I’ve been on an audiobook kick lately so I’ll start by giving credit where it’s due. The narrator matched the energy of the character he was given and I think there’s both good and bad in that. It was probably one of the more bland audios I’ve ever listened to but that being said, our main character is just that. He’s a very typical, middle class, working guy with very average thoughts and opinions. The audio delivered what it was given.

As for the content itself, when compared to the author’s previous work, it pales in comparison. Extremely. Knowing what we can receive, this feels rushed and the nuance is just not there. I can almost guarantee what you think is going to happen is exactly what happens. The bad people are bad. Shocking. I just don’t understand what this was trying to accomplish. There was nothing thrilling or mysterious about it. Let’s hope the next one finds its footing a bit better.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed the story thought not as much as his last book. The audiobook did help me get more interested in the story. Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

I would definitely purchase this title, but I would not reccommend it based on his other works which are much stronger. The twist at the end was not a great pay off for the lack luster storyline throughout the book. It just wasn't it for me.

Look, this book is a good time, for real, no complaints. I'm not making a joke. That said, I'm going to forget every single thing about this book within five days.

It’s official. Jason Rekulak has made the list! My favorite thriller authors list, that is. I was a big fan of his last one, HIDDEN PICTURES and he blew me away with his latest, THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING. The audio version of this novel was phenomenal, my friends. The narrator, John Pirhalla absolutely nailed it. He made it so easy to listen to. The story flowed so well, and I didn’t lose focus once. (This is BIG for me as I’m easily distracted.) At first, I was giving all of the credit to John, but then I paused and reminded myself that Jason was the one who actually wrote the story! Ha! He deserves the majority of the credit for his impressive writing skills. Frank Szatowski, the main character is a stand-up guy that you just want on your side. You know the type—a “do the right thing” kind of character. He’s a good dad that’s just suspicious of the man who his daughter is about to marry. Something feels off and he’s just following his gut, trying to get to the bottom of things. The twists and turns were marvelous, truly surprising, and very entertaining. I especially loved the father/daughter relationship present in the novel—you know how much I love my family dramas! If you like your thrillers slow-burning and family-focused, then I think you’ll dig Rekulak’s latest. There’s a lot of mixed reviews out there for this one, but I absolutely loved it. The narration is what really sealed the deal for me. I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook of THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING. 5/5 stars!

An estranged father-daughter domestic thriller that has them reconciling for the upcoming wedding. I didn't love the daughter in this story, she was selfish and a liar and I felt really bad for her dad. Not quite as creepy or jaw-dropping as the author's debut, Hidden Pictures, but still a solid thriller but full of a lot of unlikeable characters and some decent twists. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this book on audio! I don’t often read thrillers with adult male main characters as the sole narrator, so this one will stand out in my mind for a while.

Oh what a nice story this is going to be, after not speaking to Maggie for three years, Frank gets a call from his daughter. She is getting married and wants her dad to be at her wedding. Well, as you can imagine, things don't go as planned, especially when a body washes up on the shore. The author has a way of grabbing your attention and pulling you in. The suspense builds as the chapters continue and the audiobook narration is well done.

When Frank receives a call from his estranged daughter Maggie he is delighted. not only has she finally reached out but she calls to invite him to her wedding! Understandably Frank is delighted and cannot wait to make things right with Maggie. He has had some misgivings about how he handled their conflict in the past and wants to clear the air. It turns out that Maggie is marrying the son of a very famous and wealthy tech CEO, The wedding is taking place at his secluded New Hampshire estate. Upon Franks arrival he is immediately put on notice as some of the locals have some unkind things to say about the Gardner family. Frank wants to make sure that Maggie isn’t making a mistake but he also doesn’t want to overstep and lose having a relationship with his daughter again. As Frank gets to know the family and do a little research he is left making choices that could not only impact their tenuous relationship but their lives.

This was an unexpected, twisty thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Frank’s situation was very relatable and I was hooked right from the beginning and it never slowed down. This is definitely a thriller not a horror title like his previous work but it delivered a solid story with some creepy elements and visuals that made my skin crawl. This was a great read and I cannot wait to see what is next by this talented author.

The audiobook was narrated very well and added to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the way this was written, how the story was told to bring the reader in like they were almost being told something from the past but still felt like it was happening now. The ending was satisfying and I didn’t see all the twists coming that’s for sure.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.

