There are 3 main characters in this book but we only meet two of them: Hannah and Bailey.
Owen, Hannan's husband and Bailey's father goes to work one day and does not come home.

The story unfolds with flashbacks and present day as we join Hannah and Bailey in their search for Owen.
The story centers not only on where Owen is but also on the WHY?????

It is a wild ride with twists and turns that keep the pages turning right up to the last word. (It stays with you! long after you close the book, in fact I read the last chapter at least 5 times)

The Last Thing He Told Me is a twisty psychological drama similar in content to some of Lisa Jewell’s best books (in my humble opinion). It most involves domestic whtie-collar suspense and is not gory in the way some thrillers are, but it is captivating and it is impossible not to flip those pages very quickly. This book is about a relatively new wife, Hannah, whose husband Owen doesn’t come home at the end of the day. She has a precarious relationship with her 16 year old stepdaughter, who was single parented by her father for years and years before Hannah came into their lives. When the news begins to break about Owen’s company being investigated by the FBI, and several notes don’t quite add up, Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey dig a little deeper over the course of just a few days to find out exactly what Owen might have been hiding. I went into this book knowing nothing & I’d recommend you do the same, overall! It was such a great reading experience with a lot of really cool OH I GET THAT moments & I just loved the pace, the plot, and the ending. I bought it for my mom for Mother’s Day this past weekend 🙂 This book will make a lot of recommended lists this summer and it will be WELL deserved.

A suspense/thriller about a husband living a lie and keeping his wife (Hannah) and daughter in the dark. Owen disappears just as his company is going down and his boss is hauled away by the FBI but before he leaves, he leaves a cryptic note for Hannah. The story is told through different timelines and was fast paced and addicting. The chapters were nice and short but before you know it, you're starting a new one. Hannah was a great character and I liked her tenacity and detective skills. I also really liked the relationship between her and her step-daughter Beatrice. Not sure how I feel about the ending, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.

Do you know that sheer delight you feel when you start a book and it’s exactly the book you needed at that moment in time? This book provided that feeling for me yesterday. I was engrossed in it from the first few pages and have devoured it in 24 hours.

Hannah’s husband Owen has gone missing, after having been implicated in a financial scandal, leaving her with her 16 year old stepdaughter, Bailey, and a note from Owen saying only “Protect her”.

This thriller/mystery/family drama had me on the edge of my seat, I was so desperate to find out where this story was going. I loved the short chapters and character wise I adored Hannah and really enjoyed the way her relationship with Bailey progressed throughout the book.

As for the ending, it made me feel ALL the emotions! No spoilers here but part of me just absolutely loved it and the other part of me wanted to cry.

This is my first book by this author but I’ll definitely now be making sure I check out her backlist.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I've been reading Laura Dave for a long time - I first read her novel The First Husband way back in 2012. Even though I've been enjoying her books for almost a decade, I almost didn't request The Last Thing He Told Me. Let me tell you: I am SO glad that I did. I could not put it down and had it finished in two days. And wished I could have started it over again and read it in one sitting!

Here's the book's description:
Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito 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.
The reason I almost didn't request the latest offering from Dave is because I've been really wary of thrillers lately. I keep picking them up because I love the author but it's not my genre of choice. I've learned I like mysteries more and I was really happy when I realized Dave's was skewing more to the mystery side of things. Hannah isn't a detective or any sort of professional that should be solving mysteries but she's on the case of why her husband is missing (this is not to be confused with cozy mysteries when the local cupcake baker ends up solving murder after murder in a small town that mysteriously does not lose permanent residents). I really had no idea how it would all turn out and I was both dreading and highly anticipating the end of the story. I needed to know what happened but I wasn't ready to say goodbye. That's the mark of a good and enjoyable book in my, well, book.

The description hints at it a little bit but the relationship between Hannah and Bailey, Owen's teenage daughter, was a highlight of the story. The emotions between the two and reading as they were trying to work out what happened to Owen while still navigating their new relationship was full of heart and I loved it. It was real and raw. There was so much pain, and a bit of distrust, but there was also love underneath it all. The way it ends will have you feeling sad and also so hopeful.

An amusing aside - Hannah is visited by a US Marshal right after her husband disappears. He seems to be a solid (and good looking) guy so, naturally, I pictured him as the character Raylan Givens, as played by Timothy Olyphant, in Justified. It's funny how the minds work sometimes! (Also, this is an older show that's totally worth a watch.)

Another aside - I'm really happy with the cover of this novel. It's aesthetically pleasing but doesn't scream "THIS IS A SUSPENSE STORY WRITTEN BY A WOMAN" which is so often the case. It's simple but a bit dark and you have to wonder, what's the story behind this cover?

