The Favor by Adele Griffin is an enjoyable and unique piece of women’s lit that blends a few genres and is all the better for it. It’s quick-paced, with plenty of titillating drama to keep fans of rom-coms, beach reads, and even domestic thrillers entertained, but it remains grounded enough— with realistic characters and complex themes— so as to satisfy to readers looking for something a little deeper. I really appreciated that the book focused so much on the interpersonal relationship between two women from vastly different backgrounds, who have different aspirations and motivations, and who must constantly navigate the imbalance in power that exists between them. Griffin accurately captures the ever-changing landscape of female friendship, which is at times one of admiration, lust/jealousy, frustration, and competition. This sort of relationship is so much more compelling than that of your average hetero couple hoping for a baby. I could see this appealing to fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Weisberger, and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The characters were mostly well-developed, but some parts of the story didn’t feel that way. Some things the characters did made no sense to me, and I really didn’t like the power dynamic between Evelyn and Nora.

Overall, i liked this book, but the ending felt abrupt to me and I didn’t love it.

Fascinating story and beautifully told. Nora and her husband Jacob long for a babybut have not been able to conceive. One day Evelyn breezes into her shop, a high end vintage dress shop, and practically buys out the place. Evelyn is happily married with a son and is also a wealthy socialite. The two women are very different and become close friends. In fact, Evelyn offers to carry a baby for Nora. The story is one about what friends can do for one another and managing expectations.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I get that they are supposed to be friends. But it felt lopsided to me. Rich girl pays for her to source vintage clothes. Doesn't that make her an employee? To be a surrogate does change my view but spent the book expecting her to change her mind. Turned out to be a pretty good chicks book.

I was charmed by the cover... But the cover is deceiving - it's not a fluffy rom-com. It is, however, a quirky, interesting story about two completely different women who become friends. The one friend faces a path of infertility and the other friend offers a "favor", a solution to the problem. The author handles this issue with humor, compassion and a sense of warmth between the friends, and yet you will feel a frisson of tension throughout, this book ALMOST reads as a thriller at times. As a reader, you will find that this book has well defined characters and a plot that is finely detailed. An enjoyed read.

Nora works in a resale shop called I'll Have Seconds and when a young woman bursts through the door and begins buying many of the high end items in the store, Nora is amazed. Evelyn is about Nora's age and they have an immediate connection. They discover their love for poet Frieda Bergessen and their unlikely friendship blooms. When Nora confesses to having given up hope of having a child after so many unsuccessful IVF treatments, Evelyn volunteers to be the surrogate for Nora and Jacob. Nora is thrilled, Jacob not so much. Evelyn is a jet setter and is on the go all around the globe and Jacob has concerns about her ability to keep a baby safe. Nora convinces him and off they go. Ask yourself, would you give your last fertilized embryo to a mere acquaintance? In lies the drama for this entire novel. A page turner.

I am a huge fan of Adele Griffin, so I was super excited to receive an early arc of The Favor. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

Nora Hammond lives and works in Manhattan. She seemingly has it all...success, beauty, and a loving marriage. However, Nora and her husband Jacob are trying desperately to have a baby, and have landed themselves in debt due to fertility treatments. Nora has one embryo remaining but knows another pregnancy attempt will end her. Welcome Evelyn Elliot. After her friendship, many champagne toasts, and talks later, Evelyn offers to carry Nora and Jacob's baby. Thus, the favor!
This story is relatable, and charming, and for any woman who has experienced the struggles and raw emotions of fertility treatments, it is heartwrenching. This could be a trigger warning for some, so that should be mentioned.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters feel like your old friends, and you ride the roller coaster of emotions with them.
I can't wait to grab a hard copy when this publishes in June.

This was so interesting! This was a light read with really deep and intense topics. To me...a favor might be: picking up a friends groceries, not carrying a baby for them!!

This was good, but didn't necessarily hit the mark for me.

I received a free copy of, The Favor by Adele Griffin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There are favors and then their are FAVORS. Having someone carry your child is a huge ask, and a huge favor. Nora is going through this right now, her friend Evelyn is having her baby. Some favors come with very high costs, will this one? A good read, I like Adelle Griffins book, and this is a good one.

I really enjoyed Adele Griffin’s new book, The Favor. Although somewhat predictable as to what the aforementioned favor would be, a lot of the book had a sense of intrigue that I was not expecting. I was never quite sure what the outcome would be or how relationships would develop (or dissolve) throughout the unfolding drama. I couldn’t pick sides during arguments, as I saw both sides of the situation. And I couldn’t choose my favorite characters, as I grew to love them all. What a beautiful tribute to a tender subject matter. Thank you, Ms. Griffin, for opening my eyes to how difficult surrogacy is for all involved.

Wow. I was not prepared for this book to hit me emotionally. Seeing the perspective of a couple with infertility struggles really made me think of a few people in my life, most present but some past. Seeing Nora and Jacob’s reactions to friends having successful multiple pregnancies or surrogacy had me reevaluating my past behavior with baby announcements. The Favor examines the pain and longing for one’s own baby under seemingly impossible circumstances. Enter Evelyn, the millionaire socialite who offers the most intimate and generous favor a person could do for another. There are strings attached to Evelyn’s altruistic actions throughout the book, but I didn’t see her as callous or calculating. She knows no other way of life and gets what she wants and needs effortlessly. Nora is both enchanted and cautious about Evelyn, which leads to some pretty interesting dilemmas and soul searching. I liked Nora and Jacob’s realistic and grounded marriage, and everyone needs a friend like the supportive and uplifting Meg. I personally enjoy reading about fashion so I was all in for Nora’s career at the vintage couture boutique, but the spotlighted garment that dictated many plot lines just felt a bit unrealistic. I wanted Nora to have a happy ending and this book does a nice job with details and tying up loose ends. Very satisfying and enjoyable, and I am certainly interested in Adele Griffin’s other work now.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for the opportunity to provide an honest review in exchange for this ARC.

