This cover and premise caught my eye, and I was thrilled to be approved.

Hannah is trying to connect with her step daughter Bailey when they're thrust into an unthinkable situation. Her husband, Owen, is wanted for questioning in a fraud scheme and flees. Before he disappears, he leaves Hannah an ambiguous note, just two words: Protect her. What follows is a woman's quest to saving a husband with a past she knows nothing about and a journey into the complexities of blended families.

Oh, I loved this book.

I didn't expect to hit me the way it did, but the hope and resounding belief that love is possible outside of blood ties really struck a chord. Hannah's voice is compelling and fun in spite of the extenuating circumstances. She's self-aware and quietly respectful. Her budding relationship with Bailey is a carefully layered masterpiece in character building, and I loved seeing how each bit of mystery brought them closer or highlighted their differences.

This book is utterly un-put-downable. The plot is well structured, the pacing is spot on, and the characters are more than relatable. Yes, this is a suspense, but it's also a refreshing blast of optimism I didn't know I needed. It is possible to have a book with two characters who love each other. It is possible for a stepmother to not have her own biological children but love, nurture, and respect the relationship with her stepchild. What resonated most was Hannah's faith that she knew her husband. The trust and love they had for each other. The sacrifices they made. I can't remember the last time I read something without an automatic assumption of guilt or the overarching conclusion that one bad decision is enough to decide the entirety of their future.

Overall, The Last Thing He Told Me is a smart, electric, engrossing read with a big heart and reverberating consequences. I'd recommend to fans of Moriarty or quiet domestic suspense.

Big thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

"The Last Thing He Told Me" is an upcoming suspense novel by Laura Dave (set to release 5/4/2021.) The storyline revolves around the main character, Hannah and her step-daughter, Bailey. Hannah's husband, Owen, mysteriously disappears when the company he works for comes under an investigation by the FBI. The only thing Owen leaves behind is a duffle bag full of cash and a note stating, "Protect her," which Hannah rightly assumes refers to Bailey.

As Hannah and Bailey attempt to figure out what has happened to Owen, they find that he is not who he said he was. As they persue answers, they find that Bailey's memories from her childhood may be the key that leads them to Owen's true identity.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. In fact, I read the entire thing in two days because I just had to know how it ended. The writing is engaging, even if a tad bit repetitive at times. I appreciated the author's ability to write an engaging and suspenseful story without feeling the need to include an overwhelming amount of profanity or sex. The ending was not predictable, which helped keep me interested from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exganged for my non biased opinion and review.

I requested this particular book because I have read other titles by Laura Dave in the past, and I always enjoyed them greatly. I'm excited to say that I liked this book just as much- if not more- than the books I had read in the past! I honestly was expecting a little more of a "thriller-esque" aspect, but I think it definitely falls into more of a "family drama/mystery". The fact that I was expecting something different didn't diminish this novel's shine, regardless. It is well-written, and I found myself speeding through it to find out why a man who loved his teenage daughter so immensely could just, essentially, ABANDON her. (Even though he did leave her thousands upon thousands of dollars). I stayed up reading well into the night several nights, and was so invested in this book that I didn't even mind the lack of sleep. This is definitely one that I will recommend to our customers, and I will actively look for future books by Laura Dave. 4.75 stars of 5, EASILY!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I hadn't realized, when I requested this title that I'd read previous books by the author and loved them. This one not only didn't disappoint, but it came to me in a period where 2020 had me in a funk and I'd rejected so many books I'd started. It also was a little unique to the author's usual plots, and I loved it. The book drew me in, touched on so many different things (children losing parents, new stepparents stepping in, deception, etc). I loved this book.

This book was very different from Laura Hankin’s others, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I loved it! The story took some unexpected twists but was very well-written and flowed well. I couldn’t put it down!

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

The Last Thing He Told me had enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. But at its core it is a story about love, loss and motherhood. What would you sacrifice and do for the ones you love?

I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I zipped through this book. Laura Dave always writes well and this one connected with the mom in me. A mother’s love — never give up; two things in this book that are core values of mine. I am lucky enough to have a stepmother that put her step children’s needs before her own, and I realize the sacrifice that was made by Hannah so that Bailey could live her life without fear. Very good book. Minus 1 star because at times the story seemed a little far fetched but I rolled with it, and I am glad I did.

