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carriedoodledoo's review
3.0
A YA mystery that's well-plotted, has sympathetic characters and no cheap romance. The end was dramatic but a fantastic twist. I first read this in high school, it's one of only a few YA books I read in that era to survive re-reading over five years later.
heather425's review against another edition
2.0
I'm happy I didn't pay for this book. I'd only give it one star, but it wasn't THAT bad. The writing style bothered me. Was too simple. The mystery of what happened to the mother also seemed to drag on. It was a quick read, but doesn't make me want to check out the author's other books...even though I grabbed a couple others that were free at one point on Amazon.
ashreads10k's review
3.0
Favorite was a good novel, though better suited for a younger teen audience. This was my first venture into Karen’s work, and I was very eager to read Favorite after reading the description. This book was nothing like I was expecting at all, but in a good way. I was expecting a much lighter read, but what I got was a dark thrilling mystery that changes the entire life of a 16 year old girl forever.
Karen McQuestion has a particular way of writing that is crisp and fresh, and very into the teenage mind. The main character, Angie, had a way of thinking that was very young adult, which wasn’t always a good thing because it got her into a dangerous and sticky situation that could have cost her life.
The entire time I was reading Favorite, I had a pretty good sense of what was going to happen next. Karen created a brisk moving plot that never lagged and kept me wanting to know what happened next. Her writing style was crisp and refreshing not overly descriptive, but just descriptive enough to paint a clear picture.
None of the characters really stood out to me, but in general they were a good cast of characters. It was just such a quick read, only 170 pages, that I didn’t get too emotionally invested with them. I give this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
Karen McQuestion has a particular way of writing that is crisp and fresh, and very into the teenage mind. The main character, Angie, had a way of thinking that was very young adult, which wasn’t always a good thing because it got her into a dangerous and sticky situation that could have cost her life.
The entire time I was reading Favorite, I had a pretty good sense of what was going to happen next. Karen created a brisk moving plot that never lagged and kept me wanting to know what happened next. Her writing style was crisp and refreshing not overly descriptive, but just descriptive enough to paint a clear picture.
None of the characters really stood out to me, but in general they were a good cast of characters. It was just such a quick read, only 170 pages, that I didn’t get too emotionally invested with them. I give this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
kylieeason's review against another edition
4.0
not bad
This was a decent overall story, and something a teenage me would have devoured.
It was a quick read about a girl who is attacked, and the wild aftermath- the chaos her and her brother find themselves in.
I loved how Angie was so realistic and smart- her inner monologue saying things like “this is how it happens in the movies so I’m NOT going to do that”
The ending was a little bit rushed, but again this book for an older teen or young adult would be so much fun- assuming they’re not already reading the really dark stuff I typically like
This was a decent overall story, and something a teenage me would have devoured.
It was a quick read about a girl who is attacked, and the wild aftermath- the chaos her and her brother find themselves in.
I loved how Angie was so realistic and smart- her inner monologue saying things like “this is how it happens in the movies so I’m NOT going to do that”
The ending was a little bit rushed, but again this book for an older teen or young adult would be so much fun- assuming they’re not already reading the really dark stuff I typically like
srogan88's review against another edition
2.0
This is the kind of book I probably would've enjoyed more if I was part of the target audience. It's definitely Y/A - an easy read but a bit simple and obvious I thought. It reminded me of something I would've written myself. I'd recommend it to someone about 15-20 years younger than my advanced age.
jonannlovesbooktalk's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐⭐⭐
This book was good but could have been so much better. I rate it a 4.0
The story started out fast paced but by the end became very predictable. I wish it had ended with a strong twist.
This book was good but could have been so much better. I rate it a 4.0
The story started out fast paced but by the end became very predictable. I wish it had ended with a strong twist.
labalkana's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars
Angel Favorite wakes up at the hospital, thinking about the day her mother disappeared and how she lost her mother, her father and her home within days.
The last thing she remembers is some strange man dragging her from the parking lot, telling her there's something she needs to see. Her attacker was arrested but as he committed suicide in his cell, she's left without any explanation.
But Mrs. Bittner, his mother, wants to apologize, telling her how mentally disabled Scott wasn't a bad person. She invites her to the family's massive estate but things become awkward when the old woman starts mentioning her mother, the castle becomes a trap and she discovers that the tower holds secrets...
This had me hooked from the beginning but especially when Angel meets Mrs. Wittner and plot picks up from there. But that's also when it started splitting into parts I liked and parts I didn't.
There is this strange feeling as soon as they step into the castle but Angel behaves poorly towards the woman, that just lost her son and wants to make up to her. Even though it later turned out to be right, it came from competely different thought than I had. Then again, Angel distrusting the old woman, the staff and everything else, feels natural because the strangeness was well transported.
It was a crisp journey through the teenage mind, which might explain some of her behaviour. But there's also the others behaving far from what I expected them to. Parts of this really made me angry. Like how can no one do anything about the crazy old lady keeping them hostage? That gives a ridiculous aftertaste to the dark, mysterious vibes.
But all in all, I did like the characters. The father, still waiting for his band to succeed but doing his best and the sweet grandma on her honeymoon cruise. But also Mike and even Mrs. Bittner, Hank and Trudy. All pretty simply drawn because it's a short, quick read but they make a good cast.
And when the secret is revealed and Angel discovers what's hidden in the tower the pieces fit and come together to a well made mystery. Especially the tragedy of poor Scoot, who always just wanted to help and meant well.
It could have been a great story, if told somewhat differently. But it's not bad and might have been even better, had I read it 10 years ago.
Angel Favorite wakes up at the hospital, thinking about the day her mother disappeared and how she lost her mother, her father and her home within days.
The last thing she remembers is some strange man dragging her from the parking lot, telling her there's something she needs to see. Her attacker was arrested but as he committed suicide in his cell, she's left without any explanation.
But Mrs. Bittner, his mother, wants to apologize, telling her how mentally disabled Scott wasn't a bad person. She invites her to the family's massive estate but things become awkward when the old woman starts mentioning her mother, the castle becomes a trap and she discovers that the tower holds secrets...
This had me hooked from the beginning but especially when Angel meets Mrs. Wittner and plot picks up from there. But that's also when it started splitting into parts I liked and parts I didn't.
There is this strange feeling as soon as they step into the castle but Angel behaves poorly towards the woman, that just lost her son and wants to make up to her. Even though it later turned out to be right, it came from competely different thought than I had. Then again, Angel distrusting the old woman, the staff and everything else, feels natural because the strangeness was well transported.
It was a crisp journey through the teenage mind, which might explain some of her behaviour. But there's also the others behaving far from what I expected them to. Parts of this really made me angry. Like how can no one do anything about the crazy old lady keeping them hostage? That gives a ridiculous aftertaste to the dark, mysterious vibes.
But all in all, I did like the characters. The father, still waiting for his band to succeed but doing his best and the sweet grandma on her honeymoon cruise. But also Mike and even Mrs. Bittner, Hank and Trudy. All pretty simply drawn because it's a short, quick read but they make a good cast.
And when the secret is revealed and Angel discovers what's hidden in the tower the pieces fit and come together to a well made mystery. Especially the tragedy of poor Scoot, who always just wanted to help and meant well.
It could have been a great story, if told somewhat differently. But it's not bad and might have been even better, had I read it 10 years ago.