I adored Hidden Pictures, so I couldn’t wait to read this new Jason Rekulak title.

I binged the audiobook in one evening–it’s a very fast read, and I was dying to know how it would turn out. I loved the setting: it takes place at a wedding (obviously) at a rich family’s summer “camp” up in New Hampshire. Our main character Frank is totally out of place in his daughter’s fancy new world.

If you loved Hidden Pictures for the character relationships, you’ll like TLOATW for the same reason. Frank’s sister has brought along Abigail, a last-minute foster placement. Frank is wary of Abigail embarrassing him at first, but they eventually bond. I really loved the way there relationship played out.

While I really enjoyed this story, the ending did leave me with a lot of questions. If you’ve read it, expand the spoiler dropdown above to see my thoughts on the ending.

I really enjoyed this one! It was very different from Hidden Pictures but it kept me guessing until the end. Great narrator too!

This one was intense! Rekulak tells one heck of a story and I loved that it was from one POV - I really felt like I knew Frank. It was a slow burn that kept me guessing with great characters and some wild twists that actually made me take the long way home so I could keep listening. The narration was also terrific.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the copy to review.

I was a big fan of Jason Rekulak's previous two books and was very excited to listen to this one. I enjoyed it, it kept my interest and I really like his writing.

After being estranged from his daughter for several years, Frank is surprised when she calls him to invite him to her wedding.

This is a slow-burn thriller and I liked the reveals despite it not being fast-paced. I really liked Frank and wanted him and Maggie to mend their relationship.

The narrator of the audiobook was excellent and I recommend this format for anyone interested in this book. I will be excited to see what Jason Rekulak writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this story! It is nothing like Hidden Pictures so don't expect a repeat paranormal book. Jason writes a fast paced family drama with plenty of suspense. The book is written from the father's perspective. Not too many twists but definitely an AHA moment that takes the story in a different direction that I wasn't expecting.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator!

I loved Hidden Pictures and was very excited for this one, and it did not disappoint!

The audio was well done. John Pirhalla did an excellent job capturing the emotion and in keeping me engaged.

This story is told from Frank's POV, who was the father of the bride. You felt his struggle as he tries to form a bond with his estranged daughter as she embarks on her new life. That new life is with a family much different from theirs. They were so many twists mixed into the family drama that I could not stop once I started.

Definitely anxiously awaiting more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I read Hidden Pictures and really enjoyed it! When I heard that Jason Rekulak was putting out another one, I could not wait to read it! I listened to the audio book and really enjoyed,John Pirhalla, as the narrator. He did a great job and kept me hooked!
The Last One at the Wedding was slow for me, but definitely kept me interested. I was expecting bigger twists and turns in this one, but did not get that, just little ones here and there. The ending was a little confusing, and I hope there is a second book that clears everything up, because I want more!
I enjoyed the characters, even though there is a lot, I did not find it hard to keep up with them.
Overall, this is a well developed story that I think a lot of readers will still enjoy. If you like a story with secrets, family drama, tension,and suspense then this book is just for you!
Thank you Macmillan Audio, Jason Rekulak, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book.

This book was so different from Hidden Pictures, but in a good way. I really liked the narrator in this audiobook, the whole time I was getting midwestern dad vibes. Great twist as I was expecting.

A wonderfully written story that had me hooked from the beginning! There's nothing like the love between a father and a daughter. So when Frank gets the chance to repair his relationship with his daughter, Maggie by being a part of her wedding he jumps at the chance. Maggie has made quite a life for herself and is not in the same social class as her father which leads to Frank being a fish out of water in the ritzy world of Maggies new in laws. Frank is happy for his daughter but his fatherly protection radar is going off and he can't ignore it. As the wedding draws nearer can Frank embrace Maggie's new life or are things a little too far off? A great mystery thriller wrapped up in social commentary this was a five star read for me!

