The Favorite Sister

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll is a thriller that is set in what’s become the new normal in America in the reality television circuit. The ladies in the story are cast mates in the show Goal Diggers. A bit of a take on a housewife drama type of show but opposite in the fact these women are young professionals.

The story begins by giving the reader a glimpse at present time in which it becomes apparent that Brett who had been the star of the show is dead and the question becomes what led to that event. So after that opening flash to gain interest the story jumps back to just before the taping of the latest season of Goal Diggers began.

Told by alternating between a few characters the book begins building the story of how Brett became the star and focusing on those around her. Brett’s sister Kelly wants nothing more than to join Brett into the spotlight, Stephanie and Brett used to be friends but now enemies, Jen and Brett never got along and now Kelly is befriending her. Chalked full of drama the story takes readers through the layers to find out just what happened.

After seeing reviews all over the spectrum for The Favorite Sister I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book and after finishing I feel I can see both sides. To me this was one that suffered a bit from the overly telling in too many places but also had a compelling story going on so I ended up a bit on the fence myself and rated right down the middle.

Being the first book I’ve read by this author I’m not sure if this is a reflection of her style of writing or just a reflection of this particular story but to me it could feel scattered and unfocused quite often. In the middle of a conversation between characters is not the time to switch to a few pages of info dumping on a totally different topic so the plot felt buried within. The setting felt spot on though giving a glimpse into the behind the scenes of “reality” television and of course it was intriguing to find out just what happened to Brett. If rating separately the plot got the high marks and the style the lower.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Jessica Knoll brings us a wonderful but terrifying portrayal of the dark side of sisterhood, leaving the reader wondering if the drama we see on Reality TV is actually less twisted than the truth. I found this novel absolutely captivating! Jessica’s use of alternating narrators kept me on my toes—I didn’t know who to trust or believe. Once I thought I had the dynamics and characters figured out, the narrator would change and everything I thought I knew was turned over.

I have followed Jessica Knoll’s work since her days at Cosmopolitan Magazine, when she wrote her Josie stories. From there, I followed her blog as she kept Josie alive. Though I liked the Josie stories, it was really when she began writing about Elizabeth that I saw what is so special about Jessica as a writer. She writes damaged characters so well; I hate them, I love them, they break my heart, and then somehow they redeem themselves. Sometimes I want to cover my eyes as they are on paths to destruction. Other times I cheer as they show their human side. More than anything, she writes characters who are so dynamic, which makes them feel real.

She excels at writing the woman who seems so enviable on the outside, only to find out how damaged they are from events in their life. When I read The Favorite Sister, I had no clue who to side with. But that is the point, right? It’s ok to love all of the characters, or to hate all of them. It’s ok to side with one, and then two chapters later side with the other. At times I loved all of the characters, and at other times I hated them all. But ultimately, there wasn’t a moment reading this book where I didn’t feel something. That is so important.

The story is about two sisters. But the story is also about four sisters. There are two biological sisters—Brett and Kelly. And then there are the sisters formed through a shared experience—Brett, Lauren, Jen, and Stephanie. Brett, Lauren, Jen, and Stephanie are the only remaining cast members from the original cast of a reality show called Goal Diggers—a show about women in their late 20s/early 30s who own their own businesses and are doing incredible things.

As the novel opens, we are at the end of filming of Season 4, and someone has died during filming. One of the original 4 sisters. Then we move back in time to before Season 4 is filmed, and Brett’s sister and business partner Kelly is joining the cast. But Kelly can’t possibly be prepared for the toxic world these seasoned reality show veterans exist in. They know how to work the system, they know how to interpret how production is manipulating them, and they know when to go with it and when to work against it. Most importantly, they know how to hide the truth—from production, from the public, and most importantly, from themselves. But at what point does the person they are for the show, become who they actually are?

One thing I loved about this story was the concept of sisterhood. As all women know, there are sisters you have from your family connections, but there are also the sisters you find in life. And really, these sisterhood connections aren’t so different. Sisters protect one another from outside forces, but despite the love between sisters, there are few dynamics more impacted by competition than sisterhood. We see this play out in the novel, both between biological sisters Brett and Kelly, and between the four original sisters of the show.

I also enjoyed the setting being in this reality television world. It’s so easy to see the contestants as dysfunctional, but when you really dig deeper, it makes you wonder how much of that is caused by these people making money off of their backs, while manipulating them into torpedoing their own lives. Who is to blame, then? The people who want to do it in the first place? The production company for treating people as pawns? Or the public, for making this a lucrative industry? In the novel, we see four women who have already sold their soul to reality television. But then we also have Kelly, who is at the beginning of her contract. Kelly’s progression through the book is fascinating to watch. Will she be able to resist the seductive pull of fame and power? Or will she become another casualty?

Stephanie was a truly magnificent character as well. Stephanie is a woman of color and a famous writer. But she grew up adopted in a white, wealthy neighborhood. Hearing Stephanie’s experience—how her skin color was almost more impactful on her life because of the privilege she grew up with and the absence of other people of color—was really a thought-provoking aspect of this book.

I think from reading some other early reviews, it is easy to see this book as shallow, because on the surface it is about murder and reality tv. But as you read it, and as you really put thought into the characters and what they are telling you—the lies, the truths, the vulnerabilities—this book really is the perfect mix of salacious and deep. It hooked me because of the drama, but it got into my head because of the love and the tragedy and the characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, to Jessica Knoll, and to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Sister” by Jessica Knoll

I would like to thank NetGalley, Author Jessica Knoll and Publisher Simon and Schuster for the ARC of “My Favorite Sister” by Jessica Knoll for my honest opinion and review. The Genres for this Novel are Women’s Fiction, Fiction, with an essence of Suspense and Mystery. I feel there is also an element of satire in this as well. The story takes place mostly in New York City.

The author describes her characters as dysfunctional, complex, complicated, diverse,and possibly pathological. The main characters are wealthy, successful women who are in a reality show called “The Goal Diggers”. They each have a goal, or charity they are supposed to be supportive of. The whole setting reminds me of “The Real Housewives”.

The producers set the stage for betrayals, lies, and what viewers might want to see. In their real lives, these women are competitive, jealous, have dark secrets and do not play nicely together. They aren’t a good example of sisterhood. What is totally unexpected is murder.

At this point I do want to mention that not every book is a good fit for every reader. I struggled and found this difficult to get into. At the beginning, many of the scenes seemed repetitive. I also didn’t enjoy the backstabbing, plotting and aggressive behavior of the women. This was a difficult read for me, and I did stay the course. I would suggest that many readers keep an open mind and may find that the setting and story are a perfect read for themselves.

