“An exceptional psychological thriller.” — Publishers Weekly, STARRED reviewFans of B.A. Paris and Shari Lapena will love this gripping novel of psychological suspense set in an upscale Southern California community by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect lie.Jane Harris lives in a sparkling home in an oceanfront gated community in Orange … Harris lives in a sparkling home in an oceanfront gated community in Orange County. It’s a place that seems too beautiful to be touched by sadness. But exactly one year ago, Jane’s oldest daughter, Mary, died in a tragic accident and Jane has been grief-stricken ever since. Lost in a haze of anti-depressants, she’s barely even left the house. Now that’s all about to change.
It’s time for Jane to reclaim her life and her family. Jane’s husband, David, has planned a memorial service for Mary and three days later, their youngest daughter, Betsy, graduates high school. Yet as Jane reemerges into the world, it’s clear her family has changed without her. Her husband has been working long days—and nights—at the office. Her daughter seems distant, even secretive. And her beloved Mary was always such a good girl—dutiful and loving. But does someone know more about Mary, and about her last day, than they’ve revealed?
The bonds between mothers and daughters, and husbands and wives should never be broken. But you never know how far someone will go to keep a family together…
A PopSugar Best Book of Spring!
“Will hit you right in the heart” — Bustle
“Leaves you wanting more.” — Liv Constantine, author of the national bestseller The Last Mrs. Parrish
“A smart, wickedly plotted psychological thriller brimming with dark surprises” — Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author
“Intense, creepy, and classic Rouda. A chilling story, told so well. Don’t miss it!” — J. T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author
“B.A. Paris and Shari Lapena fans will fall head over heels for this suspenseful psychological thriller set in an upscale Southern California community.” — PopSugar
“The Gone Girl-style domestic suspense novel follows Jane, a narcissistic perfectionist dealing with the death of her daughter.” — Washington Post
“Rouda’s portrayal of Jane is fabulously compelling and darkly hilarious…The resolution is satisfying, but the ride is so diabolically twisted and entertaining that readers will be sorry when it come to a stop.” — Shelf Awareness
“No one creates a narcissist like Rouda…. A wow read that will have you floored.” — Bookstr
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This book; as we say in the south, lawd she’s got a screw loose! Written in the first person as Jane tries to weave you into her confidence, you quickly realize she isn’t your every day mother. The plots thicken as she gives us her narcissistic view on every person she knows. But she really adores herself! Lots of twists and a perfect ending. Don’t hesitate to meet Jane!
My thoughts:
Hard to put down, clever and suspenseful!
I requested this book from my local library, after one of my GR’s friends told me about the “Material’s Request” through my local library. I’d seen the option—and knew what it was for—but for some reason it never really “clicked” in my head. OMG, this is such a wonderful benefit! Not only does my library get the book, but I am on the top of the list to borrow it. Since I’m only allowed a limited number per year, I’ll be saving them for “exceptional” books!
This was definitely not a wasted request! Jane—the main character—pulled me in with her eloquent storytelling. In my opinion, her character is what makes this book so incredible. And she is a character. I felt so many emotions towards her—outrage, sympathy, shock, hatred, but she still managed to make me laugh throughout the book!
Jane is a wife and mother of two daughters. She’s controlling because she knows what’s best for her family. Most suspense/thrillers have some type of revenge in the plot, but Ms. Rouda puts a new and deranged twist on revenge! She is an impressive author and I’ll be reading more of her books!
Jane loves telling us about her “perfect life”. She has it all…or had it all…a gorgeous husband, two beautiful children and an amazing oceanfront house in a gated community in Southern California. Everything was perfect until a tragic accident took the life of her daughter, Mary.
Jane spends the next year in a haze of anti-depressants, alcohol and grief. But she decides it’s time to pull herself together and move on. Her other daughter, Betsy, is getting ready to graduate from High School and she wants her perfect family back. Her family has moved on in the last year without her, but she just needs a little time and she’ll be back in control.
