3.5⭐
This was one of my most anticipated books this year. I think you have to go into this knowing it's not going to grip you and shock you like Hidden Pictures.
This book has short chapters, which I appreciate, but it does take a bit longer to get invested in the story. I did predict who the killer was, but there was another twist that I didn't see coming. While it's not going to be my favorite thriller this year, I did enjoy it and find it entertaining, especially the audio!
It probably would have been a solid 3 stars for me, but I really loved the ending so I bumped it up some. Frank's relationship with Abigail by the end was so sweet and unexpected! It really touched me, and I enjoyed reading about their PA excursions. I can't say I've ever read about Shady Maple in a book before!

This is my first book by author Jason Rekulak and I have to say I will be reading other books by him. The Last One at the Wedding was a great mystery thriller. This is not a spooky story but a very emotionally intense one. The plot twist I did not see coming. There are some likable characters thats you are rooting for throughout the book. I could not stop listening and I did gasp out loud a few times. Totally recommend this book for a great solid read on a weekend.

I am a newer thriller reader, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I really like this book. It had me entertained the whole way through with some plot twists I did not see coming. I received the ALC and absolutely loved the narration. I plan to purchase a physical copy for my personal library and can’t wait to read more from this author!

The Last One at the Wedding, written by Jason Rekulak and narrated by John Pirhalla overall, was well done! I appreciated John Pirhalla and his expression in lifting Frank and his character off the page and to life. The biggest thing that I think that I enjoyed was Jason Rekulak's main character point of view from Frank as a father. In my experience of reading I don't often run across characters from the point of view from a dad.

The character of Frank, a middle class dad, working for UPS, was witty, funny, and at moments reminded me of things that my own dad would say. Frank has a desire and heart to reconnect and reconcile his relationship with his daughter, Maggie, who is engaged to be married into a well-off, wealthy, and quite mysterious family. Through the book Frank discovers many red flags and suspicions are raised surrounding the wedding, the location, the new in-laws, and the circumstances of how Aiden and Maggie met. Frank pushes through for the sake of Maggie trying to rebuild the relationship with his daughter, while also realizing that the way that he views his daughter isn't the reality of her life and who he's made her to be.

I did find the twists and the plot entertaining, I did not find it easy to guess the ending and the twists. The creepy atmosphere worked and it made me think about how many people in our own lives that we "think we know" where there are far deeper issues seeded and present. If you are looking for a book that is suspenseful, mysterious, dark, and shared from the MC POV of a dad, I would suggest pick up The Last One at the Wedding.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the opportunity and experience of listening to this ARC. I applaud Jason Rekulak for bringing something different than his previous novel of Hidden Pictures, refreshing, intriguing, and still delivers in a different way than Hidden Pictures did.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was really excited to read this after having read Hidden Pictures, but I thought this one was just okay. It wasn’t really thrilling, although there was kind of a twist half way through. I thought the characters were all annoying and not believable. The plot was weak, and parts dragged on. The ending was super vague and unresolved. I got through it quickly, thankfully.

If you’ve read Jason Rekulak’s previous hit, Hidden Pictures, brace yourself—this one’s a whole new ballgame! With an open mind, you’ll dive into a story that unfolds like a slow-burning mystery, and trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Meet Frank Szatowski, our not-so-typical hero. He’s got the broody “old man” vibe down pat, and his journey is both relatable and intriguing. When his daughter Maggie surprises him with a call after three years of silence, Frank is over the moon. She’s getting married in New Hampshire, and he’s determined to mend their fractured relationship.

But here’s the twist: the wedding venue is a fancy private estate that feels way out of Frank’s league. Turns out, Maggie’s fiancé, Aidan, is the son of a tech billionaire! Yikes. Frank quickly realizes he’s in over his head, trying to navigate a world he doesn’t belong to while reconnecting with his daughter.

As Frank struggles to bond with Maggie and figure out the mysterious Aidan—who’s about as warm as a snowman—he senses that the locals aren’t too keen on the Gardners either. With a large cast of characters, it’s surprisingly easy to keep track of everyone, adding depth to the story.

This book is sprinkled with some jaw-dropping moments, but at its heart, it’s a family mystery that unfolds beautifully. I loved how everything came together by the end, leaving me satisfied and thoughtful.

A huge shoutout to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this Audiobook ARC! If you’re up for a journey filled with emotion and intrigue, give this one a go!

Wow! I don’t even know where to begin with this one! There were so many twists, I think I might have whiplash!

Frank is a down to earth, middle class, happy-go-lucky kind of guy. He’s worked as a UPS driver for 26 years. His wife died several years ago, and he doesn’t think he’ll ever get over it. His daughter Maggie is now a young woman, but he hasn’t seen or spoken to her for three years.

