The Favorite Daughter

What a fun, compulsive, twisted book. The whole story is told from the point of view of Jane. Jane has been heavily medicated and mourning the loss of her college age daughter Mary who tragically died in a fall. Jane's husband David has become increasingly occupied with work, so he says. Her daughter Betsy, has also become very secretive and withdrawn.
Jane begins to obsess about losing control of her family. She is extremely narcissistic and a character you will love to hate. This book was a roller coaster of craziness, but that's what made it so fun to read. Loved every bit of it. I received a complimentary book as part of the Goodreads giveaway program.

Kaira Rouda certainly understands her way around psychopathology; her first novel showed us that much. With her second novel, she confirms that knowledge in a way that is both impressive and chilling. The characters she brings to life in The Favorite Daughter are realistic and the scenarios in which the entire cast finds themselves are what I would consider normal – on the surface at least. All this makes the truth behind the big mystery that much more disturbing. Ms. Rouda understands the surface calm of the pathological and the depths to which they will go to maintain that semblance of outward normality. The Favorite Daughter creeps up on you, lulling you into a false sense of calm before it bears its ugly truth. For a thriller, show more that is precisely how you want them to be. After two intense and addicting novels, I am fast becoming a fan of Kaira Rouda, even though I don’t know whether I want to shake Ms. Rouda’s hand should I meet her or run as far away as fast as I can. show less

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this cleverly written novel. Just as I loved Paul in BEST DAY EVER (a man who was also just as easy to despise,) in this book, Jane is similarly a love/hate relationship for me. This author does a fantastic job of making me laugh at the clever way Jane talks/thinks in the story, which helps you not detest her so much. The story drops little pieces of information via Jane's twisted view on life, giving you a glimpse into what her family has put up with for years. Jane's funny, clever, witty, and yes, crazy. And narcissistic. And scary. I could go on, but you get the picture.
Jane's crazy. Or is she? She certainly seems paranoid as her family ditches her one by one, yet show more you see why they do. She's controlling, self-centered, and a pathological liar. No wonder her husband is cheating on her and her daughters count the days until they can leave home. Told from Jane's POV, we get to be inside her twisted mind, and I found it an entertaining place to be. It's another great read by this author! show less

4.5 stars.

The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda is a deliciously diabolical mystery that is also rather suspenseful.

One year following the death of her oldest daughter, Mary, Jane Harris is ready to reclaim her life. Her youngest daughter, Betsy is on the verge of graduating and Jane is determined to be a part of this momentous event. She is also hoping to jumpstart her twenty-plus year marriage to David, which was already faltering before their daughter's death. Just as Jane is setting her plans in motion, she receives a note indicating that Mary's death might not be an accident. But who would have wanted to murder her daughter?

Jane is a compelling narrator who is initially quite sympathetic. After a year of deeply grieving Mary's show more death, she is ready to stop relying on medication to cope with her loss. However, as the story progresses, Jane begins to show her true self in a somewhat shocking manner. She is a complex, deeply flawed woman whose viewpoint of herself and everyone around her is incredibly skewed. Jane's reality collides with the truth in a very entertaining manner that is oh, so satisfying!

Narrated in first person from Jane's perspective, The Favorite Daughter is an utterly captivating mystery. The well-written storyline is quite clever and the cast of characters is very interesting. This spellbinding novel is full of fascinating reveals that are absolutely outrageous and completely appalling. Kaira Rouda brings her latest release to a twist-filled, unforgettable conclusion. I highly recommend this twisty-turny novel to fans of the genre! show less

My prediction is that this will be the book everyone is talking about in the spring. It's one of the best psychological thrillers that I've ever read. I didn't know who to believe until the shocking ending. It was absolutely fantastic.

The main character is Jane and the story begins one year after her oldest daughter died in an accident. Jane has spent the last year in grief and a drug induced haze. Now it's time for her to take over her family again - her husband David is working long hours and isn't paying attention to her and her daughter Betsy, getting ready to graduate from high school, doesn't want to spend any time with her. The family has gone on without Jane and she's ready to take control. The entire story is told from Jane's show more perspective and your opinion of her changes over and over -- is she a loving, caring mother and wife or a total psychopath? Finding out who the REAL Jane is makes this a book that will keep you turning pages as your perspective changes again and again.

A lot of reviews refer to this book as a roller coaster ride and that's exactly what it is. Jane is an unreliable narrator who you aren't sure if you should feel sorry for or hate. This is psychological fiction at its very best.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. show less

Jane Harris has lost her oldest daughter due to a tragic accident. It doesn’t take long in reading this book for readers to see if there’s something strange really wrong with Jane. Of course she’s grieving the loss of her daughter. But what’s more is she’s grieving the loss of her former self. After some time on antidepressants, mixed with difficult memories from her past, Jane is trying to rise up. In so doing she makes very weird statements.

One of the most difficult things to read as the story starts to take form is that her surviving daughter Betsy is certainly not Jane's favorite. Her favorite was Mary. Now Jane will do whatever she can to make Betsy pay for not being the daughter that died. While she’s at it why not show more make her husband pay for all of his misdeeds too. He has lied and cheated for years. One of his worst travesties has just been revealed to her.

I had to stop a couple of times while reading this book. I was like, 'are you for real Jane?' She is one of the most unreliable characters I have read in a very long time. She takes herself very seriously. Are we the reader supposed to take her seriously? If so, then I feel really bad for her. If not, then I really want to laugh because no one can have the thought process is that she has shown us.

Her memories are interspersed within the narration. To stave off boredom she reads strange articles and quotes from the Internet. Then there is a sudden, sharp twist in the story. It happened so fast, so be careful, because the reader just might miss it. Jane has a plan. A deep, dark, disturbing one. In so doing she is utterly excited, not caring for one moment who she might hurt.

Despite this excitement, the feeling that it’s all going to fall apart, the knowledge that if I ever knew somebody like this in real life I would run in the other direction. With these and other similar thoughts, I must admit to growing tired of Jane and her antics. It seemed to me that no one was ever going to wake up and see what Jane was all about. Nonetheless, I pulled through it and got to see that she really was that bad and then I admit to being eager to see if and when she would be stopped.

Another thing, Jane has no remorse. She knows everything she is saying and doing is wrong, but she simply doesn’t care. I will say that there were some things I didn’t like in this book, such as what happened to Cash, the dog, but I am glad that I got to read something that was just a bit different.

While Jane was planning, admiring herself and and telling about her perfection, and acting upon set plan, she is talking to us the reader at all times. She pulled us into the story whether we want to be there or not. Thank you to the Kaira Rouda for providing a character that everybody is going to hate. To be triggered into those feelings while reading a book says to me, good job. Well done. I definitely look forward to reading much more by Ms. Rouda.

Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review in exchange for my honest opinion. show less

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. show more 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.”

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