Oh this book.
I loved Kaira Rouda's The Best Day Ever, so I was excited for this book. And I wasn't disappointed at all.
What I loved: Rouda writes an amazing unreliable narrator who slowly starts to become unreliably reliable (that's I thing...I think).
What I liked: The way the MC pulled us along through the story and gave a insight into the other characters - her husband is truly spineless (he could have done so much), her daughters, the neighbors, her in-laws.
What I hated: The MC, but also her husband. I just wanted him to grow a pair. YEESSH.

Definitely worth the read.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!!

Kaira Rouda's novel, The Favorite Daughter starts out very strong and gripping. It was an exciting page-turner that had me wanting to read more. However, as the book progresses, the storyline, as well as the characters seem to fall apart. It becomes an almost unbelievable tale that just gets crazier with each chapter. If Rouda would have stayed with the original train of thought, it would definitely been a better written novel.

I loved Kaira's writing and she is one of my new favorite authors. She has the best ability to write those characters you love to absolutely hate.I was so engrossed by this style of writing I could not put it down.. i mean I absolutely hated the mother but couldnt stop reading her and getting inside her head!

This review is proving difficult for me to write - mostly because my mother taught me that if I do not have anything nice to say then do not say anything at all. That, and I am Canadian and I wanted to insert "sorry" half a dozen times here!! But I said I would give an honest opinion and so here it is. This book was exhausting to read. This is the story of a family that nears the 1 year anniversary of the oldest daughter's death, and ends with the youngest daughter's high school graduation. So why is this story exhausting to read? This is a psychological thriller, so you know someone is deranged, and in this case it is the mother, Jane - who is also the narrator. I like this technique - the main character as the narrator, and as such you get a first row seat to the derangeness (not a word, I know!) Rouda's first book, The Best Day Ever, was written similarly and I really enjoyed having that seat. However in this case, it becomes exhausting. The incessant chatter inside Jane, her constant machinations, her manipulations - I could not anymore. At some point they were no longer effective in revealing Jane's character - they just became repetitive. The front row seat stopped being interesting.
Then we have a slew of other characters - the husband, the youngest daughter, the boyfriend, the driver (ack a criminology major who she spills her guts to!)... all of them surface characters - its as if there is no room in the story for any other character so these are like stick/paper figures dancing in and out of the story. The story itself was not an original one, which is ok if it has other things to hold it - but no meaty characters, no atmosphere... just no. Not for me.

Wow. Much like Best Day Ever, this book is written from a narcissist’s point of view. And while I can’t stand narcissists, they sure do make great book characters. While I was hoping a bit less predictability I could not put this book down and was ultimately happy with the ending. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

There is NO ONE and I mean NO ONE who writes the delusional, unreliable narcissist quite like Kaira Rouda! If you thought Best Day Ever's Paul Stromm was a fun character to hate-read, wait until you meet Jane Harris - who just may put Paul to shame! This plot was so inventive and creative, I really enjoyed being along for the ride! I know this will be a book everyone is talking about in 2019!

That's the power of the bond between mothers and daughters. It can never be broken, even in death.

Kaira Rouda is back and is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her ability to write a completely narcissistic, unreliable and unlikable main character is unparalleled. And the fact is, despite the terrible things that character is saying and doing, I was completely hooked and raced to the finish line to see how the entire story unfolded.

As with her previous work Best Day Ever, The Favorite Daughter is told from the POV from the narcissistic and unhinged Jane Harris, a wife and mother of two teenage girls. Her first daughter Mary, who was adopted early into her marriage, has died under tragic circumstances, leaving her to raise her biological daughter, Betsy. However, it's clear from the very beginning, Jane preferred Mary to Betsy and has been struggling with which daughter is still alive.

Without Mary to place my biggest hopes and dreams on, I'm left with Betsy. At least she doesn't need to bother with sibling rivalry anymore.

I mean, cringe. The book is full of statements like this from Jane and no matter how many times I read something like that, I felt for Betsy and what it must have been like for her to be raised with a mother like that.

The book takes place around the one year anniversary of Mary's death and the impending high school graduation of Betsy. Jane has decided to reemerge into society and tries to reconnect with her family. However, it's very clear they have been moving forward with their lives and Jane struggles to adapt.

My husband used to be so handsome. They were such cute little girls. We were the perfect family.

