Unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with this book and it ended up as a DNF for me.

There were lots of references to things I didn’t understand and I just don’t feel I’m the target audience for this novel. I adore the cover though.

A very different and interesting book. After reading the back blurb, I thought it would be more about the fashion and the second hand store than it was about infertility and surrogacy. Once I got used to that storyline, it was pretty enjoyable.

Nora works at a second hand high-end clothing resale store. She and her husband, Jacob, are trying unsuccessfully to have a baby and have done into debt trying. In walks Evelyn - wealthy, outgoing, caring. After Nora and Evelyn strike up a friendship, it's like Evelyn overtakes her life -- Nora is helping plan her "friendsgiving", helping her with schedules and choosing clothing after Evelyn's PA takes another job. Eventually Evelyn offers to be their surrogate, while blogging all about it on social media. Lots of twists in the story to keep it interesting, it does drag on a bit but I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital, temporary ARC in return for my review.

Thank you Netgalley and Spark publishing for this ARC of: The Favor. This book took me way longer to get into then most books and I almost didn’t finish it it. It was like being on a rollercoaster. The first 150 pages were an extremely slow buildup to a fast drop into the real story which in my opinion ended fast and quick and left me with A LOT of questions.

Nora and her husband very desperately want a child and the American dream of a family and a white picket fence life. Unfortunately, after years of trying and failed and expensive medical bills they are out of luck. Enter Evelyn; a socialite with a panache for all things fabulous and glamorous who quite literally stumbles upon Nora. A fast friendship of the haves and have nots interwoven with a designer cloak of a dead poet lead to surrogacy and betrayal. After Nora sells the cloak to get a little more of her dream things quickly fall apart. Will Evelyn’s keep the baby that’s isn’t hers from Nora, will their friendship ever recover, and can life ever be normal? After the fall out and an early delivery the book diminishes to days at the NICU, broken spirits, and ends with and uneventful conclusion. The book has a slew of characters but the main focus seems to be the cloak and not the actual favor. I’m glad I finished it but it was definitely a struggle.

Nora, deeply in debt, can’t afford to try IVF again with her last remaining embryo, Evelyn sweeps into her life and offers to carry a baby. I was nervous about the whole scenario and the Nora/Evelyn relationship, really enjoyed the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

This book was a very pleasant surprise! I wasn't sure what to expect from this premise but I found myself in love with the characters - Nora's desperate want for a child and Evelyn's carefree attitude towards everything (including surrogacy) were so well balanced. I liked the pacing of the book, the little fashionista moments and felt that I was constantly wondering when their deal was all going to turn sour. The concept of lying for social media was also intriguing and felt very relevant. Overall - great book! It felt real, realistic (mostly) and approachable.

Kudos to the author for an intriguing story line that kept me turning pages I was on Nora and Jacob’s side from the very beginning. It was emotionally relatable even though I know nothing about surrogacy or high fashion. I found the chapters in the last third of the book a bit tedious as I wanted to go right to the birth. All in all, well written, excellent dialog and believable characters.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

SO GOOD! This is one that would be stellar adapted for TV. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. Excuse me while I put together my dream cast for this book...

Nora Hammond spends her days selling vintage fashion and antique finds in an upscale vintage shop in Manhattan. She’s beautiful, successful and happily married. On the surface, her life looks perfect. It’s not. She and her husband Jacob are drowning in debt, debt caused by treatments for infertility and failed IVF attempts. They have one embryo remaining but, with her history of miscarriages, Nora knows she cant attempt another pregnancy. Enter Evelyn Elliot. And what an entrance she makes, barging into the shop to spend thousand of dollars in a late day sale. At the end of the day, Nora, her co-worker Frankie and Evelyn sit in the store, surrounded by her purchases, and toast each other with champagne. Friendship follows and penny pinching Nora, as Evelyns’s new part time stylist, enters the world of multimillionaires with yachts, multiple homes, private cars, housekeepers and chefs. It’s a delicate balancing act but Nora is managing until Evelyn offers to carry Nora and Jacob’s baby.

The Favor blends themes of friendship, the definition of family, infertility and surrogacy against a glamorous background. The details about vintage clothing are enjoyable and add to the story. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Adele Griffin for this ARC.

An excellent contemporary story with engaging characters; full of warmth and humor. Would recommend

Thank you to Adele Griffin, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc of this book

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not what I expected. I kept expecting Evelyn to take a sinister turn or perhaps a Single White Female-ish twist, but nothing like that really ever happened. It was a good, if mostly uneventful, read, with great writing and descriptions of clothing, plus a fun little surprise at the end. 3.5 stars.

This is a very enjoyable novel about a very serious issue, infertility and surrogacy. When Evelyn walks into the vintage clothing shop and meets Nora, there is an instant, special connection. When Evelyn wants to do something for Nora, it is a favor that is remarkable and unforgettable.

Evelyn takes on the role of a surrogate and despite some turmoil, this novel is extremely satisfying for those of us who understand the ache for parenthood and the heartbreak when it is denied. The characters are very sympathetic. My fear is that there are a few too many characters crammed into this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this very timely and charming ARC.