I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I was not a fan of Rekulak's Hidden Pictures, but I did receive both the ALC and a physical arc so I wanted to definitely give this one a try and I'm really glad that I did

Edge of my seat thrilling! Twists at every turn. Absolutely thrilling and I expected nothing less from this author.

📚 Review: The Last One At The Wedding 💒
I was so looking forward to this one! I loved Hidden Pictures and I couldn’t wait to read this book. I saw it on @netgalley as an audiobook so I decided to request it. Right from the beginning, I loved the narrator, John Pirhalla. I thought he did a great job. 👏🏻 But I could tell early on that this was going to be a slow burn and it was definitely not going to be like Hidden Pictures at all. Totally different vibe. And that was okay. (At first) I was thinking something suspenseful and thrilling was bound to happen sooner or later. But it never really did. For me, this was a slow burn, mystery at best. The character Maggie, the daughter, I found to be so annoying. I didn’t like her at all.
In case you are unfamiliar, it’s a book about a man Frank, who just got invited by his estranged daughter, Maggie, to her wedding. They hadn’t spoken for three years and now she was getting married. So Frank was hoping this would rekindle their relationship, but when he got there, Maggie was never around, and neither was Aidan, her husband to be. So, Frank was left on his own to get to know Aidan’s family. There were some things that unraveled, secrets that were revealed, but it just wasn’t that thrilling to me. Again, another book that I’ve read recently that I had such a different idea of what it was going to be like. Based on how scary and creepy Hidden Pictures was, I was thinking this was going to be along the same lines. Or rather I was hoping it would be. Either way, I was a bit disappointed in it. It was an okay story with an okay ending. It’s not that I didn’t like it. I just feel like not much happened for most of the book and the ending was a little lackluster. I was glad that I listened to this and didn’t read it. I think the audiobook bumped it up a half point for me. But, also don’t go by my review. I’ve seen reviews of people who loved this book. And so if this is on your tbr, give it try you may love it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But this was ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars for me.
I want to thank @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read this one yet? What were your thoughts?

I kept waiting for the dark twist and *gasp* moment that I felt like should’ve been coming in this book, but in the end that’s all there was - waiting. Frank was too chatty, too overlooking of the flaws of others, and Maggie had no redeeming qualities that even remotely justified her father’s actions, particularly in that ending - what even was that? I can see where the author was trying to go with this one, but it came up short for me. Narrator was great though. Three ⭐️.

The book opens with a single phone call. Frank hasn’t heard from his daughter Maggie in over 3 years and is elated when she calls to tell him she is getting married and invites him to the wedding. But who is this family that she is marrying into? As the wedding weekend progresses, Frank slowly starts to uncover things about the family but should he tell Maggie and if he does, will he lose her again?

This would definitely be classified as a messy family drama. Told from Frank’s POV, we start to get a picture of the dynamic between Frank and his daughter and the love that a father has for his daughter. You can feel his pain in not speaking for 3 years and wanting to do whatever he can to make things right. As the story goes along we start to peel back the layers of the family that Maggie is marrying into and the tension and secrets between the two families was fun to see play out. The drama kept me guessing and entertained and I liked how it built up the suspense without ever feeling over the top. This book is very different from Hidden Pictures, but still has that mystery we have come to expect.

After being severely creeped out by Hidden Pictures, I was thoroughly expecting to be set pooled by this book. Or at least at the edge of my seat? But I was definitely not. It was a letdown for me. I kept waiting for thrills that never came. It could just be because I had expectations? I didn’t really enjoy the characters, I was bored a lot, and the ending was very lackluster. Whomp whomp.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

I discovered Jason Rekulak with Hidden Pictures in 2022 and loved it, so I was eager to read his newest novel, The Last One at the Wedding. You can not go in expecting another Hidden Pictures, the books are extremely different from each other. First, there are no pictures in Wedding, and it’s more of a family drama with suspense added in. For some readers it could be considered a slow burner but I really enjoyed it. It helped that I really liked Frank and he really pulled me into his story and the mystery of just what is going to happen.

I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed John Pirhalla’s narration. His voice was perfect for Frank! I will definitely be on the lookout for more if his narrations.

After enjoying both Hidden Pictures and now Last One at the Wedding I am very interested in reading his debut novel The Impossible Fortress which is yet another different genre!

Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Audio for granting me a copy to listen to and review. I enjoyed it!

So very glad I read this book. Nice amount of mystery leaving it open for guesses of who and what is going on. Had a few thoughts of who was the villain. And pleased that I was wrong. Very nicely written and loved the audiobook narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy.

How many chances does one person get? This is the question that Frank asks himself over and over, hoping that he will get another chance with his daughter, Maggie. After years of a fractured relationship, Maggie offers an opportunity to reconnect—her wedding day! Trying to take advantage of the opportunity, Frank tries to ignore the red flags—the fiancé who doesn’t want to meet him, the girl who went missing connected to him, and the way that wealth seems to come with secrets in his family, not to mention their super quick relationship and the fact that Maggie is his alibi for a crime he claims he didn’t commit. Will Frank keep to his own business or will he inevitably interfere to help make sure Maggie doesn’t make her biggest mistake yet?

One thing I love about this book is how the characters are developed. Wow. It brings unreliable narrator a new spin, but I won’t spoil how! I love the way the details unfold, dropping clues about the people for the reader to sleuth out. It felt like the book could have ended an hour and a half earlier, but it’s completed to bring about a satisfying arc for the characters. While not necessary, it wasn’t a bad way to end the book. Its plot had loop after loop and just when I thought I had it all figured out, more was thrown out there. I enjoyed chasing the story to its conclusion, finding out not just what happened previously, but how it would unfold for everyone. Overall, loved the characters and really enjoyed the storyline, particularly as an audiobook!

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the audio arc

This was not what I expected. I was bored and if it wasn’t for the audio I wouldn’t have finished this one. The mmc was nice and his story with his daughter was weird and it was interesting to see whats going on in their lives but it didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat which is what I expected so that ones on me.
There were a few crazy things that happened but I just wish there would’ve been a bit more twists and general suspense throughout the whole story.
I‘m glad I didn‘t read his other book before this one, cause I heard its completely different and I‘m excited to get to that one soon and see how it compares!

Frank is a widowed father in his early fifties. His adult daughter, Maggie, calls him after three years of estrangement due to a bitter falling out to invite Frank to her wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is over the moon to hear his only child’s voice, but has reservations about her fiancé, Aiden. For starters, Maggie and Aiden have only known each other for six months and plan to wed in three months. Aiden, who is the son of a tech billionaire, is unusually distant when he meets Frank. Before Frank leaves for the wedding, he receives a disturbing picture of Aiden in the mail from an anonymous person. Furthermore, when Frank arrives for the wedding, he discovers Aiden’s family is widely loathed in the community. Frank desperately wants to get to the bottom of everything going on, but if he pushes too hard, he risks losing his daughter again.

I’m on the fence about how to review this domestic thriller that read more like a family drama. This is definitely a slow burn mystery that had me conjuring up possibilities that were much more intense than what was delivered. However, John Pirhalla’s narration helped keep me engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this arc.

The Last One at the Wedding is easily one of the best books of the year. The character and plot development are unmatched, leaving readers in suspense. I haven’t been this obsessed with book characters in years. Jason Rekulak has a way of getting you invested in characters very early on. So many twists and turns I got whiplash. I was desperate to figure out the ending, but Rekulak kept me guessing the entire time. I will definitely be thinking about this one for a long time. This is not your typical thriller or mystery.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Jason Rekulak for writing one of the best books I have read in ages.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was eager to dive into The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak, especially since I missed out on Hidden Pictures. I approached this book with high expectations, and I have to say, the audiobook format really enhanced my experience. The narrator brought Frank to life in such a captivating way that I found it easy to stay engaged with the storyline.

From the very beginning, I was questioning the true nature of the events unfolding at Osprey Cove. Frank's love for his daughter shines through, even as he grapples with the blurred lines of the past. When a wedding suddenly emerges after just a few months of dating, it’s no surprise that he becomes anxious and determined to uncover the truth.

And uncover it he does! There’s a jaw-dropping moment during the wedding that completely caught me off guard. I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor! It made me reevaluate everything Maggie had done leading up to that point.

That said, I was a bit let down by the ending; I was hoping for a bit more resolution. I’m still left pondering Frank’s cryptic request for “five more minutes” before he left the parking lot. Seriously, what was that all about?

