Kiki won’t stop until she has answers, almost like I couldn’t stop reading this thriller into the wee hours of the morning so I could have answers myself. Wonderfully written.

Hmm... I have some conflicting thoughts about this book. I struggled to become fully immersed in the central mystery surrounding Jamie's fate—was it suicide, or was he murdered? From the onset, it was evident that suicide was an unlikely scenario, and the law officers' insistence on ruling it as such felt somewhat nonsensical to me. Another aspect that bothered me was the book's inclination towards romance rather than focusing on the mystery at hand. The main character, Kiki Reed, grapples with the tragic loss of her ex-fiancé, whom she left before their wedding due to her platonic love for another man. The narrative delves into her intricate emotions about this other man, introducing elements of unrequited love or perhaps not (I'll refrain from giving away too much). I found myself rolling my eyes at various plot developments, questioning whether I was reading a second-chance romance with love triangles or a mystery surrounding a suspicious death linked to a young girl's murder in the same town—whose perpetrator was never caught, as witnessed in the prologue of the book.

Let's provide a quick recap of the primary storyline: Kiki Reed, recently disengaged from Jamie, her long-time partner, works as a career coach and strives to get her business book published. An invitation from her ex-colleague Ava to a celebration at her Connecticut home offers Kiki a chance to meet a potential agent for her new book. However, she discovers that Jamie will also be at the party and decides to clear the air by speaking to him beforehand. Jamie assures her there won't be any issues, appears to be moving on with his life, and even engages in civil conversation with Kiki before leaving the party. However, a few minutes later, he is discovered dead in his car.

Here's where my concerns intensify: There's no indication of suicide; a man is shot in the face with ample time for the assailant to escape. Despite this, it is inexplicably labeled as suicide based on gun residue on the man's hands and the heartbreak from the breakup five months prior. I couldn't buy into this conclusion, and it perplexes me why the law officers did.

Kiki, unwilling to accept this verdict and grappling with additional guilt, embarks on an investigative journey, retracing Jamie's steps and staying at an Airbnb that may or may not be haunted by ghosts (yes, the genre shifts to paranormal romance in these chapters). Reluctantly, Jamie's best friend Sam teams up with her.

It remained a quick popcorn read, a blend of psychological thriller and romance mystery. While I didn't derive much enjoyment and found abrupt plot revelations with significant holes, I'm awarding it three solid stars for its balanced pace, quick trajectory, and the subplot involving the intriguing young girl's murder.

At least I didn't find myself bored and reached the end easily. I'm hopeful that I'll enjoy the next work from this talented author a bit more. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts

3.5 stars for this specific book
4.5 stars for this author's collection of work

Kate White has easily become one of my auto read authors for mystery and thrillers. I loved "The Second Husband"
and "Between Two Strangers" and this was one was awesome as well.

I appreciated how dedicated our main character Kiki is to prove that her ex-fiance (Jamie) did not commit suicide. She has no experience in law enforcement so her detective skills definitely were just okay at times, but hey, I'm no Nancy Drew (even if I pretend to be). The beginning was captivating, the middle dragged on a bit and the end was mediocre. What it lacked was believability.

I have to say this might be my least favorite out of the books I've read from her, but that's simply because I LOVED the other two more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Oh this was a good book. I really liked Kiki as a character. She was determined to prove what happened to her ex fiancé and that he did not commit suicidal despite what others thought.
She goes on quite the exploration to prove she is right.
I was hooked from the beginning, the middle dragged a tiny bit off and on and then it picked up again and was great.
Definitely an awesome read!

This book takes you on a roller coaster ride. I was hooked from the first page. Unlike a lot of books where someone without any law enforcement experience solves the crime rather quickly and expertly, Kiki is not that kind of character. She seems to jump around all over the place. Which makes it more believable in real life. I liked her character. There’s a few that I found rather superficial, but I think that was the point. It was suspenseful and full of mystery. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book sucked me in the first few pages!
However, the story line became stagnant for quite a bit when the main character, Kiki, kept insisting to everyone her ex was murdered and did not commit suicide. It was just so repetitive.
I also wish the author developed a bit of background on Kiki relationship with Sam. That part of the book was like pow, in your face, out of left field with no history or build-up. I did like the last part of the book when things started to get moving and the pieces came together in the end.

