Sadly I didn’t realize this is the second book in Jason Rekulak’s series and I didn’t read Hidden Pictures before reading this book, and while I feel like it would have helped…

The Last One at the Wedding had me hooked from the start. With its slow building suspense and intriguing family drama I couldn’t help but want to keep listening!

Frank’s attempt to reconnect with his estranged daughter at her big fancy wedding kept me dying to know what came next, especially as the mystery built between Frank and the mysterious, too good to be true, fiancé and father-in-law.

When the plot reveals a missing woman with connections to the soon to be family it provided the premise for a great thriller! And when it came to the big reveal, and let’s just say it was nothing like I was expecting!

While the twist was definitely a surprise, the way it was presented was a bit too much and nearly derailed the whole story for me…

But overall it was a captivating read. I loved Franks character and his willingness to make sacrifices! I just wish the twist would have been a little more discreet…

***Contained a few MA words, and a brief MA scene

Huge thank you to @netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook copy!

This story was very interesting. It started off strong but quickly became a slow burn, which I didn’t mind. It kept my attention all the way to the end. I was fascinated by these characters, some with no morals at all 😳 which made it really hard to root for any of them. Even though it is a thriller there were some very touching moments in the book between Frank and his sister’s foster child. I also loved the narrator! He really brought the story to life!

Read if you enjoy:
▪️slow burn suspense
▪️weddings
▪️family drama
▪️spiders
▪️untrustworthy characters
▪️New England setting

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Release Date: 10/8/24
Format: audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oof. Another highly anticipated thriller of the year that fell flat for me. I loved Hidden Pictures so so much and could not wait for this book. I was so thrilled to get the advanced listening copy (thank you @netgalley) after being immediately rejected for the eARC and dove right in!

This book just unfortunately never had any character or plot line that drew me in or made me invested. Nothing was overly engaging or mysterious, and even the character I was rooting for the most (our girl Abigail who was hated so much by Frank for no reason) felt written a bit like a caricature.

I wasn’t expected Hidden Pictures vibes, but I am a bit disappointed by the story and lack of momentum. Will still check out whatever he writes next but will not be writing a full review on my page as he is from my community and I do respect him a great deal. I will review briefly on goodreads and still wish him a happy pub day on 10/8 through my page.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Expertly narrated by John Pirhalla
11 hrs 13 minutes at 1x speed
7 hrs 29 minutes at 1.5x speed
5 hrs 37 minutes at 2x speed

This book is COMPLETELY different from “Hidden Pictures” ( no Supernatural vibes) but equally as SURPRISING!

Frank Szatowski has been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years.

So, he is shocked when she calls him to invite him to her wedding. And, he is even more surprised when he finds out that she is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of the famous tech billionaire, Errol Gardner.

When they meet for dinner at the young couple’s luxury apartment, Aidan is withdrawn, and evasive. He doesn’t show any interest in getting to know his new father-in-law to be. The red flags 🚩 start waving.

The wedding will be held at a secluded private estate—which can host the 300+ guests with ease. Frank, a UPS driver feels completely out of his league, and just wants to spend time with his daughter to make up for the past three years but Maggie doesn’t seem to have any time for him.

When he receives an anonymous warning about Aidan, he tries to get answers from Maggie about the accusations being made-but she brushes him off. He becomes more and more exasperated, fearing that Maggie is about to make a terrible mistake-but he can’t risk pushing her away again so soon after getting her back!

He will have to do some digging on his own…

The book sets up the family dynamics in the first half, with the likable Frank, your “everyday” kind of father, narrating. And, around the 50% point the book delivers its FIRST shocking revelation! And, they keep on coming!

Be prepared to now question everything you thought you knew.

I was riveted-a book I definitely couldn’t wait to return to-every chance that I got.

And, best of all-you don’t have to wait long to find out exactly what was happening for yourself-
Expected publication date-October 8, 2024

Thank You to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley Shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

