4+

Kindergarten teacher, Mickey reads of her father‘s death via an obituary with indifference. She’s 33, has few vices if you don’t count the vodka and surreptitious episodes of Bridgerton. To her huge surprise, her father‘s lawyer contacts her. Why is it a surprise? Well, she has had no contact with her father for twenty six years since he left her and her mother. He leaves her a bequest which is both large and conditional. An unfortunate sequence of circumstances forces Mickey to engage with Arlo (Charlotte), Mickey‘s half sister and a psychologist and both are in for some unexpected shocks. Therapist and patient, both seeking truths of a different kind. Make or break?

This is an emotional, moving and thought provoking read that I find compelling and very engaging. It’s a novel that encompasses many things and does so with feeling and authenticity. First and foremost, it’s about loss and grief which characters inevitably respond to differently. It’s also about relationships, between mother and daughter, between father and daughter and so on, these are complex family issues and we ‘watch’ how these change and evolve. I love the way the author has written it with a constantly changing tone. The dynamics are really intriguing and at times they and us as readers, are on a rollercoaster and if I can mix my metaphors, there are train wrecks of lives. It’s written with liveliness and wit, with empathy and sympathy and it makes me care and root for Mickey and Arlo, even when they make it hard for themselves.

The characterisation is exemplary, many are damaged but they have redeemable qualities. Mickey has so many issues that I range from feeling sorry for her but also wanting to shake her! Many scenes between Arlo and Mickey are tense and emotional as they seek to find their truth about their father and find a way forward through the wreckage. I love the ending which after all the angst gives grounds for optimism.

Overall, this is a really good, well written novel which I become fully involved in.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General/Viking for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.

Late leaving this review because I forgot it was an e-ARC (in a good way!)

I devoured this novel! The tension between Mickey and, well, everyone was inticing. Arlo's expansive feelings and dubious actions. As I write this I realise that Mickey and Arlo are total mirrors to each other.

This wasn't the novel I thought it would be, it was more.

The Favourite Daughter is an intriguing story—two women, Mickey and Arlo, connected by a shared father, brought together under complicated circumstances. Mickey’s raw, self-destructive tendencies contrast beautifully with Arlo’s measured but unraveling life, creating a dynamic and compelling relationship. Their reluctant entanglement is handled with nuance, and their growth throughout the novel feels organic rather than forced.

The novel's dark humor balances its heavier themes, making it an engaging read without being overwhelmingly bleak. The therapy sessions, inheritance drama, and unlikely sisterly bond are explored with both realism, adding depth to what could have been a straightforward family drama.
While it may not break entirely new ground, this novel has an emotional depth that makes it well worth the read.

When you hear about a story that involves a lot of therapy with some humour thrown in I guess you know the mood will be a little up and down. I think it delivered about what I expected on the humour side of things. The complicated family issues and self-analysis in the therapy and all the various issues around that area it touches on? I think I underestimated how seriously it was going to hit those notes. It is a good balance though. Which is fairly notable given it doesn't shy away from some fairly dark and heavy moments.

The main arc, two half sisters thrown together, actually plays out as farcically as it sounds. That keeps things moving nice and smoothly. You're going to get pretty much what you might expect with all that, and you enjoy reading that story and it would start drifting from your mind the moment you finished until you basically think of it as simply as the blurb tells it. Because that's basically the story.

Except the characters won't quite allow that. They've got a bit more to them and they make this book more than that. Given the gamut of slightly self-analysis throughout this book you'll likely spot something that resonates in someone or some relationship around you. And those parts are what will linger. Which makes explaining the joys of this book a bit tricky because the real story are those moments. And they're spoilers. I mean, sure, I just said you're not in for any real surprises with the main story so what's left to spoil? The journey. It's like, just because you know the Titanic sinks there's still a lot of room to tell stories to tell about the voyage. And this book is really about those moments that get you to the end. Some of them span a few chapters, some of the best moments don't even need a whole page. And some times you can just relax and enjoy the main story without the heavier stuff, but it's there wating to reward your continued reading.

The thing is, this really is a fairly well balanced combination of the comedy and drama. Usually when I see the buzzy term Dramedy I expect a drama with a few dry jokes that, good as it may be, falls short on the comedy side. Sometimes you have a comedy that wants an earnest moment to anchor it all, and no matter how good, the tone shift is usually very noticeable. But this story actually does move pretty effortlessly between the two moods. It feels cohesive and offers serious subjects with a lighter tone. I got what I had hoped for coming into this book, and was pleasantly surprised that it offered even more.

I was immediately gripped by the concept, and gulped it down in two sittings. I’m a sucker for a messy sister dynamic and it doesn’t get messier than this. It was a really difficult read - not because of the prose - but Mickey’s struggles and Arlo’s… personality, were hard to swallow - but I was still rooting for them both. I loved it.

Wow, that was a total blast. Brilliant premise, two great but flawed characters and a brilliant story. Well worth reading

A witty look at the dynamics of two sisters who were dealt with a very different hand in life. Mickey is the free spirited and at times troubled sister where Arlo is the calculated, reliable daughter. However, as the story unfolds there is a role reversal and the sisters unravel their identities and relationship with their father. Mickey is the heart of the book and her flaws end up bringing her character to life. A heart-warming dive into the core of a family at odds with the loss of their father. My only criticism was not seeing more of Arlo's life.

I absolutely loved the premise of this novel and was so excited to delve into this one.

I had a BLAST reading this - from the moral elements that were explored throughout, to the irony of Mickey talking to Arlo without any realisation that the man that she was there because of had a real connection to Arlo. It was clever written, with the intertwining plot being extremely well thought out, alongside quite dislikable characters that you couldn't quite help but root for.

I believe that this book is best ventured into with very little context - just know that it is 100% worth the read. Morgan's debut was an ultimate success and I can't wait for more of her work in the future.

The concept of this book really intrigued me - and the story developed in a pact, readable way with plot twists I didn't expect. It would be a great summer beach read - a page turner with heart.

I loved how this started and that’s saying a lot because usually these ARCs have such terrible formatting and are riddled with distracting first proof errors that the quality of the writing can get swallowed up. But I loved Morgan Dick’s voice immediately.

However once we got knee deep into the addiction part I didn’t love it so much and it started to feel like every other book about addiction and lost some of the good attributes like the snappy dialogue and way certain conversations and actions flowed into each other.

Then grief strikes and we see two sisters mourn in different ways and it felt way too contrived that they go by silly nicknames so can’t figure out their relationship.

Like The Outrun I’m quite bored of reading books about drinking but that’s me. Still giving this a four though because of the strong start.

A toe-curling, frustrating story about addiction and the harsh reality that, no matter how much we think we can live without others, true happiness cannot be found in loneliness.

This book dives deep into grief and the struggle of coming to terms with life after losing a prominent figure—whether they were physically present or merely a lingering shadow. It also delves into serious ethical dilemmas and morbid topics that had me cringing and fearing for the vulnerable people in society who place their trust in caretakers and medical professionals. I found the two main characters deeply unlikable, yet I couldn’t stop reading. It’s like watching a trainwreck; you just can't look away.

This novel is an emotional steam train! I loved everything about it. The characters are fully developed into people that we know and people that we could become. It's an exploration into the effects of attachment and abandonment and how the lives of both women existed in the shadow of their relationship with a manipulative father. The plot is original and very quirky. I couldn't put it down.

This is a really interesting concept - there's some contrivance at play (both sisters being known by nicknames meaning they don't discover each other's identity for several months being the main one) but it didn't distract me from the plot, which I really enoyed. Highly recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really liked this book. First class!

I had thought there would be a constant thread of dark humour but there wasn't. It is essentially a book about family, friendship, grief and relationships. There was plenty to think about.

It was difficult for me to decide about the father! Was he just an awful character who let everyone down? Did he regret his life decisions and try to come good via the will and its conditions? Or was he simply mischievous! I prefer to think he saw the error of his ways and tried to make amends to both daughters.

The characters in the book were all very intriguing and the plot developed at a natural pace. I liked both sisters.

I can recommend this book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was asked to review this by NetGalley and was glad I did.

Well written and although the characters were not to my taste. This was powerful with protraying grief.
Micky is living her solitary life and happy in this life. Then she is notified that her estranged and absent father has died and left her a large inheritance. To claim it she needs to attend seven therapy sessions that he had already paid for in advance!!! She would like not to attend and really say no but it came down to the fact she needed the inheritance.

Arlo has been left out of the will even although she cared for him up till his dying day!

I too would be reeeling at this - families !!!

I found some of this a bit heavy to read through and uncomfortable too.

A good read and recommended.

For me, this premise was too unrealistic. I thought it would be fun but it just didn't work for me. The writing style was ok, but I didn't love it

This book got me out a reading slump. It was both dark and subtly witty in all the right places. It touched on really important topics and handled them with care and a fresh perspective. I found myself both rooting for Mickey and Arlo, and finding them both to be the antagonists in equal measure.

If you like unlikeable leading women this is the book.

I was surprised by the plot numerous times but only because the characters were written to be complex in a really ordinary real way. They disappointed me, made me smile, and everything in between.

A lovely book about family, grief, loss, and mental health! Really looking forward to what comes next for Morgan Dick

Thanks to publisher via netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Estranged sisters are brought together under false pretenses after their father's death. Questionable characters and morally gray decisions move the book along. Ok read.

I was drawn to this book through the premise - two sisters who know of each other, but don't know each other, meeting in a therapist-client setting. Both characters were well fleshed out and had a lot of trauma to unpack, which was done very nicely throughout the story. It didn't feel forced or overly happy-go-lucky, and I couldn't help but root for both Mickey and Arlo. Painful and difficult in places (the story, not the writing), this book got me pretty emotional, especially towards the end. There may have been some slow bits, but on the whole, I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend to anyone who's interest is piqued by the description.

Mickey and Arlo have one thing in common: their dad, but they never met until their dad died and brings them together through his will.
He abandoned Michelle (Mickey) and her mom when Mickey was just a kid, and left them with his debts. Mickey is now a primary teacher, she loves her job, but also pushes people away and is an alcoholic.
Arlo is a therapist and Mickey is her currently client, however they do not know they are related.

A fantastic book, the characters have depth and the story is narrated from the daughters' point of view. It is funny despite talking about grief, and redemption. I did cry reading the end. Love!