I picked up 'The Last Thing He Told Me' expecting a typical mystery, but what I got was so much more. The emotional depth of Hannah's relationship with her stepdaughter Bailey hooked me from page one. Their complicated dynamic felt painfully real - that awkward dance between a new stepparent trying to connect and a teenager resisting at every turn.

The Austin setting came alive for me, though I did notice some geographical quirks that locals might side-eye. That said, the bat colony scene under Congress Bridge gave me chills - even if the numbers were off, the imagery was powerful enough that I found myself Googling Austin bat tours afterward!

Where this book truly shines is in its exploration of what it means to protect someone. Hannah's gradual realization that loving Bailey might mean sacrificing her own happiness wrecked me. The final act had me reading through tears at 2 AM, which hasn't happened since my college book club days.

Is the mob subplot a bit far-fetched? Sure. But the core emotional journey is so authentic that I happily suspended disbelief. The way Dave writes about found family and unexpected bonds left me emotionally raw in the best possible way.

Pro tip: Clear your schedule before starting this one. I planned to read just a chapter before bed and ended up finishing it in one sleepless, utterly satisfying night.