Brother and sister, Sam and Nora work together to piece together their father's story, after his death.

A poignant family drama and mystery.

Two siblings trying to figure out what happened to their father discover a secret he had kept from them for over 50 years. His death brings Nora and Sam closer to each other but the truth is heartbreaking even as it informs them about choices they each need to make in their own lives.

The narrative shifts in time and point of view but is easy to follow and gives the back story in such a way that makes all of the decisions and actions of Liam Noone more understandable. It’s all quite touching really. I’m not usually one for a sort of sappy and sentimental romance novel, but it was written with a light and deft touch that made it relatable. The revelations came at the right pace and the conclusion fit perfectly with the overall tone and mood.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was superb as always and brought just the right voice for all of the characters. Her work definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM
BY: LAURA DAVE

Five Spectacular Stars!

I am so impressed with Author, Laura Dave's, newest release called, "THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM," which is an aptly named title for this novel's mystery. I glanced at a few reviews, and only one of my GOOD READ'S friends loved this as much as I did. I almost didn't choose to read this, and I'm so grateful that I did. I remembered that I really loved Laura Dave's writing style back in 2021, when I read and reviewed her hugely popular novel, called, "THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM," which ended up being voted by the Good Reads Choice Awards, as the winner placing it firmly in earning top billing as the #1 Best Mystery & Thriller category. One thing that I did notice with the lower rated reviewers, on this one was that they didn't get a thriller as this is tagged, and marketed as, and many reviewers who rated it low had in common also, thinking it was slow. While I respect other reviewers opinions, I'm really lucky to have not checked those low ratings prior to choosing whether or not to read this. I would have missed out on an outstanding reading experience, because for me personally, I found it really fast paced that I devoured in one sitting. I read it quickly, since in all honesty I enjoyed it immensely since it was fresh, intriguing, with an abundance of insightful writing that resonated with me. The writing was beautifully executed, with a mystery that hooked me which in the prologue sets the tone of describing how a man who we get to know in alternating chapters presenting him as complex character who It informs the reader in that prologue that a man who we learn has been pushed off a cliff which has him fall to his death eighty feet below. I applaud this author for her ability to have managed to elevate this narrative to achieve with success a challenging task. Most mysteries rely on the plot alone to be the focus. It's very rare that the authors include what Laura Dave did by combining both dynamics of coordinating her suspense driven plot with a fascinating character study.

I do have to agree that this isn't a thriller, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying a novel that offers terrific high quality writing. I did see it advertised as a thriller, but that's not a deal breaker for me. In fact, I don't base my opinion about how much I enjoy a book by what genre it was categorized as in a synopsis. I really don't care for thrillers as much as I did many years ago, unless it is the rare occasion that I've heard about it from others, with a high majority praising it. Plus, I expect it to be scary, but not gruesome, or sadistic, and it must be unique. I do care whether a book is well written, which this definitely was. I remember while I was reading this thinking that I preferred it to the prior one which is a huge achievement. I have a feeling that the lower ratings might be due to perhaps readers being disappointed since they expected the author to write a similar novel as her bestselling previous one. I think it's actually a positive attribute when an author surprises me by creating a completely new style of work which she did accomplish this time. As long as the storytelling captures my interest I think it shows talent, and courage for an author to explore new directions, especially when a prior novel was so successful. It's unfair to the author, to expect the same type of book, and not keep an open mind about the quality of writing. I'm probably going to be bombarded with hate feedback for saying that there are many authors that write the *same* book over and over again, because I find that to reflect a lack of growth which, I tend to avoid authors whose work I enjoy but only if they evolve making each subsequent book original.

