Liam Noone was a distant family man with three ex-wives and three children – Nora, and twins Sam and Tommy. When Liam falls from the cliff behind his beloved Windbreak, Nora allies with Sam to investigate. The police say he slipped, but Nora and Sam think someone pushed him. Are the police right, or will Nora and Sam find out they are correct and it wasn’t an accident.
I loved The Last Thing He Told Me and was hoping this would be as good and was not disappointed. I was worried that an entire book of two people trying to find out whether a fall was an accident or a murder would be boring, but not so with The Night We Lost Him. There were many more characters brought in, a few love stories, and lots of surprises. I loved this one – I definitely recommend it!

I really enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me, so I was very excited to read this new book! I thought this was a well constructed, family drama/mystery/suspense novel. I enjoyed the past and present timelines that this book was told in. The characters were all very well thought out. I liked the slow burn of this book. I thought the ending tied everything up really nicely. It wasn't something that I predicted so I was happy with how everything came together in the end.

Part mystery, part love story, part family drama, Laura Dave’s latest book is a page-turner. As Nora joins forces with her half-brother Sam to uncover the truth about her father’s mysterious accident, they begin to uncover layers of who he really was and how deeply he was capable of loving.

This book is not like a the previous book I read by this author. The Last Thing He Told Me was fast paced and kept my interest the whole time I was reading it. This one is slower paced and not very thriller-y. It's more of a mystery and it tells a story about two siblings whose father suddenly dies while falling off a cliff behind his home. We get to know the father's story from the flashbacks and how it relates to his death. The brother and sister also discover that maybe he didn't just fall, maybe he was pushed. So that brings another level to this mystery.

I liked the book enough. It was easy to read and it kept my attention. I didn't mind the slow pace, I kind of like that in my books. I don't necessarily like how it was wrapped up. I felt more connected to the present story then to the flashbacks.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC copy of this book.

Wow! What a read. I had to know the ending so badly that I stayed up all night reading. This book kept me on the edge of my seat.

Another wonderful book by Laura Dave. This was different than my favorite one by her- The Last Thing He Told Me, but it was still so good. I loved the plot with all of the family secrets and love wrapped up in a neat little bow. It had a bit of mystery to it that shocked me.

Laura Dave’s “The Night We Lost Him” is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that showcases the author’s exceptional storytelling prowess. From the opening lines, Dave captures the reader’s attention with a poignant and gripping narrative that delves into themes of love, loss, and the complexities of family relationships.

The novel follows the aftermath of a sudden disappearance that shakes a close-knit community and a family to its core. Dave’s characters are richly developed, each with their own unique struggles and perspectives, making them incredibly relatable and compelling. The emotional depth and authenticity with which Dave portrays their experiences make for a truly immersive reading experience.

Dave’s writing is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid scenes that bring the story to life. Her ability to convey the raw emotions of her characters draws readers in, making them feel every moment of joy, sorrow, and uncertainty alongside the protagonists. The narrative is expertly paced, with revelations and plot twists that keep the reader engaged and invested in the outcome.

One of the standout aspects of “The Night We Lost Him” is Dave’s exploration of the ways in which grief and loss can impact relationships. She deftly navigates the intricate dynamics between family members and friends, illustrating how each person copes with tragedy in their own way. This nuanced portrayal adds layers of complexity to the story, making it both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching.

“The Night We Lost Him” is a testament to Laura Dave’s talent for crafting stories that resonate on a deeply emotional level. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and beautiful prose, this novel is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-told, emotionally rich story. Dave has once again delivered a masterpiece that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

The pace was pretty slow and I didn't make a connection with any of the characters. I did enjoy the twist at the end which I did not see coming, but overall I was disappointed.

This book presented a moderate reading experience. While it harbored potential for a stellar rating, it failed to fully engage me for several reasons. Primarily categorized as a love story/drama centered on themes of loss and grief, it diverged from the suspenseful tone of the author's previous work. While the narrative structure and progression were commendable, the emotional resonance fell short of expectations. The prose occasionally veered into unnecessary complexity, compounded by excessive internal dialogue, detracting from the intended impact. Despite personal resonance with themes of paternal loss, the emotional connection remained elusive. The alternating perspectives, particularly Liam's, lacked clarity, leading to confusion regarding the narrative voice. Additionally, character distinctions were occasionally blurred, further complicating the reading experience. It appears the author aimed for a more literary approach, though simplicity might have served the narrative better. In summary, while a satisfactory read, there remains room for improvement. I extend gratitude to Simon Element and NetGalley for providing digital access in exchange for an honest critique.