Til one day he gets a phone call from her saying that she’s getting married!

🛑🛑 STOP HERE if you don’t want to know any more! 🛑🛑

So….Frank decides he wants to meet Maggie and her fiancé (Aiden). And so it begins…
He has no idea who she’s marrying…until he gets to their apartment…and later his parent’s house…(a Mansion…) and he realizes they have a lot of money…

He realizes that he could never in a million years give his daughter what they can. 😮🫣

But then, things start to change.
Frank gets a note in the mail. What is this about? Who is this girl?

He heads out to the wedding (weekend) with his sister Tammy (who he’s very close with, and so is Maggie) and her foster child, Abigail, who was placed with Tammy at the last minute and now has to come to the wedding with them! This has Frank in a tizzy. But believe me when I tell you that THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

He meets Maggie and Aiden, and even Aiden’s father Errol…but he never meets his Mom. That’s kind of strange…
And did I mention there’s a ridiculous amount of security at the home/ complex…

As the wedding draws near, the environment surrounding them gets crazy…and all bets are off!!

Amazing book! Crazy concept! Holy crap!!

#TheLastOneAtTheWedding by #JasonRekulak and narrated beautifully by #JohnPirhalla.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released in a few days on 10/8/24!

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Wooooow! I did not expect all the twists and turns in this book.

Every single time I thought I knew what was happening or going to happen, Jason said SURPRISE here is another twist for you.

The way my heart went out to Frank, the MMC. He just wanted to have a relationship with his daughter, Maggie. And once he hears she is getting married he does everything he can to become close to her again and spend time with her. But something is not right with his soon to be in-laws.

Thank you so much NetGalley Macmillan audio for allowing me to listen to this amazing book.

The Last One at the Wedding is a new book from Jason Rekulak. It is very different from his previous book, Hidden Pictures.

"Frank Szatowski gets a surprise call from his estranged daughter, Maggie. She's getting married and wants Frank to come to the ceremony. Frank is ecstatic because he hasn't talked to Maggie in years and is desperate to make things right. When he arrives at the wedding location he discovers that Maggie failed to tell him she was marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a tech billionaire. Aidan is distant and the locals are not friendly toward the Gardners. Frank wants to know more before Maggie says yes...and it's too late."

This is more domestic thriller/drama/crime fiction. It is not horror. I appreciate that Rekulak is willing to try writing different genres.

Frank is a great character. So many parts of Frank I could relate to. He's a long-time UPS driver with an exemplary safety record. He's also a widow who raised a daughter with the help of his sister. He is a down-to-earth guy that doesn't understand why his daughter and new son-in-law won't spend time with him. Frank finds that the Gardners and his daughter are full of secrets and things come down to choices.
The story gets a little crazy and then crazier. I really liked the ending for Frank.

John Pirhalla is great with the audio performance. Lots of voices - male and female. And he is perfect for Frank.

An entertaining story from Rekulak.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow! This book was such a crazy thriller...and I absolutely loved it! This was the first book I had read by Jason Rekulak and I don't believe it will be the last I read of his work. What I especially loved about this book is that it wasn't at all predictable and that ending left me speechless (and wanting more!)

The audiobook was narrated by John Pirhalla who I don't think I have head the pleasure of listening to before, but I would definitely listen to more books by him in the future. I especially thought he did a great job with the various accents!

This book will be released on October 8th and I don't recommend you miss out on this one! Easily one of the best books of 2024 and I am looking forward to Jason Rekulak's next book!

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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The Last One at the Wedding contains creepy vibes, intense situations, family drama and is more of a psychological thriller with no paranormal feel to it like the authors previous hit novel, Hidden Pictures. With that being said, it was still a great read!

The author does a great job at world and character building in the first half. I honestly had no idea where it was going or what twists to expect in the first 3/4 of the book. Once it gets there, it was definitely surprising to say the least! Having Frank as the only narrator really worked for this book. It’s almost as if you’re playing murder mystery right there along with him.

This wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me. At times I found myself annoyed with the characters for their dumb decisions and some parts of the plot were too convenient. But I did enjoy the twist and how impactful it was and the consequences and fallout because of it.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I really enjoyed John Pirhalla as the narrator! He brought Frank to life and was so great with expressing emotions!

I would recommend it to all my book besties who are looking for an immersive, fast paced, domestic thriller!

Thank you to Jason Rekulak, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC of this book!

