So I just finished this audiobook and I couldn’t tell you what happened in this book. There were sisters and some family controversy but I honestly couldn’t tell you what happened. My brain was just not into this read. I couldn’t follow any of the characters or get attached. Sadly this is a no from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my arc in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

**I received an advanced listening copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Told from multiple perspectives, this slow burning novel examines how one choice made during a near disaster consequently reveals the tensions and hurt in a family dynamic. Vivienne, about to celebrate her 70th birthday, revels in having her husband and three grown daughters and their families together for a week. The reader first witnesses the incident through Vivienne's eyes and her puzzled and almost horrified reaction to it. The rest of the novel weaves through the perspectives of Vivienne and her daughters Alex, Nancy, and Eva as they grapple with the choice patriarch Patrick made; in turn, these ruminations bring to light past indiscretions and situations that highlight the feelings each woman has about their current position in the family, the impact the past has had on their current lives, and how they can learn from the past and present to move forward. The reader does not witness Patrick's thoughts in this novel, though his voice is heard in the recounting of conversations and present time dialogue with the other characters.

This is an exquisite novel, and a personal favorite in 2025. There are parts that are hard to read, as the dark emotions evoked by the characters are acutely described in the narrative. The layers of love and despair built over the family's lifetime are slowly revealed, and while this is not a case of a dysfunctional family, it shows how past events, even those not remembered in the same way by all involved, greatly impact the emotions and personalities in the present time. Nancy's character especially goes through a range of emotions, and her feelings of self loathing are better understood as the narrative progresses. Despite the darker episodes, this is also a novel filled with hope and how acknowledgement for past wrongdoings and pain can better present situations. The Accidental Favorite is classed a dramedy, and a lighter element involving frogs and a permeating odor gently spread throughout the narrative. The glass house, the setting for present day activities, can also be symbolic for most of the issues unveiled by the characters.

Fiona Button as voice actress does superbly with the story, really playing on the layers Littlewood writes and evoking the characters' emotions.

Highly recommended. #NetGalley #TheAccidentalFavorite

Folks with sisters will enjoy this one!

Thanks Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!

Synopsis -

Vivienne and Patick Fisher have raised their 3 daughters to the best of their abilities. Alex, Nancy and Eva are all doing very well for themselves and that’s everything they could hope for. When the Fishers gather at a glass house in the English countryside for a weeklong vacation and Vivienne’s 70th birthday celebration, an unexpected incident reveals Patrick might have a “favorite” daughter. This is just the kindle to the fire, which will rage and send shockwaves through this family as the week progresses, unearthing decades old secrets, resentments and fall outs triggering new ones in their destructive wake.

Review -

The audiobook was narrated by Fiona Button and while she did an excellent job in her posh, soothing English voice, a multi cast narrator would have worked wonders for this book, especially as it involves multiple POVs from all the sisters and even Vivienne.

What anyone needs to be prepared for before picking up this book is that, the pacing is slow and patience will be key to truly savor it. This is not for the thrill seeking nor is it for those looking for a quick brain refreshing easy read.

Littlewood’s writing is deeply observational - there is a lot of attention to detail, to everything ranging from the characters, the settings, the general vibes and particulary the emotions. Sibling rivalry is at the very core of the story and the author explores sisters’ relationships - delving deep into the shift and shuffle of their dynamics over the years, playing out w.r.t their careers, family lives, their kids, mindset differences, age gap, financial status and social/societal standing.

Not a lot happens until about mid-way and just when I started to get jittery, tension escalates, dirty secrets are unveiled, chaos ensues in this glass house and you know what they say when you live in one! Don’t throw stones at it!

The ending did make up for the inertia, but overall the book fell just a bit short for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I love a family drama. This was is a slow burn but worth every minute of it.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Accidental Favorite, by Fran Littlewood. This was an engrossing story of a family, particularly three sisters - Alex, Nancy, and Eva - and how they understood their childhood, their parents, and each other. Of course, there are connections to the present as well. The majority of this story takes place during a family vacation to celebrate the mother's 70th birthday... and involves their father's past and present choices, some family secrets, and a strange smell in the glass house where they are staying. There is drama, there is chaos, there is anger, there are tears... this book has it all. I found this book very sad and heartbreaking for the most part, but there was some well placed humor that helped. It is hard to say that I liked the characters (except maybe Nick and some other periphery figures) but I did enjoy learning about them and their connections to one another. I also liked the reference to the author's first book! :)

The narrator did a great job. I adored her voice! I think the book has so many characters that multiple narrators may have helped me keep track of everyone a bit better, but she was pleasant to listen to.

All in all, I enjoyed this audiobook and will continue to read books by this author. Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood explores the ripple effects of a father's split-second decision to protect one of his three adult daughters when a tree falls during a family celebration. The novel dives deep into family drama, sibling rivalry, and long-buried secrets.

Told through multiple points of view and shifting between past and present, the story weaves a complex narrative. I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters — a family tree or character chart would have been helpful. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters, as there were simply too many to fully engage with.

