The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a mystery/suspense novel about Owen and his new wife Hannah. About a year into their marriage, Hannah receives a note from Owen before he disappears. "Protect her." Bailey is Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, and Hannah determines to do everything she can to honor Owen's request of keeping Bailey safe. Hannah and Bailey follow many clues and discover that Owen is not quite who they thought he was. I was very invested in this book, and I thoroughly enjoy Laura Dave's writing. I would definitely recommend this new book of hers. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

"Protect Her"

That is the last communication Hannah, a wife whose husband mysteriously vanishes - has from her husband as he leaves a note instructing her to take care of her stepdaughter, 16-year-old Bailey. When the police start knocking on her door, Hannah wants answers and, with Bailey's help, the pair begin to uncover a painful truth.

Set in Sausalito and Austin, this story is part mystery, part romance, part action and adventure.

When Hannah Michaels husband Owen disappears without a trace, Hannah starts to put the pieces of what happened back together with her sullen 16-year old teenage daughter. Her journey takes her to Austin where Bailey has long forgotten memories of her past. Hannah and Bailey learn that Owen isn't really who he says he is and Bailey has a past she never even knew about. While searching for Owen, Bailey and Hannah become closer and more connected than they ever thought possible.

Once I started to read this ARC, I could not put it down. Laura Dave created compelling characters in a unique story that engages the reader in a unique way.

I was originally excited about this book becoming an Apple TV series and I can now only hope they will do the book justice.

Thank you to #TheLastThingHeToldMe #NetGalley @simonandschuster for the ARC.

Sooooooo good! All I kept thinking, especially at the end was “This would make an awesome movie!” Believable, likeable characters. Great plot - I like the use of going back and forth time wise. Definitely makes it feel more realistic and also never boring. Lost a bit of sleep finishing it but worth it. Well done!

“Protect Her” The last words Hannah heard from her husband Owen. What did that mean. Her husband has now disappeared leaving behind his teenage daughter and a million secrets. Where did Owen go? Why are the US Marshals and FBI looking for him?
Hannah and Bailey also flee as well to try and find Owen with what little memories Bailey has of her childhood. The last thing Bailey wants to do is travel with her step-mom, but at this point, she has no choice. What will they find? Look for this unstoppable thriller in May of 2021!

4.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC,

Every time I crack open a book by Laura Dave I know I'm in for a good read and The Last Thing He Told Me was just that, such a good read!

I don't want to describe too much of this book because it's hard to without giving anything away but from the first page I was hooked and I finished this in a little over a day because it was so engaging.

I loved the characters, the plot and every.single.thing about this book. This is another excellent book by Laura Dave!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I was lucky enough to be an early reader of this book. Get ready for a fabulous exploration of motherhood, loyalty, and love, all packed in a tense thriller.

Excellent domestic drama/suspense with a bittersweet ending.

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this book thoroughly! Read it in one sitting. The ending was unexpected and thoughtful. Will be reading more from Ms Dave. Thanks you!

I loved this! Laura Dave has created a gem with The Last Thing He Told Me. Hannah and Owen live in Sausalito, along with Owens daughter, Bailey. Bailey isn’t thrilled to have Hannah as a stepmother, but, things are com8n along. Until one day when a note is delivered to Hannah that says “protect her. “ protect who from what? When Owen doesn’t come home and doesn’t get in touch, Hannah and Bailey set out to find Owen. Interesting and captivating.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. Put this 5⭐️ on your May TBR. This was excellent. A great mystery!

Favorite part of this book (besides the intriguing story line) - definitely the quirky chapter titles! It’s been so long since I read a book where the chapters weren’t simply numbered, or named for the character that was narrating them. This book had chapter titles like “if you answer the door for strangers...” and “don’t ask a question you don’t want the answer to.” You get the idea. Loved how clever these were!!!

The Last Thing He Told Me is about Hannah’s search for who her husband really is. Hannah and Owen have been married for several years, and Hannah has a somewhat rocky relationship with Owen’s 16 year daughter, Bailey. One day, the company that Owen works for is raided by the FBI, and Owen disappears. All that he leaves behind is a note for Hannah, “protect her.”

Hannah and Bailey are devastated, and each struggles to piece together the few clues they have to find out what happened to Owen and where he may have gone. Hannah has several mysterious visitors that lead her to question her husband’s honesty with her, and she begins to investigate on her own to try to find out if she knows the truth about her husband.

Was Owen who he said he was? Why did he run and where did he go?

This book was unputdownable and unique!! I’ve already ordered some other books by Laura Dave and can’t wait for them to arrive!! This gem will be available on May 4th, 2021. Preorder!!!!!

