In Case You Missed It

by Rachel John

Sometimes what's right in front of you is still off-limits.

Single dad Liam Campbell needed a nanny who would make his life less complicated, and Rosalie Barnes more than delivered.

Fast forward four years and they make a great team. He stays out of her personal life, and she stays out of his. At least, that’s their unspoken agreement. But his serious and slightly grumpy demeanor isn't keeping her fun-loving sunshiny personality away anymore. In fact, she insists they're friends.

Leaving letters for each other is the worst idea ever. Too bad he's the one who started it.

Rosalie Barnes loves her job. She plays in the sprinklers and goes for bike rides with two of the best kids in the world. But they’re getting older, and she can’t be their nanny forever. As it is, her crush on their dad has derailed her dating life long enough, and the blind dates her sister sets her up on are getting her nowhere.

But moving on is a little more complicated when Liam Campbell is your boss. And now your confidant. And paying attention to you in ways you never expected.


In Case You Missed It is the first book in a new series of light-hearted and sweet romcoms about sending out messages and getting true love in return.

**All of Rachel John's books are closed-door romances sprinkled with flirty banter and swoony kisses only. **

Genres: Romance, Rom Com, Contemporary, Closed Door Romance, Contemporary Romance

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2026

About the author

Rachel John is the author of books filled with awkward humor and sigh-inducing romance. When not burning dinner or chasing kids, Rachel can be found working on family history, writing, reading, or putting off writing by staring at Facebook. She lives in Arizona with her husband, four crazy kids, and her desert tortoise.

Reviews

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute nanny romance.

[Vibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just right...

I always enjoy Rachel John's books, but this is going to be among my favorites of hers. The story is boss/employee, but it's also friends to more. The latter of which isn't exactly one of my favorite tropes, since most of them are very one note, but the author made their relationship evolution so sweet & fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it

Rosalie is an easygoing, happy go lucky soul to Liam's seriousness & they have complementarity from the outset. By the story's beginning, they've coordinated their lives with the kids so effectively that they're practically a family already. So it's entertaining watching them sort of back into their romantic relationship instead of taking a more normal route.

The friend notes were a clever device for developing their relationship with the kids being there most of the time. It ended up being exactly the kind of easy, happy read I was looking for right now!

*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

[Dev G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and sweet story. I was hooked from the beginning.

Liam and Rosalie have such an easy connection which made their changing feelings so delightful.

Rosalie is the sweetest and kindest and most caring, especially to Liam’s two kids. Their connection was an absolute joy. Watching Liam, who has been closed off for so long, break free, feeling things he hasn’t felt in a long time made my heart happy.

Tender and heartwarming with endearing side characters. I adore this one!

Thank you to Rachel John for the copy. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole | Nicole's Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Case You Missed It is a fun, lighthearted single dad x nanny romance. It’s so sweet—you won’t want to put it down. And at 197 pages, you won’t have to. I’ve enjoyed all of Rachel’s books, but this one is a new favorite.

I loved Rosalie and Liam together! It was so rewarding to watch them move from employer and employee, to friends, to something more. They were so in tune with each other—they could communicate with just a look. I also loved how they had open, mature conversations every step of the way. Once Liam decided to pursue Rosie, all bets were off. He was completely all in—making arrangements for the kids, clearing his calendar, taking time off work, all so they could have the space to really talk things through and spend uninterrupted time together. They had such a solid foundation built over the past four years, so the relationship never felt rushed—more like inevitable… and finally.

I really enjoyed all the side characters—Marisol, Andrew, the kids, and definitely Jack. I really hope he gets his own book.

If you’re in the mood for a light, feel-good, sweet slow burn you can finish in one sitting, this one’s a great pick.


✨Includes:✨
Single Dad
Nanny
Grumpy x Sunshine
Friends To More
She Falls First
He Falls Harder
They Pass Notes
Slow Burn
Lots Of Yearning
Humor And Heart
Dual POV
Closed Door
Kisses Only

💕Favorites:💕
Angry hallucinations monitor + the catch
Passing letters
Marisol, Andrew, Jack, the kids
Bad dates and ice cream
“Baby, you haven’t seen Liam in love.”
“What else do you reciprocate?”
Sticky note to Liam’s forehead
Liam standing up to his mother
Confessions and stupid ideas
Liam clearing his weekend
Ice skating
“I’d choose you. Every time.”
The anniversary party
“Told you so.”
The epilogue


Thank you Rachel John for the gifted ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Abby Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one so much! Adored Liam & Rosalie together! I thought the progression of their relationship from working together to more was done perfectly & they were so good together!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was perfect for an afternoon read. Nothing crazy or tragic or heartbreaking, just a sweet relationship between a man and his nanny. I loved watching the relationship go from professional to friendship to more. Lovable characters, great writing, don’t miss this book.

