The story was well written and I liked the characters. However, the plot was a bit boring a predictable. I anticipated a thriller but this should be described more as a story about the complexity of love. From complicated family relationships to long time lovers separated (by reasons unknown), this book weaves the tale of the many faces of love..

I just reviewed The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave. #NetGalley

This book was just ok. I feel like this story had the potential to be a 5-star read, but it fell flat for me in a few different ways. This was more of a love story/drama focusing on loss and grief and not a thriller like the author's last novel. I liked the storyline and how it played out; however, I did not experience the depth of emotion that one probably should have felt while reading this novel. The writing was overly complicated at times and there was too much internal monologue. It easily distracted me from the weight of any feelings I might have had. Having lost my own dad, I usually get choked up when I read stories that involve the loss of someone's father. I didn't experience that at all. Liam's POV chapters confused me because his inner monologue seemed to switch between his thoughts and Cory's, yet they were all his. I had to stop several times and wonder who was actually saying these things. I also kept confusing Cory with CeCe. I feel like the author may have been going for more of a literary work with this one. In my opinion, I think simple would have been the better way to go. Overall, it was a decent read, but could have been better.

Thank you to the author, Simon Element, and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Oof. This was a DNF for me. I had to put it down about halfway through. Too much internal monologue, not enough plot. Incredibly slow paced and I wasn’t invested in any of the characters.

I adore Laura Dave's books and although this was a little harder to get into, I ended up enjoying it just as much as her others! Patriarch Liam falls from a cliff on his property, Windbreak one night and dies leaving his family to figure out what happened even though it is ruled an accident. Daughter Nora is determined to get to the bottom of it, suspecting foul play. So she sets off, leaving fiancee Jack home to fend for himself while she finds the truth. But the truth involves many family members, friends, lovers, money, and revenge! It's a wild ride that had me gasping in places as I was sure I'd figured it out...but of course I hadn't!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave is a novel about the complexities of family, secrets, and the quest for truth. When Liam dies in a suspicious fall from a cliffside cottage, his daughter Nora and estranged son Sam are thrust into a web of mysteries surrounding their father's life and death. Through Nora and Sam's investigation, they not only uncover the truth about their father but also embark on a journey of reconciliation. The writing is poignant and will draw readers into the emotional turmoil of the characters, keeping them hooked until the final revelation.

Absolutely loved every minute of this one. It's suspenseful, without being too dark. Romantic, without being cheesy. There are sections that are written so beautifully, you want to slow down and soak them in, let them wash over you, remember them forever, but you can't do that - because you have to know what happens. The pieces come together just as you as the reader figure them out and the ending both makes perfect sense and also side swipes you completely. There's so much heart and complexity here. The characters are imperfect and complex, which makes them interesting, a little unpredictable, and deeply human.

This book is phenomenal. It's going to be a mega-smash-hit. I hope they make this one into a movie or TV show, too, because I'll binge watch it the same way that I did "The Last Thing He Told Me.

This book was just ok. Perhaps this is due to unrealistic expectations on my part, as I was expecting more of a page turner. I felt the beginning of the book captured me but found myself losing interest as the plot went on.

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of Laura Dave's new book, so I hate to say that I'm disappointed by it — but I am. Admittedly, I read the description and, having previously read The Last Thing He Told Me, I assumed it would be more of a mystery. That's totally my fault. But even as a non-mystery, the plot really didn't deliver.

I 1000% could have done with the time jumps to Liam's past. They felt under-baked and repetitive. The same conversations without any clarity as to the reasoning *why* people were acting the way they were. That unfinished feeling also came through with the main plot line. Nora kept alluding to struggles in her relationship, but there was no clear reason why (or why that situation resolved the way it did). Additionally, there was a lot of suspense and drama and characters acting shady that didn't amount to anything tangible.

I loved Eight Hundred Grapes, so I don't need a mystery to love Laura Dave's writing. But this felt like a really strong second draft that could have used more detail and development.

This was more of a romance/ family drama than a mystery/thriller. I so desperately loved "The Last Thing He Told Me" and thought this would be a similar vibe. This was MY FAULT as I did not read that this is categorized as general fiction/ women's fiction. There was a mystery aspect, but it definitely wasn't the same thrill that "The Last Thing He Told Me" had. So my expectations were high and ultimately I was let down. The pacing for most of it was off, and I was genuinely only super interested and entertained in the last 50ish pages. What worked for me was the portrayal of grief. It felt honest and well written.

