Jessica Strawser
Jessica Strawser has published 8 books. The recommended reading order starts with Almost Missed You (2018).
Jessica Strawser is an American author and editor who writes suspenseful book club fiction while serving as Editor-at-Large for Writer's Digest magazine. Her publishing career spans more than twenty years, with work appearing in The New York Times Modern Love and Publishers Weekly, and she has contributed as a speaker at writing conferences, book clubs, and women's groups.
A Pittsburgh native who grew up reading and journaling, Strawser studied at Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism before moving to Cincinnati to join Writer's Digest as an editorial assistant. She made her debut as a novelist in 2017 with Almost Missed You, which landed on the Barnes & Noble Best New Fiction shortlist and launched a string of seven books that have all appeared on the USA Today charts. Not That I Could Tell became a Book of the Month pick, while The Next Thing You Know was featured in People Magazine. Her most recent titles, The Last Caretaker (a 2023 Amazon Editors First Reads selection) and Catch You Later (October 2024), continue her track record of delivering emotionally charged stories built for late-night reading and conversation.
Strawser lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two children. In 2019 she served as Writer-in-Residence for the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, and in 2024 she received an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Standalone Novels
- TagssuspensechildrenthrillermysteryDescriptionThe sand on the beach was still warm from the afternoon sun, the kind of perfect vacation memory that feels too bright to last, until a single trip to the restroom changes everything. In that fleeting absence, a husband vanishes, leaving behind a confused wife, a young son, and a car that hasn't moved an inch. It is a disappearance that feels impossible, a sudden tear in the fabric of an ordinary life that exposes the fraying edges beneath. Violet and Finn were supposed to be living the dream, a love story that began with a serendipitous meeting and a whirlwind romance, but the past has a way of catching up even to the most charmed existences. As the police investigation stalls, Violet is forced to dig into the secrets Finn kept hidden, uncovering a history of grief and obsession that predates their marriage. The narrative peels back the layers of their relationship, revealing that the person you think you know best can sometimes be a stranger sleeping beside you. This is a story about the weight of unspoken truths and the desperate measures people take to protect the ones they love, even if it means destroying the happiness they’ve built. Strawser masterfully weaves together the perspectives of those left behind, creating a tapestry of regret, longing, and the enduring hope for redemption. It is a haunting exploration of how quickly a life can unravel and the courage it takes to piece it back together.Publication dateFebruary 6, 2018Amazon rating3.9/5Print length335LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Griffin
- TagsmysterysuspensecrimethrillerDescriptionIn the quirky enclave of Yellow Springs, Ohio, the distance between a neighbor’s confidence and a criminal investigation is exactly as far as a baby monitor’s signal reaches. On a rare Saturday night free of children, a group of women gathers around a shared fire pit, wine flowing as freely as their secrets, unaware that their fleeting sanctuary is about to become a crime scene. By the time Monday morning sun rises, one of them has vanished into thin air, leaving the community to grapple with a silence far louder than their laughter. Kristin was the very picture of stability—a sociable twin mother, a college administrator, and a doctor’s wife—who seemed strangely unbothered by her impending divorce. Her disappearance transforms the manicured backyards into a landscape of suspicion, with her husband, Paul, standing uncomfortably in the center of the storm. Yet, as the police dig deeper, they find that Kristin’s life was a complex puzzle that refuses to fit the neat narrative of a spousal crime, turning the investigation into a maddening exercise in finding truths that simply do not want to be found. For Clara, living next door to the void left by Kristin forces a confrontation with a past she had carefully buried, dragging her back into a psychological maelstrom she thought she had escaped. As the media circus descends and the scrutiny widens, Clara finds herself unable to look away, her own paranoia blooming in the fertile ground of uncertainty. Meanwhile, Izzy, the newest resident, fights to…Publication dateJuly 11, 2018Amazon rating3.9/5Print length535LanguageEnglishPublisherThorndike Press Large Print
- TagssuspensethrillerDescriptionA single video call shatters the illusion of a perfect suburban life. In an instant, a woman sees something she was never meant to see on her best friend’s screen. It is a moment of intrusion that fractures years of trust. The line between curiosity and dread blurs immediately. Jessica Strawser dissects the anatomy of friendship with surgical precision. She explores the secrets we keep and the lies we tell to maintain appearances. The narrative alternates perspectives, revealing the chasm between public facades and private realities. It is a study in how well we truly know the people we love. The tension is relentless. The stakes are deeply personal. This is not just a mystery of what happened, but a psychological portrait of why we hide the truth. Strawser delivers a taut, emotional thriller that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.Publication dateFebruary 5, 2019Amazon rating3.5/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Press
