The Favorite Daughter

Oh this book.
I loved Kaira Rouda's The Best Day Ever, so I was excited for this book. And I wasn't disappointed at all.
What I loved: Rouda writes an amazing unreliable narrator who slowly starts to become unreliably reliable (that's I thing...I think).
What I liked: The way the MC pulled us along through the story and gave a insight into the other characters - her husband is truly spineless (he could have done so much), her daughters, the neighbors, her in-laws.
What I hated: The MC, but also her husband. I just wanted him to grow a pair. YEESSH.

Definitely worth the read.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!!

I loved Kaira's writing and she is one of my new favorite authors. She has the best ability to write those characters you love to absolutely hate.I was so engrossed by this style of writing I could not put it down.. i mean I absolutely hated the mother but couldnt stop reading her and getting inside her head!

Wow. Much like Best Day Ever, this book is written from a narcissist’s point of view. And while I can’t stand narcissists, they sure do make great book characters. While I was hoping a bit less predictability I could not put this book down and was ultimately happy with the ending. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

There is NO ONE and I mean NO ONE who writes the delusional, unreliable narcissist quite like Kaira Rouda! If you thought Best Day Ever's Paul Stromm was a fun character to hate-read, wait until you meet Jane Harris - who just may put Paul to shame! This plot was so inventive and creative, I really enjoyed being along for the ride! I know this will be a book everyone is talking about in 2019!

Tension. Sinister plans. And a a slew of characters you may want to punch in the face the entire time

After the death of her oldest daughter Mary, Jane is still grieving a year later. When her husband and other daughter seem to be plotting against her, things for this real housewife of Stepford come crashing down. The whole time I didn't know whether to feel bad for her or join in on the "she's crazy" train.

Best to read without knowing to much or reading spoilers/reviews because this was one twisty ride with some absolutely abhorrent charters that will have you questioning who the main villain really is!

No one writes dark humor like Kaira Rouda and I didn't know whether to feel uneasy or filled with laughter. This is a very good, original book that is more than likely going to be the hit of 2019! (Full review to be posted closer to release date).

I loved this book even more than Best Day Ever. I loved the narcissistic MC and getting inside her head. She puts Paul from Best Day Ever to shame! It was fun to sometimes love her and sometimes hate her. Surprisingly funny too!

The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda isn’t out until May 2019 but I got a sneak peek and want to tell you to put this on your radar for next spring. I loved the author’s book Best Day Ever and had high hopes for this new one which did not disappoint!

I will post about it when it officially is out, but I want to share what it’s about- warning, this is a twisty, addictive read that you might consume in one sitting!

The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect lie.

Jane Harris lives in a sparkling home in an oceanfront gated community in Orange County. It’s a place that seems too beautiful to be touched by sadness. But exactly one year ago, Jane’s oldest daughter, Mary, died in a tragic accident and Jane has been grief-stricken ever since. Lost in a haze of anti-depressants, she’s barely even left the house. Now that’s all about to change.

It’s time for Jane to reclaim her life and her family. Jane’s husband, David, has planned a memorial service for Mary and three days later, their youngest daughter, Betsy, graduates high school. Yet as Jane reemerges into the world, it’s clear her family has changed without her. Her husband has been working long days—and nights—at the office. Her daughter seems distant, even secretive. And her beloved Mary was always such a good girl—dutiful and loving. But does someone know more about Mary, and about her last day, than they’ve revealed?

The bonds between mothers and daughters, and husbands and wives should never be broken. But you never know how far someone will go to keep a family together…



I’m keeping my lips zipped regarding more info but if you love a psychological thriller, you will want to read this!

Best Day Ever was one of my favorite mystery/thriller’s of 2017 and since then I’ve been eagerly anticipating more from Kaira Rouda!!! The wait is officially over and I don’t know how, but Ms. Rouda has topped herself with The Favorite Daughter— so stinking good!

I LOVE Kaira Rouda’s writing style! She is a master a writing twisted, narcissistic characters that completely captivate you from page one! I encourage everyone to go into The Favorite Daughter completely blind because the storyline is so well thought-out—you won’t want any spoilers! What I can tell you is that this book is chock-full of unexpected twists and turns! I recommend everyone read this 5 star novel! A 2019 favorite for sure!

Amazing! Now I know why Rouda had so many fans after her first book, her writing is superb and you really don't know whose telling the truth until she wants you to. Characters are amazingly developed, as well as a tense and chilling writing style. I thought it had some very good turns and is definitely one that will keep my brain spinning for a bit.
Will be using in daily challenges, highly recommending and reviewing, as well as just chatting about it in Chapter Chatter Pub!

Jane is an exceedingly needy, selfish, conniving 40-something brat. Her husband, David, is carrying on an affair with Kylie - from his workplace. Their daughter, Betsy, is a brat in her own right, as is their deceased daughter, Mary. (All in my opinion). I indeed loved the book but felt disdain for all of the characters - except maybe Josh (Betsy's ex-boyfriend).

No one likes Jane, including her own family. She is a pathetic, self-absorbed Hollywood wannabe. She also KNOWS that she is God's gift to mankind!!!

Early on, the reader finds out that the adopted Daughter - Mary - is (was) David's biological daughter with Elizabeth, a doctor in LA.

We see how Jane and David's life together begins and deteriorates. Also, the relationship of Jane and her daughters - very sad. Mary (the adopted daughter) died in an accident after her first year of college. Throughout the story we keep noting that Jane is trying to pin the "accident" on someone. She most likely would be happy to find out that Mary was murdered. Jane, a spiteful person, places homing devices on her husbands and Betsy's cars. She is more than overprotective, sly and so self-important that she believes it herself.