Thanks Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the eArc copy for my review !

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an ARC copy of The Last Time She Saw Him.

This book started out really strong for me and I was immediately sucked into the story and the mystery of Jamie's death. Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill for me after 30% or so. The bulk of the story was the main character running around sort of chasing her tail in circles and following dead ends, which added a bit of suspense but not enough. The most disappointing part was the "big reveal" at the end felt super rushed and left a lot of unanswered questions.

Overall, a fine read but definitely would not be near the top of my list to recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC..

The Last Time She Saw Him is a decently told story and fans of romantic suspense will likely enjoy it.

Half way through this book, I just wasn't invested enough to continue. I don't like the fact that a mystery can't just be a mystery without there being a constant romance involved! Okay, it was enough that the main character was the former fiancee of someone who ends up dead. However half way through the book it is revealed that she dumped her future spouse at the altar due to an attraction to his best friend that she was just beyond her control (we discover this as the main character confesses this to the dead man's best friend).

The idea that "the heart wants what the heart wants" and we are all subject to whims of uncontrollable attraction, "love connections" (which may initially be one-sided, but you know what will happen by the end of the book).

That is far too Harlequin for me!
Also, it adds that vibe that a person cannot have moral fiber and self-control, that where their "heart" is concerned we are just slaves to our passing attractions...

This book should be categorized as a "romance" novel. I did not feel the characters in this novel were realistic, and I didn't find any of them particularly likeable...

First and last by this author, might be your cuppa, just wasn't mine, I prefer my mysteries (and the main characters) when they are more... Substantial.

Kiki bravely decides to go to a dinner party where her ex-fiancé Jamie will be, only for the night to end with Jamie dead. While it looks like a suicide, Kiki is sure it was murder and sets out to find the truth.

The book "The Last Time She Saw Him" starts with a disconnected but gripping beginning, then introduces many characters, making the story complex and slow to get into. Although it's hard to feel close to the characters, there's enough mystery to make you curious about the ending. However, the ending is disappointing and leaves questions unanswered.

The writing has potential, and even though this book wasn't to my liking, I'm interested in reading more from the author. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial & Paperbacks for the chance to read and review this book.

I like this book, it has a fast pace, solid characters that you care about and a strong storyline. I did find the ultimate motive that was revealed a little wanting and not totally believable. However, Kate White always writes a strong book that you get sucked into. Recommended.

Wow! This was so good. I couldn’t put it down and finished in one sitting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3⭐️

THE PLOT

Kiki Reed attends a celebratory party for her friend's husband to celebrate his new book, when she runs into her ex-fiancé, Jamie. They didn't part on good terms so an awkward encounter was expected. However, they had a civil and pleasant conversation. As Jamie goes to leave the party, he is shot in his car. Kiki is devastated, even more so when they rule his death a suicide. She didn't believe it one bit and dedicated all her time figuring out how to prove he was murdered, even if it meant going to very questionable lengths.

My Thoughts

The Characters: I found Kiki to be absolutely insufferable. 😭 I didn't like her at all. I didn't think she was likable and she was just over the top the entire time. I really struggled with all of these characters, to be honest. Her actions were BEYOND crazy and the conclusions she'd come to were just so wild. I liked the little bit a romance between Sam and Kiki, but it felt weird given the circumstances in which they got together. Sam was Jaime's best friend so after he died, it felt a little...wrong. I only say that because it was literally a week after he died that they started flirting I was like GIRLLL please LMAOO.

The Plot: I liked the way the plot played out and I liked the idea of the plot. However, I think it lacked a bit in execution. Sometimes everything was clumped together and then it'd be so spaced out and filled with things not relevant to the plot. It was engaging enough to keep be binge reading it, but I didn't have much joy as the story went on. I was really hoping it'd get better and I had my fingers crossed, but it just fell short to me. I had a good time! The vibes were there; the execution just fell short. The ending was not really surprising at all to me. I could see it from a mile away and I'm not one to theorize. However, there were a few moments where I gasped and was like wait WHAT? There was a lot of surprises throughout the book, but the ending was a bit of a let down as well.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this, but I don't think it was for me. It was fast-paced at times and others were very slow. I would recommend this if you're looking for more of a slower-paced thriller. It wasn't entirely gripping, but it's engaging enough to keep you reading. 😊

Thank you to Kate White, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! <3

This book started a little slow for me but quickly changed my mind and I was hooked! A murder of an ex sends our main character into detective mode, and as she starts to unravel what happened to him, more and more things come to light surrounding the victim. Great story, fast plot, couldn't put it down!

