The First Time I Saw Him

This reading group guide for THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

Introduction

It's been five years since Owen Michaels disappeared. Five years since his wife, Hannah, and his daughter, Bailey, teamed up to uncover the secrets he’d kept hidden from them. Now, Hannah has sold the floating house, Bailey is all grown up, and the two live in LA, leaving the mysteries of the past far behind them. But their world is once again turned upside-down when Owen makes an unexpected reappearance, bringing hidden truths back to light.

Topics and Questions for Discussion

How has Bailey and Hannah’s relationship evolved over time? In what ways is their relationship different from The Last Thing He Told Me?

Consider the epigraphs that open each section. How do they relate to the themes of the book? Why do you think they were chosen?

Despite the years apart, Owen still wears his wedding ring, and when approached by a woman, he tells her, “I’m married.” (p. 9). What does that tell us about his feelings toward Hannah? What does this choice communicate about his character?

When we flash back to Nicholas’s first meeting with Frank, Nicholas describes him as seeming like a “smitten family man” rather than “the head of a crime empire.” (p. 82). What does this description tell you about Frank’s character? Does it impact your impression of the organization?

In what ways has Hannah grown into her role as Bailey’s parent?

We follow Hannah and Bailey from California to Paris to the South of France. What role does the setting play in their journey? Why do you think these places were chosen?

“Isn’t that how it happens? You add it all up (you can’t begin to add it up) and you don’t just love someone. You know him.” (p.1 55). Hannah thinks this after Nicholas tells her and Bailey his plans to travel to Èze to meet with Frank. What does this quote tell you about what love means to Hannah?

Owen finally reunites with both Bailey and Hannah. How do these reunions differ?

We learn a lot about Nicholas’s past—why he chose to participate in the organization and how he walks away from it. What would you have done in his position? Would you have made similar choices? Why or why not?

Second chances play a big part in Hannah, Bailey, and Owen’s story. Do you believe in second chances? If so, under what circumstances?

Enhance Your Book Club

Watch seasons 1 and 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me. What are some of the key ways in which the series differs from the books?

Èze is an important location in the story. Virtually travel there by exploring street views, popular places, and activities.

Explore Laura Dave’s earlier works, such as Eight Hundred Grapes and Hello, Sunshine. Can you pinpoint any common themes in her books?