The First Time I Saw Him

Our Review:

If you loved The Last Thing He Told Me, this sequel delivers exactly what you're hoping for – that same propulsive, can't-put-it-down energy wrapped around a story that's really about family and second chances. Laura Dave picks up five years later, and within pages, the fragile peace Hannah and Bailey have built comes crashing down when Owen reappears. From there, it's a breathless ride.

What I appreciate about Dave's writing is how she balances the thriller elements with genuine emotional weight. This isn't just plot mechanics – you feel Hannah's impossible position, torn between protecting Bailey and the pull toward the life she thought she'd lost forever. The relationship between Hannah and her now-teenage stepdaughter has deepened in interesting ways, and watching them navigate this crisis together gives the book its heart.

I'll say this: if you haven't read the first book, start there. This one assumes you know these characters and their history, and you'll miss a lot of the emotional resonance otherwise. And if you're coming in expecting something wildly different from the original, you might find the formula familiar. But honestly? Sometimes familiar done well is exactly what you want. It's a quick, satisfying read that left me genuinely moved by the end.