This book was so much fun and a slow read thriller. I enjoyed the suspense throughout the book and slowly putting the pieces together. I couldn’t put it down and read in one sitting as I waited for the story to come together.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

Laura Dave has written several novels, but TBH I’d never heard of her before I got an advance copy of her latest, The Last Thing He Told Me, from Simon & Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. The premise sounded like it had the potential to be either ho-hum or terrific: husband disappears, woman left behind begins investigating his disappearance, spends a few hundred pages in danger…

In this fun, twisty, and surprising novel, a woman named Hannah Hall finds a cryptic note from her husband of just one year, Owen Michaels, saying only “Protect her.” Hannah assumes it must refer to her teenaged stepdaughter Bailey. Owen’s wife was tragically killed when Bailey was a small child, and Bailey isn’t thrilled to have a new stepmother. Hannah is wanting to get closer, but she is treading lightly: “I recognize in her that thing that happens when you lose your mother. My mother left by choice, Bailey’s by tragedy, but it leaves a similar imprint on you either way.”

Hannah happens to hear on the news that the office where her husband works as a tech wizard has been raided by the FBI, with his boss arrested on financial fraud charges, and indictments of other corporate officers to come. Including Owen? Is that why he disappeared? Hannah is understandably freaked out, and a duffel bag full of cash left for Bailey, ostensibly from Owen, is just one of several things that Hannah finds totally inexplicable. Before long, she realizes Owen isn’t who he told her he was...and may not be who Bailey thought he was either.

Together, Hannah and Bailey start putting together pieces of the puzzle, trying to figure out Owen’s past -- and their future. I admit I read this quickly, partly because it was so compelling, I just HAD to keep reading.

Lately, it seems like I have read several books where I just wasn’t wild about the end...but I am not able to articulate what exactly the author might have done differently that would not have been either contrived or just weird. This is another one. The ending was a bit of a surprise, and there is one tiny thing that bugged me enough to drop it from 5 stars to 4, but overall this is a solid book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave, starts with Hannah, a furniture maker/woodturner, recently married to Owen, single dad to teenager Bailey. Hannah and Owen meet in New York, and begin a relationship, eventually leading to marriage and Hannah moving to Sausalito, CA to live with Owen and Bailey. The relationship between Bailey and Hannah is strained, and Bailey wants nothing to do with Hannah. This strained relationship is put to the test when Owen disappears, leaving both Hannah and Bailey cryptic notes. All Hannah's note says is "Protect Her". She assumes that the note means Bailey.

The rest of the book is told alternating between the present, and the search for Owen, and the past. First, the flashbacks are focused on the time Hannah and Owen spent dating, and then as the story progresses, stories that pertain to the drama that is building in their lives. Law enforcement becomes involved, but Hannah does not entirely trust the investigators that are also trying to find Owen. She and Bailey take off, on a hunch that the truth lies in Austin, Texas. They hit the ground running, trying to find Owen on their own.

The end of the book is surprising, and overall I really enjoyed reading this. The plot was engaging, the writing style was easy to read, and the characters were relatable. I have not read a book by Laura Dave before, but I would definitely check others out. This is a domestic suspense book, and perfect for those who love the mystery genre, but with a mix of family dynamics and contentious relationships. I loved the writing style, and would highly recommend this book!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Laura Dave - one of my go-to authors. 4.5 stars rounded up for a gripping, emotional tale!

Hannah moved from her life in New York to settle in Northern California when she met and married Owen. Owen has a 16-year-old daughter, Bailey, whose mother died when she was young. Bailey is less than thrilled to suddenly have to share her dad with Hannah and, despite Hannah's best efforts, shows no sign of that changing. One morning, Hannah opens the door to a young girl who has a note for her that reads only, Protect Her. Then everything blows up - Owen has disappeared, his company is being investigated by the feds for criminal acts, and Hannah realizes that Owen is not who he appeared to be.

