Reading Between the Wines book review #49/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Last Time She Saw Him
Author: Kate White
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: This was such a mystery. Everyone wanted to say Jamie decided to take his own life. But his ex, Kiki, is determined to prove that he was murdered. There were so many secrets uncovered and I did not expect any of it.

Cheers and thank you to @HarperPerennialAndPaperbacks and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheLastTimeSheSawHim.

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I had high expectations for this book. I liked the premise, and the first chapter hooked me. However, the suspense was merely average. There was not a lot of excitement surrounding the mystery, and things developed too slowly for my liking. I do love this author, though, and if you are looking for a slow-burn thriller, this would be the one for you.

I was completely invested in this book and wanted to keep turning the page to see what happens next. A party is thrown to celebrate a friend's new book release and at the end of the night everyone except one leaves to go home. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck right?

When the police are quick to jump that Jamie killed himself as he left the party, everyone quickly accepts it even though Jamie is happy and appears to be far from depressed. If the police say so, it must be right? Jamie's ex fiance, Kiki, just can't accept it.

She digs into Jamie's death more and slowly uncovering lots of secrets including those in his family. She finds lots of motives, but only one person killed him if she can prove it. Kiki explores all possible scenarios even when weird things start to happen around her.

The Last Time She Saw Him has plot turns and when you think you have it figured out another twist. I truly loved the suspense and the thrill of this story. Unfortunately one thing that drove me nuts was that there were two gun shots and NO ONE leaving the party who heard it brought it up again. I was waiting for this to click or be mentioned, but it never does. Luckily, the book was still engaging enough that I didn't want to stop reading.

A thriller revolving around the death of a young woman's ex-fiance. At first, they think it's suicide, but Kiki the ex-fiance isn't so sure. She sets out to find out just what exactly happened to him. But as she starts uncovering the truth, she finds a whole lot more there than she originally anticipated.

Overall a fast-paced thriller, easy to read and get sucked in.

Thanks NetGalley for this arc, all opinions are my own

I'm going to start this review by saying that I have read A LOT of White's books. Any time I see that she has a new one out, I want to read it. But often, I'm left with this feeling that I just read something cookie cutter. Her MCs are always perfect and often well to do, or they mix well with other well to do people. I just want characters that are less PERFECT.

That said, this is one of her better books. The story moved quickly and I could not stop guessing. I thought that shortly into it I had it all figured out, but I was completely wrong, which I appreciated! Sometimes I find Kate's MCs to be Mary Sues, and Kiki was a bit like this, but she also had a bit of a spark that I don't always see in White's characters, which I appreciated.

I really wanted more of the mystery. I felt like part of this book was a second chance romance kind of thing, and I would have been fine with that, if this book hadn't been listed as a thriller. I also found it completely ridiculous that so many people thought Jamie committed suicide considering the way in which he was found.

I definitely liked this story more than a lot of White's stories recently, however I just need more realism in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Paperbacks for allowing me to read this egalley before publication.

I was excited by the premise of this book and was excited to read another novel by White. Three-quarters of the book had me reading non-stop but it was a little lackluster when it came to the end so that is why I rated 4/5 stars.

3.5/5-rounded up

Kiki sees her ex-fiancé for the first time post break up at a party. He’s later killed that same night. Police think it’s a suicide. She’s convinced it isn’t.

This book grabbed my attention from the start. There’s a good amount of twists and turns. The romance aspect came out of nowhere but did add to the book.

Every character is a suspect and you definitely keep guessing till the end.

A great rollercoaster of a who done it. I thought I knew what happened and thought to myself wow i’m getting good at feeling out a story. Wow was I wrong!



I enjoyed reading The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White .   Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White is a suspenseful novel that easily captured my ttention from the first page to the last. Kiki Reed, a career counselor from Manhattan, is visiting Connecticut to attend a party in honor of her former mentor and friend Ava Davenport's husband Victor. Victor has released a book about the times and trials during the Salem witch-hunts. Kiki has been apprehensive about the party, as she has learned that her former fiance, Jamie Larsson will also be a guest. They run into each other and although attempt to be cordial, it is evident that Jamie is still hurt and grieving over Kiki ending their relationship. At the end of the evening as Kiki is leaving the party, the guests hear what they think might be fireworks. When Vic and his agent and party guest Dan go out to investigate they find the dead body of Jamie in his car. The police determine it is suicide, however Kiki refuses to believe that finding. She engages Jamie's best friend Sam Morgan to help her clear Jamie's reputation and find the killer. Hold your hat from there as Kiki meets with family resistance, is terrorized by Jamie's current girlfriend and is forced to acknowledge that she harbors feeling for Sam. I found The Last Time She Saw Him to be a quick and entertaining read keeping me wondering along with Kiki what actually happened to Jamie. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishing and the autho for the opportunity to read an ARC of the book; my review reflects my honest feedback. 3.5 stars.

3.5

I loved The Fiancée and The Second Husband by White so was excited to get an early copy of her newest.

This story had me hooked. I had to know what was going on and how the timelines linked, however, the ending was very anticlimactic and not at all what I was expected.

Huge thanks to NetGalley &
Harper Perennial & Paperbacks for an advance copy!

As Kiki Reed heads out to a party at a friend’s house in the Connecticut countryside, she’s more than a little nervous. Her ex-fiancé Jamie, a great guy who just wasn’t “the one,” will be attending, and she hasn’t seen him since she broke his heart a few months earlier. But when they come face to face, their exchange is brief and pleasant, which is a huge relief. Then, as the party is winding down, a noise pierces the night. The last few guests run outside to find Jamie inside his car, dead from a gunshot wound. Shocked and grieving, Kiki learns that the police believe Jamie took his own life, but she knows he was moving on from the breakup and just doesn’t believe it. Determined to find the truth, she searches for any evidence that will get the police to take her seriously. But as she peels away the layers, she uncovers something far more sinister than she’d imagined—and it may be her life on the line next. I am a huge fan of this writer and this book did not disappoint. A gripping thriller with lots of twists.

