4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Laura Dave delivers a heart-wrenching family drama & mystery that will keep you hooked until the very last page. In The Night We Lost Him, two estranged siblings are forced to confront their fractured relationship after the sudden death of their father. But was his death really an accident? Add in a decades-long secret love affair that ripples through the family, & you have a gripping tale of love, betrayal, & resilience.

I was drawn in by Dave’s storytelling & her ability to weave complex relationships into an emotionally charged narrative. Her characters felt raw & real, & their struggles added so much depth to the story. While the pacing felt slow at times, the unraveling mystery & the exploration of family dynamics kept me turning the pages.

A heartfelt thank you to #NetGalley, #TheNightWeLostHim, the author, & Simon Element/S&S for the ARC. As always, all opinions are my own and freely expressed.

Eh this one was alright. I didn’t really feel a connection with any of the characters. As someone who has lost their dad, I get it, but I felt like everyone in this book had daddy issues.

I had high hopes for The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave. After swallowing The Last Thing He Told Me whole, I couldn’t read Dave’s newest novel fast enough. It sounded intriguing enough. A successful father who supposedly committed suicide. A strained relationship between two half-siblings, who put aside their differences to investigate what happened to their father. The authorities, uncooperative, denying any foul play. The Night We Lost Him had all the components necessary to create a thrilling, suspenseful, emotional story; and yet…I didn’t like it. The story drags, and I didn’t like the characters. I’ve read worse novels in 2024, but I’ve also read a whole lot better.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave is slow. That’s coming from someone who reads epic fantasies. Sam and Nora traveled from one side of the country, seeking answers, but they hit roadblocks every step of the way. They find answers, but it turns out, they’re the only ones who never had them. I liked Nora, but Sam…was nails on a chalkboard. An entitled child with an attitude and pride. I admired his tenacity, but outside of that, I didn’t like him. In one scene, after almost missing a flight, he comments, “‘I’m just not used to flying commercial. And I forgot about, you know, leaving enough time for security.’” And, “‘I thought about flying us in the company jet, but I wanted you to know I’m a regular guy.’” These two statements stuck with me, even after I finished the novel. Nora had far more depth to her.

Nora’s journey throughout The Night We Lost Him kept me reading. What really happened with the father didn’t matter much to me at all, and when Dave revealed the twist, I felt closure. All the pieces connected, and though it made sense, it wasn’t satisfying. The book has an underlying theme of cheating in romantic relationships. One character’s relationship is comfortable and yet stagnant, and they cheat with someone on an emotional level and feel guilty about it. Another character has “one true love” but is never married to the person, always chasing after them. Okay, great, but really? Give me more. There must be more.

Laura Dave’s newest novel is not a thriller. It is not suspenseful. Do not be deceived. But it has a pretty good mystery, even if the 320 pages felt like 600. I didn’t hate it. I wasn’t left with my eyes rolling and scoffing at it. But The Night We Lost Him did not reach its full potential. I’ll read more of Laura Dave because of how much I liked The Last Thing He Told Me, but The Night We Lost Him really let me down.

While I liked the plot of this book, I thought that the character relationships weren't fully fleshed out seemed random at times. The mystery didn't quite grasp my attention either.

The Night We Lost Him is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that combines elements of mystery and psychological drama. Laura Dave’s compelling storytelling explores grief, love, and the complexity of human relationships. With its well-drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and thoughtful exploration of memory and loss, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy poignant, character-driven narratives with a touch of suspense. It’s a deeply moving and immersive read that will linger long after the final page. 5 OUT OF 5 STARS!!! LOVED this!

One of the novel's most striking features is its exploration of memory and perception. Laura Dave paints a nuanced picture of grief and the emotional rollercoaster that follows a sudden loss. Hannah’s search for the truth about Zach’s disappearance becomes as much about understanding herself as it is about solving the mystery. The book expertly weaves themes of trust, vulnerability, and the impact of unresolved pasts, making it not just a mystery but a profound character study.

Dave’s writing is atmospheric and evocative, capturing both the quiet beauty of the coastal setting and the turbulence of Hannah’s emotional journey. The pacing is steady, allowing the tension to build slowly as the mystery unravels, with a few well-placed twists that keep the reader guessing. The characters are richly developed, particularly Hannah, whose vulnerability and resilience make her an empathetic and relatable protagonist.

