This book had me turning pages and staying up too late because I had to know how it ended. The twists and turns surprised me and I didn’t see the end coming. I will be on the look out for more books by Laura Dave.

Hannah’s husband Owen disappears one day leaving nothing but a note, Protect Her, meaning is 16 year old daughter Bailey. Easier said than done since they’ve only been married two years and Bailey still doesn’t like her. But Hannah loves Bailey and is determined to do best by her while figuring out why Owen ran and where he went. A clever thriller that is definitely a page turner but it’s also a story of the deep love Hannah feels for both Owen and Bailey.

A compulsive mystery that once started, I couldn't put down until I finished. This will definitely be a favorite to recommend this summer.

This domestic mystery/thriller had me hooked from the start! It was a quick and easy read that was filled with many twists and turns along the way. It keeps you guessing as to how the story will end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book!! The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a twisty page turner!! The book starts with Hannah receiving a note that says " Protect Her". That letter is the last she hears from her husband Owen. Bailey, Hannah's step daughter, receives a note and a bag full of money from her dad, and this leads them both on a journey to find out exactly what happened to Owen.

Owen works for a company which has just been raised by the FBI, and the owner has been arrested. Hannah and Bailey believe that Owen is on the run, but they aren't sure if it is because of the company he worked for, or for another reason. Hannah and Bailey have a very contentious relationship and all of this drama just makes it worse, until they realize that they have to work together to figure out what has happened to Owen.

I love this kind of book! Just enough mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages and a story that keeps you interested! 4⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and Laura Dave for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a compelling mystery about one woman’s search for her missing husband.

This story is SO good. Such a page turner and kept me guessing until the end. But it’s not your typical thriller or mystery by any means.

This is a slow burn mystery with a dash of a character study as well. I really like mysteries that take a big examination of a character’s motivations. That kind of writing really makes these stories stand out. This novel is told in two timelines—one in the present where Hannah and Bailey are trying to figure out what is happening and the second consists of flashbacks when Hannah and Owen fall in love. Each of the flashbacks provide more context and even some clues behind Owen’s disappearance and also choices he’s made.

I really went along for the ride with this story and didn’t try to guess the ending. Although, I couldn’t have solved it if I tried—didn’t have any idea of where it was going. I thought the reveals were absolutely fascinating.

The Last Thing He Told Me is a riveting and thought-provoking mystery. It’s one of those books I did not want to put down.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster, for the ARC of The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. Owen Michael leaves a cryptic message for his wife Hannah, "Protect Her," before he disappears. Hannah assumes that Owen is referring to his 16-year-old daughter Bailey. Being a stepmother has been challenging for Hannah since she is now part of a family that has been only father and daughter since Bailey was three years old. After receiving the note, Bailey comes home from school with a bag of cash that her father placed in her locker. Hannah is frantic to find Owen, but then the FBI shows up and wants to speak with Owen because Owen's boss is under federal indictment. Owen's disappearance only adds to the suspicion that he is fleeing from a crime. Hannah and Bailey join forces to search for Owen and begin to unravel the truth about the disappearance and Owen's family history. Great story, kept me guessing until the very end!

Loved this book so much, I’m now going to buy All of Laura Dove’s previous books. I never knew where it was going and the end was lovely.

Wow, this book was a wild ride. I thought I knew what was going on, but then it went in a totally different direction, and I loved it! It was the kind of book I would have loved to read in one sitting. It was so well written, and I loved all the characters. I can't wait to see what Laura Dave writes next!

This is a good domestic thriller that kept me engaged throughout the story. The husband abandons his second wife and his daughter from a previous marriage. Hannah and her stepdaughter, who don’t have the best relationship, go searching for the truth. Lies and deceptions are revealed as they seek answers in destinations far away. The suspense mounts as dangerous liaisons are uncovered and choices must be made. Sure to be a hit! #TheLastThingHeToldMe #LauraDave #NetGalley

I loved this thriller. Hannah is married and having a difficult relationship with her stepdaughter when one day she receives a note from her husband that just says “protect her” and he disappears. Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey, then must work together to try to find out what happened. This is an intense thriller that will keep you guessing. The characters are well developed and the teenager is spot on with attitude.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but my opinion is my own.

