Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for granting me an ARC of The Favourite Child.

This book was okay. The writing was easy to follow and the storyline clear. I enjoyed the depictions of Ben, my son is also autistic, but not to the same degree. However, I did recognise many of the traits associated with autism. When Ben learned to ride his trike, I had goosebumps!

Overall, a decent read, but didn’t grip me as I was hoping it would.

Andrew is a police officer, and whilst at work one night, there was a fire at his house. His wife Erica and their twins, Mollie and Benjamin were in the house. Erica had to get herself and the children out, she had to make a split second decision that she has never come to terms with.

Five years on and the family live in another house, until Erica moves to a flat with Benjamin, close to where his new school is. Benjamin has autism and Erica is the only person who can deal with him.

When Mollie gets into trouble and then runs away, Erica starts to question all of the decisions she has made and starts to realise she hasn’t been there for her daughter.

There is so much more to this story than you realise when you start reading it. You have to peel away the layers to get to the truth.

My heart went out to Mollie, she was older than her years and with so much weight on her shoulders.

A story that shows how silence is not a good thing and honesty really is the best policy.

I felt this story was an important one, it shows some of the issues involved with a neurodivergent child alongside a child who isn’t neurodivergent. The different types of relationships between each member of the family was hard hitting. I found it emotional at times.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was not what I expected. I don't know why but I had it in my head that I was sitting down to a phycological thriller, but what I got instead was complete investment in a family. Filled with emotion, the themes in The Favourite Child are so relatable that it had me desperate for them to pull through together.

I love how vulnerable all the characters were and their very human reactions to their difficult situations. I related to Erica so much as she tried so hard to be everything to everyone, but only succeeding in letting down the people she loves most.

The Favourite Child is a story with a very human heart and I absolutely loved getting to know Erica, Andrew, Ben and Mollie.

Amazing book, I have an identical story to mollie apart from the fire, so this book hit hard but I loved how it told the story from different POV’s

I also loved how it spoke about a specific issue that so many young people go through and how it makes them feel in the aftermath of that and the feelings it causes.

Overall a great book, I can’t wait to read more from this author

Well, I have to say, it’s been a while since I’ve felt so invested in a family like I have with Erica, Andrew, Mollie and Ben!
The theme’s in this book are so on point and relatable that it easily draws you in to each family member’s struggles and issues. The way the book is written enforces this due to the fabulous way it describes scenes and scenarios…so much so that I could clearly envisage what was going on in the story as it made me feel like a part of it due to feeling for this family so much!
I have to say that this is another fabulous read from Emma Robinson and a very easy 5 stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really enjoy Emma Robinson books which are always full of emotion and this one is no exception. Twins Ben and Mollie - unfortunately Ben needs a lot more attention and this causes major issues within the family unit and Mollie feels he is the favourite child. This book made you think of families that have to deal with all sorts of dilemmas and difficulties whereas we perhaps take things for granted when our children are healthy and have no extra needs. A heartwarming story which dealt with feelings from all members of the family highly recommend .

It is an excellent book with lots of emotions and heartfelt feelings. As a mother myself, I can relate to Erica, her struggles, her fears regarding the safety of her twins. They both are in impossible stages of their lives growing up. Mollie, as a thirteen year old girl, who's starting her teenage life and Ben, having autism, both kids need their parents' support and strength. Different points of view added the ability to connect with the characters. Love the ending with compassion and understanding. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Be prepared and have the tissues ready for this book! It's about twins and one is living with autism. This really is a hard topic as so many parents have a child with a disability and quite often the child without the disability is feeling alone and unfavored. There is no solution but it can be managed just make sure you spend quality time with both children. The plot really tore at my emotions and shredded them to pieces. It's a scenario that many parents face and my heart truly broke especially for Mollie. I read most of the book with tears in my eyes but I found it hard to take my eyes away from the book. When I wasn't reading I was constantly thinking about it. It's a heartwrenching, thoughtful and thought provoking story!

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

"The Favourite Child" is a heart-wrenching and gripping read that explores the complexities of parental love, guilt, and the ripple effects of impossible choices. Emma Robinson masterfully crafts an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you turning pages while tugging at your heartstrings.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. This was a compelling family drama. Robinson presents believable characters and a moving account of the challenges of balancing the needs of a profoundly autistic child with those of the rest of the family. Robinson also sensitively explores the topic of sextortion. I was invested in the story and would have loved more about the characters after the book finished.