This was a long book. Interminable might be a better word. It was about a group of modern, feminist women who starred in a reality show. I slogged through pages and pages of backstabbing and nastiness, severely tempted to just give up. No character stood out. They were uniformly selfish and awful. "Me, me, me" was their battle cry. Lie, cheat, and backstab was their battle plan. Who could care what happened to these women? Finally, in the last twenty to thirty percent of the book, it got interesting. But not interesting enough to make up for the first part.

I gave the mystery at the end two stars. It was pretty twisty. I gave the majority of the book no stars. I guess it goes without saying that I do not recommend this book. It should have been a short story. A few paragraphs to introduce the unlikable cast and then the twisty mystery.

I borrowed this book from my local public library through the store.

I loved the fresh, relevant topic of this book - a behind-the-scenes look at the dirty secrets of a reality TV show. The story is told by several points of view, and is a story you can get sucked in to. If you feel like it starts out slow, keep reading. The ending is definitely worth it! The only thing I have mixed feelings about is that I read from the description that the book involves a murder, and it's referenced fairly early in the book, though it doesn't happen until late in the story. I can't decide if I like that I knew a murder would happen, so I could guess who did it, or if I would rather have been surprised that someone died when it happened. Overall, it was interesting and fresh, and I definitely recommend it! It's equal parts catty fights and mystery.

...and hated every minute. I wanted to like this book—the premise was interesting and I thought her first book was ok despite typos. She’s not my favorite writer, and in this book especially her editor didn’t do her any favors. Good writers show, they don’t tell. Language is a tool, and when used well it can really transport your reader. In this book the language was clumsy, imprecise, and a real chore to endure. A lot of the pop culture references were meant to be edgy, but actually fall pretty flat and lock this book in time. I felt like I was reading one long HuffPost article. The characters themselves were unlikable and virtually indistinguishable for half of the book. They were one-dimensional and forgettable. What made this worse was that chapters switched narrators and timelines, so you always felt confused. I think the author was going for a fast-paced feel in doing this, but it really doesn’t work. Lastly, the writing was so flabby I found myself skipping paragraphs when she’d drone on about backstory and details and inner thoughts that didn’t drive the story forward or provide anything valuable. It constantly dampened the action and made no sense. Maybe her editor was punishing her for the fact that she made an unredeemed villain of the fictitious book editor in the story.

Many thanks to Netgalley, MacMillan and Jessica Knoll for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly’s sister, Brett, is dead and she is somehow responsible - or, at least in her own words, not innocent. So, by jumping from present to past, in alternating chapters, through different characters points of view, we find out what happened. Not only has there been a murder, but practically everyone has a vested interest in lying. Is it just to protect Brett’s image or is it for more selfish reasons on their part? The women in this story are all part of a TV reality show called Goal Diggers. They must be young and successful in their own right to qualify. Each woman has secrets to hide and uncovering them might lead to the answer of who killed Brett. You have Jessie, the producer of Goal Diggers, who controls whether or not you will get asked to come back for another season and seems to be willing to do anything to create an exciting storyline. She knows what happened to Brett and is complicit in keeping the truth a secret. Her underling, Lisa, does all of her biding and is known to manipulate the cast members. Lauren is the dumb blond who has a drinking problem and Jen is the vegan health guru whose empire would crumble if her fans knew she chowed down on bacon in private. Stephanie is a famous author and Brett’s best friend. She is married to Vince, a beautiful man who loves to live off of his rich wife. Is their marriage as fairy tale as it seems? Once inseparable, Stephanie and Brett had a feud at the end of last season that has divided the loyalties of “The Diggers”, as the girls are known. Brett’s sister, Kelly, is the latest cast member and Brett isn’t too happy. They are business partners but their sibling rivalry runs deep. As each chapter unfolds, you realize no one is who they seem, especially off camera. Each has their own set of secrets that, if discovered, could lead to their ruin and each of them has a reason for wanting Brett dead.

So, a little while ago I read “Bachelor Nation” by Amy Kaufman. One of my complaints was that I didn’t feel like I got enough reveal of what it was like behind the scenes. I admit it, I am a reality TV junkie. I watch all the Housewives and was always curious how scripted these shows actually were. Were they really fighting? Were producers feeding false information to rile them up? Did they behave in outrageous ways because they know if they don’t have a hot storyline, they will be fired? I think that I learned more of what it is like to be on a reality TV show from “The Favorite Sister”, a book of fiction, than I did from Kaufman’s non fiction, supposed tell-all. (Yes, I know Kaufman’s is about The Bachelor but there are similarities) For me, this was the most interesting and exciting part of the book. You really got to see how they shape storylines, how they retake “spontaneous” conversations four times and how production will interfere to get cast members riled up. Oh, and yes, the alcohol flows!

The murder mystery held its own and I wanted to read to the end to see what happened. The characters were well developed and complex. There were two major issues, in my opinion, that weakened the story. First at those junctures when the plot would start to move along, you would be inundated with tons of extra information that took you in different directions. At first, I would reread these parts, thinking that there was some important clue that I needed to know, or that I was missing something, but nope, it was just a bunch of junk. This really detracted from the any kind of suspense build up or sequential storytelling. Also, sometimes there would be these rantings about women’s plight in society and it felt like the author’s voice bleeding through rather than that of the character’s. This, for me, took me out of the story, making the characters sound disingenuous, and I personally don’t like being preached to, even when it is something I happen to agree with. My other issue was with the characters’ big reveals. I am all for surprises, unexpected twists and turns and being led down a path, just to have the rug pulled out from under you. I enjoy it! These didn’t seem that clever, well thought out, or even true to the character. It was just opposite. So I’ve told you all these facts and I’ve spent all this time building these characters but actually just forget it - here is something out of left field. After a while I became fatigued and just started to not believe anything I was reading. I just waited until the reveal. This is dangerous because you lose your investment in the characters. You pull out emotionally of the story.

That being said, I still enjoyed the story, it held my interest and the ending was a surprise.

The reality TV show Goal Diggers is supposed to buck the trend of most reality TV, with a focus on the radical notion that it is about women putting other women first. It even features unmarried, childless (for the most part), successful women. But, is that really the case? It sure seems like everyone on Diggers is fake and lying. There's Brett, 27, the youngest of the group, who is running her business, SPOKE, which focuses on helping women in Morocco. Her sister, Kelly is the newest addition, and she runs the business with Brett and is a mom to her teenage daughter, Layla. There's also Jen, who oversees her vegan empire; Lauren, creator of a dating website; and Stephanie, a successful author. None of these women really like each other after several seasons of the show. Even so, the producers never expected it all to end in murder.