This was a really nice read. Absolutely loved the writing. Great storyline that flowed seamlessly.
Enjoyed the characters and felt like I knew them and what they were going through.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book! I was on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happened and couldn’t put it down. A fascinating subject, and I enjoyed Hannah’s narration and getting inside her thoughts. I like everything Laura Dave writes, and this is definitely one of her best.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s at the top of my list for favorite books I’ve read so far this year.

The story hooked me immediately. No filler. Good characters who were likable and relatable.

The narration was perfect. There were time jumps but they were not hard to keep up with. Some novels over complicate storylines with excessive time jumps but this book didn’t fall into that at all.

It was fun having the story unfold and play out, it was satisfying throughout.

I really enjoyed this book and would 100% recommend it to my friends.

To say I loved this book is an understatement.

This was my first Laura Dave book and I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed Hannah as the narrator with flashbacks to her previous life with Owen. Her writing style and the means in which she weaved in the past and the present felt authentic. I like that Hannah was a strong female character and not the typical woman falling apart without her husband.

While the mystery of Owen's past is what keeps the book exciting, it's the relationship that blossoms between Hannah and Bailey that is truly beautiful. The ending tugged at my heart strings when she finally let her in and called her mom. It broke my heart that Owen was so close in the epilogue, yet so far. However, I think him letting her know he still loved her gave her the closure she needed as well as the relationship Hannah always yearned to have with Bailey. Owen had one request-Protect her. And Hannah held that promise even after knowing Owen would never come back.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed the pacing, plot and flow of the book. Dave has strong characters that really draw you into the story and leave you not wanting to put the book down. I myself read it in one sitting. I found it addicting-I had to keep reading. I would love to see this novel made into a film.

What an enjoyable read from the get go. The depth of love in the book mixed with scandal and an unknown past keep my mind racing for answers. I will be recommending this book! Thank you netgalley and Laura Dave for this advanced copy. Such a great book!

Told from the first person perspective. Hannah receives a note from her husband that just says "protect her" referred to his daughter/her stepdaughter. Her husband, Owen, has gone on the run for reasons seemingly related to some SEC fraud. With her stepdaughter Bailey by her side, Hannah tries to figure out not just where Owen is but why he left. Very fast read. Really liked it.

Note: this kind of book could seem like it might be a psychological thriller, but it is definitely not.

Wow. This book was fantastic. I expected suspense when I picked up The Last Thing He Told Me but I didn’t expect to be so utterly sucked in. From the first few pages I felt a connection to Hannah and I was invested in her character. Her relationship with Owen was written so well, I was firmly on her side as soon as things started to get tough. And I kept liking her character as the story went on.

I couldn’t put this book down and read it in two nights. Hannah and Bailey were realistic and relatable characters and it was easy to want to stay with them as they worked to uncover the secret behind Owen’s sudden disappearance. The story unfolded at an excellent pace and I wasn’t allowed to get bored or frustrated with the speed of the mystery. And I did not expect the ending and what an ending it was.

This book was an excellent suspense novel and I definitely recommend it to any fans of the genre. The story was unique, the characters were well written and the pacing was perfect. I give this 5/5 because I couldn’t put it down, which is exactly what you want in a suspenseful story; and it did it without guns blazing which is even more impressive.

!Slight Spoilers Ahead!
I’m heartbroken about the ending. But it was written well and with the way the characters were formed, it was the only way it could have ended and stay true to them. His actual last words to her brought tears to my eyes. I don’t know how it could have gone differently but we readers don’t always get our happily ever after do we.

Hannah and Owen are happily married. Practically newlyweds living on a houseboat in Sausalito with his teenaged daughter Bailey. One day without warning Owen disappears. He leaves a note for Hannah that consists of two words. Protect her. Hannah soon learns that nothing is as it seems. She and Bailey are racing to figure out what happened, what's true and where he may have gone.

Steady paced story that held my interest until the very end.

I have enjoyed all of Laura Dave’s book so was enthused with a chance to review this novel. Unlike some of Dave’s previous books, “The Last Thing He Told Me” is a thriller that keeps the reader guessing, yet still takes the time to develop the characters and make you care about them.

Hannah and her husband, Owen, live on a houseboat with Owen’s surly stepdaughter, Bailey. Hannah’s husband disappears, but leaves her a note that says “Protect Her.” Owen’s company is in big trouble and Hannah is task with both watching over Bailey as well as investigating where Owen might be and why he made the choices that he did.

Like a typical thriller, this novel has plenty of twists and turns, but its Laura Dave’s attention to her characters that make this novel a standout. Hannah and Bailey were not just moving pieces in the story. How their relationship evolves helps to make this novel a standout. If you are looking for a quick read, there are plenty of novels out there that fit the bill; if you want a story with memorable characters, I highly suggest you pick up, “The Last Thing He Ever Told Me.”

Thanks to Laura Dave, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for my advanced copy.