Always Reading: Laura Dave

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Book Review: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

I have chosen The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave to review.

I own the physical book.

---------------------------------------------------

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:

A Goodreads Top 20 Book of the Last 5 Years
Don’t miss the #1 New York Times bestselling blockbuster and Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick that’s sold over 5 million copies

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.

---------------------------------------------------

Hannah doesn’t know what to think when her husband disappears. Edge of my seat! Why did Owen disappear? Did he do it to protect Bailey?

I started reading this back in 2023, but then I realized there was the Apple TV series on this, so I stopped. I wanted to read the book first. I plan to ge streaming soon so I can watch season one. I have already bought the next book and can't wait to read it.

I hope you get to watch the series soon. Let me know what you think of it once you finish!

CAWFILE: 10.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!