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Book Club Night Kit

The First Time I Saw Him

Laura Dave
Cozy night

A tender, twisty return to the world of Hannah and Owen, this sequel blends family secrets with the ache of second chances. Perfect for a night of soft blankets, warm mugs, and heart-on-your-sleeve conversation.

Blankets, Chowder, and Secrets Worth Keeping

Join us for a cozy evening with Laura Dave's 'The First Time I Saw Him.' Bring your softest sweater and your softest heart.

Reading level: Easy Pages: 288

Best for: Clubs who love character-driven stories with heart, mystery, and a hopeful undercurrent

Discussion

Warm-up

  1. 1.Where were you (and what were you drinking or snacking on) during your favorite reading session with this book?
  2. 2.Did you read the first book, watch the show, or come in fresh? How did that shape the feelings you brought to page one?

Digging in

  1. 1.This story leans into the quiet ache of family bonds. Was there a moment that made you want to call someone you love?
  2. 2.Hannah's world is full of small comforts (her workshop, her people, her routines). What comforts of your own did you find yourself craving while reading?
  3. 3.The book sits with the idea that home is something you build, not just inherit. When have you felt most 'at home' in your own life?
  4. 4.Which scene felt like a warm hug, and which one made you want to pull the blanket a little tighter?

Going deep

  1. 1.Trust is a slow, tender thing in this book. Was there a relationship whose evolution moved you, and did it remind you of anyone in your own life?
  2. 2.Without giving anything away, how did the book leave you feeling as you closed the last page, and did that feeling linger the next day?

On the table & to sip

To eat

Sausalito-style clam chowder in mugs
A nod to the Northern California coast where Hannah's world lives, served warm and sippable
Rosemary focaccia with olive oil
Rustic and shareable, echoing the woodworker's love of natural, handcrafted things
Warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream
Homey, nostalgic comfort for a story about family and belonging

To sip

Spiced honey chamomile tea (no alcohol)
A gentle, non-alcoholic pour for wrapping your hands around while you talk
California chardonnay
A soft nod to the book's Bay Area setting
Bourbon hot toddy with lemon and clove
Warming and a little indulgent, perfect for the season of secrets

Run of show

7:00
Warm welcome
Greet guests with a mug of tea or toddy and let them settle into blankets and floor cushions
7:15
Soup and bread
Serve chowder in mugs so people can eat while chatting, no formal seating required
7:35
Warm-up questions
Ease in with the two warm-up prompts while people finish eating
7:55
Heart of the discussion
Move through the theme questions gently, letting silences breathe
8:30
Dessert and deep questions
Bring out crumble and ice cream, then dive into the two deeper prompts
9:00
Scorecards and send-off
Fill out scorecards together, hand out bookmarks, and pick the next read

Host tips

  • Keep the lights low and lean on lamps and candles, no overheads
  • Have a stack of extra throws by the door so guests can grab one on arrival
  • Let quiet moments sit; cozy conversations bloom when no one rushes to fill silence

Playlist

Acoustic, folk-tinged, and gently melancholy, like porch lights on a foggy evening

  1. 01 Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
  2. 02 Wildflowers - Tom Petty
  3. 03 The Night We Met - Lord Huron
  4. 04 Skinny Love - Birdy
  5. 05 Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
  6. 06 Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch
  7. 07 Cover Me Up - Brandi Carlile
  8. 08 Holocene - Bon Iver

Trivia

  1. 1.Who wrote 'The First Time I Saw Him'? (Laura Dave)
  2. 2.What earlier novel does this book serve as a sequel to? (The Last Thing He Told Me)
  3. 3.Which streaming series adapted the first book, with a second season inspired by this sequel? (The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+)
  4. 4.Which actress stars in the television adaptation? (Jennifer Garner)
  5. 5.Whose celebrity book club selected this novel? (Reese Witherspoon's)
  6. 6.In what year was 'The First Time I Saw Him' published? (2026)
  7. 7.What craft or profession is Hannah, the protagonist, known for? (Woodturning / woodworking)
  8. 8.Roughly how long is the book in pages? (About 288 pages)

Bookmarks

Print, cut, and tuck one at every seat, a small keepsake from the night.

The First Time I Saw Him
The First Time I Saw Him
The First Time I Saw Him

Rate the book

Coziness Factor☆☆☆☆☆
Emotional Warmth☆☆☆☆☆
Characters You'd Invite to Dinner☆☆☆☆☆
Lingering Feeling☆☆☆☆☆
Reread Potential☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
The scene I'd curl up inside: ______________________
A person I want to hand this book to next: ______________________
That's a wrap
Thank you for coming

We hope the company was good and the conversation even better. Until the next chapter.