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