- TagschildrenDescriptionThis novel is a masterclass in the emotional complexity of family secrets, asking how well we really know the people we love and what we might be willing to forgive. It peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect life to reveal the cracks underneath, exploring the delicate balance between the truth we seek and the peace we strive to maintain. Strawser doesn’t just tell a story of reunion; she dissects the very nature of identity and the invisible threads that bind us to our pasts. The narrative follows two women whose lives are upended by a single, life-altering discovery that forces them to confront the choices that define them. As they navigate the murky waters of their shared history, the tension builds not through dramatic twists, but through the quiet, devastating moments of realization that change everything. The stakes are deeply personal, rooted in the fear of losing the life you’ve built and the hope of finding something real beneath the lies. What makes this book unforgettable is its unflinching look at the sacrifices we make for love and the courage it takes to face the truth. The prose is intimate and evocative, drawing you into the characters’ inner worlds with a sensitivity that lingers long after the final page. It’s a story about the messy, beautiful business of being human, and the million reasons why we hold on even when we should let go.Publication dateMarch 23, 2021Amazon rating4.2/5Print length368LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Press
- Tags---DescriptionHow do you keep moving forward when the life you planned is suddenly ripped away? Jessica Strawser’s latest novel dives straight into this heart-wrenching question, exploring the fragile space between grief and the necessity of hope. It is a story that feels incredibly timely, asking us to consider what we owe to our past selves and how we honor those we have lost without getting lost in the shadow of their absence. What sets this book apart is its unflinching emotional honesty and the way it weaves together the lives of strangers in the wake of tragedy. Strawser has a knack for creating characters who feel like people you actually know—flawed, struggling, and deeply human. The narrative voice is intimate and inviting, drawing you into a world where a single moment can alter the trajectory of everything, yet the connections we form remain our strongest tether. I found myself completely absorbed by the stakes here; it is not just about surviving, but about learning to live again. The pacing is perfect, balancing quiet moments of reflection with the urgent push of the plot. If you are looking for a story that will break your heart just a little before putting it back together, this is the one to pick up next.Publication dateMarch 22, 2022Amazon rating4.2/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Press
- TagsmysterysuspensethrillerDescriptionIn the quiet, rusted heart of an abandoned amusement park, Jessica Strawser plants a story that feels both wildly specific and universally haunting. The setting alone—a place where joy once echoed and now only decay remains—serves as a perfect metaphor for the human capacity to hold onto things we should have released years ago. Strawser doesn’t just describe the peeling paint and silent rides; she makes the atmosphere a character in its own right, heavy with secrets and the ghosts of summers past. At the center of this stillness is the last caretaker, a woman tasked with guarding a kingdom that has lost its king. As she navigates the solitude of her post, the arrival of a stranger forces her to confront the tragedies that tether her to the grounds. Strawser masterfully peels back the layers of her protagonist’s grief, revealing that the park is not just a workplace, but a fortress built to keep the world—and the pain—at bay. This novel is a study in resilience, asking what we owe to the dead and what we owe to the living. The prose is sharp and evocative, cutting through the sentimentality to find the raw nerve of loss. It is a book that lingers, not because of cheap twists, but because it understands that sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply walk away.Publication dateDecember 1, 2023Amazon rating4.1/5Print length348LanguageEnglishPublisherLake Union Publishing
- TagsmysterysuspensethrillerDescriptionHow well can we truly know the people we love, and what happens when the foundation of that trust is suddenly shaken? Jessica Strawser’s latest standalone novel invites readers to peer behind the curtain of a seemingly perfect life, probing the uncomfortable silences and buried secrets that lie beneath the surface of suburban tranquility. It is a story that lingers in the grey areas between loyalty and betrayal, asking us to consider the cost of second chances. The atmosphere is thick with tension from the very first page, a quiet storm brewing in the background of everyday routines. Strawser masterfully constructs a world where the familiar becomes unsettling, turning a close-knit community into a landscape of suspicion and regret. The mood is palpable, a heavy mix of nostalgia and dread that seeps into the narrative, making the setting feel as much a character as the people who inhabit it. At the heart of this drama is a central conflict that feels both intimate and expansive, forcing the protagonist to confront a past she thought she had escaped. The stakes are deeply personal, yet they ripple outward, affecting the fragile web of relationships around her. As the narrative unfolds, the emotional hook tightens, drawing the reader into a complex web of choices where the right path is rarely clear. This is a novel that rewards patience, offering a thoughtful exploration of forgiveness and the enduring impact of our actions. It is a compelling read for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories that…Publication dateOctober 22, 2024Amazon rating4.2/5Print length324LanguageEnglishPublisherLake Union Publishing
