Dear Missing Friend

Storied Sisters Society #1

by Susan McGuirk

Three hearts. Countless letters. One impossible choice.

Through letters exchanged across oceans and Manhattan streets, Irish immigrant Catherine McGuirk navigates love, ambition, and heartbreak. Torn between her seafaring husband, the suitor she once refused, and her own dreams, Catherine's fate unfolds in an intimate, epistolary saga of passion, resilience, and nineteenth-century life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

268 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

For fans of "The Dictionary of Lost Words" and "An American Beauty," Amazon Best Selling author Susan McGuirk has a new historical fiction book called "Dear Missing Friend" from Sea Crow Press, available on Amazon.
She writes about historical fiction heroines on her free newsletter The Storied Sister Society on Substack. Learn more at https://susanmcguirk.com.

Reviews

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk was written entirely through letter correspondence between friends, family and acquaintances. It was an interesting format that easily captured my attention once I got used to it. It portrayed the essence of what life was like both in Ireland and various parts of New York during the 19th century. Dear Missing Friend focused on the day to day life of Catherine McGuirk, an Irish immigrant, who arrived in New York City with her two brothers. It focused on the challenges and difficulties immigrants and especially immigrant women faced during that time in America’s history. Life in Ireland had gotten extremely hard during the 19th century and many families wanted to give their loved ones a chance for a better life in America. However, many Irish immigrants faced similar hardships, adversity and obstacles when they arrived in America. There were not many job opportunities available for Irish immigrants. Many worked in ship building and fishing. Some of these immigrants were able to either rent or buy land for farming, a life they were familiar with. The author, Susan McGuirk, based her book on the experiences of her own family. Dear Missing Friend was the first book in the Storied Sisters Society series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to Sea Crow Press for allowing me to read Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Rae Payette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago I would not have appreciated a book like this, but after frantically flipping the pages of letter correspondence between Catherine and her family and friends- I was consumed by this book.

I felt a part of it. I felt like I had stepped through the pages into the 1800’s and was living along side Catherine every time new correspondence came. These letters evoked emotion in me for the characters- I felt what Catherine felt reading each and every one, and how she felt writing them. I couldn’t wait to read each new letter and find out what was happening. I literally couldn’t read it fast enough; I also wanted to sit and relish it.

There was so much that took place in the pages or rather letters; struggles of immigration, whaling seamen, famine, gold rush, war, marriage, abandonment, survival, loss, love, friendship, family. So many hardships.

But, more than anything this book left me with the absolute importance of connection; as many of these characters wouldn’t have made it through their situations without them.

I must go grieve Catherine now, as she feels like a lost friend.

Synopsis:
Sag Harbor, New York, 1840s: Catherine McGuirk leaves Ireland and a shipboard proposal behind, determined to forge a new life in America. Amid the bustling height of the whaling era, she marries a dashing sailor who vows to give up life on the sea. But when he vanishes westward in pursuit of gold, she is forced to chart her own course as a governess in Manhattan society. Torn between her ambition, the vanished whaleman she married, and the now-wealthy suitor she refused, she must navigate love, loss, and the tides of a changing world.

5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

P.S. Absolutely read the author’s note. This book - while a work of fiction is based on real people and there are pictures and historical data in the author’s note that make this book even more valid and precious.

Side note: People who enjoyed the Correspondent will enjoy this book - and I dare say even more. I LOVED this book, even though I wasn’t a fan of the Correspondent.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to branch out and try more genres this year and this book was the perfect choice. I didn’t expect to get as invested as I did.It’s told through letters which I always think is fun and it follows Catherine, an Irish immigrant trying to figure out her life in the middle of love, ambition, and everything in between. The wonderlust was so real. She’s caught between her husband who’s often away at sea, a man she once turned down, and her own wants for the future and you kind of watch all of that unfold through these really personal exchanges across oceans and New York.I loved how intimate it felt. Like you’re literally reading people’s thoughts and feelings as they happen, which makes all the choices and heartbreak hit a little harder. Catherine especially felt very real torn, hopeful, and just trying to do what’s right for herself in a time where that wasn’t always easy.It’s more on the slower, reflective side i could not recommend this one enough.

[Paulina Bellantonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down and read it in two missed bed times 🤭!

I love books written in the epistolary format and the letter format really worked so well in this story!

Being an immigrant myself - books about the immigrant experience always pull me right in. Surely, Catherine’s experience was very different than mine since she came to the US in the 1840s - a whole 150 years before my family did. Nevertheless, that homesickness and the struggle to fit really resonate.

This book had such a great cast of characters! I loved some and hated others. After adding this book to my Goodreads - it looks like it’s going to be a series and that had me jumping for joy!

[Emma S · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book, thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel*

I really enjoyed reading this book! I love an epistolary novel, and I admire the author’s determination to highlight the lives of regular, working-class women during this time period. I especially appreciated the sources at the end, which anchored the characters in the real people who inspired the story. Thank you for the chance to review an advance copy of such a lovely, heartfelt, and well-researched novel!

