Having read hidden pictures and absolutely adoring it this was an instant must read. Unfortunately I personally felt this one just didn’t live up to the previous book and fell a little flat for me.
I was after a more cohesive story and character development and I just wasn’t blown away by either.
I found the storyline to be mid level and found myself waiting for something extra that never came.

The Last One At The Wedding is a book no doubt many of us will be nervous about. Many of us loved Hidden Pictures, and a book known for its creepy drawings by kids will always leave its mark. So will the author's follow-up live up...?

The thing to go onto an open mind with here is that The Last One At The Wedding is not a dark book. There are no paranormal twists, no creepy children, and no hints of horror, so you have to level your expectations with that.

Instead, this is more a domestic suspense centred around family, business and money. "Succession meets The Guest List" is a great way to describe it as it has elements of brutal betrayals and a wedding-set mystery. I really liked the setting and how the story developed over this short period. And although the characters are unlikeable, the tension is built up well as you question who to trust.

The big surprise definitely came as a surprise, too, but I just expecting more. Which is why I'm preparing you not to compare this Hidden Pictures and to expect more of a domestic thriller because had this been the author's debut, I would definitely have been more impressed. So if this is your first book by Rekulak, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Unputdownable!

This is very different from Hidden Pictures but I enjoyed it just as much. A slow-burn suspense story focused on a father and daughter, you slowly understand the dynamics of their relationship and what makes them tick. I loved how this had so many tropes and while it had its fair share of twists, there were also hints of them before like a classic mystery should have.

It's well-written with some pretty great characterization. Definitely would recommend it to fans of domestic thrillers or suspense.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sphere for the e-book!

A thoroughly enjoyable read At first you think that this is going to be a straight forward family saga developing the relationship between Frank and his estranged daughter, Maggie. However,it becomes more and more intriguing as Frank delves into the dark side of her fiances family. Lots of twists and turns to keep you intrigued and guessing.. Great characters, particularly Frank, who is a down to earth UPS driver and completely overawed with the enormous wealth his daughter is marrying in to. Great humor is subtly expressed throughout. A fabulous read

Thanks to #NetGalley and #LittleBrownBookGroupUK for the book #TheLastOneAtTheWedding by #JasonRekulak. This book was crazy good and such a wild ride. Loved it! Franks daughter, Maggie calls out of the blue to say she is getting married. She and her father haven’t spoke in years. He is beyond excited but as the day gets near, he starts seeing red flags in regard to her finance. Something does not seem right. Is then something else going on behind the scenes?

Frank Szatowski is shocked to hear from estranged daughter, Maggie, especially when it is to invite him to her upcoming wedding. Frank wants to put things right and he arrives at a luxury resort, previously surprised to find she is marrying into a rich family. Only once there, things don’t seem right. Is he right to be worried?

I enjoyed Hidden Pictures so wanted to read this new offering by Jason Rekulak, and although fairly different to his previous novel, I found I really enjoyed it. I would actually say I preferred it to Hidden Pictures. Although there was a slightly slow start to help build up the story, I found I was invested straight away and really compelled to carry on reading. By the half way point I couldn’t put this down and stayed up way too late to finish it.

There are some really interesting characters and I think Frank is written incredibly well as I could really picture him, imaging him as a real person. You could really picture his dilemma and follow the family dynamics. Although some characters were unlikeable and did questionable things, they were entertaining.

The suspense builds up nicely and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the camp. There were some pretty good twists and turns also. I think this is another hit for this author and great for those who enjoy multi layered, intriguing mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an hornet review.

I did enjoy the book to begin with, but it became a bit convoluted and jumbled and I found I couldn't really concentrate and had to force myself to continue reading. I liked the characters and the story concept is good, the plot just felt like it was constantly jumping which made it hard to follow.

