Frank receives a call from his estranged daughter, Maggie. She’s getting married and wants him to attend. Frank is thrilled to hear from his daughter, a moment he’s been waiting years for. He thinks this is the happy reconciliation he has dreamed of. As the events unfold, he realizes not everything is what he thought.

Frank is an extremely likable character who I found myself getting attached to as the novel went on. I was worried for him, and the author did a great job building the tension. I loved the banter between Frank and his sister, Tammy. There is a side story of Tammy’s foster child, Abigail, that really touched my heart.

This book is a slow-burn domestic suspense with so many surprises! I really didn’t see where any of it was going. It’s completely different from the author’s book “Hidden Pictures,” and shows what a versatile writer he is.

The narrator did an absolutely amazing job; he was perfect bringing all the characters to life, especially as Frank.

Thank you so much for allowing me to enjoy this book in advance. I will be recommending it

This was a great read. The character of the father is instantly relatable. He’s down to earth and has worked hard for what he has. It was easy to jump in the the story from his perspective. The mystery itself was not quite what I expected. I feel like after learning the surprise, the ramifications also felt true to life. I enjoyed the story and would be curious to learn more about Frank’s daughter. What was her childhood like and I wonder if the wife had anything to do with it?
Thank you to NetGally for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you enjoyed Hidden Pictures as I did, this is a totally different kind of story. It is a family drama/ mystery and definitely not a horror story.

Frank Szatowski is surprised to get a call from his daughter Maggie after not hearing from her for over three years. But she wants the past in the past and to start fresh with an invitation to her apartment in Boston for dinner to meet her fiance. Frank has so many questions about what has gone on in her life over the past three years and she says she will answers his questions over dinner. Frank desperately wants to make things right with his daughter.

He and his sister Tammy and her foster daughter Abby all show up at an exclusive estate in New Hampshire. A stop for gas just before arriving leads him to a story that something may not be right and maybe Maggie should not marry Aidan. So many clues and things any parent would fear and worry about for their child and Frank is not one to brush it under the rug - he wants answers!

As the story plays out, I was curious at each turn of events and truly could not stop listening to this book! Narrator John Pirhalla had a great voice for narrating this book as the voice of Frank. Initially his voice sounded to me like the late Casey Casem from his radio days, but you will feel Frank's love for his daughter, his pride as a UPS driver, and his desire for answers. I am left still thinking about this ending.

IPub Day October 8, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley , Macmillian Audio and Flatiron Books for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I had really high hopes for this one as the follow up to Hidden Pictures. And the book flowed well with good pacing and a wide range of characters. However, it just really didn't land. The family dynamics could have been explored more thoroughly, and the big reveals were predictable.

Frank, our main character, is an annoyingly stubborn father type who frequently makes you roll your eyes at his opinions and attitudes. One day his estranged daughter, Maggie, calls to tell him that she is getting married to the son of an uber-rich CEO and wants him to come to the wedding. So he, his sister, and the sister's foster child all pack up and drive out to the rich family's camp for the weekend. While getting ready to leave for the wedding, Frank finds out that the groom's ex-girlfriend is missing, and because Frank hates rich people, he immediately decides that its because of the family and he must stop Maggie from marrying Aiden and bring her home (seriously, what is it with Frank's obsession with Maggie coming home? That was mentioned so many times in the book I started to get annoyed).

At first I was really curious about the estrangement between Maggie and Frank, but I eventually began to think that it was just because Frank sucked. And then I learned that it was because Maggie sucks (my opinion: everyone sucks in this novel except for Abigail). When we do get all the details, they're listed out matter of factly instead of pointing out what a very big deal that whole situation is (that I'm not getting into because spoilers).

When listening to the audiobook, Frank is played very well by the narrator, whose tone of voice and nuances fit the character so well. I also liked that this was a single-POV novel, a nice break as so many wedding thrillers are multiple-POV.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC.

Frank Szatowski, a UPS worker, is shocked when his daughter Maggie calls him after three years of estrangement to invite him to her wedding. Frank is thrilled to attend and reconnect with Maggie, but the wedding is at a secluded, luxurious estate and Maggie is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a tech billionaire. Frank receives a cryptic photo in the mail before leaving for the wedding, which leads him to question the Gardners.