I can't wait to read Laura Dave's next mystery/thriller.

Thank you to the author, netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This will be very popular, because of her last book. I found it dull and disappointing. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

More of a story about family and romantic relationships than a thriller/mystery. Quick read because short. Looking forward to other future books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author.

Was it an accident or murder? A sister and brother ask questions about their father’s death…secrets and red herrings…family and friends and loved ones…the past meets the present…I don’t usually like different time lines but somehow, they works. This talented author has again written a novel that is a page turner. Even the title is intriguing…a family with questions. Law enforcement that wants to accept the status quo. What will happen? Questions…few answers…thanks Netgalley.

Honestly, this book was not for me. I found myself interested in what happened to the father, but at the same time I did not care if I never found out. The last 30 or so pages kept me entertained but other than that I was slightly bored. I don’t know if it was just me but I was slightly confused who some characters were and there role in everything. I personally didn’t love the flash backs, I really didn’t feel like they were super necessary to the story - especially for how often they happened. Not a bad book by any means just personally not for me.

This is a story about grief. The way grief affects us and causes us to act with those we love and the way it changes us. Even though this book is about grief, i found it to be deep without getting too heavy. I found it to be playful. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. The first few chapters i definitely thought the story was going a different direction than it ultimately did; which i thoroughly enjoyed.

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Impressed! I was very impressed by this book. It was not at all what I expected and it was wonderful. Give it a few chapters to get going and then you will be sucked in. Wonderful story telling.

Laura Dave’s books are movies in my mind. I can see the characters grieving after their father, Liam, died unexpectedly falling down a huge cliff in California. We all get trapped into our hectic worlds and when someone close dies, it’s like a wake-up call.

Liam’s daughter, Nora, is telling the story. She wasn’t that close to her father and now he’s gone. She hasn’t spent much time either with her 30-year-old stepbrother, Sam. But when he said he didn’t think it was an accident, he got her attention. Time rolled back to explain more about her father’s love affairs and business. Nora and Sam checked out a lot of clues searching for answers.

It's captivating and all about family drama. It flows smoothly and was easy to read in a couple of days. Rather than numbers, there were chapter headings to give a meaningful take on what was going to happen. I really thought I had the end figured out with a hint about half way or so but, of course, it played out differently almost like a life event where variables can change an outcome. The last part caused an emotional reaction that wasn’t expected. This would be perfect for a bookclub review.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 17, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for the opportunity to read this EARC. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for an ARC of The Night We Lost Him.

Oof, I hate leaving all bad reviews but I really did not enjoy this book in any way. My first issue was the incredibly slow pace of the story...I figured at some point the pace would pick up but it stayed slow even through the ending. My second issue was the main character's relationship was pretty much just a romanticism of his adultery throughout 3 marriages. It seemed like the author wanted me to be swept away by this unconventional love story but it just left me with an "ick" feeling.

1.5 stars, generously rounded up

The Night We Lost Him, by Laura Dave, is a well-written novel of complex family relationships that takes place after a death of questionable cause. Nora and her half-brother, Sam, work together to unravel the truth and it is so much more than they expected. While this book did have some thriller aspects, I found it more of a family drama/mystery. It is fast-paced and I enjoyed the relationship that grew from the half-siblings working together.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Thank you @_simonelement and @netgalley for the eARC of The Night We Lost Him by @lauradaveauthor in exchange for an honest review!

📖 Book Review 📖📖 Another gripping read from Laura Dave; The Night We Lost Him did not disappoint one bit! Laura Dave has an extraordinary talent of inviting the reader in to connect with her characters and even from the beginning, we feel the complex, alluring draw of Liam before he meets his untimely death. What follows is a gripping, suspenseful journey through very complicated family dynamics stemming from immense grief and so many unanswered questions. Running throughout is the theme of connections and the importance of relationships with those who have shaped our lives, both living and departed. Beyond just people, the relationships created with locations in the book are equally moving and beautifully portrayed, reminding us that where we come from and where we live shape us. For siblings Sam and Nora, losing their father is a chance for them to get to know each other better. The Night We Lost Him is a captivating read that you will not want to put down.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!