As I stated above, I was absolutely engrossed in this novel. Despite how horrible Jane was, I needed to know what was going to happen next. And by the time I got to the heart-stopping ending, I couldn't help but feel exhilarated. Everything was wrapped up so well, even with all the little twists and turns along the way. I'd recommend going into this with as little information as possible.

Do not hesitate to get this book when it released, because Kaira Rouda is one of the best in the game right now and this books is an example of her amazing abilities.

Maybe, like my husband, most people don't really see me at all anymore. There are so many ways to look at it. One person's crazy is another's brilliance.

Tension. Sinister plans. And a a slew of characters you may want to punch in the face the entire time

After the death of her oldest daughter Mary, Jane is still grieving a year later. When her husband and other daughter seem to be plotting against her, things for this real housewife of Stepford come crashing down. The whole time I didn't know whether to feel bad for her or join in on the "she's crazy" train.

Best to read without knowing to much or reading spoilers/reviews because this was one twisty ride with some absolutely abhorrent charters that will have you questioning who the main villain really is!

No one writes dark humor like Kaira Rouda and I didn't know whether to feel uneasy or filled with laughter. This is a very good, original book that is more than likely going to be the hit of 2019! (Full review to be posted closer to release date).

A special thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Graydon House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Harris is living the perfect life with the perfect family in the perfect neighbourhood.

From the outside looking in, the Harris' have a gorgeous home in an elite gated community. From the inside, the family is marred by grief. A year ago, a tragic accident took the life of Jane and David's oldest daughter, Mary. Jane has been consumed by grief, anti-depressants, and alcohol, she is unable to function.

That's about to change—it is time for Jane to reclaim her life and family. As she is resuming her daily life, Jane quickly realizes that things have changed while she's been checked out. Her husband is working longer-than-normal hours and her daughter, Betsy, incredibly distant. Mary was such a good girl, devoted to her friends and family, excelling at school, and beautiful. But there is someone that knows more about what really happened that fateful day that Mary died.

Just how far is too far for someone to go to keep their family together?

Rouda is back and embracing another narcissistic, unreliable narrator in Jane Harris. I had the pleasure of reviewing Best Day Ever last year and enjoyed the palpable tension she created between the married couple. Her writing is sharp and engaging.

In The Favorite Daughter (or Favourite if you are in Canada), Jane as a character has more depth than Paul from Best Day Ever because of the added layer of tragedy. As a mother, I can't think of anything more horrific than the loss of a child.

The pace of the narrative is manic and plays right into Jane's personality. My only criticism is that it was rather choppy at times with Rouda using several short sentences in succession that could've been synthesized or compounded for easier reading. Perhaps this was done on purpose since the reader is in Jane's head, but I found at times this to be exhausting. Interestingly she also breaks the fourth wall on several occasions with Jane directly address the reader. I thought this was rather clever and definitely something a narcissist would do.

Secrets, lies, guilt, and consequences. This novel packs a punch right up until the very ending.

I loved this book even more than Best Day Ever. I loved the narcissistic MC and getting inside her head. She puts Paul from Best Day Ever to shame! It was fun to sometimes love her and sometimes hate her. Surprisingly funny too!

The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda isn’t out until May 2019 but I got a sneak peek and want to tell you to put this on your radar for next spring. I loved the author’s book Best Day Ever and had high hopes for this new one which did not disappoint!

I will post about it when it officially is out, but I want to share what it’s about- warning, this is a twisty, addictive read that you might consume in one sitting!

The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect lie.

Jane Harris lives in a sparkling home in an oceanfront gated community in Orange County. It’s a place that seems too beautiful to be touched by sadness. But exactly one year ago, Jane’s oldest daughter, Mary, died in a tragic accident and Jane has been grief-stricken ever since. Lost in a haze of anti-depressants, she’s barely even left the house. Now that’s all about to change.

It’s time for Jane to reclaim her life and her family. Jane’s husband, David, has planned a memorial service for Mary and three days later, their youngest daughter, Betsy, graduates high school. Yet as Jane reemerges into the world, it’s clear her family has changed without her. Her husband has been working long days—and nights—at the office. Her daughter seems distant, even secretive. And her beloved Mary was always such a good girl—dutiful and loving. But does someone know more about Mary, and about her last day, than they’ve revealed?

The bonds between mothers and daughters, and husbands and wives should never be broken. But you never know how far someone will go to keep a family together…



I’m keeping my lips zipped regarding more info but if you love a psychological thriller, you will want to read this!

