A Disappointing Sequel: My Ranty Review of The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

A rare case of “it’s not you… except it kind of is.

Synopsis

Laura Dave continues Hannah Hall’s pulse-pounding journey in the riveting and deeply moving sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling blockbuster and Apple TV+ show, The Last Thing He Told Me.

Five years after her husband, Owen, disappeared, Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter, Bailey, have settled into a new life in Southern California. Together, they’ve forged a relationship with Bailey’s grandfather Nicholas and are putting the past behind them.

But when Owen shows up at Hannah’s new exhibition, she knows that she and Bailey are in danger again.

Hannah and Bailey are forced to go on the run in a relentless race to keep their past from catching up with them. As a thrilling drama unfolds, Hannah risks everything to get Bailey to safety—and finds there just might be a way back to Owen and their long-awaited second chance.

A gripping, rich, and deeply moving novel about the power of forgiveness, The First Time I Saw Him picks up right where the epilogue for the “genuinely moving” (The New York Times) The Last Thing He Told Me left off, giving listeners the eagerly awaited and absolutely exhilarating sequel to Dave’s global blockbuster.

Mini audiobook review

I’m sorry in advance for the rant, but this one really got under my skin.

When I learned that Laura Dave had a new book coming out — and that it was a sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, a book I gave five stars — I was genuinely excited. I loved that first story. I couldn’t wait to dive back into Hannah’s world.

And honestly? It started strong.

Hannah’s art show, Owen briefly resurfacing with cryptic words and a USB key, Hannah and Bailey suddenly on the run again because the fragile deal with the mob seems to be unraveling… all of that hooked me instantly. I was ready.

But then the cracks started to show — and once I noticed them, I couldn’t unsee them.

The biggest issue for me was the endless inner monologues. Hannah spends so much time inside her own head that it completely drains the tension. Worse, she somehow knows — in extreme detail — what Owen, Nicholas, or Bailey are thinking, planning, or expecting from her… sometimes based on a look, a word, or nothing at all. Entire plot points are anticipated in her thoughts before they even happen.

I kept thinking: this isn’t intuition, this is mind reading.
And it just didn’t feel believable.

On top of that, the writing felt repetitive. Certain sentences and structures came back again and again with only minor variations, which made the audiobook especially grating. Instead of building suspense, it slowed everything down.

By the end, the whole book felt like filler — like it existed because the first one was successful, not because this story truly needed to be told.

That said, if you loved it, I genuinely mean it when I say I’m happy for you. Laura Dave can write — she proved that to me before. This one just wasn’t for me. And if there’s a third book, I really hope it brings back a tighter plot, sharper tension, and fewer inner dialogues.

Sometimes sequels miss. This one did, for me.

Thanks for reading.

Sophie