The Last Thing He Told Me: A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick (The Hannah Hall Series)

Such a page-turner. Great beach read / vacation read!

I was looking for a sorbet book for the in-between, was hoping for a high-end but low-pressure novel. When I read that much of this story takes place in Austin, I sprung for it. After the first ten pages, I thought I made a mistake, but I continued, anyway. Glad I did, and allowed the story to build. I was delighted that the plot wasn’t trite or simplistic beyond the bare surface. This is largely a thematic story of love and trust. Hannah, a thirty-eight-year-old stepmother of a sixteen-year-old girl, Bailey, is forced to bond with her in ways that she desired, yet never achieved; Hannah was repeatedly rejected by the girl. Owen, Hanna’s husband of one year, always had faith that Bailey and Hannah would eventually connect. Hanna and Bailey remain the core relationship in the book. In the opening chapter, a middle-school messenger comes to the door with a note from Owen to Hannah. There are only two words written: “Protect her.” Owen, however, is gone, fled, run off, and Hannah has no clue to the whereabouts of her missing husband, or why he left. This forces the issue of Bailey and Hannah’s relationship to define and refine itself. Can they be a source of support to each other? Can they find Owen? Owen’s departure initially drives a further wedge between Hannah and Bailey. However, survival and the search for Owen depend on the two working together under baffling and dreadful circumstances. The FBI, a U.S. Marshal, and people at The Shop (where Owen works--a software start-up) pursue Hannah with questions and demands. Some at the Shop, like the owner, have been arrested for fraud and embezzlement. In quick time, it turns into a cat-and-mouse adventure, taking Hannah and Bailey from Sausalito (where they live) to Austin, Texas (where I live). The plot is exciting and packed with adventure, suspense, and thrills. Owen’s past, difficult to mine, reveals him as a cipher, with rumors of criminal behavior. All that Hannah can depend on is her faith in the two years that she’s known her husband. He walked into her woodturner business (like wood sculpting) and they fell in love soon after. Hannah has never doubted, not for a minute, Owen’s love and devotion to her and Bailey. Admittedly, the growth of Bailey and Hannah’s relationship is a bit twee, and the distance that is reported between them initially is not as edgy or intense as we are told. Bailey’s pseudo-hostility is transparent, too on-the-nose. We understand that Bailey has a big heart from the start--perhaps a more realistic animosity from Bailey would have been too offensive for some readers? The author seemed determined that we like Hannah and Bailey, unquestionably. Hannah never deters from excusing Bailey’s bratty behaviors, either, but she bent over backwards too frequently for belief. Despite plot holes and a big ask to suspend belief, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME is entertaining and cinematic. I was never bored, and I was stirred by the closing scenes, too. Moreover, there's a polished delicacy to Dave's writing and a warm voice that appealed to me. It's a popcorn book, not literature. A movie is already in the works, starring Julia Roberts. 3.5 (even if 2.75 for believability)

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down! Best book I’ve read in ages! Read no further if you don’t wish to know the plot. It boils down to a father’s love for his child being so great he wants to keep her safe above and beyond everything, even his own happiness. It also reinforces the love and great trust he puts in his fairly new wife to help him do just that. And let’s not forget Hannah! She instinctively knows what he wants and how to pull it off, even eventually knowing they may never be together again as a family. I see now there is a sequel and I can’t wait to get started! And here’s hoping there is a possibility of a really happy ending!

The Last Thing He Told Me was an okay read for me. The premise was interesting, but the story didn’t fully keep my attention and felt a bit slow at times. Not a bad book, just not one that really grabbed me. Took me forever to finish it and usually I go through books quick.

This is the second book of Dave’s that I’ve read. She writes well, and the beginning immediately piqued my interest. Hannah’s married for barely a year and lives on a Sausalito houseboat with her tech-engineer husband, Owen, and his teen daughter, Bailey. Hannah’s in love, and it seems that, initially,her biggest problem is trying to win over her less-than-thrilled stepdaughter. Then, Owen abruptly disappears, and their problems quickly escalate. Owen leaves Hannah with only a cryptic message, asking that she “protect her”, meaning Bailey. Hannah turns to friends for help, but when rumors of fraud begin circulating at Owen’s company and looming threats of indictment begin to swirl, Hannah wonders about the extent of her husband’s involvement. When a U.S. Marshal and two FBI agents begin asking questions, Hannah realizes that she needs to investigate and find answers on her own. Hannah and Bailey grab a flight to Austin, TX based on a series of obscure clues from Owen’s past. They follow slim leads based on flashes of Bailey’s childhood memories, searching for Owen and why he left. Secrets quickly multiply and the mystery of Owen’s complicated life begins to emerge. The story is engaging, and the Austin trip propels the story in an unexpected, improbable direction. For me, it wasn’t edge-of-your-seat action, but it did have steady momentum and compelling drama. A few well-placed surprises and interesting, inventive twists kept the pages easily turning. Ultimately, the book centers around the things that we do for love, what we are willing to sacrifice and what we can forgive. At it’s heart, it’s a family story about how we live out the choices that we make. A good, solid read that was worth the time invested.

I have to be honest -- this is not the sort of novel I would normally read. I definitely don't do book club reads. And yet... There was something about the synopsis that appealed to me. The story of a newlywed whose husband disappears, leaving her alone with his teenage daughter who can't stand her. And the last thing he tells her is in a note that reads just two words. "Protect her." Okay. I'm hooked. This isn't going to be your usual Book-club-story-with-a-message kind of artsy fartsy story. And it wasn't. A thriller that captured my attention and kept me turning the pages until I'd finished. Hell, i was up until 2 AM reading because I could not put the damn thing down. A tight plot that had twists and turns that takes you along for a ride. With just enough of the past creeping in to fill in the gaps. a The characters are nuanced, layered. Emotionally invested in the story to be true to it. They are real with flaws and insecurities about whether they're doing the right thing or following the right path. They grieve the loss and learn to turn to each other, an evolving relationship between Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey, as they make their way to the truth. And when it finally comes, a dance with the devil. What wasn't to love about that book? And a sequel coming in January, 2026. A must read, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Great Read!! Kept my focus and kept me wanting more. I was blown away at the end and it left me ruminating for days.

This book was a fun read. However, it was a bit slow and seemed to draw out a bit. I would recommend watching the Jennifer Garner adaptation for a fun follow-up to the book.

Well written. Good story.

Fraquinho e chato,

It’s sad, it’s life and you want more! Such a beautiful story, that could be real, about substitutes of all kind!

I enjoyed this book but was not sure what to expect. Reading the blurb and reviews I really had no idea what type of book this would be. It kept me interested but I think it wasn't what I had in mind. It was a good book and worth a read just don't go in with any expectations and you'll enjoy.

The Last Thing He Told Me by @lauradaveauthor completely consumed me! When Owen Michaels disappears, he leaves behind just two words on a note to his wife: Protect her. What follows is a gripping search for the truth, as his wife tries to uncover where he’s gone and who he really was. This story unfolds with real urgency; I genuinely could not put it down and found myself racing through the pages desperate to know what would happen next. The characters are compelling, the emotional stakes feel real, and the twists keep coming without ever feeling forced. A brilliantly paced, addictive read with heart at its core. One of those books you will think about long after you’ve finished and the sequel is on its way and I can not wait!!