Frank is suprised when his daugher, Maggie, whom he hasn't spoken with in 3 years, calls him to invite him to her wadding to a renowed bilionnaire. Something feels off when he meets Maggie's fiancé, Aiden, but he decides to keep his concerns for himself, having faith in his daughter's good judgement. Maybe he shouldn't have...
This is a classic story about rich people behaving badly and getting away with it because they are rich... I didn't connect with any of the characters, who were all unlikeable. The story in itself was kind of boring, nothing much happened and I don't understand how there was supposed to be suspense. Safe to say this book wasn't for me, which is very disappointing because I loved Hidden Pictures (which I highly recommend). The narrator in the audio book did a great job though.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don't really have anything bad to say but I don't really have a lot to talk about with it either. 3 stars still good but I won't remember it.

The premise was great I just found the talking dragged on. And the sister peed me off making frank give up stuff for Abigail.. it was annoying and rude and it made me really not care for her charter at all.

Great book that kept me wondering! The ending gets a little long with not a lot of explanation, which is the only reason I took one star off. It is still well worth the read/listen. I really enjoy this narrator and have heard his work before.

After reading Hidden Pictures, I was SO EXCITED to score an ARC of The Last One at the Wedding, and it did not disappoint. I will preface this by saying Hidden Pictures and TLOATW are nothing alike, so keep that in mind.

I zoomed through this audiobook, because I just had to know what was going to happen next. Not everything was a complete surprise, but there were definitely twists and turns sprinkled throughout. I think parents specifically will enjoy this book as they will be able to relate to Frank & the way his love knows no bounds for his daughter.

This was a great thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The narrator was great! I listened at 2x and it was the perfect speed for me.

Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding is a captivating thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

After a three-year estrangement, Frank Szatowski receives a surprising invitation to his daughter Maggie's wedding in New Hampshire. As he navigates the estate and his unfamiliar surroundings, Frank soon realizes that something sinister lurks beneath the surface. The distant groom, the hostile locals, and the secrets of the Gardner family all contribute to a growing sense of unease.

The authors writing style is reminiscent of author Riley Sager, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that draws the reader in. The unique perspective of Frank, a UPS driver, adds a refreshing layer to the story. With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, The Last One at the Wedding is a must-read for fans of mystery and thriller fiction.

The narrator, John Pirhalla, expertly embodied the voice and persona of the Father.
Publication date is October 8, 2024

After reading Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak, I was eagerly anticipating his next novel! While not on the same level as his previous book, The Last One at the Wedding is still a page-turning story that I wanted to keep reading all night - I finished this book within 2 days because I needed to know how it ended!

Frank is a UPS driver and widower who has been estranged from his only daughter Maggie. When Maggie calls him out of the blue and asks him to attend her upcoming nuptials, Frank is more than happy to reconnect with his daughter. As Frank meets Maggie's fiancee and his family, he begins to feel there is something not quite right with the whole situation, though he cannot put his finger on it. When he receives a photo of the fiancee with a woman who is now missing, Frank finds there are too many red flags to ignore, and wants answers from his daughter. As more concerns come up, Frank starts to wonder if Maggie may be in danger...or if there is more to this marriage than Maggie is letting on.

The audiobook version of this book was fantastic - the narrator did a wonderful job of making the dialogue engaging throughout with so many characters. The pacing and quality was good, and I found it to be a pleasurable audiobook (sometimes I find thrillers are harder to listen to, but this one was fine!).

If you're looking for this book to be Hidden Pictures, this book is definitely not that. Instead, Rekulak gives us a family drama mystery full of twists and turns up until the ending, but I felt it was lacking in suspense, more of a slow burn. Not in a bad way, just different. Rekulak's writing made this story still be a book that I enjoyed listening to. My only other critique was, beyond Frank and Abigail, it was very hard to connect or even like any of the other characters, but that also may have been on purpose as Frank is attending a wedding in the corporate world where everyone seemed to have their own agenda.

I would definitely recommend fans of Rekulak read this book, and those who enjoy family mysteries will definitely also enjoy! For those who have read Hidden Pictures, just don't compare it to that one and you will be able to appreciate the story more!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this novel!

This one was weird... I really loved Hidden Pictures, so was excited to check out this latest book. I was denied for the ARC but approved for the audio version, and frankly wasn't sure how it would so since in Hidden Pictures there was such a significant visual component. That isn't present here at all, so the audio had no issues for me - and in fact I really enjoyed the narrator and he probably resulted in my liking the overall story more than I would have otherwise.

