Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Missing You” as Want to Read:
Missing You
by
Fen works in a bookshop and is devoted to her young son, Connor, but she keeps herself to herself. Haunted by guilt and a terrible secret, Fen lives a compromised life, isolated from her family, far from home and too afraid of the past to risk becoming close to anyone. She is constantly looking over her shoulder, knowing that one day the truth will catch up with her. Sean,
...more
Paperback, 378 pages
Published
February 5th 2010
by Pan Books
(first published January 21st 2010)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Missing You,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Missing You
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Missing You

'Missing You' is a well-written, beautiful, heart-warming story that really had me captivated from start to finish; not a light chick-lit read, but definitely one worth picking up.
...more

I read and adored Louise Douglas' debut novel, The Love Of My Life and so when I saw she had a new book coming out this month, it went straight to the top of my wish list. I wasn't disappointed, as again Douglas delivers a story that will take you on an emotional roller coaster and keep you completely absorbed.
The development of the relationship between Fen and Sean is stunning, but what I really loved reading was the relationship between Sean and his daughter Amy. She is only six when her pare ...more
The development of the relationship between Fen and Sean is stunning, but what I really loved reading was the relationship between Sean and his daughter Amy. She is only six when her pare ...more

I won't give you a synopsis of the book, many have done that. I was kinda hesitant to write a negative review on this book because most people that have read it have thought it good. OK, I do have to warn I am 15 so that is probably why my opinion defers considerably.
The first thing I noticed was the lack of imagery, not the garden, we had lots of description of the garden but the people themselves. At the end of the book I had no idea what Sean looks like or Fen, in fact. It's not that I have ...more
The first thing I noticed was the lack of imagery, not the garden, we had lots of description of the garden but the people themselves. At the end of the book I had no idea what Sean looks like or Fen, in fact. It's not that I have ...more

Having left my kindle unsecured, I returned home to see that my son had managed to buy this book. Unfortunately, I'm not very impressed with his taste in books. The plot is not only obvious from almost the end of the first chapter, but the main female character - Fen - is remarkably annoying, always questioning herself and what others are thinking of her. Unfortunately, there is a flashback scene where she is at a festival that shows her as a remarkably different type of person - there is a plot
...more

Fen, a single mum to her son Connor carries a secret with her. A secret that clouds her life. Sean finds himself single again after his wifes affair, and moves into Fens house as a lodger. Their friendship slowly turns into something more, but past and present events conspire to keep them apart.
Another excellent read from Louise Douglas. I adore her style of writing, there is just the right amount of beautiful description to have you thoroughly engrossed in the place or person she is portraying ...more
Another excellent read from Louise Douglas. I adore her style of writing, there is just the right amount of beautiful description to have you thoroughly engrossed in the place or person she is portraying ...more

The basic story idea was good here, but it was written in such a tedious way, I couldn't get into it at all. EVERYTHING was spelt out for the reader, there was absolutely no subtlety at all.
Unfortunately, both Fen and Sean (the two main characters) were rather unlikeable, and I didn't believe in their relationship.
I can see that Louise Douglas can write, and has good ideas, so I will try another of her books to see if it's any better. This was poor. ...more
Unfortunately, both Fen and Sean (the two main characters) were rather unlikeable, and I didn't believe in their relationship.
I can see that Louise Douglas can write, and has good ideas, so I will try another of her books to see if it's any better. This was poor. ...more

I have had this book on my kindle since I first was bought it back in 2013. Finally decided to read some books that have been waiting for quite some time. This story was enjoyable, sometimes I found it a bit predictable. Also there were a few times within the book that swearing was involved within the text. In my opinion swearing is unnecessary and doesn't add anything to a story. Although the swearing was brief and the reader was able to skip over it.
...more