Hannah married the love of her life, and now she’s living with him and his 16 year-old daughter in sunny California. Things are pretty great, until the day her husband’s company is all over the news for suspicious/illegal activity, and he’s nowhere to be found. When Hannah gets a note that says, “Protect her,” she realizes it’s her husband’s way of asking her to protect his daughter, but do to so, Hannah decides to go on a hunt for information that will change her life forever. The last few books by Laura Dave haven’t been as good as her earlier work (in my opinion), but this one is really fantastic. Fast-paced with intriguing storytelling, I read it in about two days. If all of her books going forward are as good as this one, I think she’s going to garner an even bigger fan base.

5 Stars

NOTE: Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Suspenseful and sweet! This story took off and kept me up late to finish it! I loved the characters and cheered them on! I rate this book a 3.8

I loved this book. It was action packed, fast moving (finished it in one sitting!) and had a tidy ending.

This is my first book by this author. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Five enthusiastic stars.

I really enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. It was very suspenseful with lots of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I love books with strong female characters, and Hannah fit the bill in this one. I appreciated the author’s writing style, and the story was interesting and well-timed. I’ll definitely read more books by Laura Dave..

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Hannah's husband, Owen, has disappeared, leaving only a note that says protect her . She and her stepdaughter, Bailey, become determined to uncover the truth surrounding Owen's disappearance. Their journey takes them from California to Texas, where they discover that Owen is not who he claims to be.

I enjoyed this book very much. It hooked me from the very beginning and I found it to be a definite page-turner. The Last Thing He Told Me is a mystery with surprises along the way, but it's also a novel that explores motherhood, complex family relationships, and what you're willing to sacrifice to protect those you love. I'll definitely be recommending this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC of The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. I've read a couple of Laura Dave's other novels and enjoyed them, so I was excited when I saw that I could request the ARC of this one. Because I work and am married with pets, I don't have as much time to read as I would like. I could not put this book down! It was absolutely compulsive - I managed to read it in three days. Hannah marries Owen, a single father to teenaged Bailey. Bailey isn't very receptive to the idea of a step-mother and makes it known. Owen works for a tech company with questionable management and practices. When Owen disappears without a trace, Hannah pulls herself together enough to continue raising Bailey, while trying to find out what happened to Owen and why. The story moves at such a fast-pace that I really could not wait to find out what happened to Owen. This is Laura Dave's best book so far and I can't wait to read more from her.

Thank you #netgalley and #SimonandSchuster for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went into the story relatively blind, knowing only that the main protagonist, Hannah, receives a mysterious note from her Husband Owen. When Owen fails to appear after work and all calls go straight to voicemail, Hannah and her step daughter, Bailey search out to find the reason her Owen's disappearance.

The story was intriguing and the characters were likeable. Hannah was a strong female lead thrust into the role of Mother and protector to a sullen teenager who hasn't exactly rolled out the welcome matt. I thought the story flowed well and was enjoyable.

I did find the writing a bit repetitive. The same sentiment was repeated over the course of two to three sentences, vice one. It was a bit slow to start, taking time to get invested in the story.

All in all an intriguing and well-done mystery.

Wow! I love Laura Dave’s books - Eight Hundred Grapes is one of my favorite books. The Last Thing He Told Me was better. The characters made you get lost in the story, made you pay attention to the hidden meaning behind each word. Reading this suspenseful story is one thing but becoming invested in Hannah and Baileys relationship is another. I couldn’t read fast enough to get to the next twist and turn. I loved the background in California and moving to Texas - the murky background of Owen - and how as Baileys father - he does what every parent must do. What a parent should ask of anyone who loves a child - to protect them.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC - best gift of 2020! Put this one on your TBR list and look for it May 2021. It’s not to be missed.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I was so excited to get it and this book did not disappoint! I have loved Laura’s books in the past. This one was more of a mystery, but I loved it. I was so drawn in right from the star5 and was anxious for the characters. I highly recommend!

This is the first book by Laura Dave I have read and It won’t be the last. She really kept me on edge and wanting more to come. I could really feel the confusion and need for answers from both Bailey and Hannah’s characters.
I definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy a suspenseful read.

Wow! This book took me for a ride, while enjoying every second. Thank you so much Net Galley for an ARC. I will now be checking out Laura Dave's books in the future. This is one of my favorite books read in 2020.