I truly want to thank NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title. It is a genre I read a lot. That said, I just could not get through this. I kept getting the characters mixed up, realized I wasn't caring about them, and the plot was wearing thin. I later realized I'd also tried to read this author's previous title, and I had the same problem. I'm not saying everyone will feel this way, but I did.

I just want to start this review with all the exclamation points!!!!!! If you love reality TV, if you love plot twists, and if you love ensemble books, you must read this book. I typically don't read many thrillers, but I couldn't put this down. Avoid spoilers and just dive into this book. You won't regret it.

*Thank you to netgalley for providing the ARC!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Simon and Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of this book. I greatly appreciate this privilege and it makes this review difficult to write. It is extremely rare that I abandon a book. Maybe once a year. But this was truly awful for me. I got more information about the plot of the book from the summary on Goodreads than I did after reading the ebook for about 3 hours. There were passages of coherence especially when discussing women’s issues, but there was no story clearly articulated. The characters were never introduced or explained and sometimes that works, but not in this case, at least for me. I felt like this was a stream of consciousness first (or maybe second) draft that needed some editorial help. Kudos to the readers who could pull a compelling story out of this. I’m sorry, but I could not justify the effort to decipher this one.

The description of this book sounded so interesting and I couldn’t wait to read it. Sadly once I began reading I found it to be boring and very difficult to not only picture, but to connect with the characters. I also found the story line to be very confusing and dull throughout the entire book, like the lead up to Brett’s death was so dragged out and then when it happened it was dull, since their was no connection to the characters it was long and overdone.

Wow! There are a lot of things going on in this book and no one hands are clean. I love that this book is about a "reality TV " show. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how story line are determined.

I can't say that I liked any of the characters in this book. This is what makes the book so intriguing. You don't know if someone is good or bad or maybe just a mix of both. It seems that Brett is this honest straight shooter that tells it like it is, but even as you are reading about her you wonder 'is she hiding something?'. Stephanie is beautiful, black, and successful. It seems she is holding a petty grudge against Brett, but is that the case? The other characters of the reality show are seemingly inconsequential....but are they? Everytime I thought I had this book figured out, I was wrong. Highly recommend!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster books.

I recieved a review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. I loved Knoll's previous books even though the characters were kind of twisted. I just couldn't get into this book because it was so hard to keep up with the characters. This one was about a reality show where one of the women die kind of similar to the real housewives. This one wasn't for me, but I look forward to see what else Knoll comes up with in the future.

This was confusing. I gave up on it after reading about 20% because I couldn't keep track of characters/perspectives/plot.

I was really excited to get this ARC. I enjoyed The Luckiest Girl Alive althought I thouht it had some issues. One them being a lack of characters resembling decent human beings. But I thought Knoll might move more to that with this book. Boy was I wrong. She goes even farther with this group of despicable beings. While the main character doesn’t have to be likeable or even decent for me to enjoy a book, there has to be some contrast. And this story also includes several examples of horrible mothers which irritates me. This undoubtedly passes the Bechdel test but perhaps we need to add that in addition to talking not about a man, they need to not be actively sabotaging each other. Perhaps this is satirizing shows such as Real Housewives of .... but after reading it I felt like I had just sat through hours if the worst episodes.

I loved Luckiest Girl Alive, so I was really excited to read Knoll's latest book. Well, I wish I hadn't. Talk about a dud. A reality show about millennials that turns dark when one of the stars dies. Told through flashbacks, we get to find out what happened, why it happened, and whodunit. Except, the more you read, the less you care about any of the characters - they are all liars, cheaters, and backstabbers. Too many secrets to keep track of and too many obvious story lines to wade through. This book was annoying, tiresome, and lame. I should have DNFed it.

