I struggled to stay engaged with this book but was determined to finish it hoping for an unexpected and thrilling ending. Unfortunately, this book fell short.

The book droned on with such irrelevant details for so long, only to bring us to a conclusion that was rushed and made no sense. I was very disappointed with the reveal, and the extra side stories just made it feel like the author took three unfinished drafts and shoved them into one book.

The writing was just okay for me. It felt like a teenager was writing the story. Just wasn’t polished.

I never like giving a book less than 3 stars but this one was just a big fail for me.

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the ARC.

WOW! Edge of my seat! THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM by Kate White had me hooooked!

Kiki Reed broke Jamie Larsson’s heart when she broke up with him a few months ago because she had strong feelings for someone else. When she’s invited to a party at a Connecticut country house she accepts, knowing this will be her first, probably uncomfortable, interaction with Jamie since the break up. Their first meeting is pleasant enough but before the night is over a shot rings out and Jamie is found dead in his car with a gunshot wound. Everyone, including the police are writing it off as a suicide, but Kiki is convinced that it was murder and sets out to prove it. Who had a reason to kill Jamie? One of her best friends becomes a sounding board as Kiki begins to dismantle the layers of Jamie‘s recent past. Did he know something about a family member that could cause a huge riftin the family? And what of Jess Nolan, a local who was murdered a few years ago? How does she tie in?

The secret, lies and manipulations in this book come at breakneck speed. The twists and turns left me with whiplash just trying to keep up. I always enjoy Kate White’s writing style because she can put me smack dab in the middle of any situation. Her descriptive writing always conjures imagery that keeps me moving with her characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Extremely SURPRISING conclusion with a big TWIST! This suspenseful thriller is the perfect read to get you out of your reading slump! Fast-paced, a little spooky and shocking.

Kiki and Jamie have recently broken up after a brief engagement and several years relationship. Kiki dumped Jamie. Poor Jamie has been devastated, but devastated to the point to take his own life? Kiki doesn’t think so and neither does his best friend.

As Kiki and Jamie’s best friend, also Kiki’s potential love/sexual interest that she’s been pining over for many months, goes on the hunt to discover what really happened to Jaime, they discover a grave secret. One that may have been responsible for Jamie’s demise…. and could put themselves in danger.

So TWISTY and Surprising! You will LOVE it!

This is a brilliantly written mystery with multiple layers, clever red herrings and false trails and a plethora of possible suspects. When Kiki goes to a party at her friends house, she sees her former fiancé there and speaks to him briefly. Shortly thereafter, a shot is heard and Jamie is dead. The police suspect suicide but Kiki is convinced it was murder so she decides to do some investigating on her own. The psych thriller aspect of the book kicks into high gear as Kiki runs into road blocks, innuendo and suspicions from others about her motives for trying to find out what really happened to Jamie. This is a page-turner for sure with intriguing clues and complex characterization. The characters are realistic, although not all are likable. Written in the signature style of the author that leads the reader in one direction only to switch directions completely, this book held me riveted to the page and guessing all the way to the stunning conclusion when all of the secrets were revealed. With a good pace and believable drama and grief happening along with the investigation, the plot crackles with tension and sharp dialog between the characters. I enjoyed how the author methodically revealed the truth behind Jamie’s death and had the setting play a central role in the story. This is a captivating novel that is satisfying to the mystery buff in me and brilliantly devious in the revelations. Five plus stars for the intense and complex drama in this edgy psych thriller that definitely had me fooled and totally wrapped up in the story!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I also purchased my own copy of the book because I enjoyed it so much. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A fun and super quick read, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘄 𝗛𝗶𝗺 had my head spinning trying to figure it out. I wasn’t too crazy about KiKi, her friends or Sam, but despite not liking any of the characters I still liked the plot and how it all wrapped up. I think the writing was pretty solid, and I liked the end twist. Thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for my eARC. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘄 𝗛𝗶𝗺 is available now.

This one kept my attention, but it felt like it took forever to read. Kiki goes to a party where her ex fiance, Jamie is attending as well. When people are leaving, they hear a gunshot and find Jamie dead in his car. It looks like a suicide but Kiki is determined someone shot him.

It felt like more editing was needed in this one, for instance, a character named Liam was referred to as Eric a couple times (there was no character with that name) and there were plot holes. It was an average thriller, a slow burn. The romance part wasn’t necessary, and I wish there was more background information about Same (Jamie’s best friend.)

I will say the beginning sucked me in but I was left wanting more in the end. It is full of unlikeable characters, but I enjoyed a whodunnit, so 3.5 stars.

Love the cover!