There are a lot of great reviews for this book and I am just one opinion, but this story did not do it for me. I really struggled to finish it but I was really hopeful for a big, exciting ending. Unfortunately, this wasn't it. I did not like a single character, the story line did not grab my attention, and the ending was completely lackluster. It seemed way too long and the. narrator reminded me of a grumpy Casey Kaseem,

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is a tense and emotional read about a dad, Frank, trying to reconnect with his daughter Maggie after years of estrangement. When she invites him to her wedding, he’s excited, but things quickly start going wrong. Maggie’s marrying into a super-rich, secretive family, and Frank can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. The setting—a secluded, over-the-top estate—adds to the tension as Frank tries to get to know this strange new family. It’s a great mix of family drama and mystery, with enough twists to keep you hooked until the end. If you’re into stories about family and hidden secrets, you’ll LOVE this one.

The Last One at the Wedding is a weirdly unsatisfying mystery.
Frank has been estranged from his daughter for three years when she calls to announce her engagement and invite him to the wedding. But she’s not just marrying any old average guy. Her fiancé, Aidan, is the son of a billionaire. But things just aren’t adding up. Aidan seems just a little off. And then, Frank gets a disturbing photo in the mail which implies Aidan has something to do with a woman who has gone missing.
The book was filled with unlikeable characters. Now, that’s ok, if they manage to be at least interesting. This group failed that test. Even Frank, whose POV directs the entire story, was a bit of an a**hole. His interactions with his sister’s foster child totally turned me off to him. And his unwillingness to ask for any help on basic issues (like getting an exterminator for the cabin) just made him seem stupid and bullheaded. His daughter came across as two dimensional and I wanted a better feel for what made her tick. His sister veers between being Susie Sunshine and a woman with no redeemable social values. The Gardners and their staff tended to be cliches. And we are meant to believe that out of 300 people at a wedding, everyone is happy to overlook a major incident.
The big problem with the story is that for long swatches, it’s just boring. There was a decent twist at about the 50% mark which I didn’t see coming.
The story covers parental love and the decisions we make to protect our children.
John Pirhalla was a good narrator and captured Frank’s character.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

After Jason Rekulak’s tremendous success with Hidden Pictures , it would be easy to assume his next novel would be in the same horror/paranormal genre, but he shows his versatility and talent by giving readers a taut, suspenseful family drama. He hit it out of the park (again) with THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING.

This is a superbly nuanced novel that touches on a number of themes, including how far a parent will go to protect their child and the entitlement displayed by rich people behaving badly. Told from the point of view of Frank Szatowski, a UPS driver who is desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter, the novel has no shortage of unlikable characters or unexpected twists and reveals. There are plenty of surprises which keep the reader guessing.

This book was narrated by John Pirhalla who does an outstanding job. He handles all the the characters with skill, but his voicing of Frank perfectly embodies the slow acceptance of the truths he uncovers. I was engrossed from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

The tone of this book threw me off, having read Hidden Pictures. There is nothing scary/paranormal here - just a straight mystery novel. But that’s not a bad thing. This book was intriguing with a good twist that changed the whole story and kept me engaged. I was expecting more from the ending, however, that disappointment didn’t ruin the rest of the book for me. Great narration and super strong writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Frank gets a call from his daughter Maggie out of the blue after about three years of zero communication. She’s getting married! Wedding weekend brings twist after twist after twist.


I hated almost every character in this book but the story was crazy. Do parents really act like this in real life to protect their kids?

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jason Rekulak for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reading Between the Wines book review #99/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Last One at the Wedding
Author: Jason Rekulak
Releases on October 8, 2024!

Sipping thoughts: So, here’s the thing, as much as I liked this story, there’s the same amount I did not like. Learning that the Hidden Pictures author was coming out with a new book had me waiting with bated breath. This book started off with a bang, so much mystery and secrets. I could not wait to finish to find out what was happening. I think Rekulak had a missed opportunity not capitalizing on the daughter Maggie’s personality. All in all, the first 75% of the book was really good, but that last 25% left me wanting more. The ending just fell flat. I still will be looking forward to Rekulak’s next release.

Cheers and thank you to @MacmillanAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheLastOneAtTheWedding.

#TheLastOneAtTheWedding #JasonRekulak #MacmillanAudio #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Nope.

You know how you read a book by an author that you really enjoy and then anticipate their next one? Well, it can go a few ways, and this one went very, very badly.

I didn’t like a single character in this story. You have the delusional, naïve, working class, every man. The entitled narcissist. The saint-like foster mother who is actually very selfish. The kid with a head full of lice and rich people who can do whatever they want with no repercussion.

I felt the story to be more annoying than entertaining. It’s not believable and there are things thrown in that you think may play a bigger role down the road, but don’t. So, why were they in there at all? There was promise, just lack luster presentation. It was neither suspenseful, nor thrilling and was a complete letdown.

I listened to the audio version and while the narrator was competent, I didn’t like his delivery. But, as the book was told from the perspective of Frank Szatowski, the bumbling doof of a father, it fit.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to this book because I love hidden pictures this one missed the mark for me whereas I understand the main character as a parent this was just not as thrilling as his previous work