This is a family drama centered around a family with 3 sisters. I loved how the story was told from both different points of view and from different points of time in flashback form. Though the writing was a bit chaotic and hard to follow at times, the story is a great reminder of the fact that no family is perfect and there’s always more than meets the eye.

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.

I love the Fisher family! This was a compelling story of family dynamics and how family and memories help shape us as individuals.

The characters were all well-written and authentic, with realistic experiences, expectations, and thought processes, both as individuals and as a family.

It was interesting to read how differently each of the characters remembered the same even (I didn't pick up on this until later in the book).

I think I'll read this again, and recommend anyone with a family to also read it.

This novel is an intense exploration of family dynamics with no comic relief. It was challenging to connect with the story at the beginning, but I became intrigued as the drama unfolded.

The Fisher family (the parents, and their adult daughters and families) convene in a secluded country home for a week-long celebration of the matriarch’s seventieth birthday. Over the course of several days, long-held secrets and repressed emotions come bubbling to the surface as the façade of the family relationships begins to crumble. The catalyst is a near accident that reveals a parent’s favorite among the three siblings. The significance of the event ripples through the group and fractures the bonds based on assigned childhood roles. Adding to this emotionally explosive mixture are the extended family members’ actions (or lack thereof) resulting in meltdowns and turmoil.

This is not an easy novel to digest – it lays bare the humanness at the heart of a family that has spent decades ignoring unresolved pain and their flawed attempts to overcome grief and betrayal. What sustains them is the underlying love they have for each other. My one criticism is that the conclusion felt rushed – the conflict resolved too easily after the magnitude of the issues.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Fran Littlewood’s, The Accidental Favorite, is a multi-generational family drama that explores sibling rivalries, parental favoritism, and long-buried family tensions. When the Fisher family embarks on a holiday together, an unexpected crisis—a falling tree—forces their father to make an instinctive choice, saving one daughter while leaving the others to fend for themselves. This split-second decision reignites old insecurities and unearths memories, forcing the family to confront difficult truths about love, loyalty, and favoritism.

As someone with two sisters, I found the themes of sibling dynamics and childhood resentments deeply relatable. The novel does an excellent job of capturing the way old wounds resurface in adulthood, even when we think we’ve moved past them. Littlewood’s insight into family relationships is sharp and, at times, painfully accurate.

However, the structure of the novel felt overwhelming. I typically enjoy layered storytelling, but the constant shifts between perspectives and timelines—especially the flashbacks within flashbacks—made the reading experience disjointed. Instead of adding depth, the nonlinear framework sometimes felt like an obstacle, making it harder to fully immerse myself in the story.

Having previously enjoyed, Amazing Grace Adams, I was hoping for the same biting wit and humor, but, The Accidental Favorite, leans more into drama than comedy. While there were moments of warmth and dry humor, the overall tone was more serious, which wasn’t what I had expected from Littlewood.

Ultimately, I’m glad I read this book because of how personally relatable it was. But without that connection, I think I would have struggled to stay engaged. For readers who enjoy intricate family sagas and don’t mind a chaotic structure, this could be a compelling read.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the chance to read the e-arc The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood.

Having read “Amazing Grace Adams,”, I went into reading fully expecting chaos. And chaos we get, but this time in family size. The story follows the lives, past and present, of three middle age sisters, Alex, Nancy and Eva, who gather with their parents, Patrick and Vivienne, and extended family to celebrate Vivienne’s 70th birthday. What should be a happy gathering breaks down into squabbles and surfacing insecurities when Patrick makes it known who his “favorite daughter” is during a freak accident. Each sister, and Vivienne, gets interlacing chapters, where we get present day happenings, and sometimes imperfect past recollections. Needless to say, this is a family drama through and through, but one where the ending makes the journey worthwhile. I really enjoyed being plopped down in the realistic lives of these sisters for a time, and was gladly recommend this book when it is published in June 2025. 4/5 star read

Wanted to enjoy this one more than I actually did. Unfortunately I found it a bit too slow for my liking and couldn’t connect to the siblings.

There are three Fisher sisters and only one of them can be the favorite. When a freak accident seems to reveal that Eva, the youngest, is their father’s most beloved child, old resentments and secrets resurface.

I found this to be a riveting story. The premise is fairly simple but with so many characters and flashbacks, the author manages to craft a compelling family drama.

It took me a few pages to really get into the story as the formatting is essentially one super-long chapter with sub-headings, but I soon found the flow and had my own thoughts about which daughter was my favorite!

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

A tight knit family goes on vacation together. Tragedy strikes when a tree falls in the forest and the father runs past his entire family to save the youngest daughter. Clearly she is his favorite. What happens when the family knows she’s the favorite? I thought this book was too slow and uneventful. I couldn’t get into it.

