thanks netgalley for the arc!

when i started this book, i thought the plot became super predictable near the start and nearly put it down - and i’m glad i didn’t!

the main characters were chaotic and messy and not very likeable but made for an engaging and unique read.

would recommend!

Firstly I loved the idea behind this book, it was something different that I hadn’t read before. 2 women, with different troubles and challenges and no knowledge of each other outside their actual existence, shared a father who’s now dead. And he’s cut Arlo, who he seemingly doted on (and her, him) out of the will in favour of Mickey who he’s not seen for 2 decades subject to her doing 7 therapy sessions… prepaid with Arlo.

This book was interesting and I equally loved both sisters, even though they were flawed. It was, for me, a little long in the middle, but I’m not sure how it could have been reduced. I loved the ending (their sharing the huge sum was what I was rooting for- I knew I could rely on Mickey!)

Can’t wait to discuss this with people when it’s on shelves!

4/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of this title.

THE read for girls with daddy issues (me).

A heartbreaking yet tender exploration of grief, codependency, addiction and trauma.
Heavy but so full of hope.
Both sisters are extremely frustrating to follow at times but that’s one of the things that makes them feel like real people. They’re flawed but you still can’t help but root for them.
The snappy and confident voice of Morgan Dick made for, at times very dark, a very easy read.
Definitely needs content warning and possibly numbers and websites of various helplines.

When was the last time you read a book entirely because of the title?

I saw this title from the ARC request and just knew that I would be reading this one way before I even looked at the synopsis to see if it was right up my alley.

Family dynamics can be messy, complicated, and downright heart-wrenching, and this story nails all of that in the most compelling way. Mickey and Arlo’s relationship is built on a foundation of pain, resentment, and unhealed wounds, making for a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the book.

The author brings to the forefront the long-lasting impact of parental abandonment. Mickey, in particular, embodies the pain of being deserted by a parent. It’s gut-wrenching to see how the weight of that physical and emotional neglect shaped her sense of self, as well as her relationships. Similarly, the way the story addresses addiction and its grip on the person suffering from it and the devastating toll it takes on the people who love them was incredibly well handled. It was so raw and real, and I truly appreciated the way these serious issues were explored. The author also examines the complexities go grief, examining how the loss of a loved one ripples through every part of those left behind.

The prose is simple, yet still carries deep significance. The way the story unfolds, particularly through the inheritance and therapy sessions, is strikingly clever (albeit wildly unethical), revealing how complex relationships can force individuals to confront their deepest wounds. The pairing of Mickey and Arlo, two women bound by the same man but separated by years of pain, is brilliant.

From the very start, I was invested in Mickey’s journey. Her struggles and rancour towards her father made me root for her, even before the full depth of her history was revealed. I loved how the author carefully unfurled her character, allowing us to witness her growth as the plot unfolded. I also came to really like Arlo, whose character initially felt distant but gradually revealed so many layers. As a psychologist, she brought a sense of quiet understanding to the mess they were navigating, and I ended up feeling a lot of empathy for her as well.

These characters should have been unlikable, yet their multifaceted personalities, their flaws, and their struggles made it impossible not to feel a deep sense of empathy for them. They feel so achingly real, grappling with problems that are universal and raw in their vulnerability. If their story isn’t relatable, then I’m not sure what is. My heart broke for the sisters and their moms, and I shed a few thug tears while reading.

Ultimately, this is a book about brokenness, grief, healing, and the complicated nature of family relationships. The author captured the emotional depth beautifully, and I’m more than satisfied with how it all came together.

I’d like to read more from Morgan Dick.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for my digital ARC. It’ll be out on 1st May 2025. 💚💙💜

Oh what a lovely comi-tragic tale of two sisters. ❤️ Arlo and Mickey, linked by their fathers but could not have two more different lives. I adored this sad, very funny book & and adoreddddd the side characters!

Such a sad story on the face of it, but the interwoven stories of the two daughters from different wives of a controlling alcoholic father is an involving read with uplifting moments within it.

Plot follows Mickey, a nursery teacher who learns about the death of her father via an obituary with indifference. After not having contact with her father for 26 years her father's lawyer reaches out to tell her that her father has left her money but she can access it under one condition... That's where Arlo comes in, a therapist and her half sister

This was an emotional somewhat thought provoking read, I don't think I've ever rooted for two sisters this hard I feel like I lived their story with them. I loved the character development so much the story itself was engaging, I couldn't put the book down until I found out how it unfolds

‘Favourite Daughter’ by Morgan Dick is a fictional novel where two sisters are united in one of the weirdest ways after their father’s death. One is the others therapist. The story is of two extremely complicated young women who are trying to navigate not only their lives, whether that be their careers or personal lives, but also their relationship with their deceased dad.