I have some conflicted and confused emotions about this book. It took me over a week to read, which is forever in my world (I finished three other books in the meantime, to put it in perspective). You know how your Kindle tells you the percentage left to read? I swear that number never changed, it felt like such slow going, and I considered giving up several times. I really only kept reading because of a big reveal that happened on page one (literally) and then the rest of the book spends its time going back in time explaining what happened. I was mildly curious enough to find out what went down. The novel keeps you wondering just enough even if you don't like the characters.

Because, wow, these characters are really despicable. I can get past it in most books, and I thought maybe I'd like Brett for a while, but this self-centered group really took the cake. I am not a reality TV person, especially Real Housewives, so maybe that's part of why this one wasn't for me? I found the in-fighting, petty catfights, and personal drama to just be over-the-top. It's sad, because at times, I found a real wit and depth to the book, but for the most part it just dragged on. And on.

And again, some of this just may be because I'm not a reality TV gal. I really like Knoll's writing, I just couldn't get a handle on the tone. Funny? Serious? Both? What was it aiming for? Did it all just go over my head? I caught that it was trying for some really meaningful social commentary about feminism, weight, race, and so much more, but then it would get lost in two women fighting over platform heels.

There were some good twists at the end, but overall, this one fell flat for me, including the final ending. I felt like I slogged through it, and I just didn't enjoy the characters. Perhaps I missed the overall point or meaning. Many others have enjoyed it, so you may find it's more suited for you than it was for me. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review.

Brett and Stephanie were best friends. After their seasons together on Goal Diggers, the reality tv show about young women entrepreneurs who are changing the world, they have shared experiences, laughs, tears, secrets—so many things, really, When Brett broke up with her girlfriend and needed a place to stay, Stephanie opened her house to her. And that’s when things went so terribly wrong. An epic fight erupted between the two women which was certain to fuel the upcoming season. 

But the biggest change in the new season is the addition of Kelly and her daughter Layla. Kelly is an unusual choice for Goal Diggers for several reasons. First, she’s a single mother. All other cast members had either chosen not to have children yet or not to have them at all. Goal Diggers wasn’t previously interested in the lifestyle of the working mom. Kelly is also unusual because she’s Brett’s older sister.

But Kelly has several things working her favor. She’s beautiful. Her teenaged daughter is half Nigerian and a whipsmart young entrepreneur herself. And Kelly is also Brett’s partner in the fantastically succeassful spinning empire SPOKE. While Brett is the face of the company and the one who drives their charitable interests, it’s Kelly who can read the financial reports, who found investors, who decided it would be cost effective to expand into yoga studios, who understands the legalities of owning and running a multimillion dollar business. And it was Kelly, as the girls were growing up, who was the favorite sister. 

And as the new season starts to roll, the secrets come to light. There is Jen, who runs a vegan food empire, whose secret could ruin her reputation in the vegan community. There is Lauren, whose dating app has earned her millions, and the secret that could separate her from the company she built. There is Stephanie, the writer, whose romance trilogy rocketed her to the top of the bestseller lists and whose new memoir is quickly following suit. But if the truth comes out about her, she could lose that movie deal with the Oscar-winning female director that she’s preparing to meet with.  

And then there’s Brett, the show’s golden child, the executive producer’s favorite. Generally, Brett is untouchable. But this season, things are different. Not only had she lost her best friend, not only does she have a secret that could destroy her and everyone she loves, but she also has a sister who is joining the cast of the show. Her older sister. The one who knows all her secrets. 

Once the cameras start rolling and the mics start recording, what will happen to these women? They spend weeks being followed by camera crews, showing off their best features, focusing on their successes, breaking past their barriers. Under all that pressure, what will happen when some of those secrets bubble up to the surface? Will the show survive? Will the women’s professional lives make it through unscathed? Or will these women take each other down in an attempt to dig their way to their ultimate goals? 

Jessica Knoll, author of The Luckiest Girl, has crafted a monstrous story of women and their relationships. Each of these powerful characters have secrets to keep hidden, lies to cover them, and the motivation to stay on top. With these women’s ambitions and egos, their professional reputations, and the emotional stress of living on camera, you have a story with tension that feels like a smoldering rag just waiting for its pool of gasoline. And The Favorite Sister does not disappoint. It’s an explosion of women’s power and all of its mighty consequences, the story of feminism’s good intentions and sometimes destructive results, a mind-bending twister of emotions. And the first best book of summer 2018. Don’t miss this one! 

Galleys for The Favorite Sister were provided by Simon & Schuster through NetGalley, with many thanks.

The Favorite Sister is about 5 women who continuously tear each other down on a reality TV show (a la The Real Housewives) that “espouses” feminism. These women do whatever it takes to stay relevant and remain in the spotlight. Filled with hideous characters who only care about themselves, this was not an easy book for me to read.

Stephanie, Brett, Kelly, Lauren, and Jen are the stars of Goal Diggers--a reality show that showcases millennial women in their attempts to build successful careers, while at the same time give back through philanthropic causes. All 5 women create TV persona’s built on lies--they have fake relationships, fake friendships, and support fake feminist causes. Fearful of losing their role on the show, these women stop at nothing in order to remain on the show even if it means destroying someone they care about.

Told through Stephanie, Brett, and Kelly’s POV’s, I found the pacing slow. I almost DNF’d it in the beginning because I couldn’t get into it and found that were too many characters to keep up with. I was curious to see how things were going to play out and wanted to know what secrets everyone was hiding, so I kept on reading. I can’t say it was worth it.

All of the characters are unlikable, but the fact that they do whatever it takes to remain on TV no matter the consequence makes for some thought-provoking moments. The main point The Favorite Sister seems explore is whether or not women can be successful without feeling threatened by other women. Why must women tear each other down instead of building each other up?

I didn’t enjoy reading this and would not read it again. It does have some good, unpredictable twists but in the end, it left me feeling icy cold and disgusted.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

There is a book for every mood and sometimes, your subconscious knows what you need better than your thinking mind. I had no idea how hungry I was for flat-out over-the-top drama until I finished Jessica Knoll's newest novel, The Favorite Sister. I was drawn to the book by its premise-a reality TV show about a group of high achieving, self-made, female millennials whose life goals are not focused on marriage and having children. Each woman in the group has found success in a different arena: Stephanie is the black author of erotic novels, Lauren created a female-centric dating app, Jen has a popular vegan line of food and is the group's new age guru, and Brett is the lesbian founder of spin studios. So positive! So, female affirming! Right? Well, when the novel opens one of these women is dead, so maybe the sisterhood is not as strong as it looks on TV.