[Melissa Blizzard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Missing Friend is an open invitation along with inspirational journey to cling onto those we have encountered along our journeys and remind them how much we love them. Written as a series of heartfelt letters to relatives and friends, the author of Dear Missing Friend understood how to allow the readers to connect with these precious characters through a nontraditional source. Letters include addresses and dates-- so readers can easily identify that most of the letters were sent in correspondence throughout the middle 1800's and the characters resided in New York. these characters are a set of immigrants who sailed to America from Gaelic lands such as Ireland. Though I would much have preferred a happier and more poignant ending for these dear characters, who many readers will identify as friends, it still shines through that the author, Susan McGuirk, conveyed their letters, their sentiments, and their messages with dignity, concern, and respect.

[BookstagramSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from both Netgalley and the publisher to read as an early copy for review.

I absolutely love the epistolary writing style. It makes for such a fun way to get to know the characters and this was a great book to do so with.

Yes, I know this was mostly a work of fiction, but that it was based on real people made me just open my heart more to this book.

It was honest, heartbreaking, and definitely made me reflect often while reading it.

Thank you so much for the gifted copy to review.

[Emma Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️ Content Warnings:

Readers should approach this narrative with an awareness of its heavy and often harrowing historical themes, which include visceral depictions of terminal illness and the devastating physical toll of the Great Famine. Beyond the immediate domestic tragedies, the story navigates the systemic scars of slavery and the encroaching shadows of war, while maintaining a constant, unflinching focus on the emotional trauma of abandonment, profound loneliness, and the recurring cycles of grief that shape the protagonist’s experience.

Where I got it from:

A massive thank you to StoryGraph for providing me with a review copy of Dear Missing Friend. As soon as I saw the description – historical fiction, three people connected by endless letters across the sea, and a hint of an unexpected love triangle – I knew I had to request it. It was the perfect birthday treat for a reader who loves a deep, emotional connection.

Overall:

Set against the fractured backdrop of 1864, the novel opens with a hauntingly beautiful ‘missing friend’ newspaper notice. – a desperate reach to an Irish woman that immediately sets the stage for an epic emotional journey.

Following the death of her father, our protagonist, Catherine, flees the hardships of Ireland alongside her three brothers. Her initial arrival in New York is a gritty, honest look at the immigrant experience; she quickly realises the bustling city isn’t the right sanctuary for a young Irish girl seeking her own path. It is during her journey to New York that she meets Patrick, but it is her move away from the city that transforms their connection into something far more profound: a “meeting of the minds on paper.”

Patrick’s letters are a masterclass in honest curiosity. In an era of rigid social propriety, his respect for Catherine’s “thoughts and perceptions” feels strikingly modern. She is a spiritual successor to Elizabeth Bennet – independent, witty, and unwilling to settle – a connection the book even rewards with a clever Pride & Prejudice reference.

When Catherine crosses paths with Daniel, he becomes the intoxicating pull of the unknown. As a man of the sea, he carries a reputation as treacherous as the waves; the local whispers warn Catherine that a sailor’s only true sweetheart is the sea.

What follows is a beautifully paced exploration of communication and longing. Susan McGuirk balances the safety of the written word against the unpredictable spark of a physical encounter. This isn’t just a historical romance; it’s a study of a woman finding her footing in a new world while her heart is pulled between a man who knows her soul and a man whose heart belongs to the horizon.

The first third of Dear Missing Friend is a heart-wrenching study of loss. Catherine is a character who has been stripped of almost everything – her home, her marriage, and her child. The moment her wedding band slips from her finger to join her child in the earth is a stunningly eerie piece of symbolism that marks the end of her past and the birth of her future. Through deeply personal letters to those she trusts, we see her grapple with a profound loneliness that makes her eventual move toward a ‘new life’ feel like a desperate, beautiful act of self-preservation.

One of the most authentic elements of the writing is how Catherine uses literature to navigate her internal world. She doesn’t just read these books; she uses them as a lens to understand emotions that might otherwise feel overwhelming. Linking her desire for independence and exploration to the spirit of Pride and Prejudice grounds her ambition in a historical context of female defiance.

Perhaps most striking is her reflection on Moby-Dick. By drawing parallels between Ahab’s obsession and her husband’s commitment to a dangerous, nomadic life, the author illustrates how we often turn to stories to make sense of the “great white whales” in our own relationships. It is a beautiful nod to the way readers often find their own troubles articulated more clearly on a printed page than in their own thoughts.

On a personal level, this section of the book arrived at the perfect moment for my current headspace. There is a specific, quiet power in watching a character ask the same questions I find myself grappling with: Who am I when I strip away the expectations of others? What am I actually capable of achieving if I stop playing the role assigned to me?

The emotional energy of this middle act is both engaging and deeply reflective. It captures that fragile, electric state of being where you decide to stop merely surviving your circumstances and start actively designing your life. For anyone currently in a season of self-discovery, Catherine’s journey into the unknown of New York feels less like a fictional plot point and more like a shared experience.