I was LOVING the story until the revelations started coming. The build up was intriguing and off-putting and I quite enjoyed the way things were playing out. The revelations got a little odd though and felt a bit incongruent with the previous chapters, and that's where I started losing my enthusiasm a bit.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all sorry I listened - and I'll definitely keep requesting and reading his books, as I do enjoy his style - but the resolution here wasn't at all what I expected based on the setup, and I was disappointed by that. It felt less original and more played out, like I'd been there before - which is not something I expected given the majority of the story to that point.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for allowing me access to this ALC.
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak will be released on October 8th. In this book, Frank Szatowski's attempt to reconnect with his daughter, Maggie, takes a strange turn when he discovers she's marrying into a wealthy, mysterious family. I think it's better to go in blind and not read the synopsis so I won't say much more than that. Read this if you like atmospheric mystery reads, wealthy/family drama and books where the house is smart/has an important place in the book.
Regarding the narrator, I honestly really loved his soft and deep voice, I manage to distinguish the male and female voices.

I loved Hidden Pictures and when I saw this was coming out, I hoped for another spooky mystery. But that's not what this is and that's not a bad thing at all. This isn't spooky or supernatural in any way, aside from a ton of spiders 😬.

The story is told by Frank, a naive middle class kinda guy, who's daughter reconnects after three years. Maggie's getting married and Frank couldn't be more excited! Until he meets the fiance and starts to question if the relationship is a good fit for his daughter. He decides to just roll with it, but not without a lot of questions as any good dad does, mostly after receiving an odd picture in the mail of the fiance and a missing woman. The soon to be in-laws are very wealthy and the wedding is going to take place at an old camp they've redone into a luxury home estate. Frank takes his sister and her new foster child and off they go for a long weekend of wedding fun. But as soon as he gets to the estate, Frank starts to notice things don't seem quite right and things are really odd when he asks about the missing woman in the photo. From there, the story is gets twisty and then twistier. What seems like the big reveal happens at about the 2/3 mark, and if you're like me, you'll wonder what more could happen in that last third. So so SOOO much happens! You think the mystery is about the missing woman...or maybe the oddly absent mother of the fiance...or even how Maggie always avoids any real quality time with her dad. It's all of those things and more! And at the end, it all comes together very well and everything makes sense. Except the spiders. Why there have to be so many spiders and specifically daddy long legs? Unless it's the literally "daddy" part of the name, which was completely lost on me until this moment. Either way, could've done without them past the first encounter.

This isn't a supernatural thriller like Hidden Pictures but it's a family drama mystery that's just as well written and will keep you turning pages all night. I listened to the audiobook version and felt like the narrator did a great job. Listening to this during the same week I was watching The Perfect Couple on Netflix was probably not a good idea. Two stories of weddings with sneaky families and mysterious happenings, it was hard to keep things straight and I ended up just binging though the book instead. I will say, I hated Frank at the beginning as the needling dad, he was so annoying, but then I realized that was part of what made him such a good person too. All the characters have their annoyances and some are just outright horrible people, but they're all well written and unique. I really can't wait to see what Rekulak does next.

***audiobook review***

3.5 stars out of 5

Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding offers a compelling premise: a father, estranged from his daughter for years, is unexpectedly invited to her wedding. The story unfolds as Frank navigates a strange family dynamic, filled with secrets and unspoken tensions. I would have liked to see more character development in some of the characters especially Frank's daughter Maggie.

The secrets of this family are slowly revealed throughout the book. While the revelations are intriguing, they feel somewhat predictable, leaving the reader wanting more.

Overall, The Last One at the Wedding is a solid listen. Fans of slow-burn mysteries may find it enjoyable, especially if they appreciate a well-narrated audiobook.

John Pirhalla does a great job in this single POV audiobook. He engages the listener and is able to effectively voice multiple characters and both genders. I highly recommend this book on audiobook.

What to expect:
*Family Secrets
*Wedding Drama
*Father/daughter relationships
*Single POV
*New Hampshire/lodge/fancy camp like setting

Trigger warnings: lice, spiders, suicide

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this audiobook. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

I really wanted to like this one, but the characters ruined it for me. They were truly unlikeable characters. The story did pick up towards the end but it wasn't enough to change my feeling of the read. I did like the narration of the book.

2⭐️

First the narrator of this book was fine and I would listen from them again.

This book though just was not good. I really liked Hidden Pictures and was excited to listen to this one, it was seriously such a giant disappointment. I don't mind books where all the characters are unlikeable, but they were just insufferable. Their actions never made sense even at the end of the book, it just came off ridiculous. However the 10 year old Abligal was fantastic.

