4 ⭐️

I received this as an ARC from Net Galley!

This was a mystery/love story/ family drama. It was unlike any other “thriller” I’ve ever read, and I just loved it. The story unravels at the perfect pace, with dual timelines from father and daughter’s perspective. You get sibling relationships and romantic relationships wrapped up in one big puzzle.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave follows Nora and her brother Dave as they investigate the disappearance of their father Dave.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t as impressed with this book as I have been in the past by Laura’s previous works. I found some parts interesting, like the estranged sibling's aspect and the mystery behind the father's death, but most of the background storylines I found were simply unnecessary and did nothing to advance the plot itself. The pacing wasn’t as good as the author's previous works and I found myself more times than not wondering when something would happen to liven things up. Unfortunately not one of my favorites.

I went into this expecting a mystery/thriller, but this isn’t really a thriller. There is a mystery to solve; actually, there is more than one mystery here. Nora and her half brother, Sam, are trying to find out what happened to their father, Liam, on the night he died. Their investigation leads them to realize that there is much about their father’s life that they don’t know.

The Night We Lost Him is more of a story about complex family relationships and grief with very little suspense and a lot of heartbreak. It’s very sad, but it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

This story centers around a prominent hotel magnate and father's mysterious death and the unraveling of his family's secrets. I enjoyed the estranged siblings' bonds being built as they are brought together to struggle to find meaning and answers in the wake of his death. I was surprised at the twist toward the end and enjoyed the everlasting love story aspect. Some parts felt like they dragged a bit, but I enjoyed the story as a whole nonetheless. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Night We Lost Him
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Laura Dave
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Sept 17, 2024
⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝:⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⇥ The cover is gorgeous.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐝:⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⇥ Zero likable characters.
⇥ Very slow and honestly underwhelming.
⇥ Mis-marketed in terms of genre.
⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
★★☆☆☆
Oh man, this was rough. I don’t know how to write this review without spoiling things, so it might be vague. I didn’t like the main characters, I didn’t like the portrayal of the father, I didn’t like how there were unnecessary storylines that served no purpose: why did the brother have to have a twin? Why did we get so much focus on the dad’s “mysterious” boring past? Why was the pacing so damn slow? Why did it end the way it did? Why do authors use nicknames to hide who they are truly writing about? It was so dull!

I can’t say for sure to skip this because I’ve seen some great reviews. Don’t go in thinking it’s a murder mystery. It’s a familial drama that centers on the dysfunction, infidelity, and multiple marriages of the father, as well as a closed-off daughter who comes across as too bitchy. How am I supposed to root for any of these people?

Definitely check out her older book, The Last Thing He Told Me. I liked that one a lot more.

Thank you to @netgalley and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my *honest* review.

Excellent! Finished in one day. I have not read the previous mystery that everyone buzzes about, but I am a new fan of the author. Honestly when I read the summary, I wondered if I would really care about the death of a family patriarch, but I such affection for the characters and all their nuances. While there are questions of foul play and betrayal, this is a good choice if you are looking for a novel without the darkness inherent in much of the genre. The author introduces themes about family ties and individuality and love and what we hang onto and how we let go. Highly recommend. I imagine this one will also be adapted for the screen. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to share my review.

This is a fantastic slow-burn mystery with a similar feel to The Last Thing He Told Me, but without the thriller/suspense vibe. Even without the thriller element, I was invested in the mystery/storyline from beginning to end, probably because I liked the author’s writing a lot. The family drama woven throughout the story was complicated and always interesting. Nora’s arc was well-crafted. I loved how her working through her father’s death paralleled in an understated way her relationship with Jack. Liam and Cory were a puzzle to me, and if they couldn’t figure themselves out I don’t feel bad that I couldn’t either. Of the dual timelines, I definitely leaned in more to the present rather than the past. That said, I think their relationship was true to themselves, so in a way it made sense. The resolution for Liam’s death at the end was thought provoking, and I love how it propelled Nora forward. The understated ending for Nora was a perfect fit.
Thank you #Netgalley and #S&SMarySueRucciBooks for the arc e-book

I am not sure I would call this a thriller. It was more like domestic drama/suspense. Although it wasn’t what I expected I still enjoyed it overall. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I enjoyed it. It felt like a no-rush novel to read a few chapters every couple of days. I did get lost with all the similar names, but still enjoyed the compelling mystery of the family secrets and the relationships around their father.