While the plot itself contains moments that are unexpecte, the emotional core remains tethered to reality. It serves as a profound reminder of why we turn to fiction in the first place: the circumstances don’t have to mirror our own for the feelings to be identical. Whether Catherine is navigating an era-specific social constraint or a high-stakes personal crisis, her internal dialogue feels as contemporary and urgent as my own. It proves that a well-written story acts as a bridge between the “extraordinary” world of the plot and the “ordinary” struggles of the reader.

It is rare to find a book that demands a physical space on your shelf before you have even finished the digital review copy. However, halfway through this journey with Catherine, I have already decided that a physical copy is a necessity for my permanent collection.

There is a distinct difference between a book you read for the plot and a book you keep for the companionship. This story belongs in the latter category. While the ebook is a perfect way to experience the narrative for the first time, I find myself wanting to own the physical pages – to highlight the passages where Catherine finds herself in Pride & Prejudice, and to have a tangible reminder of her determination to move toward her true self in New York. It is the kind of story that feels “shelf-worthy”; a book I know I will reach for again when I need to be reminded of my own capacity for change and discovery.

Ultimately, this book excels at what I call “The Mirror Effect.” It doesn’t just tell Catherine’s story; it provides a framework for the reader to examine their own. By watching her use literature to decode her grief and her husband’s ambitions, I found myself doing something similar with this very book. The relevance to real life is found not in the “what” of the plot, but in the “how” of the emotions. It is a motivating, deeply engaging exploration of what it means to stop being a bystander in your own life and finally start participating as your truest self.

As the narrative enters its final act, the shadow of the Great Famine stretches over every page, turning the Irish landscape into a place of visceral survival. The rising tide of militia volunteers in New York adds a layer of political volatility, making the safety of Catherine’s inner circle feel increasingly fragile.

McGuirk explores the cyclical nature of loss. Just as Catherine begins to find her footing in new employment, the external pressures of a country in crisis force her to confront the ghosts of her past. It is a poignant look at how trauma doesn’t just happen once; it echoes, especially when the world around you is fracturing.

By these final chapters, the sense of foreboding is so thick you can almost feel the desperation of the era. As a reader, you find yourself Bargaining with the narrative – hoping for a sliver of light or some sort of positive turn for Catherine’s family amidst the grim reality of the militia’s growth. It speaks to McGuirk’s ability to make us care deeply for these characters that their potential for happiness feels so high-stakes.

The final chapters offer a stunning subversion of typical historical drama. Instead of a narrative centered on the return or forgiveness of the husband who left, McGuirk brings us to a much more difficult and rewarding destination: Catherine’s forgiveness of herself. It is a powerful reminder that our most significant relationships are often the ones we navigate within our own hearts.

Favourite characters:

Catherine: the heart and soul of this journey. Following the loss of her father, she carries the weight of her three brothers and her own dreams from Ireland to the unknown of America. She isn’t looking for a man to save her; she’s looking for a life where she is allowed to have thoughts of her own. Her growth from a grieving daughter to a woman navigating the complexities of New York and beyond is incredibly moving.

Patrick: rather than being deterred by Catherine’s initial refusal of his hand, he is intrigued by it. He shows a level of emotional intelligence and respect that feels ahead of his time. His letters are vulnerable, honest, and filled with a curiosity that makes him feel like a true partner rather than just a suitor. He proves that intimacy doesn’t always need a physical presence; sometimes, it just needs a pen and an open heart.

Favourite quotes:

“A book is a helpful diversion on deck during the long days at sea.”

“I will see you again. It will not be here, but somewhere else far away. I will come and find you there, wherever it is.”

How it ends:

The resolution is a poignant, heavy-hearted look at the consequences of pride and the fragility of life during the Famine era. It is a story that ends not with a celebration, but with a profound sense of ‘what might have been.’ However, the epilogue provides a breathtaking shift, transforming Catherine’s personal grief into a global legacy. Through her love of books, her voice survives – not just through bloodlines, but through a tapestry of friends and family across the world. It is a hauntingly beautiful reminder that even when we lose the battle against time, our stories can still find their way home.

Favourite part:

There is an unexpected surge of emotional energy as we cross into the second third of this story that took my breath away. We move from the quiet, heavy atmosphere of loneliness into this gritty, beautiful determination. The protagonist’s decision to head to New York isn’t an escape – it’s an arrival. Watching her navigate the tension between who she was expected to be and who she actually is makes for a deeply engaging and motivating read. It’s that pivot point where survival turns into a search for self.

Rating out of 5:

Dear Missing Friend is a thoughtful and emotionally rich piece of historical fiction that shines in its exploration of grief, identity, and self-discovery. Catherine’s journey feels deeply personal, and the way she turns to literature to understand her life adds a beautiful layer of introspection to the narrative.

While the persistent shadow of loss creates a powerful and authentic atmosphere, the emotional heaviness can make parts of the story feel slower and more contemplative than plot-driven. However, the novel’s final act delivers a meaningful and mature resolution, focusing not on romantic closure but on Catherine learning to forgive herself.

