The First Time I Saw Him

by Laura Dave

First published 2026

Hannah Hall has built a quiet life in Southern California with her stepdaughter Bailey, five years after Owen vanished without explanation. They've grown close to Bailey's grandfather Nicholas and learned to trust their newfound stability. Then Owen appears at Hannah's art exhibition, shattering their careful peace. His presence means immediate danger for both Hannah and Bailey. They must flee their home and everything they've constructed together. Hannah will sacrifice anything to protect Bailey as their buried past resurfaces with deadly consequences. Yet Owen's return also offers something Hannah never expected: the possibility of reclaiming what they lost. This sequel to the bestselling The Last Thing He Told Me explores whether love can survive betrayal and whether forgiveness has the strength to rebuild what fear destroyed.

Genres: mystery, contemporary, thriller, family-drama

Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family

Setting: Southern California

Period: contemporary

271 pages · Paperback · Scibner International an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC

Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness

More by Laura Dave

Readers who liked The First Time I Saw Him also liked

View on Siftivo