Fiona Button’s narration was a highlight — she brought energy and nuance to each character.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for letting me read this ARC.

An insightful character driven story about the complex microorganisms that families become over time. Shifting narrators and timelines slowly build to give us a better idea of the major events that unfold to create the complex narrative of the shared history and trauma of the Fischer family. I also really like how the author plays with memory at certain point to really hammer home the idea that there is no right perspective.

A smart, relatable novel about sibling rivalry and messy family dynamics. I was pulled in right from the start, even if it took a bit to keep the sisters straight. Not quite on par with her debut for me, but Fran Littlewood is firmly on my auto-read list. I absolutely loved the narrator, so if you're an audiobook listener, this is a good one!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The setting was one of my favorites. The characters were well developed and the story line kept me turning the pages!

Families are complicated and often messy, so the premise of this book caught my attention. Three adult sisters gather with their partners and children to celebrate their mother’s birthday when a near tragedy occurs. In that brief moment their dad does something that is interpreted to signal that one of the daughters is his favorite.

Told through multiple POV and across a nonlinear timeline, Littlewood explores the secrets, insecurities, petty jealousies, and grievances that until then lay unvoiced and unexplored. With so many characters contributing to the story it sometimes felt like a cacophony of voices clamoring for my attention.

I have a sister and I am a sister. I know firsthand how complex those relationships can be. Unity and the desire for independence are occasionally at odds. Loyalty competes with envy. Shared memories and experiences look and feel different through each individual prism. I wanted more depth in those areas, but was left feeling slightly unsatisfied. Littlewood has a talent for capturing and highlighting the frustrations we often keep hidden, and she does so again here. I simply wanted more.

Fans of family dramas will appreciate the gritty feel of this book. I alternated between digital and audio versions of this book. Fiona Button is a talented narrator, but I occasionally had difficulty tracking which character’s POV was being presented and found that easier to manage with the digital copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Henry Holt and Company for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the sophomore novel by Fran Littlewood, author of Amazing Grace Adams. The audiobook was perfectly narrated by Fiona Button, especially when considering there were a lot of characters in this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars!

Vivienne and Patrick Fisher have done an excellent job raising their three daughters, Alex, Nancy, and Eva. They’re well-adjusted women with impressive careers, caring partners, exciting hobbies, and sweet children. The three generations gather at a beautiful glass rental home for a weeklong celebration of Vivienne’s 70th birthday. But when Patrick’s reaction to a freak accident on the first day of the trip inadvertently reveals that he has a favorite daughter, no one is prepared for the shockwaves it sends through the family.

This book really made me wish I had sisters (although I do have lots of sisters-in-law!) because these three women had such a complicated but unbreakable bond to each other. I like books with a domestic/family theme, because it’s a good reminder that all families are messy in their own ways. That was certainly the case here with everyone having secrets and issues. I also liked the theme of family birth order and how that affects personalities. This is definitely a character-driven story and I loved this look into the Fisher family.

This book grabbed me from word one and kept me engaged the entire way through. The narrating and edited and wonderful , the story flowed along, I didn't want it to end.

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.

This was a touching family drama that was at times funny and at times sad. I will say, I was over halfway through the book before I was able to tell the three sisters and their families apart.

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 Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
Great book!
So many secrets!
So much dysfunction!
It kept my interest and I listened almost non-stop.
The narration was excellent.
Highly recommended!

This was an interesting family drama that revolved around three adult sisters after learning that the youngest daughter is the father's supposed favorite. Through the course of the book, we jump from character to character to gather more about their messy lives. This includes their spouses, their children, their parents...needless to say, there were quite a few characters.

I typically enjoy stories that feel realistic and aren't all sunshine and rainbows, but I didn't feel a major spark when picking this book up. Perhaps cutting down on some of the many sub-plots would have offered a sharper overall story. However, I thought the writer added in some witty observations about dealing with insecurity and family dynamics, which I appreciated. The narrator also did a great job of voicing each person and giving them a sense of individuality.

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.

Three sisters and their families gather together with their parents to celebrate their mother's 70th birthday and both past and present feelings, resentments, beliefs and truths are exposed.

If I'm being honest, I really didn't love this. It just felt like a long story that kind of never really got off the ground or went anywhere. Every family has junk and I think everyone can relate to one of the characters, but there was nothing here that felt compelling.

If you're a lover of family drama and stories about the lives of others, you may really like this one, but for me it just felt like something was missing.

I might not be the right reader for this author. I didn't really love the author's first book, but I always give a second chance. I was excited about this story, and the premise sounded really interesting. I love reading about dysfunctional family drama, but it just didn't work for me here.
The writer did a good job with the characters, and the writing style is good. The pacing was off and a bit too slow for me. I had a hard time with the character and timeline changes throughout the chapters.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a really good job with the story.
Overall, I don't think this was a bad book, it just wasn't for me.



Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.