Overall, this is a moving and reflective story that lingers long after the final page, earning a strong 4 out of 5 stars.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1841. Catherine McGuirk sails to America from Ireland in hopes of a better life. She travels aboard a ship with two brothers, leaving the youngest brother in Ireland with an uncle. On the ship, she meets and becomes friends with a young man. He proposes marriage, but Catherine turns him down. Still, they remain life-long pen pals. Later, in America, she meets Michael, a whaler. Her brothers warn her that he will never give up the sea, but he tells her he would, if she would marry him. Catherine has dreamt of being a governess, but perhaps marriage is the better choice. In this epistolary novel, Catherine’s life unfolds in stark reality. Her life is a hard one. At times, she and her brothers scramble for food and lodging, finding it difficult to obtain jobs and to save money for the future. Gold fever hits the east coast and entices the men away from their families, searching for that elusive vein that will make them rich. Catherine suffers mightily, hoping for the home she does not have, for the position she can’t achieve, and mostly, for the child she has lost. As a nurse, she has little status in the home where she works, though the girl she cares for loves her more than she loves her own mother. And when that family leaves for another country, the ties they share are broken. And Catherine must forge a new place for herself. Though unfulfilled dreams and sadness permeates this story, it is still one of courage and resilience. The pages are filled with the struggles of the Irish immigrants, yet these hard times only increased their desire to be strong and persevere through their adversity. Catherine has some difficult decisions to make, and it is only much later that she wonders if she made the wrong ones. This novel is an excellent snapshot of life in the nineteenth century. Through the letters to and from Catherine and her family and friends, we learn what life was like for those newcomers, and how hard it was to achieve any great success. The letters themselves are captivating, and the people come alive through them. It is interesting to note that, though the letters are fictional, the characters are based on the real people, and the main protagonist is an ancestor of the author. This novel is highly recommended to readers of historical fiction.

[Stephanie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this might sound strange to some, but after I finished reading “Dear Missing Friend,” written in the form of corresponding letters, I thought, how would I respond if I were to write a letter in the form of a review? You see, a letter would be more fitting, and more worthy because Susan McGuirk has given readers an incredibly personable and thought-provoking experience and as I navigated through the lives of a family and their friends, I have never felt such a deep connection this way before with characters in this format.

19th Century: Catherine McGuirk and her brothers are Irish immigrants who came to America to start new lives in a world full of uncertainties. Through the years, their thoughts, joy, friendships, heartbreak, domestic troubles, loss of children, abandonment, sorrow, loneliness, are shared through letters in such an open way that it’s as if you were part of their family experiencing everything they were going through.

As Catherine’s decisions in life unfolded, years later she was faced with examining the result of her decisions in life, and as a Christian, I felt such a deep conviction of my own choices in life regarding my relationships past and present. Which brought me to Catherine’s dear friend Jane, and a particular letter she wrote to Catherine about “putting things to right.” That letter really moved me. There is much to reflect on with this story about relationships. There were beautiful lessons of mercy, grace, faith and forgiveness.

There were also so many historical threads interwoven with the characters’ lives and one will experience that with these letters. Such as, the whaling industry, the great famine, civil war, the gold rush, immigration of the Irish, the Panic of 1857 and so forth. I also enjoyed reading the poems the author included in the beginning of each chapter by Walt Whitman from his book “Leaves of Grass.” I am going to buy a physical copy of “Dear Missing Friend,” and place it next to my copy of Whitman’s book. This is a story I won’t ever forget. This is a story I will always go back to. Even as I wrote this, I wanted to read the story all over again and I will.

I have rated this book five stars and so far, this book is among my five top favorite stories of this year.

Stephanie
www.layeredpages.com

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This epistolary novel takes place in the United States from 1841 – 1870. Catherine immigrated from Ireland with her two brothers to escape the hunger in Ireland after their father died. She starts a correspondence with Patrick, who she met on the ship bringing them to the US. There was a bit of a spark between them but they decided that establishing themselves in their new country was their primary concern and became writing friends. Their friendship over the years is a road map of the lives that many immigrants took when they first arrived. After not being able to find jobs in New York and facing discrimination because they were Irish, Catherine and her brothers moved to Sag Harbor where one of her brothers bought land and started farming and the other got a job on the docks. After the alienation that the Irish felt in NY plus the lack of job, the family began to make friends and feel like they had a real home after their move. There Catherine met Michael who worked on a whale boat and was gone for months at a time. Despite her brother’s objection, Catherine and Michael got married and she was destined to a life of loneliness while he was away at sea. Catherine also exchanged letters with her younger brother, still in Ireland, her best friend from childhood and other friends. She wanted more out of life than keeping house and her letters traced her changing life from a hotel worker to a teacher and governess. She is ecstatic when her husband decides to give up being on a ship but very unhappy when the gold rush started in California and he as well as many men from their town, headed west to make it rich. She decided after that that she wasn’t going to wait for him but would try to fulfill her own dreams of becoming her own person.

