I feel that this book starts off strong. I was interested in the characters but as it progressed the story was moving so slowly for me. There was a lot of repetition and I found myself skimming through the chapters.

Seriously wasn't expecting to get so invested! Great narrators and a suspenseful plot — went into a police procedural I was NOT expecting but that just upped the intrigue for me. Gah! Such a solid read!

Two intelligent, professional women who are suffering from domestic abuse. One married to a hot shot lawyer, the other to a successful doctor. A chance encounter in a liquor store leads to one woman worrying about the other woman as she recognizes the tell-tale signs of abuse in her. This leads to another act that changes their lives forever. Good plot, well narrated, enjoyable to read/listen to.

Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.

Leah and McKenna don’t know each other, but they live very similar lives. They both live in nice houses in safe neighborhoods, drive nice cars, and have successful husbands. But what can be seen on the outside is very different on the inside of their so-called perfect lives.

This was a fast-paced domestic thriller that was filled with suspense. It’s best to go into this one as blind as possible so I’ll try not to give anything away. While reading this debut novel, I could feel the tension and stress in Leah and McKenna’s lives. Although I could see where the story was going, the writing kept me reading to see how it would end.

This suspenseful novel will have you rooting for these ladies and hopeful that things won’t end badly for both of them.

TW: spousal abuse

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review. I love multi-cast narrations, and these narrators did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.

3.5 stars rounded up

I absolutely love this book! Two women helping each other yet never asking for that help! Both married men who are controlling and abusive. Both not knowing how to fix their lives. This book was very satisfying. Am I vague enough? Well, I can't give the book away.

Loved the narrator!

Many thanks to @girl_loves_dogs_books_wine for sending me this book and the sweetest note and @macmillan.audio for my audio copy!

You guys this book takes place in my area and I had so much fun reading it! If you have read this one you might notice I took this photo at a location which is an important part of the book. I’m excited to pass this one on to other local friends. Many thanks to @noramurphybooks for taking the time to answer my questions on it as well!

I did most of this one on audio, there were 3 narrators and they were all great. The audiobook is fairly long, but it flew by. The story is based on two women who have never met. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I think it’s a great one to go into blind. I have seen so many great reviews for this one, so if you haven’t read it check it out I think you will enjoy!

Very solid domestic thriller and I can not wait to read more from @noramurphybooks

What a debut! I am absolutely beyond impressed by Nora Murphy’s writing ability. Murphy has taken the extremely sensitive and difficult topic of domestic abuse and created a story that shines an honest light on the matter, while managing to be respectful to victims. I loved getting to know Leah and McKenna, hearing everything from them first hand through alternating narratives. Murphy wisely includes a third narrative that shines an outsider’s perspective on the lives of both women. THE FAVOR has several twists that kept me eagerly listening to see how things would end up at the end. Murphy’s writing is top-notch and it’s clear that this is a topic she is passionate about. Definitely spend the extra few minutes reading her author's note at the end.

TW: I highly recommend checking this book out, but please take some time and read the trigger warnings on StoryGraph.

🎧: The audio for this book is wonderful! The three narrators truly make the characters and the story come to life!

A huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

What a fantastic debut novel by Nora Murphy! I was abhorred with the husbands of Leah and McKenna and feel such compassion for those of you out in the real world that actually live these lives 😢

It really opened my eyes to what it is truly like to be in a situation that you cannot escape from. These women almost had no other choice than to do one another these favors. And talk about praying and hoping that they wouldn’t get caught - I just wanted that darn Detective Harrison to stop being so good at his job! In the words of The Beatles,

🎶 Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be 🎶

The side story with Detective Harrison was an interesting plot line, as well! I kept wanting to know more about what happened to his partner that was in a coma and then we do finally get the information later in the book! It was a good little side mystery to keep the reader engaged! I’m hoping that maybe those two will find their way into one of Murphy’s next books!

Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Nora Murphy for this #gifted review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

This was an exciting read! I really enjoyed the tit for tat narrative that the author was able to pull off. It was a unique storyline and I was rooting for both of the characters the whole time. I will definitely read more from this author.

I really liked the concept of this book! Two women suffering from horrible marriages help to rectify their freedom with a favor to each other. Although there are definite triggers for domestic abuse/intimate partner violence, Nora Murphy does a good job writing about the subject and giving good acknowledgments in the end. I give this book 4 stars! Thrilling read from start to finish!

Audio expired before I could listen but ended up buying a copy of the book and will be showcasing the book. and reviewing on my Booksta still as I truly loved it.

Two strangers, one unspoken favor. Leah and McKenna are strangers, yet lead strangely identical lives. Unbeknownst to both of them, just a quick passing of each other briefly in a store will connect their lives forever. This book was is fast-paced and intriguing. While I had a good prediction of some major plot points, there were so many details that I never could have guessed. I am excited to read more from Nora Murphy, and would recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little far-fetched as I don't understand why two women who don't know each other would do this for one another, but I've also never been in an abusive relationship, so I don't know how I would respond to this situation. It may be realistic to a survivor. This was a great story that didn't involve any shocking twists or weird mysteries. This was just a story that was somewhere between a domestic thriller and a family drama. It was refreshing not to have several twists that try to out shock one another. There wasn't a single "twist" to this story. It was literally a story about two women stuck in horrible situations that help one another out. Add in the perspective from a frustrated cop and you have The Favor.

Lea and Makenna have never met, but they live in very similar circumstances. One day, their paths cross and everything changes after that.

