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thebookishnarwhal's review
5.0
The Favor by Adele Griffin was a beautiful, poetic read about female friendship, infertility, and their impacts. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy for my home library! I was wow-ed by Griffin's ability to draw the reader in with her thoughtful words. I thought about this book when I was not reading and talked to my husband about how much I loved it during every tea steep.
Meet Nora. She works at a vintage boutique in New York City. She wants to start a family with her husband, but there are complications. She soon develops a friendship that will forever change her life. Will she finally be able to have the family she desires?
Meet Eleanor. She is an extroverted socialite who buys out the inventory of a vintage boutique for her closet. She forms a new friendship and offers to help this friend. They say opposites attract, and that works for friendship too, right?
I applaud Griffin’s ability to normalize the traditionally taboo topic of infertility. As someone who has struggled with fertility, I found solace and comfort in this story. It was comforting to discover this aspect of relatability. The Favor is a distinctive novel book clubs will love, and will generate conversations about infertility and alternative family experiences. This book is a safe space. Add this to your TBR and pre-order your copy ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Meet Nora. She works at a vintage boutique in New York City. She wants to start a family with her husband, but there are complications. She soon develops a friendship that will forever change her life. Will she finally be able to have the family she desires?
Meet Eleanor. She is an extroverted socialite who buys out the inventory of a vintage boutique for her closet. She forms a new friendship and offers to help this friend. They say opposites attract, and that works for friendship too, right?
I applaud Griffin’s ability to normalize the traditionally taboo topic of infertility. As someone who has struggled with fertility, I found solace and comfort in this story. It was comforting to discover this aspect of relatability. The Favor is a distinctive novel book clubs will love, and will generate conversations about infertility and alternative family experiences. This book is a safe space. Add this to your TBR and pre-order your copy ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
bethreadsandnaps's review
3.0
Nora and her husband Jacob have had several unsuccessful attempts at IVF, which has left them in debt. When rich Evelyn walks into the shop Nora works at, they develop an unbalanced friendship/working relationship, and then Evelyn offers to be a surrogate for Nora and Jacob.
This was ok. There’s a lot about fashion, which I don’t care about, and Nora didn’t come across as having a lot of insight. I think the narration was too far removed for me to get a sense of the characters.
This was ok. There’s a lot about fashion, which I don’t care about, and Nora didn’t come across as having a lot of insight. I think the narration was too far removed for me to get a sense of the characters.
gia_c14's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tesskt's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rmarcin's review
4.0
Nora works in a vintage clothing shop. One evening, Evelyn waltzes in and purchases multiple items from the shop. Nora immediately feels a kinship with Evelyn. As they become closer, Evelyn pays Nora to source clothing for her, stage dinners/parties, etc. Evelyn also gifts Nora a priceless cloak made by Dior and worn by a poet that Nora admires. Nora tells Evelyn that she and Nora's husband, Jacob, have been trying unsuccessfully for a child. Nora offers to carry their child, but Jacob and Nora wonder if they should accept.
This is a novel that examines the complexities of friendship, and what it means to be a friend. It highlights trust, love, concern for others. While I thought the connection between Evelyn and Nora seemed to be a bit unbelievable, I did enjoy the story and hoped for a true friendship and connection between the two. Nora's reveal at the end was interesting and surprising.
This is a novel that examines the complexities of friendship, and what it means to be a friend. It highlights trust, love, concern for others. While I thought the connection between Evelyn and Nora seemed to be a bit unbelievable, I did enjoy the story and hoped for a true friendship and connection between the two. Nora's reveal at the end was interesting and surprising.
beebooker11's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sunshine608's review
4.0
Full disclosure: Sometimes, when I start a new book on my Kindle, I don't recall what the synopsis is about, and often times after I start reading, it will come to me why I purchased/borrowed/requested a book. That for sure happened here. At first, I thought I was reading about a dress shop, but then I got sucked into the best kind of story.
A Favor lives up to its title- a story about a very unlikely Favor. Nora and her husband have been struggling to have a baby. Left with debt from failed IVF attempts, she ( and her husband Jacob, a lot more begrudgingly) turns to a favor unlikely option for an even unlikelier source.
I often feel that I can figure out what a book is about and how it will end within the first few minutes, but this story was very different in a good way. I was curious about how this would turn out. There were lots of red flags, and I was curious as to why Nora had a blind spot about Evelyn and why she continued to befriend her, and why her husband was a little passive, but I found that to be very realistic and part of human nature. I didn't like Evelyn, and at times she felt unreal, but that was part of the allure of Nora. I think that is what I liked about the book- the characters felt imperfect and flawed, which made some aspects of this book seem realistic. I did like the little glimpse into the influencer role with Evelyn ( and the lives of the very rich). I also like how Nora's character approached infertility. As someone who has also struggled, I enjoyed her emotions regarding the various situations in her life ( her co-workers and best friend).
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this title.
A Favor lives up to its title- a story about a very unlikely Favor. Nora and her husband have been struggling to have a baby. Left with debt from failed IVF attempts, she ( and her husband Jacob, a lot more begrudgingly) turns to a favor unlikely option for an even unlikelier source.
I often feel that I can figure out what a book is about and how it will end within the first few minutes, but this story was very different in a good way. I was curious about how this would turn out. There were lots of red flags, and I was curious as to why Nora had a blind spot about Evelyn and why she continued to befriend her, and why her husband was a little passive, but I found that to be very realistic and part of human nature. I didn't like Evelyn, and at times she felt unreal, but that was part of the allure of Nora. I think that is what I liked about the book- the characters felt imperfect and flawed, which made some aspects of this book seem realistic. I did like the little glimpse into the influencer role with Evelyn ( and the lives of the very rich). I also like how Nora's character approached infertility. As someone who has also struggled, I enjoyed her emotions regarding the various situations in her life ( her co-workers and best friend).
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this title.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
A touching and often humorous women's fiction story that sees an ultra wealthy NYC socialite slash influencer offering to help a couple struggling with infertility by being their surrogate. I really enjoyed the unexpected heart in this book about unexpected friendships and the over the top kindness of a lonely rich woman.
Good on audio read by a quickly growing favorite narrator of mine, Kristen Sieh and recommended for fans of books like The new person by Loretta Nyhan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
Good on audio read by a quickly growing favorite narrator of mine, Kristen Sieh and recommended for fans of books like The new person by Loretta Nyhan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!