Fans of the Apple TV thriller The Last Thing He Told Me have been waiting to find out what happens after that tense first season finale. With season 2 premiering on February 20, 2026, the big question is whether the new episodes will follow the source material or go in a different direction. The answer is clear—season 2 is directly based on author Laura Dave’s sequel novel, but with some interesting twists in how the story makes the jump from page to screen.
The first season, which dropped in 2023, adapted Dave’s massively popular 2021 novel of the same name. That book sold over five million copies and spent more than 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Now the story continues with The First Time I Saw Him, the sequel novel that hit shelves on January 6, 2026. The timing is no coincidence—readers can dive into the book about six weeks before they see it play out on screen.
Season 2 Is A Direct Adaptation of Laura Dave’s Sequel Novel
The eight-episode second season takes its story directly from The First Time I Saw Him, Laura Dave’s follow-up to her original bestseller . The novel picks up the story five years after the events of the first book, and the show follows the same timeline.
In season 2, Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) resurfaces after being on the run for half a decade. His return forces Hannah (Jennifer Garner) and her stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) to figure out how to bring their family back together while staying ahead of the past that’s catching up with them . That plot matches the sequel book exactly.
Dave explained to Us Weekly how the book and show developed side by side. She had written a draft of the sequel and walked the show’s creative team through the story while she was still editing. This allowed the writers to start building the second season around the world and themes she was creating for the book .
“I walked them through the book. They had the world and the themes and everything, but I only had 100 pages I was willing to share at that point,” Dave recalled. “While I was doing some of that editing, they were off creating the second world for the show. I think they speak to each other really beautifully.”
The Creative Team Behind Season 2
The people bringing this story to life know the material inside and out. Laura Dave and her husband Josh Singer created and adapted the series together. Singer, who won an Oscar for Spotlight, returns as executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Aaron Zelman, known for his work on Damages and The Killing .
Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter of Hello Sunshine also executive produce, with Jennifer Garner pulling double duty as both star and executive producer . The series comes from 20th Television and Hello Sunshine, which is part of Candle Media.
Daisy von Scherler Mayer and Merri D. Howard also serve as executive producers on the second season .
What Happens In The First Time I Saw Him Book
For those who want to read ahead, the sequel novel gives the full picture of what’s coming. The book opens five years after the first story ended. Hannah spots Owen in public, and she knows immediately that trouble is coming. What follows is a race against time as Hannah and Bailey deal with the fallout of his return and face new threats .
Dave made some interesting choices with the sequel. She wanted the book to work both as a follow-up and as a story that new readers could pick up without having read the first one.
“I love sequels that answer questions readers didn’t know they were asking. Because of that, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time recapping, which is why I made the prologue for this book, the epilogue of the first book. You can get right back in,” Dave said .
The author also included multiple points of view in the sequel to help tell the story more completely. She explained that because the book deals with redemption and reunification, she needed to be clear about everyone’s intentions to make that love story work .
One character getting attention is Nicholas, who served as a villain in the first book. Dave gave him a redemption arc in the sequel, which took some careful writing. His story spans over 40 years, and she wanted those chapters to show both who he was and why his story matters to the bigger picture.
“I’m really interested in the idea that no one becomes bad overnight. At least, that’s how I like to think about it,” Dave said .
Cast Returning For Season 2
The main cast is back for the second season. Jennifer Garner leads as Hannah Hall, the woman at the center of this complicated family drama. Angourie Rice returns as Bailey, Hannah’s stepdaughter who has grown closer to her over the five years Owen has been gone. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is back as Owen, the husband whose disappearance kicked off the whole story. David Morse also returns in his role .
New Faces Joining The Cast
Season 2 brings in some exciting new talent. Judy Greer joins the series in a recurring role, though details about her character are being kept under wraps . The timing works well for fans of Garner and Greer’s previous work together—they starred in the beloved 2004 film 13 Going on 30, so their reunion on screen has generated extra buzz.
Interestingly, Garner personally suggested Greer for the role. As an executive producer, Garner saw an opportunity for a strong, layered female character and pitched Greer directly to the creative team. The producers trusted Garner’s judgment and were excited about what Greer could bring to the part .
For Greer, the chance to work with Garner again was a big draw. But she also found the character appealing because Quinn Favreau is described as dark, secretive, and layered—a departure from the kinds of roles Greer usually gets. It was exactly the challenge she wanted .
According to the team, Quinn’s arc is described as the “birth of a super villain,” and Garner’s guidance helped develop that edge .
Rita Wilson also joins the cast for season 2, along with returning and new cast members Augusto Aguilera, Josh Hamilton, Nick Hargrove, Michael Galante, John Noble, Michael Hyatt, Luke Kirby, and Elizabeth O’Donnell .
Release Schedule and Where To Watch
Season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me premieres on Friday, February 20, 2026, on Apple TV . The season consists of eight episodes, with new episodes dropping every Friday through the finale on April 10, 2026 .
Viewers around the world can watch on Apple TV, which is available in over 100 countries and regions. The service can be accessed through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Mac, smart TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, and gaming consoles .
For those who need to catch up, the complete first season is streaming now on Apple TV .
How Closely Will The Show Follow The Book?
Based on everything the creative team has said, season 2 will follow the sequel book closely in terms of story and characters. The showrunners had access to Dave’s draft while developing the season, which means the adaptation should capture the major plot points and emotional beats she wrote.
That said, TV adaptations always make adjustments. The show has eight hours to tell its story, which means some elements may be expanded while others might be trimmed. The addition of new characters like Judy Greer’s Quinn Favreau suggests the show is building out the world in ways that complement the book’s story.
Dave seems happy with how things are turning out. She called Garner the “heart and soul” of the adaptation and had nothing but praise for the upcoming second season .
“Everyone says to me, ‘What’s it like having your book adapted?’” Dave said. “I say, ‘If you’re lucky enough to have Jennifer Garner play your protagonist, you just say, thank goodness in the end.’”
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What Viewers Can Expect
Season 2 picks up half a decade after Owen vanished. Hannah and Bailey have built a life in his absence, but his return upends everything. The trailer shows Hannah in a knife fight, a car chase, and a boxing match—suggesting the stakes are higher than ever .
The emotional core remains the relationship between Hannah and Bailey. Dave has said that becoming a mother herself influenced how she writes their bond.
“I always say that I couldn’t have found my way to the story here—to The Last Thing He Told Me—and I didn’t find my way to the ending and to what happens here until I became a mom. It’s really a love letter to that primal relationship,” Dave shared .
With Owen back in the picture, Hannah must decide whether she can trust the man who disappeared without explanation. The past that Owen tried to escape is now catching up, and it’s bringing danger right to their door.
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