How the Last Thing You Said to Me Book Sequel Affects Season 2 of the Show (Excl.)

Author Laura Dave continues the story of Hannah Hall a The last thing he said to me book sequel, The first time I saw him.

Released on Tuesday, January 6, the second book offered a glimpse of what fans of the Apple TV show will see when Jennifer Garner returns as Hannah for Season 2 next month.

Dave explained to him Us Weekly exclusively that he had “written a draft of the book,” which was what allowed the season 2 showrunners to plan where the show would go.

“I took them through the book. They had the world and the themes and everything, but I only had 100 pages that I was willing to share at the time,” Dave recalled. “While I was part of this edition, they were creating the second world for the show. I think they talk very well.”

The first time I saw him the book picks up five years later The last thing he said to me finished When Hannah sees Owen in public after he’s been hiding for so long, she knows something is about to go terribly wrong. Hannah and her stepdaughter, Bailey, now face a new threat.

Dave refrained from giving away “too many spoilers,” but couldn’t help but praise the show’s upcoming second season, calling Garner “the heart and soul” of its adaptation.

“Everybody says to me, ‘What’s it like to have your book adapted?'” Dave said. “I say, ‘If you’re lucky enough to have Jennifer Garner as the lead, you just say, thank God at the end.’

Keep scrolling for more answers to burning questions about The first time he saw him:

we: you originally wanted it to be a stand-alone novel. Why did you decide to write a sequel?

Laura Dave: When this book came out two things happened. So many readers reached out to me with lovely notes and obviously that means the world to me. The question I was asked the most was, “What happens next?” I was surprised to hear that I had an answer.

We: How intentional you were in recapping The last thing he said to me for The first time I saw him?

L.D.: I love sequels that answer questions readers didn’t know they were asking. That’s why I didn’t want to spend a lot of time recapitulating, that’s why I made the prologue of this book, the epilogue of the first book. You can come back right away. I put nuggets in the first 30-40 pages for anyone who hasn’t read the first book. … That was very important to me. That this book was a sibling to the first book and also stood on its own.”

We: Why did you include multiple points of view? The first time I saw him?

L.D.: It’s really a story about redemption, reunification, and to make that story come true, that love story, which was so important to me, I wanted to be very clear about everyone’s intent.

We: Nicholas was a villain The last thing he said to me. Was it difficult to give him a redemption arc? The first time I saw him?

L.D.: Nicholas’ story took place over 43 years. I felt an obligation to get these chapters to be both about him and suggest the importance of the story in general. … I’m very interested in the idea that no one becomes evil overnight. At least, I like to think so. … He knew that for Nicholas to find his redemption, he would have to go back to his origin of what was the first step he took, the first mistake he made that led him astray. How can I bring him back to who he is and wants to be more authentically?

We: Does your role as a mother influence the way you write Hannah and Bailey’s relationship?

L.D.: Absolutely. I always say I couldn’t have found my way into the story here, a The last thing he said to me — and I didn’t find my way to the end and what happens here until I became a mother. It’s really a love letter to that primordial relationship. So (my son) is a big influence.

We: Do you have a future in mind for Hannah and Owen after this finale?

L.D.: I just started thinking about it. I have a bit of an answer in my head, but it’s still not good enough. I promise I’ll come back and tell you when it’s fully formed.