While The Night We Lost Him is at its core a mystery, it is also a deeply introspective novel about relationships, self-discovery, and the emotional toll of facing painful truths. The resolution is satisfying but poignant, offering both closure and the recognition that some questions may never fully be answered.
Huge thank you to NetGalley, Laura Dave, and Simon Element for this advanced copy.

This was a strong follow up to her last book! I really love the way she combines slow burn/family drama/mystery. Would definitely recommend.

You’ll be pulled right in with a mystery / thriller / family drama. A slow start with a fast finish, but writing that keeps the pages turning.

You can always count on a good thriller from Dave.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Night We Lost Him. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will definitely add Laura Dave to my list of favorite authors!

This novel is very slow-paced, making the plot and generally the characters hard to relate to and a bit boring. That said, I found the character of Nora to be the best part of the book.

Nora and her estranged brother are bothered by the sudden death of their father in his home retreat. Although ruled an accident by the police, they decide to investigate. This investigation and the narrative of the book are told from two perspective, Nora in the present day and her father from the past. Although listed as a suspenseful thriller, the story is more of a family drama.

A mystery/thriller with lots of family drama. This book felt a lot longer than it was and unfortunately was a miss for me. I didn’t enjoy or like any of the characters very much. It felt like nothing was really happening in this book until the very end. There was lots of drama and very little mystery.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave is a compelling blend of family drama and mystery. The story follows two estranged siblings who reunite to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding their father’s death. As their inquiry deepens, it evolves into a broader exploration of their father’s hidden past and their own lives, uncovering long-buried family secrets.

The dual timelines, shifting between past and present, add depth and intrigue to the narrative. Laura Dave masterfully balances emotional tension and mystery, creating a thought-provoking tale about family, identity, and reconciliation.

📚 Estranged siblings set out together to figure out if their dad’s deadly accident, was really an accident. Thank you to @simonandschuster for a sneak peek at this. It’s out now!

📚 Overall, this mystery was fine for a listen while doing chores. Especially since Julia Whalen read the audiobook. But I don’t think it was particularly memorable or will stick out among all the other books I’ve read when I look back at the end of the year.

📚 Part family drama, part mystery, I would recommend this if you’re a big Laura Dave fan and want to check out her latest installment.

Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy.

Although I wanted to love this novel I just couldn't get through halfway. The characters did not have enough hooklines to keep me going once I began.

More could have gone to the development of the characters and story It’s a slower burn mystery, but the bones were there for an outstanding book.
Mystery, thriller, family drama…

Thank You to S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley.

I read this in basically one sitting on a flight. a mix of audio and e-book, I couldn't get enough of these characters. I'd recommend to people who were fans of succession for the family dynamics (although they're far from the Roys). Laura Dave does the best job of writing thrillers that are ideal for fans of other genres and this is no exception.

This book had me guessing and analyzing each character throughout the entire thing. Just when I thought it would go one way it went the other. Thankfully, it didn't seem as suspenseful reading it as I thought it would. In the end it all came together so well and I really enjoyed reading it.

As a fan of Laura Dave's previous novel, I was really looking forward to this book. However, I found that this one fell a little flat for me. I didn't really connect with the characters at all and I found the storyline not super interesting. I think I was expecting more of a thriller vibe and instead got a family drama, which I normally love, but I found this one to just be a little underdeveloped. I think there were too many characters who weren't developed enough, causing me to have to pause and remember who was who half the time. Definitely a slower read for me.

The characters in this novel are authentically drawn and well-crafted. Told mainly from Nora’s perspective, the story follows her reluctant involvement in unraveling the mystery of her father Liam’s death, prompted by her estranged younger brother, Sam. The narrative also weaves in moments from the 50-year relationship between Liam and his one true love, Cory. As the two storylines converge, the book delivers an unexpected and satisfying resolution. The dialogue is expertly written, and the characters emotions are clear. I loved the author's first book and this one did not disappoint.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for an advanced read copy of this book.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave had me hooked from the first page in a similar way to The Last Thing He Told Me did. Dave is gifted in hooking the reader on the first page. After Nora's father's sudden and suspicious passing, she and her half brother, Sam, set off on a journey to seek out answers. What begins as an initial trip to his beloved California cliffside cottage (and the setting of his death) quickly escalates into larger puzzle to solve taking them on a journey of visiting many people that have been connected with their father's many compartmentalized lives.

Will Nora and Sam draw strength from their father's rich life while learning to not repeat his greatest flaws and mistakes all the while finding the answers surrounding his mysterious death at the place he loved the most?

This book was decent. I don't feel it was as good as the first one but still very enjoyable and I would still recommend to friends.