Sean is having a bad week. His wife not only kicked him to the curb, she did so because she is having an affair with her older professor. Out Sean goes, leaving behind his beloved daughter and the woman he thought he'd be with forever. For all that Sean lacks in intuitiveness and romantic gestures, he nonetheless is a man who thought he had it all figured out. He has the beautiful wife, the beautiful daughter, the beautiful home, and what he thought was a beautiful wife.
Fen, meanwhile, knows her ...more
Fen, meanwhile, knows her ...more

The writing style of MISSING YOU is fascinating. Douglass goes into minute details in her descriptions. At times, the author is even surprisingly poetic. Douglas managed to escape a lot of clichés from romantic genre. Not all of them, but that would be unreasonable to expect.
The plot is almost completely predictable (to me that is, it may not be to everyone). That goes for the end as well. There were a few pleasant surprises along the way, though. Characterization is decent. The characters have ...more
The plot is almost completely predictable (to me that is, it may not be to everyone). That goes for the end as well. There were a few pleasant surprises along the way, though. Characterization is decent. The characters have ...more

I rated this book a 3 because even though it is a lovely story and I read in in two days... it was not a story that made me feel good. Escapism is important to me as a reader!
It deals with a lot of difficult issues. Adultery, separation, children with difficulties, loneliness, guilt, accidental death, trajedy... and true love. The kind of love that means something and matters.
So even though it brought these difficult topics together in a very clever and unique manner it was not the kind of book ...more
It deals with a lot of difficult issues. Adultery, separation, children with difficulties, loneliness, guilt, accidental death, trajedy... and true love. The kind of love that means something and matters.
So even though it brought these difficult topics together in a very clever and unique manner it was not the kind of book ...more

This to me was the book form of a slow-moving foreign film, maybe with subtitles, hazy imagery and 1930s dress. A lot of people would love it, but it just wasn't for me. The blurb on the book is there and accurate. It is told in 3rd person, which did nothing to endear me to the characters honestly. The beginning was especially hard with nearly no dialog and characters even thinking in third person.
I found it slow moving and dull, neither character particularly dynamic or compelling to me. The w ...more
I found it slow moving and dull, neither character particularly dynamic or compelling to me. The w ...more

I always dread reading a second book in case it doesn't live up to expectations, and having absolutely loved The Love of my Life I was quite worried about reading this one. If you're the same, stop worrying now. I loved this book, gave me the same heartbreaking achy feeling as her last, lovely "real" characters and a love story for real people who live real lives. Sean's relationship with his daughter Amy is beautifully drawn. Although the story turns a tad silly at times - the secret from the p
...more

Well... At first I thought this is one of those wannabe Sparks books. But at the end it was just ok.
I mean, story was fine, but something was missing, something deeper to make me fall into this story.
And this is, for me, one of those books where title doesn't have anything to do with story.
So, I'm giving you 2 stars. ...more
I mean, story was fine, but something was missing, something deeper to make me fall into this story.
And this is, for me, one of those books where title doesn't have anything to do with story.
So, I'm giving you 2 stars. ...more

Really enjoyed reading this story. Good write up about how separation affect children involved when couple decide that it is not working out anymore, and how difficult it is to rebuild your life even when you have found someone to love .
There are always emotions and guilty feelings and always hard choices to make when you finally have to decide what is best for your child , but you also have to think about your own happiness.
Michele Zito
There are always emotions and guilty feelings and always hard choices to make when you finally have to decide what is best for your child , but you also have to think about your own happiness.
Michele Zito

I just discovered Louise Douglas via The House by the Sea and it was so good that I snapped up Missing You and The Love of my Life, so I can binge read her. :)
Her characters feel absolutely real to me and will now live in my brain as people I actually know: my favourite type of book.
Fen, in Missing You, is wonderful. I love her wide-open gentle heart and her kindness and generosity of spirit. I rooted for her all the way. :)
Her characters feel absolutely real to me and will now live in my brain as people I actually know: my favourite type of book.
Fen, in Missing You, is wonderful. I love her wide-open gentle heart and her kindness and generosity of spirit. I rooted for her all the way. :)