The Favorite Sister
Jessica Knoll
Available: May 15, 2018

Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I hate that I have to work for a living.. its because of my job it took me 3 days to read The Favorite Sister instead of polishing it off in one sitting like I really wanted. As a Housewife devotee (except for Dallas – sorry ladies!), I ate this up like it was a fricken cheesecase from The Cheesecake Factory with extra whipped cream. I think this is a true contender for an amazing Summer of 2018 read.
What I loved: The s%^t storm at the end is absolutely perfect!! I was reading with my mouth open in shock. Obviously, I can’t say more without ruining the whole juicy enchilada (what is with me and the whole food thing today?) but between the backstabbing, the twists and turns, and even the cheesy-ness of it all – I loved this book.
What I didn’t love: Of course, now I’m watching my guilty pleasure through tainted eyes. Its now so obvious about the shots, the conversations the set ups but I know I’ll still love my shows. It’s like finding out the truth about the Great and Powerful OZ, shrugging my shoulders, and going back for another round of Kool-Aid.
What I learned: Maybe Dorit from RHOBH can do a Stephanie?
Overall Grade: A-

www.FluffSmutandMurder.com

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of The Favorite Sister which doesn’t release until May of this year. If you’re a fan of the “Real Housewives” franchise and also enjoyed “Mean Girls,” this is the novel for you. It’s filled with revenge, betrayal, and the reader trying to figure out what was true and what wasn’t.

I found all the characters, except Layla, the daughter, totally unlikeable and I could never keep the names straight. The book might have benefitted from a description of each one in the beginning so you could refer back to it when you get confused.

The story follows a group of women on a reality show titled “Goal Diggers.” If you wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a reality show, you’ll find out in this novel. And it’s not pretty.

Knoll’s past editorships at womens’ magazines may have colored her story telling. You decide.

If the Real Housewives reality shows are your guilty pleasure, then this is the book for you. The book is a whodunit - who killed Brett, one of the four women who star in a reality show about women entrepreneurs. The story is told by her sister, Kelly, who was trying to become one of the cast members at the time of Brett's death and Stephanie, one of the original cast members who fears she is aging out of the show and will not be recast the following season. Kelly is struggling to seize the limelight because, as her sister's business partner, she has to do all the work while Brett has all the fun. Stephanie and Brett used to be besties but something has come between them and the world is watching them duke it out on national television. The characters are well drawn and the story has great pacing. Just when you think you know what happened - think again, you're wrong. You also learn a lot about the gritty underbelly of reality TV, which is fun. I started reading this book in the middle of the night when I couldn't fall asleep and read straight through until I had to get dressed for work the next morning - it's addictive!

I am always nervous about reading an author I loved next book - but Jessica Knoll does it again. The Favorite Sister is all of the drama, all of the suspense, all of the lies. You know an author can truly write when they make you have visceral feelings about characters. I absolutely loved this book and I actively loathed characters while reading. Capitalizing on today’s society with a reality tv plot this book had me picking up my kindle to read with every spare moment I got. This one is not even officially out yet and I am already waiting for Jessica Knolls next book.

The Favorite Sister was on my radar pretty early. The description about a bunch of reality stars and *gasp* a murder. I love a good who-done-it and I LOVE reality television. My roommate and I used to have trash tv nights where we literally just watched reality television like Bad Girls Club and Real Housewives of whateverland.
The book starts with an interview after the murder with Kelly (sister to Brett). Brett has just died. Then we bounce back to the beginning, prior to the fourth season of Goal Diggers, this show about "girl power" entrepreneurs. The stars include The Big Chill (Brett), Lauren Fun (Lauren), and the Green Menace (Jen). Their producer/creator/super boss, Jesse, is looking for a new star. She finds her new star in Brett's sister and niece, Kelly and Layla.
The book does a good job with layers. You see the personas they portray on television, who they are in real life, and the real secrets are the ones that you could kill to cover up.
Really, the premise sounds great, The initial introduction of the murder by Kelly was perfectly delivered and then we don't revisit the murder until half way in the book. At that point, I still don't see why Brett was murdered. The girls are mean girls to each other and their secrets are small. There isn't enough that's actually worth murdering each other. The motivations still pretty hazy at best.
So much of the book felt like day to day boring stories of failing marriages, fast engagements, single mom life, and rich people. I rolled my eyes a lot. One of the characters keeps constantly complaining about being old at 34. I understand the character in show-biz, but it started to isolate me as a reader pretty fast.
The last quarter of the book really picked up, but it was too fast. The crazy felt like it came out of nowhere. I didn't understand if the character were slowly going crazy, drugged/drunk out of their minds, hormonal with pregnancy, or what. Those lost motivations stayed pretty mysterious, except Brett.
I'm not sure who this book is for. It's not for me.

