Book Club Questions for The First Time I Saw Him

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Book club questions for The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave take a closer look at this thrilling sequel. There will be spoilers, so for more context about the story, check out my spoiler-free review first.

I love this series! First with The Last Thing He Told Me, and now with the latest, The First Time I Saw Him. Laura Dave has crafted an atmospheric, tense, and exciting literary suspense story. It moves at a fast pace, but the story stayed with me, too.

Many readers were left wondering what would happen next when Owen appeared at Hannah’s art exhibit at the end of the first book. Would they reconcile? But how could it be safe to do so? And who is really behind the criminal enterprise?

My Thoughts

Many questions are answered in The First Time I Saw Him. We follow the story as Hannah and Bailey need to reach safety and potentially reunite with Owen. But we also learn much more about Nicholas.

In this one, the relationship between Nicholas and Frank is quite compelling. You see why Nicholas was swept up into this world that promised wealth and security. And I felt Frank really saw Nicholas as a close friend, which made the tragic events even more so.

We also got to follow Owen more closely, especially when he eventually works together with Nicholas to ensure that Bailey and Hannah will always be safe.

While this is very much a complete story, I could have read another 100 pages. If Laura Dave decides to pick back up with these characters again, I would be all aboard for a third book for sure.

Let me know what you thought about the book in the comment section below!

What’s the Story About

The First Time I Saw Him begins right where the other story ended. It’s been five years, and Hannah and Bailey have started a new life in Southern California. They are also quite close to her grandfather, Nicholas.

But everything changes when Owen shows up at Hannah’s new exhibition, and she knows that she and Bailey are in danger again. So they go on the run immediately for safety, following clues Owen has left behind.

We follow the story in the present as Hannah and Bailey rush to reunite with Owen, but also in the past when we learn more about Nicholas’ relationship with Frank, the leader of the crime family.

Eventually, the past and the present combine into a dynamic and thrilling finale.

Book Club Questions for The First Time I Saw Him

1. When you finished the first book, what questions did you have? Do you feel the sequel answered your questions?
2. Why are Hannah and Bailey so close to Nicholas? When did he gain their trust?
3. We really get to know Nicholas much more in this novel. What intrigued you about his story? Why was it important for us to learn about his history with Frank?
4. We find out why Nicholas got involved with this crime family. Do you feel he should have tried to get out earlier, or was he trapped?
5. There are also sections dedicated to Owen’s quest to keep Bailey and Hannah safe, while also potentially reuniting with them. What is your overall impression of Owen? Do you agree with the choices he made, or could he have taken a different path?
6. Why did Nicholas fake his death? Were you surprised when he was still alive, or did you see it coming?
7. Nicholas reveals that Owen came to him, and the two declared a truce. What finally motivated the two to work together?
8. It’s Frank’s birthday, and Nicholas is going to confront him about leaving his family alone. Why did Hannah decide to go with him?
9. What were your thoughts as you read the party scenes unfold?
10. Eventually, it’s revealed that Frank is also working with Nicholas and Owen, as he’s unhappy with the choices his children have made, including what turned out to be ‘accidentally’ murdering Nicholas’ daughter (Bailey’s mother). Let’s discuss our thoughts as all of this unfolded. Why do you feel Frank went against his children?
11. Why did Nicholas refuse help from Hannah and say goodbye? Did Nicholas die from his injuries?
12. What happens next for Bailey, Hannah, and Owen?
13. What will Hannah and Owen’s relationship look like going forward?
14. Nicholas has gathered all the intel behind the family that could put them all in jail. Will Bailey, Hannah, and Owen finally be safe now, or will the children go after them?
15. Let’s discuss the meaning behind the title, The First Time I Saw Him?
16. If there’s a third book in the series, what would you like to see it cover?

Additional Recommendations

Hope you enjoyed the book club questions for The First Time I Saw Him! Here are some more recommendations, along with links to book club questions.

Liam Noon, a mega-rich hotel developer, falls to his death at his home in the Central Coast, California. While the police determine it was simply an accidental fall, his daughter, Nora, and her brother, Sam, believe there is something more nefarious at play.

They vow to find out what really happened to their dad that night and who was responsible. But in doing so, they find hidden secrets that leave them shaken. And they start to question everything they know about their father.

I found The Night We Lost Him to be an engrossing and interesting story about a complicated family. Check out my full review here.

You can find my book club questions here.

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she receives a job offer to ghostwrite her father’s last book. What she doesn’t know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it’s not another horror novel he wants her to write.

Now 50 years later, Olivia might be the one to find out the truth about what happened that night, as her dad is finally ready to talk.

The Ghostwriter is an entertaining mystery. There are extremely heavy topics, but Julie handles the subject matter with care. 

While I wanted a bit more resolution on certain areas, I overall thought this was a solid read. Check out my full review here.

Check out my book club questions here.

Happy reading!