A Review: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

I originally bought this book as my Book of the Month for May. I did not know what to expect as I had never heard of the author Laura Dave, but I actually was pleasantly surprised.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.

With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, The Last Thing He Told Me is a riveting mystery, certain to shock you with its final, heartbreaking turn.

My Verdict: The Last Thing He Told Me is Definitely Worth Reading

This book also reminded me a bit of No One Knows by J.T. Ellison, since it had to do with a woman’s husband disappearing, and everything we know about the husband is based on the main character’s description of him. However, there were a few key differences between this book and Ellison’s. For one, there is no weird love affair in this book. You won’t find the main character Hannah starting to fall for a side character who reminds her of her vanished husband. I’d also like to point out that this book’s hero is the main character, not a male figure that comes to save the day. Despite my desire to want Hannah to have an ending where she reunites with her lost love, the book’s actual ending left me feeling satisfied that she found her version of happy in a realistic manner that I could definitely see happening in real life.

Similarities to No One Knows aside, I’m giving this book 4.5 stars for the author’s ability to draw me in. At first, I thought the book was a little slow going, but I couldn’t put it down after the first few chapters. I think the author did a good job making the story seem believable, as many mysteries and thrillers have so many plot twists that it becomes ridiculous. The Last Thing He Told Me was not written that way. I could see Owen’s reasoning for why he disappeared, and I could understand Hannah’s confusion and disbelief on her discoveries about him. The only critique I had for the book was the author’s use of repetitive phrases and Hannah’s ability to determine other characters’ thoughts. At one point, another character asked her if she was a therapist, as she was so insightful and seemed to fully understand where he was coming from even though she had never met him before.

Based on Barnes and Noble, you might like this book if you liked Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson, and Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman.

If you haven’t read this book, I hope you do. It’s definitely a page-turner and a good summer read. If you have read this book, what did you think? Let me know! I’d love to hear your thoughts!