Frank has not heard from his daughter, Maggie, in quite a long time. They did not separate on good terms. So, when she calls him out of the blue, he is ecstatic. Maggie tells him she is getting married and invites him to the wedding. But there are quite a few things that Maggie has left out.

The more you read in this book, the more twisted it becomes. And I do not want to give anything away, so I am going to be careful. Just know, you will enjoy this book and you will gasp in places and want to beat someone up in others.

I have never read this author but I am going to have to check out his other books. This one is a bit wicked and insane…or rather one person is!

The narrator, John Pirhalla, is one of the best! He has such a deep voice and is excellent as Frank.

Need a twisty tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers at Flatiron Books through Macmillan Audio for providing this digital audio ARC in return for a honest review.

An estranged father receives an unexpected call from his daughter, who he has not spoken to in more than three years, with a jarring announcement - she’s getting married, and he’s invited. Dad is put off by a short engagement and wary of the artist fiancé, until he realizes they live in a penthouse. The majority of the book takes place during the wedding weekend at an elaborate lakeside camp, fitted with a grand piano out on the sand and all-you-can-eat catered delicacies.

The conclusion of this book was really unsurprising. The machinations of certain characters are glaringly obvious if you’re paying attention.

I have been DEVOURING thrillers this year and especially enjoy them as audiobooks where I can immerse myself while driving, doing chores, etc. Having listened to so many, comparison comes about pretty naturally. This thriller didn’t pack a punch for me and I do credit that to my general dislike of the characters and the lack of twists, as well as pacing and storyline.

I do plan to listen to Hidden Pictures, another popular book from this author - because sometimes one book does not reflect the majority of their produced works.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jason Rekulak and Macmillan audio for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This audio wasn’t my favourite but I dealt with it because the story had me immersed right away. I loved the twists and the flawed characters in such an interesting setting. I definitely would recommend!

This was very different vibes than Hidden Pictures. I enjoyed it, and really liked the setting. The build up was good, but then I felt like the end was a let down. I actually thought I had missed a chapter because it kind of just ended? There was a lot more that could have been explained. It felt like the author kind of gave up at the end and took the easy way out of actually explaining the “catch” and not just skipping right to the “after”.

3.5 stars.

This was a fun read and a well narrated audiobook. It had some topics that did not work for me, but I think it will be widely enjoyable.

Loved this book! I listened to the audio version and it was well paced and easy to follow. The storyline was well thought out and I found myself reaching for this book consistently. It provided just enough mystery and intrigue without being predictable or too far fetched. Definitely a top read for the year.

Unfortunately this audiobook was archived before I was able to listen to this book. I had assumed that since it was in my NetGalley app that I would have access to it until I was able to listen to it. I guess I was wrong.

Thanks for the chance although I didn’t get to it.
Giving it 3 stars which I’m assuming I would have given it. I’ll change it if I get the chance to read it at a later date and think it deserves more.

The Last One at the Wedding is the latest from Jason Rekulak, author of the well-received 2022-release, Hidden Pictures. I really enjoyed the overall vibes of Hidden Pictures and was excited to see what Rekulak would deliver with this next release. I never even read the full synopsis, TBH, the author's name alone was enough to sell it to me.

In this story we follow Frank Szatowski, a veteran UPS-driver from rural Pennsylvania. Frank is a widower who lives alone. Sadly, he's been estranged from his daughter, Maggie, for the past three years. Maggie left her hometown for college and never returned. She's always been very driven and now has a successful career in tech and lives in Boston.

Frank is shocked when he receives a call from Maggie out of the blue, not just because of the fact that she's calling, but because of her news. She's getting married and she wants Frank to be there. Determined to make things right with his only child, Frank readily agrees. He's excited to meet his future son-in-law, Aidan Gardner, and get to know his family. Who is this man who seems to have swept his daughter off her feet?

The weekend-long event is set to take place at a lakeside estate in New Hampshire, owned by the Gardners. As it turns out, Aidan's father is a titan in the tech industry and the family is ridiculously wealthy. Even though that level of wealth tends to make Frank uncomfortable, he's willing to do whatever it takes to reconnect with Maggie. Thus, he makes the long road trip, along with his sister, Tammy, and her foster child, Abigail, with nothing but the best intentions.

