Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Sorry I Missed You: A Novel

Top positive review

A unique story! Excellent!

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020

"The ghost isn't the person; it's the feelings attached to the person."
This is a unique story of three ladies, so different in age, and life experiences. They have one thing in common- each has lost a relationship at one time.
They live in an old renovated home that is haunted! There are things missing, noises in the attic, and food taken from the refrigerator.
How does one get them out? Will anyone believe them?
This was a definite mystery with a comical twist that I enjoyed and read quickly to see how it ended.
I loved the closing and it was not at all what I expected!
Terrific!

187 people found this helpful

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Unreadable!

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020

I’m sorry to say this book is a no for me. It’s a book with a better premise than execution. The first chapter had me wanting to give up on this book altogether as we are introduced to three characters that could not hold my attention. Each character has been ghosted and unfortunately each character seemed sadder than the last. The jilted bride was one thing, but I have no interest in a grown woman who feels stuck in a toxic friendship. The sad little sister also came across as weak. Far too many bleak characters in one chapter! The second chapter was better, probably because the landlord was a far more interesting character, but then we were back to the weak trio again. Characters with no backbone always frustrate me and are just not the kind of book I want to read. I usually hate not finishing a book I start but this one was easy to give up on. I recommend skipping this one.

122 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Renea

It needed more work

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020

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The themes were good. The resolution at the end was satisfying.
But.
The writing tried too hard to be literary while using very casual language that didn’t fit with the slightly pretentious metaphors on the same page. The author would have done so much better to simply tell the stories of these interesting characters.

Bottom line: if the author can relax and simply tell a story for the story’s sake, she’s going to write some memorable books in the future. If she keeps trying to write highbrow descriptive literature, then her word usage, characters, and plots are going to have to ALL live up to that goal simultaneously for her to achieve it.

12 people found this helpful

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Tells, does not show

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2020

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I thought that this was a first novel, but this is actually the second, the first being "Valencia and Valentine." I would have reviewed it differently if this was a first novel.

The author has some interesting, but cringe-worthy, self-deprecating, lonely characters.

The character sketches were good, but there were too many jump cuts where the action happened off the page, and the character would have to explain it.

This is a made-up example, but could have happened in this book.

May: "Julie, you look great. Last week you looked terrible and said you had hours to live before the stage IX cancer got you."

Julie: "Oh May, you know that those clown vitamins were coming in the mail, and well, they worked as you can see. Did I tell you about the dreamboat man that ghosted me?!?"

Also, the author wrote in a style that I sometimes saw in my freshmen literature majors. Why use one simple sentence with seven words when you can use a sophisticated sentence with 35 words that contains 17 words the average reader will have to look up?

All in all, if have read "Valencia and Valentine" and enjoyed it then this novel is about the same, and you might enjoy this one too.

If you are new to Suzy's writing, I recommend you take a bye on this one and save yourself for her next novel, or you can do what I did and go read "Valencia and Valentine" first to see if you want to invest the time.

2 people found this helpful

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Summer Hedrick

Have you ever been ghosted?

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020

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I received a free eARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was good. It's a story about strangers, yet they all have something in common. They have been ghosted by someone they cared about.

My first impression of Larry made him appear of a pervert. I don't know why, but I think it was the way he acted, talked and the way he thought. But in the end, I saw that he in fact wasn't that way. And nothing during the story made him to be that way, it was just the way I saw him.

I did like the stories of Sunna, Maud and Mackenzie. The only thing that was missing, was Sunna seeing the friend that ghosted her. Mackenzie met her "ghost" and Maud met hers, but Sunna never got to clear things up with the friend that ghosted her. I really would have liked to see that part of the story and hear Brett's version of what happened.

One person found this helpful

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Valentine

It is a sweet read.

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2021

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(This review includes SPOILERS)

I got this a few months back as a First Reads and took my time reading it. I usually only read a chapter or two before bedtime on most nights, so you can imagine I am not as fast of a reader as some others who zip through books this long within a few days to a week at most are. I used to do that when I was younger but as I grew, sadly my interest in reading waned. I only recently got back into reading and this was one of the first books I have been able to complete from start to finish... with effort. I will say that I am happy that I *did* finish it, if only to meet my goal of completing all the books that I start. So, there is that.