A couple of things that I didn't understand was why Lea had been so obsessed with Makenna in the first place. I don't know if that was ever really discussed. If it was, I didn't realize it. The audio was phenomenal. It was narrated by three different people. All in all a great story. Not one anyone should try to emulate, but a great story about real life situations. Four stars.

Thank you MacMillan Audio, Nora Murphy, and Netgalley for this audio in exchange for an honest review. The narration was well done-I love it when there are multiple narrators. It seems to make the listener even more involved in the story. I liked the storyline. It draws you in quickly and made me want to keep listening to find out what happens. Very well written book. A strong 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating from me!

The Favor is a fun (that may be the wrong word), little domestic thriller. More suburban drama that true thriller, The Favor follows two women who do not know one another, but they soon will. Their husbands are both controlling, abusive in similar ways, but that is where the similarities between these two women stop. At least, it stopped there until Leah intervened in McKenna's life and a detective began snooping around.

The Favor is a true horror in that it is accurate to events that frequently happen to women in abusive relationships. The storyline is relatable, it isn't farfetched to picture it or see it happening. Nora Murphy captures the events between Leah and her husband and McKenna and her husband perfectly. It's sad the relatability, but then Murphy gives the characters strength. Like the stories we hear of women taking back the power into their own hands, Leah and McKenna must do this too. Of course, there's no detective that wants to let deaths slide, but what will he uncover about these two women who seemingly do not know one another? It's the kind of book where you know exactly what has occurred, you know the who-dun-it, but it's hard to know what comes next. Will it be a happy ending? Will it totally go off the walls? Again, not exactly a thriller, but gripping all the same and the audiobook kept me hooked.

I think this one will be a hit among suburban drama readers and, at a fairly short length, audiobook fans will enjoy the multiple narrators.

Incredibly fast paced book, I plowed through this in a day!

It's the story about two women--Leah and McKenna. We know from the beginning that Leah has a pretty serious problem with alcohol. She sees McKenna at a liquor store and feels like there is something familiar about her, so Leah decides to follow her to see. Where the book goes from here is both familiar and shocking, with some interesting twists and a very fast-paced plot.

Yes, this book is about intimate partner violence, and it gets very real and difficult to read at times. But stick with it, the payoff is great and quite satisfying. The author offers resources in the back and that was very appreciated and helpful. I listened to part of this as an audiobook, and the multiple narrators captured the personalities of the characters.

This is a taut, tense domestic suspense novel that will have you turning pages quickly to find out what will happen.

I love a good domestic thriller! And this one had my hooked from the first chapter. Strong female characters, victimized by men we love to hate. Strangers Leah and Makenna become linked through a series of events, and the police can't figure out their connection. I listened to the audio, and although told from three different voices and a changing timeline, I had no difficulty following and couldn't wait to hear what happened next. Nora Murphy's next book will go to the top of my TBR list!

This is a book of vigilante justice that is so well deserved you will cheer, regardless of your propensity towards violence.

Domestic violence victims often hide what is happening to them. That combined with isolation manipulated by the abuser can work against the victim once they do come forward.

Both Leah and McKenna are professionals; One an attorney and one a doctor. Both are beautiful. Both are being abused. Both feel like there is no way out. These characteristics enhance the reality that domestic violence victims can be of any age, income level, race, or social economic class. Both feel alone until a brief look between strangers causes Leah to recognize herself in the other woman.

This is a fantastic debut novel. I can’t wait to read more from this author. She checks every box – suspenseful, realistic, engaging characters, two perfectly intertwined stories. As for the topic Nora Murphy chose (I have worked with both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence) she nailed it! The narrators, Leon Nixon, Dylan Moore, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen were superb. I switched between the print book and audio book and found both to be excellent.


I received an ARC from both St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

3.5 stars and not rounding up.

The synopsis intrigued me (no spoilers) enough to read. They have never met -- key words to a junkie. I might have taken a different attitude when picking this up, if I had not been in junkie mode. While fiction, the author has chosen to use characters who are well-educated and marry men who take over their lives. There are author notes at the end of the book that should not be missed.

The stories are intertwined loosely. There are multiple narrators, and they were just okay. It's the basic story that brings them together. The pacing was off for me. It started well, then slowed and at recovery I was getting bored which diluted the ending.

There is a good story here, I found it too long and slow in the middle.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to read and review The Favor.

Even though you haven’t read this story specially, I’m here to tell you, you already know how it goes. We follow two women, McKenna and Leah- who are in challenging and abusive marriages to powerhouse disturbing husbands.
Leah and McKenna have never met each other but they sure know what the other one is dealing with. They both understand what happens in a home is more dangerous then what is outside. This is a story that is similar to meeting on a train but they don't actually meet or communicate with each other. They recognize one another simply because of their own personal situations are the same.
I’m going to just come out and say- this had promise but fell extremely flat for me. The narration I also didn’t enjoy- they all spoke very clipped and scripted. I didn’t get any deep emotional feelings of the situations they were in! This has a lot of triggers- abuse, alcoholism, miscarriage- and not once did the narration have infliction to make me think, wow, thy are struggling.
There was also a detective who was on the case and had an entire whole side story with his partner who was in a coma, that really had no significance except it gave him a chance to talk out his thoughts? What was that about?
The characters just lacked depth and were one-dimensional- It’s possible that they are written too similarly.
Overall, it was very unbelievable even for a thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review