This book is completely different from Jason Rekulak's previous novel, Hidden Pictures, but as long as you go into it knowing that - this was great!

I found myself anxiously awaiting to return to the book every time I had to put it down. I really loved the main character, Frank, and found myself wanting to investigate the 'mystery' right alongside him.

I really enjoyed the audio version of this as well, the narrator did a fabulous job.

4.5/5
Thank you @booksparks @flatiron_books @macmillan.audio #partner #macaudio2024 #frc2024 for the copies of this book!

After reading Hidden Pictures and loving it I did a cartwheel or two seeing that this book was a part of the fall line up! From the start of this one I was immediately hooked and buckled up for the wild ride. And boy was it one! Was it completely believable? Nope. Did I love it. Yep! I was very suspicious of some of those main characters and turns out my gut was right BUT the journey getting there I would have never guessed! I loved the characters because they felt very complex. I don’t want to spoil anything but let’s just say love is blind in many levels in this book and the realism of looking past peoples faults rang true here. This book was very suspenseful and had some moments that made me sweat! There were so many jaw dropping moments I just absolutely loved in this one. My only complaint is the very last sentence. It left me confused. 🤔 If you’ve read this one, and understood the relevance of that last sentence DM me! I need to know! 🤣 I suppose I can ask him next Monday when I meet him 👀 Anyway, if you want to be invited to a turbulent wedding make sure to RSVP yes to this one!

This was an interesting read. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job bringing the main character to life. I did think the novel was very slow in the beginning but the last third of the book was worth it. Abigail added a ton for me and was totally the best part of the story. I didn’t think the big twist was really at that twisty. I had figured that out pretty early on. The main character was very relatable and it was easy to follow the story. Frank is excited to hear from his daughter Maggie. It’s been years since they had a disagreement that led to him being cut out of her life, but she is engaged and wants him to come to the wedding. From the moment Frank meets Maggie’s fiancé Aiden something seems off, but Maggie insists everything is magical. And the insanely fancy wedding events at Aiden’s family’s private lake resort do seem magical except when Frank looks closely not everything seems quite so perfect. Overall I enjoyed this thriller and would recommend it.

I did like this more than the last book I read by this author. The main character is kind of annoying. He can’t possibly be old enough to be as clueless as her is. Unfortunately, there are not very many characters to like here.

Beyond the characters, I was hoping for something more ominous and thrilling. This was ridiculous and sad most of the time. The ending went on far too long. Editing may have increased the stars.

This thriller was such a joy to listen to. I loved the narrator and how his different use of voices helped me picture each character in my head. Frank is a relatable down to earth character who finds himself in over his head when his daughter calls to invite him to her surprise wedding (after not talking for a few years). When Frank arrives, he quickly realizes that things are not what the seem as he starts to discover This narration reminds the reader how hard a parent will fight to protect their child, as well as the letdown when you realize your child is not what you think. Give this one a try! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, the audio house, narrator, and author for the opportunity to read a complementary copy of this book in return for a review, based upon my honest opinion

I really enjoyed this author’s last book Hidden Pictures so I was very excited to receive a complementary copy of this audiobook. This book was nothing like his last book, but it was just as enjoyable. The characters were well written, super unlikable, but perfectly enjoyable. The narrator did a wonderful job. I really enjoyed the way he brought the character of Frank to life.

Frank and his daughter Maggie are an estranged, she hasn’t been home since leaving for university years before. Maggie calls out of the blue telling Frank that she’s getting married and she wants him to walk her down the aisle. Frank is excited and heads out to meet his new son-in-law to be at their apartment, which turns out to be a high-rise penthouse and the son-in-law to be turns out to be Aidan Gardner son of millionnaire Errol Gardner.

Frank and his sister Tammy head to the weekend long wedding celebrations along with Tammy’s current foster child Abigail, who is awkward and and just so sweet. Frank is not sure this child should be coming with them but what else can he do but agree. As Frank tries to learn more and more about his new in-laws to be, he starts to realize that something’s out of place, something is not right. Frank only what’s the best for his daughter and decides he wants to get to the bottom of what’s going on, but the closer he gets to finding out what secrets are being kept the closer he gets to possibly being in danger.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book and look forward to more books by this author.

The Last One at the Wedding
by Jason Rekulak
3/5 ⭐

The Last One at the Wedding is a slow-burning mystery. Frank Szatowski, a UPS driver has been estranged from his daughter for three years. Then one day, she calls him to invite him to her wedding. Frank is ecstatic and can’t wait to attend the wedding and make things right with Maggie.

