The story was quite anxiety-inducing for me. The underlying tension and resentment between the sisters become more noticeable after the inciting incident. Some of the conflicts felt a bit exaggerated, and the male characters aside from Nik seemed somewhat inept.

I was curious about why Eva’s daughter shared a post showing her aunt and mother almost being injured by a falling tree. Additionally, I wondered about Patrick justifying his favoritism toward Eva by saying he wanted to address the mistakes that led to his eldest daughter's serious injuries as a child—shouldn't he be more concerned with Alex? I also wondered if the issues with Nancy had truly been resolved. Lastly, what was the significance of the flood in the story?

On a positive note, I appreciated the resolution at the end; it was quite satisfying.

I really like this author's writing style. The characters are complex, but the plot is also interesting. The relationships between the sisters and the parents was really well written.

3.5-4⭐️ Vivienne and Patrick Fisher plan a week-long trip for them and their three grown daughters, Alex, Nancy, and Eva. All are living successful lives, with stable partners, careers they love, and children they adore. But when a freak accident leads Patrick to make a split-second decision, the reverberations will be felt throughout the entirety of the trip and beyond.

After loving Fran Littlewood’s debut novel, Amazing Grace Adams, when I read it last year, I jumped at the chance to read this one as soon as I saw it was releasing. Now, having read it and sat with it for a bit, I think I was not necessarily the right reader for it. While I still think the character development is fantastic, the writing eloquent and thought-provoking, as an only child, I struggled to connect to so much of what this story is about— sibling love and rivalry. And because of that disconnect, I did have difficulty forming the type of emotional connection I would have hoped for. That said, I think this might be a great first for readers who love character-driven literary fiction centered around the sibling dynamic.

🎧 Fiona Button does a terrific job, per usual, at bringing this quiet family drama to life. If you are an audiobook lover, like myself, you may want to try this format over print.

Read if you like:
▪️sibling dynamics
▪️family drama
▪️character-driven novels
▪️emotional reads

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.

From the very first page, I was hooked. As the youngest sibling among four sisters and one brother, I felt a strong connection to the interactions between Alex, Nancy, and Eva, understanding the unspoken thoughts and emotions of each sister. I love how the author thoughtfully portrays the chaotic, messy aspects of family life—small disagreements, tender moments, and unspoken tensions. I also appreciated how she balanced harsh truths and sadness with humor, creating moments that made me laugh out loud.

Although it takes some time to get to know each character at first, the story quickly pulls you in, and I found it hard to put down.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves character-driven family dramas and the imperfect, yet heartfelt, nature of family life.

The Accidental Favorite by Francisco Littlewood is a complex family drama spanning three generations of the Fisher family. The narrative centers around three sisters and their families as they gather for a grand naming ceremony. A near-disaster reveals the father’s secret favorite daughter, impacting the family and bringing out past secrets. Fans of family dramas will enjoy this book. Fiona Button narrates the characters excellently.

Alex, Nancy, and Eva are sisters in their forties who’ve gathered to celebrate their mother Vivienne’s seventieth birthday, along with their father, Patrick. Partners and children in tow, they’re all staying in a home they’ve always called “the glass house.”

What was supposed to be a week of overdue family time and celebration is anything but. The air is heavy, like a powder keg waiting to explode. One small slip—a single secret (and everyone has one)—could shatter everything.

The first crack comes when Patrick takes a picture of the daughters. A massive tree branch suddenly snaps and crashes down right where the girls were standing. Patrick rushes forward to protect his youngest daughter, Eva. The one who was farthest from him. The one everyone always suspected was his favorite. The surprise baby born years after Alex and Nancy. And just like that, the truth is out—and the glass begins to break.

What other secrets will come to light? Whose life will be forever changed? And will this family be able to recover from the fallout?

I snagged this four-star book the second I saw Fran Littlewood’s name on it. I listened to Amazing Grace Adams back in 2023 and gave it five stars—I loved it and found it so relatable. I feel the same about this one.

I enjoy the depth, personality, and complexity Littlewood gives her characters. She’s not afraid to dig into the raw, taboo parts of motherhood, and I admire that so much.

And as an audiobook lover, I have to mention the narration—Fiona Button was incredible! The emotion, tone, and life she brings to the story jumps off the page. She’s one of my favorite voice actors and makes the experience so immersive!

