I love big family dramas so I was excited to sink my teeth into this one. However, I found it to be a bit convoluted and meandering. I was never able to really connect with the characters in the way I had hoped and it left me feeling removed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co and Macmillan Audio for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you like stories that feature family drama, rivalries between sisters, and deep dark secrets, you’d like The Accidental Favorite. Let’s face it-many parents say they don’t have a favorite child, but in my experience, that’s not true. It’s a personality thing. Sometimes you really click with one parent or child. Sometimes it’s very obvious, but other times, it’s more subtle. When the three sisters hear their father say which daughter is his favorite, there’s an emotional tightrope for the rest of the story.

The tense mood for the rest of the book gives The Accidental Favorite a thriller-like feel. It’s reflective and emotional as unresolved sibling rivalries open up old wounds, and the contemporary setting was a refreshing break from the historical fiction I’ve read lately.

Fiona Button narrated this book and I thought she did a fine job. She really portrayed the strong emotions of the characters well. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore family dynamics and a bit of a mystery, too.

During a family gathering a freak accident occurs and reveals the Fisher family’s father’s favorite child. This action impacts each member of the family for the rest of the trip and brings out secrets from the past.

Anyone who enjoys books about sibling relationships will enjoy this one. I thought it did a great job of showing sister interactions, in adult and childhood. It has a lot of commentary on birth order, which I think holds a lot of meaning and shows how we grow up with the same parents but they are different for each sibling. There are family secrets to be revealed but it’s still a slower novel focusing more on relationships.

“They’re pretty much the perfect family. Give or take.”

The Accidental Favorite comes out 6/24.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I was intrigued by the premise of this book and interested in reading about the relationships between the three sisters. However, the execution was off for me. The flashback sections were choppy and disrupted the flow of the story. I also wish there were fewer side characters. For example, Eva's husband and his son, that little side plot did nothing to advance the main story and could definitely have been left out. The pacing was also off for me. This book was all character until maybe 80% in, and then things actually started happening. Overall, I wish this had been edited one more time before publication to make it a tighter story as I do think Littlewood is a good writer.

What do you do when your parent has a favorite child...

...especially if it's not you?

It should be a wonderful week for the Fisher family, celebrating Vivienne Fisher's 70th birthday together in a lovely house in the English countryside. Vivienne and her husband Patrick have, after all, raised three amazing daughters who seem to have it all together. Alex, Nancy and Eva each have successful and rewarding careers, great relationships with their partners and adorable children, all of whom are gathered together for the weeklong celebration, Things go sideways early on, however, when Patrick (prompted by a flukey accident) reveals that he has a favorite child. Awkward! With that revelation, all sorts of things tamped down over the years come spilling out...simmering sibling rivalries, secrets from the past and doubts about choices made and paths taken. It turns out that even seemingly perfect families have more than their share of fault lines and other flaws..
The Accidental Favorite is a novel about family, the complicated and frustrating dynamics that affect each member and the enigma that is sisterhood. Anyone who is part of an imperfect family (I sure am...I like to say that wherever Norman Rockwell had Thanksgiving dinner it sure wasn't at my house growing up) will likely be able to identify at least in part with the different members of the Fisher family as the narrative pops back and forth between the present and the past from different characters' perspectives. Author Fran Littlewood weaves humor (sometimes dark) into the drama, and the reader will alternate between moments of tenderness and cringe. sometimes laughing with but not at the family. As in life, the relationships fluctuate between closeness and barely connected; that the house in which they are staying is made of glass immediately brought to my mind the maxim about what those living in glass houses shouldn't do, namely throw stones at one another (a maxim not heeded here) There was some whining, which is as annoying on the page as it is in real life, and even with the humorous touches It felt downbeat at times, but overall I enjoyed the flawed but (at least in my opinion) mostly sympathetic characters. It is a story which will appeal to readers who enjoy character-centric fiction about families in general and/or sisters in particular, fans of authors like Marian Keyes, Elizabeth Berg and Wally Lamb. My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me access to this wry novel in exchange for my honest review

Do you have siblings, and if so, are you the favorite? The premise of The Accidental Favorite centers around the question of which of the three sisters is the favorite, which seems to be answered when Patrick, their dad, chooses one of the sisters to push out of the way of a falling tree. But, families are complicated and deep, and things don’t always seem as they appear.

We get the perspective of each sister, Alex, Nancy and Eve, as well as Vivienne, their mom, and the skewed memories of each, as the entire family gathers for a holiday week together. Each has their own insecurities and worries. The writing is emotional and beautiful and sometimes funny. As someone with two sisters, I could identify with a lot of it and really enjoyed the slow unraveling of the backstory. I recommend this family drama to fans of Ann Napolitano and Jennifer E. Smith. And for the record, I am the favorite!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This novel made me wish for sisters. Fran Littlewood’s The Accidental Favorite is a sharp, emotionally resonant novel that beautifully explores the complexity of family, memory, and the hidden dynamics between sisters. With her trademark wit and keen psychological insight, Littlewood crafts a story that is both poignant and darkly funny. Readers will be drawn in by the layered characters and stay for the stunning emotional payoff.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for this digital e-arc.*

Sibling rivalry. It's Vivenne's birthday so her daughters Alex, Nancy, and Eve, along with their own families, have gathered. A tree falls on their glass house and when their father Patrick saves one of the daughters first, it brings up old jealousy. Of course Patrick had to pick one person to rescue first but that doesn't seem to be the rational thought of any of these women. This moves back and forth in time to tell the family's story, which will e familiar to readers because it's so realistic. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I alternated back and forth between the audiobook and the e-book. I was able to finish this book very quickly. The narrator had a very pleasant voice and was easy to follow. The book does not have chapters and this made for some difficulty in switching back and forth with the audiobook. I am not sure if this will be the case when editing is completed and the book is published. The book started out in present day. The family took a holiday together. They presented as a very unhappy group and I almost DNF. The characters came across as petty and unpleasant. As the book weaves between present and past, it becomes apparent that there was lots of ill-will and jealousy towards each other. Some of it was the way events had been interpreted by the individuals, slights taken when they weren't meant to be slights and the mis-remembrance of times past. At times the book was amusing and at other times it felt like the book slogged through mud. All in all though, I would recommend this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt & Co, and NetGalley for the complementary ARC's. This review is my own words and thoughts. It has not been coerced in any way.

3.5 sibling stars

Do you have a favorite child? We all know we aren’t supposed to, but it’s really hard not to play favorites. This compelling premise, along with the author’s first book, had me excited to read this one.

This family drama centers around three adult sisters (and their families) who have come together for their mother’s 70th birthday. They’ve rented a glass house in the English countryside, and at first, everything is fine. On the first day, though, a near disaster in the woods fans the flames of sibling rivalry because of their father’s reaction and who he saves first.

Another interesting thing that happens is that people recall past events differently. Fears and insecurities come to the surface, and the family seems to be at the breaking point. Will the truth finally come out regarding Patrick’s favorite daughter? We get stories from the past intermixed with the present day.

I don’t have a sister, and at times, I wish that I did because I know for many, their sister is their best friend. These sisters definitely shared a bond, but it was not all smooth sailing for them. I don't think I would want any of these characters for a sister, but they made for an interesting story!

I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the author’s first book, but I do like her writing style. It made me think about my sibling relationship!

The premise of Fran Littlewood’s newest novel drew me right in - do parents have a favorite child? This family drama revolves around a family of three adult daughters, Alex, Nancy and Eva. The family gathers together in the English countryside at a beautiful glass house to celebrate their mother’s 70th birthday. When their father’s reaction to a freak accident reveals his favorite daughter, the ramifications reverberate throughout the entire family. Emotions run high as each family member questions their place in the family and soon their lives begin to unravel.

Littlewood’s writing describes the complex family dynamics and sibling rivalries. Written with multiple points of view, each member of the family reveals secrets and memories as one would recall them in real life. The sisters' relationships are realistically flawed, complex and competitive. The story rings true to all families regardless of the number of siblings. Littlewood was able to capture the fog of individual memory perfectly.

The Accidental Favorite is a perfect novel for book groups and fans of Joyce Maynard’s Count the Ways or Laura Dave’s Eight Hundred Grapes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced readers' copy.

The Accidental Favorite by Francisco Littlewood is a complex family/sibling drama featuring 3 generations of the Fisher family. The parents, 3 daughters, their partners and their children gather for a week at a glass house (lots of metaphors) to celebrate the matriarch’s 70th birthday. The 3 sisters, Alex, Nancy and Eva, are all holding secrets and insecurities that come to a head during the week and after their father appears to admit he has a favorite child. Being the 2nd of 3 sisters, I was intrigued by the premise and quickly identified with Nancy, the middle sister.

The author uses a unique writing style that takes some getting used to, especially the alternating (nonlinear) timelines and many points of view. With no defined chapters, it reads like a stream of consciousness at times. The family is messy, chaotic and relatable at times. The action and dialogue are alternatively a profound insight into families, sisterhood (sibling rivalry, jealousy and love), marriage and motherhood, and over the top antics. “They are under her skin and in her heart, these women, her sisters, she has no choice in the matter. And despite everything, she’d rather be standing here right now than anywhere else.” The book kept me engaged, but ultimately I wanted more from the characters and their motivations and the ending itself. 3/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Solid family drama, that would be great for a book club discussion. I really enjoyed the relationships between the sisters, flaws and all. The story is a bit confusing at first, trying to keep the sisters, their occupations, relationships and kids straight, especially with the timelines, but once you settle it it's an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Coiled, Twisted, and Distorted with Doubts and Misconceptions...

Three generations of the Fisher Family: Vivienne and Patrick, their three adult daughters, Alex, Nancy, and Eve, and their children and partners, gather for a week-long vacation in a glass house (is that a metaphor?) to celebrate Vivienne’s seventieth birthday. On their first outing together, a tree falls (another metaphor?) Is that the Fisher Family Tree going down...?!

"The Accidental Favorite" is a family story, described as a 'dramedy', which feels off to me. It's witty, but not comedic, and watching this loud, dysfunctional family continue to spiral out of control was hard. I love messy family stories, but this family was too noisy, too nasty, too much.

I considered a DNF, but persevered when the past and present timelines began to connect. The ending was satisfying, but what a struggle to get there. This feels surprisingly ‘New Adult’, considering all three sisters are in their 40s, and I'm not quite sure what to say about that.

The audiobook is narrated by Fiona Button, whose voicing and recounting of this story was the best part of this immersion read. Every inflection and every pause was in the right places, and thoughtfully executed.

"The Accidental Favorite" has too many unlikeable characters, a rambling narrative, and a compelling premise. I read this because Amazing Grace Adams was one of my favorite reads of 2023. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or maybe it wasn't the right time for me to read it. With all that said, Littlewood's writing style is fun, clever, and continues to draw me in enough that I eagerly await her next one. I know, I know, I just can't help myself!!

3⭐

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co., Macmillan Audio, and Fran Littlewood for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

It's unspoken, but we all know there are family favorites. My family....it's my youngest sister. And I'm fine with that, because she's MY favorite. The Accidental Favorite is the story of the Fisher family, and all the innerworkings of their family dynamics.

For Vivienne's 70th birthday, the family gathers in a beautiful countryside home. She and Patrick have raised three daughters, and when the sisters escape a glass-involved accident, it's accidentally revealed which of the girls is Patrick's favorite. Old wounds and secrets reopen, and the flashback to the past show the various incidents that have moved the family to their current status. When looking back at those moments, the family must reconcile the truth versus their preferred view.

Does the story sort of slowly unfold and twist and turn? Yes, but that's what makes it so good. Life isn't a straight line. Family isn't one group of people sharing the exact same brain. This story is emotional and sometimes painful. It's an exploration of family and of sisterhood. And I love stories like that.

The writing is rich and each character is developed as their own person. It's easy to find the one you love and the one you will have to grow to love. It's just like a normal family. (And everyone still has their favorite.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Much of the book does not directly relate to the main premise. Plus, even if you accept the explanation for Patrick's favoritism, it still doesn't adequately explain why he acts the way he does, especially when his actions could result in serious harm to his other daughters. It's hard to believe a father who is not portrayed as especially cruel would favor one daughter so strongly to the possible detriment of his other daughters.

Alex, Nancy and Eva are three sisters. They are adults with kids and relationships of their own. But on their mother’s 70th birthday they are all gathered together in the countryside at a rented house. During a freak accident the father in an instant moves one daughter out of danger showing his favoritism. This sets off days of inner family turmoil, conflict and lots of emotions. The story isn’t broken into chapters but simply changes time periods and the person's point of view.

It is a little overwhelming at first to think who is who. Is this the teacher? Is this the doctor? And the changing time periods adds to the confusion. But once you have it figured out the story flows. I don’t think you can read this without thinking about your place in your family. Are you the golden child, the pretty one, or the one left to fend on their own. And even mixed in with the jealousy the sisters share a deep love.

This is a well written family drama. Not everyone is likable but I was hooked into the story. I only have one brother and we have differing memories about the same events because we experienced them differently. This story rings very true.

Publishing June 24th

3.5 rounded up.

Adult daughters Alexandra (Alex), Nancy, and Eva are gathered with their parents Patrick and Vivienne for Alex's baby's naming ceremony and Vivienne's 70th birthday.

Alex has recently had a later in life daughter and is struggling in her marriage.
Nancy is having some issues at work but has found herself in a new relationship.
Eva is coming to regret a life choice and the implications it has for her daughter.

There are a LOT of side stories here, with each daughter in the process of finding their way through a romantic transition, as well as through a parenting issue, all running alongside the core story of reflecting on growing up together.

The side stories were of varying interest, with some parts seeming essential and others superfluous. The same held true for the parenting issues.

The core issue of parents having favorites was discussed quite a bit, but I didn't find the fleshing out of that angle to be as consequential as I'd expected.

What I really enjoyed was the sisters each looking back at the ways they cared for each other and had each other's backs, and the fun they had as children. The characters are just realistic and flawed people, struggling with what life sends their way.

Thanks to Henry Holt and Co., Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for both a digital and audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

After loving Amazing Grace Adam’s, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this author‘s next book. However, this one just didn’t work for me. I felt like there were way too many characters and timeline jumps. It made it hard to keep track of who was who and which character had what family. It really required lots of extra notetaking to keep the character straight - which pulled me out of the story. I think the idea of exploring a parent’s favorite child is so interesting but at the end of the day, this one just didn’t land quite like I hoped it would.

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood is a family drama that adeptly explores how the memories we have of our childhood and the family dynamics in play as we understand them don't necessarily align with the truth. Perhaps it's more accurate to say that each family member has their own version/perspective of what the truth is about the family.

Vivienne and Patrick Fisher have gathered for a weeklong three generation get-together with the families of their three daughters, Alex, Nancy and Eva, to celebrate Vivienne's 70th birthday. On the first day they are together a freak accident occurs while Patrick is taking a picture of the three sisters. Patrick's reaction to it, starts a downward slide of sibling rivalry, jealousy, anger, and unburied secrets throughout the family.

Do we ever get over our childhood? Why is it that when we get together with our birth families, no matter how old we are, we seem to easily slip back into our childhood roles/selves? When/how do we get past that and relate as the people we are today? These are some of the questions the author addresses in this novel.

Things that I liked about this book:
- The premise is intriguing and relatable.
- Littlewood does an excellent job of creating complex characters and capturing the many emotions of each of them.
- The family dynamics are believable.

Things that didn't work well for me for about this book:
- There are a lot of characters and relationships in play, and I found it difficult to keep track of them all without going back to look something up or jotting down notes. This disrupted the flow of the read for me.
- The story jumps back and forth in time for each character. I usually see this as an asset that provides more depth, but the execution of this came across as rather jumbled.
- I found the ending unsatisfying.

I loved Amazing Grace Adams by this author and, though IMHO this novel didn't measure up to that one, I will continue to look forward to reading books by Fran Littlewood.

My sincere thanks to Henry Holt & Company for permitting me to access a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 6/24/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.