Review: The Last Thing He Told Me

I've been reading Laura Dave for a long time - I first read her novel The First Husband way back in 2012. Even though I've been enjoying her books for almost a decade, I almost didn't request The Last Thing He Told Me. Let me tell you: I am SO glad that I did. I could not put it down and had it finished in two days. And wished I could have started it over again and read it in one sitting!

Here's the book's description:

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.

The reason I almost didn't request the latest offering from Dave is because I've been really wary of thrillers lately. I keep picking them up because I love the author but it's not my genre of choice. I've learned I like mysteries more and I was really happy when I realized Dave's was skewing more to the mystery side of things. Hannah isn't a detective or any sort of professional that should be solving mysteries but she's on the case of why her husband is missing (this is not to be confused with cozy mysteries when the local cupcake baker ends up solving murder after murder in a small town that mysteriously does not lose permanent residents). I really had no idea how it would all turn out and I was both dreading and highly anticipating the end of the story. I needed to know what happened but I wasn't ready to say goodbye. That's the mark of a good and enjoyable book in my, well, book. 

The description hints at it a little bit but the relationship between Hannah and Bailey, Owen's teenage daughter, was a highlight of the story. The emotions between the two and reading as they were trying to work out what happened to Owen while still navigating their new relationship was full of heart and I loved it. It was real and raw. There was so much pain, and a bit of distrust, but there was also love underneath it all. The way it ends will have you feeling sad and also so hopeful. 

An amusing aside - Hannah is visited by a US Marshal right after her husband disappears. He seems to be a solid (and good looking) guy so, naturally, I pictured him as the character Raylan Givens, as played by Timothy Olyphant, in Justified. It's funny how the minds work sometimes! (Also, this is an older show that's totally worth a watch.)

Another aside - I'm really happy with the cover of this novel. It's aesthetically pleasing but doesn't scream "THIS IS A SUSPENSE STORY WRITTEN BY A WOMAN" which is so often the case. It's simple but a bit dark and you have to wonder, what's the story behind this cover?

I think the ending might polarize people but I was happy with it. Well, parts of it. I wished for one thing but if I couldn't have that thing, I was pleased with how it wrapped up. How's that for vague? Just read the book and you'll get it and I'll be here for you when you're done!

Laura Dave's latest novel was a riveting read I could not put down. The Last Thing He Told Me was well-written and featured characters you can't help but become invested in. I didn't want it to end and am already looking forward to what Dave writes next.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

BEA 2015: Day One - Evening Events

After a crazy (but great) first day at BEA, I was ready to move onto my evening activities. First up, as I previously mentioned, was the Simon & Schuster hosted event for Laura Dave's Eight Hundred Grapes (review here, if you're interested!)

It was a happy coincidence that I had read Eight Hundred Grapes about a week and a half prior to BEA - before I even knew I'd be going to this event. I'm really glad I did because book events are so much better when you've read the book being talked about! I wasn't originally invited to this event and it was thanks to the amazing generosity of Melissa of Chick Lit Central (who I would finally be meeting that night) that I'd be going. She reached out to BookSparks, who had invited her, and asked for me to be put on the guest list. Thank you, Melissa!

It was adventure getting there (my first Uber ride was interesting), but eventually the girls (Tiffanie of Mostly YA Lit, Andi of Andi's ABCs, Tiffany of About to Read, and Gail of Ticket to Anywhere) and I arrived at the venue, The Park. The restaurant was so nice and I adored the twinkle lights strung up around the outdoor seating.

We were able to meet author Laura Dave immediately. She was as sweet in person as I expected! She actually remembered tweeting with me a few days prior (thank you, Mom, for giving me a unique name, and thank you, self, for giving yourself a Twitter handle that includes your name) and was so appreciative of my kind words about her book! I always love an author even more if they are as thankful for my support as I am to be meeting them. 

There was a ton of food to be eaten but, I admit, I was more excited for the above desserts and wine! There were three kinds of each, though I only tried the two white wines (the Prosecco was dee-lightful). 

Signage - Laura Dave is so tiny (and I am so giant) - With the other bloggers!

While I was thrilled to finally meet Laura Dave, I may have totally fangirled when two other guests walked into the event...LIZ AND LISA. Ahhh! Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are the two women behind the, now defunct, Chick Lit is Not Dead blog. They're authors as well  (so they're focusing more on their own work than reviewing other novels) and I absolutely adore them. I awkwardly hung around so I could meet them and, after telling them that I really love their work, mentioned it was Melissa who got me into the event as I was wait-listed for the event my other dinner companions were going to. Turns out they were going to that event too and Liz told me they wouldn't leave without me and we'd all go to the event together. Speechless.