- Tags---DescriptionSometimes you have to break your own rules to save yourself. The atmosphere here is frantic yet deeply relatable. It’s about the moment you realize that staying the course is actually the worst option. Meet the woman who founded a support group for people who just can’t commit. She preaches the art of the graceful exit. But then life throws her a curveball she can’t simply walk away from. The premise is sharp, funny, and incredibly human. What sets this apart is the raw honesty about giving up. It doesn’t frame quitting as failure, but as a necessary act of survival. The voice is fresh and unapologetic. It grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. You will root for her messy, imperfect journey. The stakes feel real and immediate. It’s a story about finding the courage to start over, even when you’re terrified. Grab this book and settle in for a wild ride.Publication dateJune 1, 2026Print length330LanguageEnglishPublisherLake Union Publishing
Frequently Asked Questions about Jessica Strawser
Jessica Strawser writes standalone novels. Her books can be read in any order, as each tells a distinct story. You might begin with Almost Missed You, published in 2018, or perhaps A Million Reasons Why, from 2021. Another option is The Next Thing You Know, her 2022 novel. The choice depends on which premise most appeals to you. Since the books are not connected by plot or characters, there is no required reading order to follow. Readers can select any title and be assured of a complete narrative experience within that single book.
A good starting point for Jessica Strawser's novels is often the book that first draws a reader's attention. Since all her novels are standalones, there is no specific order that must be followed. Almost Missed You and Not That I Could Tell were both published in 2018, and either could serve as an introduction to her work. Alternatively, readers might be drawn to the premise of A Million Reasons Why (2021) or The Next Thing You Know (2022). Each book offers a self-contained story, allowing readers to jump in wherever they choose.
No, Jessica Strawser's books do not need to be read in order. She writes standalone novels, meaning each book features a unique plot, characters, and setting. Readers can pick up any of her titles and enjoy a complete story without needing prior knowledge of her other works. This allows for flexibility in choosing which book to read first. Whether you start with her earliest publications like Almost Missed You or a more recent title, each novel offers a fresh narrative experience.
Jessica Strawser writes standalone novels. This means that each book she publishes is a complete story in itself, featuring different characters and plotlines. Her novels are not part of a series, so readers do not need to follow a specific sequence to understand the narratives. Each title can be enjoyed independently of the others, providing a self-contained reading experience.
Jessica Strawser has written at least eight standalone novels. Her published works include Almost Missed You (2018), Not That I Could Tell (2018), Forget You Know Me (2019), A Million Reasons Why (2021), and The Next Thing You Know (2022). The list provided indicates there are at least three more titles beyond these, suggesting a consistent output of novels.
The first book Jessica Strawser wrote was Almost Missed You, published in 2018. This novel marked her debut in publishing. It was released in the same year as Not That I Could Tell, another of her standalone novels. Both books offer readers an entry point into her style of storytelling, which focuses on character-driven narratives and intriguing premises.
Jessica Strawser's most recent book is The Next Thing You Know, published in 2022. This novel joins her collection of standalone works, each offering a distinct story. It follows her other published novels, including A Million Reasons Why from 2021 and Forget You Know Me from 2019. Readers can find this title as the latest addition to her body of work.
Jessica Strawser writes contemporary fiction, often exploring themes of relationships, family dynamics, and personal secrets. Her novels typically fall into the category of domestic suspense or psychological drama, where ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. The narratives often involve intricate plots with emotional depth, drawing readers into the complexities of her characters' lives.
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We verified the reading order for Jessica Strawser's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Jessica Strawser Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/jessica-strawser