My Rating: 4.5 ’s (rounding down)
Published: May 21st 2019 by Graydon House
Pages: 368
Recommend: Yes!
Excerpts:
“None of this is easy, it never has been. I mean, it’s hardest for me trying to be so selfless, the perfect wife and the perfect mother.
So, life, let’s get ready to rumble.”
The Favorite Daughter takes the unreliable narrator to a whole new level with Jane, which was a bit two-sided for me. On one hand, the author has created a character who certainly piques the interest. There’s no way to read this one and not be shocked by Jane’s words and actions. On the flip-side of that, Jane is so out there with her behavior, at least in what she tells the reader, that it’s almost impossible not to see where this story has to be going. There are twists, but most of them are a little too easy to at least guess at way before they’re revealed. Despite that, the story still held my interest. I think a big part of that lay with the characters. Surprisingly, there really aren’t any characters in this one that I particularly liked, but the author still managed to make me feel some measure of sympathy for their situation – even the ones who were in a mess of their own making. That’s a feat in itself and certainly shows Rouda’s talent for storytelling. In the end, I liked some things about this one, and others, not so much, but it is worth the read.
Jane Harris has been in mourning for a year since her eldest daughter, Mary, died in a tragic accident. As the anniversary of Mary’s death approaches, Jane plans her “re-entry” to her elite, entitled life. Sure, she neglected her husband, David and daughter Betsy for the last year, and they’ve moved on without her, but she’s got it all planned, and they’ll soon jump to her tune once again. If they don’t, well she can make them see the light. After all, she’s the one in charge – she gets to call all the shots. Who else could do it better?
Kouda has given us a sort of diary of each delusional thought of a narcissist. Everything that happens in the book, every conversation, is filtered through her voice, because, after all, who else would be the MAIN character??
My problem with The Favorite Daughter was that it was entirely one-note from first sentence to last. Like listening to a child slowly beat a drum for hours, or listening to a faucet drip constantly, never-endingly, it quickly grew very, very, very, very, (you get the point) tiresome. I completed the read as I had received an ARC to review, but it nearly drove me mad in the process!! SO glad to be done with it!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Graydon House for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Favorite Daughter, and read it in 2 1/2 days even though I had to work! Jane is coming out of a depression after the tragic death of her oldest daughter, and begins to manipulate her family. This is a great psychological thriller and I highly recommend it!!
I won this book in a Goodreads give a way, thanks so much
What can I say, this book was INSANE, twisted, Crazy, and I LOVED it.
Jane Harris and her husband David live in an upscale so Calif home, and seem to have it all on the outside, wealthy, good looks, all of it. But things are not what they seem!!
The book starts off a year after the death of Mary, (their oldest daughter who had died a year before in a tragic accident.)
and into the months leading up to their other daughters (Betsy) Graduation. Jane is a piece of work let me tell ya, she is vain, self centered, selfish, and a gold digger. This woman will stop at NOTHING to get what she wants, and I mean nothing!!
The book was unique, a stand out, and I could not put it down!!
Releases May 21 . Pick it or order a copy, its insane!!!
The Favorite Daughter by author Kaira Rouda is mostly narrated through the thoughts of Jane Harris. Jane has spent a year mourning the death of her adopted daughter, Mary. During this year Jane has depended on her therapist and pharmaceuticals to get her through each day and night. Her family seems to have fallen apart. The underlying question in Janes’s mind regards the death of her daughter Mary. Was it an accidental fall or did she get into an altercation with her younger sister Betsy and was possibly pushed off the cliff? This scene will be revisited during the course of this book. Jane also suspects her husband David is having an affair. Janes paranoia and narcissistic character is the overwhelming theme of the story. In other words, As you read the story the reader will have to determine if Jane is being neglected by David and Betsy, or is Jane a lunatic?
Publication Date May 19, 2019