The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a relatively short book -- just over 300 pages -- and I read it in two sittings. I wouldn't say it's the most literary or nuanced book I've ever read, but it was a page-turner and highly readable. The mystery kept pulling you along with new info, so I didn't feel bored at all while reading. It kept me engaged without having to think too hard, which is exactly the kind of book I wanted.

Right before Hannah's husband Owen goes missing, he sends her a message. A piece of yellow legal pad paper that just says "Protect her." She knows it's in reference to his daughter (and her step-daughter), Bailey, but she has to figure out what it means. In the process, she learns that Owen wasn't who she thought he was (that's not a spoiler; it's revealed pretty early). So she needs to figure out who he was in order to find out how she's supposed to protect Bailey.

The takeaway for me was that other people are exhausting and if you just keep yourself to yourself, you don't end up in the middle of all of their bullshit, but that's just my take 😄. This book didn't change my life, but it was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for something engaging that won't hurt your brain too much as the year winds down. 3.5/5.