Best go into this one as blind as possible. I loved the mystery that unfolded in this book as Hannah and Bailey are forced to work together to figure out what's happened to Owen. But more than that is the personal, emotional part of this book - what parents and parental figures will do to protect their children, at all cost. I love Dave's writing style and I plowed through this book. Don't miss it!

4.5 ⭐️ I freaking loved this book! I can see why this will make a fantastic mini series. Totally binge worthy and kept me wanting more. Entertaining and the bittersweet ending had a lump forming in my throat! Perfect book choice!

I liked this one but it was so sad! I know not every book has a happy ending but oof. The mystery was well done and kept me hooked until i finished the book. Thanks to Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah’s husband has gone missing, only leaving behind a message to protect his daughter, Bailey. This leads Hannah and Bailey wondering who they can trust and who Owen really is. Their journey to find answers leaves Hannah wondering just how far Owen would go to protect his daughter and how she can carry out his request.

As a fan of Laura Dave’s writing, I was so excited to read the ARC! I loved the mystery and suspense she created in this book. I was hooked on the story from the beginning and the end left me satisfied. She seamlessly takes you on a journey for the truth and reinforces the strength of the bonds a family can build.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an unputdownable book that I literally inhaled! This quick, easy read will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Hannah Hall was raised by her grandfather and learned his skill as a woodturner. She met Owen Michaels when he came to her studio in New York with his boss Avett Thompson. They hit it off, eventually married and she moved to his houseboat in California. Owen was a widow with a 16-year-old daughter, Bailey. One day Owen's boss is arrested for crooked dealings in his software company and Owen disappears. What happened to Owen and was he involved???? You will have to read it to find out!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this fantastic read in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah's husband Owen goes missing after being tipped off about an SEC raid of his business. Hannah is left to look after her reluctant step daughter after being left with only an ominous note "Protect her." The pacing was impeccable and it was filled with enough twists and turns to completely hook me. This is domestic suspense at its finest!

Hannah Hall is a woodturner living and working in NYC. Abandoned by both parents and raised by her beloved grandfather, Hannah is resolved to live life, enjoy her art and depend on no-one but herself. An unexpected introduction to handsome Owen Michaels throws Hannah’s world upside down. Their chemistry is instant and their fate is sealed. Owen has a feisty 16 yr old daughter that makes Hannah’s life difficult but knowing firsthand what abandonment feels like, she does everything in her power to befriend the beautiful Bailey. One day a shocking message appears at their doorstep. Scrawled on a small piece of paper in Owen’s handwriting it reads - Protect Her. Owen doesn’t return home from work that evening or the next day. The news reports the company he was working for is under investigation, pictures of his boss taken away in handcuffs. Hannah is aghast but she knows a few things for certain. Owen is a good person and that note meant to protect his daughter. Hannah cannot imagine what led up to Owen’s involvement in this crime but she is not a woman to sit back. When the U.S. Marshall’s office and FBI begin inquiries Hannah does not know who to trust or where Owen is hiding but she is going to find out. This suspenseful new novel by author Laura Dave was such a surprise compared to her past romcoms - which I thoroughly enjoyed! - could not put down this fast paced, well written mystery. High recommend #perfectbeachread

I read this domestic thriller in one day. It's been a while since I've felt that need to finish a book. The Last Thing He Told Me starts out strongly when newly married Hannah receives a note from Owen, her husband and father of her 16 year old step-daughter Bailey, with a message. No context. As Hannah tries to figure out what is going on, she has to deal with the FBI, a U.S. Marshal agent and a teenager who isn't her biggest fan. The fast paced book takes you on a journey as Hannah and Bailey try to find out why Owen has left them and what is the truth about his past.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the electronic advanced copy.

Such a great book by Laura Dave! So many twists and turns, I could not put this down. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars only because I felt it could have been maybe 50 pages shorter, some of it felt repetitive. You will root for Hannah & Bailey from page 1....I highly recommend.

