Member Reviews
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
I've just finished this book and I have to admit to wishing Frank was my dad! He really seemed to want to help Maggie ( unless it involved lying). I was sure something was off about Aidan as he didn't seem happy but I didn't guess the whole reason and wished he could have his happy ever after. There was also a part in the book that I could relate to as I would have the same reaction (I'll just say wardrobe so I don't spoil it). I didn't warm to Maggie though. I found her to be one of a few characters I didn't like. I enjoyed reading it and in my opinion it's a good read
Frank is a 50-year old widow and father of Maggie, a 20-something year old young woman who, after 3 years of being absent from her father's life, reaches out to him and drops the news that she is getting married, and she wants Frank to attend to a 3-day wedding celebration which will take place at the secluded mansion estate her soon-to-be-husband's family owns.
Frank is content with his steady job and lonely life, but he's always missed, and regretted not, having his daughter in his life, so he immediately accepts the invitation and is eager to meet his son-in-law and all his family. He's willing to do anything to get Maggie back into his life.
By the time the wedding week approaches, Frank learns that Maggie's fiancé family is not only ridiculously wealthy but also eerie, mysterious and everyone seems to be hiding secrets, including her daughter Maggie.
While Frank is at that secluded estate wedding venue, as each day goes by, he learns dark and horrific secrets everyone had been keeping from him, and the weekend ends in chaos and murder.
Let me start by saying something that I believe is essential to be said, whether or not you've read Hidden Pictures and enjoyed it or not: The Last One at the Wedding is NOTHING ALIKE Hidden Pictures. Do not expect to go into this book and get similar vibes or characters or crazy plot twists as the author provided us with Hidden Pictures. Nope. These are 2 completely different books. I'd even dare say these 2 books could have been written by different authors...!
The Last One at the Wedding is a mystery/thriller (much more of a mystery, really), told in one single POV, about a father desperately trying to re-connect with his estranged daughter, while having to deal with her daughter's troubling past and shady present. It's about super rich people full of dark (and some deadly) secrets, too.
Overall, it's a mix of a character-driven story focused on Frank - in my opinion, a very interesting and realistic character (even in the moments he can be really annoying haha I mean, aren't we all flawed human beings?) -, and a plot-driven story about all the mysteries concerning that wealthy family dynamics. I personally really enjoyed the ambience, the setting at the secluded estate in the middle of the woods, with strange rules applied to its residents and guests. I thought it was atmospheric enough for me to feel immersed into the plot. Also, there is a nice contrast behaviour between the characters from the rich family and from Frank's family (his sister also attends to the wedding).
My only issue with this book concerns the ending, the conclusion: I liked the overall pacing of this story, but the last 15% felt rushed and the abrupt ending made me read the last chapter twice, so that I was sure I wasn't missing anything.
What's more, to more experienced and 'hardcore' mystery/thriller readers, like me, the second half of this book might be quite predictable, so I never got truly surprised or shocked by the twists and revelations.
Yet, I do believe this is an easy, enjoyable and a fun-time read. I can easily recommend this book to everyone who likes mysteries set in the woods about dark rich people. But, again, if you've read Hidden Pictures and loved it, be careful with your expectations going for this one. Be well aware that this is a very different book from that one. And if you've read and disliked Hidden Pictures, consider giving this book a go. You might like it better.
As for myself, I liked this one a lot, but I loved Hidden Pictures.
Thank you, NetGalley and the Little Brown Book Group UK, for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Frank and his daughter Maggie have been estranged for years, so when he receives an unexpected call from her, inviting him to her wedding, he seizes the opportunity to mend their fractured relationship.
Maggie is marrying into an obscenely wealthy family, and though Frank is a hardworking, grounded man, he does his best to fit in with his new in-laws. However, his instincts tell him something is off - especially when it comes to Maggie’s fiancé, Aidan, and his weirdly absent mother. How much is Frank willing to overlook for the sake of reconnecting with his daughter?
I really liked Frank’s character; he’s steady, reliable, and clearly longing for a second chance with Maggie. Maggie, however, struck me as self-centered and I never warmed to her. The supporting characters, like Frank’s sister Tammy and her foster daughter Abigail, bring warmth and contrast to the cold, manipulative Gardner family. Aidan’s family embodies the toxicity that can come with wealth and privilege.
The story unfolds slowly, with suspense building steadily. Things intensify as the wedding approaches. The ending felt rather abrupt, leaving me re-reading the final few pages to check I hadn’t missed anything.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It's very different to Hidden Pictures - more of a mystery than a thriller. It's a compelling character study centered around family dynamics, loyalty, and deception. While the ending felt rushed, I was thoroughly engaged by the family drama and read the book in a single day.
A huge thanks to Sphere and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This was my second book by Jason Rekulak and I loved it as much as I did Hidden Pictures.
You’re sucked in right from the off with likable characters and suspense. I couldn’t put it down.
All of the characters were well written, I particularly liked Vicky and Tammy. The relationships between the characters were excellent too, my favourite was between Abigail and Frank.
I’d recommend this to anyone that enjoys fast paced thrillers that involve multiple family secrets. My only criticism is that I felt the ending was a little rushed, I would have liked a little more!