Upon arriving at the wedding, Frank is struck by the lavish surroundings and extravagant estate. Maggie is marrying Aidan, the son of a tech billionaire, but he doesn't seem very friendly towards Frank. As other concerning signs emerge and a murder occurs at the estate, Frank begins to question this marriage.


The Last One at the Wedding is a completely different book compared to Rekulak’s first novel, Hidden Pictures. It has a less spooky and supernatural vibe and leans more toward being a domestic thriller. The book is well-written and includes talented descriptions of the picturesque New England setting. Despite the tension between Frank and Maggie being obvious throughout the book, I found it difficult to connect with either character. Therefore, I did not invest in the outcome. I wanted to love Frank as a devoted father, but his chivalrous choices bothered me. The ending took me by surprise, but the last line confused me.

Read if you like:
👨‍👩‍👧family secrets/ drama
💒wedding setting
🙋single POV
😨domestic thriller
🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏻full cast of characters


Thank you to @Macmillan.Audio and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are my own.
Publication Date: October 8, 2024

I felt that this book was ok. I was expecting more suspense after hearing so many rave reviews about Jason Rekulak’s Hidden Pictures. I predicted most of the storyline and felt it was a pretty slow moving story. I did enjoy the narrator on the audiobook. I felt like he was a good fit for the storyline.

4.5 stars! I have been itching for this release and was thrilled to be approved for the audiobook ARC! Great narration.

If you read Hidden Pictures, the suspense is the same, but this a new arena. It’s a domestic thriller unlike the paranormal allure of the previous.

It is a slow burner. It’s family drama. There’s a subplot. A father hears from his daughter after 3 years (what happened there?) & she shares she’s engaged to the son of a tech billionaire after a year of dating (say it isn’t so...) and allegedly the son was involved with a missing girl.... so many things!

It has you connecting dots. It has you saying, waaaiit a minute.....

The Last One at the Wedding (Audiobook)
Author Jason Rekulak, narrated by John Pirhalla
Publish date: 10/8/2024

A chilling wedding day indeed! Frank Szatowski's estranged daughter Maggie calls him after 3 years of not speaking to him to announce her upcoming marriage to a man named Aiden who she's known for just 6 months. Not thrilled with the short courtship, Frank is reluctant to chastise Maggie much since he doesn't think he would speak to her ever again. He was a single father when his wife unexpectedly passed away had to raise her through times when most girls needed their mom and their last interaction caused a huge rift in their relationship. Determined to finally make things right, this invitation to the wedding could be a fresh start.

When he meets his future son-in-law it's a bit strange and any time he reached out to him prior to the wedding the timing didn't work out as if he was avoiding him. Frank already feels awkward when he finds out who Maggie's future in-law is since it's the man who owns the company she works for and he is a famous tech billionaire. Maggie and Aiden live in a fancy high-end skyscraper building in Boston and have the best of everything. The wedding is being held at the family's large secluded estate in New Hampshire and Frank feels like a fish out of water. Aiden's father is sparing no expense for this wedding, and Frank feels left out. When he arrives at the estate with his sister and her state ward in tow, Frank tries to focus on Maggie, and planning her big day is difficult. She is constantly busy and things on the property are very locked down. You want for nothing and if you need anything all you need to do is ask, but to leave the property the staff gives you grief.

The famous rich family doesn't seem to be the town favorites and he hears a disturbing rumor regarding his soon-to-be son-in-law that causes concern. Being left to his own devices for a few days before the wedding, Frank uncovers oddities that steamroll into things a parent doesn't want to hear. Maggie looks and acts happy, but Frank is worried for his daughter. Getting alone time with her or Aidan, her husband-to-be is difficult. He is withdrawn and evasive and also Frank has yet to meet Aiden's mother who they say is ill. Things just aren't adding up and Frank is desperate to find out what is going on before Maggie commits to something that may not be in her best interest. Based on what happened in the past though, he fears if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

The narrator did well voicing the characters' personalities making it easy to know which character was speaking. The buildup in the story was slow and didn't pick up until about halfway in. Then the story started to twist and pick up speed more into the mystery and thriller aspect. There was a particular part towards the end that brought a tear to my eye and I really liked it. I will keep it spoiler-free for others to enjoy it like I did.

I thought this was interesting, but it takes a bit to get into the nitty-gritty of what a thriller usually is. So if you are patient, you will get there. Although compared to other thrillers I have read, this is tame. There is a quick moment of spice, death, and some alcohol abuse, and mentions of child welfare. If you are used to reading thrillers, the trigger warnings shouldn't affect you much.

I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this audiobook given by Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️ Happy Publication Day!

