Laura Dave is an auto-read author for me and I love the new direction her writing went in to with The Last Thing He Told Me. I devoured this book because I was hooked from the first few pages and I could not wait to see what was going to happen.

Told in present day and flashbacks, Hannah and her step daughter Bailey are trying to piece together why her husband Owen disappeared as the company he works for is in trouble with the FBI and why he left Hannah a note that asks her to protect Bailey. As Hannah and Bailey start to follow small clues for something that happened years ago, they learn that Owen and the life they know might not be all it seems.

The suspense and action in this book doesn't let up and you won't want to put it down. While all of the twists and turns in the book are great, it is also a heartbreaking story as Hannah and Bailey learn things about the person that they love and figure out what happens next in their lives with the information they discover. Laura Dave wrote Hannah and Bailey as such strong characters and I loved how their relationship evolved throughout the book.

The Last Thing He Told Me follows Hannah and Bailey as they pick up the pieces left for them by the most important person in their lives, Owen. Hannah and Bailey learn that Owen is not the father and husband he has led them to believe and they must put the pieces together to keep themselves safe. The Last Thing He Told Me is well written and the pages turn very quickly. The characters were well written and the love a parent has for their child is evident throughout. The only issue I really have is the resolution of the story was lacking.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Rating 4 ⭐️

THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME
BY LAURA DAVE

The writing of this mystery that is definitely a slow burn of contemporary fiction was well above average. This is the first time I have read anything by Laura Dave and I like her writing style. Her narrative flows smoothly and I have to say that her writing has a relaxing affect on me that drew me in. The way she introduces Hannah's missing husband Owen is to gently recollect Owen and Hannah before he mysteriously disappeared which is at the opening lines of the novel. Hannah moved out to California to move in with Owen and his daughter, Bailey whom is a teenager. Hannah left New York to build a life with Owen and his daughter from New York. She has her own business making furniture and he worked for a Software Company.

At the beginning the way Hannah discovers Owen is missing is when a young girl knocks on their door with a cryptic note asking her two words: Protect Her. Then she gets a visit from a United States Marshall who is nice to her while at the same time asking about Owen's whereabouts, which Hannah has no idea. It is completely shocking to her that her husband has just disappeared. His daughter is suddenly in possession of more than $600,000.00 left in a duffel bag which Hannah hides under her kitchen sink. The Marshall does give her good advice not to talk to anybody without a lawyer. She contacts her old boyfriend Jake in New York after a not so friendly visit from two agents from the FBI question her so Jake acting in capacity as her lawyer does some digging with his private investigator.

Jake gives Hannah some bewildering news about Owen. According to the dates she has given him Owen doesn't exist. Why would her husband disappear leaving his only daughter? His best friend is hostile towards Hannah but admits that Owen didn't take all of his money and invest it in Owen's company like he led his wife to believe. He does admit that Owen was under a lot of stress to develop the software that shares have been sold.

I really liked Hannah and the way she handled herself. I was also impressed how kind she was to Owen's daughter. This mystery had a way of lulling me into the story wanting to know what happened to Owen. This kept me engaged and before I realized it I had enjoyed the narrative so well I was sad when the novel ended. I wouldn't classify this as a thriller in the least. That is the wrong genre for this novel. It read like good literary fiction that is contemporary. I really enjoyed this and would read Laura Dave's other work both past and future.

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Laura Dave and Simon & Schuster for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheLastThingHeToldMe #LauraDave #Simon&Schuster #NetGalley

This book had an interesting start. Hannah gets a visit from a young student with a note from her husband, Owen. All it says is “protect her.” Hannah assumes it means her difficult, sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Bailey, but doesn’t understand why her beloved husband of two years would send her this note. She sits up most of the night waiting for him, but he doesn’t come home. The next thing she knows she and Bailey are thrown into the middle of a maelstrom concerning Owen, the company he works for and a major fraud investigation. Owen has disappeared leaving her in charge of his daughter who despises her.

What follows is learning that the husband she loves is not the man she thought he was. Fed up with the FBI and the US Marshals, she and Bailey embark on their own investigation leading them into danger and discoveries maybe better left buried.

This story is very character driven and I was hooked from almost the start. In fact, I read this book in one sitting. I would classify this as a mystery/ suspense and the ending left me with a tear in my eye. I gave it four stars and look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

The plot of this new novel made me think of WHERE'S WALDO? This Waldo is a man married to Hannah Hall who designs wood as furniture pieces that are unique and very expensive. She met this attractive guy named Owen through a friend, and they settled into a satisfying life with Owen's teenage daughter, Bailey (cue moody, disgruntled teenage character). When Owen disappears, the story turns into a super-thriller with Hannah and Bailey doing all they can to find the guy they both love and need.


