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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Thank you Minotaur Books and my friend Rachel for gifting me The Favor as a favor. My opinions are my own
This book is incredible. It's very hard to read the psychological abuse McKenna and Leah endure from their husbands, which I think in a lot of these situations, unfortunately, end up being physical too. The two women don't know each other, but eventually their lives end up intertwining when both of their husbands are murdered and the detective is trying to piece together if they killed their one husbands or if they hired someone.
It's really heartbreaking to read about these intelligent women who have advanced degrees, had their own jobs, and formerly independent, end up in an abusive relationship where they are forced to be the perfect stay at home wives while their husband controls every aspect of their life. This really dives deep into these women's minds and how restricted they really are and from the outside looking in, most people don't realize how hard it really is to get away when their lives and their loved ones lives are threatened.
The women who go through this and are still in the abusive relationship are not weak. They are strong because they are still alive and still fighting. For all we know, they are doing it to protect themselves, their children, other loved ones, who really knows...we just don't always see it.
So my take away from this is don't pass judgment and be kind (and offer help, if you can - legally of course), you never know what battles someone is fighting.
This book is incredible. It's very hard to read the psychological abuse McKenna and Leah endure from their husbands, which I think in a lot of these situations, unfortunately, end up being physical too. The two women don't know each other, but eventually their lives end up intertwining when both of their husbands are murdered and the detective is trying to piece together if they killed their one husbands or if they hired someone.
It's really heartbreaking to read about these intelligent women who have advanced degrees, had their own jobs, and formerly independent, end up in an abusive relationship where they are forced to be the perfect stay at home wives while their husband controls every aspect of their life. This really dives deep into these women's minds and how restricted they really are and from the outside looking in, most people don't realize how hard it really is to get away when their lives and their loved ones lives are threatened.
The women who go through this and are still in the abusive relationship are not weak. They are strong because they are still alive and still fighting. For all we know, they are doing it to protect themselves, their children, other loved ones, who really knows...we just don't always see it.
So my take away from this is don't pass judgment and be kind (and offer help, if you can - legally of course), you never know what battles someone is fighting.
I was gripped to this novel and looked forward to picking it up every night. The main character was written well, someone you could connect to and root for. There were not too many characters and the storyline was not too drawn out, two flaws that some thrillers in this genre often have. I can't believe this is Nora Murphy's first novel, and that she writes on her phone! I'm really looking forward to reading more.
This story would make an EXCELLENT movie.
This story would make an EXCELLENT movie.
This is my first book by Nora Murphy and it won't be the last. This is the tale of two abused women who stumble upon a way to help each other...by murdering each other's husbands. I don't think that was a spoiler since it was the opening scene in the book. The plot line was so fascinating that I ignored the improbability of it actually working in real life. This is a really enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
Although Leah and McKenna have never met, they are both going through very similar lives and marriages. This book made me so MAD lol - so very mad at these men and the emotional, physical, and mental abuse as well as gaslighting and complete control they forced onto their wives. OOOH it made me so mad.
Even though a part of me felt like we've had a lot - and enough - of stories with abusive husbands and alcoholic women and unreliable narrators, the writing in this one really shone for me and kept me hooked. I kinda had assumed just by the title what would wind up happening, but I really did enjoy the storytelling and writing as the author interweaved the stories of these two women together.
I wanted these women to get out and WIN and I definitely enjoyed reading this one!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange of a review!
Even though a part of me felt like we've had a lot - and enough - of stories with abusive husbands and alcoholic women and unreliable narrators, the writing in this one really shone for me and kept me hooked. I kinda had assumed just by the title what would wind up happening, but I really did enjoy the storytelling and writing as the author interweaved the stories of these two women together.
I wanted these women to get out and WIN and I definitely enjoyed reading this one!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange of a review!
wow wow.
lots of suspense and didn't know where this would end up. was good fun too.
lots of suspense and didn't know where this would end up. was good fun too.
An ok that highlights the insidious onset of coercive behaviour and that it can occur to all women.
Overall this book was a solid reliable read, although I felt like I’d read this one a hundred times. So it felt overdone and worn out for me.
Leah and McKenna have never met, but they lead similar lives. Leah was a lawyer, until her husband got her fired so she could be a trophy wife. McKenna was a pediatrician until her psychologist husband decided the stomach flu caused her miscarriage. Both women are struggling to make it as a housewife. One day, Lead follows McKenna home. She finds McKenna’s life is all too similar to her. She takes matters into her own hands and does McKenna the biggest favor she could ever receive. Shortly after, McKenna tracks Leah down and uncovers her own truth. What will McKenna do? Will she return the favor? What about the detective breathing down both their necks? Will he figure out what has happened?
While this book was well done, it was so predictable from the first chapter and it was so easy to have this one figured out. I am one who desperately tries not to figure out a book, but this one, man its just the same story different MC’s. I gave this one a solid 3 out of 5.
Leah and McKenna have never met, but they lead similar lives. Leah was a lawyer, until her husband got her fired so she could be a trophy wife. McKenna was a pediatrician until her psychologist husband decided the stomach flu caused her miscarriage. Both women are struggling to make it as a housewife. One day, Lead follows McKenna home. She finds McKenna’s life is all too similar to her. She takes matters into her own hands and does McKenna the biggest favor she could ever receive. Shortly after, McKenna tracks Leah down and uncovers her own truth. What will McKenna do? Will she return the favor? What about the detective breathing down both their necks? Will he figure out what has happened?
While this book was well done, it was so predictable from the first chapter and it was so easy to have this one figured out. I am one who desperately tries not to figure out a book, but this one, man its just the same story different MC’s. I gave this one a solid 3 out of 5.
Interesting story, that makes you think. Great different perspectives and easy to read. No major twists but I wish there would be another couple of chapter from each perspective
Not bad for a debut author, I expect her next book will be better. I kind of got a Strangers on a Train vibe from the storyline even though the two protagonists never meet. Interesting premise that relies on the reader believing that you can know what is going on in a person’s life by looking through their window...
After reading the book blurb, I thought this would be a unique thriller but I ended up being a bit disappointed by the end. Two women, living in the same city, have a lot in common but they don't know it. Both are married to "perfect" husbands or are they really? There were some pretty implausible aspects in the book that were hard to ignore. The ending also just fell a bit flat for me. All in all, this was just another average domestic thriller with not a lot of thrill in it.