Kiki recently broke off her engagement to Jamie. She was being true to herself, she knew the spark was gone. When they run into each other at the party of a mutual friend, things are cordial; they are both moving on.

When Jamie leaves the party, Kiki has no idea it will be the last time she saw him. He seemed fine. He seemed like Jamie. But when he is found dead from a gunshot wound in his car, and the police are leaning toward suicide as COD...Kiki is wracked with guilt. Did he kill himself over her? Something else? Or, less likely, had he gotten himself involved in something that got him murdered?

This book was intense. Lots of suspects, lots of red herrings, and an ending you won't be able to guess. It's always a good time when the MC feels like she needs to do the police's job. Definitely worth checking out!

Thank you Kate White, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Kiki shows up for a party with old friends and her old finance. When she is getting ready to leave, they hear fireworks followed by a car horn. When they check it out, they realize Jamie is actually dead in his car. While Kiki doesn’t believe he would commit suicide, his family is content to leave it that way. Kiki finds some things in his apartment and starts investigating. Thought I had it figured out but I did not. Good book! Quick read also which helps keep one’s interest.

I preorder any new Kate White book the moment it’s available through booksellers. The first book I read by her was The Sixes (which I’m going to reread and review soon since it was pre-book-blog) and I fell in love with her suspenseful writing style, descriptive language, and compelling plots. Her main characters are always incredible women who mix strength with vulnerability.

Her newest book released this week! The Last Time I Saw Him is another suspenseful and compelling mystery that is a perfect summer read to sit on the patio and sip an ice cold beverage.

What to expect?

If you haven’t read anything by Kate White before, you should remedy that immediately. Kate is the former editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine and has been writing mystery novels for two decades. Her Bailey Weggins series is one of my all-time favorite mystery series. I keep emphasizing “mystery” because her books are more mystery than thriller, something that can help orient a reader to what style of book to expect. There are twists and turns that kept me hooked, but her style isn’t an out-of-left-field blindside. I find her mysteries well-crafted and the reader can solve them right alongside the main character.

What is The Last Time I Saw Him about?

The book centers around Kiki Reed, a career coach who lives in New York City. Kiki begins the book heading out to Connecticut for a party to support her friend Ava’s husband’s new book. Six months earlier Kiki ended her engagement to Jamie Larsson. Initially Ava told her Jamie wasn’t coming, saving her from an awkward encounter. But Jamie is at the party and Kiki does her best to stay out of his way, not wanting to bring up old emotions. Especially since Jamie seems to be moving on.

The party is winding down when a shot is heard from outside, and Jamie is found dead in his car. The police think it’s a suicide, but Kiki is certain it’s murder. Jamie seemed fine and was actively making plans for the future. Kiki knows her wouldn’t take his own life.

Feeling a responsibility to find out the truth, Kiki rents a house in the area to look for clues that prove to the police it was murder. The more she learns, Kiki realizes that something much more sinister was going on with Jamie, and she may be in danger next...

What did I think?

I love the way Kate White writes. Her scenes are filled with rich details that add a vividness to her stories. Often, she drops in what seem like mundane details—what they order for dinner (usually a decadent pasta and a glass of wine), what they are wearing, where they like to sit and do work or relax. I enjoy that she includes these little tidbits because it makes the characters feel like real people. She also builds the settings out, without being overly descriptive, but enough that the reader can conjure an image in their mind.

Kiki is an interesting character. Normally in this type of book, Kiki would be the one who got broken up with. I this case, she broke it off with her fiancé Jamie because she realizes she had feelings for his best friend, Sam. This isn’t as salacious as it sounds—Kiki never told Sam (or Jamie) about her feelings, nor did she act on them even after ending her engagement. At the same time, it seems that she did find some clarity by seeing how she responded to someone she’s more attracted to. And in true Kate-White-fashion, we get some details about why she and Jamie clearly weren’t a good fit. Since Sam is also invested in finding out who murdered Jamie, the two spend time together so Kiki is forced to make some decisions about her feelings (and see if Sam has any for her). This isn’t as simple as it might sound, but I won’t spoil it!

The tension is woven through the story expertly. Kiki may be sure that Jamie was murdered, but the police aren’t. Add to that the tension with Jamie’s family who blame her for breaking Jamie’s heart, the sexual chemistry with Sam, a former girlfriend who is prickly at best, and a string of suspicious characters, and this is a recipe for a great mystery.

Though Kiki is the main narrator, there is also an unknown male narrator with short chapters throughout that cranked the tension into high gear. Whomever that narrator is seems to be linked to another murder in the area. Kiki wonders if it is possible the two are related, but initially it doesn’t seem like they are. I enjoyed the way the two storylines unfolded and how they tied to one another. I didn’t guess the ending, which always makes for a fun mystery, especially when I realized all of the clues had been there the whole time!