A beautiful love letter to the ups and downs of female friendship. Important commentary on infertility and surrogacy . Characters are well developed. The writing is vivid and immersive. I loved every second of this story. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I could not put this book down. I thought this book was such an enjoyable read. The characters felt so real to me, and I feel like the story did such a good job portraying there challenges that come with wrestling big decisions and conflict when there is no one right way. The story was fun and raw and I felt like by the end i developed such a strong connection to the characters

I wanted to like this book more than I did. While this is a “light” read it deals with some heavy subjects that I felt weren’t fully explored or, at least for me, in a convincing way. I’ve never loved the premise of normal people getting swept into the orbits of the very wealthy so that may be part of my problem with it.

At first, the perception of Nora is a kind hearted individual with a great eye for fashion but lacks self confidence and almost appears defeated in how her life has evolved and setbacks that have led to a insurmountable amount of debt. She like the store would almost prefer to go back in time. Then enters Evelyn with her charismatic personality and generosity as far reaching as her giving Nora a cloak that was worn by her favorite author. Nora seems ecstatic about Evelyn bringing her into her life. But as she draws her in deeper and asks for Nora's help, she becomes indebted to her personally and financially. Her becoming the surrogate further deepens their becoming intertwined. Jacob knew all along that Evelyn was a facade that lived her life via social media. The ending is certainly a plot twist and I learned that actually Nora had a backbone of steel. She knew what she wanted for both herself, Gloria and Jacob and went to great lengths to get it. I really enjoyed reading this book.

2.5 rounded to 3 stars

Nora is the owner of a vintage dress shop in NYC. One fateful day Evelyn Elliot enters the store to buy a dress and changes the course of life for Nora and her husband Jacob. Nora and Jacob are struggling with an enormous amount of debt, a tiny apartment, and many years of failed fertility treatments. Evelyn is wealthy. She befriends Nora and offers to be the surrogate for her and Jacob's baby.

This book had a lot of potential, but failed to hit the mark. I don't feel like the author captured the emotion, heartbreak and desperation that comes from years of infertility and failed fertility treatments. It fails to paint a picture of the intricacies of fertility treatments and the implications of using a surrogate. The entire painstaking process is glazed over. It is hard to believe that Nora and Jacob would so carelessly allow a stranger they've known 6 months to carry their child with no legal contract and with no screening and approval from a fertility clinic. Meanwhile, Evelyn seems to be jet-setting all over the world every month. I do applaud the author for attempting to write a fiction story based on a very relevant and for many painful topic.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Full disclosure: Sometimes, when I start a new book on my Kindle, I don't recall what the synopsis is about, and often times after I start reading, it will come to me why I purchased/borrowed/requested a book. That for sure happened here. At first, I thought I was reading about a dress shop, but then I got sucked into the best kind of story.

A Favor lives up to its title- a story about a very unlikely Favor. Nora and her husband have been struggling to have a baby. Left with debt from failed IVF attempts, she ( and her husband Jacob, a lot more begrudgingly) turns to a favor unlikely option for an even unlikelier source.

I often feel that I can figure out what a book is about and how it will end within the first few minutes, but this story was very different in a good way. I was curious about how this would turn out. There were lots of red flags, and I was curious as to why Nora had a blind spot about Evelyn and why she continued to befriend her, and why her husband was a little passive, but I found that to be very realistic and part of human nature. I didn't like Evelyn, and at times she felt unreal, but that was part of the allure of Nora. I think that is what I liked about the book- the characters felt imperfect and flawed, which made some aspects of this book seem realistic. I did like the little glimpse into the influencer role with Evelyn ( and the lives of the very rich). I also like how Nora's character approached infertility. As someone who has also struggled, I enjoyed her emotions regarding the various situations in her life ( her co-workers and best friend).

A touching, emotional story about a couple trying so hard to achieve the one thing that they desperately seek- a baby.
Nora is working at a vintage store where she assists clients to find the right treasures.
When Evelyn who has all her life desires starts paying Nora for her services and has her take on extra projects, they become unlikely friends.
How can Evelyn return the favor of Nora's help?
She offers to carry Nora's future wish.

This is a tale of friendship, hardship and understanding that there are still good, loving people here on earth.
Truly a wonderful story that I enjoyed!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Sourcebooks Landmark for this Arc and allowing me to provide my own review.

This one turned out to be a lot different than I expected, but I really enjoyed it! I was kind of expecting a domestic suspense, but it was more contemporary fiction. Which I didn’t mind! I liked the look at transactional friendships and power dynamics/imbalance between friends of different financial means. I really liked Nora as the MC. I thought she was relatable and easy to root for. There were a few times I thought she was a little too naive, but honestly, had I been in her position, I can’t say I would have done anything differently. Evelyn was SOMETHING. Oh wow, she was a really intriguing character. I definitely liked her journey from start to finish. This book definitely wasn’t a thriller, but I found myself really stressed out (in a good way), waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was absolutely intrigued from page one to the very end. I did read it in one afternoon! Happy I read this one.
TW: infertility


Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good read - I overall enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!