I was so excited to read this one! I loved Hidden Pictures. This book was very different. Definitely a slow burn mystery! But it still kept me hooked and I loved it!

After years of being estranged, Frank is delighted to receive a wedding invitation from his daughter Maggie. But things go wrong from the start. Frank’s sister needs to bring her foster daughter. The groom’s family won’t let Frank pay for anything, and is rude about it. Then there is a missing girl who was last seen with Aidan – the man Maggie is about to marry.

Turns out that Aidan’s family are not good people and are hiding secrets. Frank is concerned that Maggie doesn’t know what she is getting in to.

It was good in the beginning and then there were some ick parts, and then there were the twists that I never saw coming. Ah, so good. I did the audio version and the narrator was perfect for the POV of Frank. The author’s previous book Hidden Pictures is so good as well.

Thank you #NetGalley for the complimentary copy of #TheLastOneAtTheWedding in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this audio book prior to release/ARC.
I immediately felt vested in this story. The narrator did a great job keeping the reader tied to the story and eager to learn what happens next. While the storyline is of course a little far fetched, it is still a suspenseful nail biting mystery. The protagonist was portrayed well and thorough and making it easy to like him. The twist of the story was surprising and well thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished the book in 2 days.
I enjoyed the author's first book but I truly think this one is even better!

A very different book than his first! This one felt like more of a family drama than a mystery or suspense. I was very intrigued by the premise and the beginnings, but by the end I was less enamored. There were a few points that grossed me out (IYKYK). The point of view was interesting and makes for good conversation of to what lengths will parents go to for their children.

The audio narration was okay. The narrator had a distinct voice that seemed fitting to the character.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance audiobook.

This book was great, my first of his to read (listen to).
I have Hidden Pictures (horror) and reading The Last One at the Wedding (mystery/thriller) these are 2 different styles of writing genre.
Jason Rekulak really has a talent!

This book has some turns I was not expecting and really wowed me a few times.
Really enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

I've also listened to another book by John Pirhalla and really like this voice for audio books

This story takes unexpected turns throughout the story while also being highly entertaining. I initially wasn't sure about the main character, but the doubt in him is what allows the story to weave the way it does. He works as an amazing, unreliable narrator about his own family. Definitely recommend for a fun, darkly absurd book.

I think I just need to accept that this author is not for me. I did not enjoy this in the slightest. The characters were all absolutely awful people, and even Frank was not redeeming. The twist with Margret sleeping with her fiance's dad wasn't shocking in the slightest and just felt like 'rich white people' nonsense. It all felt very 'been there done that'. I'm glad I gave it the old college try, but he's just not for me.

The author, Jason Rekulak, wrote an amazing book called "Hidden Pictures" a few years back. I think many readers are expecting this to follow the same suit, but it does not. There is no paranormal aspect and this doesn't have any horror to it either. None of this takes away from the story in any way, and I think it's more of a testament to the author's talent to successfully tell two different stories so well.

John Pirhalla narrates this audiobook. He does an excellent job bringing Frank to life. Frank's character is, above anything else, a dad. Even though he's been estranged from his daughter for a few years, he's still elated when she calls and tells him she's getting married. Maggie is still evasive and somewhat cold with him and Frank desperately wants to apologize and make up for lost time, but he can't help but feel something is a bit off with the wedding and the new family that Maggie is marrying into.

This story seems simple enough: a father and daughter reconnecting over her wedding, but there is a bad history that we never really get the full story of. The author does a nice job at leaving the reader guessing because Frank seems like a great father, but he's constantly trying to appease Maggie and she never wants to have a serious conversation with him. What could Frank have done that was that bad? And why does everyone seem to either love or completely hate the Gardners?

The ending of this story was done well. All aspects of the story receive resolution, and this story would also be great for a book club since it leaves room for discussion.

I could ramble on but then I'd be spoiling the entire book for you. If you enjoy tense and unsettling settings with family secrets all around, you'll enjoy "The Last One At The Wedding".

Okay it's official... if Jason Rekulak writes it, I will read it!