Frank Szatowski and his daughter Maggie have been estranged for three years. One day, she calls him out of the blue to share big news: she’s getting married. Not only that, but her fiancé Aidan Gardner comes from a very, very wealthy family. Their wedding will be in New Hampshire at the family’s secluded, private estate. Surrounded by all this wealth and grandeur, Frank feels completely out of his league. Alls he wants to do is reconnect with Maggie, who doesn’t seem to have time for him.

Even before arriving at the estate, red flags start popping up for Frank. He is receiving anonymous notes warning him about Aidan, Maggie keeps brushing him off, and the people in town hate the Gardner family. Frank starts poking around, wanting to learn more about the family and fearing that Maggie is about to make a terrible mistake. But if he pushes too hard, he could lose her forever.

My thoughts: If you were expecting a book similar to “Hidden Pictures,” think again. This is a domestic suspense thriller with no supernatural elements. The story was layered with a lot of character dynamics to dive into. There are some side characters that really tug on your heart strings and some who are very unlikeable people. I went into this expecting the same level of twists and turns you get from “Hidden Pictures,” and this book was not that. It did have twists, but at times it felt anticlimactic; the pace wasn’t as “edge of my seat” as I thought it would be.

Overall, I liked it, but it lack that extra something. I like how well constructed this story was and how much each character brought to the story. 4 stars.

When Frank's estranged daughter, Maggie, unexpectedly invites him to her wedding, he thinks it’s a chance for reconciliation. But when he finally meets her fiancé and family, he discovers way more than he bargained for -like, way, WAY more!

This book is packed with family drama, crazy twists, and dark secrets. It's truly a unique domestic thriller.

However, I have to be honest and say that I wasn’t completely sold on it. The characters didn’t resonate with me; they weren’t particularly likeable or memorable. The one I found intriguing was Maggie, the antagonist and Frank's daughter. Seriously, what’s her story? Who hurt you, girl?

On a positive note, I really enjoyed the narration by John Pirhalla. The audio production is top-notch, capturing that thrilling vibe perfectly. Still, I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much in a 350+ page read.

Frank hasn't heard from his daughter Maggie in three years, so he's shocked when he gets a phone call from her, saying she's getting married. The family she's marrying into is extremely wealthy and a little "off." Maggie is too busy planning her wedding to listen to his concerns. But, the more he finds out about them, the more concerned he gets.

Thoughts 💭
Hidden Pictures is such a good book, and I'm thrilled I got an advanced copy of this one! I typically listen to books at a 2.0 speed (like the psycho I am) and found this very easy to listen to. The narrator did a wonderful job doing all the voices (some of who were women), so you could tell the difference between the characters. His voice was pleasing and easy to listen to. Macmillan Audio always does such a wonderful job with their audio books!

This story is a slow burn. Concerning things happen as the story slowly unfolds and builds the tension. Piece after piece is added to set the mood until shocking information is revealed. I honestly didn't expect the book to take that turn, although I probably should have since their were plenty of clues. The second half has a little more drama to it and interesting moral dilemmas I enjoyed diving into. I don't honestly know what I would do if I were in Frank's shoes, but I feel like his thoughts and actions were pretty genuine. This is definitely an interesting storyline that was very well done.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so so excited to get this Arc because like a majority of people, I loved hidden pictures. I was so bored of this one tho. Might have been better for me as an ebook than audio.

"𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺?" ~𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙚

From the moment Frank answers Maggie’s phone call - his seemingly quiet life becomes upended indefinitely. They haven’t spoken in years and yet all of a sudden, here she is extending an olive branch in the form of a wedding invitation. While Frank is beside himself with joy, he is also hesitant in many ways. It was a whirlwind romance according to Maggie but there are things that don’t sit right with him. When Frank finally meets Aidan - he is perplexed. He seems nice enough but Aidan is a man of few words and incredibly distant. Maggie’s soon to be in-laws also show no desire to meet before the wedding. Each time a question is answered - another question presents itself!

Frank wants nothing more than to reconcile with his only daughter but it comes at the cost of compromising his character and going against every parental instinct he has especially when he discovers Maggie has secrets too!

❥Frank is only a couple of years older than me and while my oldest son is 3 years younger than Maggie - I completely understood his willingness to do anything to have a relationship with her. He struggles with trying not to be “𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧” or “𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙜𝙪𝙮” - and any parent knows how challenging this can be but when it walks like a duck…well.☠︎︎

This was a wild ride with plot twists galore! I absolutely loved this story! It’s very different from Hidden Pictures but I enjoyed it just as much! @jasonrekulak is my new auto-buy author!

