If I recall correctly, I saw The Last Thing He Told Me everywhere in 2022. Obviously, Reese thought it was a great book and would make a great production, and she has some very loyal followers. Toward the end of last year, I decided to grab a copy. I’ve been trying really hard to catch up on my Goodreads goal, so I have been going for books I think I can read quickly.

The Story

The instant #1 New York Times bestselling mystery and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick that’s captivated more than a million readers about a woman searching for the truth about her husband’s disappearance…at any cost.

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.

My Thoughts

I gave The Last Thing He Told Me three stars on Goodreads. I’d call it a safe 3.5 stars, but not good enough to round upward.

When I go into reading a book that I know has already been optioned or created as a movie or TV show, I always want to figure out WHY someone chose that. What made them say, “Yes, we’re going to bring this book to life”? With this one, I don’t really get it. I imagine they made the show a lot more dramatic.

As a whole, the book felt like unnecessary conflict. I know, I know. Is any conflict necessary? Yes, but this was weird drama. There’s discord between a daughter and a stepmom, a runaway husband, duffel bags of cash, organized crime… It’s like all of the thriller/mystery twists were put in a bowl, and Laura Dave said that she had to use X before the end of the book.

Am I mad that I read The Last Thing He Told Me? No. Is it going to be on my list of favorites from this year? No. However, it’s a quick read, so it would make for a perfect beach/poolside/vacation read if you’re in the market for one.

Now, I don’t have access to Apple TV+, so someone has to tell me if the show is worth it! How did it compare to the book?

Note: This post contains affiliate links, so I may receive a small commission from sales generated.