Do you like books that are suspenseful, but not too plot-driven? More relationship-focused than a thriller? Then check out my review of The Last Thing He Told Me.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
- To be published on May 4, 2021 by Simon & Schuster
- Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review.
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What Other Books Has Laura Dave Written?
I will go through her books and her longtime association with Reese Witherspoon!
Her first book, London is the Best City in America, was published in 2006 and optioned as a movie for Reese Witherspoon. It was a bit of a chick-lit, girl figuring herself out kind of thing. But it doesn’t seem like that movie was ever made. (If I’m wrong and it went straight to TV or something, let me know!)
She followed that with women’s fiction: The Divorce Party (2007), The First Husband (2011) Eight Hundred Grapes (2015), and Hello Sunshine (2017). Was the title another Reese connection? I don’t know!
Then came The Last Thing He Told Me, in (2021) which IS being made into a movie. Details in my spoiler post for The Last Thing He Told Me!
Review of The Last Thing He Told Me
If you’ve read this and are looking for a spoiler discussion, you can find my Spoiler Discussion of The Last Thing He Told Me here!
The Last Thing He Told Me was interesting and page-turning without really being a thriller. It’s more one of those a “how well do you really know someone” books that is focused on Hannah’s relationship with her new-ish husband, Owen.
The book seemed like an interesting hybrid between women’s fiction and a domestic thriller. Yes, there were twists and turns, but the level of peril was relatively low.
Hannah’s husband abruptly disappears, leaving her a mysterious note asking Hannah to “protect her.” Hannah quickly realizes that her husband is asking her to protect Hannah’s stepdaughter, Bailey.
At first Hannah thinks Owen’s disappearance is linked to the fact that the software firm where he works has just been charged with defrauding investors.
But the truth is more complicated than that, and Hannah will have to mine her memories and those of her stepdaughter to figure out who her husband really was and what made him disappear. Given what she finds out, can Hannah carry out his wish?
I found the ending of this a little weird. But okay. And touching in a way.
In the end, this read more like women’s fiction than domestic thriller. I did enjoy reading The Last Thing He Told Me and think it would make a good choice for those who are looking for something a little less thrilling than a rollercoaster. More like a house of mirrors.
Have you read this? What do you think? I just found out it’s this month’s pick for Reese’s Book Club (I’m on a roll with those!) Check out my thoughts on other Reese picks: Review of The Sanatorium here, my review of The Guest List here, my review of Firekeeper’s Daughter here.
If you’ve read this and want to talk spoilers, check out my Spoiler Discussion of The Last Thing He Told Me here.
Check out my review of The Night We Lost Him, Laura Dave’s 2024 title!
I’m a fan of mystery reads that revolves around the identity of a character. So this sounds like up my alley. I read something similar, but the character committed suicide only his body wasn’t recovered. His boyfriend didn’t give up and in the end, it was a lovely twist. Thanks for the recc, Jen!