Kate White does it again with this excellent whodunnit, depicting the story of a woman who sets out to prove the truth behind her ex-fiancé alleged suicide. The plotline and the execution were both superb!

Running into an ex can be an uncomfortable situation, but Kiki is bound and determined to rip off the bandage by agreeing to attend a dinner party her ex-fiancé, Jamie, will be at. Turns out only one of them will leave the party alive. While the police are leaning toward suicide, Kiki is convinced that Jamie was murdered and will stop at nothing to figure out what happened.

The Last Time She Saw Him is a slow burn, suspenseful whodunnit. Starting with an intense prologue that doesn’t really tie into the story, I was a bit thrown off. Then you’re immediately introduced to a ton of characters and dialogue/info, which makes for a long list of potential suspects but also a very, very slow read that is hard to engage with. Thought I can’t say I really connected to the characters at all, this story has all the makings of a proper mystery with lies and deceit, finger pointing, and tons of secrets. It’s one of those books that keeps your interest piqued just enough to want to know what happens. Unfortunately, the ending fell flat and I’m left with too many questions. While this one wasn’t my favorite, I’d be interested in reading other titles from this author as her writing has serious promise. This just wasn’t the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial & Paperbacks for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers/Harper Perennial Paperbacks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
When Kiki's ex-fiance is found dead at a dinner party, suspicions and accusations spiral into a tangled web of secrets, deceit, and mystery. Kiki sets out to find the truth at any cost.
The author did a great job of leaving a long list of suspects for the reader to pick through; with the narrator's most intimate thoughts, it's hard to eliminate anyone.
I enjoyed the dark humor sprinkled throughout, the many ways I was distracted from the truth, and the character relationships and dialogue.
While this book did do a great job of keeping me engaged and looking for the next clue at every turn, ultimately the build up and trail of tantalizing clues fell flat at the end. Which, honestly, was super disappointing. The way this book wrapped up is the main reason for my 3.5-star rating.

Thank you!!!!!!!

another terrific thriller from Kate White twists and turns that you won't want to put down keeps you guessing til the very end and then you wish it would continue

I'm a fan of Kate White's books, but this one didn't click for me. The first few chapters felt like an exposition overload — lots of people, lots of background info — and I couldn't get invested in any of it. The dialogue also felt a bit stiff, which didn't help pique my interest. This was unfortunately a DNF, but I'm still looking forward to the author's next book!

When Kiki Reed attends a party in Litchfield County, CT celebrating an author’s new publication, she knows she will meet Jamie, her former fiancé, there. She broke the engagement leaving him devastated but he has brought a date to the party and seems to be in a good mood. She is as shocked as the rest of the guests when, immediately after he wishes Kiki a good night, he is shot in the front seat of his car. His death is a presumed suicide but Kiki has her doubts. She finds an Airbnb in the country and determines to find out what happened to Jamie. Not everyone is supportive and Kiki will have to discover Jamie’s killer before she becomes the next victim.

The Last Time I Saw Him is a slow boil of suspense and misdirection. Kate White delivers vivid characters, romance and a well plotted mystery set in rural Western Connecticut. I did wonder why Kiki’s assault was necessary as it didn’t seem to add much to the story. That said, The Last Time I Saw Him is a 5 star. Read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Kate White for this ARC.

We start off by meeting too many characters all at once. Kiki has an encounter with an ex who is later found dead. Was it a suicide or murder? Kiki is on a mission to find out. I found her unrelatable and a bit all over the place. I could not connect to her or her thoughts. It’s a short read, but still took me several days because I just could not get into this story line. The ending left more questions than answers.