Deliciously chaotic and diabolically brilliant, FAVOURITE DAUGHTER is the story of two women on the brink who find themselves connected by one thing: their father. The problem is, neither of them actually know it. Dick writes with humour, skill and authenticity on many serious topics (death, grief, addiction) and so, manages to deliver a truly page-turning read. An extraordinary debut that everyone should be reading in 2025.

Mickey and Arlo have one thing in common: their dad, but they never met until their dad died and brings them together through his will.
He abandoned Michelle (Mickey) and her mom when Mickey was just a kid, and left them with his debts. Mickey is now a primary teacher, she loves her job, but also pushes people away and is an alcoholic.
Arlo is a therapist and Mickey is her currently client, however they do not know they are related.

A fantastic book, the characters have depth and the story is narrated from the daughters' point of view. It is funny despite talking about grief, and redemption. I did cry reading the end. Love!

Favourite Daughter follows sisters Mickey and Arlo, brought together after their father’s death. He leaves his fortune to Mickey, but only if she attends therapy—with Arlo as her therapist.

The book explores addiction, grief, and family struggles. it’s a heartfelt look at forgiveness and healing and is perfect for those of us who enjoy emotional family drama reads.

This book was fascinating- the dad definitely had some issues, to be manipulating his estranged daughter to spend time with his disinherited daughter from beyond the grave was quite something but I disliked him from the beginning after disinheriting his doting daughter without warning- so sad for her to question everything she had done for him while grieving. I thought this book wrote beautifully about addiction, depression and the complicated relationships that come with these issues. I was utterly absorbed and really liked the sisters, would definitely recommend.

A mag mixed up book that covers such hard topics as families breaking down alcoholism and life just being really really tough. Two sisters that don’t know each other are united when their dad dies and yet only one knows about their relationship.. the author and picks the wounds bruises and damage that alcoholism does to relationships especially family ones in a sensitive way. The book also focuses on the little things in life that are just so hard to do when alcohol is a crutch or when money is tight or when life is just a huge huge struggle.. the issues of mental well-being are dealt with delicately and ultimately the message here is Hope despite things being so hard.

I will always be seated for a book featuring a despondant protagonist (or protagonists, in this case!) coming to terms with their father's death in their own unhealthy manner. 🙏

I had so much fun describing the plot to my boyfriend when he asked what I was reading. A lot of moral/ethical quandaries lie in these pages, almost all of the characters should be deeply unlikable but their complexities make it impossible not to root for or feel some sort of affection for them (yes, even Tom, who I basically just pictured the bank manager from Fleabag for)

The only element I didn't love was the blackmail attempt, I just thought it was unnecessary to the overall story and Mickey was honestly going through enough 💀 Evelyn's disappearance and reappearance is also just sort of glossed over and I thought Mickey would have more feelings about that what with her own experience of parental abandonment.

A really good start to my 2025 reads though! Super compelling debut from Morgan and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for more of her work.

I adored this book. Arlo and Mickey are beautifully drawn characters- so complex and real. I particularly enjoyed Mickey’s perspective and was greatly moved by her slow realisation that she was dependent upon alcohol and how this was affecting her life.

Oh, my days. This is such a good book - it had me hooked, mouth dry and heart pounding from the get-go.

Not gonna lie, I've had a bit of a dry patch with books lately, all a bit meh and samey but this is so the opposite of that and I just loved it.

It's difficult to say more without spoiling it for others but it's a stonking great start to my 2025 reads.

Highly recommend.

I really don’t like the cover; the colours, graphics and whole appearance I find offputting. Which, of course, confirms the ‘don’t judge a book’ adage. The rather infantile and YA look of the cover belies the content of this original and unusual story. Morgan Dick’s debut is a masterpiece of observation and comment about so much. It’s not packed with action, but there’s plenty of emotional drama as themes of depression, alcoholism and familial dysfunction are explored. A nasty father dies and leaves unexpected wealth to one of his daughters. It’s life changing. The other, doting caring daughter is left out. From these pieces of lives destroyed and reconstructed comes a tale of unexpected depth and warmth. Very refreshing, totally engaging and a surprise. I really enjoyed it.

I was asked to review this by NetGalley and was glad I did.

Well written and although the characters were not to my taste. This was powerful with protraying grief.
Micky is living her solitary life and happy in this life. Then she is notified that her estranged and absent father has died and left her a large inheritance. To claim it she needs to attend seven therapy sessions that he had already paid for in advance!!! She would like not to attend and really say no but it came down to the fact she needed the inheritance.

