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.

A terrible thing has happened to Hannah. Her husband of just over a year, Owen, has run away leaving behind a note that says "Protect Her".

Owen's boss has been accused by the SEC of fraud and he has been taken by the police. Hannah has been left with her stepdaughter, Bailey, who has never warmed up to Hannah despite multiple attempts to engage her.

Hannah can't relate to her new situation. The husband she knows would never leave her or his daughter behind. Something is terribly wrong. Hannah doesn't know much about his past but she knows Owen was married before. His first wife died in an accident and he became a widower with a small baby. Now, Bailey is sixteen and giving her a hard time.

A day after his disappearance, a US Marshal stops by her home and tells her, Owen is not the man she thinks he is. Later on, the FBI comes knocking on her door wanting to know where Owen is and how much he knew about what his boss was doing. This pushes Hannah to begin her own investigation and embark on a journey to learn who her husband really is. What she discovers is a trail of lies and deceit.

The Last Thing He Told Me was well-written and quite addicting. The pages flew by. I liked Hannah almost instantly. She was trying hard to help Bailey and was ready to do everything to protect her and find the answers they needed.

I wasn't happy with the resolution but other than that, I thought the story was a good one.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Dave spins a great tale of mystery, intrigue, and family in The Last Thing He Told Me. I was mesmerized y this book and for me, it was a "can't put down". The plot centers around a couple and their daughter. The husband disappears under mysterious circumstances, leaving the wife a note asking her to protect the daughter. What the wife must find out is to protect her from who or what. The wife is amazed when the husband's disappearance is also of interest to the FBI and she must justify her own innocence and lack of knowledge of why her trusted husband may have disappeared. The daughter, in her rebellious teens, adds to the stress for the heroine by her rebellious actions. Since her beloved daughter is not the biological daughter of the heroine, there are spaces in the past that are unknown to her and make solving the mystery and protecting the step daughter that she loves difficult. If you are a lover of mystery, family, and romance you will love this book. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review #TheLastThingHeToldMe.

I wasn't sure what to expect when opening up Laura Dave's 'The Last Thing He Told' me. I'd previously read "Eight Hundred Grapes' and was expecting something along the same lines - a light, enjoyable read - but Laura Dave's latest was a fast-paced mystery with the reader racing to get to the bottom of who Hannah's husband really is. It was a quick read that wrapped up nicely. There were some unexpected twists and turns and I liked that the story didn't wrap up completely with a nice bow. A satisfying and enjoyable read.

How far would you go to protect the people you love? That’s the premise of this riveting story by Laura Dave.

Hannah and Owen have been married a little over a year, living an idyllic life in a floating home in Sausalito with Owen’s 16-year-old daughter, Bailey. The only wrinkle in Hannah’s happiness is her relationship with Bailey who, like many teens, isn’t too excited to have a stepmother. One day, a stranger deliver a cryptic note from Owen to Hannah with only two words: “Protect Her.” Hannah knows instantly that the “her” in this note refers to Bailey. The note is otherwise a mystery – who does Bailey need to protected from, and why? That same day, Owen’s boss is arrested by the FBI for fraud and Owen disappears.

Soon, the FBI and a US Marshal are interested in Owen’s disappearance too. Why did Owen flee? Is he involved in the fraud or is it something deeper? Hannah comes to the realization that the man she loves is not who he seems to be, with a past neither she nor Bailey know anything about. They embark on a path to uncover Owen’s secrets, which draws them closer together as they work to unravel his past.

Let me just say – wow! I have never read’s Laura Dave’s work before, but I could not put this book down and finished it in less than two days! You might think – ho hum, just another corporate fraud tale, but no! This book is not just a mystery (although the mystery is engrossing and very well done) but also a domestic drama that explores the evolving relationship between Hannah and Bailey at the same time. The development of their relationship is very moving and feels very authentic as Hannah protects Bailey and earns her trust. The story is told in both the present and in flashbacks, which Dave does particularly well in this book. “The Last Thing He Told Me” is twisty and emotional and I loved it!

The epilogue lets us know how things pan out in the future. A few reviewers didn’t care for the ending, but I found it realistic and satisfying.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

really good read! The author sets up an interesting premise, how the husband disappears, and the wife and fairly new stepmother is in charge of the teen daughter. Of course the teen dislikes the main character and this increases the tension. Loved the main character and how persistent and loving she was, despite her baggage and background. Another mystery/thriller that has some great twists. I am so tired of the same few plots ie unreliable narrators. This book is a fun read, and really refreshing in its plot twists.
I feel that avid readers of thrillers as well as perhaps newer readers will definitely enjoy this book.
I read the vineyard book by Laura Dave, loved that, enjoyed this, and look forward to more from this author.

Thanks for the chance to preview this book!

Love,loyalty,being a good step mom...Just a year into her marriage Hannah gets a note delivered to her from her husband. Just two words"PROTECT HER"
Thus begins this thriller, but so much more. Great read, couldn't put down.

