Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
A story with an interesting concept and quite a good build up but seemed to fizzle out almost completely by the end.
The Favor follows Leah who ends up following McKenna. Leah recognizes a defeat in McKenna, something that tells her that she may be facing the same problem that Leah has been stuck with for some time: an abusive and controlling husband. Despite never speaking or even meeting, Leah decides that if she can’t really help herself, she could help McKenna instead.
Like I said, it is a very interesting concept and really could make an interesting story. The first halfish of the book is intriguing but it never really ramps up or gets more interesting. We know everything as we are going. There are no surprises in the story. The author tries to add tension through the perspective of a detective investigating what’s happening but that actually removes tension because we know what's happening from all sides of the story now. They also add what feels like a completely useless and unnecessary backstory to said cop which had me wondering ‘why do I even remotely care about this?’ every time it was mentioned. It felt like a word count filler.
Leah and McKenna were sympathetic characters and had the plot ramped up, it would have been an enjoyable journey to watch both of them beat their demons. But really it just all seemed to…happen. It was never bad and I finished it easily and was kept at least moderately entertained throughout but it never really stood up or stood out. I always love women coming together to throw out the trash stories so it still ended up a net positive even if it was lacking a bit in excitement.
I always wonder why so many of these novels focus on the victimization of rich white ladies? I feel like it's an archetype that I have read over and over again and I would love to see something new but this book definitely did not bring it.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This book was narrated by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen who all did a great job narrating.
The Favor follows Leah who ends up following McKenna. Leah recognizes a defeat in McKenna, something that tells her that she may be facing the same problem that Leah has been stuck with for some time: an abusive and controlling husband. Despite never speaking or even meeting, Leah decides that if she can’t really help herself, she could help McKenna instead.
Like I said, it is a very interesting concept and really could make an interesting story. The first halfish of the book is intriguing but it never really ramps up or gets more interesting. We know everything as we are going. There are no surprises in the story. The author tries to add tension through the perspective of a detective investigating what’s happening but that actually removes tension because we know what's happening from all sides of the story now. They also add what feels like a completely useless and unnecessary backstory to said cop which had me wondering ‘why do I even remotely care about this?’ every time it was mentioned. It felt like a word count filler.
Leah and McKenna were sympathetic characters and had the plot ramped up, it would have been an enjoyable journey to watch both of them beat their demons. But really it just all seemed to…happen. It was never bad and I finished it easily and was kept at least moderately entertained throughout but it never really stood up or stood out. I always love women coming together to throw out the trash stories so it still ended up a net positive even if it was lacking a bit in excitement.
I always wonder why so many of these novels focus on the victimization of rich white ladies? I feel like it's an archetype that I have read over and over again and I would love to see something new but this book definitely did not bring it.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This book was narrated by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen who all did a great job narrating.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was heavy. I usually love a good domestic thriller, but the mental and physical trauma was a lot to bear. As I read, I felt an overwhelming amount of empathy for woman who are affected by two HORRIBLE men.
Leah, a former lawyer, and McKenna, a former pediatrician, are strangers but have a lot more in common than they think: controlling and abusive husbands. From spilling food on them, to changing their bank accounts, to locking them in a bedroom in a basement due to weight gain, and finally sabotaging their careers they were stuck in constant fear and imprisoned in their own homes.
On me day, they cross paths in a liquor store. Leah recognizes the fear in McKenna and how similar it is to her own. Leah becomes fascinated with McKennas life, often seen parked outside of her home to catch a glimpse into her life. One day, she finds herself needing to make a change for McKenna because she wasn’t brave enough to make a change of her own. Leah’s one action would keep them bonded for life.
I liked this book because the entire time I was rooting these two characters. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotion learning about their lives and what they suffered. It’s definitely an emotional read!
Leah, a former lawyer, and McKenna, a former pediatrician, are strangers but have a lot more in common than they think: controlling and abusive husbands. From spilling food on them, to changing their bank accounts, to locking them in a bedroom in a basement due to weight gain, and finally sabotaging their careers they were stuck in constant fear and imprisoned in their own homes.
