Member Reviews

I loved how this started and that’s saying a lot because usually these ARCs have such terrible formatting and are riddled with distracting first proof errors that the quality of the writing can get swallowed up. But I loved Morgan Dick’s voice immediately.

However once we got knee deep into the addiction part I didn’t love it so much and it started to feel like every other book about addiction and lost some of the good attributes like the snappy dialogue and way certain conversations and actions flowed into each other.

Then grief strikes and we see two sisters mourn in different ways and it felt way too contrived that they go by silly nicknames so can’t figure out their relationship.

Like The Outrun I’m quite bored of reading books about drinking but that’s me. Still giving this a four though because of the strong start.

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A toe-curling, frustrating story about addiction and the harsh reality that, no matter how much we think we can live without others, true happiness cannot be found in loneliness.

This book dives deep into grief and the struggle of coming to terms with life after losing a prominent figure—whether they were physically present or merely a lingering shadow. It also delves into serious ethical dilemmas and morbid topics that had me cringing and fearing for the vulnerable people in society who place their trust in caretakers and medical professionals. I found the two main characters deeply unlikable, yet I couldn’t stop reading. It’s like watching a trainwreck; you just can't look away.

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This novel is an emotional steam train! I loved everything about it. The characters are fully developed into people that we know and people that we could become. It's an exploration into the effects of attachment and abandonment and how the lives of both women existed in the shadow of their relationship with a manipulative father. The plot is original and very quirky. I couldn't put it down.

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This is a really interesting concept - there's some contrivance at play (both sisters being known by nicknames meaning they don't discover each other's identity for several months being the main one) but it didn't distract me from the plot, which I really enoyed. Highly recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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I really liked this book. First class!

I had thought there would be a constant thread of dark humour but there wasn't. It is essentially a book about family, friendship, grief and relationships. There was plenty to think about.

It was difficult for me to decide about the father! Was he just an awful character who let everyone down? Did he regret his life decisions and try to come good via the will and its conditions? Or was he simply mischievous! I prefer to think he saw the error of his ways and tried to make amends to both daughters.

The characters in the book were all very intriguing and the plot developed at a natural pace. I liked both sisters.

I can recommend this book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

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I was asked to review this by NetGalley and was glad I did.

Well written and although the characters were not to my taste. This was powerful with protraying grief.
Micky is living her solitary life and happy in this life. Then she is notified that her estranged and absent father has died and left her a large inheritance. To claim it she needs to attend seven therapy sessions that he had already paid for in advance!!! She would like not to attend and really say no but it came down to the fact she needed the inheritance.

Arlo has been left out of the will even although she cared for him up till his dying day!

I too would be reeeling at this - families !!!

I found some of this a bit heavy to read through and uncomfortable too.

A good read and recommended.

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For me, this premise was too unrealistic. I thought it would be fun but it just didn't work for me. The writing style was ok, but I didn't love it

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This book got me out a reading slump. It was both dark and subtly witty in all the right places. It touched on really important topics and handled them with care and a fresh perspective. I found myself both rooting for Mickey and Arlo, and finding them both to be the antagonists in equal measure.

If you like unlikeable leading women this is the book.

I was surprised by the plot numerous times but only because the characters were written to be complex in a really ordinary real way. They disappointed me, made me smile, and everything in between.

A lovely book about family, grief, loss, and mental health! Really looking forward to what comes next for Morgan Dick

Thanks to publisher via netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Estranged sisters are brought together under false pretenses after their father's death. Questionable characters and morally gray decisions move the book along. Ok read.

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I was drawn to this book through the premise - two sisters who know of each other, but don't know each other, meeting in a therapist-client setting. Both characters were well fleshed out and had a lot of trauma to unpack, which was done very nicely throughout the story. It didn't feel forced or overly happy-go-lucky, and I couldn't help but root for both Mickey and Arlo. Painful and difficult in places (the story, not the writing), this book got me pretty emotional, especially towards the end. There may have been some slow bits, but on the whole, I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend to anyone who's interest is piqued by the description.

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Mickey and Arlo have one thing in common: their dad, but they never met until their dad died and brings them together through his will.
He abandoned Michelle (Mickey) and her mom when Mickey was just a kid, and left them with his debts. Mickey is now a primary teacher, she loves her job, but also pushes people away and is an alcoholic.
Arlo is a therapist and Mickey is her currently client, however they do not know they are related.