If you loved The Last Thing He Told Me, then you should definitely read her newest book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

Laura Dave writes novels that stay with you long after the book has ended. Her latest work, The Night We Lost Him, is no exception. It checks all the boxes of romance, suspense, mystery, and family drama. I was hesitant to read it after seeing several unfavorable reviews, but The Night We Lost Him is a really good book. It delves into some family secrets and not so good family relationships. The book presents a compelling mystery, though it doesn't delve deeply into intricate details. However, this does not take away from the plot. Author, Laura Dave ties up the story nicely and delivers an exceptional read. This is one for the beach bag!

I'm really enjoying the new direction that Laura Dave is taking with her novels. Not only are they family dramas, they are suspenseful and exciting. The Night We Lost Him reminded me of The Last Thing He Told Me in their suspense elements and I really enjoyed both.
After Nora's father dies, her half-brother comes to her with his suspicion that his fall was not an accident. As we go along with Nora and Sam as they work to develop their sibling relationship and uncover the truth about their father's death, we are also treated to chapters that flash back in time to their father over the course of his life. I thought I had figured out who Cory was multiple times but I was still surprised at her identity. The ending was satisfying, if a little underwhelming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

I feel like the synopsis made this sound more exciting than it was. I was expecting it to be more of a thriller, but instead it was family drama, loss, heartbreak, etc. The story felt really slow moving and then I got CeCe and Cory confused (maybe pick a different four letter name that doesn't start with "C" for one of them). I was hoping for a more exciting ending but it just sort of was there (though I was thankful we do get an answer of what happened).

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Since this book seemed to have some mixed reviews, I went into it wondering if it would deliver. It did, dear reader. I liked it a lot. There’s a lot of unraveling family secrets and drama here. Some people may expect more thriller-esque action, and you won’t find that. Also, the mystery did get wrapped up a little too nicely, but I still enjoyed the ride. It’s okay, though! It’s still worth your time!

I will happily read Laura Dave’s next book. Look for this on September 17.

My thanks to NetGalley and S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Great mystery. There were many layers to the story with different kinds of relationships and relationship issues. The book kept me reading but I think it was a little slow at times.

I've had a good run with some truly excellent novels. Part family drama, part thriller, this compulsive novel takes place in the aftermath of a patriarch's death. Filled with beautiful settings (Dave writes the California coast so beautifully) and realistic, if occasionally unlikable, characters. I docked a star because of the pacing - it definitely felt plodding at times. It's a testament to the author's talent that she was able to romanticize marital infidelity and make it not only understandable but also romantic?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A heart-wrenching family drama full of mystery and intrigue. Tears were shed and I couldn’t put it down!

A great read with suspense, intrigue, and sadness. The author did an excellent job of balancing two connected storylines to show the investigation of a death and the love story of the deceased. While I felt a few storylines could have been expanded on, the story read well and kept me interested.

Long hidden family secrets, secret lovers and a murder are the ingredients to a suspenseful new thriller by Laura Dave. There are many facets to Liam Noone and his dynasty of luxury hotels. When he dies suddenly in a fall from his California estate, his children suspect foul play, and they investigate. From New York to the west coast of California, Dave portrays the machinations of family loyalties and vendettas with the deft characterizations and compelling descriptions of grief and love. The point of view changing between past and present develops narratives that keep the reader in suspense. Thanks to Laura Dave & S&S and Netgalley for the ARC.

I really liked The Last Thing He Told Me, but this was very bland in comparison. I didn't feel connected to the characters or story at all. The plot lacked depth, pacing, and urgency.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for this ARC! When Nora’s father, a well known hotel/resort developer dies suddenly in what appears to be an accident, she’s joins her estranged half brother in trying to find out what really happened. The story is told in dual point of views (Nora and her father) and timelines. What I thought was going to be a mystery/thriller ended up being a touching story about love, loss, and grief. There was a surprising reveal at the end but that was not really the focus of the book. The love story was frustrating at times but it led to a good conclusion/perspective. The pace was a little slow and drawn out in my opinion but it was still an enjoyable read.