When I saw this hit the list I knew I had to get it, I loved and devoured Hidden Pictures as I did this one. But I do have to say I dont know what it is but his endings just confuse me. It is like leaving me on a cliff hanger thinking there would be a sequel but I know there is not as he does not do those to my knowledge. The plot and twists and turns were wonderful and kept me stringing along but the confusing ending just left me blah. I wish I understood it better. Minus that I absolutely loved this one!

The Last One at the Wedding is a fast-paced thriller filled with unlikeable characters, except for UPS driver Frank, his sister Tammy, and her foster child Abigail. Frank, who has been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years, is invited to her New Hampshire wedding. As things unfold, Frank starts to feel something is wrong with her fiancée and his family. He tries to repair his relationship with Maggie, but things don't go as planned. The book is filled with a remote wedding, strangers, and a man who wants to spend time with his daughter. The book is a thrilling read that will keep you hooked, with an advanced copy provided by Little, Brown Group UK. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I could tell from the very beginning who the antagonist was going to be. There were a few twists that I didn't pick up on early on though. I liked it very much. Thank you netgalley for the ALC.

The Last One at the Wedding is nothing like Hidden Pictures - which can either be good or bad depending on your view!

This is more of a domestic suspense “thriller” and contains many well-written but also unlikeable characters. This kept me interested for the majority of my read through. I also got the feeling that the author did not know how to end the story either, as it feels a little disjointed and not what I expected.

There were some tender moments and a lot of suspense with this one. I enjoyed it overall, I think he did a good job writing a more domestic style. However, as someone coming from reading Hidden Pictures - this didn't quite hit the same way.

While there were some elements that I enjoyed, it didn’t win me over as much as Hidden Pictures did.

What would you do if your beloved child, who you haven't spoken to in some years, decides to invite you to the most lavish wedding you would ever attend? Heck yes, you would go. But secrets come out, harsh truths are faced, and reality is questioned by the time you go home.
Frank Szatowski is an average joe. He is a UPS driver that has a decent savings, worked hard his whole life, and positively doted on his daughter. That is until she stopped speaking to him. He tries to reach out to her, but to no avail. Three years later, she invites him to her wedding and wants to put their past behind her. But Frank questions the speed of the wedding as well as the man she is marrying. A very rich tech mogul.
This was okay. Some of the characters seemed a bit one-dimensional for me, but the storyline was interesting and I finished it. I liked Frank's sister and her adopted daughter, they were great characters.
Overall, a good book.

Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding is a compelling and refreshingly original read that combines humor with poignancy. The novel centers around a unique and engaging premise—following a character navigating the intricacies of life and relationships while grappling with the pressures and expectations surrounding a significant wedding event.

Rekulak’s storytelling shines through with well-crafted characters who are both relatable and endearing. The protagonist’s journey is both heartfelt and amusing, drawing readers into a world where personal growth and self-discovery unfold amidst the backdrop of a wedding that becomes a pivotal moment in their life.

The writing is sharp and insightful, with Rekulak's keen observations and witty dialogue providing depth to the narrative. The pacing is steady, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the character's experiences and emotions.

While the book is largely enjoyable, a few elements could have been further explored to add additional layers to the story. Nonetheless, The Last One at the Wedding is a delightful read that offers a blend of humor and heart, making it a memorable addition to the genre.

Overall, Rekulak delivers a story that resonates with its genuine portrayal of life's challenges and triumphs, earning a well-deserved four-star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Frank, a small town UPS driver, gets a call from his daughter Maggie after three years of silence sharing news of her upcoming wedding. However, on the days leading up to the wedding, Frank starts to believe Maggie’s fiancé Aiden and his family are hiding secrets, which only seems more plausible once he gets to the secluded estate where the wedding is taking place. Can Frank successfully warn Maggie about the family she’s marrying into before the big day?

This is a very different story than Hidden Pictures, not as ominous and dark as Rekulak’s previous book, but the writing was equally as compelling. Frank was a great narrator, skeptic to what was occurring at the camp but also eager to protect his daughter. I didn’t mind the slow burn element because I loved all the rich people drama and the atmospheric New England camp setting. The twists worked well with the story and surprised me, though I wish there was some more closure at the end.