After chatting books, life, and being a twentysomething with two of the girls from Simon & Schuster (I wish I remembered their names because I totally adored them), taking pictures with Laura, and picking up a finished copy of Eight Hundred Grapes (now signed and personalized!) and a great mug, Liz, Lisa, Melissa, and I headed out to Ladies First, an event hosted by Jennifer Weiner and Atria Books, in support of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. 

Top Left: With Liz and Lisa. Middle: The view from the 42nd Floor. Swoon.
Right: With Colleen Hoover! Bottom Left: A few of the ladies at the event.
Right: Jennifer Weiner speaking to the crowd. 

True to her word, Liz got me in the door and I was able to surprise Samantha Stroh Bailey (in the blue striped dress above) and Meredith Schorr (in the black and white striped dress above), two of the other women I'd be dining with that evening! While the event was free, you could give a $30 donation and get a tote and five signed books from any of the authors at the event. And there were a lot of authors! Jennifer Weiner, of course, Jodi Picoult (who we apparently walked right by when we came out of the elevators), Elin Hildebrand, Jen Lancaster (in the flower dress and crown in the group shot above), and so many more. It was quite hard to pick which books I wanted! There was a lot of food here too but since I had had so much at the previous event I passed on everything...except the milkshakes. Give me ice cream and I am a happy girl. :)

I ended up with Colleen Hoover's Confess (I got a picture with her but didn't think to get my copy personalized. Stupid. BUT she said I looked familiar after I said I was at the Atria Toronto event last fall. Squee!), Maureen Johnson's The Name of the Star (I've loved her for so long and to be able to say hi and get a signed book was so cool!), Elisabeth Egan's A Window Opens, Brenda Janowitz's The Lonely Hearts Club (which she personalized for me - she's so sweet!), and Spinster by Kate Bolick (which wasn't actually signed and she was busy chatting with someone and didn't even look over to me while I was hovering sooo...that sucks.). 

Meredith, Samantha, Melissa, and I had dinner reservations to get to so we scurried off to our next destination. The cab ride took forever so we eventually got out and walked the last couple of blocks to the restaurant (Trattoria Trecolori), just as it started raining, of course! Along with the four of us, Julie Valerie (who I had met for lunch earlier in the day), Francine LaSala, Amy (who also reviews for Chick Lit Central), and Lynn Marie Hulsman were also there. There was so much to talk about (books! BEA! life! wine!) and so much to eat and drink that it felt like we were there for no time at all. I pretended to be oblivious as Meredith, who was seated next to me, ordered desserts for Sam and I (her birthday was the day before, mine the next day), and act surprised when a piece of the most decadent chocolate cake was placed in front of me. :) Amy and I quickly devoured the cake and then, eventually, it was time to head home. Goodbyes were said (sad!) and I powerwalked home to the apartment and my roomies. 

Left: Meredith, Sam, and me in the cab. Middle; Me and Meredith at dinner.
Right: My first (of many) birthday desserts.

Because there were six girls and only two keys, we had to do some creative planning to make sure no one got locked out of the apartment. I knew I'd be the last one home that night so I texted Emilie to say I was on my way so she'd let me in when I buzzed. When I opened the door to our place I was greeted with the sweetest surprise: five girls yelling, "Happy birthday!", cupcakes, and mimosas. The cupcakes were from Donna Bell's Bakeshop - which was opened by Pauley Perrette (Abby on NCIS) (boy, was my sister jealous). I had the red velvet cake and a mug (well, two) of mimosa before heading off to bed. 

My first day at BEA was a success and I didn't get lost. I couldn't wait to see what the second day, and my birthday!, had in store!

In case you missed it...

Planning + Travel Day

Day One - Day at the Show

Review: Eight Hundred Grapes

I've read one of Laura Dave's novels before and loved it (my review of The First Husband was posted three years ago today!) so I was thrilled to read her latest, Eight Hundred Grapes. It was released back on June 2 and since then has been tearing up the best of summer lists - for good reason. I really enjoyed reading this one!