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Last One at The Wedding
Jason Rekulak
In The Last One at the Wedding, we meet Frank Szatowski, a widower, an employee of UPS, the father of Maggie; he is a grouchy male desperate to make amends with his daughter. After several years of no contact, he receives a phone call from Maggie, telling him she is getting married and inviting him to the wedding at Osprey Cove, New Hampshire. Osprey Cove was formerly a summer camp. There is a lodge and several smaller cottages. The compound is surround by a forest. Of course, Frank wants to help with the cost of the wedding, but Maggie is marrying Aiden, the son of the very wealthy Errol Gardner. The Gardners insist on paying for the three day wedding extravaganza and holding it at their private estate.
Frank receives a mysterious letter and a photograph in the mail before the wedding. Frank, his sister, Tammy and her foster child, Abigail stop in town before heading to the estate. They quickly realize a lot of the citizens are not fond of the Gardners. When they arrive at the compound, they are forced to sign a 56-page NDA. Everywhere Frank turns he sees red flags telling him his daughter is making a big mistake. There is a missing girl, a murder, the mother of the groom that rarely shows her face at the wedding due to migraines, and a hoard of grandaddy long legs.
I didn’t care for any of the characters except Abigail. Frank was constantly fussing at Abigail and Tammy. I didn’t like the way Frank talked or treated Abigail. He refused to ask for any help no matter what! He came across as bullheaded and a man that was insecure. Tammy seemed to come across as a know it all. Abigail was a little girl with lice and an eating disorder. Maggie is cold. I could not figure out why she invited Frank to the wedding when she didn’t really seem to want him there. Aiden is secretive and not trustworthy. The Gardners were wealthy snobs. The staff were very protective of the Gardners.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding is perfectly twisty. Unlike his last book, Hidden Pictures, this one isn't "scary" in the traditional sense, but it's more character driven, focusing on UPS driver Frank Szatowski, who just wants to be a part of his daughter, Maggie's, life. When he's invited to her wedding after a period of estrangement, he sees it at a chance to repair the relationship. No spoilers, but it doesn't go quite the way he hoped, and I found myself listening at every available opportunity. I just had to know. After loving both Hidden Pictures and The Last One at the Wedding, Jason Rekulak has become one of my newest must-read authors.

This book is a suspenseful tale of a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision. Maggie is marrying into a wealthy family, and she wants to reconnect with her father Frank after being estranged for several years. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right. Frank arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: her fiancé is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the whole family. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into. What I liked was the fresh perspective where the protagonist was the brides father and the stuff that happens at the secluded estate is just the beginning of the mystery behind what is really going on.

This was so much fun. I loved the dad and his sister, the little girl, all the characters were very relatable. It was quite light up until 50% ish, it build up tension slowly which I appreciated, because it wasn't super tense all the time. as I said, Dad had a lot of heart warming moments, some funny ones too. Really enjoyed this one. Recommend to anyone wanting a mystery that is not too dark or too heavy.
Also: the narrator is very good, since the story is quite linear, you won't get lost with the audiobook. I usually can't read a book solely on audio but I did with this one and I don't feel I lost anything or that my attention drifted, which is very rare to me.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is not the type of thriller that will have you hiding under the covers, but it's jaw-dropping enough to keep you glued to the pages.

This is an absolute treat as an audiobook, and I highly recommend listening to it! Narrated by John Pirhalla, his voice brings Frank Szatowski's character to life, capturing every bit of the emotion and tension in this gripping family drama-meets-thriller.

Frank Szatowski finally gets a call from his estranged daughter, Maggie, after three years of radio silence—what’s the occasion? Her wedding! Excited to mend their broken relationship, Frank shows up at a secluded luxury estate only to realize Maggie is marrying into some serious money.

Think tech-billionaire money.

Naturally, Frank feels like a fish out of water, but things get weirder when the groom-to-be, Aidan, turns out to be more evasive than mysterious, and the locals treat the family like they’re harboring dark secrets.

The tension builds as Frank figures out if his daughter's fiancé is shady or just socially awkward. And then—boom—a cryptic letter warns Frank not to trust Aidan because his ex-girlfriend vanished under suspicious circumstances. Is Frank's fatherly protectiveness spinning out of control, or is he onto something? The twists sneak up on you, and it’s impossible not to feel like something sinister is lurking just beneath the surface.

Pirhalla's narration adds so much to the atmosphere, making every twist feel even more intense. The pacing is perfect, and while the tension builds slowly, it keeps you wanting more right up until the end. If you’re into audiobooks that blend family drama with suspense, this is one you don’t want to miss!