[Brynntherereadthat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel John delivers a total gem with In Case You Missed It. I was immediately drawn into the dynamic between Liam, a serious single dad, and Rosalie, the fun-loving nanny who has become the backbone of his home.

What I loved most was the transition from a professional 'unspoken agreement' to a genuine friendship built on those secret letters. Watching Rosalie navigate her desire for a future while dealing with a long-term crush felt so relatable. It’s a closed-door romance that doesn't skimp on the flirty banter or the emotional stakes. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a feel-good, sweet read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book; these are my honest opinions*

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book you’re not going to be able to put down! Liam and Rosalie have such an easy working relationship and are so accepting of each other, it’s a no brainer when the feelings go beyond friendship! When Rosalie declares they’re officially friends and they begin exchanging letters instead of just post-its… they’re suddenly discussing more than just the day to day and that’s the gam changer.

Favorite parts:
-Rosalie sticking a post-it to Liam’s forehead (he totally deserved it, you gotta read to find out why)
-them cooking together
-the loud toys
-Rosalie’s sister Kam and friend Aubrey-all their support and funny moments
-that first kiss- sigh.
-Liam’s brother’s Jack- he was a funny character
-their declarations of love -swoon

Favorite quotes
I don’t believe in mythical creatures, but Liam Campbell comes pretty close.

I always leave my heart when I go, but this time, it hits different. She’s taking pieces of it I didn’t think I had left to surrender.

[Brandi Jackola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam is divorced and has two young children, Wyatt and Callie. His ex-wife has remarried, but he’s still single. And though he wouldn’t have admitted it at the time, that’s all down to his nanny, Rosalie. He’s been set up on dates, but the relationships always fizzle out. But he won’t entertain the notion that it’s because he’s already in love with Rosalie. Which is a little hypocritical, because he had a hard time finding a nanny that didn’t try to seduce him during the interview.

Rosalie is completely in love with Liam, but she plans to never cross that line from employee to romantic partner. So she lets her friends set her up, but just like Liam, none of the relationships work out.

Then there’s Liam’s family. His parents are quite wealthy, and they cut him off when he married Esther, the mother of his children. Things have gotten better, but Liam doesn’t like the way his mother treats Rosalie.

I love how these two blossom into a friendship, and then into love. I think the turning point is when Rosalie starts writing letters and sticking them in the family schedule book, which Liam reads and then writes back. Sometimes it’s easier to say something in writing than it is to voice it.

Also, a shout-out to Rosalie’s last name — Barnes. I was born a Barnes (I changed my name when I got married) and I have relatives in Arizona, Utah, and Idaho who also carry the Barnes name. It’s not something I see very often in books or movies, so when I do see it, I get excited.

Liam and Rosalie are perfect for each other. They balance each other, and they both love Liam’s kids with appropriate fierceness. I appreciate that Liam is the one who takes the big first step, seeing as how he’s more analytical. And once he knows what he wants, he’s not backing down.

I loved the writing in the book; I could clearly visualize the characters, and the dialogue was believable and didn’t take me out of the narrative. This is the first time I’ve read this author’s work, and it won’t be the last. So get the book and enjoy!

[Jodi Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Case You Missed It is Rachel John’s newest release. It is the first book in her new Take Note series. I was so excited to read this one, and my excitement was warranted because I loved everything about it. All the references to my desert hometown were an added bonus for me. It was such a delightful read.

The story focuses on Liam, a single dad, who is just trying to keep his kids, job, and life in general from falling apart. His prayers are answered when he hires Rosalie to be his nanny. She helps control the chaos of this life and cares deeply for his kids. Now 4 years later, Liam starts to see Rosalie in a new light, but he isn’t sure what to do about it. The story is full of banter, chemistry, tender moments, mature conversations, hope, and romance.

One of my favorite parts of the story is that Liam and Rosalie write each other notes. I’ve always had a fascination with love letters or, really, letters in general, so I loved to see Liam and Rosalie be vulnerable and lighthearted in their notes to each other. I loved how their personalities came out and allowed them to connect without his children involved.

I adored both Liam and Rosalie. Their dynamic as employee/employer was all about self-preservation, so it was fun to see Liam loosen up a bit and let Rosalie in. I loved how their relationship blossomed through their notes. John did a great job of making the “forbidden” nature of their relationship real and honest. I loved how she handled the tricky topic.

I loved all the side characters; they added so much depth and humor to the story. Liam’s kids were adorable. I loved seeing them interact with both Rosalie and Liam. I also loved seeing Liam’s ex-wife play a supporting role. John did a great job of handling that dynamic, especially with Liam’s interest in his nanny.

I adored everything about this book. I’m so excited for this new series, and I can’t wait to read the next book.

