Loved this family drama, it was a deliciously fun read. The story kicks off when during a family getaway the family patriarch accidentally makes it known in subtle - but certain - terms who his favourite daughter is, then jumps perspective as the members of the family grapple with the truth of this reality and what it means for them. Weaving together past and present, I loved the dynamics of the sisters and the roles they each play in the family. It was great fun to peel back the layers of the family dynamic and refreshing to read a novel about sisters with such a witty bent.

I really loved Fran Littlewoods debut novel “Amazing Grace Adams” and was eagerly anticipating reading this , her second novel.

While it didn’t hit the same highs of her debut, I did very much enjoy this family drama. Alex, Nancy , Eva are three sisters in their 40s/ late 30s navigating their own family lives and their relationship with each other and their parents. The entire family including spouses and children are away in a luxury isolated house for a week to celebrate their mother’s 70th birthday. In a moment of tension and chaos, their father accidentally reveals he has a favourite daughter and the fall out is the basis of this book.

I did enjoy this book, it captures the messiness of family dynamics well and the characters were well drawn allowing the reader to easily know who was who amid a fairly large cast of characters. The book goes back and forth in time and is told from multiple perspectives , this also works well.

I did find the pacing a little uneven in the middle section of the book and my mind was prone to wandering a bit when reading but the final quarter brought me back fully on board and fully invested in this family.

Great writing and an enjoyable read.

3.5-4 star

This is an engaging novel about sisterly relationships among adults and how familial rifts are carefully negotiated every day. The sisters in question are Alex, Nancy and Eva who gather at a luxurious holiday let to celebrate their mother Vivienne’s seventieth birthday. Each sister has done well for herself and is blessed with a good job, loyal partner and delightful children, so why is there still so much petty animosity between the three? An unfortunate incident on the day of arrival brings old rivalries and loyalties to the fore in ways that nobody could have imagined.
Well-written, my only criticism of this novel is that many of the multiple points of view are delivered by third-person narrators, when first-person narrators may have been more honest and unfiltered. Nevertheless, this is an insightful novel about family dynamics where nothing much happens on the surface but plenty below it! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC that allowed me to read this novel and familiarise myself with the author’s work.

I was expecting a little more from this. It took me halfway through the book to distinguish between the sisters so that doesn’t say much for the characterization. However, there was something beguiling about the writing and how the author handled the topic, so it’s a solid three stars from me.

A good story with lots of threads going on relating to how messed up families can be. You did have to be on it, paying attention to who is talking and when from but overall enjoyable.

This book is excellent. It perfectly captures family dynamics and the fact that, on the surface everything looks perfect. It just takes one small thing to fracture relationships and uncover damaging and deep-seated secrets, it explores how we may all grow up in the same house with our siblings but we have very different memories of that. It shows how family folklore runs deep and it sets the tone for our lives.

It explores the close relationship between sibling, in this case sisters as well as the undertones of rivalry, between them. The sisters in this book may resent each other in ways but the author shows the true nuances between siblings relationships the unbreakable bond as well as the sometimes pure hatred and pettiness. With humour and heart it shows how we fall into the roles we are assigned with in our family I loved how the grown up successful daughters fall into the childhood roles almost instantly when faced with a big family gathering at a luxurious holiday home to celebrate matriarch Vivienne’s seventieth birthday whilst there’s very little in the way of a traditional plot, the story focuses on the Fisher family while this is going on. Hearing from all three sisters in the third person and Vivienne we move from the present to the past to hear their story the author is particularly effective in choosing to focus on the trivial in order to explain the important moving the book along at a great pace that keeps you wanting to read more and more, there is a hint at mystery and misunderstanding from the past that could explain why the favourite is indeed the favourite. For me this really levelled it up from a good family saga to a brilliant one. I loved the dark humour though out, in particular the tone from Nancy the middle sister there are a lot characters in this book but all are well developed and added to the story.

I really enjoyed this raw, tender and funny family saga. Full secrets, lies and all that makes family families .

This book is excellent. It perfectly captures family dynamics and the fact that, on the surface everything looks perfect. It just takes one small thing to fracture relationships and uncover damaging and deep-seated secrets. Explores the close relationship between sisters as well as the rivalry. Great read.

