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

#HenryHoltandCo
#MacmillanAudio
#TheAccidentalFavorite
#FranLittlewood
#FionaButton
#WomensFiction
#yarisbooknook
#NetGalley

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!

3.5 ⭐️
The Accidental Favorites is one of those books you will think about for a bit after. Immersed in family drama and complicated characters, this book is one for the books.
When the Fisher family gathers for their mother Vivienne’s 70th birthday, Pandora’s box is opened, by way of a tree limb falling. The three sisters are faced with questions after their father rushes to save the youngest disinter. Is she his favorite?
The premise of this book is wildly entertaining, and the writing so real and honest. I did struggle to connect with the characters, and like them. But I really did enjoy this read, and can’t wait to read Amazing Grace Adams, which I just found at a book sale. Yay!
Thank you netgalley for this arc!

It's Vivienne's 70th birthday, and three generations gather in a glasshouse in the English countryside to celebrate. The Patriarch insists on taking photos, and as he captures his three daughters, a tree falls, and he passes his two daughters to save the farthest one from him. This sets the tone for the celebration. There are plenty of emotions and rivalries, which make for some good old-fashioned family drama. I enjoyed the audio more once I figured out the names and who went with whom. The narration was well done.

Here's a new review for you all. This book revolves around a family with three adult daughters. In a shocking twist early on, the dad unintentionally reveals his favorite daughter. This book is packed with messy family drama, humor, and sibling rivalries. I think this would be a great book to pickup if you are interested in literary fiction, women’s lit or just some good old family drama!

My recommendation for this one is to read the book instead of listening to the audiobook. This book has multiple POVs and jumps back and forth between present and memories from the past. With the audiobook, it was difficult for the listener to distinguish whose point of view we were following. I found it a tad confusing which took away from my overall experience with the stories.

Thank you to the author as well as NetGalley and McMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

I love stories adbout sisters and this was one of the best I've read in a while! Each character was so well drawn, I felt equally for all of them and loved seeing the dynamics of this family play out.

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑨𝑪𝑪𝑰𝑫𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑭𝑨𝑽𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 is a perfect book club choice, and I have so many feelings!
When on a family trip a random potential disaster looms, the patriarch of the family rushes to save one of the three daughters. Disaster is averted, but a can of worms has opened up that cannot be shut as the family grapples with that act.

Family birth order and sibling dynamics pair for a fascinating fallout and I was all in. This #gifted audiobook by @macmillan.audio for @henryholtbooks is out now, and I highly recommend it and when you read it, I want to chat!

I really enjoyed this one in audio. The narration really added to the depth of the angst this father stirred up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Fran Littlewood’s heartwarming story of three sisters and their families celebrating Mom’s birthday takes an unexpected turn. As the dad tries to take a family portrait, a tree cracks, putting the family in danger. He bravely leaps into action to save the youngest, revealing his favorite daughter. This causes some frustration, marital conflicts, and sibling rivalry. It’s a candid look at the imperfections even seemingly perfect families can have. Fiona Button’s narration adds a touch of charm to the realistic portrayal of most households.

I loved Littlewood’s last book and this one holds up too. Family drama, humor, and grief. A recipe for a great novel.

The Fisher family have gathered for a week-long reunion. On the surface, the family seems well adjusted. Vivienne and Patrick have a happy, enviable decades-long marriage, and their three daughters Alex, Nancy, and Eva all seem well-adjusted and stable. But when, at the start of their week, a near catastrophe shows that one of the girls might be their father’s clear favorite, the hairline fractures in the family’s foundations and years of secrets begin to come to the surface.

I really enjoyed the author’s debut, Amazing Grace Adams, and this one has many of the same elements in terms of style, but unlike her first book, The Accidental Favorite shifts POV between the sisters and their mom as well as going back and forth in time. And all the characters seem a little unhinged. This is not a criticism. I love an unhinged character. I think it’s more realistic and so much more fun to read about people who are imperfect and make crazy mistakes. Each of them has different ways of coping with the chaos of their lives and each has different, really interesting breaking points. But at times the level of craziness did feel a little unrealistic when put all together.

The exploration and quality of secrets was fascinating in this book. I’m just not a person who can keep a secret, so this would never happen in my house, but how the author wove in bits of the past and confrontations in the present. The author also plays with the nature of memory in really interesting ways that reminded me of Apples Never Fall, which I loved.

Fiona Button does a fabulous job narrating all the characters, but I did have a little trouble distinguishing who was who in the beginning despite the chapter headings that told me. I would definitely recommend listening to this one as the narration adds a lot to the humor in the book, but having a physical copy on hand might be helpful.