Ok. This book is my latest obsession! Since I started reading it, I have not been able to out it down!

Imagine coming home and your husband leaves a note, “Protect her” is all it says, this begins the whirlwind of events that start for our main character, Hannah. Hannah then starts to unravel the mystery as to why her beloved husband suddenly disappeared, leaving both her and his daughter, Bailey in the dark.

This book is so good, please RUN and grab yourself a copy, you will not regret it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book! Loved it!

The Last Thing devoted husband and father, Owen said in a note before he disappeared to his wife, Hannah was Protect her.

Does Hannah protect her? This is the most interesting part of the story. It’s a fresh take on that “stepmother” trope and the story centres around the relationship between Hannah and Bailey as they track down the truth as to why Owen disappeared.

The Last Thing He Told Me is a solid, slow-building mystery that explores secrets, lies, love, trust, and faith in a marriage. It explores the dynamics between stepmother and child, and that is the driving force of the story. I loved the relationship between Hannah and Owen’s daughter Bailey and the bond they developed. The story exams the character’s motivations, and their development results from the bond that is developed. ALL the characters are likeable from start to finish.

We learn the mystery of Owen’s disappearance through Hannah as she does. We see her past dynamics with Owen as her narrative alternates from past and present. We learn of her early days with Owen alongside with her current hunt for him. The pacing is slow and never really picked up for me, even with the twists and climax of the story. The suspense is light, and the danger is moderate. The stakes are not high until Hannah learns the truth, and even then, there was not enough tension to keep this dark and twisted reader on the edge of my chair, gripping my kindle.

Even through this one was not the best for me, I do consider it one of the better reads and I recommend for reader who enjoy likeable characters and a good easy, entertaining solid lighter mystery that you go along for the ride rather than the thrill.

3.5 STARS

We all have stories we never tell.

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THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME pulled me in from the first page and kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire ride. Full of mystery, intrigue and twists, it was easy to become invested in Hannah and Bailey's journey to find the truth. Although I felt that last portion became a bit convoluted and unbelievable, the ending fit with the overall narrative and I enjoyed the way it was wrapped up.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC! THE LAST THING HE NEVER TOLD ME IS OUT NOW.

I really enjoyed this book. I got hooked right from the very first chapter. I couldn’t put it down! It was a captivating and so intriguing. I loved the characters and the storyline. I really liked that it was realistic - sometimes domestic suspense novels can be a little far fetched but not this one. I was a little let down by the whole ending but overall a great read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The suspense/mystery started strongly and kept me entertained. There is some back and forth but it did not bother me and did not affect the pace of the story.

I liked the relationship evolving between Bailey and Hannah as they try to figure out why her father has disappeared and if he is who they thought he was.

However, at approximately 70% of the book, as we were finding out why Owen had disappeared, I started to be less captivated. The conclusion was a letdown.

I liked the Sausalito location!

Wow wow wow ! I could not put this book down. I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve gotten SO into a story line and needed to know what was coming next! A very easy, captivating read that will keep you wanting more. Highly recommend.

Wouldn’t be surprised if this turned into an awesome movie as well!

I just finished this book last, I was up until 3am reading it.  I would suggest if you decide to read this book don't read it before you want to go to sleep because you'll keep reading and have a hard time putting the book down.
Hannah has been married for a few years to the love of her life Owen.  They have been so happy together and have a wonderful life with his daughter Bailey.  They live on a cute houseboat in  Sausalito and Hannah has a woodworking shop where she works as a Woodturner.

One day she comes home from work, and a kid stops by her home and gives her a handwritten note from Owen on it that says "Protect Her" nothing more. Hannah tries to call Owen and she can't reach him; his phone is going straight to voicemail.  Then she starts hearing reports  that Avett, Owen's boss, is being accused of fraud and of stealing billions of dollars.  Owen is gone.  She can't believe he would just leave like that and leave Bailey.

The story continues with Hannah and Bailey trying to figure out what has really happened and where has Owen gone.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.

The book was interesting overall but I found myself only reading small chunks of it at a time, it never became very gripping for me. I liked Bailey's character the most as I thought she was fairly well developed but at times also a little unbelievable for her age. I would give it a 3.5 stars but it didn't stick with me as one of my favourites.

I inhaled these pages. One minute I had 320 pages to go and the next, I was reading the acknowledgments.

Dave commands your attention on every page and refuses to allow the story to be predictable. I read an article about the book that discussed that the idea came to Dave in 2003 when she was consumed with the Enron trial. In particular, the family members that swore by the innocence of those involved.