I received the ARC and ALC from NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio - big thanks for providing me another opportunity to read a second intense and relatable family fiction book by Fran Littlewood!

This book was released at the end of June 2025, which means it’s available now—and I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR!

I do love a messy family drama, and this one didn’t disappoint. I read (listened to) Amazing Grace Adams in November and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, having seen mixed reviews. So I’d put this one in a similar camp- if you liked AGA, you should read this.

The Accidental Favorite is about three sisters, and I think it really captures the nuances in sibling dynamics. I have a friend who is the middle sister of three, and she often felt that she was the “neglected one” and I kept thinking of her as I read this, as I think three sisters in a family is a whole different beast. It is interesting how families assign (or maybe we assign ourselves) with labels like “the smart one”, “the pretty one”, “the trouble-maker”, “the poor student”, “the athletic one”, and how that shapes us and stays with us into adulthood.

Overall, I enjoyed it! But I will warn that it did take me a minute to get the characters straight (there was a helpful family tree at the beginning), and since it flips from past to present, it could be slightly confusing if you only had the audio. Recommend!

I loved Fran Littlewood's debut novel and have been eagerly anticipating this book. "The Accidental Favorite" is full of family drama and Littelewood's wry humor. This character-driven novel is told from alternating timelines and perspectives. It was interesting to see how it all came together. The characters are all complex and well-developed, and the story is full of secrets and lies. Littlewood expertly blends wit with more serious themes. Because it is more character-driven, it is a bit of a slow burn. I'm a fan of fast-paced thrillers, so this book was a little out of my comfort zone. But the plot was intriguing enough to hold my interest and keep me reading to find out what happened next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was chaotic and full of family drama on the wierder side. I was instantly drawn in by the accidents and the narration was very well done however I feel like it left something valuable out FOR ME and i cant quite place it. I DNF'ed this book but as always i will try it again later.

3.5⭐️
I had mixed feelings about this story as I connected with some characters like Eva and couldn’t stand others (looking at you Alex!). I did appreciate the bond between the siblings and the commentary on both birth order and family dynamics.

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood (book cover is in image) for me just wasn't an engaging read. My general feeling during this book was meh. The narration by Fiona Button felt flat and monotone. And while I had the good fortune to have the ARC and ALC for this volume, when I switched over to the eBook, the writing as no better for me. I know there is an audience for this book, but I am not it.

Thank you, @henryholdtbooks, @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3 Star
Pub Date: Jun 24 2025

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The Accidental Favorite
A Novel
by Fran Littlewood
Narrated by Fiona Button

Growing up, I always longed for a sister, and this tale encompasses not just one, but three sisters. It delves into the intricate dynamics among the sisters and their parents, exploring how the withholding of information & the burden of family secrets can inflict lasting damage on relationships.

The narrative unfolds slowly, yet with intention, allowing us to intimately understand each sister & their parents. The story is told through varied perspectives, revealing different facets of the family puzzle. It all begins with an incident early in the novel that sends the entire family into a whirlwind. Though I don't have a sister, I do have a brother, & I've often felt that he was the favorite, much like the spark that ignites the family turmoil in this narrative.

Fran Littlewood deftly examines the complexities of family relationships, the concept of favoritism, and the influence of birth order & expectations. This superbly written tale illustrates a family's journey to find their way after a pivotal choice made by the father. Ultimately, it is a story of healing & the painstaking process of reassembling fractured relationships. We witness their struggles as they work towards healthier connections.

Entering the story, I had no expectations, yet I found myself captivated. I embraced each sister, flaws & all. As a parent, this narrative compelled me to reflect on how my words and actions affect my own children. The story poignantly conveys the importance of ensuring that no child feels more cherished than another, underscoring the truth that each child is unique and special in their own right.

Some challenges in parenting are beyond our control, but my love for this story remains unwavering. The author’s execution is spot on, & the narration by Fiona Button is nothing short of spectacular, breathing life into both the main characters & the supporting cast. This is no small feat, & it is accomplished beautifully.

I listened to this audiobook, & while I thoroughly enjoyed it in that format, I would gladly return to the pages of the book for another experience.

My heartfelt thanks go to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook.