First, let me say how truly excited I was to be approved for this ARC! This was also my first netgalley audiobook and I wasn't what to expect with narration or recording quality. However, I had no reason to worry, because this narrator is fantastic. He lends depth and character to all aspects of the story, and his voice is perfect for the first-person narration used throughout this novel. With that being said, I do have some complaint about the book itself....
First, I loved the foster kid angle and the author's attempt to bring a voice to kids with difficult upbringings. With that being said, I found this particular character fairly purposeless throughout the story. While there were some redeeming aspects to her character at the end of the story, the majority of her interaction in the plot line felt more frustrating than useful. I respect Rekulak's attempt to speak to the difficulties of foster children, but the way this character was written became more annoying then anything else.
Second, I was hugely disappointed in the ending of this story. Rekulak's first book, Hidden Pictures had an amazing ending which I found incredibly well-written and satisfying, however, I cannot say the same for the ending of this book. Actually, the novel ended and I looked up from what I was doing to double check that I was actually at the end of the story. I didn't really connect with Maggie at all, and the way her storyline ended fell completely flat. I was very invested in the plot of this book, and it definitely kept me reading, but I was bummed by the abrupt halt that comprised this conclusion.
Overall, good, but not great (excluding the quality of the narrator, who was fantastic). Would I recommend? Maybe... was his other book WAY better? Absolutely!

Thank you for letting me listen!
This review is posted to my goodreads account as of 09/27/2024

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

I loved Hidden Pictures last year and was very much looking forward to this one as well. I didn’t like this one quite as much but it was still an enjoyable listen. I do think this book is less thriller and more mystery. It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat and I was never seriously worried for anyone’s safety.

My favorite parts were everything that had to do with Frank’s sister and Abigail. They added so much to the story and really helped bring Frank’s character to life. I struggled to really connect with Frank. He just seemed to be angry and untrusting throughout the whole story and I didn’t understand why he was so angry with Abigail throughout most of the story.

The narration of the story was fantastic and really helped bring the story to life.

I rated it 3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4 for this review.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing- I quickly added his name to my list of narrators that I look for. The storyline was interesting but I didn’t feel like it was anything exceptional. I loved the first book by this author so I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t hooked by this one too. I’m sure this will be a favorite for some but it was not the book for me.

The Last One at the Wedding explores the story of a father grappling with the estranged relationship he has with his soon-to-be-wed daughter. At first, Frank is ecstatic to hear from his daughter, Maggie, and learn of her upcoming nuptials, hoping this is the perfect time to repair their broken relationship. Unfortunately, not all is what it seems when it comes to Frank’s future son-in-law and his family. This rich family has secrets they’ll do anything to keep hidden.

As you can assume based on the above summary, this is a vastly different read than Hidden Pictures. While this author’s previous work was chocked full of suspense and thrill, this is a much tamer book. I’m not so sure I’d call it a thriller – perhaps a slow burn domestic suspense? Even that feels like a bit of a stretch. The cast consists of all extremely unlikeable characters, which is no surprise when you’re dealing with the rich and snooty. Anyone can get away with murder if they have enough money to cover it up right? Even the “feel good” character, Frank, while relatable, he still wasn’t overly likeable. It makes the story a lot harder to get fully invested in when there’s truly no characters you’re rooting for.

Audio review: At first, I wasn't fond of the narrator's voice, but as the story unfolded, it surprisingly became a perfect fit for the father’s character. It definitely worked well for this story, and overall was easy to follow along with.

Random trigger – but there’s awkward mentions of bugs such as spiders and lice in this book. It’s a bit cringey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was fantastic! I had no idea any direction it was going to go and those are the best kinds. I was hooked from the first few minutes of the book. The narrator was also wonderful, made it super easy to follow along. I was able to imagine everything happening, it was so descriptive. The twists were phenomenal. I totally have another favorite author to add to my list.

Not my favorite but still had some solid moments. The pacing felt off at times, which also diminished my experience. I thought the narrator was just ok. Overall, I'd say this one could be worth the listen but isn't one to bump to the top of your list.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was great and the narrator was wonderful. I will read more from this author.

I genuinely enjoyed the narrator, Frank's point of view throughout this story. I'm a sucker for the uber rich celebrating a wedding at a getaway location with some murder involved.

Rekulak does a great job developing some seemingly ever-changing characters that do the last thing you would suspect. This story does a great job weaving relationships and makes you question what you would do to protect your own family (or your own wealth?)

Would highly recommend as an entertaining mystery read (the audiobook narrator was 10/10 as well).

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I went into this audiobook with zero expectations, but I was really blown away by how great it turned out to be. The drama, suspense, and tension had me hooked, and the unexpected twists and hidden secrets kept me on my toes. I was so into the story that I just couldn’t hit pause!

John Pirhalla's narration was a highlight for me; he truly brought the book to life. The story is told from a first-person perspective, and Pirhalla made the main character, Frank, feel incredibly authentic, which made the whole experience even more captivating. The audio quality was also impressive, which is always a nice bonus.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the chance to listen to this advanced reader copy.

Official release on October 8th, 2024!

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.