This was an 'ok-ish' type of book. I don't feel enriched after reading it and was mildly frustrated by some of the characters. There's a lot of repetition throughout the book and certain themes are not explored deeply enough. I felt the author skimmed the surface. This would be ok as a holiday read.
...more

Missing You by Louise Douglas is a typical romance novel with a very small mystery (not really) element. Sean comes home from work to find his wife waiting for him at the door with his belongings. She wants him to move out. They have been married for eleven years and have a daughter named Amy. Belle has met and fallen in love with another man (an older man who is a writer). After staying in tacky motel rooms, Sean is told about a room to let by his colleague, Lina.
Fen Weller lives on her own wi ...more
Fen Weller lives on her own wi ...more

Review first posted on my blog: http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...
Fen hasn't had it easy, which is why she prefers to lead a quiet life together with her son Connor. She enjoys her job working in a local book shop, but mainly keeps to herself the rest of the time, afraid getting close to other people will only hurt her in the end. Sean is lucky enough to have everything he ever wanted in life: a great job, a beautiful wife, and a wonderful daughter named Amy. But then Belle suddenly reveal ...more
Fen hasn't had it easy, which is why she prefers to lead a quiet life together with her son Connor. She enjoys her job working in a local book shop, but mainly keeps to herself the rest of the time, afraid getting close to other people will only hurt her in the end. Sean is lucky enough to have everything he ever wanted in life: a great job, a beautiful wife, and a wonderful daughter named Amy. But then Belle suddenly reveal ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Sean’s seemingly perfect life crumbles when his adored wife Belle throws him out to start a new life with the Other. Sean had no idea of his wife’s unhappiness and struggles to cope without her and his young daughter, Amy. He rents a room in a house with Fen and her little boy Connor. Fen leads a secluded life based on work and the care of her boy. She’s moved away from family and friends to hide a guilty secret involving her brother. Both characters have difficulties in moving on but circumstan
...more

Missing You opens as Sean returns home, flowers in hand, to try and save the marriage he had thought was perfect but his wife had not. He is sent packing nonetheless. With nowhere to go, a colleague arranges for him to lodge with Fen, a female friend of hers. The story then follows Sean’s struggle to move on from his separation, becoming more than a lodger in the process.
I’ve read many break-up stories from a woman’s perspective and I admire Louise Douglas for tackling that of a man’s. The story ...more
I’ve read many break-up stories from a woman’s perspective and I admire Louise Douglas for tackling that of a man’s. The story ...more

I had previously read The Love of My Life by this author and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to read more from her, when I saw this eBook on Amazon at a great price I couldn’t resist.
The beginning set the scene well, there was an overall feeling of sadness throughout the book and to see Sean’s heartbreaking situation so early on instantly made me feel sorry for him. Fen was very nervous about something and repeatedly mentioned Tomas and Joe, at that point I had no idea who they were and I made ...more
The beginning set the scene well, there was an overall feeling of sadness throughout the book and to see Sean’s heartbreaking situation so early on instantly made me feel sorry for him. Fen was very nervous about something and repeatedly mentioned Tomas and Joe, at that point I had no idea who they were and I made ...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
I've always loved reading and writing and all I ever wanted to be was an author. I've had four books published now, the fifth is written and is due to be published in August 2013 and I'm working on the sixth. I live with Kevin in the Mendips, not far from Bristol, a city that I love, and have three beautiful sons. We also have two dogs, Lil and Lola. The Love of My Life is my first book. It was lo
...more
Related Articles
Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high...
71 likes · 8 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“I can’t do this any more,’ she says. ‘I can’t keep living like this.”
—
0 likes
“Sean’s face is wet with tears. Left or right? It doesn’t matter. Either way, everything he loves will still be behind him.”
—
0 likes
More quotes…