When I say that I used to zip through books when I was younger in a matter of days, it was always because I was so very engrossed in the story and could not wait to get back to it in order to see what would happen next. This book struck me as a very casual read that did not incite that same sense of excitement at the thought of returning to it before going to bed (almost) every night. It is a genre that I do not normally read, so there is that. I am used to fantasy stories with intricate worlds and characters whose lives are so much more interesting than my own. I am, admittedly, somewhat new to fiction that is more "slice of life" than it is thrilling or fantastically fun. This book is certainly that - a slice of life novel with a touch of mystery.

The "mystery" part I was most excited about and was let down quite a bit when it started to build, only to be shown that it was a figment of the character's own imaginations and that what they were perceiving all along was wrong. The story then returned to a flat feeling, until the inevitable reveal of the "biggest" mystery of all; the truth about the ghosts. I will say that it really only took me about halfway through the book to figure out that this story would not have any real supernatural elements and that the spirits in the attic were obviously people. I did theorize who exactly the people would be, so it did not really come as a surprise to me who emerged at the very end.

I do like that the characters were relatable. I could see a part of myself in each of the characters. Yes, even Larry. So, that was very nice. However, I suppose my biggest issue is that I found myself not feeling altogether convinced that each character was their own person. Sometimes it felt like the dialogue or what actions were taken were coming from the same voice. I lost interest what little backstory there was and since the mystery about Mackenzie fell flat, there was no longer any interest afterwards towards that. There just was not a whole lot of depth to any of the characters.

What I felt I was being presented with were quirky personalities with a lot of touchy feelings and not a lot else to go off of beyond that. The characters were sort of two-dimensional and the story in general felt lacking. Perhaps it just feels like not a whole lot happened. There was a letter that they were all obsessing over, they would meet at a cafe, and . The confrontation between Jared at the concert was very unbelievable in the way it happened. It just felt clunky in some ways and sort of sweet in other ways... and then you have the explanation of the bomb threats at the end and the reasoning for WHY so many people kept accumulating in the attic... it was all somewhat comical. That reasoning.

From the dialogue of the characters feeling out of place and sometimes unrealistic... cartoony is the word I would use... to the way people would react in certain situations being unrealistic too... too the unrealistic ending... it left me to wonder if this story really is supposed to take place in reality at all. The officers deciding not to take Larry into questioning, for example. I mean... come on. That would never happen. Even if they do think it is his tenants. They would have taken him to a private interrogation room and recorded everything. Not ask him or any of the other character casually about things in their living room. It doesn't matter if it is the smallest town in the world. That would never be protocol for something as serious as a bomb threat. Yet the author treats it like the cops came over to question them in their living room about someone who just egged a house on Halloween. This is just one example but it is a good example of one of the points in the story where I did have to push myself to keep reading due to how silly it was.

I will say that a strong point about this story is that the author is a good writer with *how* she writes. It is written well. As in, her writing style is one that I like. I would not have continued reading this book had they not been good at storytelling itself. I just think this particular story was not the best use for their writing skills.

Overall, I think it was at least an okay feel good read for those who want something very lighthearted to enjoy on the beach or between breaks at work. But I do not feel like I came away from this book having experienced anything specifically new or learned anything that I have not already seen in other stories elsewhere. Some parts felt rushed while others were written so well that, while the topic may have been a mundane one, it at least left a good enough impression. The value of the story itself is one that most people can relate to. I just think that the writer has potential with room to improve in terms of doing research on what she is writing about and I think she can do a lot better in terms of generating a structure to the plot that keeps the reader engaged with the plot. Not just the character's personality quirks.

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Couldn't get into it

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2020

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Sorry I Missed You showcases some sad, low self esteem, lonely people desperate for affection and attention but get in their own way. Plot had good premise but execution is off and resolution was too easy, simple, predictable,and gappy. It is a full complete novel but I was disappointed not everyone had a distinct resolution. There were funny parts but i felt book tried way too hard to be funny at times and I expected more. There are several deep discussions of emotions, and in depth talk about punk music. You can tell the author had a strong opinion on that. I also didn't like how at a pivotal point of solving something the book would jump ahead and tell you what happened in last tense from a characters POV. I am happy to be done with the book and read something else. There are discussion questions at the end for reflection but I don't care to. Glad this was a free read otherwise I would want money back.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Balroop Singh

Amusing but rambling style

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020

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Sorry I Missed You by Suzy Krause begins well with an amusing style of writing and the right ammunition – a jilted bride, a haunted house and three women with a lot of baggage, but it soon degenerates into an inconsequential chitchat. It feels like meandering down a crooked path that ends at familiar places to resume a never-ending banter! It is abrupt at places but there is no doubt that it gets interesting despite a rambling style. There is a lot of unnecessary dialogue, which serves no purpose like if Brett is “the queen of the internet”, then why would she write a letter? It shrieks for astute editing.