The show that's brought these four women together is called Goal Diggers and as The Favorite Sister begins it's entering its fourth season. A cast member has left and Brett wants to get her sister, Kelly, approved as the replacement. At the same time, each of the existing women need to make sure they've got enough going on in their lives to keep their place secure. Stephanie is releasing an explosive memoir while Lauren has a new dating app coming out especially for the LGBTQ community, and Jen has a new restaurant, but Brett stands to top them all. Not only are her studios taking off, she's on a philanthropic mission to provide electric bicycles to young women in Africa who are at risk of being raped as they walk miles a day for water. Into this mix she throws another bombshell-she's getting married! The resulting publicity skews the groups dynamic and the addition of her sister as a cast member makes it worse.

If you are addicted to watch reality TV like I do, then you have some idea of how bad things are likely to go. But the plethora of plot isn't even what makes The Favorite Sister so good. It's that Knoll pulls the curtain back on what happens behind the scenes. Through Goal Diggers we learn that the women don't see each other between seasons, production people share damaging gossip from one woman to another and make sure that alcohol is always freely available and unmonitored while filming-anything to create drama. Knoll goes on with details that read as not only plausible, but highly likely. That she does so while still moving through her characters' lives makes for reading that is juicy and feels as much like a guilty pleasure as watching the shows.

As The Favorite Sister progresses the skeletons pop up with more frequency than the swimming pool scene in Poltergeist. Secrets are revealed that threaten everyone involved with the show and innocence is lost all over the place. The novel is the ultimate summer read: plot on top of plot at a breakneck pace. But even as Knoll whips up this tsunami of superficiality she stands back from time to time and lets her characters speak the uncomfortable truth. Stephanie, cuts especially close to the heart of the matter with

"That we task women with helping other women in a society that places us in systemic competition with one another is why feminism has failed. Do not recruit me to link arms with my sisters until more than 2 percent of positions at the top are occupied by women, until her success does not almost certainly guarantee my failure."

By the last 50 pages, I was gulping down this potent combination of satire and outrageous drama like there were only five minutes left in happy hour and I was nineteen again. Because those pages slid down, sweet, nasty, and packing a powerful punch. No matter where you think The Favorite Sister is going to go-it goes another mile past that. If the term cray cray didn't already exist then these women would have coined it. For some, the novel will go too far with its 'everyone is a liar', but for me, it didn't feel all that different than reading the daily news right now. There is that much lying, scheming, polarizing melodrama going on. And personally, I prefer it in my fiction.

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll is a drama-filled mystery about the mysterious death of a cast member from a popular reality show.

Brett Courtney is the youngest member of a reality show which features women who have successfully built businesses on their own. With the latest season about to begin filming, the hunt is on for a new cast member, and against all odds, Brett’s older sister, Kelly, is chosen along with a guest spot for Kelly’s twelve year daughter, Layla. Rounding out the stars for the upcoming season are Lauren Bunn and two other original cast members health guru Jen Greenberg and novelist Stephanie Simmons. Stephanie and Brett are close friends but they have been on the outs since the previous season of the show ended. Jen and Lauren are close friends who team up with Stephanie against Brett as plans are finalized for upcoming taping. Brett is not exactly thrilled Kelly is joining the show since they have never quite managed to escape the rivalry that has marred their relationship since childhood. Kelly is seriously unprepared for the amount of backstabbing and nastiness that are hallmarks of the successful show, Goal Diggers.

The novel opens with Kelly’s interview with the show’s creator, Jesse Barnes. Kelly is discussing the events that occurred during filming the previous season. Jesse and Kelly are putting their spin on the stunning murder of one of the cast members. The chapters then alternate between Brett and Stephanie’s perspectives as the current season of Goal Diggers is seen during flashbacks.

None of the women are particularly likable and there is plenty of cattiness and outright attempts to sabotage one another as filming begins. Brett is incredibly philanthropic minded and she is excited that her efforts to help disadvantaged young girls in Morocco are about to pay off. Kelly works with her sister and Layla has successfully launched a social media campaign to sell the villagers’ wares. Kelly and Brett’s relationship is competitive and they often settle their differences with physical fights that began during the childhood.

Stephanie is the oldest of the women and her newest novel is a memoir which details a harrowing ordeal that occurred when she was a teenager. The book has been optioned for a movie and she is hoping talks with a big name producer will jumpstart production of the film adaptation. Stephanie and Brett have not spoken to each other since the previous season of Goal Diggers ended and she has garnered the support of Jen and Lauren to scuttle Brett’s plans. Stephanie’s marriage to her unemployed actor husband Vince is also in trouble and as she continues with her book tour and filming the upcoming season of Goal Diggers, their future together is in jeopardy.

Jen and Brett do not get along at all since they are on opposite sides of health issues. Brett is overweight and advocates for women to be comfortable with their weight as long as they are healthy. Jen is super skinny and she believes women should monitor their diets, watch their weight and exercise to ensure good health.

Lauren’s claim to fame is an innovative dating app and as Jen’s friend, her loyalty lies with her. Lauren is the “fun” one on the show and excessive drinking feature heavily into her escapades. She is considered to be the expendable one so she is easy to convince to join in with the other women’s schemes.

The Favorite Sister is well-written but the novel is incredibly slow-paced. The characters are unsympathetic, manipulative and downright nasty. They quickly seize the opportunity to betray each other and expose one another’s secrets in order to grab ratings and secure their positions on the show. The slow parceling of information is a bit frustrating since Jessica Knoll saves the majority of the plot twists for the novel’s surprise ending. Fans of reality television will most likely enjoy this intriguing mystery.

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll is a recommended thriller for fans of reality based TV. We know from the start that season 4 of Goal Diggers, the New York City based reality series that showcases entrepreneurial woman, results in murder. The question is why was Brett Courtney murdered and who did it?

On Goal Diggers all five of the female cast members compete with each other for audience popularity and a greater share of social media hype to stay on the show. Brett, the youngest cast member, is the owner of a spin studio franchise and quick to make it clear that being skinny does not mean being healthy. She's moving in with her girlfriend this season, which will surely up ratings. Returning cast members include: Stephanie Simmons, the oldest, is a bestselling author of erotic novels and the first black cast member; Jen Greenberg, the vegan owner of a juice bar line and health food guru; Lauren Bunn, a dating website creator and known as Lauren Fun! on the show. The latest addition to the show is Brett's older sister, Kelly, a single mother who runs Brett's ever expanding business empire. Jesse is the network executive who controls the focus of the series and what will be highlighted. The focus for season four will be on the rift and resentment that is growing between Stephanie and Brett, former best friends.