This feels like another book where the blurb did the actual story a disservice, as far as who it appealed to... I was expecting a light-hearted family drama. Sure, I figured there'd be some angst and back-and-forth, but I wasn't fully prepared for the full-scale serious and heavy nature that I felt like I encountered as soon as the father's decision to "save" only one daughter hit... I was looking for less anxiety and anger, and the book felt like it was dragging me down. If I'd gone in looking for a more heavy-handed exploration of familial relationships, it would have probably been a fine read - but that's not usually my thing, and I wouldn't have requested it if I'd known upfront that this would be the major focus (at least in the beginning/as far as I got). This one just wasn't for me...

Vivienne and Patrick Fisher have raised their three daughters—Alex, Nancy, and Eva—who are now adults with families of their own. To celebrate Vivienne’s 70th birthday, the whole family gathers in the countryside at an incredible, modern glass-fronted home, straight out of Grand Designs. Early on, a near-miss incident in the woods sets the tone for the trip, sparking tensions among the sisters when it becomes clear which one is their father’s favorite. The revelation sends shockwaves through the family, unearthing old wounds and reigniting past grievances in this emotionally charged domestic drama by Fran Littlewood.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Vivienne and each of the sisters as they recall significant moments from their shared history. But are their memories reliable, or have the years distorted the truth? Beneath the surface, each family member seems to be wearing a mask, desperately maintaining appearances while staring into the abyss of unraveling relationships.

As someone with close siblings myself, I couldn’t help but reflect on family dynamics while reading this. My own family has speculated—half-jokingly—about who the favorite child might be! This novel skillfully explores those dynamics, from the shifting relationships between the sisters to the complex bonds between parents and children. The narrative meanders a bit as it dives into memory and introspection, but this feels authentic to the way our minds work. As the family holiday unfolds, hidden truths bubble to the surface, leading to moments that are raw, emotional, and even darkly funny at times.

The pacing does slow a little in the middle as some recollections veer into more mundane territory, but the story ramps up with rising tension and drama. Cracks in the family’s carefully constructed facade grow impossible to ignore, and the trip spirals into chaos for many reasons. Despite everything falling apart, the ending is deeply satisfying and serves as a heartfelt reminder of the unshakable bond between sisters—complicated, priceless, and enduring.

The character development is fantastic, with even the more minor players coming across vividly. I particularly connected with Nancy, who often speaks her mind with refreshing honesty, and I found myself warming up to Alex as well.

As for the stunning glass house setting, it serves as a brilliant metaphor for the unfolding drama. Like a mirror, the house reflects the tension and fractures within the family—an inspired, if occasionally uncomfortable, touch.

This is a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel, one that lingers long after the final page.

The Fisher family-led by Vivienne and Patrick, convenes at an exquisite glass residence situated in the picturesque English countryside to commemorate Vivienne’s seventieth birthday. Their three daughters: Alex, Nancy, and Eva—appear to lead accomplished lives, yet an unforeseen accident unveils Patrick's preferential treatment towards Eva, thereby igniting long-suppressed sibling rivalries and evoking childhood recollections. As secrets from their past emerge, emotional upheaval ensues among family and friends, compelling the sisters to confront their relationships and life decisions. The narrative delves into themes of memory, sisterhood, and the intricate nature of familial dynamics. The structure of the book, which alternates between past and present without distinct chapters, is a little disorienting at times. The beginning of the book was slow, and it finally gained traction half way through. At times, I had a difficult time keeping the daughters straight and there were a lot of different characters. At the end, a past incident is revealed, which shines a light on much of the undertones throughout the story. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Accidental Favorite is a story about family secrets and the issues that happen when they come to the surface. After a incident reveals who the father's "favorite" daughter is during the mother's 70th birthday celebration with all three children and their families present, the whole family must deal with the fallout. I liked the premise of this book a lot, but I just couldn't get hooked.

As the eldest of 4 sisters myself, I do love a good sister story and I love a family saga. I am usually a fan of multiple points of view, but something about the alternating viewpoints and timelines here made it hard for me to get invested or establish an emotional connection to these characters initially.

Thanks to Net Galley and Henry Holt & Co. for this ARC in exchange for a review. I was hooked pretty immediately when starting this book, but then it honestly seemed to kind of drag on while simultaneously missing imperative details and explanations. I thought it had a great plot, but could use some tweaking. Overall I would give it a 3.5 and I enjoyed reading it.

Alex and Nancy are close in age and Eva was born 6 or so years later. Even with the age gap between the first two and the youngest, they've always been close, especially as they’ve matured. Each is successful in her career with wonderful families and they love and are extremely proud of one other. They are also close to their mother, Vivienne and father, Patrick.

This year is Vivienne’s seventieth birthday. To celebrate Vivienne, Patrick, their 3 daughters and the daughter's families plan a week long celebration - a get away, to a beautiful glass house in the English countryside. When a freak accident happens while they are all out in the woody yard, Patrick’s reaction causes the family to begin to unravel. Typical family beliefs of who, if any one, is the family favorite are cracked open for all to see.

