The First Time I Saw Him

 

The past doesn’t stay buried and when it resurfaces, Hannah knows running is the only option.

The First Time I Saw Him picks up right where The Last Thing He Told Meleaves off.  I’ll be blunt: you really do need to be familiar with the first book before diving in. This isn’t a recap-and-carry-on king of sequel. It assumes you know these characters, their secrets, and the emotional landmines already buried beneath the surface.

When Owen unexpectedly appears at Hannah’s exhibition, Hannah instantly knows the fragile life she & Bailey have built is about to implode. They’ve spent the last five years preparing for this exact moment. When danger resurfaces, they don’t hesitate. They run. What follows is a tense, high-stakes race as Hannah will risk everything to keep Bailey safe, even if it means putting her own life on the line.

Laura Dave skillfully weaves shifting timelines and multiple points of view throughout the story, and the approach pays off. Those layers knit together the unresolved threads from the first book while deepening this story’s emotional core. What stood out most is how much this novel becomes about family and forgiveness. Bailey has grown into a confident young woman, and her relationships with Hannah and with her grandfather, Nicholas are loving and grounding amid all the danger.

On audio, this is a standout. The multi-cast narration is excellent across the board. Each narrator brings clarity and emotional weight to their role. The distinct voices make it easy to track the shifting timelines and POVs. No small feat in a story this layered.

Thank you Simon Audio for the early listen. The First Time I Saw Him releases January 6. I loved its relentless tension, emotional payoff, and smart continuation of Hannah and Bailey’s story.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: Do you like sequels that pick up immediately where the first book ends, or do you prefer more distance between stories?

#simonaudio #lauradave #audiobookreview #upcomingreleases #thrillerreads

About the Author

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Last Thing He Told Me and Eight Hundred Grapes. Her novels have sold more than six million copies and have been translated into forty languages. The Last Thing He Told Me was the Goodreads Mystery & Thriller of the Year for 2021 and is now a series on Apple TV+, cocreated by Laura. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their son.