The plot is extremely fast paced in a good way that acts like a hook for the whole novel. Meanwhile, the characters themselves as part of their being truly messed up, are truly messed up and it is hard to find the parts of them that are normal and human. The fast-paced approach doesn’t leave much time to connect with the characters.

There are also minor characters such as the family’s lawyer who does some questionable things that are I guess, addressed under the fact he says he’s a terrible person but that don’t explain or enhance my vision of him. The jump from the incident into his character ARC wasn’t bad I would just have liked it to have been explained more.

All in all, the book was a thriller like literary fiction which was a fantastic combination in terms of plot and I would recommend to people who enjoy thrillers to try this book out.

4+

Kindergarten teacher, Mickey reads of her father‘s death via an obituary with indifference. She’s 33, has few vices if you don’t count the vodka and surreptitious episodes of Bridgerton. To her huge surprise, her father‘s lawyer contacts her. Why is it a surprise? Well, she has had no contact with her father for twenty six years since he left her and her mother. He leaves her a bequest which is both large and conditional. An unfortunate sequence of circumstances forces Mickey to engage with Arlo (Charlotte), Mickey‘s half sister and a psychologist and both are in for some unexpected shocks. Therapist and patient, both seeking truths of a different kind. Make or break?

This is an emotional, moving and thought provoking read that I find compelling and very engaging. It’s a novel that encompasses many things and does so with feeling and authenticity. First and foremost, it’s about loss and grief which characters inevitably respond to differently. It’s also about relationships, between mother and daughter, between father and daughter and so on, these are complex family issues and we ‘watch’ how these change and evolve. I love the way the author has written it with a constantly changing tone. The dynamics are really intriguing and at times they and us as readers, are on a rollercoaster and if I can mix my metaphors, there are train wrecks of lives. It’s written with liveliness and wit, with empathy and sympathy and it makes me care and root for Mickey and Arlo, even when they make it hard for themselves.

The characterisation is exemplary, many are damaged but they have redeemable qualities. Mickey has so many issues that I range from feeling sorry for her but also wanting to shake her! Many scenes between Arlo and Mickey are tense and emotional as they seek to find their truth about their father and find a way forward through the wreckage. I love the ending which after all the angst gives grounds for optimism.

Overall, this is a really good, well written novel which I become fully involved in.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General/Viking for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.

Late leaving this review because I forgot it was an e-ARC (in a good way!)

I devoured this novel! The tension between Mickey and, well, everyone was inticing. Arlo's expansive feelings and dubious actions. As I write this I realise that Mickey and Arlo are total mirrors to each other.

This wasn't the novel I thought it would be, it was more.

The Favourite Daughter is an intriguing story—two women, Mickey and Arlo, connected by a shared father, brought together under complicated circumstances. Mickey’s raw, self-destructive tendencies contrast beautifully with Arlo’s measured but unraveling life, creating a dynamic and compelling relationship. Their reluctant entanglement is handled with nuance, and their growth throughout the novel feels organic rather than forced.

The novel's dark humor balances its heavier themes, making it an engaging read without being overwhelmingly bleak. The therapy sessions, inheritance drama, and unlikely sisterly bond are explored with both realism, adding depth to what could have been a straightforward family drama.
While it may not break entirely new ground, this novel has an emotional depth that makes it well worth the read.

When you hear about a story that involves a lot of therapy with some humour thrown in I guess you know the mood will be a little up and down. I think it delivered about what I expected on the humour side of things. The complicated family issues and self-analysis in the therapy and all the various issues around that area it touches on? I think I underestimated how seriously it was going to hit those notes. It is a good balance though. Which is fairly notable given it doesn't shy away from some fairly dark and heavy moments.

The main arc, two half sisters thrown together, actually plays out as farcically as it sounds. That keeps things moving nice and smoothly. You're going to get pretty much what you might expect with all that, and you enjoy reading that story and it would start drifting from your mind the moment you finished until you basically think of it as simply as the blurb tells it. Because that's basically the story.

