“The last one at the wedding” was the first book that I’ve read from Jason Rekulak and I plan to read more. The story starts with Frank Szatowski and his estranged daughter Maggie. We don’t know right away what caused the rift between them but Maggie reaches out to her dad after three years foster when she becomes engaged. Frank, his sister and her foster daughter all go to the wedding in NH at the wealthy Gardner family compound. Maggie and her fiancée Aiden don’t appear to be what Frank is expecting. Something is “off” and he then starts digging into the mystery and all the family secrets.

I listened to the audiobook and was pulled into the story by the excellent narrator, John Pirhalla. I found this one hard to stop listening to and a fast moving story. I couldn’t predict where this would end.

Highly recommend.

I really don’t like to leave any negative feedback but I was so bored with this one. If you can hang in there to about 60% things start to pick up and become more interesting. Still, I hung with it all the way to the end. Hidden Pictures was great… this one felt more like a mid debut novel. Thanks NetGalley for the ALC.

Frank Szatowski and his daughter, Maggie, have been estranged with no contact for the past three years. When Frank gets a call out of the blue inviting him to Maggie’s wedding, he’s overjoyed. It’s a huge affair as the family Maggie is marrying into is quite well to do. No cost is spared and it’s a whole week end affair! The more Frank sees, the more uneasy he becomes, just what is Maggie getting herself into? As he tries to warn her, Maggie pulls back, but when a woman ends up dead on the beach, things take a turn and Frank will stop at nothing to save his daughter…the only question is … does Maggie need to be saved?? There are so many twists and turns in this one keeping the reader on their toes from start to finish! Do yourselves a favor and listen to this one on audio! It was voiced to perfection by John Pirhalla. While the story might be a bit over the top, John’s narration brought the story to life and I loved every minute of it! Thank you to Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

The Last One at the Wedding is a slow-burn murder mystery. The audiobook was expertly narrated by John Pirhalla. Pirhalla did an excellent job narrating the single POV of the MMC Frank Szatowski - a widowed father of estranged, soon to be married daughter, Maggie. The story had so many twists and turns, I didn’t have a clue where it would take me until the end. For people who enjoyed Hidden Pictues, this is a very different kind of story, but the quality of Rekulak’s storytelling is on the same level. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early access to this fun and addictive audiobook :)

Many thanks to Goodreads and Macmillan Audio for providing the ALC of The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak.

The story is gripping, keeping you hooked and in suspense, constantly hoping for a happy resolution while feeling uneasy about the main character’s fate. Although it starts a bit slow, the pace steadily picks up, drawing you deeper into the plot. The unpredictable twists will leave you questioning the story's direction, sometimes pleasantly surprised, other times uncertain about what comes next.

I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the secrets within the characters. Viewing the narrative from the father’s perspective was a unique touch. Frank, despite his flaws, was a well-rounded protagonist—gruff but with a compassionate and kind core that made him relatable. His struggles felt real, and the intricate family dynamics were depicted with care.

I did wish for more development with the supporting characters.

Overall, this is a well-crafted psychological suspense that thoughtfully delves into social themes and family complexities.

The narrator did a great job.

This story of Frank Szatowski is not what you think it will be. This story is a slow evolution of family and choice. Frank is a UPS driver by trade - and he’s very proud of that. His wife has passed and his daughter now grown is estranged from him until one day she reconnects. She’s getting married and she wants Frank to meet her fiancee The meet the family does not go as Frank had planned, but nothing about this wedding is going as planned. Thanks to NetGalley for this read!

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 by Jason Rekulak is narrated by John Pirhalla was a suspenseful family drama with a really down-to-earth protagonist that won me over.

Frank Szatowski is estranged from his daughter, but when she calls and invites him to her upcoming wedding, his hopes are raised. What he finds when he begins to make connections with this family feel off, but what he begins to discover is nothing expected.

This was a fascinating family drama with a suspenseful undercurrent. I really loved Frank and his simple nature. He was very overlooked and was able sense something wrong and trusted his gut. He could never have guessed, and neither could I, what was really happening and how it unfolded felt well done!

The audio was really great for this. I loved how Pirhalla voiced Frank. It felt very spot-on and added to my enjoyment quite nicely! I definitely recommend this for fans of twisty suspense!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio & @netgalley for this @flatiron_books title that will be out on October 8th!

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copy of this book!

4.5⭐️ rounded up!

I really enjoyed this story. There was mystery and intrigue, and the plot was pretty intricate without getting confusing or over the top.

I really enjoyed Frank’s character arc. He was a little neurotic and closed off in the beginning, especially toward Abigail, and to see the changes in him over the course of the story was amazing. His revelations about his relationship with Maggie were also complicated, and I was proud to see how he handled her in the end.

I loved Tammy, and I strive to be as ✨unbothered✨ as she is one day. Shoutout to my fellow hairdresser Vicky, she was amazing too.

“Rich people can buy their way out of everything” is not a new concept but to me it never gets old. It gets more and more shocking in fiction, and unfortunately in real life too.

This book reminded me A LOT of The Perfect Couple, a series recently released on Netflix. I haven’t read the book that show is based off of, but this book is very similar to that show. It of course has its differences but is a very similar plot.

I really enjoyed the narrator. I’m not sure I’ve heard him before but I really liked his character voices and he overall did a great job.

This is a really great mystery with great subplots about family dynamics. This was a highly anticipated release for me and I wasn’t disappointed.

This book was a wild ride and I couldn’t put it down. Usually I’ll just listen to books when I’m driving or can’t have a physical book in my hands, but I delayed reading anything else until I finished this! 4.5⭐️ rounded up.

When Frank’s daughter, Maggie, reached out after three years of no contact, he was so excited. She was getting married and actually wanted him at the wedding… but from the get go things were sketchy. She wouldn’t just share details of her fiancés family. Frank had to drive from PA to Boston to learn details in person, and everything got weirder from there. What did Maggie get herself into?! How well did he really know her and understand the decisions she made? Frank’s suspicion about things not being as they seemed are right, but he never saw this coming.

As parents, we are blinded by love for our children to the bad decisions they make. We let pride and protection cloud our judgment. What happens if that cloud lifts and you have to choose between supporting your kids or ruining their lives?

The narrator was great and kept my attention. I finished this audio book in one day… literally couldn’t stop listening to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I know so many are fans of Rekulak's debut HIDDEN PICTURES and for good reason. While I enjoyed that one, I think I liked this one even more, but they couldn't be more different!

I absolutely LOVED that this whole story was told in first-person from one person's POV. I feel like many authors are straying away from a singular point of view lately (which is fine), but in this case, it really helps me as a reader to feel connected to the main character and his thoughts.

If you follow my reviews, you know that slow-burn family suspense/drama is my JAM and this book 100% scratched that itch for me. I may not have been on the edge of my seat plot-wise the entire time, but I was glued to the characters and finished this book in a day.

If you're hesitant to pick this up because (like me) you think the wedding thrillers have been OVERDONE, please do not let that stop you. This isn't your basic island wedding thriller we've all read SO MANY TIMES. This book confirmed what HIDDEN PICTURES had me thinking, which is that Rekulak is about as original as they come! Can't wait to see what he writes next!

The narrator was absolutely perfect. There could not have been a better person to voice Frank Szatowski;s character!

I really appreciate the ending and had to just sit with it for a while.

Highly recommend.

4.5 stars

*The Last One at the Wedding* by Jason Rekulak follows Frank Szatowski as he navigates the complexities of family estrangement and an unexpected wedding invitation from his daughter, Maggie. While the premise holds promise, Frank's character often detracts from the story; he comes across as unlikeable and astonishingly dense, making it hard for readers to root for him.

The writing itself isn't particularly remarkable, but it remains readable, allowing the plot to unfold without becoming tedious. As Frank delves into the unsettling dynamics of Maggie’s new family, the tension builds, albeit in a somewhat predictable manner. While the novel has its moments of suspense, it ultimately feels like it misses the mark in character development and depth. For readers looking for a quick thriller, it offers some entertainment, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

Jason Rekulak has done it again!! This book had my attention from the beginning. Narrators also amazing!

This book tests how far a dad will go for his daughter. Frank Szatowski is a hard working UPS driver who we learn had a bit of a falling out with his daughter, Maggie. To his surprise Maggie calls to say she is marrying a young wealthy son of a thriving tech company. Frank is excited to attend the wedding, but things seem a bit off to him when he arrives. He starts realizing people might be hiding something and then when two deaths occur that seems suspicious he is convinced something is not right. Is his daughter getting involved with the wrong family or is Magie not what she seems?