The narrative is told through alternating first person accounts of what happened before and during the production of season 4. Excerpts from Jesse's interview with Kelly after Brett's murder open and close the book, and are also included a few times in-between the first person accounts. This clearly demonstrates how muddy the line between truth and fiction is in the reality TV show and real life.

The start is slow as we are introduced to the woman, their lives, and getting a glimpse into what they are thinking or scheming. You will need to keep track of who is talking in each chapter until you get a grip on the characters. As events unfold with secrets revealed and lies exposed, it becomes clear that the tension is going to boil over and something bad is going to happen. There are humorous moments in The Favorite Sister and Knoll does manage a message about the reality TV obsession - the striving for a few more minutes of public fame, and the need to appear to be young and relevant in order to stay in the public spotlight.

While very well-written, the problem with The Favorite Sister for me is that I simple couldn't muster the capacity to care about these women. They all seemed like caricatures of a type rather than real people. Perhaps it is because I don't watch reality TV shows and don't care about them. Also my lack of following pop culture, etc could have influenced how I related to the book. Knoll's gets points for the writing, the message she was trying to get across, and the ending, which was a surprise. I have a feeling that this novel will do much better with a younger reader (20s or 30s) and anyone who loves to watch reality shows like real housewives and... I can't even name any.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster via Netgalley

To distill The Favorite Sister into one category is to vastly reduce what Jessica Knoll does in telling this story.

For one thing, Knoll shakes her fists at societal norms that dictate strictures and limits to women. Told through three perspectives--Brett, the youngest cast member of a Real Housewives-esque reality show devoted to women who achieved success without any influence from men, her older sister Kelly, and Stephanie, a bestselling author who also is black--you see the different ways our genders affect us, whether through age, single parenthood, marriage, race, and professional success. Knoll doesn't ask "at what cost," rather, she wants to know "why must a woman's cost be any different than a man's"?

In a lesser writer's hands, such heavy sociological discussions might feel hamfisted or pedantic. Knoll proselytizes, yes, but in a way that makes you think as opposed to rolling your eyes. Why are the same behaviors accepted in men abhorred in women?

Her three narrators each offer a different perspective, and it is critical that we get to know these women. You will find your loyalty vacillating from one to the other, and as various truths are divulged, you might find yourself despising all three. No one in this book is honest, even when they're lying. Each feels the need to resort to falsehoods in order to achieve her goals. Do men do that? Of course they do, but too often we excuse it in them because that's part of a man doing what he must. We judge women far, far harsher.

The problems come in the last quarter of the book. You have to suspend logic a time or two, and you might find yourself asking, "What about ..." regarding a couple of dropped plot points. If you go into this book expecting a big fat suspense-thriller, you're reading the wrong book. There is a mystery, but it really doesn't come into play until well past the halfway point. Up until then, Jessica Knoll spends time introducing you to her characters and inviting you to trust at your own peril.

Pay attention to the title. Jessica Knoll plays with that throughout the book, and, in the end, you might find yourself asking which sister really is the favorite? Or is it possible that no one is and no one deserves to be.

On paper, the premise of the novel sounds appealing: Five successful women on a popular reality show entitled "Goal Diggers," a program that's meant to showcase women supporting each other rather than tearing each other down/apart. Throw in some juicy gossip and romance, a few catfights, and a murder? Think of the ratings and count me in. The reality is different, and I found the book difficult to get through.

The characters:
Brett Courtney: A fan favorite. She rose up after launching SPOKE, which focuses on helping young girls and women in Morocco. Her and Stephanie have a falling out but no one quite knows why.
Stephanie Simmons: The published author. This season, her storyline will focus on her upcoming memoir as well as her trying to conceive a baby with her husband, Vince. He has a face that causes panties to drop. The rest of his body? Well, not so much.
Lauren Fun: An alcoholic trying to make it a go of a relationship app.
Jen Greenberg: Jen became successful via a popular vegan line.
Introducing Kelly Courtney and her 12-year-old daughter Layla: After Hayley left the show, the program needed a replacement. Enter Kelly, Brett's sister, and Layla', Brett's niece. Brett was against it and set-up an interview with head honco, Jesse, thinking it'd lead nowhere but then Jesse met Layla and BOOM. The sisters have a difficult relationship, making it for an interesting season.

I think one of the negatives about the book is that there were too many women (and their storylines, their secrets) to carry and flesh out. It felt convoluted to me, and I found it difficult to connect with the women. There was just too much happening, and the writing was turning me off. By the time the ending rolled around, I felt so taken out of the plot that I had no idea what was even happening anymore.

Perhaps I am not a fan of Knoll's writing style, as I didn't enjoy "The Luckiest Girl Alive." Not every book can be for everyone!

"The Favorite Sister" is written by the author of "Luckiest Girl Alive", but is nothing like that novel. This book opens with a prologue in the present with Kelly Courtney preparing to be interviewed about the death of a fellow cast member on the New York City reality show called "Goal Diggers." The show is like a show out of the "Real Housewives" franchise, but focuses on young successful women in the business world. There are four other women in the cast of the show, but with the exception of few additional chapters narrated by Kelly, the remaining chapters occur in the past and are from the point of view of Kelly's sister and business partner, Brett, and successful author, Stephanie.

The book gets off to a slow start but then the pace picks up in later chapters, but I couldn't connect with the characters. Many books have unlikeable characters, but it was really hard to find anyone to root for in this book. All of the women have secrets, tells lies, and stir up trouble for the other women and will stop at nothing to keep their spot on the television show and remain relevant to the public. The prologue makes it clear that not everyone in the book is going to have a happy ending and I was intrigued to find out what really happened, but never dreamed that all of the women would be so despicable.