An example of sloppy style: “They all have baggage. Richard’s not the only one with baggage, either – now I have baggage. And – and maybe if we all have baggage, then baggage isn’t a good reason not to love someone.”

The characters lack depth, as they seem more like caricatures. Ironically Mackenzie who is the youngest of all evokes emotion. Sunna develops during the story and knows how to rise to the occasion. Friendship and sharing your heart definitely helps in facing the challenges of life.

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easygoing1

Read until the end

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2020

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I almost wish that we could give books ratings on the beginning, the middle and the end. This book was a hard push for me to get through the beginning in the middle, but once I got to the turning point, then I was hooked…
I started reading with the hopes that it would be a good and light read. And the circumstances were that at that point in time this activity was the only one that I could do. I was a passenger in a car, it was nighttime, and I wasn’t tired… So reading on my Kindle was the best option. And that’s how I got started on this book, but to be honest I wanted to quit reading. I just couldn’t get into it and honestly, the only reason I kept reading this book, was every time I opened up my Goodreads app, I saw that it was still on my “reading “list. And I’m not a quitter! LOL
I eventually found myself in the same situation... on a road trip, After dark. And although I have other books on my Kindle to read, I opened this one again.

All of that to say, that I couldn’t put it down... the ending was near, I didn’t want to stop reading now. I could see where all of the characters came together. I could see where the hints and obscure points made earlier in the book makes sense. And the ending was quite Uplifting.
I gave it three stars, because the beginning Was only a two star for me… But I really did like the last 1/3 of the book and would give it four stars…
And I truly believe that the author’s quote
“Just one of those moments, you know, where you have no new information, but your brain rearranges all of what you do have and it suddenly makes sense.” Truly sums this book up perfectly!
Now that I understand her writing style and can say that I did enjoy her book. I am looking forward to reading her other pieces.

Helpful

Disappointing

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020

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I wanted to like this story because it sounded like quirky fun, but I wasn't wild about Ms. Krause's debut novel, Valencia and Valentine, so I understood this could be something along the same lines. Sadly, it was. Very plodding prose, very unlikeable characters and a plot that throws in every contrivance popular in fiction novels. You like the idea of a mysterious letter? This book has it. Want a haunted house with harmful but pesky ghosts? This book has it. Three disparate women who have to come together to grow? You betcha! Do you prefer the suspense of a missing teenage girl? It's got that, too! How about a bomb scare? Do you even need to ask? This was a definite miss from me and I'll probably pass on any other stories by this author, no matter how much Amazon pushes them.

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Chelsea M

Fun but not exceptional

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020

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The focus which drives this story is clear- it’s about what happens after someone disappears from your life without warning or explanation, the process of seeking that explanation, and the possibility of finding some kind of closure. If you’re looking for exciting plot twists, you won’t find it here.

What you will find here, however, is excellent character development. The story is told from multiple perspectives and each character has a unique voice and they all feel pretty authentic. And yes- we spend a lot of time reading in Sunna’s voice and while she did get on my nerves by being insufferable and totally lacking self-awareness, I commend the author for writing someone so realistically flawed! I did like that the story is generally pretty grounded in reality, and there aren’t any weird, dumb twists that require suspension of disbelief.

I did think it was kind of obnoxious and silly that the book takes place in 2020, but the characterization of “old people” is so outdated. Maude could have been written as a Luddite, but the idea that someone in their 60s (so, not terribly old, especially by today’s standards) would say things like “Can I borrow your Google?” or marvel at the fact that a smartphone has a flashlight AND can access is the internet doesn’t feel in keeping with the times. Maude also doesn’t own a cellphone and likes to say “Not everyone has a cellphone in their pocket”, which might technically be true, but cellphones have been around for a long time. This might be kind of a nitpick, but the instances of Maude making gaffes regarding technology felt a lot like some kind of weird stab at boomer humor and cringing at it really took me out of the story. It’s 2020- even if someone chooses not to own a smartphone, they’re not going to be surprised that it has a flashlight on it.

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Jill Kindle Customer

A cute story

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2020

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I liked the author's previous book more. This story was slow in the first half. I thought the women could be quiet cruel towards each other because of how they were treated by others and how they were dealing with their emotions. Things started to get more interesting in the second half. More humour and mystery. There is certainly more meaning to the word ghost in this book.

6 people found this helpful

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5 star		47%
4 star		29%
3 star		17%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

Sorry I Missed You: A Novel

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