Years of each daughter having felt that she is the most, or the least, liked of the three children are tearing apart this once tight-knit family as secrets are exposed, jealousies rear their ugly heads, and old wounds are reopened. All of this takes place in front of extended family, friends and co-workers.

A deep dive into family, honesty, togetherness and love. Family ties become unfastened and fingers are pointed in every direction. Both compelling and heartbreaking. What is that saying about people who live in glass houses? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Publication date: June 24, 2025. Thank you to Henry Holt and Co, NetGalley, and Fran Littlewood for this advanced copy (ARC) - I loved it.

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Wow, I did not want to love this book, but it hit SO close to home. My sister and I have always wondered which of us was the favorite, but we're still so incredibly close. This book was wonderful, and I so thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope it gets all of the good hype it deserves!

I enjoyed this family saga but the writing was a bit overwrought for me. I enjoyed the initial incident as I often love watching videos about this sort of thing happening or often think this could happen to me at a moment’s notice. I also think this is an important issue that happens in families and appreciated this book for that aspect. However I sometimes found the writing style to be overwrought and hard to get through. I still enjoyed the book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Fishers, Patrick and Vivienne, have raised three daughters and they now have families of their own. In a celebration at an elaborate glass house in the forest for Vivienne's 70th birthday, a tree falls during a photo shoot and the family "accidentally" figures out who is the favorite daughter, when Patrick swoops in to rescue Eva from the falling tree. Here sisters, Alex and Nancy ponder the event while juggling children, spouses and love interests. The Accidental Favorite is entertaining, showing that almost all of us have family issues in our own ways. The ending was a little too sweet for me but sometimes things do turn out ok after all.

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood is a sharp, tender, and darkly funny family drama that explores the complexities of sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, and the lingering echoes of past slights and secrets. With a keen eye for interpersonal dynamics and a knack for blending humor with emotional depth, Littlewood crafts a story that feels both achingly familiar and refreshingly unpredictable.

The Fisher family’s weeklong gathering in the stunning yet fragile "glass house" becomes a perfect metaphor for their unraveling. The idyllic setting is beautiful but brittle, much like the illusion of their perfect family life. When Patrick’s unintended admission about having a "favorite" daughter comes to light, it feels like a seismic event that exposes old insecurities and festering resentments. Littlewood masterfully captures how something as seemingly minor as a parent’s preference can stir up lifelong feelings of inadequacy or superiority.

The three sisters—Alex, Nancy, and Eva—are written with distinct voices and personalities, each carrying their own emotional baggage. Alex, the responsible eldest, feels the pressure of being the de facto caretaker and role model; Nancy, the middle child, is the rebel with something to prove; and Eva, the youngest, is the free spirit whose life choices are often dismissed as impractical. The way their personalities clash and intertwine is both believable and deeply engaging. Littlewood doesn’t rely on broad archetypes—she allows each sister’s vulnerabilities to shine, making it easy to empathize with all of them, even when they’re at their worst.

The heart of the novel lies in its exploration of memory and perception. Each family member recalls past events through a different lens, and as their narratives collide, the truth becomes less about what actually happened and more about how those moments shaped who they became. Littlewood’s writing is particularly deft in these moments, capturing the way family stories morph and calcify over time into emotional truths that are often more painful than factual.

Vivienne and Patrick’s roles as parents are also examined with a delicate balance of humor and poignancy. Vivienne’s milestone birthday, meant to be a celebration of her life and legacy, becomes a backdrop for introspection. As much as the story is about the sisters, it’s also about the complicated act of parenting—how even the best intentions can go astray, leaving wounds that children carry into adulthood.

The humor in the novel is biting and well-placed, preventing the narrative from becoming too heavy despite the emotional weight of the subject matter. Littlewood’s dialogue is witty and sharp, with moments of comic absurdity that feel true to the chaos of a family gathering gone wrong. From passive-aggressive compliments to drunken confessions, the interactions between the Fishers are a masterclass in how family members can simultaneously wound and comfort each other.

If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that the middle portion of the novel can feel a bit meandering as the narrative shifts between various perspectives and subplots. Some readers may find the pacing slows as long-simmering grievances come to a boil. However, the emotional payoff in the final chapters more than makes up for the occasional detour, as Littlewood delivers moments of catharsis, bittersweet reconciliation, and hard-earned self-awareness.

At 4 stars, The Accidental Favorite is an insightful, entertaining, and heartfelt examination of the ties that bind—and sometimes strangle—families. Fran Littlewood’s nuanced portrayal of sisterhood, nostalgia, and the impossibility of true objectivity within a family makes this novel both thought-provoking and deeply relatable. It’s a book that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like the "favorite" or the forgotten child, and it reminds us that even the messiest families are often held together by a thread of love, however frayed.

I will read anything she writes. I appreciate that she can balance humor while making you stop and think and even feel. She has lines I had to take a beat to think about which I think is a superpower in writing. To be able to do this while also makingj me laugh??! Yes please!
4/5 stars