I was intrigued at the beginning of this book but sadly it slowly lost my interest. It's also rare that I'm truly baffled by the ending of a book but that was the case here (and not in a good way.)

Main character Frank is a hard-working UPS deliveryman and estranged father to a woman named Maggie. Out of the blue one evening he gets a call from Maggie, who informs him she's getting married and would like for him to attend the wedding. He soon finds out that Maggie's fiance is the son of a famous tech billionaire. Frank is taking the news all in stride, until the wedding weekend arrives and he starts to believe that things may not be as perfect as they appear on the outside.

I'm not sure what would have helped me enjoy this one more as I just found the whole plot to be a little dull and the "twists" didn't really surprise me. So I'm thinking this was probably a case of 'just not for me,' especially as it seems to have a majority of favorable reviews. So I recommend giving this book a try for yourself. But don't expect a faster paced book like Hidden Pictures was. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a fine job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Beyond annoying to hear a book from a white mans perspective. He was annoying and rude, very selfish character. Really hard to follow the story, that went on and on and didn't make sense.

Frank Szatowski is surprised when his estranged daughter Maggie suddenly contacts him for the first time in years. The second shock is that she is getting married to the son of a tech billionaire. Frank attempts to get to know Maggie's fiancé Aiden Gardner but finds him to be evasive and uninterested. Frank decides to focus on making his relationship with his daughter better. As the wedding draws near Frank, his sister and her foster child travel to the Gardner's family estate in New Hampshire. Before arriving at the compound they find that the local community is very distrusting of the Gardner family, particularly Aiden. Frank wants to get to the bottom of things but does not want to push his relationship with his daughter.

This was a very interesting book. There were a lot of things that worked for me but was very frustrated with Frank on multiple occasions. Especially when it comes to his relationship with his daughter. It is difficult to get far into the plot for spoiler reasons. There are quite a few fun twists and turns. This was a fantastic audio experience. John Pirhalla did a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book especially the perspective of the main protagonist felt very fresh and not often utilized, there were some aspects that I felt were farfetched but then when I tried to rationalize where the decisions were coming from I was more accepting I would definitely recommend to friends and reading whatever Jason Rekulak publishes next

Frank Szatowski is suprised to hear from his estranged daughter when she called to invite him to her wedding. Her fiance turns out to be the son of famous tech billionaire, Errol Gardiner. While Frank is excited to be back in his daughter's good graces, as the wedding weekend commences, things seem off.

This could be a great fit if you enjoy:
- rich people problems
- parents protecting their kids
- when weddings go wrong

Based on reviews so far, I think I'm an outsider on this one, so take it with a grain of salt. I thought it was good, not great. As much as Frank fit the typical dad role with his protective and skeptical nature, I found myself rolling my eyes at him. There were a few unsettling moments with some creepy-crawly creatures and unhinged characters, but I thought the tension could have been ramped up quite a bit.

This was a quick audiobook with an awesome narrator. He was a perfect match for Frank!

Rating: I liked it! (3)

I'm kind of surprised to see all of the positive buzz about this one -- the plot was a bit too far, and the characterization seemed unnuanced.

Review copy provided by publisher.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed many parts of this story, but also parts that were just off for me. The daughter is a horrible person. I just can't get over how messed up her mind is. I did enjoy the narration.

I liked this one. Kept me guessing until the very end. The daughter of the main character really bothered me which I guess is what made it so much fun. Glad this was fiction.....

I got an advanced copy of the audiobook from Net Galley. This is a spoiler free review.

Narrator - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of those books with a slow start and a exciting back half. For probably the first 40%, I wasn't even sure I liked the main character (which is an issue for first person pov). The story itself was interesting once it got going. However it did feel exposition heavy in the beginning despite there quite a few blanks in the story that were slow to be filled in. Rekulak is a talented writer, so it was an enjoyable listen and I could picture everything very easily. The only thing I would have changed would have been less exposition and more action post climax.

After reading Hidden Pictures I was so excited to see this author coming out with a new book and so excited to get my hands on it early. It took me longer to get into this one, around 37% is when I felt like I really got into it as it was a little slower to get into. This book is about a father getting invited to his daughter’s wedding after 3 years of not speaking to her and trying to figure out all the weirdness going on around the wedding. You start to wonder whether something weird is going on or if it’s all in the dad’s head. Read it to find out!

This is the book for thriller fans Jason Rekulak has written another great one! I loved the narrator of this book Jason Pirhalla gave life to Frank a middle aged father estranged from his only child. We begin this story as Maggie calls her father after a long estrangement to let him know she is getting married and would love for him to come to the wedding. Frank is thrilled to be back in touch with his daughter but his excitement soon turns to concern. The details of the couple’s relationship seem odd to Frank and lots of unanswered questions make him uneasy. All father’s struggle with their daughters getting married but the family she is marrying into lives very different from the place Maggie calls home.
I loved this audiobook and look forward to listening to more from this narrator. A must listen!

The Last One at the Wedding was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, after reading and absolutely loving Hidden Pictures. I loved everything about that book, cover to cover, it was perfection for me.

Unfortunately, this book was a bit of a letdown for me. It is such a slow burn that it bordered on boring and I kind of think that if I had read the physical book instead of listening to the audiobook, I wouldn't have been able to finish it. I found most of the characters to be unlikable, with the exception of Abigail, who was the shining star of this novel for me and the reason I pushed through. A smart, funny, quirky little girl who brought heart and humor and life to the story.

While the audio was the reason I persisted, I didn't love the narrator. I can see that he is incredibly talented, but for this story and these characters, it just didn't mesh right for me and I found myself taken out of it frequently.

It's likely that I'm in the minority here, so I don't want to discourage anyone from giving this book a read! Even though it was slow, the story was interesting and it picked up towards the end and I did find myself wanting to find out exactly what was going on with the Gardner family. I really loved the way the story ended and I even had a little tear in my eye!

“The Last One at the Wedding” is another fine book from author Jason Rekulak.

Frank hasn’t spoken to his daughter, Maggie, in over three years. Out of the blue, Maggie calls to tell her father that she is getting married and she wants him there. He’s skeptical, but will do anything to get his daughter back. He soon finds out she’s marrying a tech billionaire’s son, but there’s something that isn’t quite right about the whole situation. Can Frank figure out what’s wrong in time to save his daughter? Is she even the one who needs saving?

There’s so much to uncover about the mind and why we act the way we do. This story has hidden secrets everywhere. Just when you think you know who the villain is, things get flipped upside down. Nothing is as it seems.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Last One at the Wedding is the story of father and daughter and the journey they take together. The father is invited to his estranged daughters wedding last minute. During the events leading up to the ceremony different revelations are made about the family his daughter is marrying into.

This is a very slow burn and not a twisty thriller like his debut book, Hidden Pictures. Nevertheless, the writing was very well done and made you love the characters you should love and hate the others. I listened to this book on audio and the narrator did a fantastic portrayal of the dad. Overall I enjoyed the story and will definitely read the next book published by this author!

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!