The First Time I Saw Him

By: Laura Dave

Narrated by: CJ Wilson, Colin Donnell, Rebecca Lowman, Tessa Albertson

Brought to you by Penguin.

The long-awaited follow-up to the global bestselling The Last Thing He Told Me, soon to be a major series on Apple TV+ (coming 2026).

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.
Acclaimed author Laura Dave is back with an adrenalin-fuelled thriller you will never want to end. The gripping follow-up to the global bestseller, The Last Thing He Told Me.

© Laura Dave 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critic reviews

A master storyteller

Action-packed and deeply felt, this sequel is every bit as incredible as The Last Thing He Told Me. Clear your schedule because once you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down. I loved everything about it

Every single review is just out of this world and I am going to add mine. Five stars

Dave’s ability to chart her characters’ emotional geography—mapping love and loss—and the way she explores their intimate connections help explain her popularity; propulsive pacing doesn’t hurt, either.

[Dave] provides plenty of twists and emphasizes the love that binds her characters together, even the bad ones. How far will they go to keep their families safe?

An essential sequel that ties up loose threads while providing a thrilling ride across continents

Twists and turns will keep readers guessing throughout the novel at how it will all end. The characters’ love and concern for each other show through their thoughts and actions … This sequel is sure to be a hit.

Dave’s writing is clear and sharp as a diamond

[A] heart-pounding sequel … The pacing is brisk from the very first page, with Dave nimbly juggling multiple perspectives and timelines en route to a finale that provides readers with satisfying answers to their questions.

The distinctive mix of mafia saga, love story and globetrotting action thriller is just as beguiling as before