The First Time I Saw Him

Laura Dave author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cornerstone

Published:15th Jan '26

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The First Time I Saw Him cover

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 February 2026).

*A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB SELECTION!*
*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

'I could not stop flipping the pages' Reese Witherspoon

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

'Action-packed and deeply felt, this sequel is every bit as incredible as The Last Thing He Told Me' Mary Kubica

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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.

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Readers are loving The First Time I Saw Him:
‘Amazing! Thrilling! I was HOOKED’ 5-star reader review

‘It’s gripping, twisty, exhilarating, and utterly unputdownable. Five blazing stars from me!’ 5-star reader review

‘Absolutely incredible’ 5-star reader review

‘Wow, I couldn't put this book down!’ 5-star reader review

‘Oh my word. This much-anticipated book is everything I had hoped for and more’ 5-star reader review

‘This book has fantastic pacing and will keep you up all night’ 5-star reader review

‘Pure adrenaline’ 5-star reader review

‘A truly gripping psychological thriller!’ 5-star reader review

‘One of the best books I have read this year’ 5-star reader review

A master storyteller * Harlan Coben *
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 * Mary Kubica *
Every single review is just out of this world and I am going to add mine. Five stars * Jennifer Garner *
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. * Vogue *
[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? * New York Times Book Review *
An essential sequel that ties up loose threads while providing a thrilling ride across continents * Kirkus Reviews *
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. * Library Journal *
Dave’s writing is clear and sharp as a diamond * Time Magazine *
[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. * Publishers Weekly *
The distinctive mix of mafia saga, love story and globetrotting action thriller is just as beguiling as before * Sunday Times Culture *

ISBN: 9781529912067

Dimensions: 243mm x 161mm x 29mm

Weight: 486g

288 pages