I normally don’t like epistolary novels but this one was a real exception. Through the letters, the reader was able to learn about the immigrant experience and many of the immigrants’ goals to be successful and fulfil their dreams in America. These letters had information, joy and eventually grief as Catherine became a strong woman and fulfilled many of her dreams.

Be sure to read the Author’s Notes at the end of the book where she writes about the people in the book who were actual members of her family.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

*Note that this book is in epistolary format (told through letters) so if you don't like that, this one probably isn't going to work for you*

This was a very good, but also very sad epistolary novel. Told through letters mostly sent and received by our main character, Catherine, we get the story of a family of Irish immigrants coming to New York during a very tumultuous time (both in America and Ireland). Catherine, being educated in Ireland, dreams of becoming a governess during a time when not many women had occupations and Irish immigrants were turned away from the few opportunities available. The epistolary format works well here as we unravel Catherine's life through corresponds in her native Ireland and friends she makes along the way as they all wind up in new areas.

One of the most interesting things about this book is that the author took inspiration from two articles she found dated four years apart of a man looking for his missing wife. It just so happens that this wife he was looking for is the author's own second great-aunt. The author began wondering why the wife (her own relative) may not have responded and this novel was born.

Another thing the author did was separate her cast of characters across vast areas to showcase all the different things going on in America and Ireland during the time frame of the book (1841-1870). At times it felt a little contrived that Catherine kept meeting some famous people of the time, but who knows, there were a lot less people around back then, maybe it was easier to bump into someone famous and develop correspondence with them. However, they are people that would have been around these places during these times.

Personally, I don't see this book as a romance. Is there love, yes. Is it the focus, no. It's more about distance, family, loss, hope, and finding yourself in it all. It's a very human novel with a lot of emotion. Great for historical fiction lovers who enjoy epistolary novels.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Missing Friend is a sublime epistolary historical novel which melted and broke my heart. I am thrilled it is the first of a new series called Storied Sisters Society and am eagerly anticipating subsequent instalments. Beginning in the 1840s and spanning a few decades, this is a quiet contemplative story which captivated me from the very beginning. The characters are believable and so are hardships, love, joy, and sorrow.

Catherine McGuirk left Ireland, her family and home for a better life in the United States. The journey was difficult but arriving was even worse. As a female Irish Catholic immigrant, she was openly shunned, rejected, and did not fit in which meant she had to work twice as hard at everything she did. Her religion and race were sadly divisive. Her passion was teaching but life doesn't always go as planned. The novel is told in emotional letters from her Da to his children and between Catherine and her three protective brothers. There are letters to Catherine's dearest friends and penfriend, her husband, other family members, and even a little-known author of the time before becoming a household name. The entire time I had the sense of the correct era and place. Nostalgia wrapped me in warmth as I recalled the pleasure and art of letter writing and meaningful and lasting relationships. Crippling loss brought tears to my eyes but there were also times of pure love and joy. Events of the time such as famine and the reality of poverty added to the time capsule.

The author's soul for the story is evident. Based on her family history, intricate details bring even more life to the story. Do be sure to read her lovely notes and absorb the personal photographs in the back of the book. I feel that this book was written specifically for me. The emotional connection is THAT strong and beautiful.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Catherine McGuirk Hefferman’s friends (and family) stretch from Ireland to the United States to South America, port of calls in Europe plus Central and South American; it is the fragile roots in her homeland of Ireland and her pursuit of a purpose in the United States that frame the journey ahead.

Immigration today is a challenge, but the book takes place in the time period of the 1840s-1870. Opportunities were few and risks were plentiful for a lone female landing in New York from Ireland.

Despite the years and it is a compact 183 page read; Catherine truly blooms where she is planted. I recently finished a book that was 500 pages and it was a pleasure to read this engaging epistolary format from a first-time author.

(I have read another book by this publisher and these historical references are on point. This book covers the entire globe so the accuracy is even more impressive. )

The letters replaced whatever or whoever was lacking in her daily life and I felt her correspondence was a way of mapping out her future. Her goals unfolded & evolved with each letter. No matter whether friends/family were near or far, Catherine’s fierce loyalty remained constant.

I also sensed her yearning for a better end result that included not only a dedicated partner, but also a chance to earn her own way using her talents. Boarding that ship alone and surviving the rough seas in steerage only strengthened the resolve she would need upon arrival in the 19th Century United States.

The author’s notes at the conclusion of the read are well done and an added bonus to its vast research. NetGalley noted this is Book One by the author so we can only hope to see this story continue. I thank NetGalley, Sea Crow Pass Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Linda Brennen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cathy is a young woman who leaves Ireland with her two older brothers to make a new life in America. On board the ship she befriends a young man who will prove influential throughout all of her days. She is singleminded and has dreams of being a teacher or governess. She also dreams of being a wife and mother. Her dreams are not unrealistic but they are ambitious and somewhat conflicting for the time and place. Difficult decisions, sacrifice, and tragedy define her life.

The real trials and tribulations of young immigrants to New York in the 1800s, especially women, are realized through the fictionalized portrayal of the author’s actual family, their friends and acquaintances.

