Adele Griffin's adult fiction debut showcases her seasoned expertise as a two-time National Book Award finalist, compellingly exploring the intricate dynamics of surrogacy within the contrasting lives of two women on very different wealth spectrums.

Nora is one of the best in the business for curating vintage fashion finds for her clients. Despite her personally rewarding job, she is battling a hidden struggle of overwhelming debt and infertility.

However, her life takes an unexpected turn when a Manhattan socialite, Evelyn Elliot, enters the picture. When Evelyn enters her shop, she quickly escalates her as her personal assistant for curating the perfect tablescapes and party looks for the mysterious world of Manhattan's elite.

Guided through the journey by Evelyn’s charismatic yet unpredictable ways, she is shocked when the woman offers her the ultimate favor- be her surrogate.

It’s an unusual transaction, especially given Evelyn’s socialite status. As Evelyn's pregnancy progresses, she offers her own hashtag ( #compassionatesurrogate), giving her followers every detail of her pregnancy. With no actual contract between the two women, Nora makes a decision that could ultimately threaten their shaky relationship as she navigates a world she doesn’t understand.

With its fashion-forward backdrop and nuanced exploration of the path to modern motherhood, this novel held me captive from beginning to end.

Griffin's care for this mother’s story was beautifully crafted, solidifying this as a potential contender for next year's book club. Readers, please exercise caution if you have struggled with infertility, but know that you may also find a kindred spirit in Nora’s journey.

A light yet emotional read, this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but was still enjoyable. It was hard to get a read on Evelyn’s character and her motivations were confusing at times, but I enjoyed the surrounding cast (Frankie being my favorite). I don’t think the last 4th of the book was necessary since there was enough conflict with the surrogacy/it felt a bit stale, but given this was a quick read, it wasn’t too difficult to get through. I’d check out this author again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. I really wanted to love this book! It sounded so great but once I got a third of the way in I lost interest.

I really enjoyed this story: I love a good female friendship driven plot line, especially one that is accompanied by an almost "Devil Wears Prada" focus into wealth and fashion. The two main female leads, Nora and Evelyn, were very well developed and had intricate view points into the values, drivers, and emotions of life planning, motherhood, fate, and exposure. What makes two people friends? Can two people be friends if they are so different? What drives people to their choices in life? What is worth giving up, or taking on, to get what you want? It was very well written!

I thought the 'twist' at the end was also super intriguing, and definitely didn't see coming.

One other highlight: it is great to see a male partner just depicted as supportive. Jacob might not always agree with Nora, and they fight and argue, but at the end of the day his commitment to the two of them always shines through, and that was incredibly refreshing.

Following the lives of two women, this story follows Nora Hammond, a woman working at a small boutique struggling with debt and infertility issues, and Evelyn Elliot, a wealthy NYC socialite who wanders into her shop one day. The two strike up a connection and Nora begins to immerse herself in the world of the New York elite. But their relationship changes one day when Evelyn offers to be a surrogate for Nora, testing the unlikely friendship between the two and pushing boundaries along the way.

Although I struggled a bit with the beginning of the book, it ended up growing on me as time went on. I found the topics it covered really interesting, especially the conversation around infertility as well as the different class dynamics. Seeing the struggles Nora faced in starting her own family and how that emotionally weighed on her and her family was super interesting, though I think that someone who related to the issue more would connect more with the story. Additionally, seeing the strain between the rich and less well off was intriguing, particularly the way that Evelyn was able to use her fame and fortune to get her way and get people to do what she wanted.

However, some parts of this book simply fell flat for me unfortunately. Some of the characters were very frustrating at times, particularly at the beginning. And though I liked that the chapters were nice and short, I felt like some scenes dragged on a bit while others, especially the end, could have been elaborated a bit upon.

I received a digital ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This novel is very much a summer read. The banter and friendship between Nora, her husband Jacob, and all of their friends was enjoyable and relatable. I appreciated their struggles.
I found Evelyn became annoying the further I got into the story. I did not relate to her because it seemed like she just wanted something in return for everything she did. The ending of the novel seemed rushed. I felt as through the author tried to cover deep topics, but the story as a whole was too much of a light read for them. By the time they became the center of the story, it did not seem important.

When Nora meets Evelyn, her entire world is turned on its flip side as she gets enveloped into a new world of socialites. When Evelyn offers to be Nora’s surrogate, tensions rise to new heights.

A fast and enjoyable read, The Favor repeatedly asks us what makes a good relationship and what is it worth? While I loved the story, it’s necessary to note that the main characters are all insufferable in their own ways, so proceed with caution if that’s something that would bother you.

There’s a twist at the end that was utterly surprising yet not that satisfying. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and I suppose it didn’t drop the way I wanted it to! Regardless, the book will keep you entertained and hooked throughout. But don’t count on it to raise any fuzzy feelings.

Do you sometimes feel like starting a book is a chore? Sometimes the amount of reviews I need to do is overwhelming. And then I start a book like The Favor by Adele Griffen. I couldn't put it down?

THis is the story of a young shop girl who sells vintage couture and the woman that appears one day to spend a lot of money in her shop. It is a book about friendship, the haves and have-nots, fashion, marriage, and trust. Throw in a few twists and you have a fabulos book!

I wasn't sure how ths book was going to turn out. The trust part was fickle at times and I wasn't sure who to trust. As I said- this was a fabulous read and Id like to see a movie or series about it!!

Women's fiction about the world of designer clothes, wealthy people and a surrogacy story. Nora works in a vintage clothing store in Manhattan. She and her husband Jacob are struggling to make ends meet after spending all of their savings on fertility treatments, which didn't work. One day, super rich Evelyn comes into the store, buying thousands of dollars of clothing and taking Nora under her wing. I've read a number of stories where a rich person finds a poor person as a plaything, but this one was a bit different. As the two woman get to know each other, Nora is sometimes treated as a friend and sometimes an employee, something that Jacob is leery of but Nora embraces this type of friendship.

At a certain point, Evelyn offers to become a surrogate for Nora. This leads to the second part of the book where Evelyn becomes a social media star, posting about the pregnancy but at the same time leaving Nora out of things. Nora also betrays Evelyn's trust which causes a big rift between the two. I enjoyed the parts about the surrogacy, but got tried of the endless discussion of designer fashions and travels of the very rich Evelyn. I don't think even a page went by without discussion of some sort of vintage piece worth thousands. There were some surprises at the end but it din't endear me to either of the main characters. I liked the book but wasn't connected to the characters and I don't have a lot of interest in vintage couture. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Favor begins with a realistic picture of a young couple trying to survive, metaphorically, economically, and physically, in New York City.. The debt pile from IVF seems about to swallow them. But then Nora meets Evelyn. They initially connect over Nora's vintage fashion sense. One thing leads to another - and to "the" favor of Evelyn's surrogacy. Their lives dealing with infertility might be painted throughout the novel, but Ms. Griffin's portrayal of families and friends'' reactions is vividly realistic. Wrap around this central plot an eclectic cast of characters.and you won't be able to put this book down!

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I was instantly engrossed in the plot and wanted to complete it in one sitting. The book explored the friendship between two women, one entitled and one scaping by to pay off the exorbitant debt associated with infertility clinics. The book was well researched and opened to my eyes to the blessings of being able to conceive naturally. It was captivating and the characters authentic. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Adele Griffin’s The Favor. Nora works at, and is half of the soul behind, a couture thrift shop in Manhattan. She and her husband have lots of debt to fund their failed IVF attempts. One day wealthy Evelyn Elliott comes into the shop, drops a ton of money, and bonds with Nora.

Nora and Evelyn forge a friendship— albeit with Evelyn paying Nora to source clothes for her and plan celebrations. Then, Evelyn offers to be a surrogate for Nora and her husband for their final egg. This tests their relationship in all sorts of ways.

I enjoyed the book and its story. It will be released June 13th. Thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Landmarks, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review

Nora and her husband Jacob are living in a tiny Brooklyn apartment and in massive debt after years of unsuccessful fertility treatments. While working at a high-end vintage clothing store, Nora meets Evelyn, a wealthy socialite. They become instant friends and Evelyn offers to become a surrogate for Nora and Jacob.

Evelyn is determined to build a social following as an influencer using the surrogacy journey as her hook. The book just scratches the surface of a very interesting world of rich socialite influencers and the life they present on the internet.

The Favor reads like a thriller/suspense where you are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Why did Evelyn offer to become Nora's surrogate after knowing her so briefly? Was it for social media success? Is she wanting to keep the baby herself?

The surrogacy and fertility process is well researched and thoughtfully presented. Often this topic is in need of a TW, I would not say this is the case for The Favor. I also enjoyed the vintage fashion woven throughout the book.

