The Favor by Adele Griffin is an incredible slow-building story that will grab your heart after it hits the floor a few times.

Favor-noun- an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. Warm regard is shown toward another, especially by a superior.

Nora and Frankie work in a vintage clothing store; I'll Have Seconds, where Haute couture has a second or third chance at life.

Evelyn Elliot is a millionaire who loves fabulous couture and antiques; when she enters I'll Have Seconds and wipes out their inventory, she and Nora become fast friends over their shared love of Poet Frieda Bergessen. Nora has a way with discount dowagers and can find anything for the right price.

I think my favorite line is the unique way to describe someone. "He lived by the beach so long he feels like a human version of driftwood, lean and knotty, a little washed up."

The story starts slowly; there are so many players that Ms. Griffin takes her time introducing while setting up the plot and throwing some other side stories into the mix.

The story about an unlikely relationship/friendship that is formed between two women in a vintage clothing store. The story is told by Nora who is very relatable, unlike Evelyn's story line. This was a bizarre read for me, I did enjoy the general story line that included fertility struggles, surrogacy, and unlikely friendships, however what through me off is not really understanding clearly why Evelyn would volunteer the grand favor to Nora. I struggled with Evelyn and Nora's friendship toward the middle to end of the book. With this being said, I did enjoy reading the book and it kept me hooked because I just needed to know what happened at the end.

Thank you Netgalley for the E-arc of this book.

I finished this book recently and I got to say that this has so much potential but I just don't feel connected with the plot and character itself. But, one of my friends try to read several chapter and she like the first 5 chapter of this book. So, maybe it's not a book for me but it might be the one for you.

We begin with the story of Nora and Jacob and their struggle with infertility. This is a main topic throughout this novel, and if you have a personal connection with this struggle you will have a personal connection to these lovable characters, more so Jacob than Nora. Nora is like the friend who you want to grab the shoulders of and and shake. This reads like a thriller at times because the awkward friend who offers her “favor” MUST be rooted in evil. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the clutches pearls moment on this one. Don’t forget to read the epilogue for Nora to be slightly redeemed.

The Favor is an eminently readable exploration of friendship, family, infertility and surrogacy from Adele Griffin.

Set in NYC with the backdrop of vintage fashion, haute couture, high society and financial disparity we see the lives of Nora and her husband Jacob struggle with fertility, the unexpected meeting of Nora and Evelyn and the way their lives intertwine.

A very enjoyable uplifting read. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

Read this in basically one sitting, and it was quite a ride! The story starts with a classic plot of "poor girl" meets "rich girl" and enjoys society life, then morphs into a surrogacy journey and beyond (no spoilers). There were loads of supporting characters and most were relatively well-developed. I enjoyed the subplots, including a haute couture piece made famous by a poetess, a farm for retired racehorses, the inner workings of a vintage shop, and of course, a loyal rescue dog. This is one of the few times I will say, the book actually could have been longer.

Thank you to NetGallery and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Favor by Adele Griffin is an enjoyable and unique piece of women’s lit that blends a few genres and is all the better for it. It’s quick-paced, with plenty of titillating drama to keep fans of rom-coms, beach reads, and even domestic thrillers entertained, but it remains grounded enough— with realistic characters and complex themes— so as to satisfy to readers looking for something a little deeper. I really appreciated that the book focused so much on the interpersonal relationship between two women from vastly different backgrounds, who have different aspirations and motivations, and who must constantly navigate the imbalance in power that exists between them. Griffin accurately captures the ever-changing landscape of female friendship, which is at times one of admiration, lust/jealousy, frustration, and competition. This sort of relationship is so much more compelling than that of your average hetero couple hoping for a baby. I could see this appealing to fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Weisberger, and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The characters were mostly well-developed, but some parts of the story didn’t feel that way. Some things the characters did made no sense to me, and I really didn’t like the power dynamic between Evelyn and Nora.

Overall, i liked this book, but the ending felt abrupt to me and I didn’t love it.

Fascinating story and beautifully told. Nora and her husband Jacob long for a babybut have not been able to conceive. One day Evelyn breezes into her shop, a high end vintage dress shop, and practically buys out the place. Evelyn is happily married with a son and is also a wealthy socialite. The two women are very different and become close friends. In fact, Evelyn offers to carry a baby for Nora. The story is one about what friends can do for one another and managing expectations.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I get that they are supposed to be friends. But it felt lopsided to me. Rich girl pays for her to source vintage clothes. Doesn't that make her an employee? To be a surrogate does change my view but spent the book expecting her to change her mind. Turned out to be a pretty good chicks book.

