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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Quick psychological thriller! I feel like this showed a realistic view of domestic violence and how it can sneak up on a person. It made me really feel for the women and understand that it can happen to anyone. I loved how we got back and forth POV between characters and then another character POV was added in about halfway through to add to the story. I felt like the ending wrapped up perfectly! Overall a good read and would recommend
This was such an enjoyable read. Super unique, fast paced, engaging, and short.
I went into this one blind and I recommend you do the same because WOW was I surprised. A MAJOR event takes place pretty shortly into the book and boy did it set the tone for a book I did NOT want to put down!! Maybe the title should have tipped me off (hindsight is 20/20!) but I was completely caught off guard and I loved it.
This was a great book to read with a friend. We had so much fun chatting about what was happening with the characters and theorizing how we would handle it if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation (let's hope we never do!).
I certainly wouldn't say this book is realistic and there were some major flaws that were occasionally hard to overlook (the blood splatter being the biggest one for me - Dexter anyone?! but also HR processes and banking procedures that were just glaringly wrong or implausible). But those problems aside, I absolutely loved this book. It was so different from anything I had ever read and the whole premise was so intriguing.
I could totally see this becoming a made for TV movie on Lifetime and I can promise you it would be a good one!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this stellar debut.
I went into this one blind and I recommend you do the same because WOW was I surprised. A MAJOR event takes place pretty shortly into the book and boy did it set the tone for a book I did NOT want to put down!! Maybe the title should have tipped me off (hindsight is 20/20!) but I was completely caught off guard and I loved it.
This was a great book to read with a friend. We had so much fun chatting about what was happening with the characters and theorizing how we would handle it if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation (let's hope we never do!).
I certainly wouldn't say this book is realistic and there were some major flaws that were occasionally hard to overlook (the blood splatter being the biggest one for me - Dexter anyone?! but also HR processes and banking procedures that were just glaringly wrong or implausible). But those problems aside, I absolutely loved this book. It was so different from anything I had ever read and the whole premise was so intriguing.
I could totally see this becoming a made for TV movie on Lifetime and I can promise you it would be a good one!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this stellar debut.
Five stars all around. It was such a good read, sharing the different perspectives of Leah and McKenna, two women struggling, alone and in silence, with intimate partner violence. I’m appreciative of the authors note - which mentioned how hard it is to leave such relationships, even with family support available.
This book was very frustrating. If you struggle with gaslighting this is not the book for you. Once the book got to about 30% then it got more interesting but the whole premise seems hard to believe. Then the book just ends. How did it work out? What was the end result? We don’t know! Create your own ending I suppose.
The Favor started out well for me, and I was interested in Leah’s character and why she was in the position she was. Even she was questioning her actions, so what was going on?
Adding the dual perspective with McKenna felt interesting as you knew they were similar but how was this going to bring them together?
This book is about domestic abuse and control, so please be mindful of trigger warnings. The dynamic in this regard had so much potential but I felt like the author kept just telling us about it versus showing us.
Spoilers going forward as I don’t know how to share why I didn’t like this book without them -
Unfortunately, it went downhill for me after about a third. I did finish, hoping to be surprised, but I wasn’t, it was just repetitive and slow. It lacked any real tension and suspense. It felt like the author tried to reveal plot points from different perspectives to keep it fresh, but it took away from the surprise and build up.
After about 60%, it kind of felt like what else can happen at this point, because both of the major events had occurred, except make it feel like Leah and McKenna would get caught, but they didn’t and honestly it never felt like they would. Since we as the reader already knew what happened, it felt like we were watching the detective struggle to solve this case and ultimately, just fail.
The added point of view of the detective midway felt promising, but honestly some of his interrogations and dialogue felt so unnatural and weird for a person in his position. I also did not understand the subplot with his partner being in a coma. I thought maybe it would give him a sympathetic perspective towards Leah and McKenna, but apparently not!
There were so many plot holes with the disposal of the gun, the gun in the backyard but undiscovered by the cops and the bank transactions and forged signatures.
Ultimately, this was not the book for me, but I can see by other rave reviews it has an audience who enjoyed the ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Adding the dual perspective with McKenna felt interesting as you knew they were similar but how was this going to bring them together?
This book is about domestic abuse and control, so please be mindful of trigger warnings. The dynamic in this regard had so much potential but I felt like the author kept just telling us about it versus showing us.
Spoilers going forward as I don’t know how to share why I didn’t like this book without them -
Unfortunately, it went downhill for me after about a third. I did finish, hoping to be surprised, but I wasn’t, it was just repetitive and slow. It lacked any real tension and suspense. It felt like the author tried to reveal plot points from different perspectives to keep it fresh, but it took away from the surprise and build up.
After about 60%, it kind of felt like what else can happen at this point, because both of the major events had occurred, except make it feel like Leah and McKenna would get caught, but they didn’t and honestly it never felt like they would. Since we as the reader already knew what happened, it felt like we were watching the detective struggle to solve this case and ultimately, just fail.
The added point of view of the detective midway felt promising, but honestly some of his interrogations and dialogue felt so unnatural and weird for a person in his position. I also did not understand the subplot with his partner being in a coma. I thought maybe it would give him a sympathetic perspective towards Leah and McKenna, but apparently not!
There were so many plot holes with the disposal of the gun, the gun in the backyard but undiscovered by the cops and the bank transactions and forged signatures.
Ultimately, this was not the book for me, but I can see by other rave reviews it has an audience who enjoyed the ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Once you get past the suspension of disbelief required to make this plausible, this is a very gripping novel that I can’t give you details about without giving things away. Basically: Two educated women have a lot in common and one of those things is that they both have dangerously controlling husbands.
The women both also drink too much (Leah in particular), and a few times I was reminded of The Girl on the Train. You might not want to read this if you’re thinking of getting married or ever going on a date again. The book does cover important topics in an entertaining way, and I liked how the author managed to bring the ending to a satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES MAY 31, 2022.
The women both also drink too much (Leah in particular), and a few times I was reminded of The Girl on the Train. You might not want to read this if you’re thinking of getting married or ever going on a date again. The book does cover important topics in an entertaining way, and I liked how the author managed to bring the ending to a satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES MAY 31, 2022.
Makenna and Leah are so alike they could be twins. They’re both college educated, live in large suburban homes with fancy vehicles, they have unlimited money and abusive, controlling husbands that aim to transform their once professional wives into perfect characters of themselves. Makenna and Leah don’t know each other, until they do and the lead up to their meeting marks the exact moment where The Favor takes a turn for the predictable, unrealistic story.
If you can suspend belief about police procedures, alcoholism and the ability to smash a gun with a sledgehammer, then this may be a novel you’d enjoy. I struggled to see past the glaring errors.
Also, I disliked the addition of the detectives POV. First, his previous partner and his experience added nothing to the story and took up space. Second, his lack of intelligence. In the end, he figured it out but it took entirely too long. He went from missing everything to knowing everything in a blink. I groaned when it switched to his POV.
Last, and my strongest dislike, is the overused and tired woman in mental health crisis trope. I understand that part of this plot was to drive these women insane but the alcoholism didn’t fit. It felt too much.
For a debut novel I admire Murphys skills in writing. I just think the plot needed to be fleshed out with more research. I also appreciated the author’s note with information and resources on domestic violence.
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Nora Murphy for allowing me this eARC to review.
If you can suspend belief about police procedures, alcoholism and the ability to smash a gun with a sledgehammer, then this may be a novel you’d enjoy. I struggled to see past the glaring errors.
Also, I disliked the addition of the detectives POV. First, his previous partner and his experience added nothing to the story and took up space. Second, his lack of intelligence. In the end, he figured it out but it took entirely too long. He went from missing everything to knowing everything in a blink. I groaned when it switched to his POV.
Last, and my strongest dislike, is the overused and tired woman in mental health crisis trope. I understand that part of this plot was to drive these women insane but the alcoholism didn’t fit. It felt too much.
For a debut novel I admire Murphys skills in writing. I just think the plot needed to be fleshed out with more research. I also appreciated the author’s note with information and resources on domestic violence.
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Nora Murphy for allowing me this eARC to review.
The Favor was a real page-turner for me and I finished it in just a few days. Two women, both intelligent and highly educated, are living in dangerous situations with controlling, gaslighting husbands. This novel is described as domestic suspense and I definitely agree with that descriptor as it's not exactly a thriller. There are no twists here, but there is a great deal of on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense and I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what would happen.
In writing about domestic abuse, Nora Murphy explores the options women have in taking matters into their own hands, especially when staying is dangerous, but leaving could be worse.
The challenge with victims, Leah Dawson (legal career) and McKenna Hawkins (pediatrician), is fabrication; they are trapped in their homes and relationships because they emulate perfection. They live a fake life, carefully curated by money and prestige. One of the women notices ‘signs’ in the other when the strangers pass in the aisles of a liquor store and decides to follow her home. Obsessed with protecting her because she is a victim herself, this woman keeps watch over her daily until she sees something and is forced to act.
It was an eye-opener for me and, although I didn’t identify with either woman or their issues, I felt saddened for all women who are trapped. Here we have two educated and successful women who are victims of their husbands’ ego. Their status and education didn’t make it any easier to leave their relationships. The success of this book will be the author’s legal background and the authentic characters. I truly felt like I was there and feeling the desperation. Fairly naive, I was blown away by the mind-games the husbands initiate to make their wives powerless. Zach Hawkins and Liam Dawson are downright evil in their interactions behind closed doors; belittling and withholding access to finances. Murphy’s notes include statistics and information about offering support to those we suspect are in danger as well as informing us that leaving isn’t as easy as it looks.
A fast-paced, genre-hopping debut, this one contains triggers that should be investigated prior to reading.
I was gifted this advance copy by Nora Murphy, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The challenge with victims, Leah Dawson (legal career) and McKenna Hawkins (pediatrician), is fabrication; they are trapped in their homes and relationships because they emulate perfection. They live a fake life, carefully curated by money and prestige. One of the women notices ‘signs’ in the other when the strangers pass in the aisles of a liquor store and decides to follow her home. Obsessed with protecting her because she is a victim herself, this woman keeps watch over her daily until she sees something and is forced to act.
It was an eye-opener for me and, although I didn’t identify with either woman or their issues, I felt saddened for all women who are trapped. Here we have two educated and successful women who are victims of their husbands’ ego. Their status and education didn’t make it any easier to leave their relationships. The success of this book will be the author’s legal background and the authentic characters. I truly felt like I was there and feeling the desperation. Fairly naive, I was blown away by the mind-games the husbands initiate to make their wives powerless. Zach Hawkins and Liam Dawson are downright evil in their interactions behind closed doors; belittling and withholding access to finances. Murphy’s notes include statistics and information about offering support to those we suspect are in danger as well as informing us that leaving isn’t as easy as it looks.
A fast-paced, genre-hopping debut, this one contains triggers that should be investigated prior to reading.
I was gifted this advance copy by Nora Murphy, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.