I think the ending might polarize people but I was happy with it. Well, parts of it. I wished for one thing but if I couldn't have that thing, I was pleased with how it wrapped up. How's that for vague? Just read the book and you'll get it and I'll be here for you when you're done!

Laura Dave's latest novel was a riveting read I could not put down. The Last Thing He Told Me was well-written and featured characters you can't help but become invested in. I didn't want it to end and am already looking forward to what Dave writes next.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of The Last Thing He Told Me
This was a good read, I really enjoyed this book.
Bailey does not seem to like her new stepmother, she gives her the cold shoulder and can't accept that her dad has remarried.  However Hannah is patient and understands where Bailey is coming from
Then Owen disappears, Hannah finds a note that says protect her, she has no idea what is going on. Hannah and Bailey set out to try and understand what has happened and learn more about Owen's past, and hoping for some clues to his whereabouts.
Eventually Hannah finds Owen's past and makes a deal that will help to protect herself and her stepdaughter and realizes she will never see Owen again
Well written, just enough drama, just wanted to keep reading.

This is a great mystery. Hannah and her step daughter Bailey embark on a dangerous journey to figure out what happened to husband and father, Owen Michaels. The twists and turns kept on coming and I really enjoyed it as a whole.. Thankful to the publisher to have gotten a copy of this book ahead of its May 4, 2021 release date.

Read if you like: fast-paced mysteries, disappearances.
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When Hanna's husband goes missing, he leaves one message: protect his daughter. This plunges Hannah into trying to unravel the mystery of her husbands life in order to best protect Bailey.
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I have seen some reviews that say that this was a bit predictable, but this was just the type of mystery that I needed when I read it. I found it fast paced, the characters interesting, and I wanted to keep reading in order to figure out what was happening. I read this in a day and found I could just immerse myself in this book, which is a great feeling. I really liked Hannah-she really cared about Bailey and was willing to do whatever to keep her safe, even though Bailey was reluctant to accept Hannah at first.
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CW: child abandonment, death of a parent, violence, fraud.

Hannah thought she knew Owen, the man she married but he had a past that was gradually revealed as the book progressed. When Owen disappeared he left his daughter Bailey in the care of Hannah who did not have a good relationship with her step daughter. Hannah not only became a caregiver but also quite adept in following leads to the previous life of her husband. For the most part the book was a believable read , although the memory of young Bailey was too remarkable in my opinion plus Hannah ‘s investigative skills are quite astute for a wood furniture maker. The book was a quick read with enough going on to make it a solid read with a decent ending.

I knew I was going to enjoy this one from the very start.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

We all have stories we never tell.

Synopsis from goodreads: Before Owen Michaels disappears, he managers to smuggle a note to his wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owens sixteen-year-old-daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito 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.

This was a well-paced domestic/suspense/mystery/thriller story. I was gripped from the beginning and finished in two sittings.

I really loved the writing style, the short chapters and the fact that the past and present timelines were easy to follow.

I’ve seen some other reviews where people shared that they didn’t like the ending, but I personally did and I thought it left it open for a potential sequel to the story. I have also see that this will be turned into a tv series starring Julia Roberts!!

I don’t want to say too much about this book, but I think if the synopsis interests you.. you should definitely check this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Shuster Canada for an eARC copy of this title!

Fantastic!! A true testament to the lengths we will go for family, whether blood or found.
I love that it didn’t end up in a pretty little package, and allows for the reader to come to their own conclusions.
The past and present chapters were done brilliantly and really added to the reading experience.
I never had an idea about exactly what was going on, and I loved being along for that ride as the story unfolded.
I will be seeking out other works by this author.

When Hannah is handed a note that says, “protect her”, she does just that. Her husband Owen has gone missing, she is left with her stepdaughter Bailey, a teenager with an attitude, and Hannah must find to a way to figure out what just happened. She is on rocky ground with Bailey, but vows to do whatever it takes to keep her safe. When the Marshalls and FBI come knocking, and Hannah does not know who to trust, she has one choice and that is to run. When she finds out that her husband really is not who he said he was, she trusts her instincts and gets deeper into the web of deceit. Will Hannah end up trusting the authorities, or will she turn to the one man who has the power to destroy them but also the power to keep them safe.

This was such an amazing story. I loved the relationship between Hannah and Bailey and how they had to learn to trust each other to find out what really happened to Owen. As much as the story was about the disappearance of Owen, it was about a relationship between a stepmother and daughter. There were many surprises along the way as the mystery unravels which I loved. I could not put this book down. Laura Dave is a new author for me, but I will definitely be picking up her other novels to read as I adored her writing style. My thanks to Simon & Schuster Publishing, Netgalley and Laura Dave for an advanced copy of the book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.

