After the massive and unexpected success of Hidden Pictures, Jason Rekulak returns with a novel that is completely different, while still displaying vast innovation and complex characterization all wrapped up in a compelling plot—making for one the most unforgettable reading experiences of the year. The Last One at the Wedding cements Jason Rekulak as a writer never to be underestimated. It will please his current cult of fervent fans, while gathering new readers to the flock. It is simply not-to-be-missed.
At the center of The Last One at the Wedding is Frank Szatowski, a hard-working, blue-collar widower living in rural Pennsylvania. Frank is one of UPS’s most loyal employees—one of the coveted few who has never had an accident and with retirement closer than he might like to think, his life feels incomplete. This is mainly because of his estrangement from his only child, Maggie. The reason this father and daughter have not spoken for three years is best left for readers to discover within the context of the story, however.
The Last One at the Wedding opens with Frank receiving an invitation from Maggie. She is getting married and is using this opportunity to extend an olive branch to her father. Excited at the prospect of seeing his daughter again, Frank agrees to travel to New Hampshire for the wedding. In an effort to mitigate the awkwardness, Frank asks his sister, Tammy, to join him for the three-day long celebration. Things start out on rocky ground when Tammy is unable to find someone to watch her current foster child, Abigail, and the two decide the only option is to take the moody child with them.
The wedding weekend is a lavish event befitting the nuptials of one of the countless billionaires in the tech arena. It seems that Maggie Szatowski is marrying Aidan Gardner. Frank and his crew immediately feel out of place but decide to do their best to assimilate, aiding Frank’s efforts to forge new bonds with his daughter. The only problem is that with all the wedding festivities, Maggie hardly has time to spend with her dad. Aidan seems uninterested in getting to know his new father-in-law. And then by happenstance, Frank discovers that the locals seem particularly hostile to the entire Gardner family.
Frank begins to believe that his daughter Maggie is making a terrible mistake and decides attempt to convince his daughter to delay the wedding—setting into a motion a series of events that will alter everyone’s lives, assuming they are still alive at the end of it all.
Jason Rekulak divides the tale into five larger sections mirroring the milestones of the celebration weekend (Invitation, Rehearsal, etc.) Within each section are chapters—most of which are relatively short—which helps to keep the momentum of The Last One at the Wedding elevated. This is the type of book you begin in the early evening and find yourself still reading as the sun rises the next morning and you must request some personal time off from the day job.
The main characters in The Last One at the Wedding are complex and fascinating, but they are not particularly likable. With the exception of Abigail—and even that will depend on each individual—most readers will find fault with every character that graces the page. Knowing this going in will help to alleviate some early frustration with decisions that are made, but those that power through will be rewarded with some truly epic character arcs. The Last One at the Wedding is a social satire that plays itself straight—so that no one is offended, and everyone feels roasted.
Accept Jason Rekulak’s invitation to The Last One at the Wedding because this is the social event everyone will be talking about this season.
BUY LINKS: The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.