I was invested enough in the story that I wanted to know what really happened and I enjoyed some humor of the humor, so once the story got going, it was a quick read. However, even though the author touches on some important feminist issues, overall I felt depressed by the end of the book and not hopeful based on the lengths these women went through for publicity while hiding their true selves from the world and even the people they called their close friends.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Simon and Schuster. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

My final rating for The Favorite Sister would be between a 4 and 4.5-stars. I really, really enjoyed this. It wasn't what I expected and it is not really the type of book I would normally pick up for myself but regardless, it was a blast to read. Since finishing, I have been thinking about how best to classify this one. We know the world loves to categorize things - as this book definitely points out! I wouldn't necessarily categorize it as a thriller if I were discussing it with friends. I found it more 'contemporary women's fiction' than 'thriller'. There is a dead character, you know that from the beginning and then the narrative fills in, taking you through the events leading up to that death; but I personally didn't feel it was psychologically suspenseful. It was a great character piece; the characters were full of it - ambition and snark galore!
In addition to very strong character development, I loved the overall writing style. It was very modern - full of current pop culture references and slang. I had never read a book that follows a cast of reality television stars...in fact, I don't even watch reality television. The author did a wonderful job of creating a fun and fast-paced novel that actually had a much deeper level of societal analysis; misogyny, feminism, women/women relationships - I ended up being pleasantly surprised by this! The way the author constructed the relationships of these women laid bare a common problem - we are raised, as women, within a society that forces us to view other females as a constant source of threat and competition - statistically, very few women succeed at the levels the characters in this story succeed - so if your friend is succeeding, does that mean there is no room for you too? Maybe I am reading too much into it but I felt this was an excellent expose on the current state of the feminist movement/status of women in American society!
My only negative, and it is a very small one, would be that I felt through the middle it dragged just a little bit. Besides that, the pacing on the front and back-end were both excellent. Thank you so much to the publisher for allowing me to read this book early and to share my thoughts on it. I am really looking forward to this book being released and to reading other people's opinions on it. I think it is going to be well received and I will definitely be recommending it to some friends!

Calling all fans of reality TV!! The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll is going to be for you if your guilty pleasure is binge watching reality TV because that's exactly what this book read like. Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of this author's first novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, but after reading this book Knoll has a believer in me! This book also had a little bit of a Fitness Junkie vibe, but dealing with reality TV AND fitness, and not just fitness.

The Favorite Sister is about a cast of women on a New York City reality show called Goal Diggers. The dynamic between these women (even including the 2 that are sisters) is a messy and explosive one. This book is packed with alliances, backstabbing, and SO MUCH drama. Exactly what you would (and should) expect from a book about a reality show. The book jumps around from people quite a bit and there are quite the list of characters, but I found it fairly easy to follow along and keep who was who straight.

No way to get around it though, this book is a drama. It's definitely not a thriller or suspense, and I wouldn't really say it's too mysterious, even though there is a mystery aspect. You are basically reading this book for the delicious drama of a reality television show.

Final Thought: Besides the fact that I am more than a little obsessed with the beautiful cover of this book, I really enjoyed it in its entirety. If you love reality TV and drama I am almost certain you will love this book too! I cannot wait to see what Knoll comes up with next!

The Favorite Sister in 3-ish words: Sassy, Dramalicious & Symbolic

Simon & Schuster and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Favorite Sister. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The Favorite Sister reminded me of the author's previous novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, in that the main character (in this case, characters) are wholly unlikable. It is hard to have sympathy for these women, yet I found myself feeling badly for some of the "Goal Diggers." The novel starts with the reveal of a mysterious death and works its way back and forth through time, with the eventual goal of full disclosure of the actual events. I honestly would have liked the novel more if the author had tightened up the story and focused less on each individual woman's personal journey.

The backstabbing and vicious ways, caught on the reality show camera for "Goal Diggers," is really a caricature of the popular reality shows of late. The author does a good job of exaggerating and amplifying real life women and situations, but she loses her way with regards to the exhaustive side plots. Overall, The Favorite Sister was a good book and one that readers might find interesting. Fans of reality shows may enjoy how the author pokes fun at the television genre, as there is no denying the similarities between the actual and the fictional versions.

This novel centers around a group of successful young women who are brought together by virtue of a reality TV show that bills itself as feminist but merely commodifies it for mass consumption. At the outset, we are told that one of the characters is dead. The story is then told in flashbacks from the perspectives of several characters, all of whom are deeply flawed. So flawed it's hard to know whom to root for. What follows is a compelling and juicy storyline that also inserts surprising incisive insights on race, fame, feminism, and human nature buried among the drama.

Why didn't I give this 5 stars, you ask? There were far too many grammatical and syntactical errors that are distracting and detract from what is an otherwise gripping and engrossing book. For example, the author uses "cumulating" when she means "culminating." "Dispel" instead of "dispense." And "a coterie of feminism" instead of "a coterie of feminists." Not to mention "burdon" instead of "burden." (How did that even get past spellcheck?) And the biggest sin in my book - "graduate college" instead of "graduate FROM college." That is the grammatical hill on which I will die. Any writer worth their salt should know better than to make so many significant mistakes, and any editor worth theirs should have caught them. Anyway, it was a death by a thousand grammatical cuts, made all the more painful because they were inflicted on a solid, captivating story.

What I liked:All of the characters are success stories. They did not have everything handed to them. I enjoyed reading about how each female persevered to get where they are today. I enjoyed the inside look at a reality show – Most reality shows are scripted and fake, and this plot definitely supports that theory. The book has a lot of character diversity! It has people that are black, white, and every color in between, old, young, every kind of sexual orientation imaginable, and different economic backgrounds. This book reflects the complicated relationships of sisters – the highs and lows, the good and bad, the loyalty, love, support, and friendship – and how it can change minute by minute.

What I didn’t like: The many POVs got me confused on who was narrating. I kept going back to the beginning of the chapters to remind myself who was narrating. I couldn’t keep them straight. The voices were not as distinctive as they could have been. There were so many characters narrating this story that it only provided a small glimpse into the person before it switched to another character’s viewpoint. I didn’t like any of the characters. I think that this was the author’s intent, and she certainly succeeded in this, but hey, I need someone to root for. This book was long, and many times it went overboard on feminism topics.

If you like watching reality shows on Bravo and E! and relish the drama, cat fights, tears, and backstabbing of these shows, you will enjoy this book!

If you are a fan of the Housewives franchise, you really need to read this book!

I personally am not a fan of these shows. Why do women let themselves behave like this toward each other? That has always been a question I struggled with. Is it the money? Obviously not, as what they make couldn't keep me in tea for a year!

Shows like this are what make it hard for women to be taken seriously. They should just change the name to Women Behaving Badly. And the author has laid it all out there. Every ugly part of "reality" television. There is no reality here. None of these characters had any redeemable qualities at all. Back stabbing, cheating, lying, and the unhealthy need to be front and center. To matter.

This book could not have come at a better time. With social media and all of these so-called reality shows, everyone's life looks better than yours. But is it? Really?

Not only are the women ruthless, the women who run the show are as well and encourage the fights. When everything comes to a head with a shocking conclusion in the end I thought, well maybe this will knock some sense into the women of television, but I was horribly wrong.

Well Done! I will definitely check out what ever comes out next from Ms. Knoll!

NetGalley/May 15th 2018

Five successful women are appearing on a reality show called Goal Diggers, and the season ends with the murder of one of the stars. The book covers the events leading up to the murder.

I don’t watch tv often, but when I do, my flavor of choice is reality tv. I think it’s partially because I’m part of the reality tv generation. Just as soon as I hit adulthood, Survivor, Big Brother, and The Bachelor, were on everyone’s watch list. I also watch because it’s a true escape from my own reality. Mind numbing? Sure. But it can also be thought-provoking, and I found some room for that in this book as well.

On the surface, this is a story about reality television where women are stabbing each other in the back and being paid. When I dug deeper, I thought about our reality culture and the thin line between truth and fiction. I also reflected on sisterhood, and the competition and drama that can ensue, even when cameras aren’t rolling, filming your every eye roll and blunder.

I found the author’s writing to be intelligent and thought-provoking with a blush of feminism if you are in tune to it. I would expect nothing less from Jessica Knoll.

Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary copy.

I thought the story in general of The Favorite Sister had lots of promise! But it was just too much all over the place. I got confused really early on, and had a hard time keeping track. It got better by 75% in the book and ending was great, but almost DNF. I came really close.

Telling us Brett was dead in the beginning did nothing for me. It would have been a better shocker at the end to have Brett be a surprise death - and the other stuff to also happen that did in conjunction. Not a spolier... they tell you she dies first thing.

It just wasn't necessary to do all the back and forth, now and then. It made the book confusing, it was hard to keep track of where we were in the story and also who's story we were following. I didn't know who was talking, since they were all just really vain horrible people, their voices all seemed so similar. This made it difficult to relate or identify with any character, let alone like them or keep track of them!
I liked Brett at first, but then slowly hated her towards the end.

I found that even in Luckiest Girl Alive, I had trouble even liking ONE character.
Maybe just throw us a bone! just throw in ONE likeable character in your books!

I thought this was better than Knoll's last novel, The Luckiest Girl Alive. I had already seen all the negative reviews of both before I read, so I was prepared for the worst, but was pleasant surprised. The characters in this one have the same effect on me as The Luckiest Girl Alive, meaning I didn't really like any of them. They were written to purposely make us see all their conniving, manipulation, lying, back-stabbing, and all around horrific ways. But I was intrigued enough to keep reading to find out what happened to Brett. It was a quick and painless read. And there are twists, but I ended up figuring those out before they were given. I'm a sucker for a mystery, and this one was set up uniquely, so I had no problem sticking with it till the end. I have the NetGalley advance copy so I'm not sure what I have that's different than the final version, but the ending was fine with me. It made me dislike the character that has the final page of narration even more, but I was okay with the abruptness. Felt more like how it may be on screen.

If the Real Housewives reality shows are your guilty pleasure, then this is the book for you. The book is a whodunit - who killed Brett, one of the four women who star in a reality show about women entrepreneurs. The story is told by her sister, Kelly, who was trying to become one of the cast members at the time of Brett's death and Stephanie, one of the original cast members who fears she is aging out of the show and will not be recast the following season. Kelly is struggling to seize the limelight because, as her sister's business partner, she has to do all the work while Brett has all the fun. Stephanie and Brett used to be besties but something has come between them and the world is watching them duke it out on national television. The characters are well drawn and the story has great pacing. Just when you think you know what happened - think again, you're wrong. You also learn a lot about the gritty underbelly of reality TV, which is fun. I started reading this book in the middle of the night when I couldn't fall asleep and read straight through until I had to get dressed for work the next morning - it's addictive!

THE FAVORITE SISTER by New York Times bestseller Jessica Knoll, author of Luckiest Girl Alive, comes a thriller about two sisters who join the cast of a reality TV series. One won’t make it out alive. So…who did it?

When five hyper-successful women agree to appear on a reality series set in New York City called Goal Diggers, the producers never expect the season will end in murder…

This book centers around a reality show called, "The Goal Diggers", whose purpose is to display high-powered women making a mark in a male-dominated world. The book follows two characters on the show- Brett and Stephanie. There are so many characters in this novel, that I had a hard time trying to keep track of who they were…not that I cared. Because of this, I didn’t connect with the characters and wasn’t drawn into the story.

Sorry this book wasn’t for me, but I am sure it will appeal to some other readers.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster via NetGalley for my copy.

This book forces a close examination of feminism, friendships, and newest trends we all blindly subscribe to without ever asking ourselves if it is really what we want. Peer pressure, body image, toxic relationships, societal expectations - all are covered here. This is more than a thriller; it's a stark look at what drives us to succeed and fit in, even if the costs involve self-compromise. Several reviewers have commented that the characters are unlikable, but each one has a trait we can all relate to, likable or not. The point isn't to fall in love with the characters, but to take a close look at the reality of women in our society through the lens of exaggerated examples. Jennifer Knoll is a talented writer and within the story and characters, hides little truths about the world we live in. Examples include a character's reflection on what it actually means to have a nice smile and why women are excepted to have one; another character laments that men who call women crazy are always the ones who have pushed to that point; and perhaps the most poignant statement is revolves around a domestic violence incidence a male police officer asking if anyone tried to stop "it" instead of asking if anyone tried to stop "him". This isn't a light beach read. It is a thought provoking and complicated look at women and today's society. Yes, there is a mystery/thriller aspect, but there is so much more to this well written novel.

The Favorite Sister is a contemporary tale about ambition, greed, pop culture, the "five minutes of fame" so many Americans seek and the lengths to which they will go to achieve it. Spoiler alert: NONE of the main characters is particularly likable or sympathetic which is part of the point. Knoll takes readers into the world of a reality television series patterned after Bravo's Real Housewives franchise, spotlighting casting maneuvers and machinations, ratings gimmicks, and infighting among the cast members. The story is a droll commentary on relationships between women, feminism, romance, friendship, assumptions, and, of course, "reality" programming. At the outset, Knoll reveals that one of the main characters has died and the book appears, at first blush, to be a murder mystery. Ultimately, however, it is much more. It would be an excellent choice for book clubs because there are many themes and plot points worthy of discussion.
(Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.)