Also nothing really happens in this book. The twists or reveals were predictable and I never felt any tension or high stakes. I was hoping maybe the ending would have saved this one but it felt rushed and didn't really address anything.

I'm glad I chose the audiobook as I would have likely dnf'd this one. I'm still also wondering if the author had a beef with Tom Hank's, as the direct reference was odd.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillon Audio for this advanced reader my copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

The Last One at the Wedding is a gripping narrative revolving around a father's desperate attempt to prevent his daughter from making a life-altering decision that jeopardizes everything he holds dear. This audiobook flowed seamlessly, boasting unexpected twists, a relatable protagonist, and exceptional narration. Following Hidden Pictures, I anticipated heightened suspense, yet overall, the novel delivered an engaging experience, captivating me sufficiently to finish it in a single sitting.

This audio book was good! I was entertained throughout despite hating 90% of the characters. The rich will forever get away with everything, and this book just reinforces this. I liked the narration of the male characters but the female voices were irritating.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jason Rekulak for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this audiobook! In fact, it saved me from a slump. This book focuses on Frank and his estranged daughter, Maggie. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Maggie, her upcoming wedding, and what caused their 3 years apart. I found myself rooting for Frank as a father. This narrator was perfect in the role of Frank, as well.

I started to guess the twist around the 50% mark, but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment or engagement at all. I really wanted to see how the story unfolded. This is very different from Jason Rekulak’s other novel, Hidden Pictures, so I advise readers to be aware of that going into it. I think that fans of his previous book will definitely find this to be riveting as long as they are aware of the genre shift.

Overall, I’m super excited to have gotten to read an ALC of this book, and I can’t wait to recommend it once it releases into the world!

I love when an author doesn’t keep writing the same type of book over and over and gives us something totally different! The Last One at the Wedding is completely different from Hidden Pictures. It is full of suspense and kept me hooked from beginning to end. I listened to the audiobook and feel like this narrator was the perfect choice! The way the story unfolded, giving small glimpses into each character at a time, letting us get to know them, their pasts, and their secrets slowly was also perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I was so excited to receive an advance copy of this audiobook and it did not disappoint. This book was very character-driven and the narration was excellent. Do not go into this thinking it's a thriller, it's not...it's more of a domestic/family drama and mystery-type genre. TW: homicide, suicide, phobias (spiders), mental illness. It takes at least half of it to really figure out what in the heck is going and then you're like, "Mr. Rekulak, you've done it again!" Each of these characters were very well-developed and book is told from the dad's POV throughout. A solid 4 star read (listen) for me and I highly recommend the audio. *I received an advanced complimentary copy from author/publishing company in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

I thought I'd get another thrilling story like Hidden Pictures, but this one turned out to be more of a mystery/suspense vibe. It felt a bit slow-paced for my taste. The dynamic between Frank and his daughter intrigued me, although Frank's repetitive expressions of his feelings became a tad monotonous. I was hoping for some unexpected twists and a real shocker, but sadly, that didn't happen. As for the ending, I'm still figuring out how I feel about it.

I must say, the narrator really nailed it! His voice matched the character perfectly, which added to the overall experience.

*The Last One at the Wedding* by Jason Rekulak is a compelling, fast-paced read that kept me hooked until the last page. While it doesn't have the supernatural or ghostly elements found in his previous book *Hidden Pictures*, Rekulak still delivers an engaging mystery with plenty of twists.

Early on, through well-placed clues, I was able to figure out the big twist before it hit, which took a bit of the shock away, but it didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment. There were other unexpected twists that sucked me back in, making it impossible to put down.

If you enjoyed *Hidden Pictures* for its suspense and masterful storytelling, this one will still satisfy you, even though the tone is slightly different. Rekulak’s ability to build tension and develop complex characters shines here, making it a highly enjoyable read.

Frank is overjoyed when his estranged daughter Maggie invites him to her wedding, but feelings of unease quickly temper the joy. Maggie is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a reclusive tech billionaire, and his sense of being out of place as a package delivery driver only deepens. Frank struggles to reconnect with Maggie, who seems distant. Frank is concerned by Aidan and his family's mysterious behavior and the chilly reception from the local community. He walks a fine line between protecting his daughter and risking their fragile reconciliation and this internal conflict.

The story explores the darker side of wealth and privilege and the cost of parental protection. The sense of physical and emotional isolation creates an atmosphere of foreboding. Every interaction leaves Frank questioning the true motives of those around him. These elements create a slow-burning tension that drives the plot. The suspense is tense as Frank wrestles with his past mistakes and his present fears for Maggie's future. The author has created characters you will love to hate and some you will absolutely cherish. The plot and narrative kept me hooked until the final page.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio.