This book follows MC’s Nora, her husband Jacob, and the unexpected friend & socialite, Evelyn. Evelyn and Nora cross paths at the high-end vintage dress shop where Nora work & they have an instant connection. This instant connection brings Nora into the world of the elites, which drastically differs from the more “mainstream” life she leads. Their story explores themes of friendship, relationship, family planning struggles & takes readers on a journey that displays a different way to grow ones family. Yes, I’m writing that as vaguely as I can, as to not spoil anything from this beautiful story!

I was pleasantly surprised by this gem of a book, to say the least. At first, it seemed that there was a lot of focus on the fashion components, which is not my forte, but as I continued to read it was clear to me that the fashion information was intentionally included in the writing to help readers understand the way in which Nora thinks and how she sees the world.

The way that the friendship between Nora and Evelyn played out was beautifully done - and honestly, incredibly true to life! Displaying the good times & the bad, while also adequately representing the anxieties than can also come with friendship and finding ones place amongst new friends. The challenging topics (which I’m holding back from listing as to not give anything away) were profoundly explored with not only curiosity, but also with respect - noting that these can be incredibly hard, but also laced with beauty too. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend that you pick it up as well!

Nora has an eye for retro fashion and works at a high end, mostly evening wear, shop where just before closing one evening, Evelyn enters the shop. Evelyn comes for a monied family and buys several items that night and leaves telling Nora that she owes her a favor for keeping the shop open. Nora goes home to her husband Jacob that night and tells him of this magical person she met. Nora and Jacob have tried for years to have a child and have gone into debt to pay for IVF. Several weeks after meeting Evelyn, a package arrives from her and it's a cloak that was worn by a once famous poet. Jacob wants to see how much they could get for it but Nora is hesitant. Nora becomes somewhat of an assistant to Evelyn and she is drawn into her world of extravagence. Jacob isn't as excited about Evelyn's presence in their lives but I love that he always sticks by Nora. Evelyn wants to be a surrogate for their last remaining embryo. Thus, the favor. Good story. Total surprise at the end regarding the cloak.

This new release had me holding my breath for hundreds of pages. Would the flamboyant and generous uber-rich Evelyn, the surrogate and star of "Evy Does It" keep her word to hand over the baby to Nora and Jacob, the bio parents unable to carry to term. The lifestyle contrasts make a fascinating contrast. Then there is the haute couture and a mini mystery. My favorite character was Nora's stepmother Gabby. If you also read this one, you will know why. Absolutely LOVED this on audio.

Thank you to Orange Sky audio and Netgalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Nora is about to close up the vintage clothing shop where she works when a woman comes banging on the door looking for the perfect outfit. Evelyn is flamboyant and confident and after buying a lot Nora does a tally of how much she earned. Her and her husband, Jacob, have exhausted their savings in an effort to have a baby. Evelyn keeps coming back and seems to bond with Nora and Nora enjoys being around her but not used to the extravagance and the way Evelyn can throw money around. I don't think I really bought into the fact that they were great friends. Evelyn is larger than life, throws money around, paying Nora to style her clothes, and once giving her a cloak once owned by a poet that the two admired. When Evelyn offered to be a surrogate for Nora and Jacob it was a leap for me to accept that you'd do that for someone you have known for a few months and obviously she didn't need the money. At times I felt Evelyn was manipulative, monetizing her surrogacy on social media and at times shutting Nora out. But I kind of liked her, probably more than I did Nora. It was an easy read, kept my interest and just flowed to the end which might have felt a little rushed.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Sourcebook Landmark for providing me with a digital copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Adele Griffin & Sourcebooks Landmark for an arc of The Favor in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

This sweet story follows Nora who owns a high-end vintage dress shop. But at home, she and her husband are struggling to make ends meet and the fact that they may not ever have a family of their own. Enter Evelyn, an uber rich socialite who comes into Nora’s store. They immediately form a bond and become amazing friends. Then Evelyn decides that she should be the one to carry a baby for Nora and Jacob, which really tests the boundaries of their friendship.

Expected Release is June 13, 2023 and you need to RUN, now walk, to grab a copy ASAP.

For anyone who has struggled with infertility, this book will hit home. The characters were very well written so that you can resonate with each of them. This was such a heartwarming story that had me laughing, smiling, crying, angered – ALL the feels!!!

This was my first Adele Griffin read and she had me hooked from the very beginning. Her writing style flowed perfectly, the pacing was great and you can tell that she either really knew the content she was writing about or she researched it extremely well.

I’m definitely signing up for all future Adele Griffin novels!

4.5/5 Stars (rounded to a 5)

As I start to type this review, I find myself thinking that as far as I know, there are few books out there that address surrogacy (at least well-publicized books). In her Instagram posts, Griffin shares that she has personal experience with the surrogacy experience, and I think that comes through in this book. I loved the vintage clothes shop as a backdrop element to the story, and it definitely makes me want to look into buying more vintage clothes! I think the wealthy vs. debt laden dynamic was well done and added an extra element of tension to the plot. I had mixed feelings about the two female leads and how their relationship unfolded, but it did feel realistic (though at times frustrating). I think this book would provide many discussion points for a book club and would definitely recommend it for that purpose.

Nora and her husband have exhausted their finances pursing IVF. When Evelyn walks into the vintage designer thrift store where Nora works, they instantly become friends. But the friendship turns weird as Evelyn keeps paying Nora to help find her clothes among other tasks. Just as Nora starts questioning the friendship, Evelyn offers to be her surrogate. This book often left me uncomfortable and holding my breath. It felt like Evelyn was fully realized in Griffin's mind but it did not quite translate into words. Having said that, she would be an interesting character to dissect with someone else who has read the book.

The story of two women, Nora and Evelyn, and a chance meeting in the vintage clothing store where Nora is employed which leads to the women’s friendship. The plot revolves around wealthy socialite, Evelyn, becoming the surrogate for infertile Nora. Societal inequality between the two women causes friction and fissures in the relationship throughout the pregnancy. The huge twist at the end, while surprising and fitting to the story, felt out of character for Nora and as a result, like an afterthought.
Thank you to Sourcebooks, Netgalley, and the author for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Nora Hammonds works at a vintage dress shop, I'll Have Seconds, in New York. One night, just at closing time, Evelyn Elliott shows up and proceeds to buy everything in sight, including some antique books that Nora has found and scattered around just for atmosphere. Among them is a book of poetry by a long-forgotten mid-century poet, who had a relationship with the Elliott family. Nora and Evelyn are immediately bonded by their shared love of the poet's work, and Evelyn also likes Nora's sense of style, especially with these vintage jewels.

At home, Nora and her husband Jacob are drowning in debt, barely making the minimum payments on the credit cards they used to fund their many tries at IVF. For some unknown reason, Nora is unable to get pregnant and that is a constant sorrow, along with the concerns of their debt.

So when Evelyn starts texting Nora to find her the perfect costumes for her many society outings, and sends money to boot, Nora starts to see this just may be a way to finally get out of debt. Evelyn also seems to enjoy hanging out with Nora, and one night when they have both had too much to drink, Nora confides that they have one remaining frozen embryo, but are unable to come up with the money to hire a surrogate.

Months later, Evelyn announces she wants to serve as their surrogate, at no charge, because she had such an easy pregnancy and delivery of her only child years ago. Nora and Jacob at first are hesitant, but finally come around and Evelyn is implanted with their one remaining embryo.

But then, things seem to change. Evelyn has finally hired a full-time Assistant, and no longer needs Nora's help. And she is strangely distant, putting all her energies into a blog she has started about her adventures as a surrogate!!

It is hard not to like both Nora and Evelyn, and Jacob is just along for the ride. But what ride it is!!

I give this an enthusiastic thumbs up!!

I had heard so much about this book, I really thought I was going to fall in love with it from page one. Well, it is such a unique story I wanted to see where it went, but I wasn't captivated by it.

I thought it was strange how Evelyn came into the store where Nora was working and just stripped down and tried on all the clothes. It seemed an odd way to start a friendship - if that is what you want to call Evelyn and Nora's relationship.

I am a huge fan of stories about how people who deal with infertility, but this one was really different and hard to relate to. I could not relate to the dead poet and the perfume line - not sure how that fit in to the rest of the story for me.

A timeless story of fertility, surrogacy, friendship, family and growing up while dealing with all the "stuff" that is thrown at you. As messy as true life, heartwarming in places and entertaining till the twist at the end. Loved the characters, plot and even the ending - even though it left lots unfinished and maybe an opening for a sequel.

Nora works at a second hand store that carries some high end items. She's barely making ends meet with the bills she and her husband have. They have also been trying for a long time to have a baby, and things just aren't happening the way they want.

Enter Evelyn, a major socialite and social media star. She drops in one day and buys more than 10K in clothing and purses. Evelyn and Nora start up an unusual friendship that turns into something more that neither really expected.

I was very interested and entertained the first 30% of this book. Although it seemed to slow down for me and didn't have enough punch to the plot to keep me super engaged. It was a decent read but not one I'll remember.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance e-copy of this book.

I did not enjoy reading this book. I stopped after a few chapter DNF.




**************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.****************************

Nora and her husband Jacob want a baby. They've exhausted almost all of their options and are down to their final embryo. They want to find a surrogate, but it's so expensive and they are saving a much as they can. Enter Evelyn Elliot, an ultra-wealthy woman who enters the shop Nora works at one night. The two woman form an unlikely bond, and Evelyn decides she wants to carry their baby. As they traverse the ins and outs and subtleties involved, both women are tested beyond what they expected.

I loved this book. I read most of it with a bit of trepidation, since I was sure it was going to turn into a thriller and we'd be in the middle of a "where is the baby?!" scenario, but I honestly couldn't put it down. The feelings of Nora and her husband were so raw and they were so vulnerable. It was hard to read sometimes - I was so sure they were going to be disappointed and I'd be heart-broken for them.

This is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available June 13, 2023.

This lovely book dives into the struggles of infertility, debts and numerous trials and failures associated with it, strong female friendship and hope against hope

~ All the characters were beautifully written and the ending is going to leave you feeling happy and content

~ I loved the MCs Nora and Evelyn and the evolution of their friendship through trusts, honesty & forgiveness. I was intrigued by Evelyn's eccentric and compassionate personality

TW: Infertility

Nora loves finding the perfect vintage fit for all her customers, but when Evelyn drops in and spends a ton, Nora immediately feels connected to her. The two form a friendship and over time Nora shares her inability to get pregnant. Knowing they don’t have the money for a surrogate, Evelyn offers to help them out.

This book was not what I expected but I really ended up loving it. I can’t imagine how it would feel to have someone else carrying your child, and knowing that you really have no control over how they chose to live their life while pregnant, or what they will do when the baby comes. This was a beautiful story not just of surrogacy, but of friendship, even in the hardest of times. Infertility is obviously discussed, but I thought it was done really well, so while I recommend not reading if thats a big trigger for you, I really appreciated how well written it was.

I loved every second of this!! A perfect beach read, great characters, enough twists and turns to keep me reading with breaks only to sleep! I look forward to reading more by Adele Griffin. Truly well written and exceptional got it’d genre.!

Nora and her husband are experiencing the financial strains of having been through multiple courses of IVF. Now her male co-worker at I’ll Have Seconds, a Manhattan high-end vintage dress shop has announced that he and his husband are expecting twins via a surrogate.

When a multi-millionaire named Evelyn comes into the shop, Nora spins her magic finding multiple pieces perfect for her. The two get on famously despite the differences in social class and Evelyn begins paying Nora to find her unique pieces. The extra money begins allowing Nora to pay off some of their debt. Eventually, the relationship grows to the extent that the two begin socializing together.

Then Evelyn offers to be Nora’s surrogate for the one remaining embryo. After careful contemplation, Nora and her husband agree and begin to dream of their long-awaited child. Evelyn decides to track and monetize this journey on social media. Her jet-setting lifestyle continues as the pregnancy progresses. Then a break in trust between the two women starts to threaten everything in their relationship.

What an interesting story of social class, friendship and trust! The Favor is propulsive and suspenseful with messaging surrounding trust. The characters are well-developed with interesting backstories. The story flows logically and the conclusion satisfying. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Literary Fiction or Women’s Fiction.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Nora Hammond works at I'll Have Seconds, a high-end fairy tale vintage dress shop in Manhattan, and her and her husband struggle with debt and live in a small apartment. When socialite Evelyn Elliot comes into her shop, they make a connection. Evelyn is used to getting what she wants and after seeing what Nora could do, she wanted Nora. Nora agreed to help her part-time, and we start to see the differences in the two women. As their journey continues, feelings change, relationships change, but they continue to follow the journey they are on.
It will keep you reading, because like your own journey, you just want to know what is going to happen next.
It has the highs and the lows, the feelings that they are having, and it will bring us to where it feels like, something is so different here.
I received an ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley. I read what the book was about, but I sure was surprised at the depth, Adele Griffin took us. This was my first book I have read by the author and I was impressed with her writing.

I think this book is a very interesting concept. A chance meeting leads to a connection. One that crosses two worlds. Nora is in so much debt, but dreams of one day being a mom. Something that hasn’t happened yet naturally, luckily, they have one last hope of having their own child. Evelyn has everything. Money is no issue; they jet set around the world on the drop of a hat. When Nora and Evelyn start to build an unlikely tenuous friendship, Nora tells Evelyn about her pregnancy issues, and that they were hoping to use a surrogate on their one last egg. Evelyn asks if she can carry the baby. Yet can this friendship not quite friendship withstand bringing a new life into this world.
I think this book really highlights the concept of how much do we know people? Is taking such a risk worth going through. How would you feel if an almost stranger offered to carry your child, but didn’t want any type of payment, or formal legal document in place. Could you really trust that they would do what was best for the child, and would they really hand the little one over at the end. You have two such different people and ideals on life and how to grow a human. How do you go about making sure your interests are protected while still respecting the surrogate and their life? There are still so many concepts I am still rolling around in my brain with this book. I don’t know that I could have done what Nora decided to do. Yet knowing I might finally have my biggest wish, maybe I could have. This was an interesting book and I think a great one for book clubs.
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.