The Last Thing He Told Me

This was a super timely read of The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.

Goodreads Stats

Why I Read This Book/How I Heard About It

I saw a preview for The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+ and I knew it was based on one of Reese's Book Club Picks (Hello Sunshine), so I thought I'd better read it before I watch the show.

Goodreads Summary

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.

First Impressions

I liked this story right off the bat - reading about the awkward feeling of being a new stepmother kinda hit me, you know? I was like, "Oh, Hannah...I feel you, girl." And, once the action starts in this story, it pretty much pulls you along through the entire book.

Final Thoughts

This was a really nice head scratcher. I kept thinking I was going to guess what would happen next, and I kept finding I was wrong. This entire plot is so well thought-out and executed. I have to say I'm impressed.

And, no spoilers, but the resolution is somehow exactly like what you think it's going to be and, at the same time, so much different than you imagined from the beginning. There were just enough little twists and turns to keep me interested and engaged. Really fun!

And I did watch the first episode of the show last night. I hear Laura Dave is highly involved and co-wrote the adapted screenplay, so it's not surprising that the first episode follows the exact events of the book. Excellent!

Rating on Goodreads

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

My rating method:

• I rarely rate books 5 stars. I save this for the absolute best books I've read. You know the ones...the ones that you can't get out of your head, even after you've finished them. The ones you think about for weeks afterwards.

• If a book is really, really good, I'll give it 4 stars. If you see a 4-star rating from me, I'd definitely recommend it to you to read.

• If it's just OK, it gets 3 stars. Basically, it means I could take it or leave it. I'd probably read it again because it wasn't terrible. But not like a favorite or anything.

• If I rate it 1 or 2 stars, I would not recommend anyone read it. It either didn't hold my interest or I couldn't relate to the characters/plot.