Arlo has been left out of the will even although she cared for him up till his dying day!

I too would be reeeling at this - families !!!

I found some of this a bit heavy to read through and uncomfortable too.

A good read and recommended.

Loved this story of Mickey and Arlo who have the same dad but have never met until their dad died and left everything to Mickey as long as she attended seven sessions with a therapist.
When Mickey visits Arlo and starts to talk about her father Arlo realises that she is her sister who her father left everything too even though Arlo looked after her father when he was dying. Mickey has anger issues as her father walked out on her and her mum when she was seven which she feels is why she does not trust any man.
This is a story about two sisters who find a way through their problems while dealing with difficult mothers and emotions a brilliant read.

I really resonated with this, my dad died in 2022 from liver failure and I had only been in contact with his for 3 years beforehand as we were estranged grieving him has been difficult and my sister and he were really close- fab writing, really understood grief and addiction

Imagine that the father you were devoted to and took care of right until the end cuts you out of your will. Now imagine that the father who unceremoniously dumped you and your mother and who you had no contact with since left a veritable fortune to you in his will.

Meet Arlo and Mickey, half-sisters who have never met, and who are thrown together because of their father's stipulation that Mickey attend counselling before she can be granted her money, and Arlo ends up being the psychologist.

This sounds like a pretty contrived premise but somehow it works. The respective situations that the half-sisters find themselves in are deeply sympathetic. The father's presence is very real despite him being dead before the beginning of the story. Several sections make you want to shout at the main characters, but even that works well. There is a lot going on here and, without giving spoilers, I felt that the ending really pulled everything together in a very satisfying way.

Thank you to Penguin General UK and Netgalley for the ARC!

This is phenomenal - I read it all in less than a day

Favourite Daughter is a dual-POV novel that follows Mickey and Arlo, half-sisters who have never met, daughters of an alcoholic and verbally abusive father who has just passed away. Mickey and her mum were abandoned by her father when she was seven, but her life is still in many ways tied to his as she desperately doesn't want to be like him, but perhaps they're more similar than she cares to admit. Arlo was raised by her father and took care of him all her life. Even though she feels like she has things figured out and adores her father, perhaps she doesn't realise the impact he has had on her life. After passing away, their father leaves Mickey a lot of money, but the catch is she needs to complete seven therapy sessions before having access to it. Arlo is left out of the will and feels betrayed, but imagine how she'll feel when she finds out her new patient is the half-sister she's never met who was given the money that was initially meant for her.

This book is incredible!! These characters are so messy, raw and real that I couldn't help but feel such a fondness towards them; I kept rooting for them and also being mad at them...It gave me all of the feels. The pace of the novel, with its short chapters, amplifies this impulsive and chaotic vibe, and the dual-POV is an amazing way of getting a deeper understanding of these characters, as we have access to both their inner thoughts and external perspectives on them.

Raw, chaotic, and painfully real - Favourite Daughter is a book that you'll have a hard time putting down! I can't recommend it enough.

Thank you so much to Viking Books UK and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

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.

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 story is about two sisters, who share the same dad, but have never met. Micky’s dad left and never returned. He then went on to have another wife and his daughter Arlo.

After the death of their father brings them together, without them even knowing. Will the reality of their lives bring them together or tear them apart.

This book deals with some serious issues with family relationships and addiction. It is such a good read

I’m not sure what I expected from this novel but I requested an ARC from @NetGalley because I liked the sound of the blurb.
The cover wasn’t especially eye-catching, but there’s nothing I disliked about it either.
However, it belies this great story.
Full of heart, honesty and raw emotion, Morgan Dick’s novel about two sisters who discover each other after the death of their alcoholic father is gripping and bursts with character growth.
Charlotte (Arlo), the dutiful daughter who nursed her millionaire father through the final stages of his illness, is devastated when her entire inheritance is left to the step sister she’s never met. Well, hadn’t met, until her dysfunctional father made therapy a condition of Mickey’s (said step sister) inheritance. Did I mention that Arlo is a therapist?
You can imagine the chaos and moral dilemmas that abound as a result of this irresponsible plan. Mickey has her own troubles, not least of which is an alcohol dependency, along with complete ignorance that her therapist is her step sister.
Definitely check the trigger warnings on this one, but definitely read it!
It’s a story about love, compassion, facing your demons and battling the little buggers on a daily basis. It’s a story about finding your truth and getting up, no matter how many times you get knocked down.
I lost myself in this story. Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the chance to read an ARC.
Favourite Daughter releases on 1 May.