1 star and so close to DNF.

Goal Diggers is a reality show featuring 5 successful millennials living in New York City. One of them gets murdered at the end of the season.

That's really all I got out of the book. It was terrible for me. I don't understand how people are giving this 4 stars. The story was so hard to follow, the characters all blended together and none of them were likable. I was able to distinguish Brett (she's fat) and Stephanie (she's black) because the author hammered those facts so hard into our heads throughout the entire book. The other characters all blended together into one hard to read, easily forgettable story. Was there a twist at the end? Umm...kinda. But honestly, I didn't care at that point. I was just glad finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of The Favorite Sister. When I read the description of this book I honestly thought it would be a real page turner. I love watching reality television so I thought this was a book I would probably end up reading in two nights or less. I wanted to like this book. I tried so hard. I never want to leave a bad review, however, I was given an ARC with the expectation of leaving an honest review. I just did not like anything about this book. It took me over two weeks to read it in its entirety.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36967019-the-favorite-sister?ac=1&from_search=true

I didn't like this much. I found the characters' motivations to strain credulity and their plots excessively complicated. Twists seemed to happen for the sake of twist, without regard to characterization or a cohesive.

Unfortunately this one was a DNF for me. The premise sounded good, but I just couldn't get into it sadly.

This book should have been a huge hit for me. I’m an addict of reality television and in particular the Real Housewives franchise. This book is written as a behind the scenes look at such a show told from the point of view of various cast mates. But I pretty much hated it! I found every character to be awful and the storylines stressed me out.

I am a fan of this author and I’m a fan of this genre but I am not a fan of this book.

I was ready looking forward to reading this book, I had read the authors first book and liked it. I just couldn’t get into this book, I found myself skimming the pages and daydreaming until I finally gave up.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley. I was provided with a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The book centers on 5 women who are cast members of a reality show, Goal Getters. Think Real Housewives or any of the Bravo reality shows. One of the women is killed during the filming of the season and we see the story in flashbacks. There are secrets, scandals, lies, travel, and all kinds of drama along the way.

The book had some hilarious, withering, skewering descriptions that made me laugh.

As much as I enjoyed the mystery and the writing, I also was intrigued by the production aspect. As a reader, I got to be "behind the scenes" and learn just how much manipulation goes on in a "reality" program.

When The Luckiest Girl Alive was published, I jumped on the bandwagon. The book did not end up being the next Gone Girl (nothing was) but it was a solid, quick and satisfying read. The sophomore novel by the author look me a long time to plod through. Maybe I don't like reality tv? I watch my fair share of competition shows and was an avid Real World fan for the first few seasons but this is probably more for the Real Housewives and Kardashian sets, and that's not me.

The book did show the dark and dangerous side of fame, but even the murder plot did not hold my attention. The reader finds out one of the main characters on Goal Diggers, a show about impressive young female entrepreneurs, is dead on the very first page. Unfortunately, I found the 'twist' and the story along the way to be unexciting and lacking suspense. None of the characters were very likable, which is not a requirement for a great read for me (see: Gone Girl), but they were so self-involved that I did not find myself wanting to follow any of their storylines.

For a reader interested in learning more about the innerworkings of the reality television world, this might be a better pick. Thank you netgalley for the preview!

In THE FAVOITE SISTER, Jessica Knoll has crafted characters as recognizable as those seen on your current favorite reality TV show. Each of the five women on the Knolls imaginary Goal Diggers show is successful in their individual field, incredibly competitive and not above a little back-stabbing and cutthroat behavior to ensure their sustained spot on the show.

Like most of the Housewives shows currently on the Bravo network, the on-air lives of the GOAL DIGGERS are contrived by the show’s producer in a never ending quest for higher ratings. In the shows fourth season illusions are shattered, new alliances are formed and old friendships fall apart as the women “jockey for position”.

In truth each of the five women, two of whom are sisters, nurture feelings of envy and resentment coupled with dark secrets - the revelation of which could lead to the destruction of their individual dynasties. Would any of these women resort to murder in the name of self-preservation? The answers are all disclosed in THE FAVORITE SISTER. 4 ½ stars

I'm not a Real Housewives fan. In fact I've never seen the show. So the initial chapters of this be had me wondering about continuing to read w. I am glad that I did. The story covers a season of a show that is "reality" tv. Young successful women and their brands supposedly support each other. The storyline is initially complex while the characters and backstory are introduced. After that, it progresses well. The backstabbing, false friendships and conniving are expected in this genre but there are some very interesting plot twists that keep you turning the pages. The end of the book is unexpected, yet also seems to drag on a bit to long. I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. And for those that enjoy Real Housewives shows, this book is sure to be a treat.