The story was told in the form of letters to and from the main character Cath. One of the beauties of this method of storytelling was to allow gaps when specifics of the family history were unknown. The second was to provide innermost thoughts and feelings as a fictionalized account of real people.

The book was written beautifully with descriptions that transport the reader to the time and place, include historic events experienced through contemporaneous eyes, and invest you in the character’s lives. I truly enjoyed the book and recommend it to all who love reality based historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and Sea Crow Pass for the opportunity to review this ebook before the publication date of May 19, 2026. All opinions expressed are my own.

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[Manikya Kodithuwakku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, well-researched, and unputdownable!

It is difficult to believe that this is a debut - just from how cleverly the story is told. The novel is in epistolary form, and we read letters that the protagonist, Cathy, writes to her family and friends, and their responses. While I was a bit hesitant going into this, wrongly assuming that the characters will end up being flat, I found myself eagerly awaiting particular responses, impatiently reading the letters in-between. Other than a few peripheral characters, every person is well-drawn, and even when we don’t agree with their choices, we understand why they made them. For me, this is a really good guage of characterisation!

Susan McGuirk also captures the sense of the places we move through, esp New York city of the time and its fringes, and even places to which characters travel with the Gold Rush and the world war. It hones in on the limits posed for women at the time, the first pangs of feminist activism, and the moral choices that are caught between them. This is one of those novels that make you feel like you’re walking beside the protagonist, and listening to her tell her life story as an immigrant, woman, teacher, sister, and partner.

The real surprise though was going through the bibligraphy and photos of the places the author has added as an appendix to the novel. Going by the understanding that the novel is based on the story of a grand-aunt of the author, it was a pleasant surprise to find that almost all the characters are referenced. The facts of their life has been woven so seamlessly into the narrative that we end up feeling like we had read the most minute details of real-life people. This is another reason that I find it difficult to believe this is a debut - years worth of research has gone into creating the spine of this story, and the imagined fleshing out is a completely immersive read!

Can’t wait to see more from Susan McGuirk!

Thanks to BookSirens and the author for an ARC!

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how this novel unfolded through letters based off a true family that immigrated to the US from Ireland. Catherine and her brothers head to the US for a new life and are in for quite the shock when they get across the ocean. The Irish are not very welcomed, there is hardly any work, and there is rudeness and filth all over. Through strength and hard work, they do eventually all find work in New York, they are not rich but things are progressing in the right direction. She does find a position teaching some children, finds a husband and eventually is with child. It's the American dream, but gone all too soon. Her husband has headed west to strike it rich with gold, every mother's worst nightmare happens and the family who has given her employment is moving to Paris. Once again, Catherine seeks advice from her two loyal friends, who always offer solid advice and words of wisdom. These big changes in her life has changed her and now she knows what she wants and desires for her life. When years later she finds that her husband is trying to find her, her past comes back. All that he left behind, the changes she has made and the choices she made. Now she must decide if she wants to reconcile with her past or possibly live with all she has carried this entire time. I really loved this story! Loved all the historical documents included in the notes at the end. I really also adored Jane and Patrick. Thank you to the author and publisher for the complementary novel and to Over the River Public Relations for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. This book is different to anything I can remember reading. There is no start or finish story in the normal way, it's entirely made up of letters between ancestors of the author. The central "character" , Catherine McGuirk and her two older brothers travel from a village in Ireland in 1841, before the famine but suffering under English rule. Their younger brother and cousin are too young but are saving for their passage. Catherine's childhood friend also joins them. There are other people, both immigrants and friends Catherine met in New York. Running through the book is Walt Whitman's book of poetry, Leaves of Grass, as a commentary before each section. Catherine met him in her early employment in New York.
Some of the family and friends find contentment, even happiness. Catherine herself opens her heart to those closest to her and offers advice to others. She comes over as a strong willed woman who, whilst being disappointed in one way, feels satisfaction in her achievements. The book covers the period of the Irish Famine and the American civil war. Even after Catherine's death there are some poignant letters. Susan McGuirk has included at the end every source she used to piece together her ancestors lives - and added her own imagination to put together this fascinating insight into the lives of Irish immigrants to America in the early decades of the 19th century.

[Katherine Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Missing Friend is a must-read for fans of 19th-century American historical fiction. In this heartfelt and engaging epistolary novel, a young Irish woman named Catherine McGuirk navigates love, loss, friendship, family duties, earning an income, and dealing with prejudice as an immigrant. Spanning three decades, from 1841 to 1870, Dear Missing Friend is set in lower Manhattan and on Eastern Long Island, featuring real-life characters and events. The protagonist is the author’s second great aunt. Catherine’s correspondents include her three brothers, her sister-in-law, a potential suitor she meets aboard the ship from Ireland to New York, and a handsome, restless sailor with whom she falls in love. Catherine also writes to a friend from Sag Harbor, a Native woman of the Montaukett tribe. Delightfully, Herman Melville and Walt Whitman make cameo appearances in the book. Quotes from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass enhance the novel’s appeal. New York City history buffs will immediately recognize the 1832 Merchant’s House on East Fourth Street and St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street. Similarly, Long Island history enthusiasts will enjoy references to the Mulfords of the Mulford House in East Hampton and the St. David A.M.E. Zion Church in Sag Harbor’s Eastville neighborhood. Fans of the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum will appreciate the local whaling connections. Reading this novel is a great way to explore 19th-century American history.