For those of you who are regular followers of my reviews, you know that although I don't judge a book by its cover, I definitely judge a book by its ending. There's something about investing time into reading a book only for the book to fall short at the end. This is one of those books that is the exception. The ending was not a big twist of anything but the journey to get to the end...WOW. Kaida Rouda does a fantastic job of building a completely unlikeable protagonist that can be compared to a trainwreck in this book. I just couldn't stop reading even though this woman was completely delusional and horrible! Jane Harris has two daughters and is married. Thing is, they all hate her. One day, Jane's oldest daughter, Mary, jumps off a cliff and dies. It is ruled a suicide but Jane thinks otherwise. She is given notes that tell her that her other daughter, Betsy, knows something about the death. Jane decides to investigate by asking her daughter and giving the notes to the police. Nothing comes of it and Jane becomes even more delusional. Jane goes through life thinking she is the cat's meow which we know because the book is written from her point-of-view. She thinks young guys are flirting with her all the time and that she has the one up over everyone around her. The joke's on her though. This crazy lady doesn't realize that her reality doesn't match up with anyone else's reality. A really fun read with a protagonist you can laugh at and feel sorry for at the same time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kaida Rouda, and Harlequin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Best Day Ever was one of my favorite mystery/thriller’s of 2017 and since then I’ve been eagerly anticipating more from Kaira Rouda!!! The wait is officially over and I don’t know how, but Ms. Rouda has topped herself with The Favorite Daughter— so stinking good!

I LOVE Kaira Rouda’s writing style! She is a master a writing twisted, narcissistic characters that completely captivate you from page one! I encourage everyone to go into The Favorite Daughter completely blind because the storyline is so well thought-out—you won’t want any spoilers! What I can tell you is that this book is chock-full of unexpected twists and turns! I recommend everyone read this 5 star novel! A 2019 favorite for sure!

Jane is an exceedingly needy, selfish, conniving 40-something brat. Her husband, David, is carrying on an affair with Kylie - from his workplace. Their daughter, Betsy, is a brat in her own right, as is their deceased daughter, Mary. (All in my opinion). I indeed loved the book but felt disdain for all of the characters - except maybe Josh (Betsy's ex-boyfriend).

No one likes Jane, including her own family. She is a pathetic, self-absorbed Hollywood wannabe. She also KNOWS that she is God's gift to mankind!!!

Early on, the reader finds out that the adopted Daughter - Mary - is (was) David's biological daughter with Elizabeth, a doctor in LA.

We see how Jane and David's life together begins and deteriorates. Also, the relationship of Jane and her daughters - very sad. Mary (the adopted daughter) died in an accident after her first year of college. Throughout the story we keep noting that Jane is trying to pin the "accident" on someone. She most likely would be happy to find out that Mary was murdered. Jane, a spiteful person, places homing devices on her husbands and Betsy's cars. She is more than overprotective, sly and so self-important that she believes it herself.

The climax is Betsy's graduation day from high school. This you absolutely do not want to miss!
What a read!!! We find out what has happened to David and his mistress, what REALLY happened to Mary and what is in store for Betsy. And of course... what becomes of Jane...

Well worth reading - HIGHLY recommend !!! Many thanks to both the Publisher and NetGalley for a smashing success!

Amazing! Now I know why Rouda had so many fans after her first book, her writing is superb and you really don't know whose telling the truth until she wants you to. Characters are amazingly developed, as well as a tense and chilling writing style. I thought it had some very good turns and is definitely one that will keep my brain spinning for a bit.
Will be using in daily challenges, highly recommending and reviewing, as well as just chatting about it in Chapter Chatter Pub!

I truly enjoy Kaira Rouda’s storytelling ability. I pushed through this book so quickly, and want more.

Mary tragically died a year ago, and her mother, Jane, hasn’t been able to move on - until now. She is ready to push past her grief and reclaim her life, her husband, and her other daughter, Betsy. Maybe not everyone is quite as ready to embrace Jane’s new look on life. Have things changed, or has Jane?

Just as twisty as Beat Day Ever, and with the same brand of intense crescendo, this book is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for a chance to read this as an ARC!

It’s been a year since Jane’s daughter Mary died and it’s only now that she’s able to face the world, just in time for a memorial service for Mary and her younger daughter’s high school graduation. While Jane has been in virtual hibernation, life, and the rest of her family have carried on without her. They seem distant and secretive, even worse is the dawning knowledge that Jane didn’t know her daughter the way she thought she did. This is a mystery, but I most enjoyed the dynamics that take place in families with teens