The Last One at the Wedding went in a direction I never would have expected and I absolutely loved the ride. Rekulak gives his readers twists they didn't know to look for and my jaw hit the floor on more than a couple occasions!

I really loved the characters in this novel. They were all surprising, and complex, and so human. I loved trying to navigate Maggie's motivations and learn about her past. Tammy was a conundrum to me and it was impossible not to love her though during the wedding there were moments where she definitely baffled me. She was smarter than she let on but I didn't always agree with her choices or how she chose to react to things. Abigail was a unique addition to the storyline and added so much. There were moments during the wedding weekend that I was laughing out loud and I could literally smell the mayonnaise being spread throughout her hair on the porch!

Frank was a wonderful character. He felt so authentic and genuine. His love and care for Maggie came through the pages and I respected him so much. He was strong, brave, and always trying to do the right thing. There were times I felt he bumbled a bit, but his intentions felt so pure that I couldn't fault him. It also felt completely relatable that he could never truly see any faults in Maggie and that he loved her so unconditionally.

The setting of this book was also great. I could envision the penthouse apartment in Boston and the sprawling "camp" estate at the lake. Rekulak didn't bog us down with details but he painted a perfect picture that transported me to New Hampshire and had me celebrating Maggie and Aidan's nuptials right alongside them.

I listened to this book on audio and really enjoyed it. I had heard the narrator before and thought he played a perfect Frank. His voice and inflection were on point and never felt overacted.

All in all, this book was a homerun. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to see what else Rekulak comes up with!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the copy.

3.75/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

I just could not stop listening to this one -- I was hooked! I think John Pirhalla was a great narrator and did a fantastic job encapsulating Frank Szatowski. Frank was soooo annoying at times and so dense it was frustrating. While his desire to be there for and protect his daughter was admirable, it also got to the point where I wanted to scream "take a hint dude!!!" Some of this story felt pretty obvious to me and I was disappointed to be proven correct, while other parts were HUGE surprises and great twists. The setting was really cool; I love when books take place in remote, grand and/or opulent settings and this was all of those! While this book was a bit of a letdown in terms of the climax, it was still super entertaining and interesting to listen to, and I'd recommend it.

SYNOPSIS -- Frank Szatowski is thrilled to hear from his daughter, Maggie, for the first time in three years. He's less thrilled, however, when she announces she's getting married - after only 6 months - to her boss's son. For the sake of their relationship, Frank is willing to put his reservations aside and attend the wedding on the Gardner's very luxurious and secluded estate. Desperate to get to know the people Maggie loves so much, Frank seeks to gather information about the Gardners, only to find out they're extremely elusive and hared to get a read on. With the locals' disdain for the family and a missing girl in their past, Frank is determined to figure out who his daughter is marrying before he loses her forever.

The Last One at the Wedding beginning was weak and revolved around this annoying sanctimonious father, who is invited to his estranged daughters’s wedding. I w1s hesitating about this book until he and his entourage arrived at the wedding location. OMG, there it is: the intrigue, suspense, and unreliable characters that I loved about Hidden Pictures. The camp turned out to be a genius choice for a setting and I LOVE the addition of the little foster girl. I can definitelysee Relulak evolving as a writer. I did not see the twists coming near the end Bravo! Thank you to .Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Great, fast-paced read or listen in my case and narration was well done. Our MC, Frank, is trying to be a good Dad and mend his relationship with his daughter by attending her wedding after not speaking for 3 years. Frank has concerns about the family she is marrying into as a dad would and he starts snooping into some incidents that lead him to learn some hard truths about his daughter that made for a great twist and an excellent ending.

Following along with Frank as he tries to make sense of and unravel the suspected secrets behind his daughter Maggie’s soon to be in-laws was a wild and enjoyable ride! At times I was rooting for Frank and at times I was begging for him to let it be a save himself. He’s surly and old school but also endearing and I enjoyed him as a main character. He was balanced well my Maggie’s mysterious nature and I enjoyed watching the cat and mouse between them. I would’ve appreciated a little more work on explaining Maggie and her motivations but otherwise really solid. Lots of twists, murder, secrets, and oh my god moments. Great book!

THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING begins with a single phone call. Frank Szatowski is overjoyed to finally connect with Maggie, his grown daughter who he has been estranged from for 3 years. Maggie’s new engagement may offer a chance for reconciliation, or it may result in murder, mayhem and calculated crimes as Maggie marries into one of the wealthiest families in the country.

While the story remains sinister, the pace of THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING is firmly in the messy family drama camp. Readers shouldn’t expect to be met with twists and turns at every page like Rekulak’s previous novel, HIDDEN PICTURES, but this is still an intriguing story.

‘
READ THIS IF YOU:
-are drawn to dark family stories
-are entertained by rich people behaving badly
-appreciate a fantastic audiobook –the story is easy to follow and well narrated by John Pirhalla (thanks Macmillan audio)

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: October 8, 2025

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC.

The Last One at the Wedding was such an exciting, suspenseful book! Once I got approved for the audio on NetGalley, I listened every chance I got! I simply had to know what was happening next! And the way Jason Rekulak created the suspense within the story was just amazing. The narrator did a fantastic job with this book as well! I would highly recommend running to your local bookstore or wherever you get audiobooks to grab this one when it is released!

I feel like i got whiplash from this book..
like what even happened here?

I liked the bread crumbs the book was leaving .. but they never made a slice of bread.
This story is about Frank and his daughter being estranged.. which is tries very hard to explain why..but also I have zero idea why they became estranged?
I also thought this book ended at least 4 times and all 4 endings didnt impact me at all
Also I dont think anyone needed the epilogue part.
Im very sad ebcasue of how amazing I felt after hidden pictures.. but I will read the author again.
whats good:
I liked the rich and working class nuances
The narration was well done
there were a few twists and turns
I didnt personally guess the overall TADAAA

If you are hoping this book is as riveting as Hidden Pictures, you might be disappointed. In this story we are following Frank as he reconnects with his daughter prior to her wedding. Frank, a blue collar UPS driver, attends the wedding for his daughter and realizes she is marrying into a VERY wealthy family. This story has a lot of great elements but fell a little bit flat for me. It has a semi-unreliable narrator in Frank, who somehow is like a combo of a sitcom dad and Liam Neeson’s character in Taken, and a real jerk. I was impressed by how complex Frank was as a character as it made him feel more real. The story also has a LOT of rich people behaving badly - that is essentially the entire plot of the story. I was surprised by some of the smaller plot twists at the end but this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I squealed in excitement when I received the ARC for The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak. The audio narration for the eboak is by John Pichalla and he just absolutely NAILED the role of the dad, Frank. Totally brought that character to life for me.

Frank gets a call from his estranged daughter, Maggie, with an invite to her upcoming wedding. They haven't spoken in years and Frank is eager to get back into Maggie's life and right the past wrongs.

Maggie is secretive, and Frank learns that she's marrying the son of a tech billionaire. Family drama ensures, with mysterious conversations, family secrets, and trouble.

I think honestly that the narration made the entire book and kept me engaged. Having the point of view through Frank was very cool and his voice was so real that it honestly felt like it was a person you knew telling you what was happening to them. He had the old man vibe down pat. There was of course turns and twists, with family secrets, wedding drama, and a touch of domestic suspense.

If you enjoyed Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak, you're going to love this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Releases October 8, 2024!

I gave The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak 4 out of 5 stars. This novel brilliantly combines suspense, family drama, and mystery, all set against the backdrop of an extravagant wedding weekend. The protagonist, Frank Szatowski, is trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Maggie, after three years of silence, but things take a dark turn when he starts to suspect that her fiancé, Aidan, may not be who he seems. Rekulak masterfully builds tension throughout, with layers of secrets slowly unraveling until the final twist.

Jason Rekulak's first novel "Hidden Pictures" was is one of my favorite triller books, so I couldn't wait to read "The Last One at the Wedding". This book was perfectly done with twist after twist. The narration was perfectly done, and kept listening. I couldn't stop listening! This is sure to be one of the top thrillers of the year!