This was a good read with a twist. When Maggie calls her dad Frank after nor speaking to him for years, she wants to invite him to her wedding. She’s marrying a son of a wealthy business owner, but all is not as it seems. I liked this thriller, the characters are easy to read about and the location sounds brilliant. A 4 star read about a family and mystery’s.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

This thriller had me hooked from the start. The way it dove into the tension and secrets between the two families was so gripping. The complex relationships, all the hidden layers—it was the kind of drama that kept me guessing and wanting more with every chapter. I loved how it built up the suspense without ever feeling over the top.

The main character was definitely my favorite part. They felt so real—flawed but relatable, and I was completely invested in their journey. The audiobook made it even better because the narrator nailed it. The way they voiced the character’s emotions really added depth and made me feel like I was right there in the middle of everything.

If I had one gripe, it’s the ending. It went in a direction I wasn’t totally on board with, and it felt like maybe one twist too many. Still, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride. The story had me on edge the entire time, and even when I wasn’t sure where it was going, I was fully along for the journey.

Honestly, I’m glad I picked this up. It was intense, emotional, and the audio performance really made it stand out for me.

Wedding drama amongst the evil rich- but refreshing new from the pen of Hidden Pictures. Smart thriller for an October night.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The illustrations are really good too. I liked the characters of Frank and Abigail; Tammy and Maggie not so much. Good twist

This was a fun, easy to read and page turning book. I really enjoyed the author's take on the "lots of people went to something, and didn't all come back" genre, by introducing the reader to some of the main characters and providing good back stories before even getting to the wedding. I also enjoyed the addition of Abigail to the family mix. Although the main plot was very far-fetched, I was happy to go along for the ride.
I've not come across Mr Rekulak before, but on the strength of this book I will be seeking out more of his work.

This was one of my most anticipated books for this year, I was so pumped to get my hands on it. I knew I didn’t need a synopsis after loving Hidden Pictures! So going in blind, I was a little surprised at how different this was! I enjoy Rekulak’s writing, so this was definitely a wild ride, but not quite as creepy as his previous work! This book was a twisted deep dive into family, love, betrayal and the things you can get away with when unlimited funds are available. There are many aspects in the story that are so well developed and really immerse you in the story and characters. I was following alongside the narrator desperately trying to figure this one out! I truly could never have predicted how crazy this story would get and it never let up! While this is new side of Rekulak, I think thriller lovers will enjoy this one!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author & the publisher for the ARC. Unfortunately, this book just couldn't draw me in. About 20 pages in I just was too irritated by how unrealistic the entire situation sounded, could see where this was heading and didn't want to continue. Like I say, life's too short to read books you don't want to read. Five stars because I DNF.

After reading hidden pictures I was so excited to see that Jason Rekulak was releasing another book and even better about a wedding!
Unfortunately this one just didn’t hit the spot for me, I found it very slow and anticlimactic. This one just didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat which I found disappointing as I had been looking forward to reading it.

Last One At The Wedding Jason Rekulak 4.5⭐️

The author’s last novel Hidden pictures totally wowed me, so I can’t tell you how excited I was to read this book.

This thriller keeps you riveted. It’s a very different offering to Hidden Pictures.

Frank is ecstatic to be invited to his estranged daughter’s wedding after three years with no contact. He takes a long his sister Tammy and her foster child Abigail. Only it’s anything but a delightful family reunion, it soon takes a dark turn.

The characters are really well crafted, you either love or hate them. I just adored Frank, he’s my hero! what a guy with a straight moral compass, but at the same time really caring for his family, I also loved Tammy who is a total opposite personality to Frank but they go together so well.
It’s got a good pace with plenty going on,the plot is fresh and entertaining. There’s snippets of wit and humour too.
For me the pictures didn’t do anything to enhance the experience of this book unlike Hidden pictures where they were integral to the story.

I loved this book, and eagerly waiting for to see what he comes up with next.

Having just read Hidden Pictures, I could not wait to start on The Last One at the Wedding.

Although, for me it did not compare really to Hidden Pictures, this is still a good read and I would recommend it.

We meet main character Frank, having had a bad relationship with his daughter and he has not spoken to her for many years, Maggie calls him out of the blue and invites him to her wedding.