This was an emotional, insightful and thought provoking read. You never really notice that you may have a favourite until it happens to you adn how the family dealt with it was impressive.

As a high functioning autistic person, I thought the representation of Ben's autism was fantastic. The thing that I liked the most though was that the writing showed so much empathy in delving into how a diagnosis of a long term needs child can affect the parent's and the siblings of the child.

Also, the issue of of child sexploitation which is a very real and scary thing came from such a place of sympathy and maturity shown through a 13 year old girl and I think the world needs this story.

I thought this was a brilliant depiction of the diagnoses as well as how having a bit of exposure therapy can be helpful for everyone.

Such a lovely, well written, thoughtful, thought provoking, wonderful book.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Emma Robinson and this is no exception. The story follows a family and all the trials and tribulations that come with navigating two teenage children through life, along side hard working, caring parents.

This book just really resonated with me, the author clearly took time to write this in a considerate way, showing how difficult it is to deal with everyday life when challenges are sent to try us, everything from dealing with new dangers children face today, like the internet, to living with a child who has extra needs.

I can’t quite find the words to describe how well this was written, how each character was developed and their story told, intertwined with everyone else’s story. The family’s story is so real, so raw, but has the best ending. The characters just grow on you throughout the book as you begin to understand everything from their different perspectives.

This has got to be my favourite quote from the book and will definitely be at the forefront of my mind when thinking about my son ‘Don’t look at his world through your eyes, look through his eyes.’

So basically go and read it! You will not be disappointed.

I loved this book.

As a parent of a child with additional needs i related to Erica so much. And really felt for her and her family. Sometimes you just do notice certain things as ome child needs more than the others.

The autism representation is this book was spot on, not just from the child's issues but from the outlook and fears as a parent. And the Mum guilt you always feel.

Mollie is a lot like my daughter and this book has really hit me right in the chest and given me a new perspective. I felt for all of the characters and what they were going through. I just wish I could give them all a hug and let them know they are doing just fine.

Thank you for writing this book Emma, not just for me but to give a bit of perspective to people that maybe just don't quite understand.

This book is beautifully written.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and bookouture for approving my request to read this book.

The Favourite Child is a highly emotive story both heart breaking and heart warming in equal measure.

This story is beautifully written and really resonated with me as a mother, I'll definitely be recommending this one!

A mother will always claim that she loves her children equally, but Ben and Molly's mum knows that isn't the truth. Because she has always felt that her son needed her more, and one of the choices she made early on in her twins' lives is about to come home to roost.

Because now, Molly - who has always been the perfect child - is inexplicably missing. Or is her disappearance indeed inexplicable? Perhaps there are very good reasons behind it.

This is an emotional read about parenthood, parent-child relationships, and the limits and limitlessness of love. It will especially appeal to readers of family dramas. This gets 3.5 stars.

This is one of my favourite authors so everything else was put on hold when I managed to get a copy of this book. This was another heart wrenching read from the queen of emotional heartbreak this author has a knack of pulling at your heart strings and breaking your heart into a million pieces and rendering the reader an emotional wreck while reading and then slowly piecing your heart back together again as the story continues.


A heartbreaking nitty gritty story of decisions and scarifies and choices that have to be made. I couldn’t put this one down and highly recommend this and the authors other books if you like domestic family stories that really hit you in the heart and give you all the feels.

This is an emotional and well wrtten novel. I did need tissues too! I loved how it focused on the struggle people face with autism and not many novels touch on this.

This is an absolutely amazing book. The awareness that it raises for autism is incredible as it is perfectly woven into the story, it doesn’t overshadow the characters which can often happen. I work with individuals with autism and some common traits and behaviours were really well captured. I would say I’d like to hear more of the daughter’s story- is there a chance of another book? Loved it, thank you

I enjoyed this book! I appreciated the awareness it brought to autism and the trials and tribulations parents face while raising a special needs child. It was fast paced and kept my interest. I did feel like the daughter’s story got overshadowed a bit but it was brought forward near the end. I will definitely read another book by this author!