Fran Littlewood’s debut novel, ‘Amazing Grace Adams’ was a very enjoyable read and ‘The Favourite’ is just as compelling. Whilst there’s very little in the way of a traditional plot, the story focuses on the Fisher family as they gather at a luxurious holiday home to celebrate matriarch Vivienne’s seventieth birthday – not that she wants this sort of a celebration.

On the first day as they gather in the woods for baby Dolly’s naming ceremony, a tree falls with devastating consequences. But not the kind you might imagine.

Throughout the narrative, Littlewood takes us back and forth in time so we see how the three sisters, Alex, Nancy and Eva, have become the adults they are. The author is particularly effective in choosing to focus on the trivial in order to explain the important. For most of the story we see how good the sisters are at dissembling and from whom they may have learnt this particular trait, without even recognising that they have. However, the truth will out in the end.

The author captures the sisters’ special relationship extremely well. Their caustic wit and buried jealousies combine with innate understanding to present the reader with an entirely realistic trio. Dealing with disaster through stupid jokes, Eva thinks, ‘This is the vernacular of sisters. It’s childish and absurd and funny and infuriating and painful, and it’s beautiful. They are under her skin and in her heart, these women, her sisters. She has no choice in the matter.’ Whilst this sums up the essence of the ‘The Favourite’, hopefully Littlewood will have the confidence to no longer feel that she needs to spell out key themes in her next novel. We already understand them loud and clear through her authentic characterisation.

My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Really enjoyed this book about family dynamics and what happens when secret feelings come out into the open. Interesting relationships and some great characters. Did I have a favourite? Yes, absolutely. Easily done it seems

It's an age-old question, isn't it? Do parents have favourites?
The Favourite follows the story of three sisters, all together with their families and parents to celebrate with a fancy naming ceremony for a young child.
Here they are in an idyllic setting, in the forest, staying in a state of the art glass house for a week, when something happens that raises a question in everyone's mind. Does dad really have a favourite?
All three women have vivid memories of their childhoods, and all three's memories have differences.
It was an intriguing premise, but I found it a little hard to stay engaged.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Randon House for a ARC.

I found it hard to get into this book and got confused about who was married for who! I might go back and try it again

The Favourite by Fran Littlewood

A family gathers at a spectacular holiday home for a celebration - Vivienne, Patrick, their three grown up daughters Alex, Nancy and Eva, partners and grandchildren - but things start to turn sour when Patrick accidentally reveals his favourite daughter.

Oooh this book is SUBLIME! A delicious concoction of a thriller/mystery element, family dynamics, comedy and tragedy... I couldn't put it down. Fran Littlewood's writing is so smart and witty and compulsive, and I LOVED the relationship/banter between the three sisters. The perfect novel - very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

As a deep-dive into family and and sisterly dynamics, The Favourite definitely delivers. It reminded me a little of This Family by Kate Sawyer - and also The Split on TV, with the three sisters and the matriarch set up.
Because I was reading it as a netgalley proof, it was harder to 'flick' back to the family tree at the beginning - which I would have done if I'd been reading it on paper. Because it took a little while for the three sisters' characters to solidify and that quick reminder of who was married to who, who came where in the birth order etc, would have helped.
The inciting incident is great - their father clearly reveals his 'favourite' daughter in a dramatic and memorable way. The family are staying in a contemporary house largely made from glass and, what with their father's actions and each sister having her own secret to hide, it's a salutary lesson that 'people in glass houses...'
The Favourite also has interesting things to say about the nature of home and memories - particularly how each of us might remember a difficult event differently. But it's the fostering, holding and letting go of secrets that breaks - and then mends - this family.

The three Fisher girls have always been close. Alex the oldest is only a year older than Nancy, with baby Eva coming along a few years later. Now grown up with families of their own, it takes a holiday away to celebrate mother Vivienne’s 70th birthday for the cracks to show in their relationships with partners, children and parents.

A proper family saga, told in the present and with frequent flashbacks/memories. Sibling rivalry, fallouts and jealousies abound. Quick to snap, even quicker to defend, despite differences and petty squabbles the bond between the sisters is paramount and stronger than ever.

It took a while to get into the story. Remembering who was married to who, which child belonged to which sister, and the sibling ranking and family dynamic was a lot to take in. However, please persevere, it’s well worth it.

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.

I loved this one! As an only child I always had this theory about children being the so called favorite. I’m happy to know I was right ;) A great book on the human experience