This was not at all what I had expected of this novel. I kept trucking through 40% of it but did not finish. Life is too short. I have no interest in or respect for today's 'influencers'. That first 40% was exactly why.

Nora Hammond is the queen of vintage fashion and antique finds in the heart of Manhattan. She's got style, success, and a happy marriage, or so it seems. But really, Nora and her husband Jacob are swimming in a sea of debt thanks to pricey fertility treatments and failed IVF attempts. It’s hard for them because there’s just one embryo left.

One day Evelyn Elliot comes into Nora's shop loving and buying everything. Nora is excited about their newfound friendship but she has not idea that this friendship will lead her into the world of multimillionaires, where yachts, fancy homes, chauffeured cars, and an army of staff are the norm. It's a juggling act, but Nora's managing just fine—until Evelyn drops a bombshell: she wants to carry Nora and Jacob's baby.

The Favor" is a fabulous mash-up of friendship, family, fertility struggles, and surrogacy, all set against a backdrop of glitz and glamour. Plus, it’s fun to read about all the vintage clothes. I loved this book so much! 2

I read this book waiting for the shoe to drop. Waiting for Evelyn to leave and not buy anything, waiting for her take things that didn't belong to her, for her to be the deceptive one. I was wrong. I had my eye on the wrong person. I was a little disappointed by the ending. I love feel good happy endings. This was a happy ending, I just wish that Nora and Evelyn had really reconnected their "Sisterly" bond.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Two women, one a wealthy socialite and the other a down-to-earth employee at a vintage boutique, find their already-strange friendship tested when the former offers to be the surrogate for the latter in exchange for permission to document the process on social media.

Although one of the keywords that jump out is "surrogacy," and while THE FAVOR does indeed delve into the murky and difficult waters of it, this book is far more about how the terrain of friendship is strange and difficult to navigate when wild imbalances in socioeconomic status exist. Surrogacy works to only push the imbalances further. Adele Griffin does a fine job portraying the complicated emotions and thought processes that arise when the desire to be friends clashes with the psychological effects of such imbalance, but at the same time, the novel lost focus on what story it wants to tell in the journey.

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I was ok picking it up again a few days after putting it down. Never having read this author before I was impressed with how she strings her words together. I may give some of her older books a try.
By now you, potential reader, must know that it’s a story about two women who meet by happenstance and end up clicking as they both need something the other can provide. One is Uber wealthy, Evelyn, and the the main character, Nora, is struggling financially. I enjoyed being a a witness to their blossoming friendship but could definitely understand Nora’s husband Jacob’s reservations in his wife’s seemingly obsessive attraction to her new wealthy friend.

It got more intense in the 2nd half, and by then I was invested in what was going to happen. It is not as detailed in surrogacy as one might expect, but definitely gives us food for thought. My favorite part was the newest character brought in at the end which I won’t spoil for you, but I was delighted that she shared my name and nickname as well.

Most women’s fiction fans will enjoy getting acquainted with this eclectic group of characters. I rate it a high 3+ leaning close to 4 stars. I thank the publishers Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for my review copy. Pick your copy up on June 13 at all retailers.

Friendship, loyalty and surrogacy were the main topics in this story. While it dealt with surrogacy, the two main characters felt unlikely to form this bond. One being rich and famous while the other was dealing with financial hardship due to her infertility. The two main characters never fully developed for me. Evelyn was rich and demanding while Nora was afraid of upsetting her and ending the agreement. This surrogacy was done without any legal papers drawn up. The vintage clothing shop and the fashion industry added an interesting aspect to the storyline. #TheFavor #AdeleGriffin #NetGalley

4.5/5 stars!

After finishing The Favor, I can definitely say that this book wasn’t quite what I expected. I thought it was going to be a breezy read and tell about love and friendship and relationships through a surrogacy. It felt more like a thriller and I honestly was on the edge of my seat at some points.

I felt like I immediately connected and resonated with the characters - which can be hard for me to do sometimes. I was immediately locked in to Nora, who has always longed to be a mother even when it puts her and her husband, Jacob, deep into debt. When Nora, who works at an upscale resale shop, meets rich socialite Evelyn, her life takes a big turn. After months of what some could call a friendship, Evelyn offers to be a surrogate for Nora’s baby.

As surprised as I was with where the book led me, I really enjoyed the ride. I loved the writing style of the author, I loved the plot, I loved many things about this book. It was one that I had a hard time putting down, and when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking of it.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, NetGalley, and the author for the eARC!