The First Time I Saw Him (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)
By Laura Dave
Read by Rebecca Lowman, Tessa Albertson, Colin Donnell and CJ Wilson
Table of Contents
About The Book
THE BOOK THAT INSPIRED SEASON 2 OF THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME STARRING JENNIFER GARNER
A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB SELECTION!
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
THE SEQUEL TO THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME
“Taut prose matches the story with moments of emotional poignancy...a tense story, but a surprisingly tender one.” —The Washington Post
“Action-packed and deeply felt, this sequel is every bit as incredible as The Last Thing He Told Me.” —Mary Kubica
“A novel worth your time.” —The New York Times
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.
How far would you go for a second chance?
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 readers the eagerly awaited and absolutely exhilarating sequel to Dave’s global blockbuster.
A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB SELECTION!
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
THE SEQUEL TO THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME
“Taut prose matches the story with moments of emotional poignancy...a tense story, but a surprisingly tender one.” —The Washington Post
“Action-packed and deeply felt, this sequel is every bit as incredible as The Last Thing He Told Me.” —Mary Kubica
“A novel worth your time.” —The New York Times
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.
How far would you go for a second chance?
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 readers the eagerly awaited and absolutely exhilarating sequel to Dave’s global blockbuster.
Reading Group Guide
This reading group guide for THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Introduction
It's been five years since Owen Michaels disappeared. Five years since his wife, Hannah, and his daughter, Bailey, teamed up to uncover the secrets he’d kept hidden from them. Now, Hannah has sold the floating house, Bailey is all grown up, and the two live in LA, leaving the mysteries of the past far behind them. But their world is once again turned upside-down when Owen makes an unexpected reappearance, bringing hidden truths back to light.
Topics and Questions for Discussion
How has Bailey and Hannah’s relationship evolved over time? In what ways is their relationship different from The Last Thing He Told Me?
Consider the epigraphs that open each section. How do they relate to the themes of the book? Why do you think they were chosen?
Despite the years apart, Owen still wears his wedding ring, and when approached by a woman, he tells her, “I’m married.” (p. 9). What does that tell us about his feelings toward Hannah? What does this choice communicate about his character?
When we flash back to Nicholas’s first meeting with Frank, Nicholas describes him as seeming like a “smitten family man” rather than “the head of a crime empire.” (p. 82). What does this description tell you about Frank’s character? Does it impact your impression of the organization?
In what ways has Hannah grown into her role as Bailey’s parent?
We follow Hannah and Bailey from California to Paris to the South of France. What role does the setting play in their journey? Why do you think these places were chosen?
“Isn’t that how it happens? You add it all up (you can’t begin to add it up) and you don’t just love someone. You know him.” (p.1 55). Hannah thinks this after Nicholas tells her and Bailey his plans to travel to Èze to meet with Frank. What does this quote tell you about what love means to Hannah?
Owen finally reunites with both Bailey and Hannah. How do these reunions differ?
We learn a lot about Nicholas’s past—why he chose to participate in the organization and how he walks away from it. What would you have done in his position? Would you have made similar choices? Why or why not?
Second chances play a big part in Hannah, Bailey, and Owen’s story. Do you believe in second chances? If so, under what circumstances?
Enhance Your Book Club
Watch seasons 1 and 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me. What are some of the key ways in which the series differs from the books?
Èze is an important location in the story. Virtually travel there by exploring street views, popular places, and activities.
Explore Laura Dave’s earlier works, such as Eight Hundred Grapes and Hello, Sunshine. Can you pinpoint any common themes in her books?
Introduction
It's been five years since Owen Michaels disappeared. Five years since his wife, Hannah, and his daughter, Bailey, teamed up to uncover the secrets he’d kept hidden from them. Now, Hannah has sold the floating house, Bailey is all grown up, and the two live in LA, leaving the mysteries of the past far behind them. But their world is once again turned upside-down when Owen makes an unexpected reappearance, bringing hidden truths back to light.
Topics and Questions for Discussion
How has Bailey and Hannah’s relationship evolved over time? In what ways is their relationship different from The Last Thing He Told Me?
Consider the epigraphs that open each section. How do they relate to the themes of the book? Why do you think they were chosen?
Despite the years apart, Owen still wears his wedding ring, and when approached by a woman, he tells her, “I’m married.” (p. 9). What does that tell us about his feelings toward Hannah? What does this choice communicate about his character?
When we flash back to Nicholas’s first meeting with Frank, Nicholas describes him as seeming like a “smitten family man” rather than “the head of a crime empire.” (p. 82). What does this description tell you about Frank’s character? Does it impact your impression of the organization?
In what ways has Hannah grown into her role as Bailey’s parent?
We follow Hannah and Bailey from California to Paris to the South of France. What role does the setting play in their journey? Why do you think these places were chosen?
“Isn’t that how it happens? You add it all up (you can’t begin to add it up) and you don’t just love someone. You know him.” (p.1 55). Hannah thinks this after Nicholas tells her and Bailey his plans to travel to Èze to meet with Frank. What does this quote tell you about what love means to Hannah?
Owen finally reunites with both Bailey and Hannah. How do these reunions differ?
We learn a lot about Nicholas’s past—why he chose to participate in the organization and how he walks away from it. What would you have done in his position? Would you have made similar choices? Why or why not?
Second chances play a big part in Hannah, Bailey, and Owen’s story. Do you believe in second chances? If so, under what circumstances?
Enhance Your Book Club
Watch seasons 1 and 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me. What are some of the key ways in which the series differs from the books?
Èze is an important location in the story. Virtually travel there by exploring street views, popular places, and activities.
Explore Laura Dave’s earlier works, such as Eight Hundred Grapes and Hello, Sunshine. Can you pinpoint any common themes in her books?
About The Author
Photograph by Katherine Eskovitz
Laura Dave
Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Last Thing He Told Me and Eight Hundred Grapes. Her novels have sold more than six million copies and have been translated into forty languages. The Last Thing He Told Me was the Goodreads Mystery & Thriller of the Year for 2021 and is now a series on Apple TV+, cocreated by Laura. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their son.
About The Readers
Rebecca Lowman
Tessa Albertson
Colin Donnell
CJ Wilson
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (January 6, 2026)
- Length: 6 disks
- Runtime: 7 hours and 16 minutes
- ISBN13: 9781668152645
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): The First Time I Saw Him (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)
Unabridged Compact Disk 9781668152645
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Author Photo (jpg): Laura Dave Photograph by Katherine Eskovitz(0.1 MB)
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