As someone who devours (almost) all things reality TV related, I was excited to get my hands on this novel. (It didn't hurt that I also really enjoyed the author's first novel).
The story is told by three different perspectives - Kelly, Brett, and Stephanie, and centers around a reality TV show following five successful women, called Goal Diggers. I relished the opportunity to see behind the scenes; the manipulation of the women is outrageous. I had a difficult time really LIKING any of the women. They're all deeply flawed, and don't really have any interest on actually doing better. Usually, I have a hard time getting through books in which I feel no connection to the characters, but that strangely wasn't an issue with this book. I was so invested in the goings-on of the lives of these powerful women that I almost forgot that they were desperately unlikeable.
At times the undercurrent of feminism and racism becomes a little too "center stage"; almost preachy, but fortunately, those moments pass quickly. I don't anticipate any problems with the book immediately hitting the best sellers lists. I'm definitely a fan, and I'm thankful that the author will make my job selling this title that much easier.

I am sad to say this, but I am unable to read and/or review this title at this time.
I currently have a few other books to review that I believe I can finish before I begin school again. Thank you for the opportunity, but I cannot proceed at this moment.

Thanks you.

There are definitely things that I enjoyed in Jessica Knoll’s second novel, “The Favorite Sister”.... but my interest was not only in the plot: the mystery murder itself...as to what happened to Brett.....who murdered her and why?
I was interested enough to find out what happened of course....and there ‘are’ a couple of those famous twists....
......but I found Jessica’s writing entertaining- just for the sake of tidbit-funny - or tidbit powerful..... regardless of the story itself.

Jessica Knoll has some great quotes.....’throughout’. She has a great third eye into contemporary life.
Here’s one quote I think many women might appreciate.
“Society makes life miserable for women who are not thin. I am part of a growing minority determined to change that. SPOKE is the first fitness studio that mentions nothing about transforming your body, because study after study proves that your physical body has so little to do with health. Healthy people are people who feel connected to their communities, who are loved, and are supported by those around them, and who have a sense of purpose in their lives. Healthy people do not waste their precious energy trying to make themselves smaller”.

This ‘power-to-the-women’ novel has lots of drama - secrets - lies - betrayal- and enough unlikable characters to dig your teeth into.

Overall ....it was fun....great company while doing cardio at the gym.

Thank You Simon and Schuster, Netgalley, and Jessica Knoll

3.5

DNF. I'm sorry I thought this story was so mean-spirited and the characters so , not likable, that I couldn't finish it. While the writing is good, the story and the multitude of characters just didn't resonate with me. In order to send the review, Netgalley insists on a starred rating. I don't like to give anything less than a 3 star, but that isn't even valid here since I didn't finish the book.

I read Luckiest Girl Alive a few years ago and loved it. It was the right mix of NYC, drama and twist and turns.

The Favorite Sister follows the lives of 5 reality stars in a show similar to housewives of NYC. A few storylines were ripped from the show. There is drama, murder, and envy. I wishes there were more twist and turns and less social commentary over feminism.

Overall it was a fun read. If you enjoy the housewives then you will enjoy this book.

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll is a GOOD book but not as great as I was expecting it to be. I thought that it would have a bit more emotion like her debut did, but this one was more catty and drama filled. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the journey while I was reading, but I fear that I won't remember the book in the future.