Maggie is marrying into a very rich family and at the wedding Frank feels the need to really get to know the family that she is marrying in to.

This novel has a fair few characters, very well written and most of them not likeable for me personally.

A good read that will keep readers up at night.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A ‘Wedding at a Summer Camp’ Setting. Sign Me Up!

For three years Frank Szatowski has been estranged from his daughter Maggie. Until out of the blue he receives a phone call from her inviting him to her wedding at Osprey Cove, New Hampshire – a former summer camp turned retreat – owned by her future father-in-law, Errol Gardner. Frank readily accepts, is relieved to be back in contact with Maggie. But his first meeting with his daughter’s fiancée, Aidan, doesn’t go well, there’s just something off about him that Frank can’t quite put his finger on. And when Frank discovers that a year ago Aidan dated a girl who went missing it raises all kinds of red flags. Frank is determined to protect Maggie at all costs.

This author’s debut novel, Hidden Pictures, was a hit for me so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of The Last One at the Wedding. Both contained sinister, creepy, foreboding vibes, tense situations, and mystery elements, but this one was more family drama, and psychological thriller. Having Frank as the sole narrator completely worked as he’s drawn more and more into the Gardner family’s web of lies, yet at the same time we wonder whether he’s entirely trustworthy as we don’t know why he and Maggie fell out in the first place, only that it was big, that he blames himself, and wishes he had of done things differently.

Osprey Cove, a former summer camp surrounded by woods in the middle of nowhere, with the Gardner’s lakefront Lodge overlooking smaller cottages reminded me of a novel I loved earlier this year, The God of the Woods. Just like that one, the setting in this was intricately described, and I loved all the descriptions of the three-day wedding extravaganza, with its delicious food, lavish décor, and various activities.

It wasn’t quite a 5 star read as at times the characters made some dumb decisions, the plot was too convenient, and I also had to suspend my disbelief on several occasions. I also saw the biggest twist coming, but it was a great twist, and I liked how impactful it was and the consequences and fallout that resulted from it. This was surprisingly an emotional read, and I was happy with how everything wrapped up.

The Last One at the Wedding was an immersive read. I always looked forward to continuing and I stayed up late last night finishing it off. I highly recommend adding this one to your tbr for the 8th October 2024.

I’d like to thank Netgalley Uk, Little Brown Book Group UK, and Jason Rekulak for the e-ARC.

I really enjoyed this authors previous book Hidden Pictures, so when I saw he had a new release I couldn't wait to read it.
But unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as his last.
I went into this expecting it to be a thriller and it most certainly is not. I would categorise this as much more like a slow burn mystery suspense or even a domestic/family drama. And I think that was one of the problems I had with it. Had I known it was more like that I would have adjusted my expectations and I might have enjoyed it more. If you are expecting this to be Hidden Pictures 2, don't, you will only be disappointed.
Right from the start I struggled to connect to the story and the characters. I found the pacing of it to be far too slow for my liking. Barely anything happens in the first half of the book.
However after the 50% I did start to enjoy it more and I did like the writing style. But I never once really cared about the mystery and I certainly didn't care about the characters. It all felt a little flat to me.
Whilst this wasn't my favourite by this author I would read from him again.

This was an enjoyable and entertaining read!

It is a story where nothing is as it appears to be.

Frank Szatowski has not spoken with his daughter for three years. It would be an understatement to say that their relationship is strained. Then, unexpectedly, he receives a phone call from her informing him that she is getting married and would like him to attend and escort her down the aisle.

An even greater surprise is the fact that her future father-in-law is the extremely wealthy owner of the company she is employed at.

When the wedding weekend arrives, Frank, his sister, and a young girl she is fostering travel to New Hampshire. However, things are not as they seem, and Frank, being the ethical person that he is, begins to ask questions. The dilemma is, does he really want to learn the truth?

I was able to finish this quick read in one sitting! Although it is quite different from Hidden Pictures, I still found it to be thoroughly enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book group UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion