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.

Frank Szatowski hasn’t heard from his estranged daughter, Maggie, in 3 years. So he is shocked when he gets a call from her announcing her wedding. Frank finds out that his daughter is marring Aidan Gardner, son of a famous tech billionaire, at a secluded, private luxury estate. But strange things are happening leading up to the wedding that leaves Frank with more questions than answers…

The Last One at the Wedding is a psychological thriller about a father just trying to save his daughter. The story is written from the father’s POV and is full of unlikeable characters. Even Frank was frustrating and grumpy at times even though you could sympathize with his situation. The narration by John Pirhalla was fantastic and kept you engaged. I guessed parts of what was going on early in the book but there was still a lot to be revealed. The ending was somewhat unresolved which I never really love in a book, but overall, I enjoyed it. I finished the audiobook in 48 hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio the opportunity to read this ALC copy of The Last One at the Wedding in exchange for my honest review.

The Last One at the Wedding is a fast-paced thriller filled with unlikeable characters, except for UPS driver Frank, his sister Tammy, and her foster child Abigail. Frank, who has been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years, is invited to her New Hampshire wedding. As things unfold, Frank starts to feel something is wrong with her fiancée and his family. He tries to repair his relationship with Maggie, but things don't go as planned. The book is filled with a remote wedding, strangers, and a man who wants to spend time with his daughter. The book is a thrilling read that will keep you hooked, with an advanced copy provided by Little, Brown Group UK. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I could tell from the very beginning who the antagonist was going to be. There were a few twists that I didn't pick up on early on though. I liked it very much. Thank you netgalley for the ALC.

I got confused with this book. It had a great start but I was so confused. The narrator’s voice did not allow me to get wrapped in this audiobook. I’m sure others will enjoy the storyline.

After reading the horror novel Hidden Pictures by Rekulak I had high expectations into this thriller. It's definitely a slow burn and yet a lot happens but the characters definitelly have distinct personalities and as the story progressed I didn't have any idea where it was going. I did enjoy that part but stories surrounding wealthy people (especially when not a lot of them live in the end) are not my favorite. It's nothing like Hidden Pictures and as long as you go in expecting a more traditional suspense/thriller you will have fun along the ride.

Until about 60% of the way into this book I was annoyed. It was so slow with fake “jump scares” aka pretend issues that had nothing to do with the story. At 60% when it finally picked up it was still somewhat anti-climatic. And then the ending?? I still need someone to explain that to me. Not my favorite.

I was expecting another thriller like Hidden Pictures. This was more like a mystery/Suspense. It was a bit slow for me. The relationship between Frank and his daughter was very interesting. It got a bit repetitive when he expressed how he was feeling about it. I was expecting twists and turns and a shock factor but unfortunately I didn't get that. And I'm not sure how I feel about that ending.
The narrator did a good job. I felt like his voice matched the character.