This is a book where I found it hard to like anyone. The father is whiny, his sister is needy and selfish while having a savior complex. I just didnt like anyone. It was his daughter's wedding and his sister made it all about her. Just annoyed me.

I found that narrator a tad annoying but kept me listening. Good book overall. 4 stars.

Don’t. Trust. Anyone.

The Last One at the Wedding is most definitely a slow burn thriller. It takes a little while to get to know the characters and the layout of the story.

The main character, Frank, seems a little too trusting and a little naive, given all that he’s been through, but is so very excited for his daughter’s wedding. Add in his sister and her foster child, and seems like things might get weird. But nothing compares to the family that she’s marrying into!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 08 October 2024

The Last One at the Wedding was more a mystery than a thriller, but I think it will sell based on the cover art and the author's name recognition. The premise was intriguing, but it was hindered by severely unlikable characters and a lagging pace. The narrator seemed to be dangerously close to a conservative republican without acknowledging that, and the cast overall suffered from a lack of diversity. The pacing dragged a bit, with the only motivator for the first half of the novel being his desire to spend time with his daughter. The twist was surprising, but not shocking, and it took too long to get there. I'll recommend it for fans of Riley Sager, for sure, but it didn't resonate as well with me, personally.

A Suspenseful Family Drama with a Twist

Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding is a gripping thriller that delves into the complexities of family relationships and the dark secrets that can lurk beneath a seemingly perfect facade. Frank a middle-aged father, is thrilled when his estranged daughter, Maggie, invites him to her upcoming wedding. However, as he arrives at the secluded estate, he begins to sense an unsettling atmosphere.

Rekulak skillfully builds tension throughout the novel, which kept me guessing about the true nature of the family's secrets. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to empathize with their struggles and fears. The author's writing style is both suspenseful and thought-provoking, forcing me to question the motives of everyone involved.

While the overall plot is engaging, I found the ending to be somewhat rushed and lacking in closure. I would have appreciated a more in-depth exploration of certain plot points and a more satisfying resolution for some of the characters.

Despite this minor flaw, The Last One at the Wedding is a captivating read that will keep you hooked until the very end. Rekulak's ability to create a suspenseful and thought-provoking narrative is undeniable. I would rate the book a 4 out of 5 stars, with a recommendation for fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Jason Rekulak for this advance reader copy!

Loved this book! My second by this author. The craziness of the story had me pulled into the book the entire time. The narrator helped make the book even better for me

If you’re expecting this to be as creative as hidden pictures this book isn’t for you.. adjust your expectations accordingly. This is the definition of a slow burn thriller. One where you won’t like or trust ANYONE.

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate―very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

Like I said, this is SLOW. But it’s got a great dark atmospheric feel, and some twists, it’s chilling and at times gory but a really good read for spooky season. My only problem was the ending seemed to wrap up really quickly and I felt super icky at times with some of the characters decisions.

I was not a fan of the narrator at all especially doing the female voices.

Thank you to the author NetGalley and publisher for the arc.

I was so excited to get this early copy! I love a good audiobook. The narrator was great. I did really like this book (4 stars), but I liked Hidden Pictures more. The Last One at the Wedding felt like much more of a slow burn. Stick with it though, it is a really good book!

Frank Szatowski and his daughter, Maggie, have an estranged relationship, but after she calls him up and invites him to her wedding he is thrilled to be included again. That is until strange things start happening and people start dying.

Lots of great twists and little surprises throughout this book, but it's keeps you waiting for a while, building suspense and questions. The main character was not always likeable - especially in the first half of the book, which I think makes him a much more realistic character. The author did a great job of painting a picture of the setting. I did enjoy the narrator, even when he did female voices, which sometimes doesn't translate well. There was enough of a recognizable change, but wasn't hard to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audio.

Like many, I was eagerly and highly anticipating Jason Rekulak’s next novel, following Hidden Pictures (which I loved). First of all, this book is nothing like Hidden Pictures — the vibe, genre… nothing feels familiar to what I got from the author’s previous book. I was subconsciously using that reading experience as a barometer for this book (which perhaps was an unfair comparison since they were so different), and ultimately, was let down. It had a slow start for me and never really picked up. I found most characters pretty insufferable. The narrator though played his role FANTASTICALLY well. I quickly decided I didn’t like the character of Frank and that he seemed to be kind of weak and spineless (my impression), but the narrator voiced him perfectly.

I wouldn’t classify this as a thriller and it wasn’t gripping enough for me to classify as a suspense, so I guess it could fall into a little mystery but general drama?

I will definitely still read Rekulak’s next book and hope that it’s more reminiscent to his former novel, but this one didn’t quite do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this ARC.

⭐️⭐️Review⭐️⭐️
📖Title: The Last One at the Wedding
🧍‍♂️Author: Jason Rekulak

About? Frank Szatowski hasn’t spoke to his daughter, Maggie, in three years. She calls him to tell him she is getting married and wants him to be there. He agrees happily. All he wants is for his daughter to be happy and he goes to the wedding hoping to reconnect with her and get to know her soon to be husband and his family. But it’s difficult. Her fiancée is withdrawn and aloof. And he comes to find out his family are tech billionaires. He feels out of place and most specifically-like something really isn’t right and his daughter is making a huge mistake.

How it’s told? Told through the point of view of Frank, the father.

Characters: Frank: always does the right thing, loving and caring father. Maggie-morally gray, secretive. Difficult to figure out what she wants and where she is coming from. Aiden-withdrawn, how to get to know, doesn’t appear to be the typical man getting married and happy about it. Aiden’s father - charismatic and larger than life.

Makes you feel? Like a thriller with beautifully complex characters. It’s fun and funny but also keeps you on the edge of your seat. In my humble opinion - @jasonrekulak can do no wrong!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @macmillianaudio for providing me with the advanced audible copy in exchange for an honest review!

I devoured Hidden Pictures so I went into this with similar expectations and this book did not disappoint! If you are looking for an slow-burn domestic suspense with twisty drama and a sprinkle of crime mystery, then check out Jason Rekulak’s newest novel, The Last One at the Wedding, on sale October 8, 2024.

This story is told in the POV of Frank Szatowski, a father estranged from his daughter, Maggie. When Maggie calls out of the blue for the first time in 3 years, Frank is elated. But she’s calling with some exciting news, she’s getting married in 3 months and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. Of course he’ll be there. But, when he gets to the wedding to meet the groom’s billionaire family, everything just seem…..off, and things escalate rather quickly. Frank, trusting his instincts, unravels a deep intricate web of deceit, greed and utter betrayal. Can Frank save Maggie from this?

The Last One at the Wedding was gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time; the puzzling choices that some of our characters made kept me engaged because I just couldn’t wrap my head around it! As the story progressed, I did not expect some of the twists and I enjoyed how everything tied together at the end. The setting of Pennsylvania and the New Hampshire Lake added to the mystery and suspense of the story. I really enjoyed Frank’s character and his unrelenting integrity, even though he struggled internally with the conflict of protecting his daughter or doing what was right.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the Advanced Listening copy of this novel.

I was SO drawn into this book from the first chapter. The way the father and daughter had this unknown, unsure relationship, just kept me so drawn in. And I just kept anticipating the moment things were going to turn for the worst. It was SO good!

Jason Rekulak does it again! This was a great thriller book about a father who is estranged from his daughter but then she calls him to invite him to her wedding. He begins to learn more about some shady things that surround her new fiancé and his family. This was a great book that I could not stop listening to! There were multiple twists, and I was absolutely here for it. This felt like an action movie to me, but it also tugged at my heartstrings. This father wants so desperately to gain the respect and love of his daughter, especially since her mother died when she was young. I absolutely loved this book!

Dear Author,



It held my attention, but it was not for me.



The audiobook was well done. Narrator did a great job.



Yours truly,

J. D. McCoughtry



Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the chance to listen to this audiobook arc.

Wow! Just wow! What a thrilling ride of a rollercoaster this book was. I loved this novel and it was an easy to listen to and follow along audiobook. There were so many twists and turns, betrayals, deception, and lies. I loved it! I enjoyed the characters in this novel, well most of them anyways. Some were not so likeable and that made it all the more interesting.

Many surprises and twists that I did not see coming and I love that in a novel. Kept me guessing until the end, with a lot of surprises along the way.

I loved this audiobook and I definitely recommend it!

This was the second novel I have read by Jason Rekulak (I loved both of them) and I look forward to more of his books. All the stars for this one!!