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Simone Gremillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, kisses only romcom between a single dad and his children’s nanny. What has been a wonderful working relationship for the last four years is now turning into something more with sweet notes and realized feelings. I really enjoyed reading about Rosalie and Liam with their growing love. Pick this one up today if you are looking to relax with a sweet romcom.

Rosalie has been a nanny for the last four years and now boyfriend-less with a string of bad blind dates set up by her sister. Hearing from the children’s mother that they are getting older and won’t need her soon enough, she starts to spiral and wonder what is next for her. She can’t imagine not being there with the children each day.

Liam has had steady girlfriends after his divorce but nothing serious. When his current girlfriend breaks up with him and tells him that he needs to look at what’s right in front of him, he starts to wonder if there could be something there with Rosalie. But surely he can’t broach that when she still has a boyfriend, right?

When he finds they are both single, he starts to write her notes and not just the ones they have always written to one another. These are on more than just post-it notes and as they write more, they become vulnerable to one another and begin to see what he has pushed away for so long.

**I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Quotes I loved:
"Rosalie must not be photogenic, because in person, she’s a lot prettier than I want her to be. The combination of her blonde hair, light hazel eyes, and full lips has me frowning at her before I remember I’m not trying to scare this one off."

"I thought my professional friendliness was to protect her, but maybe it was to protect me."

"Liam doesn’t need to worry about me getting lost in a book and forgetting about him. He’s the first and last chapter, and all the ones in between. And we’re about to write the rest of our story."

[sassygirlreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a sweet and light-hearted romcom where two people have avoided crossing the line for years but through notes their friendship and feelings grow, Then In Case You Missed IT Is one that you will want to read.

Liam and Rosalie for years navigated the Employer/ Employee relationship by keeping things professional. I commend them for keeping their feelings in check for so long. Once they started writing notes to each other though, I saw the shift in them finally realizing how much they mean to each other, I enjoyed seeing things progress from there. I loved how connected they were. Liam was adorable, he fell hard and was all in. Liam and Rosalie’s forbidden romance was so natural and perfectly executed!

Tropes: romcom = friends to more = single dad/nanny = grumpy/sunshine = forbidden romance = passing notes = all the banter = no spice

My favorite things:
Liam and Rosalie's friendship
Wyatt, Callie & noisy toys
Awkward dates and ice cream
Passing notes
Standing Up to his mom
The ice skating
Marisol, Andrew, Kam, Aubrey and Jack

Quotes:
“I thought my professional friendliness was to protect her, but maybe it was to protect me.”
“Baby, you haven’t seen Liam in love.”
“Is it wise, though?”
“Liam doesn’t need to worry about me getting lost in a book and forgetting about him. He’s the first and last chapter, and all the ones in between. And we’re about to write the rest of our story.”

Happy reading!

[Tayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's catching up on reviews tiiiiiime.

This gets 5 stars simply by virtue of being the first book in an absolute age that has kept my attention. It was also enjoyable on its own merit, but it'll be interesting on an eventual re-read to see if it's still 5 stars for me.

Sound on Music continues to have such a lasting impact on my life that the whole nanny-trope is always catnip for me (when handles well and all that). And this is yet another iteration of that storyline to add to my favourites list.

Rosalie has been the nanny for Liam's two kids since his divorce, and 5 years (?) on she's very much woven into the fabric of their lives. I did really enjoy the slight trope-subversion in that we didn't meet Rosalie and Liam when he was fresh off his divorce and thrown into the deep end with his young children. Instead our introduction is to a pair that already have lived-in dynamics with one another. I found this enjoyable and successful for a few reasons but one thing was that their burgeoning relationship did not feel like a trigger response to big life events, and it also just brought a different vibe to a storyline that I have read a LOT.

That being said, the reason for why Rosalie and Liam haven't gotten together up until this point was clear and intentional boundaries. Liam was looking for an employed caretaker for his children and has always from the outset kept Rosalie at a distance, behind defined and professional boundaries. Rosalie accepted, respected and upheld this boundaries also and the whole thing was great and also helped solve any inappropriateness that would have had me side-eyeing one or both of them. Jumping ahead, I also really enjoyed that when they both started exploring their deeper feelings for one another, their working relationship and maintain healthy and clear boundaries was a topic that was discussed and addressed. Very nicely done.

The catalyst for a change in their relationship came up quickly which I also appreciate. Rosalie is aware the kids are rapidly ageing out of needing a nanny, and Liam is quickly confronted with his realisation that he needs Rosalie on a level that exceeds an employee. I thought their friendship their growing friendship from these realisations was enormously sweet, and the problems they had to resolve were thoughtful and earned.

All in all a solid read.