This takes the rich-people-are-awful atmosphere of Glass Onion, The Menu, White Lotus, and other such media, and puts a twist in the tail. UPS driver Frank's estranged daughter Maggie calls out of the blue to notify him of her wedding, in three months, to tech mogul's son Aidan Gardner. Bemused but delighted to have Maggie back in his life, Frank is desperate to reconnect, but the more he sees of Aidan and Maggie's relationship, the less he trusts the Gardners. Meanwhile, his salt-of-the-earth sister Tammy, a carer and foster mom, insists on bringing along her latest charge, the lice-ridden, multiple-decimal-points-of-pi-reciting Abigail, to this wedding of the superrich on an isolated New England estate. I guessed the twist at (my Kindle tells me) precisely 58% of the way through, but the interest of the novel didn't wane after that, largely because Rekulak doesn't have that much new to say about the evils of the wealthy—indeed, his critique doesn't seem to be based on the depredations of late-stage capitalism per se as much as it is a more traditional, blue-collar distrust of people who don't experience consequences for their actions. He has much more to say about parenthood, particularly the experience of parenting an adult, the challenges imposed by the unconditional love of one's children, and the question of what kind of upbringing prepares a child to live well in the world. So although the twist came as little surprise, the novel still manages to be compelling in its back half because Rekulak makes us care about how Frank and Maggie's parent-child relationship emerges from this nightmare. There's no real horror in this, apart from the horror of realising that people you love are blithely behaving in ways that seem totally out of character—but that kind of everyday horror is enough. Source: Netgalley. Publishing 8 October 2024.
I found this book hard to put down. So much so that I finished it in the early hours of this morning! It is the first book I've read by the author and it won't be the last. I had such a great time reading this one - it is filled with suspense from the first page, has loads of unlikeable characters, and an edge of the seat storyline that keeps the reader wondering where on earth it is going, especially when going in blind, which I did! It is really well written and I was well and truly captivated until the acknowledgement page. It actually left me wanting more, and I felt it ended rather abruptly. But all in all, I enjoyed this book and totally recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley and the Little Brown Book Group UK for an eARC to read and review. Expected publication date of The Last One at the Wedding is 8/10/24.
A really enjoyable, original and worthwhile thriller. I absolutely loved the narrator, Frank, and his ‘Dad Voice’. I would like to read a book he narrated about his everyday life, never mind his refreshingly normal take on the damaged (and damaging) rich family and the devastating consequences of their actions in The Last One at the Wedding.
Many thanks to everyone concerned for allowing me to read and review this terrific novel.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐤!
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 | 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟑 ⭐️
I loved Hidden Pictures so much by this author that I couldn’t wait to request this eArc from NetGalley….
I can’t go into too much detail without giving lots a way, I think it’s worth a read as ALOT happens in it but it is one that I will soon forget about.
Maggie is getting married to Aidan, a rich, powerful son of a CEO mastermind. Maggie phones her Dad, Frank out of the blue after not speaking for three years and invites him to their Wedding….
Told in one POV of Frank, now Frank is such a well built character and he clearly loves his daughter…. But I wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him and tell him to get a grip 😂!
I felt that the story had a bit of a slow build up and then the 75% mark hit and it sped up and I then read it quite quickly, a few twists some I guessed and one I didn’t see coming, a few moments felt very heartwarming especially between Frank and Abigail. Overall an ok read, I liked it but didn’t love it.
Recommend if you like
- Family Drama
- Mystery
- One POV
Thanks to @netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK
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Frank hasn’t heard from his daughter Maggie for several years after a disagreement which he blames himself for. He gets a surprise phone call from her saying that she is getting married, she is inviting him to her New Hampshire wedding. Frank thinks that things are looking up and she want to reconcile.
When he meets her husband to be and the rest of the family. Frank senses that there is something that is not right about it all. Aiden seems to be missing all the time, strange as it is a few days before the wedding, and he seems not to be at the rehearsal. His mother also have disappeared. Supposedly with a migraine.
I read Jason Rekulak’s previous novel Hidden pictures, which I enjoyed. So, I was looking forward to reading his new novel ‘The last one at the wedding’ This is so different to that novel, but I wasn’t disappointed. This another great read from the author. Yes, it did start a bit slow, but when I got to know that characters and the storyline. It became more sinister that had to keep on reading. It had me hooked. This storyline is about reconnecting and doing right from wrong. 4 stars from me.
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me an early copy of this book!
Hidden Pictures was one of my favourite books from last year so I was soooo excited for this one!
I throughly enjoyed this book! Exactly the kind of thriller I enjoy reading! I had no idea where the book was going to go and I really enjoyed how everything played out! I loved the writing in this one too much played a big part into the rating too. Definitely add this one to your tbr!
I found this to be slow at first and then suddenly things picked up quite quickly. Having read Hidden Pictures by this author I can say that this is very different indeed but also enjoyable.
Hateful characters, lots of family secrets and a wedding event all makes for a very good story. Only thing is, I read this book in a Liam Neeson voice because it just seemed to fit, imagine my surprise when he was actually mentioned in the book!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.