Jason Rekulak has a real talent for writing shocking, character-driven thrillers, and The Last One at the Wedding is no exception. At its heart, this is a story about the fragile, complicated bond between a father and daughter, wrapped inside a tense and atmospheric suspense novel.

Frank Szatowski is a dad just trying to make things right after years of estrangement. His joy at being invited to his daughter’s wedding quickly turns to unease when he realizes she’s marrying into a world of immense wealth and secrecy. Rekulak builds the tension masterfully—every interaction feels loaded, every silence uneasy—and the New Hampshire setting gives the story a cold, isolated edge.

The narration by John Pirhalla was a standout for me. He perfectly captures Frank’s voice, giving him the weary but determined “dad vibes” that made me connect with the character even more. Parents will especially connect with the theme of wanting to protect your child and doing what you think is best for them, even when the choices aren’t clear.

When the major twist hit, I was genuinely shocked—it’s one of those moments that makes you stop and think back through all the clues. The conclusion ties everything together in a way that’s satisfying, if tinged with sadness, and it left me thinking long after I finished.

This book is very different in tone and setup from Rekulak’s Hidden Pictures, but it delivers just as many surprises. If you enjoy thrillers that combine family drama with jaw-dropping suspense, this is one to add to your list.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak starts with a great hook and an interesting mix of heart and mystery. The writing is easy to get into, and the main character brings a lot of personality to the story. There are some really clever moments, and the overall idea feels fresh. However, the middle drags a little, and a few plot threads don’t quite come together by the end. Still, it’s a fun, creative read that’s worth checking out—even if it doesn’t fully stick the landing. Entertaining and satisfying as an audiobook. 3.75/5

I want to give this a 4.5 because I think the ending could have been a little better but overall I loved it.

After reading Hidden Pictures, I had a feeling I was going to love The Last One at the Wedding and I was right. I can't wait to see what else he will be writing. It has all of the twists and turns and f-you's. Enjoy!

The Last One at the Wedding had great twists that I didn’t t see coming. Recommend for anyone who likes an unreliable narrator.

I loved Hidden pictures so I knew right away that I would have to check this one out and honestly I was just as impressed. While it's a totally different type of story from Hidden Pictures, it's no less intriguing.

There are so many things going on that do a great job of misleading the reader, you never really seem to know what's the actual truth and who can be trusted.

If you enjoy audiobooks this is another great one to listen to. The narrator sounds just like you would expect the father of the bride to sound!

I liked this one! It was slower than what I usually like, but it worked. I enjoyed the wedding scene, and the single POV of Frank. Great twists and turns!

THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

🤐After loooooving this author’s previous book HIDDEN PICTURES, I couldn’t wait to dive into this one! However this one was very different in that it didn’t really feel like a thriller? I’d say it’s more family drama/suspense but there were definitely still some creepy parts (especially if you don’t like spiders 🥴).

🤐THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING follows Frank who gets a call from his estranged daughter that she’s getting married and wants him at her wedding. The family she’s marrying into is ultra-wealthy and seems to have a lot of buried secrets. Frank starts to worry his daughter is in over her head.

🤐This was a bit of a slower start but shortly after the halfway point the action really ramped up! I didn’t expect the twists and had no idea how it would end. Honestly the ending made me sad for Frank but I enjoyed it overall!

🤐My main issue was how unlikeable every single person in the book was besides Frank and the little girl. I know I wasn’t supposed to be rooting for these characters but man they were awful. 😅 Overall I’d pick this one up if you want a family drama with lots of secrets. 🤫

🤐Thanks @macmillan.audio for my digital copy!

If you're looking for an audiobook that will absolutely hook you, you need to check out Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding. Seriously, once I started this one, I couldn't stop listening. It's just that compelling.
Rekulak does an incredible job weaving together a cast of characters that keeps you constantly wondering: how are these people truly intertwined with each other? And the best part is trying to figure out who was being played and who was doing the playing. The whole time, you're piecing together clues and second-guessing everyone's motives.
It's a really smart mystery, and I'm happy to report that it delivers a truly satisfying ending. All those questions you have get answered in a way that feels earned and well-crafted. Highly recommend giving this one a listen!

I really love The Last One at the Wedding. It was fast paced, engaging, full of action, and a bit humorous at times. It fully kept my attention and kept me on my toes until the very end. I also really liked the narrator. I would highly recommend this audiobook.

⛧The Last One At The Wedding by Jason Relulak - I didn't love it. But... I didn't hate it. This was not what I was expecting from the author of Hidden Pictures. It felt a little too basic. As a random thriller from a random author, it would have been great. So, moral of the story, if you HAVEN'T read Hidden Pictures, then definitely read this one first so your expectations don't ruin the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last One at the Wedding
By: Jason Rekulak
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pub Date: 10/08/24

Frank is a man in his mid 50s. He has worked for UPS for 26 years. He has one daughter Maggie, who he fell out of contact with about three years prior. Until she calls one day to inform him that she’s getting married and she happens to be getting married to an ultra wealthy family who owns the business. Maggie works for. Desperate to spend more time with his daughter and get their relationship back on track. He plans a short trip to visit her and they begin to talk on the phone prior to the wedding but when they arrive at the camp that is going to hold the wedding many things go wrong and Frank really doesn’t think Maggie should marry this man. But how well does he really know his daughter?
This was really good! I was sure I had it figured out at least twice before I really did!
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This was a fantastic audiobook. The narrator really gripped me the entire time.

I loved the drama thriller drama throughout the book. Though some plot twists were predictable, I really enjoyed how this story all played out.

Only thing was some pacing issues!


thank you to net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review *

A Gripping Mystery That Keeps You Hooked!
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak was a thoroughly enjoyable read that truly delivered on its promises. I was immediately drawn into the mystery, which was expertly crafted and full of intriguing layers. Rekulak does a fantastic job of introducing and developing his characters; they were so engaging and well-fleshed out that I quickly became invested in their stories and fates.

What really stood out was the fast-paced nature of the narrative. From start to finish, the book maintained a compelling momentum that made it incredibly hard to put down. It genuinely kept me interested until the very end, constantly eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle. If you're looking for a mystery that combines a great plot with memorable characters and a relentless pace, this one is definitely worth picking up!

The Last One at the Wedding is a gripping thriller that masterfully blends suspense, secrets, and a high-stakes wedding setting. Jason Rekulak keeps the tension tight from start to finish, with unexpected twists that keep you guessing until the very last page. The characters are flawed and intriguing, adding emotional depth to the fast-paced plot.

The wedding backdrop creates a perfect contrast between celebration and danger, making the story both thrilling and engaging. If you love suspenseful reads with plenty of surprises and a bit of drama, this book is definitely worth your time!

Jason Rekulak’s writing is amazing, there is always a spooky twist to each story he writes. I enjoy a horror-thriller book that doesn’t cross over too much gore. This book is the perfect blend of horror and thriller.

I honestly forgot that I had an ARC of this book and it archived a while ago, but I did listen to the audiobook after it released. I enjoyed the story and the narration. Boy, does Frank have no idea of what is going on, despite all of his “situational awareness.” The characters were lovable and the love to hate variety and they all seemed to balance each other out pretty well. I feel like a few things kinda fell flat, but there was palpable tension throughout. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early option for this audiobook.

Forever a fan of Jason Rekulak. I enjoyed the change of pace from Rekulak’s previous title. Last One at the Wedding was charming, full of unlikeable and flawed characters, and provided the twists I needed. A significant amount of time has passed since listening to this and my husband and I still frequently bring up Frank and Abigail. The fact that this has been able to live so rent free in my brain helps support that I will absolutely be reading whatever Jason Rekulak comes up with next.

Narration was very well done and I would absolutely recommend the audiobook version of Last One at the Wedding.

DNF.

I started this audiobook and really was intrigued, I didn't fully connect with the narrator but I wanted to keep going and try to get through it.
I got to roughly 50% before I threw in the towel.
Something about Frank rubbed me very weirdly, Like I know thats the intention in a thriller/suspense but I almost just didn't care enough to push through sadly!
I will 100% still try Hidden Pictures but I will be reading it with my eyeballs I think!! I enjoyed Jason's writing style but unfortunately didn't connect with the narrator or main character in this one!

A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I was so excited to listen to this novel because I loved this author’s previous work. However, I don’t think domestic thrillers are my favorite type. I found it to be a little boring and it had some very unlikeable characters. I thought the narrator did a great job of portraying the character and appreciated how he told the story. I enjoyed this overall and would probably recommend to others.

I liked the father in this story the most. There was a lot of choices made by the author that I think were supposed to be shocking, and just felt expected. And then there was the lice thing... that was not cool. I don't know - I really liked Hidden Pictures but this felt kinda pedestrian.