Arriving in New Hampshire, Frank has a couple of interactions with some locals that leave him unsettled. They seem downright hostile towards the Gardners, and rumors swirling around Aidan seem to be at the heart of it. The property is a virtual fortress, complete with intimidating security personnel. Frank tries to relax and just be there for Maggie, but it's not going well. She seems too busy for him. In fact, his presence seems perfunctory. Frank tries not to let it all affect him, but he is highly suspicious of the Gardner family, and seems to get more suspicious with every forced interaction. What exactly is going on here, and is Maggie in over her head?

It was so easy to get engrossed in this story. I loved Frank from the start and hearing everything from his perspective. I listened to the audiobook and the narration by John Pirhalla truly brought Frank to life.

It's unclear in the beginning what has gone on in the past between Frank and Maggie; you know of their estrangement, but not how it ended up at that point. I liked the way the author chose to play out that part of the narrative. There's also so much mystery surrounding the Gardner family and the depth of Maggie's involvement in the family affairs. It felt dangerous, even without openly knowing why.

The mystery with the locals was really where my brain started to stand at full attention. There's a missing local girl, who was allegedly dating Aidan, though he denies it. Frank has communications with them that lead him to believe they're telling the truth, but everyone in the Gardner family denies involvement of any kind. Scared for his daughter's safety, Frank can't let it go and continues to dig.

There are some crazy reveals. I loved getting caught up in the suspense. There are some characters that are a lot of fun to hate as well. Rekulak created some strong villains here!

I had such a great time going on this journey with Frank. This is a completely different feel to Hidden Pictures, but I actually enjoyed this one even more. I loved the character work, the setting and the non-stop level of intrigue. While subtle at times, and a bit of a slower burn, I think this is a very well developed story that a lot of Readers will enjoy. I definitely recommend the audiobook as well. It was very well done.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I've had a great relationship with Rekulak so far, and I cannot wait for more!!

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his estranged daughter Maggie calls him and invites him to her upcoming New Hampshire wedding. As Frank struggles to reconnect with Maggie and make sense of this new direction her life has taken, he also begins to worry something is not quite right with the groom and his very affluent family.

This struck me as a unique thriller for a few reasons. First, the story is told from a single POV, and a middle-aged father at that, which isn’t common in thrillers these days. I think that helped to flush out the characters, and create a strong emotional father/daughter element to the story, yet another rarity in thrillers these days. And lastly, at times, this felt like a genre mashup - thriller meets cozy mystery - a fusion I would love to see more of. This kept the book feeling fresh and original, while also having some of the domestic suspense elements we all love.

🎧 I read this one predominantly with my ears. While the audio is good overall, and while the narrator did a solid job at voicing Frank, there was something that didn’t quite work for me, however I cannot put my finger on it. I wonder if the mood and tone of the story didn’t necessarily match the tone of the narrator which threw me off. Unclear. But given that there is only one narrator, it did impact my experience and I found myself then turning to the book to eyeball read instead.

An important point to note about this book is that it is quite different than Rekulak’s last novel, Hidden Pictures. Having loved the elements of horror and downright creepy vibes of that one, I think a lot of us went into TLOATW expecting something in the same vein. And this can ultimately do a major disservice to the story itself. Please go in, if you can, knowing this book is wholly unique, and I feel confident you will come away enjoying it that much more.

Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️focus on the father/daughter relationship
▪️strong character development
▪️wedding backdrop
▪️slow burn
▪️single POV

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.

Meh. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't good. I absolutely hated Jason Rekulak's Hidden Pictures, but I figured I'd give him another shot with this book. This will be the last book of his that I try out.

A slow burn domestic suspense. With great main character development and an interesting/entertaining story. The plot was well executed and delivered. Personally, it was quite enjoyable. A great audiobook experience.