I was charmed by the cover... But the cover is deceiving - it's not a fluffy rom-com. It is, however, a quirky, interesting story about two completely different women who become friends. The one friend faces a path of infertility and the other friend offers a "favor", a solution to the problem. The author handles this issue with humor, compassion and a sense of warmth between the friends, and yet you will feel a frisson of tension throughout, this book ALMOST reads as a thriller at times. As a reader, you will find that this book has well defined characters and a plot that is finely detailed. An enjoyed read.

Nora works in a resale shop called I'll Have Seconds and when a young woman bursts through the door and begins buying many of the high end items in the store, Nora is amazed. Evelyn is about Nora's age and they have an immediate connection. They discover their love for poet Frieda Bergessen and their unlikely friendship blooms. When Nora confesses to having given up hope of having a child after so many unsuccessful IVF treatments, Evelyn volunteers to be the surrogate for Nora and Jacob. Nora is thrilled, Jacob not so much. Evelyn is a jet setter and is on the go all around the globe and Jacob has concerns about her ability to keep a baby safe. Nora convinces him and off they go. Ask yourself, would you give your last fertilized embryo to a mere acquaintance? In lies the drama for this entire novel. A page turner.

I am a huge fan of Adele Griffin, so I was super excited to receive an early arc of The Favor. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

Nora Hammond lives and works in Manhattan. She seemingly has it all...success, beauty, and a loving marriage. However, Nora and her husband Jacob are trying desperately to have a baby, and have landed themselves in debt due to fertility treatments. Nora has one embryo remaining but knows another pregnancy attempt will end her. Welcome Evelyn Elliot. After her friendship, many champagne toasts, and talks later, Evelyn offers to carry Nora and Jacob's baby. Thus, the favor!
This story is relatable, and charming, and for any woman who has experienced the struggles and raw emotions of fertility treatments, it is heartwrenching. This could be a trigger warning for some, so that should be mentioned.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters feel like your old friends, and you ride the roller coaster of emotions with them.
I can't wait to grab a hard copy when this publishes in June.

This was so interesting! This was a light read with really deep and intense topics. To me...a favor might be: picking up a friends groceries, not carrying a baby for them!!

This was good, but didn't necessarily hit the mark for me.

I received a free copy of, The Favor by Adele Griffin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There are favors and then their are FAVORS. Having someone carry your child is a huge ask, and a huge favor. Nora is going through this right now, her friend Evelyn is having her baby. Some favors come with very high costs, will this one? A good read, I like Adelle Griffins book, and this is a good one.

I really enjoyed Adele Griffin’s new book, The Favor. Although somewhat predictable as to what the aforementioned favor would be, a lot of the book had a sense of intrigue that I was not expecting. I was never quite sure what the outcome would be or how relationships would develop (or dissolve) throughout the unfolding drama. I couldn’t pick sides during arguments, as I saw both sides of the situation. And I couldn’t choose my favorite characters, as I grew to love them all. What a beautiful tribute to a tender subject matter. Thank you, Ms. Griffin, for opening my eyes to how difficult surrogacy is for all involved.

Wow. I was not prepared for this book to hit me emotionally. Seeing the perspective of a couple with infertility struggles really made me think of a few people in my life, most present but some past. Seeing Nora and Jacob’s reactions to friends having successful multiple pregnancies or surrogacy had me reevaluating my past behavior with baby announcements. The Favor examines the pain and longing for one’s own baby under seemingly impossible circumstances. Enter Evelyn, the millionaire socialite who offers the most intimate and generous favor a person could do for another. There are strings attached to Evelyn’s altruistic actions throughout the book, but I didn’t see her as callous or calculating. She knows no other way of life and gets what she wants and needs effortlessly. Nora is both enchanted and cautious about Evelyn, which leads to some pretty interesting dilemmas and soul searching. I liked Nora and Jacob’s realistic and grounded marriage, and everyone needs a friend like the supportive and uplifting Meg. I personally enjoy reading about fashion so I was all in for Nora’s career at the vintage couture boutique, but the spotlighted garment that dictated many plot lines just felt a bit unrealistic. I wanted Nora to have a happy ending and this book does a nice job with details and tying up loose ends. Very satisfying and enjoyable, and I am certainly interested in Adele Griffin’s other work now.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for the opportunity to provide an honest review in exchange for this ARC.

A beautiful love letter to the ups and downs of female friendship. Important commentary on infertility and surrogacy . Characters are well developed. The writing is vivid and immersive. I loved every second of this story. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I could not put this book down. I thought this book was such an enjoyable read. The characters felt so real to me, and I feel like the story did such a good job portraying there challenges that come with wrestling big decisions and conflict when there is no one right way. The story was fun and raw and I felt like by the end i developed such a strong connection to the characters

I wanted to like this book more than I did. While this is a “light” read it deals with some heavy subjects that I felt weren’t fully explored or, at least for me, in a convincing way. I’ve never loved the premise of normal people getting swept into the orbits of the very wealthy so that may be part of my problem with it.