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

When the proud Gold Circle UPS driver, Frank Szatowski gets a call from his daughter Maggie after three years of silence, it's to share that she is getting married. He is overjoyed to have the opportunity to reconnect and rekindle his relationship with his daughter . Frank comes to find out that not only is Maggie getting married, but she is getting married to a the son of a tech billionaire and the wedding is being held his families private estate. As Frank tries to get to spend time with his daughter and future husband he id disappointed to find that doesn't seem to be their priority as well as things keep coming up for Maggie that take her attention and Aidan, his artistic future son in law is often no where to be found. As the wedding weekend and festivities unfold, the twist and turn build on to the already looming questions surrounding this happy couple and Frank's future in-laws.

Listening to the audio book of this title was a great option because I didn't want to stop reading. Jason Rekulak took me on an adventure peeking my own curiosities and trying to develop theories of what was possibly amiss with these characters all the way to the end of the book. This fast paced read is one that I would absolutely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy an ARC.

The Last One at the Wedding
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow wow!! This book kept me turning the pages fast from chapter to chapter. I love it when I don't have it all figured out. The surprises were great. Lot of things I didn't see coming. Go get it & enjoy!! Wonderful thriller & not the same old story.
Thank you NetGalley

3.5. Frank is surprised to hear from his adult daughter who went no contact with him years prior. He’s even more surprised to hear that she’s getting married and wants him to come to the wedding! She’s being very secretive about who her husband to be is and the red flags begin immediately. Meeting the soon to be husband and his family does not alleviate any discomfort Frank feels about the whole situation, in fact it seems to cause more questions and suspicion.

I fully enjoyed this story! I had a really good time listening from the very beginning to the end. The pacing was great, I didn’t guess the twists, and while it wasn’t the most mind blowing twist, I loved the focus on characters. I really like unlikeable characters when they’re *supposed* to be unlikeable. My issue was with Frank! I loved him aside from the way he treated that child for the majority of the book it was appalling. And I get the idea that I was supposed to side with him on that part. Aside from that, it was great!

This audiobook was narrated by John Pirhalla. He did so well at portraying Frank, it was the perfect casting! He was so engaging.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Jason Rekulak, and Macmillan Audio for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review. This published on October 8th.

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok to post before the pub date raving about this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ALC of The Last One at the Wedding, in exchange for an honest review.

🎧 "The Last One at the Wedding" by Jason Rekulak is an audiobook that surprised me in the best way possible. While I initially anticipated a horror or creepy story, I found myself immersed in a different yet equally captivating experience. The standout element of this audiobook is the remarkable narration by John Pirhalla, who brings the main character, Frank, to life with an amazing performance.

The story follows Frank, the estranged father who receives an unexpected invitation to his daughter's wedding. As he delves into the elaborate event, secrets and family drama begin to unravel, leading Frank to question the motives behind his daughter's upcoming marriage. The narrative progress is skillfully paced, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me fully engaged.

While "The Last One at the Wedding" deviates from Rekulak's previous works, offering a slower and more suspenseful experience rather than a horror-focused one, the author crafts a compelling blend of atmosphere, tension, thriller elements, and family dynamics. The characters are well-developed and realistic, making their interactions and the unfolding of the plot feel genuine.

The audiobook truly shines through John Pirhalla's narration, adding an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the story. His performance made it feel as though I was listening to someone I knew personally, further enhancing my enjoyment of the audiobook.

Overall, "The Last One at the Wedding" provides a gripping and well-balanced mix of suspense, family drama, conspiracy, and even humor. Although it may differ from expectations, it is a recommended listen for those who appreciate domestic suspense thrillers. Jason Rekulak once again demonstrates his storytelling prowess with this compelling narrative and engaging cast of characters.

I really enjoyed this book! The narrator was great & the story was surprisingly unlike his last book. It was definitely a “slow burn” but I don’t think it will leave you disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Dang!!! This book kept going and going and going with the twists and turns. I listened to the audio and it was fantastic. I loved it. Highly recommend for a great mystery/thriller read!

This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to by Jason Rebulak.

This book kept me wanting to listen to more. Very suspenseful

the narrator did a wonder job.