I thought the premise of this book sounded really interesting, and I have liked Laura Dave’s books in the past so I assumed I would really like it. There was nothing about this book that was bad but nothing good stood out about it either. I felt like a lot of the story was incredibly drawn out and anti-climactic.

To be honest for most of the book I thought that Cory was going to turn out to be Cece and then when it turned out to be Grace I thought that was kind of silly. It seemed like a bit of a stretch and that the reader was trying to be led down the wrong path.

Overall, the story was okay and I did like Nora getting to know her brother and connect with him. To me seeing their relationship evolve was the height point of this book.

this story is about family, relationships, our pasts, and the secrets we keep from those we love. while there was a death/possible murder in this book - i would not categorize this at all as a mystery - this is a family drama. this book was very very slow. i kept waiting for something to happen or for there to be something to keep me in the edge of my seat but there was just nothing :( it’s also romanticizes lots of infidelity which i really did not love.

thanks to netgalley & publishers for an early ARC. its still a long while until this comes out but what i will tell you is definitely do not go into this thinking it a thriller/mystery or similar to her other book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
This was so good! The writing sucked me in and I read in one sitting. Very quick and easy read. Kept a fast pace, just enough was given of the “who” to keep my interest and reading more. There was also the side stories of each of the siblings in a way. Overall, I loved it and would recommend!

I LOVED The Last Thing He Told Me so I expected to love this one too, and sadly that was just not the case. I had a difficult time becoming invested in the story. I did not see the "twist" coming- so I respect a book where I'm unable to figure out the ending. Laura Dave will remain on my auto-read list, but I had hoped for more. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another solid story from Laura Dave. I thought I had it all figured out but by the end I was shocked, and pleased, I was wrong. I love when I don’t see it coming. This was definitely more of a family drama than mystery, it felt like I was reading succession, but if Logan Roy died. I would definitely recommend. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This had more of a family drama feel, than that of a riveting mystery, as advertised as such. An estranged sister and brother duo are trying to unravel the possibility of their father’s death being suspicious in nature. It wasn’t as much a gripping thriller as I had hoped, but it was kind of a slow burn of unraveling the dysfunction within a family.

I don’t know what to rate this one. I thought it would have a little suspense, but it’s zero suspense. In like an odd coming of age love story wrapped in a mystery. There is a little twist at the end that I was unable to figure out. I loved Laura Dave’s writing style in it, and was more interested in the storyline than I was when reading The Last Thing He Told Me.

Content considerations: affair, same sex couple side character. death

3.75⭐️

thank you to netgalley, simon element and laura dave for the chance to read this arc.

this is my second laura dave book and definitely not my last. her writing and story telling is so easy to get into and the stories seem to pull you in as soon as you start reading. while this is marketed as thriller i think it’s more mystery but also some romance and even deals with grief. the pacing with this one didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat like the last thing he told me did and the reveals in this one didn’t shock me as much. while i enjoyed reading it i don’t know that i’ll remember much 6 months from now. i could see this making for a great movie or tv series.

recommend? yes.

I absolutely loved The Last Thing He Told Me, so I was so excited to receive this! Here, Laura Dave weaves us through a story years in the making full of family drama, romance and mystery and once again, I was hooked. Just as I thought I had caught the twists, new secrets were uncovered and while the pacing wasn’t incredibly fast, I stayed locked in. This was more than just a mystery - covering grief, vulnerability, and the complexity of family and I ate it up on a travel day.


***thank you to NetGalley & Simon Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Not at all what I was expecting after reading “The Last Thing He Told Me” and reading that this was a thriller but it was still really good! Lots of twists in the plot and I felt emotionally attached to the characters fairly early on!

I really liked The Last Thing He Told Me, but this one just didn't hit for me for some reason. I don't know why it's hitting this way for me but in general I do like Laura Dave's writing style this plot just didn't hit for some reason.