[me_my_kindle_and_i · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much! The chemistry between Rosie and Liam was strong from the very first chapter, even when they were just co-existing as employer and nanny. I loved how they could communicate across a room without even having to speak words, they were so in tune with one another. The notes passed back and forth added such a sweet element of intimacy that they weren’t yet ready to acknowledge in person. So by the time they finally did acknowledge their feelings, they were both so far gone for the other that this reader was ready to scream at the page! This was a slow-burn, kisses-only romance, told from a dual POV. Highly, highly recommend! I’ve already read it twice! (I hope Jack gets his own book!!) I reviewed an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say this is not a favorite trope but this author is a favorite and the fact that I still enjoyed myself shows why she's an auto read for me. This read was pretty good! Not what I expected when I opened the book in a positive way that is. Not sure what I expected, ha. A lot of angst? This doesn't have that so rest assure. There were real adult and mature conversations, believability woven into this story. I think there was great dialogue with fabulous side characters. I love Jack! He needs a spot in this series for sure. Please! Her two friends would be a worthy read as well. There were some humorous and witty moments mixed in. That one family dinner scene with Jack present! Overall, a solid read and another good one from this author.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC read
*LOVED this story
*nanny x single dad
*slow burn
*no miscommunication trope
*no spice / closed-door
this book was top tier!! the growing feelings they were both fighting finally took over!! the fmc’s relationship with the kids was just so sweet. both of the main characters didn’t exhibit any toxic behavior which i loved and they were both openly communicating!! (i hate the miscommunication trope) it was a slow burn to giving into the feelings and i just loved it!! I would highly recommend this book!!!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clean nanny romance

MC: Rosalie and Liam, Dual first person POV, 5/5 stars

A nanny romance that is clean and still has tension? Look no further. This is a sweet nanny romance that focused on the relationship and not lust. It was refreshing. I loved both characters but Rosalie and the way she navigated their change in status was both mature and fun. They had hard conversations and even though they (mostly Liam) skirted around moving the relationship forward they still addressed it head on in a way.

I liked all of the side characters as well.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Case You Missed It is a thoroughly fun read. Rosalie and Liam are determined not to fall into the cliché single father and the nanny relationship and succeed for four years. Both of them love the children and don't want anything to upset their lives. I enjoyed the dual POV and the letters. The kids are hilarious. I would definitely read more from author Rachel John and recommend this to readers of clean romantic comedy.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.

[Natscleanreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best clean nanny/boss to friends to more romance ever!

I love Rachel John books. They are so feel-good wonderful. This book included.

Liam is a bit shy and hesitant to admit he's falling for Rosalie. He has 2 kids and an amiable relationship with his ex-wife.

Rosalie is a certified school teacher but works as a nanny because it pays more, and now she loves Wyatt and Callie.

There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Nanny and single dad romance. There's so much tension. So many funny moments. This was one that had me hooked and I did not want to put it down. So much humor and heart. The leads were great. Loved them! And the side characters... From hilarious children, siblings, and friends... So much good stuff.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Case You Missed It by Rachel John

If you like:

Single father falling for the nanny

Boss & employee 

Letter writing

Fixing difficult family relationships 

Looks of longing

Slow burn

Adorable children

Awkward dates that make you laugh

You'll love this book! It's sweet, easy to read, and guaranteed to make you smile.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh Out Loud Romance

I love witty dialog banter and flirting. I love men and women who love children, people, and the life they live. This book has it all. Rosalie and Liam, his kids, their family, and friends are all so funny and personable. It's just the sweetest romance with a perfect ending.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is just adorable. I really appreciated how the author started in the middle of the story. It was a different detail than I'm used to. I also loved how the long the characters knew each other for, it seemed very authentic and more real. Overall a cute story I'll read again!

[Nari · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

I really liked Liam and Rosalie together. I loved the friendship and how well they worked together long before anything developed between them in the romance department. This is a slow burn romance but well worth it with a great story along the way.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalie and Liam were perfect together. Loved that both of them kept the children the center of their focus. I normally don’t love the falling for the boss trope, but this one was so well done, I found myself enjoying it a lot.

[Kayla H | Mom Devours Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this story was so fun to read. The nanny trope is a favorite, but so is the letter writing/ pen pal trope as well (and not enough people write these stories). Excited to see what happens in book 2!

[Amanda Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute single dad falls for the nanny. I liked the way the characters interact, and it was just cute. I feel like this one is a solid 3.5 (rounded up) there wasn’t really anything I disliked, but it also wasn’t making me swoon. A good book I enjoyed reading!

[Shelby Beecher]

It was pretty anticlimactic which is good and bad. She was his nanny for 4 years before they even became friends. Then they started writing letters. I think it was a little bit of a far stretch. But it was a cute read.

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable Single dad/ Nanny romance with letter writing! I love Rachel's books and this is a fun one!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading)]

I got to proofread this one! It's so, so cute and coming so soon!