I received a free e-ARC through Netgalley.
Hannah is a woodworking artist who is doing well on her own after a traumatic childhood when she meets Owen, a single father. They are married for a little more than a year when suddenly his company is under fraud investigation and she receives a cryptic note from him saying "Protect her." Hannah assumes it means his 16-year-old daughter, Bailey and does her best to figure out what is going on. This book kept my attention from beginning to end even as it jumps back and forth in time to give us small clues into what really happened.

Ten stars to one of the best novels I have ever read.

Gripping, realistic and spellbinding. A story of what a woman would go through to help the man she loves. An incredible read, and I'm still shaking from the ending. I highly r commend this book and am going to order another from this author, Superb writing style, as well as a plot to die for,. Do NOT miss this one!

What if the person you married didn't exist? To what lengths would you go to learn the truth and protect a child who rejects your affection? This fast paced plot will give you pause about the very people you presume to know.

This book keep me guessing and I was in it.
People are definitely gonna be here for this one. I haven’t heard of this author till now and I’m so glad I read this!!!

Laura Dave has done it again!

The Last Thing He Told Me begins in Sausalito, a quiet town tucked in just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Newlywed Hannah is handed a note by a young girl that reads "Protect her." This starts off a series of events that will change the lives of both Hannah and her 16 year old stepdaughter, Bailey.

The book follows Hannah and Bailey's journey to find Owen (Hannah's husband and Bailey's father) while also trying to maneuver the stepmother/stepdaughter relationship. Not knowing where to start or what is behind Owen's disappearance they an only look to each other to figure it out.

This is a fast paced novel that uniquely shows that you have to put your faith in one another and lean on those you may least expect.

I enjoyed the relationship that Hannah formed with Bailey. Knowing the stepmother/stepdaughter roles personally, I found it very relatable on both accounts.

I read this book in less than 24 hours. I could not put it down.

This title was provided by Netgalley for my honest review.

This is my first Laura Dave book, but It won't be the last. I was totally caught up in the story and couldn't put it down until it was finished. The ending was not anticipated, yet overall satisfying. The plot was well paced and the characters very well drawn. Looking forward to the author's next.

The Last Thing He Told Me was “Protect her.” In this domestic thriller by Laura Dave, Hannah Hall is thrown into a tizzy when her husband Owen goes missing and her 16-year-old stepdaughter brings home from school a duffle bag filled with thousands of dollars.

Hannah knows the “her” in the mysterious note refers to Owen’s daughter, who lost her mother when she was a small child. Worse, Bailey does not like Hannah’s intrusion into her perfect life with just her father.

With a U.S. Marshall to her left and the FBI to her right, Hannah does not know what to believe beyond what the news says: the company Owen works for has committed fraud. Hannah leans on her former fiancé who is an attorney for guidance. When it appears that the U.S. Marshall is legit and has his office in Austin, Texas, Hannah decides to take Bailey and leave their home in Sausalito, California, and head to Austin for some answers.

Trying to investigate on her own, Hannah soon finds that she has put both herself and Bailey in peril as they start to come close to the truth, a truth Bailey never knew about. How will Owen’s deep, dark secrets change all of their lives?

I have read all of Laura Dave’s books including Eight Hundred Grapes and The First Husband, and I could not put this one down until I finished it. This latest book has already been optioned for a movie. Dave lives in Santa Monica, California.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting March 5, 2021.

I would like to thank Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

This was a wonderful and thrilling read!! Thank you so much Laura Dave! I will be recommending this to other readers as well as my students who love stories like this!!

a very enjoyable read! Do you really know the person you are married to? Hanna Hill thinks she has married happily and is trying to adjust to her stepdaughter, Bailey. But now her husband Owen has disappeared! A note is delivered to Hanna - Protect Bailey!. And now Bailey finds a boatload of cash i her locker from Owen. Where is Owen and what is she protecting Bailey from?

I'm a big fan of Laura Dave's books but not as big a fan of the current trend of domestic suspense novels so I was curious which would win out as I read this book. Chalk one up for Laura Dave as this was a compelling read--I finished it in one day. It's the characters and their motivations that I found compelling and moving. The relationship between Bailey and Hannah was genuine and seeing how they each adjusted while remaining true to their selves kept it interesting as the navigated the various twists and turns of the plot. At one point I thought I knew where the plot was going but I was wrong so the suspense part was on target too.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 1/2 ⭐️‘s

Literally read this in one day! Couldn’t put it down! Completed unexpected story from Laura Dave - but still in her captivating writing style with amazing characters you care about - but a storyline that’s current and fresh.

Written in current and flashbacks - as Hannah tries to piece everything together - each step has a of way pulling you in more and more. And rooting for Hannah and Bailey.