Hannah and her husband Owen live on the coast of California with Owen's teenage daughter Bailey. One afternoon Owen disappears and Hannah is left with a note saying only 2 words "protect her". Hannah knows that means to protect Bailey, but she doesn't know what or who she's protecting Bailey from. The tension mounts as Hannah delves into the past of the husband she thinks she knows in order to try to figure out what's going on.

Throughout the novel you never know who to trust. Even when you think that you have things figured out, there's a new twist. It's a fast read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This was a solid 4-star read.
Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #TheLastThingHeToldMe by #LauraDave

This was a gripping and suspenseful mystery that I would suggest going into blind. I thought the beginning was a bit slow, but once it picked up, I had a hard time putting it down. The story had a lot of twists, but wasn't dark, so if thrillers give you the creeps, this is a good one to pick up. There were times that I thought I had the story figured out, but then something else would pop up and throw me off. I really appreciate that in a book. However, I'm conflicted about how I feel about the ending, which is what's keeping me from rating it higher. I've heard this is being adapted for TV, and I think it will translate very well there.

Wow! This was the first book I've read by Laura Dave, but it won't be the last one. The Last Thing He Told Me didn't just pull me in, it grabbed me by the shirt and yanked me right into the middle of one woman's nightmare. I didn't stand a chance of putting this book down simply because the author, her writing, and the characters wouldn't let me.

I loved every bit of this story. The different timelines worked well and the story was riveting. Bailey's character was so typical of 16 year olds that I found myself smiling and commiserating with her stepmom Hannah. And Hannah, what can you say about a stepmom put into her position?

I felt for all 3 of the main characters and so wanted them to find a HEA, but was an HEA possible? No matter what you think, you should check out this book. Just be prepared to be flung immediately into a thriller that will leave you struggling to put the book down when it's time for bed or meals or work...

Thanks go to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for granting me an ARC at my request. The thoughts are my own and happily shared.

I'm really waffling between rating this book 3.5 or 4 stars. I really liked premise of the book. Hannah's husband disappears one day, and the more she digs into what is going on, the more she realizes she doesn't truly know her husband at all.

I don't know what I would have done if I had been in Hannah's shoes. I can speculate as to how I would have reacted to the things that were being thrown at me, but you can never really know how someone will handle the fact that their entire current existence is all based on lies. Hannah really knows one and only one thing during this whole book, she must protect her husband's daughter at all costs.

I thought the pace of the story was good, the storyline progressed along and I was pretty glued to what was happening. I really liked the flashback chapters thrown in that show us how and why Hannah proceeds in the directions she does in trying to figure out where her husband Owen is, and really, exactly who her husband is.

I really could not get on board at all with her stepdaughter, Bailey. There's obnoxious teenagers, and then there was Bailey. It's one thing for a kid to hate their new stepmother and said rude and belligerent things to them, but this girl was rude and belligerent to everyone - flight attendants, university professors, US Marshalls. So yeah, she won no points at all with me.

I really liked the depth of the love and understanding Hannah has for her husband, and the depth and length she was willing to go to, in order to keep Bailey safe and guide her through having a fulfilling life without her father. BUT I hated the ending. Maybe I'm just too much of a hopeless romantic at heart, but that ending was so totally unsatisfying, for me, that it just made me sad and angry. Other people are obviously fine with it, based on the reviews I've read, but now I'm just depressed.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

In Laura Dave’s unputdownable new novel, Hannah is happily married to Owen, and trying her best to get Owen’s 16-year-old daughter to accept her, or at the very least, to not actively dislike her. Owen and Hannah met and married and moved in together in his Sausalito floating home, all within the space of two years. But suddenly, their life is irreparably disrupted.

Owen’s tech company’s CEO is arrested for fraud and stock manipulation. It’s a huge scandal, but making matters worse for Hannah and Bailey is that Owen disappears as the news breaks. He hasn’t been arrested, and he hasn’t been directly implicated or accused of wrong-doing. Instead, he simply vanishes, leaving Hannah a scrawled note telling her to protect Bailey.