While I was reading this coincidentally, I did say to myself how much growth Laura Dave has proven with tackling the subject that transcends the typical thriller. I think she has proven herself to be gifted at capturing the most insightful depths of describing the underlying motivations that keep people stuck who have a negative experience. She shows how to overcome grief, loss, disappointment, etc., through Nora's inner thoughts while examining them which were very moving and realistic. Even though I wouldn't have chosen romantic love as my first priority over my children, I still felt bad for Liam. Nobody is either all good or all bad, and we have all made mistakes. Through Nora's character who had admirable qualities, Laura Dave's character development she established herself as a keen observer of humanity. I found many of Nora's musings to reflect the major characters to be capable of a reflection of neither black or white, but the gray area. It takes skill to write about controversial topics which she did, but also including a message that people are nuanced and we don't have to be defined by being all bad or all good. The truth lies in that most people really are more well intentioned in their actions. I really enjoyed this book for its insightful messages mined through the interpersonal relationships that were shown that flawed characteristics, and choices were balanced out with positive traits. Stunning & Brilliant character development with a rich plot. Excellent mystery with a whopper of a twist. I highly recommend this!

Publication Date:: September 17, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Laura Dave and Simon Element--S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheNightWeLostHim #LauraDave #SimonElementS&SMarysueRucciBooks #NetGalley

Honestly, if it weren’t for Julia Whelan narrating idk if I would have finished this one. It was full of emotional cheating & ended in the exact anti-climactic way I expected it to.

I know this sounds like I hated it, but I didn’t. The characters were well-developed, the writing was strong, and the atmosphere was immersive. The suspense surrounding the father’s death and the mystery of his past kept me from DNFing this book. There was even a twist that blew my mind—though it really shouldn’t have, as it was clearly set up to be a red herring, but that’s okay. Truthfully, the plot was pretty flat even if it was interesting at points. Also, there wasn’t a clear explanation as to why the two characters who were in love were kept apart the whole time; it felt like drama for drama’s sake.

Overall, if you are okay with emotional cheating and loved Dave’s first book then I’d say definitely pick this one up. If her last book felt “meh” to you and cheating in any form is a trigger I’d say steer VERY clear of this one.

Thank you to Netgalley & Marysue Rucci books for sending me the ARC!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the copies to review.

If you reset your expectations that this is not a thriller as marketed, then I think you will have the right mindset for this book. It is about loss of a loved one, grieving that loss, and how it can cause you to reevaluate your life and relationships with other loved ones, especially when the death mightttt not be accidental as originally determined. When you listen to the audiobook and Julia Whelan narrates it, then it will be a next level experience and you might shed a tear or two. I know this black heart did. I loved this book, even more so than The Last Thing He Told Me which was excellent, and I find myself still thinking about this one weeks after I have read it.

I LOVED these characters. I absolutely fell in love with this dysfunctional family. This turned out to be an unexpected romance that I absolutely loved.

ohhhh, how I really enjoyed this book. a few things I should say: I knew this wasn’t going to be a thriller, but more of a family drama and love story with a decent size of mystery on each page.

and that worked really well for me.

this story opens with a suspicious death of a father & hotel magnate, and proceeds with the journey of two of his estranged children - Nora and Sam - as they search for answers.

what I loved about this book was that it was also an introspective journey for both grown children: decisions made too late, questioning the love they have and have lost, what they want out of life, and ultimately, moving forward to solve their father’s mystery (including a secret he kept for more than fifty years), while they figure out both their lives, together.

I’d also like to point out there were so many spot on quotes about oneself and life in general that still sit with me. really addressing the human condition as it relates to loss, love, grief, and searching for happiness. I wrote about twenty down.

While this was a bit slower than I’d like, I did enjoy the suspense and complex family relationships. The plot twist was good and I liked that the ending brought everything full circle.

Nora and her estranged brother Sam start to question the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of their father Liam. They form an alliance and uncover secrets their father kept and answers to the manner in which their father died.

I didn't love this book and I didn't hate it. The story for me seemed to drag on and lost my interest in several places. I ended with some questions and not feeling connected to any of the characters.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book. This is my honest review of The Night We Lost Him.

I enjoyed this book by Laura Dave. I liked the family secrets/drama. Nora and Sam were brought together to find out what really happened to their father. I was surprised by the ending. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element for the advance reading copy.

I enjoyed reading this book, but think it could have been tighter...the author definitely gives some red herrings that keep you guessing. It seems to be somewhat based on a charming movie, Same Time Next Year (1978). Not sure if that's intentional or just my read. A good selection for readers who like a non obvious plot twist.