Here's the synopsis:

There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…
Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.
But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.
Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets…

I think my favourite thing about this book is that it's not just about Georgia. Don't get me wrong, I totally loved her, but I really liked that there were amazing secondary characters who you wanted to learn more about. This isn't just a novel about one woman's relationship, though that is what puts everything in motion. It also has a little to do with careers and a lot to do with family. It's a book about life, really. I loved that because it was realistic. It was sweet, it was funny, it was hard, and it was messy. Exactly like life.

This novel is so well written and unpredictable in the best possible way. I didn't know if Georgia would be able to forgive her fiancé and I didn't know what would happen with the family's winery. Dave kept me guessing which made me more invested in the story. I couldn't assume I knew what the end result so turning every page was a delight because I truly didn't know what would happen next.

I loved that the book was set at a vineyard. I live in one of Canada's wine regions so I've come to appreciate the land and weather that's needed to make wine. There are lots of interesting facts about wine to be found throughout the novel (I'm sure the research would have been so tough for this one!) but it's all seamlessly woven into the story. Other than making you want to have a glass or two yourself, the book should also spark more of an interest in how wine is made.

I do have one important recommendation for you for when you read this book: read it in one go if you can (or at least in a couple of large chunks). I read bits and pieces on my short lunch breaks and I never felt as invested in the story as I wanted to and I expect I would have been had I read it on a Saturday afternoon. Dave has written a story that you want to become totally immersed in and you should definitely dedicate your next free weekend to reading it.

Final sort of side note: I had the chance to meet Laura when I was at BEA last month. I had a blogger friend get me into the party for her book and I am SO glad I was able to go. It was a nice, laid back event with lots of food and wine. Plus, Laura is an absolute sweetheart. I'll post more about that event once I finally get around to writing my BEA recaps (so much happened!) so stay tuned!

Giant blogger + tiny author = massive height difference.

Eight Hundred Grapes is a novel that you are going to want to read this summer. Read it on a rainy day, read it on the beach, just read it. Preferably with a glass of wine beside you! I adored Laura Dave's latest and I cannot wait for her next novel!

*An advanced copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

June Chick Lit Challenge Read: The First Husband

I had heard about The First Husband by Laura Dave awhile ago but it took me some time to finally get around to reading it. I'm so glad I did! It was fun, sweet, and had some wonderful characters. I decided to review this one for my June read of the Chick Lit Plus Challenge.

Here's what this novel is all about:

Annie Adams is days away from her thirty-second birthday and thinks she has finally found some happiness. She visits the world's most interesting places for her syndicated travel column and she's happily cohabiting with her movie director boyfriend Nick in Los Angeles. But when Nick comes home from a meeting with his therapist (aka "futures counselor") and announces that he's taking a break from their relationship so he can pursue a woman from his past, the place Annie had come to call home is shattered. Reeling, Annie stumbles into her neighborhood bar and finds Griffin-a grounded, charming chef who seems to be everything Annie didn't know she was looking for. Within three months, Griffin is Annie's husband and Annie finds herself trying to restart her life in rural Massachusetts.

The synopsis makes Annie and the story seem a little...crazy. Marry someone three months after meeting them? Almost everyone would think that's a little quick. But, when you're reading about Annie and Griffin and their relationship it just makes sense.

I was so wrapped up in Annie's story that my heart hurt for her when she was realizing she had to make a very difficult choice. I could see that she wanted the one outcome but was not emotionally able to make that happen. So, even though I wish she hadn't decided to do what she did, I'm still glad she did as it led her to the outcome I wanted for her to begin with. Confused? I know it's vague but I don't want to give anything away! Point is, Annie has to make a lot of tough choices and since she doesn't think she can make the choice she does what she does best - relocates.

I've mentioned before that travel writers as heroines seem to have the best built in drama. They "obviously" have commitment issues since they never stay in one place for very long (but it's for work, they'll say). I really liked how Dave played with Annie's issues and her job. It seems to be the reason she's never really settled but is that really it or is she using it as a crutch? It was interesting to see how Annie evolved and learned about herself.

I really liked Griffin. He was funny, sweet, caring, and a real guy. Bonus: he's a chef. Who wouldn't want to marry a chef? The romance between Griffin and Annie started out so smoothly but quickly ran into some problems. They both had some issues to work out and I enjoyed reading about their journey.

Overall, I think all chick lit lovers would enjoy The First Husband. I plan on checking out some of Laura Dave's previous works and I look forward to what she comes out with next.

Happy reading :)