On me day, they cross paths in a liquor store. Leah recognizes the fear in McKenna and how similar it is to her own. Leah becomes fascinated with McKennas life, often seen parked outside of her home to catch a glimpse into her life. One day, she finds herself needing to make a change for McKenna because she wasn’t brave enough to make a change of her own. Leah’s one action would keep them bonded for life.
I liked this book because the entire time I was rooting these two characters. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotion learning about their lives and what they suffered. It’s definitely an emotional read!
The Favor
Nora Murphy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I will start this off saying Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence, but after that I have to say an absolutely amazing book, I did have it figured out as to what was going to happen but still absolutely loved this book so much! It kept me intrigued from the beginning.
Nora Murphy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I will start this off saying Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence, but after that I have to say an absolutely amazing book, I did have it figured out as to what was going to happen but still absolutely loved this book so much! It kept me intrigued from the beginning.
Okay honestly...WOW. This one was the most predictable but also most entertaining book I have read in a while. I knew from the beginning what the "Favor" was going to be. But...the depiction of psychological and physical abuse that the women faced in their relationships, the isolation from their friends and families, the manipulation...it was all so well written that for chapters at a time I would forget I was reading a novel and not a memoir.
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions and review.
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions and review.
I DNF'd this around 35%. I don't know if my disagreements are spoiler-y, so I guess, proceed with caution.
I feel there is too much suspension of belief with this book. You can't shatter a gun with a sledgehammer. If it were that easy, everyone would do it. And trigger finger from one shot? Yeah, no. And the fact GSR is so discredited, I'm not a fan of reading about it.
Also, anything you do with banking leaves a trail. If someone deposits a check, that person and the account in which the check was deposited leave a digital trail. It's sketchy the bank put up with this, especially with a handwritten note essentially saying, "let this person you didn't write the check to deposit it instead." Add camera logs if the deposit is in person and it all falls apart. So for Leah to just accept a firing and not question it is frustrating.
I just don't think this is the right fit for me, but it has some favorable reviews so far so readers might really enjoy this one.
I feel there is too much suspension of belief with this book. You can't shatter a gun with a sledgehammer. If it were that easy, everyone would do it. And trigger finger from one shot? Yeah, no. And the fact GSR is so discredited, I'm not a fan of reading about it.
Also, anything you do with banking leaves a trail. If someone deposits a check, that person and the account in which the check was deposited leave a digital trail. It's sketchy the bank put up with this, especially with a handwritten note essentially saying, "let this person you didn't write the check to deposit it instead." Add camera logs if the deposit is in person and it all falls apart. So for Leah to just accept a firing and not question it is frustrating.
I just don't think this is the right fit for me, but it has some favorable reviews so far so readers might really enjoy this one.
Staying is dangerous. But leaving? That could be a death sentence.
Leah & McKenna have never met, but live parallel lives. They don't ever acknowledge to each other that although they are both successful they are trapped in marriages they are too afraid to walk away from.
One night, Leah drives past McKenna's house. She sees a situation she is all too familiar with from her own marriage. McKenna's "perfect" husband is not what he seems. She decides to keep her eyes out for McKenna, just to be on the safe side.
Until one night, she intervenes. Leah and McKenna have never met...but they will.
This book was meh. It wasn't a true thriller. and it got super repetitive. I enjoyed the dual pov's but it was lacking keeping my attention. I thought the ending was anticlimactic. and for that reason I rated it 3 stars.
Leah & McKenna have never met, but live parallel lives. They don't ever acknowledge to each other that although they are both successful they are trapped in marriages they are too afraid to walk away from.
One night, Leah drives past McKenna's house. She sees a situation she is all too familiar with from her own marriage. McKenna's "perfect" husband is not what he seems. She decides to keep her eyes out for McKenna, just to be on the safe side.
Until one night, she intervenes. Leah and McKenna have never met...but they will.
This book was meh. It wasn't a true thriller. and it got super repetitive. I enjoyed the dual pov's but it was lacking keeping my attention. I thought the ending was anticlimactic. and for that reason I rated it 3 stars.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Очень неплохой вариант известного тропа. Реалистичный даже.