I really wanted to like this book. The concept was good however there was not one character in the book with a redeeming quality (except the eleven year olds who were minor characters). I often enjoy stories where you’re rooting for the bad guy, but even Hannibal Lecter has charm. When you have characters saying they can’t afford to buy a house in NYC even though they’re worth 20 million you need to give them some qualities that are likable and that was not to be found.

I kept forgetting which character was who (because they were all just awful catty people) and the plot of their “reality” show was never really explained. I guess it’s like Housewives but about single successful women? Not believable that the show would be the hit across America the author made it out to be.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book In exchange for an honest review.

You know I thought I would really like this book but not really. Not that I hated it but to me it was an okay book. THe plot was good but some things were a little to out there for me. Could be because I don't watch reality shows that are on. I wanted to find out who did away with Brett which really kept my interest. Women are catty in general and this book hit it on the nail. I know a lot of my friends would eat this book up a and read it in 1 sitting but it took me a little bit longer. Would I recommend this book of course I would because I am sure some of my friends would say I was crazy for not loving it. I will reread the book when I can find the paper one which then I am sure I will enjoy it more.

Jessica Knoll's The Favorite Sister reads like a TMZ story. The plot centers on five career-oriented woman who have become celebrities from starring in a reality TV show. As you read though the story, you discover that the women's realities are lies and their truths are marred by secrets. Though the story is slow to develop, it gains momentum after a few chapters, pulling you into this world of deception and revealing that the lies have led to murder. The characters are difficult to like, in fact sometimes they are loathed, but you still want to uncover their secrets. Just when you think you have figured out what has led to the murder another twist is added and another layer of lies is torn away. The ending leaves is a bit of a shock but it fitting with the theme of the story, that reality TV is not real and people aren't what they seem.
I really enjoyed reading this book. If you're looking for a story where truth and lies are intermingled and reality is scripted, then pick up this book and enjoy.

I gave up on this book at Chapter 2. I just didn't resonate with any of the characters and found I just really didn't care about what the story was. I struggled through the 1st chapter and decided my time was more valuable than forcing myself to read this. It is NOT a blisteringly fast paced thriller. Not by a long shot. Disappointing to say the least.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t really care for this book. There were so many characters (most of whom were quite unlikeable) and the storyline wore on me. I’m sure there are other readers who will enjoy this book, but it just didn’t work for me.

Well. That was...something. I don't even know where to start with all the things I disliked about this book. I guess let's start with the characters. They are all awful, nasty people, and I could barely tell them apart. It made it really hard to follow the storyline because I had no idea who was who or what their relationships were or what was the point of any of this. The random name dropping/product placement of every single random object was so strange. Why do I care what kind of pen someone is using to sign autographs? Why do I need to know the designer of the sofa? And why is everyone doing Instagram stories about everything and why do I care?

sorry, but I just could not get into this book. I tried twice and both times put it down for something better. Life is too short to spend it reading the books that are not meant for me. I will try it again in a week or two, but right now I just can't find anything that grabs me about this book.
Thanks, NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to try it.

The Favorite Sister is a contemporary tale about ambition, greed, pop culture, the "five minutes of fame" so many Americans seek and the lengths to which they will go to achieve it. Spoiler alert: NONE of the main characters is particularly likable or sympathetic which is part of the point. Knoll takes readers into the world of a reality television series patterned after Bravo's Real Housewives franchise, spotlighting casting maneuvers and machinations, ratings gimmicks, and infighting among the cast members. The story is a droll commentary on relationships between women, feminism, romance, friendship, assumptions, and, of course, "reality" programming. At the outset, Knoll reveals that one of the main characters has died and the book appears, at first blush, to be a murder mystery. Ultimately, however, it is much more. It would be an excellent choice for book clubs because there are many themes and plot points worthy of discussion.
(Thanks to Net Galley for the Advance Reader's Copy of the book.)

I really had a hard time getting into this book. While I feel that it was a fast-paced read with a good concept, I ultimately felt a little bored with the "drama". I also really despised the writing style of the author.

The Favorite Sister is definitely a millennial book for millennials and about millennials. I did not like this book in the beginning. The slang terms were not part of my vocabulary. I could guess the meaning of some and others went unknown. The characters were extremely diversified. The glue that held the book together was a reality series Goal Diggers. I hung on and as the book progressed I began to enjoy the story. The secrets and the ending were totally unexpected.