Read if you like:
▪️Slow burn thrillers
▪️Unlikeable casts
▪️Rich people behaving badly
▪️Complex father/ daughter relationships
▪️New Hampshire camp setting

Wow, the plot twists in this book had me wondering what was going to happen next, never guessing it
right. I enjoyed the story line full of misters. I did find some lines that were irrelevant to the story or unessesary but overall it was a great read. I love the characters and think Frank acted as any parent would have , always loving your child above all . However I didn’t like the end, I think the Errol and Maggie deserved a severe punishment along with Gary and Hector.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC! The Last One at the Wedding is a twisty crime novel reminiscent of the Murdaugh murders. Frank Szatowski, a hard working UPS driver gets a call from his daughter Maggie, the two have been estranged since an early incident, but Maggie is looking to reconnect and have Frank be there for her as she is about to be married. Maggie's fiance Aiden is from a very well to do family (Maggie works for the family's corporation). Frank is surprised by the speed of events, but wished to support Maggie. Before the wedding, Frank is sent a cryptic message with a photo of Aiden with a young woman who went missing, and when he gets to the town where the wedding will be held, the family owns a large camp with lots of buildings for guests to stay and grounds on a lake, he meets the missing girl's family. What happened to her? Who are these people that his daughter will be marrying into? With lots of secrets and twists and turns, The Last One at the Wedding will keep readers engaged and puzzling out the pieces to the interconnected crimes.

I was entertained by this book, in spite of being able to spot the “twist” fairly early on. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Frank and Abigail. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The plot is gripping and will have you on the tip of your seat, hoping for a happy ending but always worrying about the main character.
As each chapter went by, I found myself turning the pages quite rapidly because of the slow beginning to the story and its rising momentum. At times, you'll question where this book is headed, whether in a good or bad way, because it was so unpredictable and turned you in many different directions.

I had a great time reading this book and discovering all of the secrets that these characters were keeping. I like that it was written from a father's point of view. Despite his imperfections, Frank was a well-developed main character, and I could understand his motivations. He was grumpy, but he was still sensitive and kind, and I loved that.

Though Frank's suffering was palpably felt, the power and difficulties among family members were skillfully presented. Still, I wish the author had gone a little deeper with all of the characters, especially Maggie and Aidan. A little more mystery or great suspense would have provided much needed tension. I believe they could be engaged in a lot more illegal acts, so I would have liked to learn more about them and dig a little deeper into their world.

All in all, it was an authentic psychological suspense story that examines social concerns and family dynamics. Great read for fans of thrillers.

3/5 ⭐️
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is a decent thriller that offers an intriguing premise but ultimately falls short of delivering a truly memorable experience. The story follows Frank Szatowski, a blue-collar worker who receives an unexpected call from his estranged daughter, Maggie, inviting him to her wedding after three years of silence. Frank, eager to reconnect, travels to a secluded, luxurious estate in New Hampshire, only to find himself surrounded by an atmosphere of secrecy and unease.

Rekulak sets up an interesting dynamic as Frank tries to navigate the opulent world his daughter is marrying into, particularly with Maggie’s enigmatic fiancé, Aidan Gardner, who comes from a wealthy and influential family. However, despite the promising setup, the plot becomes predictable, and the suspense never quite reaches the level of tension one might expect from a thriller. The pacing drags at times, and while the narrative builds towards a conclusion, it lacks the punch needed to leave a lasting impact.

The character development is somewhat uneven. While Frank’s desperation to reconnect with Maggie is relatable, his interactions with the other characters, particularly Maggie and Aidan, feel underdeveloped. Maggie, in particular, is difficult to empathize with, which weakens the emotional stakes of the story. The subplot involving Frank’s sister and her foster child adds some depth but doesn't fully compensate for the shortcomings in the main narrative.