[Smithers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC via BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.

What an interesting book about Irish immigrants in the mid to late 1800s coming to America. Mainly, the book revolves around the McGuirk siblings who come to the US in search of a better life for each of them. We also hear a bit about life during the potatoes famine in Ireland and struggles in the US to make ends meet at a time of shifting work industries.

This book tore at my heart quite often. I really felt bad for Catherine and the situation her husband, Michael, put her in. At the same time, I really felt bad for Michael. Catherine, as much as she was in love with him, she did not really understand him. Otherwise, she would not have asked him to give up his trade of whaling and being on the sea that he loved.

I did find myself angry with Catherine! Her own pride was part of her hardships - not just Michael.

What worked for me was getting to know ancillary characters like Patrick, Pierre, and June. I got other perspectives on Catherine’s life as well as their own.

I feel I would have given this a 5-star rating had some of the maps and pictures been embedded in the book while I was reading. I would have been more immersed and invested in the story than I already was.

Overall this book was a great read and I learned a little history a long the way.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book, Thank You

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the format. The entire story unfolds as the characters write letters to each other, back and forth and over the years. Makes me nostalgic to remember that letter writing used to be a thing.
The main character is Catherine McGuirk, a young girl, who left Ireland with two of her brothers. While on the boat she makes friends with a young man named Patrick, and as their journey continues, they share their hopes and dreams. Once landed in NYC, all of them feel overwhelmed. It's the 1800s and the Irish are not well received. Catherine's one hope and dream was to become a governess and teach, but that door shuts as soon as she opened her mouth to speak. Catherine and her brothers head to Long Island and find a more welcoming community. Catherine writes her brother left behind, her new found friend, Patrick. As her community grows, opportunities present themselves and she makes new acquaintances. Catherine's hopes, fears, loves, losses are all told us in letters over the years, and we really come to know Catherine, and all those she's touched.
Reading the Author's note at the end show what a labor of love this book was to her, and the close connections she formed. Very interesting, engaging, well researched, and a great read.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rating is 3.5.

Well-researched story based on the author’s great-aunt’s life. Catherine McGuirk and her two older brothers leave Ireland and journey to New York City in the mid-19th century, just before the Irish Potato Famine. It is a time of many changes for both Ireland and the New World.

This is an epistolary story, told through letters Catherine exchanges with friends and family. I like epistolary novels because the reader can see events through more than one pair of eyes. However, there may be a few too many correspondents here, but it’s a solid story.

The book gets off to a rather slow start, and the pace slows in the middle. Though Catherine has some joyous moments, the mood overall seems to be dysthymic. I sympathized with her but, as I read more, it became evident that her unhappiness was largely due to decisions she made based on hurt and stubbornness.

Nevertheless, the story brings alive the challenges Irish immigrants faced in 19th century New York City and Sag Harbor. At the very end of the book, the author includes photos of actual documents and real places in the story. Readers of historical fiction and epistolary novels would most likely like this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Missing Friend is a lovely tale of an Irish family’s immigrant journey based on a little-known story from the author’s own family history. The tale is told through correspondence between the main character, Cathy, and her family members and friends and sometimes a few famous names. I found the story well told and interesting with lots of historic details. I admit that I was a little in the dark about the motivations of the main character. I didn’t quite get why she married the man that she did – against her family’s advice and her own instincts. It was not apparent to me why she fell so madly and suddenly in love. Trying to avoid a spoiler, I was a little perplexed about her reasons for other relationships too. However, I felt that the letters were written in the authentic style of the period – meaning personal feelings aren’t always openly shared. I would recommend this book to readers of historical fiction, epistolary fiction, or the Irish immigrant’s life in the United States.
This book also includes footnotes with photos from the author’s research and family history, as well as book club discussion questions.
I received a free advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk is a book written in letter formation. The letters are either to or from Catherine McGuirk. She and two of her brothers left Ireland during the potato famine and emigrated to the US. The story is set in New York (Long Island and Manhattan). The book is based on the author’s family’s history.

Catherine McGuirk always wanted to be a teacher, but most people did not want to hire a woman who speaks with an accent. She is able to work for a couple of hotels. She was able to strike up a friendship with famous authors. She married, but was left for years while her husband was at sea or in the gold fields, so removed herself from him. Eventually she found a job like what she always wanted.

The entire story is told in letters to friends and family and their replies. I found it fascinating following her journey. The fact that letters often allow the reader to hear their inner thoughts and opinions. Catherine was a strong woman who was willing to reach for her dreams despite the time she lived.

Dear Missing Friends by Susan McGuirk is a fun read. I enjoyed the novel!