Hannah, married to Owen, lives with him and his sixteen year-old daughter, Bailey. Until one day he disappears and a stranger delivers a note to Hannah that reads “protect her”. While Hannah has no idea why Owen would write that note, she does know that it is undoubtedly about Bailey. Bailey who wants little to nothing to do with her step-mother.

If Hannah didn’t already have her work cut-out for her, Owen’s boss is arrested and the US Marshals and FBI arrive at her home separately, as they look for her husband. It becomes clear quite quickly that Owen was not who he said he was.

Who was Hannah married to? Who does Bailey need protection from? This book is unique because the family members left behind in the wake of a scandal are normally not the main players you hear from – in The Last Thing He Told Me they are. The voices of the people left behind picking up the pieces.

I didn’t love the ending, but it was great (what a conundrum I am) and that relates more to personal preference. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy getting lost in the pages of a mystery or thriller.

This little number was selected as this month’s @reesesbookclub book club pick and is being produced for an upcoming limited series on Apple TV+ through Reese’s Hello Sunshine. Do I have interest yet? Nope – that’s okay. I’ve always got a back-up. Reese and Julia Roberts are both in it! My 90s movie heart is thumping out of my chest.

It’s sure to be a hit, but the book is always better – so you should get your paws on this one before it hits the screen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. This book passed the lump-in-the-throat test. With flying colours. Reading the last few pages, my emotional reaction was sudden and visceral and my head unmistakably fuzzy as I closed the book.

Who do we really know for sure? How far are we willing to go to protect the ones we love?

Hannah, a forty-ish artisan wood worker, is adjusting to her life with new husband Owen and her sullen sixteen year old stepdaughter Bailey, within the idyllic confines of their houseboat in Sausalito across the bay from San Francisco.

Hannah, our narrator, is an unusual and very relatable character - emotionally scarred from her childhood, with the help of a beloved grandfather she has managed to shape the sum of her past into a kind of stoic even-footed resolve that is carrying her through adulthood. She’s strong, independent, yet also vulnerable and troubled by her failure to reach Bailey, who is (not too surprisingly) unwilling to embrace Hannah’s inclusion in what she sees as a firmly-closed-already-complete family unit.

With the sudden disappearance of Owen, amidst a financial scandal and all the associated media frenzy, Hannah and Bailey are both thrown into upheaval, separate worlds imploding in a kind of unexpectedly shared and intimate crisis.

“This is the terrible thing about a tragedy. It isn’t with you every minute. You forget it, and then you remember it again. And yet see it with a stark quality: This is what is required of you now, just to get along. “

Desperate to find Owen and to understand his part in circumstances surrounding the disappearance, Hannah embarks on her own fact-finding mission, struggling to figure out just who her husband really is, or was; what secrets he may have been hiding; and how (or even, if) she can put the jaggedly newly acquired pieces back together to find the familiar core of the man she believes she loves.

“In one way or another, this is the deal we all sign when we love someone. For better or worse.
It’s the deal we have to sign again and again to keep that love. We don’t turn away from the parts of someone we don’t want to see. However quickly or long it takes to see them. We accept them if we are strong enough. Or we accept them enough to not let the bad parts become the entire story.”

Aching with intensity, this is a terrific read which was impossible to put down, all the way up to it’s very neatly orchestrated conclusion, which hit all the right notes for me, and tied together the characters and story-line in a completely satisfying way. (And then again, there was also that indisputable lump.)

A great big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance review copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts provided are my own.

This was such a great book! I finished it in two sessions because I honestly couldn't put it down. It was fast paced and one of those books that hooked me from the first two pages. I couldn't put it down! This is my first book from Laura Dave and I would definitely read more from her in the future. Special thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for my copy.

I liked this story from beginning to end, and I really liked the way it ended. It wasn't exactly a happy ending, but also not overly sad. I felt like things wrapped up perfectly. This book did not have any major over the top twists, but I didn't mind one bit. It was still a major page turner for me that kept me very engaged. I really liked the main character Hannah and her step daughter Bailey. The way their relationship progressed throughout the story was really great. I am a fan of a story with some family drama and this book had it.

I also really enjoyed the dual timeline format. It mostly took place in present day, but went to the past multiple times to give the reader a glimpse into some clues and why things were happening the way they were.

The Last Thing He Told Me was a solid read for me and had me captivated. I was fully invested in the story and really loved it. This was a great book and I would recommend reading it!