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. It’s a great edge on your seat thriller and I would recommend it. The audio book is fantastic, I have listened to other books by John Pirhalla and they have never disappointed. His narration really adds to the story and helps the story move along.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Last One at the Wedding suffers from the same issue I had with Hidden Pictures. The build up of a story and creepy characters are SO there, but the ending fizzles out. The first 75% of this book is a solid 4 star read, but unfortunately the conclusion in a mystery/thriller is SO important and it can really affect your overall enjoyment.

I really enjoyed the character of Frank, the UPS driver dad who is wholeheartedly dedicated to his daughter as well as his foster parent sister and her current foster. They're all people you definitely have met in real life. I love reading about solidly good people who stand by their morals.

The ending for me was a little too finger-twirling moustache bad guy silliness, but I still liked the book overall. The plot had me fully interested and I always love a story about the dark side of the super-rich.

If it weren’t for the amazing narration I would have given up on this one entirely.

This was about a bunch of insufferable people acting insufferable. There was one solid twist but the rest was quite boring.

I loved this authors previous book so I would love to give him one more chance in the future.

Kudos to the amazing narration though.

2.5

The Last One At The Wedding, written by Jason Rekulak, is a mystery thriller that I could not put down! This was my second book by this author, and it did not disappoint.

Frank Szatowski is a hard worker and loving father and brother. But he had lost touch with his daughter after a falling out, and was pleasantly surprised when his daughter Maggie contacts him. She tells him she is getting married, and would like him to come to her wedding. But right from the beginning this is mysterious, with Frank asking if this is the right thing for Maggie, or for their family.

I loved the characters in this book, and the variety of backgrounds that they came from. I feel that this really added to the storyline! I also really appreciated the plot and character development, and how Frank shows his soft side through some various interactions. I definitely recommend this book to any mystery fans! Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Though the quite predictable mystery unfolds at an incredibly slow pace, I found myself appreciating the rhythm of the story once I accepted that the focus was less on the mystery itself and more on the complexities of parenting. I wouldn’t categorize this as a thriller; instead, it focuses on “How far would you go for your child?”

At times, the protagonist’s behavior felt a bit off, with certain cringe-worthy comments making him seem more like a much older man than his 50s. I enjoyed the narration overall. While the ending left me unsatisfied, I appreciated the book’s tone, humor, and relatability.

That said, there are a few triggering elements that should be disclosed.

This book is quite different from the last I read by this author, and I enjoyed it so much more. I was hooked right from the start. This is more a delicate story of suspense, not a thriller per say. The pacing is still fast, and the tension is high, it just felt different than what I expect from a straight thriller, and it wasn’t a bad thing. The setting was great, and I feel that this author does a fabulous job of creating a creepy atmosphere. I remember this from their previous works as well, so I would consider them a master at creating unsettling vibes. The plot was great, and I was engaged the entire time. This plot is delicately layered and slowly builds, which is fine because it doesn’t feel slow due to the pacing, we just nicely get pieces of the puzzle along the way, and it worked for me. The twists were fantastic, and I loved them as they unfolded.

I listened to this one via an ALC copy, and it really made the book that much more unsettling. The narrator did a fantastic job creating the tension and atmosphere that I think the author was going for. It was fabulous.

This book was so much more than I was expecting!

Frank Szatkowski is a lovable, and at times infuriating, overprotective father. He wants nothing more than to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter, so when she calls out of the blue after three years of silence, he is thrilled to be invited to her wedding. However, as the date creeps closer Frank can’t seem to shake the feeling that something seems… off. Wanting only what’s best for his daughter, Frank does a little digging to put his worries to rest, but discovers too late that he may not like all of the answers that he finds.

Jason Rekulak knows how to write a page turner! Truly a whirlwind of a story with gripping characters that all have their part to play. I flew through this novel and at times felt so frustrated with this dad and daughter duo that I wasn’t sure if I would finish. BUT I AM SO GLAD THAT I DID 🙌

Thank you @netgalley and @flatiron_books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! @jasonrekulak is quickly becoming one of my ‘preorder authors.’

To start, I’d like to say I really enjoyed “Hidden Pictures” by this author so I wanted to read another book from him. But this book was confusing. I’ve read a lot of thrillers and I feel like this one just threw in a bunch of random things to throw you off and make you think different things were happening but in a weird way that looking back on it, is even more confusing every time I go through it all. 😭 I feel like the title had nothing to do with the storyline of the book and didn’t even make sense also. And the story kept seeming like something big was gonna happen but in the end there was barely a big reveal and then the last chapter was also just…. Anticlimactic and of course confusing again. 😣