An exploration of complicated family relationships between three sisters and their parents- alternating chapters between a week holiday and the past from all four women’s points of view. Lovely but at times a bit slow.

An honest look at what we think is going on and what is actually going on is totally different. I love the realistic portrayal of the relationships between sisters. I love that no matter what the sisters stick together. I loved how the characters talk about why they think they are flawed and yet are still grateful for their strength. I love how much details goes into each of the characters, which makes it easier for me to relate to them and immerses myself into the story. I love that we get the full story about each of the characters, not only from the characters point of view, but through the eyes of their sisters and mother. I love how strong these women are, even when their worlds fall apart they get right back up and keep going. And I love finding out if there is an actual favorite.

I want to thank Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an advance copy about the story of sister relationships and misunderstandings.

I struggled reading this book. I felt that the switching between all three sisters, the mom, and the different years became too much for me to keep track of. I loved the story itself and enjoyed the characters, but I worked to track the timelines and different POV too much while reading.

While staying at a glass house to celebrate their mother's 70th birthday, three sisters find themselves at odds and questioning everything when their father reveals who his favorite daughter is - or at least who he will leap to save first when faced with a freak accident. As one of three daughters myself I really enjoyed this novel, although I did find myself getting lost with the number of characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

3.5 stars / 5

"The Accidental Favorite" by Fran Littlewood is a charming and witty exploration of love, identity, and the unexpected turns that life can take.

Littlewood elegantly intertwines humor and poignant moments, creating a delightful balance that keeps readers invested from beginning to end. The relationships in the book feel genuine, allowing for a satisfying connection to the characters and their experiences.

Overall, "The Accidental Favorite" is a charming and uplifting read, perfect for anyone looking for a blend of humor and tender moments in a beautifully crafted narrative. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

Family relationships are their very own private hell. Tough to navigate, messy and ugly at times. But, just knowing you have someone (or in this case several someones) in your corner makes life bearable. The ties that bind are strong yet impossibly fragile. So what happens when you add in a parent who seems to have chosen a favorite of their children...and it's not you? Where do you put all that and how do you navigate that minefield? Well, in the case of this story, you let it all fall to pieces and do your best to glue the shattered shards back together into something that resembles the life you think you know.

A very interesting look at how childhood experiences and beliefs shape who we are! There were multiple side plots that were not wrapped up to my liking, but the overall story had a good ending.

Vivienne and Patrick Fisher, along with their three daughters, Alex, Nancy and Evaand their families gather
to celebrate Vivienne's birthday in the countryside. When the three daughters are threatened by a falling tree,
Patrick's favorite is revealed. His choice will result in the three daughter and Vivienne reflecting on the past and
hurt feelings. Complex family drama. Flashbacks can be confusing due to the number of characters.
#TheAccidentalFavorite # HenryHolt&Company #NetGalley

Fran Littlewood has delivered yet another captivating tale, masterfully blending her signature humor with a chaotic family drama that is as beautiful as it is messy. The characters are intricately flawed, each grappling with their own set of challenges, which adds depth to the storyline. The narrative unfolds in a dynamic back-and-forth style, zigzagging through different characters and timelines, resulting in a wonderfully controlled chaos that enriches the overall experience.

I’ve rated this book 4 stars rather than 5 because, despite my deep appreciation for the story, I find it troubling when OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) is framed as a quirky and endearing trait rather than acknowledged as the serious mental health issue it truly is. Such misrepresentation not only perpetuates stigma but also detracts from the critical conversation about the condition and hinders individuals from seeking the help they need. It’s crucial for us as readers and writers to educate ourselves on these matters; let’s move towards more accurate representations in literature.

Thank you to the Publisher, the author and NetGalley for this ARC

This was 2.5 stars for me. The writing was easy to parse through and the only reason why I even made it to the end, but I felt like there were way too many perspectives (with Vivienne, Alex, Nancy and Eva getting their own chapters) and even then there was too much space given to each character's internal (very verbose and repetitive) monologue than an actual description of what happened. Was Eva not Patrick's daughter? Why did he save Eva and not Alex if all his guilt came from Alex's incident? All past incidents were mentioned and glazed over without proper details. So we see Eva crying at a modelling shoot. Okay? What happened after? How did she become a successful model? We also see no mention of how the parents deal with Eva falling pregnant so early on in her life, and the casual mention of rape when her sisters are trying to figure out why Eva is crying is ridiculous. That one instance really ruined the book for me. I was shouting, screaming, annoyed, frustrated, and quite over it by the end of the book. There were some cute moments between the sisters but even they were so saccharine they verged on excessive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read an ARC of The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood, in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It’s a compelling story of family dynamics and how family and memories help shape us into the individuals that we are. Lots of characters that at times was a bit chaotic for me to keep up with. If you like family drama reads this book is for you.