A fantastic book, the characters have depth and the story is narrated from the daughters' point of view. It is funny despite talking about grief, and redemption. I did cry reading the end. Love!

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Mickey and Arlo uncover the shocking truth that they are related half sisters in fact only after the death of their father—a premise that certainly captivates the interest of readers. Although the writing is solid, I found the character development and ethics somewhat misplaced. If you appreciate unlikeable characters, you may find enjoyment in the personas presented in this novel. However, I found the structure of the book to be quite difficult to navigate. Although I typically enjoy writing in a dialogue style, the overall plot felt flat by the time I finished it. While the writing was well-executed, I struggled to connect with the story and its characters.

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I loved the idea of this book - two sisters thrown together by their father's death but they don't know it.

The characters are generally unlikeable - except Ian and his uncle. I wonder whether the idea was to write flawed characters who were relatable.

Although I kept going back to the book to see how it would end I I can't help feeling that this is a missed opportunity. I would loved to have actually known more about Arlo and Mickey, and how they ended up as they were. It was difficult to see how an alcoholic could end as a primary school teacher and someone with so little emotional intelligence could end up as a therapist.

The writing itself was good but I would have liked more depth to the characters.

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Mickey is broke and when her estranged father leaves her a fortune, she has no option but to undertake the therapy he insisted on before obtaining the money, Her therapist, Arlo has her own problems. Can the 2 complete his wishes? Enthralling reading, very enjoyable.

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Favourite Daughter was a genre I don't normally go for but intrigued by the synopsis.

Mickey's father left when she was young, Arlo grew up with her father caring for him during his battle with alcohol. When he passes they are both brought together unknowingly. The inheritance is left to Mickey but with a clause that she has to attend the prepaid therapy sessions, her therapist being Arlo. The sister her dad left her for.

Both women grapple with the impact of their father's behavior, and neither is eager to confront their own flaws. The alternating chapters, written from each sister's perspective, provide valuable insight into their lives—offering a nuanced understanding of how they experienced life with (or without) their father.

I found the book compelling, with its exploration of family dynamics and personal growth. The side stories added depth and kept me engaged, though I wouldn't call this a personal favorite. That said, it was an interesting and thought-provoking read that kept me curious until the end

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this!

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I will always be seated for a book featuring a despondant protagonist (or protagonists, in this case!) coming to terms with their father's death in their own unhealthy manner. 🙏

I had so much fun describing the plot to my boyfriend when he asked what I was reading. A lot of moral/ethical quandaries lie in these pages, almost all of the characters should be deeply unlikable but their complexities make it impossible not to root for or feel some sort of affection for them (yes, even Tom, who I basically just pictured the bank manager from Fleabag for)

The only element I didn't love was the blackmail attempt, I just thought it was unnecessary to the overall story and Mickey was honestly going through enough 💀 Evelyn's disappearance and reappearance is also just sort of glossed over and I thought Mickey would have more feelings about that what with her own experience of parental abandonment.

A really good start to my 2025 reads though! Super compelling debut from Morgan and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for more of her work.

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Mickey and Arlo's father dies -- the fact is they don't know they're related until he does. This is a really cool premise on which to base a novel, and there is much about this novel that I enjoyed: the writing is good but the vitality of the characterisation was a bit weak in places. I'm minded to say the fact that I knew the plot by the blurb was a bit of a hindrance, but I'm not sure how the publishers could get round that. Worth a read, for sure. My grateful thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for the ARC.

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Enjoyable read with an interesting premise.
Two half sisters, Mickey and Arlo’s lives after their father dies.
Mickey is an unlikely kindergarten teacher - she is complex, difficult to like. Quite a fresh take.
Arlo is likeable, but less interesting.
3.5 stars.

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Had high hopes of this book and started out by really liking Mickey. However things soon went downhill. Giving characters silly names like Arlo, Pantsuit, Sports Bra makes zero sense. There wasn't a single likeable character in the whole book. The whole premise was completely unbelievable. Slow paced and actually boring. Things happen and then spontaneously resolve with no word of explanation (Ian's mother). Why? The lawyer is guilty of gross misconduct and so actually would Charlotte have been if she hadn't been so dim and recognised her sister earlier. Animal cruelty always is a huge negative.
Hugely disappointed in this book

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I have struggled through the first half of the book. I am sorry to report that having tried several times to get into the story, I have failed and I can’t finish it.

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