Great read!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Having read Dave's books before, this book is a little bit of a departure in a good way. While I might stop short of calling it a thriller, there's definitely suspense and mystery. Who did Hannah marry and what did her husband's note for her about his 16 year old daughter Bailey mean? We go through the more recent past in chapters looking for clues as Owen's employer is arrested for fraud with their IPO & Owen possibly involved. He leaves a note for Hannah to protect his daughter. He leaves Bailey a duffel bag full of cash.

Hannah comes across a U.S. Marshall Grady who pays her a friendly visit to give her advice how to handle the FBI asking questions. She decides to take Bailey to Austin Texas to follow a clue.

The writing is very sharp for 90% of the book. Hannah is a sympathetic character and she is trying her best as a stepmother not to over extend her role. Bailey's mom died in a car accident when she was very young and she doesn't remember anything about her mom. Owen just married Hannah 14 months ago. What Hannah does to sacrifice her marriage for her stepdaughter so she can have a semblance of a normal life is understandable. But considering what she discovers about Owen's past, she could still be in danger. The ending didn't feel quite as satisfying as I hoped but I very much enjoyed this book and reccomend it.

Wonderful book. Rocket plot. Wonderful characters. As a stepmom, I really appreciated the exploration of this relationship. This is definitely Laura Dave's best yet.

This is the first book I have ever read by Laura Dave and it won’t be my last. This was a great read and well written. It is a domestic mystery. Hannah meets Owen who is widowed and has a 16 year old daughter. They meet and get married. He lives in Sausalito and they appear happy. The book begins when someone comes to her house, a young girl with a note for her that says Protect Her which Hannah realizes Owen is referring to Bailey, his daughter and the next day she is left a duffel bag in her locker at school with $600,000 thousand dollars. Then the company he was working for is investigated for fraud and his boss is arrested. Slowly Hannah and Bailey, who never got along search for clues to find Owen. They begin to bond in their journey for answers. This was a very interesting story, very character driven.I do not want to give away any spoilers but everything is revealed, who Owen really is and why he disappeared from a daughter he loved who lost her mother when she was a little girl and why he left her and Hannah at this point in their lives. The epilogue gives some closure but a little disappointing. But all in all, I highly recommend this book. I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC for an honest review. I recommend this book and like the author’s writing.

Laura Dave does it again. I’m not sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book but wow! This was not it. I was sucked into the story from the beginning. The twists and turns and “who to trust” kept me on a roller coaster of emotions.
“Protect her”. That’s all he said. I kept trying to imagine what I would do in this story and I sure hope I would be as strong and brave as Hannah. As a step mother myself, I love the entire premise of the book. I love Hannah and the choices she makes. I read this book in one sitting! I cannot remember the last time that’s happened. 4.5 stars for me!

When Hannah's husband, Owen, disappears, leaving just a cryptic note, Hannah must go on a mission to find out all the details of his disappearance. Along with Bailey, Owen's 16 year old daughter from a previous marriage, Hannah travels to Austin to try and track down why Owen has disappeared and winds up finding out more than she bargained for. The story alternates between the present and the past, and is a quick-paced interesting read. The end is a bit of a let-down, but all in all, an enjoyable read..

Y’all, I was hooked within pages! Owen Michaels disappears when the company he works for is under investigation for fraud. Before his escape, he manages to leave a note for his wife, Hannah, and a note and large sum of cash for his daughter, Bailey (Hannah’s step-daughter). Taking place in Sausalito, CA and Austin, TX in both present time and flashbacks, Hannah and Bailey journey to find out why Owen ran and they slowly start to piece together his past. I loved watching the relationship of Hannah and Bailey develop, build trust, and grow.

It was a suspenseful mystery (not thriller), with a good amount of character development, family drama, and left you dying to find out what happens next. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the resolution, but it does exemplify the main theme- doing anything and everything to protect your family.

Thank to the publisher & Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review thus book. Wow this was great. I didnt read Laura Dave's other popular book so I didnt know what I was in for. This was a great book. I wouldnt say its a thriller which is how they categorized it. Owen's company gets raided by the FBI and he disappears. The book focuses on his wife & daughter trying to figure out why and find him. I know its vague but I dont want to give too much away. Out May 4.

Whew, this book I did not see coming. It was full of suspense, family drama and it both tears at your heart strings and puts it back together. When Hannah’s husband, Owen, disappears she will stop at nothing to figure out why. She embarks on a journey to uncover his and his daughter, Bailey’s past and discovers everything is not as it seems. It was a solid 4 star read for me. The only thing that did leave me disappointed was the ending as I did not like the resolution. Otherwise it was a great read and I highly recommend!

This book was wild. The entire time I wasn't sure what to think or who to trust. I felt like I was living in the story with the main character, and I LOVE that. Each chapter kept me wanting more, and I honestly got through this read in just a few days because I couldn't put it down. That being said, the ending wasn't quite what I had hoped for. I did start to become a little disappointed as I got closer, but I did feel there was some redemption right at the very end. Overall, I would highly recommend this book. It is a quick and thrilling read.