and i felt like we didn’t really see much of them together as a couple so i struggled to see them as a collective unit. it’s still a cute one-sitting read and i think lily joseph has such potential for future romcoms!
The Near Miss releases on July 10, 2024!
“i feel like you’re my lighthouse.”
nick and wren keep missing each other. it takes broken windows, a near car crash and a trip to italy for fate to throw them together. misfortune follows misfortune and when they finally meet, is it cupid’s arrow or plain old love at first sight?
i thought this was a cute debut. i do think that disaster after disaster got a little much and i would’ve preferred for their relationship to actually undergo some kind of development instead of having them finally meet and it being instant connection. i liked wren and nick as individual characters and one of my favourite parts of the novel was nick’s relationship with ruby. the familial dynamics presented in this were interesting, but overall my main critique is that 80% of the book was buildup and i felt like we didn’t really see much of them together as a couple so i struggled to see them as a collective unit. it’s still a cute one-sitting read and i think lily joseph has such potential for future romcoms!
The Near Miss releases on July 10, 2024!
August 23, 2024
ARC Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lily Joseph explores the themes of fate versus chance in her debut novel, The Near Miss. While Wren and Nick are connected by a handful of invisible strings, they have never actually met. Is it only a matter of time before the universe thrusts them together, or will it stand in their way?
I found this to be a beautiful story. Joseph’s writing wove together two storylines perfectly. By choosing to write the story in alternating points of view (Wren and Nick) readers were allowed to both to see and hear their individual perspectives.
While I did enjoy this book, I had a few issues with it, mainly how it was marketed. It felt more like women’s fiction than a romantic comedy. I came into this book expecting it to be one thing and I got something completely different. Perhaps if the cover and description had been less whimsical I wouldn’t have been so caught off guard.
Special thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Lily Joseph for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lily Joseph explores the themes of fate versus chance in her debut novel, The Near Miss. While Wren and Nick are connected by a handful of invisible strings, they have never actually met. Is it only a matter of time before the universe thrusts them together, or will it stand in their way?
I found this to be a beautiful story. Joseph’s writing wove together two storylines perfectly. By choosing to write the story in alternating points of view (Wren and Nick) readers were allowed to both to see and hear their individual perspectives.
While I did enjoy this book, I had a few issues with it, mainly how it was marketed. It felt more like women’s fiction than a romantic comedy. I came into this book expecting it to be one thing and I got something completely different. Perhaps if the cover and description had been less whimsical I wouldn’t have been so caught off guard.
Special thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Lily Joseph for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
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