The climax is Betsy's graduation day from high school. This you absolutely do not want to miss!
What a read!!! We find out what has happened to David and his mistress, what REALLY happened to Mary and what is in store for Betsy. And of course... what becomes of Jane...

Well worth reading - HIGHLY recommend !!! Many thanks to both the Publisher and NetGalley for a smashing success!

This book was wild!!! It was one complete joy ride of insanity. The story is told all from the point of view of the main character, Jane Harris, who is perhaps the most narcissistic and mentally unstable characters I have ever read. The book is fast paced and you hardly can recover from something outlandish she says or does before she says or does something again. You want to have a shred of likability for her but its impossible- however, the story works and this is an incredible read. There isn't any book out there like this and it's fantastic!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kaira Sturdivant Rouda you did it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Man can you write people I love to hate! Even sometimes I find myself almost rooting for them! Whenever, I would put this on my nightstand to go to bed I would have to pick it up to read just one more chapter. Maybe a sequel of a holiday star falls in love with someone from Florida!!!! Oh the trouble the two of them could get into!! #TheFavoriteDaughter was AMAZING!!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I liked this author I loved Best Day Ever and she didn't disappoint with The Favorite Daughter at all. I loved Jane, I could see where she was coming from as a mother. I mean she just wanted to have the perfect family and would obviously go to extreme to get it. I didn't care for her husband at all. I had my suspicions about Sam her driver and when his involvement came to light I was even more surprised. Even though I said I understood where she was coming from, I also think that if she had just left none of what happened would have happened at all. She could have moved on and back to LA where she wanted to be in the end anyways

Wow! This book is a psychological thriller at it's best! If you read The Perfect Day, then you know how unreliable Rouda's characters can be.
The book follows the story of Jane, a grieving mother whose second daughter is graduating from high school in a few days. Her first daughter died in a tragic accident, so Jane is nervous about letting her daughter go. However, things are definitely what they seem, and trying to figure out what is real, and what is not, is part of the intrigue!
I loved this book, couldn't put it down, lost sleep over it, and HIGHLY recommend!

Kaira Rouda is a unique storyteller with a talent for character creativity! We first meet Jane, the narrator of the story. I have to admit that initially I felt sorry for her. She was grieving for the loss of her daughter, Mary, in a tragic accident. It seems her husband was not sympathetic and she had been reliant on drugs to help her get through the days. Then doubts crept into my mind and I was not sure that I liked Jane very much. She proves to be a narcissist, controlling and probably a psychopath. I did enjoy a line I read in one of the later chapters where Jane described she was going to have the Best Day Ever, which is the title of her previous book. I loved it!

Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller.

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this. Read it today!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

5 stars. The Favorite Daughter will be a standout in 2019!
A psychological thriller with chilling suspense and an unreliable main character.. She will make you laugh out loud and shutter at the same time with her dark wit and sinister thoughts. There are twists and turns at every corner and a satisfying ending. A hugely entertaining and satisfying read.

I have been a victim of a book hangover...because of this book. Holy Cow, Kaira!!
taking a concept that worked in her last book (in my opinion the best thriller in the past 5 years) and focusing the MC as an unlikeable and unreliable person. I never thought I could detest and yet feel for a character at the same time. Jane, is a grieving Mother. A helicopter Mom if you will. A devoted wife and she is being wronged. At least that's what she wants you to think...inside her head, sinister thoughts arise.

I loved every page of this novel

Wowza what a thrilling non stop ride!!! Jane Harris is living a perfect life. Perfect husband, perfect daughters, and a perfect house in a wealthy gated community in California. A terrible tragedy happens one year ago, Mary the oldest daughter is tragically killed. Jane lives the year in a haze of anti-depressants. When it is just days before Betsy's high school graduation, Jane knows she needs to reclaim her life. What has Jane's husband David and only remaining daughter Betsy been up to in the year Jane checked out of life? In just a few days Jane tells a story of a mother's love and a devoted wife but can she be believed? This story had so many fantastic twists and turns it left me at the edge of my seat wanting more and the ending? Wow!!! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Graydon House. All opinions are my own.

Wow. This book was so incredible. I read this book on vacation and I found that I couldn’t wait to get back to it. I haven’t been this hooked on a book in a long, long time. It was so good that at about halfway in, I immediately downloaded the author’s previous book, Best Day Ever, because I knew I had to read it. I even paid over $7 for it, which for me is a lot for a digital copy for a book (I usually wait til digital books are $3 or under before buying them).

I felt like I was riding along in the mind of someone very different from me. The main character is just chilling. Some of the things she thought or said actually astounded me-I actually shook my head or gasped- which really weirded out the people who were next to me on the plane. I don’t physically react to books very often.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological novels that put you inside the mind of a very disturbed person. This author is the master, as far as I’m concerned!

*than you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review*

Jane Harris is an interesting and complicated main character. She has been grieving the death of her daughter, Mary for a year and is finally ready to stop the meds and reconnect with her husband and her younger daughter Betsy who’s about to graduate HS.

Author Kaira Rouda has big talent when it comes to writing unreliable narrators. Similar to Paul in her last book Best Day Ever, Jane talks to the reader and works hard to prove what a considerate and thoughtful person she is. She’s a good wife and an involved parent.

No spoilers here so all I can say is you will be hooked and won’t be able to put this chilling and complex title down. Bravo to Kaira for another fantastic read!