The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a mystery thriller that begins when Hannah Hall's husband, Owen, suddenly disappears after a scandal happens at his company, The Shop. She later receives a note from Owen, which are his last words to her, "Protect her," her being his 16-year-old daughter, Bailey, whom Hannah has trouble connecting with. In a quest to find Owen and where he could have went, Hannah and Bailey uncover much about Owen's past.
I don't read thrillers often, but I liked this one! I don't think this thriller was anything super special or there were any twists that made me feel shocked. What really made me like this book is the way Owen's life unfolded as the book progressed. I really liked seeing how each "clue" or piece of information Hannah or Bailey discovered became a piece of a larger puzzle, and the involvement of so many people to help, or stop, their inevitable discovery.
The ending of this book, while not the most satisfying, was really sweet. I won't give anything away here because I want to keep this review spoiler-free, but I liked how Hannah and Bailey made the most of the rest of their lives to the ability they could. They made a family between themselves, despite the glue missing between them.
I primarily picked up this book to read it before the Apple+ TV adaptation premiered in April, starring Jennifer Garner as Hannah Hall. I think Garner was an incredible choice for Hannah, and I also really liked Bailey and how the show gave a new angle and more insight into Bailey and her life than the book, which is told entirely in Hannah's perspective. The show was produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company, Hello Sunshine, which doesn't come as a surprise considering The Last Thing He Told Me was a Reese's Book Club pick in May 2021.
Have you read or watched The Last Thing He Told Me? Which do you prefer? I'd love to know your thoughts!
Comments