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Sea Crow Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dear Missing Friend blends real life people and historical settings with the emphasis on telling women’s stories. It is this sort of historical fiction book that I really enjoy. And while the characters in the book are not famous names, their stories are just as important. The book is really a love letter from the author to her ancestors, and you can really feel that throughout the book.

The story of Catherine McGuirk through letters with several people across continents shows us that emotional and generational trauma was and is still real, and the immigrant story is not over in the United States. It seems that she was mapping out her future in these letters, carefully going over her options and relaying them to family. This connection to her homeland was strong through the years.

Catherine McGuirk was an under-the-radar trailblazer who is one of the countless stories of immigration while holding onto her cultural identity. The epistolary format of the historical novel really works to show the intimacy and longing that one might not get with another format.

I appreciate the author sharing part of her family story with her readers.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

📬 Imagine finding a box of old, dusty letters that hold the secrets to a 19th-century love triangle cross-crossing the Atlantic ocean... 🌊✨

Dear Missing Friend is a beautiful epistolary saga, a story told entirely through letters! follows Catherine, a brave Irish immigrant navigating the busy streets of Manhattan.

What made me fall in love with this book was how raw and intimate it felt. Because we are reading actual letters exchanged across oceans, it felt like I was peeking into Catherine's real diary. She is caught in the ultimate emotional tug-of-war, torn between her seafaring husband, a suitor from her past she once refused, and her own big dreams for her new life.

It’s warm, beautifully written, and packed with so much rich, historical detail about 19th-century life and the immigrant experience. There were a few moments in the middle where the pacing slowed down a bit as the letters focused heavily on daily life, but the sheer emotion, passion, and resilience of Catherine kept me completely hooked until the very last page. If you love sweeping historical dramas with deep romantic tension, you need to pick this one up!

✨️ Thank you Over the River PR, See Crow Press and Susan McGuirk for sharing Dear Missing Friend with me!

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine McGuirk is an immigrant from Ireland to America as well as some of her family in the mid-1800s.
The book is different because letters are written throughout the book as a method of communication. I personally enjoyed the book and the letters. Letters are written by friends as well as family.
The main character, Catherine, really lived and was the second great aunt of the author, Susan McGuirk. The book is fiction but based on real people. The author has done extensive research about the time era and the history of the time. There is whaling, the gold rush, immigrants, the Civil War, Herman Melville and his books, Walt Whitman and so much more. Anyone who is interested in genealogy will enjoy this book. I do family research and genealogy is at the top of my lists of things I do.
Be sure to read the Notes at the back of the book; there is one for each chapter.
Susan McGuirk also has the McGuirk Family Tree of 1850 on page 231.
I received a complimentary copy from LibraryThing and the author. I gave Dear Missing Friend a 5 star rating and will probably do a re-read.

[Charla Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wonderful book is the story of Catherine, a young woman from Ireland who went to America with her brothers ahead of the potato famine. Catherine’s life story unfolds through her letters to her family and friends. She meets a young man on the ship that brought her to America that wanted to marry her. But, her brothers didn’t approve of him. She never married him, but had a life long relationship with him through letters. She did get married to a man she loved with all her heart. Not long after the marriage, her husband left her to join the California gold rush. Instead of sitting around pining for her husband she took charge of her life and moved to Manhattan to seek a job as a governess even though her brothers thought she was being foolish. In those days women didn’t just run off to live alone in a big city. But, Catherine had a strong will and was determined to do things her way. She made some wonderful friends that she kept all her life. She made her own way in the world. But, she never forgot that she was still married. The question is: Does she ever get back with her husband?

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Dear Missing Friend

I really enjoyed Dear Missing Friend, especially the unique letter format. The story unfolds through Catherine’s correspondence, which made it feel very personal and gave a deeper look into her thoughts, struggles, and hopes over time.

Catherine is an easy character to root for. Even during periods of loneliness and difficulty, she keeps moving forward and doesn’t give up on her dream of becoming a governess. I admired her perseverance and determination, especially when things weren’t easy.

I also appreciated the relationships in the story. Catherine’s friendship with Jane was a bright spot and showed how meaningful supportive friendships can be. While her family didn’t always give her the support she needed, it was clear that she was still loved, which added another layer of realism to her journey.

Overall, this was a heartfelt and engaging story about perseverance, friendship, and following one’s dreams.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Satterlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character of this book is Catherine McQuirk an 18-year-old woman who leaves her home in Ireland with two of her brothers to settle in America. The time frame is the early to mid 1800's and takes place mostly after settling in the New York city area. The characters are all presented through letters between Catherine and the various family members and friends she develops.

This is the first book I have read written in complete letter format, so I was unsure of what to expect. I am an avid historical fiction reader but found this writing format made the characters and events seemed to stay with me. I didn't miss a word of the various letters and couldn't wait to read about all the characters develop over the years.

This is one of the most beautiful written books I have read and am sure the characters will stay with me for quite some time. I read this very fast as had to know what happened next and was sorry when the concluded.