This is a character driven family drama with much intrigue. The book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. It is about family secrets, lies, and love. There are twists and turns in almost every chapter with questions that have no answers. Try this one...just wish the family could have different avenues of togetherness...

You've undoubtedly read other novels where the new husband disappears but trust me- this one is different. Hannah has only been married to Owen for two years. She moved her woodturning business to Sausalito, does her best to be a stepmother to 16 year old Bailey, and thinks all is well. Until. Until Owen doesn't come home, the owner of his company is arrested on fraud charges, and Bailey discovers a gym bag full of cash in her locker. Owen has left both Hannah and Bailey notes but they don't help, nor does the Deputy US Marshall who turns up, or the FBI agents. Turns out Owen isn't Owen, and Bailey isn't Bailey but who are they? Hannah and Bailey head to Austin, Texas, where they think there might be answers. No spoilers from me but the twists were very unexpected. I liked this not only for the writing and the plot but also for the characters- the relationship between Hannah and Bailey rang so true. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A real page turner and a great read.

What a great book! The thing that impresses me most about this story is its believability. In so many thrillers that I read some of the situations are so unlikely to be feasible that it takes away from the authenticity of the story. Hannah and Owen have been married a year when he disappears leaving only a note that says Protect her. Hannah knows he is referring to his daughter Bailey. As Hannah and Bailey work together to try to find him their relationship grows from indifference on Bailey's part to one of trust. These characters are so fleshed out and likable. The author also gives us some backstory which adds credence to the story. The only thing that I wish was different is the ending. It is very sad, but again, more true to live than the one I would have wanted. I highly recommend this book it is so,so good!
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this amazing book for my honest review.

I couldn’t put this book down. It sucked me in right away. Such twists and turns. I liked how it ended. A little unexpected. So good!

I've loved Laura Dave's books since her first (London is the Best City in America is one of my all time favorite reads) and her latest, The Last Thing He Told .Me, showcases her writing at its best. It's nothing unusual plot-wise,but what lifts it up into the realm of Must Read! is the way her characters interact and bond with each other. Laura Dave manages to be honest, amusing, and never afraid to make every character flawed and loveable in the most interesting ways. The Last Thing He Told Me should definitely add to her fanbase and is a no-brainer for women's fiction readers. Very, very highly recommended.

This book is so good! It was quick and kept me turning the pages! Hannah gets a note from her husband that says protect her, meaning his daughter Bailey. This starts a whirlwind mission to find out what happened to him.
Hannah and Bailey are both strong female characters and do whatever they can to find out the truth.
I enjoyed the story! Definitely add to your list
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

While reading The Last Thing He Told Me I went back and forth with my opinion. There were times in which it seemed that the plot was getting pretty predictable. Other times it became very exciting and action filled. In the end, the entire thing was enjoyable to the point that I finished it in almost one sitting (stupid work).

Bailey reacts to a new stepmom in a cliched kind of way. Not every kid hates their stepparent. Imagine the world we'd have if it was always that difficult to get a teenager to be pleasant and human we'd all be much more hostile. That aside, Hannah handles it better than many characters I've read.

How do you handle when your husband of only a short time leaves you with his teenager and a note saying only "Protect her"? Owen Michaels does that to Hannah when his company makes the news for all off the wrong reasons. I have to say that the reason Owen disappears is pretty obvious and the author's attempt to mislead us about it seemed a little contrived. Other than that, it moved along at a nice pace and took us on an entertaining journey. Thanks to Laura Dave, Netgalley, and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. Definitely an author to watch.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of The Last Thing He Told Me in exchange for my honest opinion.
This engaging mystery follows Hannah and Bailey’s search for information once Owen (Hannah’s husband and Bailey’s dad) disappears. The fast paced story hooked me in from the start, and I barely put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next! I hadn’t read anything else by Laura Dave but I am definitely going to look into her earlier work.