Overall, The Last One at the Wedding is a serviceable read, but it doesn’t quite live up to the potential of its premise. Fans of Rekulak’s previous work, Hidden Pictures, may find this book less satisfying, as it lacks the eerie, gripping quality that made his earlier novel stand out. While it’s not a bad book by any means, it ultimately earns a middle-of-the-road rating

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. If you read Jason’s previous book Hidden Pictures, I would say this is a different genre than the previous one. Hidden Pictures is one of the creepiest books I have ever read and I loved it! I loved this as well, but it’s more of a thriller/mystery from a father’s point of view. Frank has had a rough relationship with his daughter, Maggie and she calls him to invite him to her wedding. Frank meets her fiancé and isn’t sure what to expect. Aiden is a little standoffish and Frank struggles to make a connection with him. As we get to the wedding weekend he haas many questions and is trying to get to the bottom of it. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would give it four out of five stars. I also highly recommend his previous book hidden pictures if you have not read it yet!

After reading Hidden Pictures, which was 5/5 stars for me, I had pretty high expectations. While I did like The Last One at The Wedding, I did not love it. I was expecting more twists and turns but it kept me interested enough. I gave it 3/5 stars and will recommend.

HmJadon Rekulak is back with a slow burn thriller that gives a sense of dread and unease throughout. I loved his ability to make me uneasy while reading, and true to the last book of his that I read, Rejulak's characters feel real, and bring a multi-faceted aspect to the story.

Maggie has found the love of her life, and calls her estranged father to invite him to the wedding. Frank feels off from the first time he meets Aidan- a billionaire's son, but things are so much worse than he could have imagined.

Readers of Hidden Pictured may come into this book expecting the same frenetic pace, but this is the exact opposite, in a most delicious way.

I really enjoyed this book. Everyone wants to see the good in the ones we love but maybe it can blind us to who they really are. I couldn’t put it down! I really loved Abigail and franks relationship. I love how it was built throughout the book. Maggie.. I hated her… always up to no good.

Great follow up to Hidden Pictures! I knew something crazy was going on but I didn’t quite expect the ending.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for granting me access to this ARC.

After loving Hidden Pictures so much, I was beyond excited for the author’s new upcoming book.

Sadly to say I was quite disappointed by The last one at the wedding. The premise was good, but I didn’t like the characters and the way the story took turn. It was unbelievable and totally ridiculous. My high expectations were crushed.

Fun and twisty and a definite departure from Rekulak's previous works, at least on the surface. This was a great ride!

I enjoyed this second novel by Jason Rekulak much better than Hidden Pictures. There were aspects I enjoyed about Hidden Pictures, particularly the illustrations, but the plot itself seemed unrealistic. This novel is about Frank Szatowski, a blue-collar working man who has been estranged from his daughter for around three years. One evening he receives a phone call from her saying that she is getting married and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. Needless to say, Frank is confused, however, he wants to reconcile with his daughter so he agrees to come to spend the weekend at her (very wealthy) fiancee's house for a weekend of festivities and marriage vows. Unfortunately, nothing is as it seems when Frank arrives with his sister and her foster kid in tow. Highly enjoyable and quick reading. I will be purchasing this for my library. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

4 stars!

This book was absolutely unputtdownable and I read it in one day because I was in shock by what was happening! I had read Jason Rekulak's Hidden Pictures in 2022, and was excited to return to his strong characters and compelling writing. I was so excited when I received this ARC, and I really didn't wait long to read this ARC because of how anticipated this book was for me.

What I Liked
- There were really strong characters. I really liked our main character, Frank, and although I didn't always understand his actions, I supported him. Also, I really felt like I knew who he was and he was super fleshed out.
- I really liked how the story was told. It was mostly present tense, but I enjoyed how sometimes ominously Frank would add in statements like "If I knew what I know now..." or "I wonder how things would've been different" and that kept me turning the pages
- This was extremely readable. As I said before I read this in one day and I had to know waht was going to happen.

What I Didn't Love
- This is definitely not much of a mystery, and more of a family drama, which is okay but I needed to adjust my expectations. I would say, however, it was thrilling.
- The ending was unfortunately a little disappointing, I didn't feel like it matched the high-octane drama we had set up.

Overall, I really liked this! I will definitely read more from Jason Rekulak in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!