The sacrifices for family

A suspenseful and surprising journey of a woman whose husband suddenly disappears leaving her with the one task of protecting his sixteen year old daughter. I loved this story and dove right in trying to solve all the clues that poor Hannah was discovering and trying to piece together about the husband and life she thought she knew. But don't be fooled that this is just her story. As new reveals occur from jumping back and forth through timelines it soon becomes clear that this a story of all three of them and the unique interpretation of family. How things unfold hooked me in and loved how characters shifted and a newfound strength and purpose was discovered. Who is the sinner and who are the saints, will it all become clear or take us further down the rabbit hole? Great writing and the perfect book to lose yourself in.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster Canada, and Laura Dave for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've been a fan of Laura Dave's writing ever since her debut novel, London is the Best City in America.
When I read the synopsis for The Last Thing He Told Me, I was a little surprised because it's a domestic mystery, a departure from her previous books. I needn't have worried because the story was well-paced, and the evolution of the relationship between Hannah and stepdaughter Bailey was so engrossing that I finished it in one sitting.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Laura Dave. This was a great read about a lover, the one you wanted. You get him and then he is gone!!!! Read this one. It is very hard to put down. It was so goooood. I love a book that has my attention from the start. If the book doesn't, I quit. Great characters and great storyline.

Thanks again!

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Laura Dave for the advanced copy! This was such a great read and I had a hard time putting this down!

Protect her. Those are the last words Hannah receives from her husband Owen, before he disappears. Hannah knows the note is talking about Bailey, Owens 16 year old daughter. As the FBI gets involved and things start to unravel, Hannah and Bailey set out to find answers about why Owen disappeared and where he went.

This was such a suspenseful read and I just had to know what happened! I absolutely loved Hannah and Bailey as characters and the relationship that they form through the crazy journey. The story is told in present day with some flashbacks to the past and I really enjoyed that aspect and what it added to the storyline! I definitely recommend this book to any suspense lovers!!

"We all have stories we never tell.
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her."

It’s PUB DAY and I’m excited to share that this is one domestic suspense you will not want to miss! Laura Dave wrote this web of secrets so compellingly it felt like a movie I’d be down to binge. So YES - I am so down for Julia Roberts series coming soon! Before you watch the series, I highly recommend the read first!

A women left alone with her sixteen year old step-daughter must find the strength to protect her while searching for the truth about why her husband mysteriously disappeared. A bond is formed between them. A deal is made. An ending so unexpected.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Laura Dave.
This novel has a hold on you from the very beginning. I could not put it down.
Fast paced. Well written. Hannah and Bailey were great characters.
Great storyline.
Highly Recommend. 5 stars.

An absolutely intriguing story. Finding the love of your life, only to have him disappear is strange. This book grips you and doesn’t let go. I loved the characters and got involved with their life. Awesome.

Gone Boy!

I love a good secret identity mystery, especially when it involves a shady husband so I was excited to request this ARC! Unfortunately this one just didn’t have enough edge of your seat drama I was hoping for.

The book follows the very basic wood turner Hannah Hall, who marries a tech wunderkind, widower and single dad, Owen Michaels. Owen tells Hannah that his wife died in a car accident when his daughter Bailey was two years-old. He hasn’t had a serious relationship since and Bailey is now an angsty 16 year-old. Hannah uproots her New York life and moves into their houseboat in California. Now that’s love! Bailey, having only her Dad in her life, is no fan of Hannah. Two years into their waterfront life, Hannah receives a note from Owen that says “Protect Her.” He is Gone Boy! Hannah hears on the radio that his company, “The Shop” has just been indicted for securities fraud. Bailey and Hannah have no idea WTF is going on. Together this strained wannabe step mommy and smells like teen spirit duo must figure out who their leading main man really is.

I love the set up and overall plot of this novel, but I felt the execution lacked intensity. You find out about Owen’s backstory about ¾ of the way into the novel and it’s very anti-climatic. You're like oh, ok that’s what happened. I was hoping for a bigger reveal with higher stakes. HIs real story IMO would’ve made for a more compelling novel.

The chapters are short so it is a compulsive read and it will have you turning the pages quickly. I was just really hoping for more meat in those pages.

I think a lot of people will enjoy this novel. I think setting your expectations properly according to the level of intensity is key. This isn’t a whodunnit or thriller, it is a family drama with a mystery component. I think if I knew that going in I might have rated it differently …