Hannah can’t believe that Owen is anything but a victim of circumstance, but his cryptic note confuses her. She’s even more disturbed when a Federal Marshal and then the FBI come knocking on her door, all looking for information on Owen’s whereabouts. With no way to reach Owen and no idea what he could be hiding, Hannah suggests to Bailey that they take matters into their own hands and go look for him instead.

Based on some loose memories of Bailey’s from her early childhood, as well as hints from some of Owen’s stories of his college days, they’re soon on his trail — but Hannah is horrified to discover that none of the history Owen shared with her seems to be true. Not his real name, not his family background, not his education… and if all of this is fabricated, then who really is this man she fell in love with and married?

Despite her own fears, Hannah realizes that she needs to honor Owen’s request to keep Bailey safe, even if Bailey seem to detest her and even if she doesn’t actually know what she’s protecting her from. But as they travel together to a new town and track down seemingly random facts and vague clues, they come to realize that they only have one another to rely on… and as they start putting the puzzle pieces together, Hannah becomes more and more certain that she may not like the answers she finds.

The Last Thing He Told Me is an intricately plotted web of misdirection and secrets. Through flashbacks, we see Hannah and Owen’s courtship and marriage, and learn the stories he shared with Hannah about his past. In the present, we see Hannah being truly there for Bailey, and Bailey’s grudging realization that Hannah might be the only person in the world she can fully count on.

There are deep, dark, dangerous secrets to be uncovered, and harsh truths for both Hannah and Bailey to confront. Ultimately, Hannah faces a decision that affects all of their lives, and only she has the ability to make sure that she’s choosing a path that carries out Owen’s wishes for Bailey.

I did not see where the story was going, and I was completely hooked on trying to figure out Owen’s secrets and why he behaved the way he did. Needless to say, the resolution was not what I expected! Kudos to the author for keeping me guessing all the way through!

In addition to the puzzle of the events of the story and the truth behind Owen’s disappearance, I really liked the developing trust and connection between Hannah and Bailey. I came to respect and admire Hannah very much — she’s put in an impossible situation, with no good options, and finds a way to do the right thing even when it feels like the worst choice in the world.

I picked up this book before it was announced that this would be the Hello, Sunshine choice for May. I’m delighted to see it getting so much attention! The Last Thing He Told Me is a gripping, fascinating read that practically demands to be discussed, and I think it would make a great book group selection.

Highly recommended!

The Last Thing He Told Me was an incredible ride. It would definitely make a great movie. I loved both Hannah and Bailey and enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve. Everytime I thought I knew which direction this story was going, it went in a different direction. Even the ending. And that is a great thing- I’m so ready for new ideas and stories. Thank you for an incredible read!

I can see how this wonderful story has gained the literary legs it has. It reads like one of thebest thrillers this year. It engages you as each woman Hannah, and her step daughter Bailey work together to solve the puzzle of who and what Owen is and the time factor is not working in their favor. Government agencies are saying one thing and Hannah’s heart is searching through other emotion. A surprise of a novel.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I can totally see why Reese picked this for her May book. This book had it all- family drama, mystery, secret lives, teenage attitude, and a strong woman who takes matters into her own hands to protect her family. I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I read a lot of thrillers, but this was different than others which was so refreshing! Overall, I thought this was a fun read and I need to find more books by Laura Dave because I really like her style!

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah Hall has a husband that she loves deeply, and a 16 year old step-daughter, Bailey, whom she's still trying to get to accept her. When Owen disappears shortly before a huge business scandal erupts leaving only a brief and cryptic note for Hannah behind, the two find they must work together to figure out why Owen left and where they might find him. And they're not the only people looking for him!

It doesn't take Hannah long to realize that Owen isn't who he said he was. Things he told her about his past just don't line up. Why would he have lied to her? What did he have to hide? Or was he hiding from something? As Hannah recalls snippets of conversations she had with Owen, and Bailey turns to some of her childhood memories, pieces start to fit together. But what's the real picture? Are they in danger too??

Laura Dave has written a very compelling read. The plot is realistic, and the pacing well done. I loved the characters of Hannah and Bailey, both full of heart and spunk!! This was a 4-star read for me. I think you'll enjoy it too!

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.