The First Time I Saw Him (Hannah Hall #2) by Laura Dave Book Review

Title: The First Time I Saw Him
Author: Laura Dave
Publisher: Scribner Books
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Pages: 288

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.

Buy it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon  

My Thoughts

In honor of season two of the TV series coming out, here goes the review. Five years after Owen disappears, Hannah and Bailey have moved on to SoCal with their lives. With just them and their newfound family, everything seems to be going well until Hannah spots Owen at her exhibit.

The could have been boys still love you.

Soon after, the mother and stepdaughter duo are on the run again. This time though, Hannah is prepared. Together, the two race against the past in hopes of consolidating a future together, and hopefully with Owen. 

What else is there to do? We let it go. If we are lucky enough, we get to do that. We get to believe that we deserve it.

Star Review: ★★★★☆ (4)

So I actually wasn't really planning on reading this book this early into the year but I just "accidentally" opened it and Laura Dave just captured me with her writing. I could feel so many emotions from longing to forgiveness to love and everything in between and I just knew it would be great.

I loved how much Bailey has grown to trust Hannah especially when all the chaos was happening. Seeing how she was in the beginning of the TV series, I am very excited to see her reprise the role in season two.  

Overall, The First Time I Saw Him was as good as ever. I was hoping for that happy ending, but maybe knowing someone and their memories are enough. I will let you decide that yourself.

About the Author

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Eight Hundred Grapes, and other novels. Her books have been published in thirty-eight countries and have been chosen by Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, Book of the Month Club, and the Richard and Judy Book Club. The Last Thing He Told Me was chosen as the Goodreads Mystery & Thriller of the Year for 2021. It is soon to be a limited series on Apple TV+, cocreated by Laura. She resides in Santa Monica, California.