This book was very good and a page turner. I didn’t want to put it down.
I enjoyed the story, the love story and the mystery. The culprit wasn’t obvious until it was almost revealed which is always a plus.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I enjoyed Laura Dave’s other popular novel, so was very excited for this. Unfortunately it was extremely slow paced and I found it difficult to want to keep reading. Nora is like able and the twists were good (not easy to guess). I just I think this was wasn’t for me personally.

Great story, kept me going. I went into it not comparing it to Laura Dave’s previous book, because that would do a disservice to The Night We Lost Him. Very different pace, just as good in my opinion.

Laura Dave is back with another page-turner! The Night We Lost Him delivers all the family drama and mystery vibes that made The Last Thing He Told Me such a hit.

This time, we follow estranged half-siblings, Nora and Sam, as they’re forced to team up after their dad’s sudden, mysterious death—ruled an accident by police. But as they dig deeper, it’s clear their dad’s life wasn’t what it seemed. Piece by piece, they unravel a web of secrets in search of the truth and a little bit of closure.

While this one leans more into slow-burn mystery than a heart-pounding thriller, I was totally hooked. The characters are relatable and easy to root for, and the sibling banter had me smiling. Plus, the dual timelines? Chef’s kiss. They tie everything together perfectly by the end.

Laura Dave absolutely nailed it again! Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I’ll definitely be recommending this one to all my friends, family, and anyone who’ll listen

Laura Dave's newest novel, The Night We Lost Him, was another well-written, family mystery/drama that was a great follow-up to The Last Thing He Told Me.

In The Night We Lost Him, estranged half-siblings Nora and Sam come together following the unexpected death of their father to find out what really happened to him after police rule the death an accident. As they search for clues their father may have left, the duo find out that nothing was as it seemed, and they slowly begin to put puzzle pieces together to get the closure they are searching for.

This was definitely a slow-burn mystery more than a thriller, but I still found it be enjoyable. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. I found the main characters to be easy to root for, enjoyed their banter, and though the dual timelines was done very well to intertwine the stories to the final ending.

Laura Dave has another winner here, and I continue to love her books. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for the ARC!! I will absolutely be recommending this one to friends, family, and library patrons!

Wonderful novel once again by Laura Dave. The family drama was so well written and definitely a page turner for me. I fell in love with the characters especially Sam and Nora as well as Liam and Cory. Author captured both the present story line along with the past story line alongside each other. I highly recommend this novel and truly hope it also becomes a series like her first novel.

I loved The Night We Lost Him. I read it in one day because I needed to know what happened. Once I finished, I went in search of Laura Dave’s previous novels at the library. Laura Dave knows how to write a really engaging, thriller/drama. Don’t sleep on her previous books!

Thank you to Laura Dave, Simon Element, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Part mystery, family saga and love story, The Night We Lost Him is one of Dave's best novels.

Nora is still dealing with the loss of her mother when her father suddenly dies, leaving her his beloved seaside house. Her brother Sam thinks their father may have been pushed and asks Nora to help look into it. Nora must examine her relationship with her. father as well as her half siblings and her boyfriend. Afraid of facing more loss, she has begun to push everyone away but now is forced to examine just what it is she wants. The search for answers to her fathers death is well done and the characters are realistic. The pacing is just fast enough to keep the reader engaged right up to the satisfying end.

I’m DNFing this book - and I’m really sad to feel this way because I really enjoyed her other novel, ‘the last thing he told me.’ This is more a family drama book with a mystery woven throughout- certainly NOT a thriller.

The story centers around 2 half siblings, Sam and Nora. Sam convinces Nora that their father didn’t fall off the cliff at his retreat property, but was likely pushed. They dig into his past together. Everyone in the book has multiple exes and it felt like lots of random characters were all over the place, and I kept being like “wait this is who? oh, yeah.”

There are two timelines, and I found myself just not caring. The story was boring and the characters were meh. I ended up googling the ending and I’m glad I called it quits before getting all that way because I would have been annoyed and spent a couple more hours for a womp womp dumb ending imo.

Meh.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Simon Element in exchange for an honest review.