Wow! This was such a fun book to read and what a wild ride it took you on. I loved the setting, and the storyline. The characters were beautifully described and it was such a great book. Highly recommend

Kiki is worried about seeing her ex-fiance Jamie again. But their brief meeting at a party goes well so when Jamie is found shot dead later that evening, Kiki knows he wouldn't have done it himself. Can she prove everyone wrong and find out who did it? This was a good thriller with a few twists thrown in. It was easy to read and had an ending I didn't see coming!

Thank you to Harper & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m a longtime fan of Kate White’s thrillers, because they’re so good! The Last time she saw him did not disappoint! Another gripping and fast paced thriller, with a plot I haven’t seen done before.

Pick this one up if you’re looking for a new thriller to dive into!!

Unfortunately I have tried to read and review this novel multiple times. I keep getting to about 15-20% and just want to put it down. I don’t feel appropriate rating due to not getting far enough in to form an opinion. I just don’t think it’s for me! My apologies!

As I stated previously, I’ve been reading Kate for years and she is truly an author I’ll always autobuy. The way she weaves a story and gets you thinking it’s one character and it ends up being someone else is truly a feat most authors lag in.

Kiki has decided to visit Connecticut and attend a friend’s dinner party. However, her ex Jamie will be there and she is worried about how he’ll be. She broke up with him recently and the guilt is getting to her. Things end up being fine between them but at the end of the night, Jamie is dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. But why would Jamie do that to himself?

The suspense in this story was intense and really kept me on the edge of my seat. It was very well written with mystery snd thriller vibes woven inside to truly make a perfect “whodunnit” story. I really enjoyed reading this book. A definite summer must read and for that I’m rating it four stars!

** I received this book as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Kiki Reed, nervous about seeing her ex-fiancé Jamie at a friend's party in Connecticut, is relieved when their brief encounter goes smoothly. However, the night takes a tragic turn when Jamie is found dead from a gunshot wound in his car. Although the police suspect suicide, Kiki, convinced Jamie was moving on, decides to investigate. As she delves deeper, she discovers a sinister truth, realizing her own life might now be at risk.

Overall rating: 3.2/5

Ratings:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 3/5. The story was well-told, but it could have been done with less filler. The plot was interesting but not particularly captivating or special.

2. **Characterization:** 3/5. The characters were somewhat detailed but felt flat overall. There wasn’t much distinction among the side characters, who all seemed to blend, and the main character showed no growth.

3. **Writing Style:** 4/5. I enjoyed Kate White’s writing style. She paced the story well and kept it engaging, though I could have done with less filler.

4. **Originality:** 3/5. While the book wasn’t something I’d read before, it didn’t strike me as particularly original. It felt middle-of-the-road.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 3/5. Although the book kept me entertained, I didn’t feel any strong emotional connection, and the ending felt somewhat lackluster.

I can't honestly recommend purchasing this book if you're looking for a really good whodunit thriller. It's not a bad read, but it’s not a standout in the genre.

Thank you Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial & @netgalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. My thoughts are my own.
Kate White is one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors and I look forward to every new release! This one grabs your attention from the very first page with a prologue that details a murder! Most of the book unfolds through the first-person perspective of Kiki, the female main character, with two short chapters told from the perspective of “Him.”

BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY: Kiki attends a party that her ex-fiance, Jamie, also attends. She talks with him twice, and she feels good about getting past the awkwardness of the situation. Then, as she is preparing to leave the party, she hears the sound of gunshots, and Jamie is found dead in his car. The police try to write it off as a suicide, but Kiki has reason to suspect he was murdered and she begins asking questions on her own. But soon, she may be in danger herself!

MY THOUGHTS: The story moves along at an even pace as Kiki investigates, though not much of the unexpected happens until the end. For most of the book, Kiki reflects on her relationship with Jamie and the reason for their breakup. She also has an unexpected romantic encounter. The murder that happens at the beginning of the book, is only a minor plot point and I almost forgot about it as I became involved in the rest of the story. As I read I kept shifting my suspicions from one character to the next, and I ended up being surprised by the conclusion.

Read this if you enjoy:
• A descriptive, slow-burn story
• A large cast of suspects
• A strong conclusion

Five months ago, Kiki stepped away from her upcoming wedding and broke off her engagement to a wonderful man, Jaime. He just wasn’t the man for her. As they move on, they encounter each other at a mutual friend’s party. Then, later that evening Jaime is found dead in his car. The police rule it a suicide but it doesn’t sit well with Kiki and she’s convinced it was murder. Now she just has to convince the authorities…and his family.

The Last Time She Saw Him has a variety of good characters and, overall, the plot is solid.

Kate White is a great writer and I enjoy her novels, but for some reason this one didn’t quite resonate with me. There were many things I liked but towards the latter part of the story it seemed to lag and there were a lot of explanations and reiterations of the evidence and the probable/possible suspects. The final twist was a bit jarring and seemed a little out of thin air (although that’s a partial definition of a plot twist). In the end, I enjoyed Kate White’s new book but I just felt something was missing. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

I had a hard time with this one. It was good but I found it to be a bit predictable. It was very engaging in the beginning but then became a bit stagnant almost as if it lacked atmosphere. At times it was very in your face and then it would fall short. Although it was a bit rocky at times, I appreciated how it all came together in the end.