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is definitely a page-turner!
This is the story of a husband who disappears after leaving a cryptic note for his wife. Owen is missing, he has abandoned Hannah, his wife of just a year, and his beloved teenage daughter Bailey.
Hannah and Bailey work together to unravel past secrets and discover that it's quite possible the man they both knew and loved isn't really who they thought.
A captivating beginning, full of mystery and intense family drama, with a tear jerking ending.
A praiseworthy read!

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

A drama/mystery that left me wondering : why all the hype? 3.5 stars

First of all, I'm really happy for all my GR friends who loved this book. I'm glad I gave it a try, I enjoyed it overall! I liked the premise, but thought the execution was a bit simplistic and the main character was bland.

On the other hand, I had no problem with the writing and it was a fast read. I wasn't bored, but I wasn't enthralled nor touched either. I definitely felt there was something missing.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC!

Reese’s pick for May 2021. Thank you NetGalley for advance copy. What a great pick! This book keeps you wondering throughout the story. The chapters leave you hanging and of course you have to keep reading! I recommend this book if you are looking for a story that will grab you from the beginning, what happened to Owen and why did he leave the note for Hannah? The cover design is beautiful as well! I suggest you add this to your summer reads list if you haven’t already.

I absolutely loved this book. From the moment I started it I knew I would have a hard time putting it down. I finished it in less than 48 hours. This isn’t my usual go to genre, but I loved the suspense of the book. I think the author did a great job at weaving the time lines, giving us glimpse of the past, while working it into the future. I really had no idea how it was going to end. The bond that is formed over the course of time between the main character and her step daughter was one of my favorite character relationships. My heart swelled with happiness for them both at the end of the book and broke for the “encounter”. Well done! I am looking forward to more books by this author.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dare is a domestic mystery/thriller, about Hannah, a newly married woman struggling to connect with her 16 year old stepdaughter, Bailey. One day Hannah’s husband Owen disappears, leaving behind a note that says simply, “Protect her.”

Hannah and Bailey work together to unravel the truth about Owen’s disappearance, uncovering secrets that lead Hannah to wonder if she ever truly knew her husband. Throughout the events of the book, Hannah is guided by one principle, the titular last thing her husband told her: to protect her stepdaughter.

One thing I really liked about the novel was the emphasis on the relationship between the two women. While the search for Owen was the framework and driving force, to me the real heart of the story was the relationship between Hannah and Bailey. In fact, the epilogue brought tears to my eyes. (Hope that’s not a spoiler!)
Two things I look for in a mystery/thriller are an emotional connection to the characters, which I definitely felt, and an interesting, fresh plot. This book had a lot of suspense and unexpected twists in this book. The big reveal was a trope I’m not particularly fond of, but it was well done and this is just a matter of personal taste, not a flaw in the book, in my opinion.

If you’re looking for a book with strong, smart female characters and a twisty satisfying mystery, this is for you. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the advance copy.

This book had plenty of twists and turns, Hannah has a new husband Owen and a sixteen year old step daughter. When her husband disappears Hannah has to unravel who her husband is and what he may have been involved in. His boss has been arrested by the FBI and Owen is on the run. Hannah and Bailey, Owens daughter join forces to put the pieces together not realizing they are putting themselves in danger. Owen had left a note for Hannah asking her to protect Bailey but will her journey to find out who her husband is jeopardize them all. Initially I was disappointed with the ending but after thinking about it I now believe it was fitting.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the chance to read The last thing he told me by Laura Dave. Owen Michaels and Hannah seemed to have a wonderful life after only being married for one year; then one day Owen disappears leaving just a note to Hannah: Protect her. Hannah knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child and is not happy to have a stepmother.
As Hannah’s desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.
While I enjoyed this book, and I enjoyed Hannah’s character, this didn’t have a thriller feel for me. There was definitely suspense and mystery, but a lot more family drama. I did enjoy the overall book and the ending and will definitely check out more of the author’s books.

I don't read mystery thrillers much anymore, because I have read so many that I tend to find them all very predictable. This one was different. First of all, this novel is character driven. I related to Hannah, whose husband disappeared, leaving her to look after her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter. I loved the writing style, the short chapters, and the fact that the plot took me places I wasn't expecting. I know I am emotionally engaged with characters when I finish the last chapter sobbing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

A gripping thriller with much suspense and many twists and turns. I really enjoyed the back and forth timeline as it really built the suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought the stepmother/daughter dynamic was well written and played out.