The Last Thing He Told Me is a fast paced page turner with unpredictable twists throughout. Hannah’s new husband disappears as his company goes down, leaving her only a note, and unexpectedly left alone to take care of her teenage stepdaughter, Bailey. As we follow the mystery of what made him leave and who he is, we’re also asking who we can and cannot trust. These elements propel the story start to finish.

I was drawn to this book based on the NetGalley description, my familiarity and love of Sausalito as one of the locales, and the book cover itself. I am not familiar with the author and credit her with writing a very quick reading story. Although I think some of the supporting Sausalito characters could have been developed more fully to make their roles more worthwhile, the descriptions of the few main characters were excellent. I also loved that it changed venues to Austin, Texas as it unfolded. I could definitely envision this book as a movie I’d see (although now I would know how it ends!).

The Last Thing He Told Me is a novel that will certainly find its place in my top 10 reads of 2021.

The story follows Hannah, a newlywed to Owen and stepmother to 16-year-old Bailey. A cryptic, two-word note later, Owen is gone with hardly a trace, and Hannah finds herself responsible for a teenager who can barely stand to be in the same room as her.

Suspenseful, captivating and fast-paced - with turns I never saw coming - this is an electric read with a heartbreaking end. I highly recommend it to those who love mystery, suspense, or just a good, well-written book.

A big thank-you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Thing He Told Me is a boldly ambitious book. Not only does it have a story to tell, The Last Thing He Told Me has a stirring message. And it (mostly) succeeds in this grand plan. On the surface The Last Thing He Told Me is about a husband who disappears after leaving a cryptic note for his wife. But the bigger picture is even more elusive than the missing Owen, who abandons Hannah, his wife of barely a year, and his beloved daughter Bailey. Laura Dave weaves a tale that spins in mulitple directions. Is Owen simply running from the law after the firm he works for is accused of "fraudulent accounting," or is something even more sinister going on? The Last Thing He Told Me moves at a lightening pace with short chapters that often end with a "cliffhanger." It's the perfect format for a TV show, and what do you know-The Last Thing He Told Me will be a limited edition series on Apple TV+ starring Julia Roberts. The plot has several holes big enough for an 18 wheeler to fit through, but the message is clear-there's no limit to what we're willing to do, no sacrifice too large, to protect the ones we love.

Outstanding. Start to finish, this was a book I could not bring myself to put down.

Bailey, Hannah, and Owen are living a quiet life when Owen suddenly disappears with only one note left to his wife Hannah: "Protect Her." The her here referring to his daughter Bailey. Hannah and Bailey set off to uncover the truth behind his disappearance only to find some things they never anticipated. It quickly becomes Hannah's mission to exactly that and protect her step-daughter, who she doesn't particularly get off well with.

There wasn't a moment or lapse where I was disinterested or wanting the story to move quicker. Evert chapter was an excellent step in the way of solving the mystery. Every time something was revealed, or I thought I knew what was coming.... SURPRISE! I was wrong! The ending was perfect, gut-wrenching, and ultimately satisfying. I'm eager to read more of the author's work and I'm especially looking forward to recommending this to my friends!

OH and the AppleTV+ series adaption coming soon!!

The Last Thing He Told Me's premise is intriguing: Hannah's seemingly normal and loving husband, Owen, doesn't come home from work one day, leaving no explanation but a hastily scrawled note telling her to protect his teen daughter, Bailey. Hannah and Bailey soon see on the news that Owen's boss has been arrested, and the FBI wants to talk to Owen, but haven't been able to get in contact. No one has.
As Hannah and Bailey search for Owen and for answers, they must overcome their patchy stepmom-stepdaughter relationship and learn to trust each other. But could Hannah be walking right into a trap?
This was a fast-paced and unique read that explores the sacrifices people are willing to make for those they love.

Owen disappears just as his boss is arrested by the FBI, but before leaving, he has a student deliver to his wife Hannah, a note, which says just those two words.

Hannah knows that he is referring to his 16 year old daughter, Bailey, from a previous marriage,but from WHO or WHAT must she protect her from?

She thought she knew her husband pretty well, but he was hiding more than a few secrets, and she will need her uncooperative step daughter to help her unravel the clues if she is going to figure out exactly what Owen would want her to do.

Laura Dave writes well developed characters and she does real life, messy relationships well!

I adored her 2015 novel “Eight Hundred Grapes” 🍇 🍷, which was a 5 ⭐️ love story based in California wine country, so I was eager to read this one, since it involved some suspense!

But, this is definitely DOMESTIC SUSPENSE, not a thriller, so expect this to focus on the relationships between the characters as they reveal their true selves, as much as it does the mystery.

Hannah is likable, Bailey is 16 through and through, and Owen?

How can he leave his daughter when she already lost her mother when she was just a baby?

I was fully engaged and interested in finding out, but wanted to feel more angst from Hannah and Bailey as they contemplated their possible future without Owen.

Especially toward the end.

An epilogue fills you in on what transpires, necessary or it would end without any resolution, and it was touching, but maybe just a little TOO easy? 🎁

Really enjoyed. Loved it- the ending was a gut punch but for fans of psychological suspense, this is a must-read