Welp, this has firmly put Rekulak on my auto read list. I loved Hidden Pictures and while The Last One at the Wedding is nothing like that, it shows his versatility as I thought this was equally as good, but very different and in a good way. Frank and Maggie are an estranged father and daughter, until she calls him for the first time in 3 years to let him know she’s getting married and she wants him to come. He is right to be skeptical, because when he arrives to the destination, the fiancé’s family’s luxurious, secluded private estate, he realizes Maggie neglected the minor detail of who the family is, as they are kind of a big deal. And y’all, the secrets just keep coming from there. Frank knows there is more going on than Maggie is letting on, and trust that he will get to the bottom of it for sure. But at what price?

The twists, my goodness the twists! I was shocked at a couple of them for sure, as in had to rewind the audio (which was amazing FYI) to make sure I heard correctly. And I sure do love when that happens! I definitely listened to this in one sitting, I could not get enough. These people were wild, would do anything to keep their pasts in the past, and I loved that Frank was like nope, I will find it all out. This was a crazy, intense, and entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot wait to see what Rekulak writes next!

This book was a nice thought out slow burn thriller. Jam packed with family drama, estranged daughter/father relationship. Franks daughter hasn’t spoke to him in a few years and then suddenly calls him to invite him to her wedding, last minute. Frank comes to find out that his daughter is marrying a tech multimillionaires son. All the secrets that follow had me hooked, wanting to know more and more. 3-3.5 stars.

This author definitely has a knack for writing original and twisty plots. I really enjoyed this audiobook about Frank, a fifty-something year old UPS employee with a perfect record and his struggles with his twenty something year old daughter, Maggie. When Maggie calls him after three years of estrangement to tell him she's getting married, he's thrilled to hear from her. But the mysteries start after that and Frank won't know who or what to believe and before it's all said and done, he may not even trust himself to judge right from wrong anymore

This was a well planned and clever storyline with imagination and detail. The characters were so vividly described that they practically jumped from the page (or the audio in my case). The scenery for the book was also described in a way that I felt I could truly envision it. All the while, I didn't feel like the author was too detail oriented - - it felt like just the right amount.

If you enjoy some family drama blended with mysterious happenings, you'll enjoy this one. I also suggest listening to the audiobook if you enjoy them. The narration was spot on and made the story even more fun.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early listening copy.

What an engaging story! The narrator was excellent and had just the right edge in his delivery which enhanced the tense plot.
When Frank receives a long-awaited phone call from his estranged daughter, the story begins. When his daughter invites him to her wedding, the plot thickens. Obviously, the plot continues to thicken and then thickens some more.
What a ride! The writing is tense, and I could imagine each of the main characters through the author's vivid descriptions. What was especially interesting to me was how the players didn't quite turn out as expected. A suspenseful read!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook.

Frank Szatowski and his daughter Maggie are estranged. When she calls him to invite him for a wedding and to meet her fiance, Frank is surprised and sees this as an opportunity to fix things with Maggie. Frank expects to find a financially struggling fiance but is shocked that Aidan is the son of a tech billionaire and the wedding will be at their secluded, luxurious estate. Frank goes with his sister and her foster child for the wedding and everything is beyond magnificent and grandiose at the wedding. But there are so many things that are off and not normal.

This is an edge of the seat thriller that really goes deep into familial bond and relationships. Everything is messy and yet it was amazing to see a character like Frank who is righteous yet conflicted. The parenting struggles and relationships with adult children were so well written! There were some loopholes in the plots that wrapped up things a little conveniently, but these are minor flaws and overall this is one solid thriller that is binge worthy. Hidden Pictures was on my TBR for ages! I picked it up immediately after after finished this book. Review coming soon!

I’m not sure what I expected going into this book exactly, but it wasn’t quite it. I’ve read Hidden Pictures, and had so much fun with that book. This one doesn’t have the paranormal aspect, but has a similar sinister suspense to it. I’d think, though, with a title of The Last One at the 𝘞𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, it would focus more on an actual wedding and what happens at it. Maybe if I knew it was going to focus more on the family the MC’s daughter is marrying into, I wouldn’t have conflicting feelings about it?

I did really like the suspense buildup. And just wondering what the heck was going on with the Gardner’s. Overall I really enjoyed listening to the book still; it was just after when I realized there were some things that kind of bugged me. I keep going back and forth, so my rating might change day-to-day. I would probably still suggest this to others if suspense and family drama is their thing.

Also, if you have read this, I’d love to complain about the MC’s sister to you. I was SO annoyed with her during the entire book! Even though she’s a good person, she needs to work on her boundaries, lol.

𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: I wasn’t a big fan of this narrator. I particularly hated when he did women’s voices. But, he does do a good job of playing a loving father. He also narrated part of If Something Happens to Me, so I was familiar with him and his high pitched woman’s voice. I was just very interested in this book, so I put up with it.

Hmm, this was quite different from the other novel I read, Hidden Pictures, by Rekulak. I respect that it didn’t follow any of the same storylines but I also did not like this one nearly as much. I actually thought it started really strong but by the end it felt like it was dragging and could’ve been a bit more concise in how it was all wrapped up. Onpoint reflection I think going into this expecting a suspense drama rather than a mystery thriller will serve the reader better.

3.5/5⭐️

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc via Netgalley. The audio was very well done.

I decided I would pick this up because I really enjoyed Hidden Pictures and have seen so many positive things about the author.

Please do not go into this book thinking its going to be close to Hidden Pictures because its not!

First lets talk about the narrator, lets talk about amazing!! John Pirhalla made the book come alive. He made me love Frank so much! He was my favorite character by the end. I really enjoyed the characters and the story. I was SHOCKED!

I LOVED this book and the narrator, I think i may like it better than his other book.

3 to 3.5 stars

This book has a very overall interesting plot, but it wasn’t really a thriller. Yes it has some thriller like aspects, but it is more of a whodunnit with a slight twist. Then the book takes a different turn and kind of becomes a different book. Overall I enjoyed it, but it gets very bogged down in several parts. Then the ending just made me go huh?, but not in a wow that was so shocking.

The characters in this book are very unlikeable. The MC Frank had moments that I found redeeming, but he was kind of frustrating since I understand him wanting to protect his daughter, however, he is part of the reason she is the way she is. Then the character Abigail added some great levity to the book.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

At first, I hesitated about diving into "The Last One at the Wedding," especially since Hidden Pictures had thoroughly engrossed me. I wondered if it could live up to my expectations. However, my doubts faded quickly as I immersed myself in Jason Rekulak's masterful storytelling.

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping narrative. The plot takes you on a thrilling rollercoaster ride filled with many emotions and heart-pounding suspense that leaves you breathless, constantly guessing what will happen next.

Whether you purchase a copy or borrow it from a friend or library, you're guaranteed an exhilarating experience that will stay long after you turn the last page. I opted for the audio version, and I must say, the narration added an extra layer of depth to the already powerful story—truly a profoundly moving experience!

Frank Szatowski has a daughter named Maggie, and his love for her knows no bounds. Their relationship had been strained for the past couple of years, making it all the more surprising and joyous when she called him out of the blue. Maggie is set to marry Aiden Gardner, a man from a prestigious and influential family, and she wants her father to be a part of her special day. The wedding is expected to be an extravagant affair everyone calls the wedding of the century.

Filled with excitement and trepidation, Frank attends the wedding, bringing along his sister and her foster child to enjoy the festivities. Upon arriving, they are overwhelmed by the opulence and grandeur of the event. The venue is stunning, and the preparations are breathtaking, with elaborate decorations and exquisite catering that cater to every whim.

However, as Frank immerses himself in this world of wealth and privilege, he begins to feel a nagging sense of unease about the Gardner family. His concern escalates dramatically when a shocking tragedy occurs: a close friend of the Gardners is discovered dead in the lake just days before the wedding. The circumstances surrounding her death are mysterious, casting a shadow over the entire celebration.

As Frank delves deeper into the Gardners' secrets, he uncovers a web of hidden tensions and unsettling truths that threaten to unravel everything he thought he understood about his daughter's fiancé and his family. With the wedding approaching, Frank grapples with a growing sense of urgency. He wonders if he has the power to protect Maggie from what may be a dangerous situation. He also questions whether Maggie is still the same young woman he had raised. Does she even want his help, or has she become someone entirely different, shaped by her association with the Gardners? As the wedding day looms, Frank must confront these difficult questions and decide how far he will go to save his daughter.

I was utterly engrossed in the book, unable to tear myself away until I listened to the last page. The depth of the characters is astounding; they are layered and complex, and just when I thought I had them figured out, they surprised me in ways I never expected. The plot keeps you on your toes, packed with unexpected twists and dramatic turns that make your heart race. I keep wondering how many more lives will be lost before that fateful wedding day arrives. This book has undoubtedly earned a solid five-star rating, and I can hardly wait for Jason's next masterpiece to hit the shelves. He has swiftly climbed the ranks to become one of my favorite authors, and his storytelling never fails to captivate me!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book.