The Accidental Favorite is a raw story about sibling rivalry and parental guilt. Three sisters: Alex, Nancy, and Eva, join with their own families, and the grandparents, their mum and dad, to celebrate Alex's new daughter's naming ceremony, and mum's 70th birthday. The brood is staying at an exclusive rental house miles from London. As the story unfolds through chapters told from the point of view of each sister, the women's secrets are revealed. The person who is holding the biggest secret is Vivienne, the mum. As autumn rain storms, thundersnow, and wind swirl outside, the family is stuck inside this big glass house. The novel is intriguing and holds nothing back when it comes to parents who pick one child as their favorite. Excellent read.

I loved the premise of the story, as every family has perceived favorites. Littlewood does a fabulous job creating the simmering animosity that accompanies sibling relationships. There is always love, but underneath there is a constant comparison to one siblings that creates tension within those relationships. Littlewood explores those elements between the three sisters and the novel.

She’s smartly uses flashbacks to illuminate how and why the sisters feel the way they do. She also utilizes flashbacks in relationship with the girls and their parents. I was a little disappointed because the author hinted at a major issue within the family, and throughout the novel I was expecting a major reveal. When the reveal came, it wasn’t as shocking as I thought it would be based on the lead up to it. The ending seemed a little rushed as she tried to tie up all the loose ends. I feel that her ending was a little too convenient for the authentic, yet complicated, relationships that she created.

I'm not quite sure how I felt about this story. There was certainly a lot of drama and angst, but after a while, I really didn't care about this family. That said, this would be good for book clubs discussing families, secrets,and the relationship of sisters.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. This is by the same author that wrote Amazing Grace Adams, which I loved! It's Vivienne's 70th birthday and her and her husband, Patrick have a great family, wonderful daughter, and their husbands, and grandkids all come to celebrate her. Patrick reveals his favorite daughter and it stirs up a bunch of secrets and family drama between the sisters. There was so much drama, but it was so good and fun to read.

Family sagas aren’t always my jam, so I was cautiously optimistic about The Accidental Favorite, and it doesn’t disappoint in the drama department! Basically, the whole story builds to a messy, frantic crescendo, but it works. There is A LOT of dysfunction in this family– a lot of it is entertaining, but a lot is also very cringy. I was pleasantly surprised by the commentary woven throughout of being a daughter/mother/woman and all the…everything… that entails in today’s world. Ultimately, this book is an inside look at how special (and messed up) sister relationships are and how most of us with sisters wouldn’t have it any other way.

The very emotional story of a family bursting apart at the seams from hurts, grievances, resentment, and deep held secrets. The whole family comes together on holiday to celebrate their mother’s seventieth birthday but an incident early on brings all the angst of the sisters they harbor in insecurities and problems.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A crazy family weekend brings three sisters and their parents together filled with flashbacks and revelations. Each family member carries their own secret which could bring them together or tear them apart. Nice story about the bonds and struggles of family. Would read again.

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Book Goal - 6/60
Publication Date - June 24th 2025

Alex, Nancy, and Eva, middle aged sisters away on a family vacation with their parents, kids, and significant others for their mother’s seventieth birthday. At the start, a near fatal accident almost occurs where their father saves one sister but not the other two, spiraling each sister and their parents into memories of the past and the wonder and anxiety of if their father has a favorite child.

I really enjoyed this book. It tackles such an array of topics: aging, parent child relationships, sister relationships, in the trenches of strained-to-your-limit motherhood, older motherhood to an infant, feelings of inadequacy, atonement for past sins in the present, guilt, and a lot more, but under it all Littlewood subtly emphasizes a deep sense of love between siblings. What I also really enjoyed was Littlewood created a heavy sense of familial drama, but with an ending I thought was very much believable without being over the top and I respect that a lot! Can’t wait to read her backlist debut of Amazing Grace Adams.

A big thank you to @netgalley @_franlittlewood and @henryholtbooks for letting me read the book for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book but at times it was difficult to keep up with all of the characters. and the writing was a bit chaotic. I felt the story dragged on a bit but I do love reading about sibling dynamics and I found the childhood flashbacks interesting.