I had no clue what to expect going into this book but I really enjoyed it! It's definitely not your typical mysterious disappearance story. Our main character is Hannah, who has recently married Owen and is trying to connect with his 16 year old daughter. Owen's company gets raided by the FBI for fraud and neither Hannah nor her step-daughter can reach him. This book makes you question what you would do for someone you love and how far you would go to keep them safe. Hannah is a dynamic and brave character and as we get closer to figuring out Owen's secret, she proves herself again and again.

If you enjoy mysteries and secrets, definitely give this book a read.

I was drawn into Laura Dave's latest novel, The Last Thing He Told Me, from page one. It was fast-paced and suspenseful. Hannah's husband, Owen, disappears after leaving a note that says only "Protect her." From here, Hannah's sole focus is to protect Owen's 16 year old daughter Bailey. Hannah begins to uncover Owen's past and his reason for walking away. I have read and enjoyed Laura Dave's other books, and this one exceeded my expectations. Thank you NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the Advanced Copy.

TBH, suspense is not my go-to genre. That's why I was so surprised to love this book!

Hannah's husband disappears and leaves her only one clue: Protect Her. Hannah realizes he means she needs to protect his daughter Bailey. However, she has no idea how or why. Hannah and Bailey work together to figure out where their husband/dad went and why. There are so many twists and turns! I was sucked in from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

I have loved Laura Dave's previous books so was excited for this one and it does not disappoint! Owen and Hannah have a seemingly perfect marriage; she creates beautiful wooden tables an accessories, and he works for a firm as a "coder" whose whose apps are designed for clients' privacy. But all goes south when his boss is arrested for fraud and Owen disappears, leaving cryptic messages and a bag for Hannah and her step-daughter, Bailey who is sixteen and not a fan of this "new" mother figure. Now begins a series of who is at fault, how did it happen, what's really going on...? Don't even attempt to figure it out! It's well-written, has a break-neck pace that will stop you adulting for a while, and a satisfying conclusion that is not the one you think! So just go into it blind and enjoy the action; may may you ugly cry a little!

A missing husband. A wife and stepdaughter left wondering. Although the premise sounds typical this story is far from the normal domestic suspense novel. It is literary fiction with a fresh look at truth, family and betrayal. The choices we make on all those fronts. Living with those choices and the repercussions. Hannah and Bailey love Owen and and are beginning their somewhat fractious journey as mother and stepdaughter when Owen disappears after a scandal at work. This story is about Hannah and Bailey as they navigate the fallout and the search for the truth. I was stunned by the writing, able to see each person in full color and understanding exactly why they made each decision. The magical way Laura Dave weaves her words into a style that keeps you wanting to know more about those two women than the missing husband. I absolutely loved these women. I absolutely loved this book.

In the description, the quote "With its breakneck pacing, dazzling plot twists" is entirely correct! I feel like I didn't catch my breath until the last page! What a thriller!

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.