Except the characters won't quite allow that. They've got a bit more to them and they make this book more than that. Given the gamut of slightly self-analysis throughout this book you'll likely spot something that resonates in someone or some relationship around you. And those parts are what will linger. Which makes explaining the joys of this book a bit tricky because the real story are those moments. And they're spoilers. I mean, sure, I just said you're not in for any real surprises with the main story so what's left to spoil? The journey. It's like, just because you know the Titanic sinks there's still a lot of room to tell stories to tell about the voyage. And this book is really about those moments that get you to the end. Some of them span a few chapters, some of the best moments don't even need a whole page. And some times you can just relax and enjoy the main story without the heavier stuff, but it's there wating to reward your continued reading.

The thing is, this really is a fairly well balanced combination of the comedy and drama. Usually when I see the buzzy term Dramedy I expect a drama with a few dry jokes that, good as it may be, falls short on the comedy side. Sometimes you have a comedy that wants an earnest moment to anchor it all, and no matter how good, the tone shift is usually very noticeable. But this story actually does move pretty effortlessly between the two moods. It feels cohesive and offers serious subjects with a lighter tone. I got what I had hoped for coming into this book, and was pleasantly surprised that it offered even more.

I was immediately gripped by the concept, and gulped it down in two sittings. I’m a sucker for a messy sister dynamic and it doesn’t get messier than this. It was a really difficult read - not because of the prose - but Mickey’s struggles and Arlo’s… personality, were hard to swallow - but I was still rooting for them both. I loved it.

Wow, that was a total blast. Brilliant premise, two great but flawed characters and a brilliant story. Well worth reading

Favourite Daughter delves into the tense relationship between two estranged half-sisters, Mickey and Arlo, after their father's death. Mickey, a struggling kindergarten teacher, inherits a fortune but must attend therapy with Arlo, a successful therapist, to claim it. While the premise is intriguing, I found the characters a bit hard to connect with. Mickey’s flaws are relatable, but Arlo feels a little too perfect and detached. The story has an interesting dynamic, but at times it felt like it tried to juggle too many plotlines. If you enjoy complex family dramas and don’t mind an occasionally slow pace, this could be for you.

A witty look at the dynamics of two sisters who were dealt with a very different hand in life. Mickey is the free spirited and at times troubled sister where Arlo is the calculated, reliable daughter. However, as the story unfolds there is a role reversal and the sisters unravel their identities and relationship with their father. Mickey is the heart of the book and her flaws end up bringing her character to life. A heart-warming dive into the core of a family at odds with the loss of their father. My only criticism was not seeing more of Arlo's life.

I absolutely loved the premise of this novel and was so excited to delve into this one.

I had a BLAST reading this - from the moral elements that were explored throughout, to the irony of Mickey talking to Arlo without any realisation that the man that she was there because of had a real connection to Arlo. It was clever written, with the intertwining plot being extremely well thought out, alongside quite dislikable characters that you couldn't quite help but root for.

I believe that this book is best ventured into with very little context - just know that it is 100% worth the read. Morgan's debut was an ultimate success and I can't wait for more of her work in the future.

The concept of this book really intrigued me - and the story developed in a pact, readable way with plot twists I didn't expect. It would be a great summer beach read - a page turner with heart.

I loved how this started and that’s saying a lot because usually these ARCs have such terrible formatting and are riddled with distracting first proof errors that the quality of the writing can get swallowed up. But I loved Morgan Dick’s voice immediately.

However once we got knee deep into the addiction part I didn’t love it so much and it started to feel like every other book about addiction and lost some of the good attributes like the snappy dialogue and way certain conversations and actions flowed into each other.

Then grief strikes and we see two sisters mourn in different ways and it felt way too contrived that they go by silly nicknames so can’t figure out their relationship.

Like The Outrun I’m quite bored of reading books about drinking but that’s me. Still giving this a four though because of the strong start.

A toe-curling, frustrating story about addiction and the harsh reality that, no matter how much we think we can live without others, true happiness cannot be found in loneliness.

This book dives deep into grief and the struggle of coming to terms with life after losing a prominent figure—whether they were physically present or merely a lingering shadow. It also delves into serious ethical dilemmas and morbid topics that had me cringing and fearing for the vulnerable people in society who place their trust in caretakers and medical professionals. I found the two main characters deeply unlikable, yet I couldn’t stop reading. It’s like watching a trainwreck; you just can't look away.