Disconnected from the world yet content with his quiet life, Patrickâs only anchor is his beloved cat, Doc. Patrickâs world is shaken, however, when he meets Isabelleâwhose boundless passion and heart full of dreams swiftly untethers Patrick from his comfort zone, sending them both on a journey they couldnât have expected.
The beauty of life is rooted in unpredictability, and the thread of fate which drew the two together can just as swiftly become tangled. In heartfelt journeys of hardship and self-discovery, Patrick and Isabelle must navigate tragedy in distinctly different waysâbut will they find their way back to one another?
This slice-of-life story is filled with tender moments, quiet revelations and the hope that love can endure even the most unexpected of trials.
T/W: This book covers themes such as domestic/ emotional abuse, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Disconnected from the world yet content with his quiet life, Patrickâs only anchor is his beloved cat, Doc. Patrickâs world is shaken, however, when he meets Isabelleâwhose boundless passion and heart full of dreams swiftly untethers Patrick from his comfort zone, sending them both on a journey they couldnât have expected.
The beauty of life is rooted in unpredictability, and the thread of fate which drew the two together can just as swiftly become tangled. In heartfelt journeys of hardship and self-discovery, Patrick and Isabelle must navigate tragedy in distinctly different waysâbut will they find their way back to one another?
This slice-of-life story is filled with tender moments, quiet revelations and the hope that love can endure even the most unexpected of trials.
T/W: This book covers themes such as domestic/ emotional abuse, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Julia was a confident, professional sort of woman. Her hair was cropped short, she remained well-kept at all times and always seemed to be wearing a freshly pressed suit jacket. She was sternâalways demanding the best from her employees. Her office door was kept open so she could keep an eye on her office and employees any time of the day.
She was contacted, one day, by a friend of hers who had just let a young man go, asking Julia to take him on. "He really is a hard worker⌠but his attitude started to cause rifts in the office. He just needs someone like you to give him a leg up," she had pleaded. All Julia needed to hear was hard worker. She offered him an interview via email for the next day.
Bright and early, a dishevelled young man sat opposite Julia. He perched on the chair meant for guests on the other side of the desk in her office as though he were waiting to bolt. His tie was wonky and loose. His hair, which covered most of his eyes, was greasy and he smelled like he hadn't showered in a few days. There was a large windowâtaking up eighty per cent of the wallâbehind Juliaâs desk but, despite the fact her office was flooded with light, the man before her looked to be encased in shadow.
"So, you must be Patrick,â Julia said and the young manâPatrickânodded. âI hear you are a strong worker and youâre looking for a job. Am I right?â He nodded again, which lit a fire inside Julia. "If you're going to be walking into an interview dressed like that, the least you can do is move that hair out of your eyes and look at me while you speak," she raised her voice and scowled at him, which seemed to shake the man sitting in front of her.
He bolted upright and pushed his hair to one side his eyes in an instant.
Julia was pleasantly surprised and sighed softly. "Look, Patrick, I didn't have to give you this opportunity, but I was told about your work ethic and that is exactly the kind of person I like to have working here but, I do demand a level of professionalism." Julia paused and squinted over her desk.
Now that Patrick had moved the hair from his face and Julia could properly look at him, she could see his face was sullen. It didn't look as though he regularly ate or slept and, as Julia looked into his eyes as she spoke, he appeared shocked and sad.
Julia hadnât expected to be met with such broken eyes. Without another word, she got up, walked over to her door, and shut it.
Heading back to her desk chair and sitting down, Julia's tone lightened. "Patrick, if I were to offer you somewhere to work, would you accept that what I ask from you isn't just whatâs good for my business but also to help you?" Patrick cocked his head slightly in confusion; the way Julia talked to him tugged on a faint memory.
"Okay."
It was the first word he had spoken during the entire interview, and Julia was pleased to hear it. It was sincere and to the point. He looked Julia dead in the eyes, and neither broke eye contact for a notable amount of time.
"I will be harsher on you than anyone else in the officeâI'll tell you that right now. But it would help if you remembered that Iâd be doing this for your sake, not mine or anyone else's. Do you hear me?" Patrick nodded. "I said, did you hear me?"
Julia's annoyance at his lack of speech was notable, and Patrick scurried to answer. "Yes, I understand."
Julia pulled a piece of paper from her desk and started writing.
"You will be starting on Monday next week. I expect you to turn up with a haircut, showered and wearing clean attire, ready to work. Understand?" She wrote out a list of things for Patrick to do and obtain before his first day as she spoke and handed it to him. "This is a new start for you, Patrick. All I expect from you is what we have spoken about today. Work hard and remain professional. Any problems and you come to meâdon't make me come to you; you hear me?"
Patrick turned the list over and read it, expressionless.
"Now,â Julia said. âStand up, shake my hand and I will see you at 8 am Monday."
Wordlessly, Patrick rose and held out his hand. Julia grasped and shook it slightly, looking Patrick dead in the eye.
"Do not let me down.
Sometimes, a book doesnât need flashy twists or over-the-top drama to completely suck you in. Warne Townerâs Iâve Missed You is one of those soft, poignant stories that reminds you of the power of connection, love, and healing. However, while its heartfelt moments shine, I understand why it may not resonate with every reader.
We start off with Patrick, a man that has found his routine and likes it that way. His best friend is his cat, Doc, and all is well and calm in his world. Then Isabelle comes into his world like a bolt of lightning, quick and shocking. Sheâs passionate, full of life, and exactly the opposite of Patrick and probably the exact things he needs.
Patrick and Isabelle are a slow burn, which is where I think some of the disconnect might be for SOME readers. The slice of life sub-genre isn't for everyone. This is an emotional journey that builds over time, not fireworks. While I enjoyed the beauty of the story unfolding, some people might get frustrated by its pace and give up.
I liked how the author made the couple feel like real people. They weren't overly dramatic in any way, but had me rooting for them because they felt like real people and not fictional characters.
The main conflict of the story might be a bit emotionally heavy for some. It felt like we were cruising to a happily ever after when, as it does in life, unexpected tragedy occurs. I'm trying not to give away spoilers, but some emotional content triggers might be helpful.
Shout out to the best supporting character, Doc. Honestly, that cat made the book for me and I'm more of a dog person. I loved his relationship with Patrick because pets are family.
I've Missed You tells a real life story about love, loss, and the animals that make a house a home.