Fran Littlewood crafts a sharp, emotionally layered family saga set during a tension-filled 70th birthday weekend. When a father's split-second decision confirms long-held suspicions of favoritism, three sisters—and their families—spiral into a web of secrets, resentment, and longing. With relatable characters and compelling themes of identity, family, and belonging, this novel is both poignant and unputdownable.

Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Fran Littlewood for the ARC.

As the mom of 3 daughters, I was immediately drawn to this book. I enjoyed the flashbacks to their childhood and how they relate to those things today. Good story, interesting characters, overall a solid read!

Really loved this messy, realistic story of a family. This is the second book I've read by Fran Littlewood and I will definitely read more in the future. She has a fantastic ability to capture emotion on multiple levels.

The main premise of this story is that the three adult Fisher sisters: Alex, Nancy, and Eva gather with their families to help celebrate the 70th birthday of their mother Vivienne at a home rental in the English countryside. On the first day, a tree surprisingly begins to fall during a gathering, and their father Patrick goes out of his way to save Eva, . Even though no one is injured, the sisters now believe that Eva is their father's favorite and the fallout from that event ripples through the remainder of the gathering.

The nuance and best part of this tale is the fact that different events are viewed in completely different ways. As the siblings and parents reflect about their pasts and how it has shaped who they are, when we see those events from different perspectives everything about them changes. What one person remembers is not what another remembers, and as the weekend in the story progresses, various secrets come to light due to those differing recollections.

I found this novel to be intriguing and captivating, I liked the characters sometimes, I disliked them at other times, and everything about the story seemed incredibly realistic. I could put myself into the places of the sisters at various times because their reactions were authentic and relatable.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and Fiona Button's narration was spot on capturing these women and all of the family drama. Nothing is neat and tidy about this tale, it's messy and frustrating, but also full of love and understanding, just like you hope for any family.

I had a lot of trouble with this one. It was a multi generational family drama, but it was just too much for me. I couldn't stand the characters and the sliding back and forth in time got very confusing for the audio book. It was hard to keep track of what was happening.

This was a heartfelt and emotionally layered exploration of family dynamics and long-simmering sibling rivalries, brought to the surface when Vivienne and Patrick Fisher gather their three daughters—Alex, Nancy, and Eva—for Vivienne’s 70th birthday celebration. Told through multiple POVs and interwoven with flashbacks, the story offers intimate glimpses into each sister’s internal struggles and how those challenges impact their relationships—with one another and with their parents. Alex, the eldest, feels adrift in her marriage and motherhood, haunted by past regrets and the lingering question of what might have been, especially when a former flame reappears. Nancy, the middle child, is reeling from divorce and burnout and searches for meaning and connection. And Eva, the youngest, harbors secrets that could unravel the version of her life that everyone believes to be true. I especially appreciated the flashbacks that focused on Vivienne and Patrick’s relationship—those scenes added a deeper layer to the narrative and helped bring the family’s present tensions into clearer perspective.

The narration was skillfully performed, with the narrator capturing the emotional nuance of the characters. Experiencing this story through audiobook made it all the more immersive and resonant.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

For Vivienne’s 70th birthday, her husband Patrick, their 3 grown daughters (Alex, Nancy and Eve) and their families come together to send a week in a glass home in the country. When a tree comes crashing down, Patrick instinctively rushes to save his youngest daughter, Eve, setting forth a feeling that Eve might be her dad’s favorite kid.

As the week progresses, old memories are uncovered as the sisters and the parents reexamine the past, their old hurts buried but still shaping them into the people they have become.

I love a good family saga. Especially one with witty banter. This novel has both but somehow it just didn’t quite work for me. The sisters all irritated me but maybe it’s because I don’t have sisters? I don’t know. I loved Amazing Grace Adams and was excited for this one but it just didn’t suck me in. I will say that the narration in this one was quite good and that is the main reason I stuck with it.

Thank you to @netgalley @henryholtbooks @macmillan.audio for an early #gifted audiobook and digital review copy of this novel

3.5
This was fine. A sister drama, a family saga, a looking back.
I thought it was a little dull and hard to keep track of all the characters, It might be better as a hard book and not an audiobook on that point,

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Accidental Favorite was an exploration of familial relations after a surprise revelation. The book itself was interesting if not a little dry. There were moments that I really connected with, but it took me awhile to get through this book. That said, the narrator was engaging and I really enjoyed the audiobook version.

Thank you again for the ARC!