A perfect breezy and compelling summer mystery!

Another page turner by Kate White.full of twists and turns.I was immediately drawn and hated to put it down .Perfect vacation read.# netgalley #the last time she saw him.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

This book had such potential for me, and while I found myself getting through it pretty quickly it became a book I finished and didn't think about again. I needed more from the ending.

This book was a page turner. I feel like the pace could have been quicker, but I still enjoyed it. The ending was a bit disappointing however. I think after everything that happened, I expected more.
I’ve got very luke warm feelings about this. I would recommend it, maybe not as a thriller, but more as a drama.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I love a good thriller, and Kate White has become a reliable author for me to pick up when I want something tense to read. When I got hold of a copy of her newest book, The Last Time She Saw Him, I could hardly wait to get started. This new thriller promised to be an exciting page turner, and while I enjoyed it, I have to admit that it was not my favorite Kate White novel.

The premise was interesting, with an ex-fiancee dead at a party, and there were plenty of possible culprits, if the police were to move away from the suicide explanation. The execution of the story left a bit to be desired, however, with Kiki investigating on her own and so many red herrings and side stories that the main mystery became diluted. I also struggled with the believability of Kiki's actions and decisions, and found myself thinking, "Why would she do that?" repeatedly. The final resolution was a little disappointing, too neatly wrapped up for my taste.

I was completely engrossed in the story, however, and until about the last 25% I couldn't put it down, as Kiki becomes more convinced that Jamie did not kill himself, and is hitting obstacle after obstacle to getting others to accept that he was murdered. I liked the book, it just will not be my favorite of Kate White's books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital ARC of The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White. The opinions in this review are my own.

The book sounded promising, but in the end it just fell flat. The writing was well-worded, but it was incredibly slow and long winded. There was an attempt at adding depth to Kiki, but it ended up feeling more like unnecessary information than anything. The plot development was lacking and felt forced. The ending was somewhat predictable and I didn’t feel satisfied after finishing. I struggled through and had to force myself to finish. This one was just a dud for me.

Kate White is one of my favorite OG thriller writers. If she writes it, I will read it. I own every single one of her books. That's why I'm so saddened to say this was a MISS for me.

Kiki's attends a party where her ex-fiance will also be in attendance. They haven't spoken in months but upon seeing each other, are cordial. Later that night when he is found shot in the head in his car, Kiki refuses to believe the police theory of suicide. She decides she will not rest until she figures out who killed him and why.

This was such a slow burn with very little satisfaction once we get to the "big" reveal. It was so lackluster, almost like an afterthought, that I expected another twist to follow. But that wasn't the case. The side plots and execution just didn't work for me in the end.

Unfortunately, this was a flop.

I enjoyed reading this thriller! I definitely did not guess who the killer was. There were parts to the book that were fast past and engaging and parts that were a little slow and I felt like took you all over the place. Lots of characters to keep up with. I would recommend this to anyone that loves a good thriller.

Kate’s latest novel is a domestic suspense that is full of twists, secrets, and red herrings. The main character, Kiki, goes to a party in the Connecticut countryside where her ex-fiancee winds up dead. Police and friends believe he took his own life; however, Kiki strongly believes that he was murdered. She ends up spending a prolonged period in the countryside to advocate for the police to investigate further which may put her in danger!

I recommend reading this book, especially if you love psychological suspense novels full of secrets and twists.

Thank you to @harperperennial for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White is a fast read. You can easily get through this book in a single afternoon! In this book, a man dies and its thought to be a suicide but his ex-fiancee feels like he was murdered. She takes matters into her own hands to learn what happened to him.

This book is a thriller/mystery with some romance. It ventures into paranormal romance which I didn’t love, but overall, this is an entertaining book!

Synopsis:

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. . .

Out now!

This is one of those murder mysteries and romances all rolled into one, one that I could not put down. There were enough twists and turns in this book to keep you guessing as to who killed who. I am rating it 3.5 stars only because it was hard to figure out which genre the author wanted the book to be overall.

I would recommend this book to my friends and family, so it wasn't all that bad. Still a very enjoyable read.

A murder-mystery, thriller, and romance rolled into one sounded gripping enough, especially coming from an author who has been in the game for a while. Unfortunately for me, this book couldn’t decide which genre it wanted to be in the most, so it never really stuck for me. The character development was lacking something for me, and the ended didn’t feel finished. Finishable, but not a favorite of mine from
Kate White.