Owen could be in a thousand places. Hannah wasn't always sure she wanted to find him. Who marries and then leaves the wife with a step-daughter who doesn't like her stepmother? I enjoyed this twisty novel that went from an idyllic setting on a houseboat in Sausalito to less ideal locales with characters that were hard to trust and some who were easy to fear. Hannah forced to make decisions showed her impressive level of intelligence and imagination. This book was a good thriller.



Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC.

**3.5 stars**

How well do you know the man you married? Hannah had a seemingly perfect marriage until Owen, her husband disappeared, leaving with just a note that said, “Protect her.” The note was referring to Hannah’s step-daughter named Bailey - Owen’s daughter from a previous marriage. Hannah and Bailey don’t have a close relationship. Bailey is distant towards Hannah. She is a stubborn and headstrong 16 year old girl. Despite their distant relationship, they worked together toward a common goal: to find answers about Owen’s sudden disappearance.

The book alternates from the past and present days. With an alternating timeline, we slowly peel the layers of Owen as Hannah and Bailey navigate to find answers.

This book shines on character immersion. As the book progresses, we get to know the three main characters. This is a slow burn mystery. I expected and waited for a twist to happen at some point in the book, but it didn’t happen. It was a bit of a struggle for me to feel invested with the book’s narrative due to the pacing. However, the book was well-written and easy to decipher. With Owen’s true identity slowly unraveling, I wanted the book to give me something such as a surprise because I needed it. Unfortunately, there was no plot twist.I wanted the book to have more angst because it had so much potential. The biggest issue I had with this book was there was no resolution towards the end. I wanted Owen to have his own epilogue where he explains himself. Owen deserves the benefit of the doubt. As a reader, I was curious to know his reasoning behind his actions.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was really clever and original. I think character development was on point, and I liked going back and forth in time. The writing was very well done. I was sad at the end, but not disappointed.

DESCRIPTION:
From internationally bestselling author Laura Dave comes a riveting new suspense novel about a woman’s search for the truth about her husband’s disappearance—no matter the cost.

We all have stories we never tell.

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.

With its breakneck pacing, dazzling plot twists, and unforgettable characters, The Last Thing He Told Me is bestselling author Laura Dave’s finest novel yet, certain to shock you with its final, heartbreaking turn. This propulsive thriller with a heart is for fans of Liane Moriarty and Jojo Moyes.

WHAT DID I THINK?
I seem to have a theme going on here. Lately, I’ve been reading books that toggle between the present and the past. I absolutely LOVE that format. This is fast-paced mystery that sucks you in from the beginning. I had to know what happened to Owen, what he did (if anything), and would there be a happy ending. I liked the story line between Hannah and Bailey as they figured out a way to work together despite a fairly new relationship as step-daughter & step-mom. There were twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a captivating read and one that will keep you guessing!

Thank you #netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah is married to Owen and she has a stepdaughter named Bailey, Bailey can be quite difficult as most teenagers have the same struggles. Hannah would love to bond with Bailey but she hasn't been successful yet. One day, Owen goes missing and she and Bailey must come together to figure out what has happened to him. They embark on this investigative journey together and we see this relationship between the two of them evolve.

This book is more of an investigative journey rather than a thriller. It has many twists and turns with respect to uncovered information about Owen. I feel that the story took a while to get moving but when it does, it takes off. I have always enjoyed Laura Dave's books and this one does not disappoint.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC. I appreciate being able to give a review on this book.

Nearly gave this five stars. It was a very quick read which kept me turning the pages and I ended up finishing it in one day. A husband and father go missing. His second wife and daughter try to find him before the FBI does. What secrets is he hiding? The mystery takes them to Austin and they soon realize not everyone is good or bad and not everyone is out to help them. The end was slightly disappointing but still a very enjoyable read.

The Last Thing He Told Me was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and it did not disappoint! I am definitely ordering myself a copy to have on my shelves.

I would categorize this as more of a domestic suspense / mystery?, not really a thriller. The story was super character driven and was kind of slow burning which is why it wasn't all that "thrilling" but still kept my interest. I really loved the writing style, short chapters and multiple timelines that were easy to follow. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but overall, a story that I could not put down! I have seen that this is already being adapted to a mini-series which I can't wait for!

Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Dave and Simon & Schuster for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Thing He Told Me was excellent! I love the way Laura Dave tells a story, and in this one she weaves the suspenseful present with subtle clues from protagonist Hannah's recent past, in which she met and married Owen and became a stepmother to his teenage daughter Bailey. When Owen disappears suddenly, he leaves one thing behind for Hannah. A note telling her to protect Bailey. With the FBI and US Marshals asking questions and Owen's work associates being arrested, Hannah questions everything she thought she knew about her new husband. This one was so hard to put down! Highly recommend.

Hannah’s husband disappeared and left her with many unanswered questions and one very clear instruction “Protect Her.” So she and her step-daughter set out to find the truth about why he left and where he’s gone. With many twists and turns, I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It kept me guessing and engaged through the entire story. I couldn’t put it down! I definitely recommend!

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a mystery/suspense novel about Owen and his new wife Hannah. About a year into their marriage, Hannah receives a note from Owen before he disappears. "Protect her." Bailey is Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, and Hannah determines to do everything she can to honor Owen's request of keeping Bailey safe. Hannah and Bailey follow many clues and discover that Owen is not quite who they thought he was. I was very invested in this book, and I thoroughly enjoy Laura Dave's writing. I would definitely recommend this new book of hers. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

"Protect Her"

That is the last communication Hannah, a wife whose husband mysteriously vanishes - has from her husband as he leaves a note instructing her to take care of her stepdaughter, 16-year-old Bailey. When the police start knocking on her door, Hannah wants answers and, with Bailey's help, the pair begin to uncover a painful truth.

Set in Sausalito and Austin, this story is part mystery, part romance, part action and adventure.

When Hannah Michaels husband Owen disappears without a trace, Hannah starts to put the pieces of what happened back together with her sullen 16-year old teenage daughter. Her journey takes her to Austin where Bailey has long forgotten memories of her past. Hannah and Bailey learn that Owen isn't really who he says he is and Bailey has a past she never even knew about. While searching for Owen, Bailey and Hannah become closer and more connected than they ever thought possible.

Once I started to read this ARC, I could not put it down. Laura Dave created compelling characters in a unique story that engages the reader in a unique way.

I was originally excited about this book becoming an Apple TV series and I can now only hope they will do the book justice.

Thank you to #TheLastThingHeToldMe #NetGalley @simonandschuster for the ARC.

PROTECT HER.
That’s the last thing Hannah’s husband, Owen, ever told her. A vague note dropped off on her doorstep with only those words written on it. When Hannah’s 16-year-old stepdaughter comes home from school with a duffel bag of cash she found in her locker and note from her father apologizing, they know something is wrong. What is Owen apologizing for? What is Hannah supposed to protect Bailey from? WHERE IS OWEN?

Hannah and Bailey set out to find the truth and save the man they desperately love no matter what the cost. It’s only until they’re in too deep when they discover Owen isn’t at all the person they thought he was. The story is told from Hannah’s POV and periodically jumps to the past to show the beginning of Owen, Hannah, and Bailey’s relationship. The flashbacks begin to poke holes in conversations they once had ... revealing hints as to what he might be running from.

What I loved most about this book is that I could not figure out where it was taking me. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn’t piece the truth together. I was hooked from page one and finished it in one sitting because I just HAD to know how the story was going to come together. I was captivated by the mystery and invested in the relationship developing between Hannah and Bailey.
*SPOILER* (kinda, but not really) - what I disliked the most about this book was the epilogue. It left the biggest question of all unanswered.

PUB DATE - MAY 4
Thank you Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and Laura Dave for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sooooooo good! All I kept thinking, especially at the end was “This would make an awesome movie!” Believable, likeable characters. Great plot - I like the use of going back and forth time wise. Definitely makes it feel more realistic and also never boring. Lost a bit of sleep finishing it but worth it. Well done!

“Protect Her” The last words Hannah heard from her husband Owen. What did that mean. Her husband has now disappeared leaving behind his teenage daughter and a million secrets. Where did Owen go? Why are the US Marshals and FBI looking for him?
Hannah and Bailey also flee as well to try and find Owen with what little memories Bailey has of her childhood. The last thing Bailey wants to do is travel with her step-mom, but at this point, she has no choice. What will they find? Look for this unstoppable thriller in May of 2021!

4.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC,

Every time I crack open a book by Laura Dave I know I'm in for a good read and The Last Thing He Told Me was just that, such a good read!

I don't want to describe too much of this book because it's hard to without giving anything away but from the first page I was hooked and I finished this in a little over a day because it was so engaging.

I loved the characters, the plot and every.single.thing about this book. This is another excellent book by Laura Dave!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I was lucky enough to be an early reader of this book. Get ready for a fabulous exploration of motherhood, loyalty, and love, all packed in a tense thriller.