Interesting - a book set around a reality TV show called "Goal Diggers" starring young professional women who have "made it". The story is told alternating both past and present time and from several different points of view so I was somewhat lost the first half of the book and kept backtracking to see whose point of view I was hearing. Once I had an understanding of who the characters were, the second half of the book was much better.

This reminded me very much of the reality TV show "Desperate Housewives". The central theme of the book is "what happened to Brett". There are some surprising twists in the second half that had me intrigued.

The book was not what I expected, but it ended up being a good story and probably gave a good picture of what could happen behind the scenes in reality TV. I think this might appeal more to 20 - 30 year old readers.

Thanks to Jessica Knoll and Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Ever since reading the Luckiest Girl Alive I was eager to read Knoll's next novel. The Favorite Sister did not disappoint. At first I was a bit bothered by the fact that the characters were not that well rounded or fleshed out, but upon reading more I came to understand why this was. I always feel like when I read Knoll's novels that they would make for great movie adaptations. The ending was not what I expected what so ever. At the beginning you know that Brett dies, but who kills her is the true question. You as the reader of course assume that you absolutely know for certain who did it... well guess what... you're probably wrong. I know I was and I typically figure out plots fairly quick. If you're a fan of the tv series Unreal than this is a book for you. It delves and shows the true meat and bones and ugly truth of reality television and the people involved. All are certainly not as they seem. Which leaves the question... are they playing it up for the program... or have they become the part? As always an enjoyable read from Knoll. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

Probably the most important thing to say, if you are a fan of reality TV shows then you will enjoy this book!

This novel follows the story lines of 5 individuals who are members of Goal Diggers, a reality TV show based in New York that showcases women who are up and coming strong women. They are all a bit unconventional, and they all have massive secrets they are hiding. No one stays on the show past the age of 35, and it is a constant battle to stay on top and be showcased in a favorable light. Anyone who watches reality shows knows that there is a lot that must go on in the background, but the actually seediness and back stabbing that really goes on is very entertaining!
Just when I would start to feel sympathetic towards a character, they did something that changed my mind. It was impossible to look away from, much like a reality show on TV. Very entertaining - and impossible to guess "whodunit" in regards to the murder.

Five women together on a reality TV show. The show is about successful females who supposedly support each other. While the successful part is true, the supporting each other is not. What results is a lot of infighting, back stabbing and one upmanship.

Sadly, I have worked with groups of women and think the author was pretty spot on with how women can sometimes behave when in a group setting. Note that I say sometimes and not always. It's been a while since I've been in that environment and I can only hope that things have changed.

I did find the first half of this book to be slow going. Once the women got together for the new season of their show, the storyline picked up significantly. I was pleased with how the author chose to end this. After spending time we these mostly amoral women, it was good to see someone decide to rething their behavior.

I received this from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley.

The Housewives reality series with a built in murder mystery is the center of the novel the Favorite Sister. We meet Brett, Kelly, Lauren, Stephanie and Jen, all suscessful women, most of them without a husband or children, self-made, Goal Diggers. At the beginning of the story, we find out one of them is murdered, as the story continues flipping between the past and now, slowing releasing all the juicy details. Who killed Brett and why? Many secrets are discovered along the way to keep you guessing who was the murderer.

Thick with suspense, this book was even better than Ms Knoll's first novel, The Luckiest Girl Alive. I kept turning pages interested in what secret would be revealed next. And just when you think no more secrets could exist, you are hit with a few more. The last chapter left me surprised - the killer was not at all who I suspected.

I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

Jessica Knoll's The Favorite Sister reads like a TMZ story. The plot centers on five career-oriented woman who have become celebrities from starring in a reality TV show. As you read though the story, you discover that the women's realities are lies and their truths are marred by secrets. Though the story is slow to develop, it gains momentum after a few chapters, pulling you into this world of deception and revealing that the lies have led to murder. The characters are difficult to like, in fact sometimes they are loathed, but you still want to uncover their secrets. Just when you think you have figured out what has led to the murder another twist is added and another layer of lies is torn away. The ending leaves is a bit of a shock but it fitting with the theme of the story, that reality TV is not real and people aren't what they seem.
I really enjoyed reading this book. If you're looking for a story where truth and lies are intermingled and reality is scripted, then pick up this book and enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing this advanced copy of the book, the opinions are my own.

I loved the way Jessica Knoll wrote her first novel and so I was extremely anxious to get my hands on this one. I applied for giveaway after giveaway and finally I got it! Off the bat I must say - this is NOT a thriller or suspense novel and perhaps thats where I was thrown off, I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat, biting tooth and nail to get through another chapter the way I was with her first novel, The Favorite Sister should definitely be described as a drama, as any good reality show is. I read another review of the book and he stated The Favorite Sister = When the Real Housewives and Big Little Lies collide and I couldn't agree more. This book provides pop culture, drama, juicy gossip and mystery. The characters were described very well, I have a great picture of each Goal Digger in my head (Goal Diggers is a reality show that strives to show millennial women successfully undertaking careers, while pushing gender norms aside). Off the bat I couldn't put all the pieces together for quite awhile. I felt that there was too much being thrown at me at once and throughout felt overloaded with feminist political agenda. There were many times I put the book down and had to try again later but I refuse to NOT finish a book. Reading the 'behind the scenes' of reality television was fascinating and disappointing at the same time, I found myself wanting to befriend Jessica just to find out if her research proved this to be true?! At the end, I'm very glad I followed this one through. Once I finished I realized the twists and the turns and I saw the plot for the written reality show that it was, exploring how self absorbed , catty and vindictive women (and the one man in the book) can be especially about their own agendas. But let's be honest, I wouldn't want to be on the edge of the couch for the reunion show.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Five women together on a reality TV show. The show is about successful females who supposedly support each other. While the successful part is true, the supporting each other is not. What results is a lot of infighting, back stabbing and one upmanship.

Sadly, I have worked with groups of women and think the author was pretty spot on with how women can sometimes behave when in a group setting. Note that I say sometimes and not always. It's been a while since I've been in that environment and I can only hope that things have changed.

I did find the first half of this book to be slow going. Once the women got together for the new season of their show, the storyline picked up significantly. I was pleased with how the author chose to end this. After spending time we these mostly amoral women, it was good to see someone decide to rething their behavior.

I received this from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley.

The Housewives reality series with a built in murder mystery is the center of the novel the Favorite Sister. We meet Brett, Kelly, Lauren, Stephanie and Jen, all suscessful women, most of them without a husband or children, self-made, Goal Diggers. At the beginning of the story, we find out one of them is murdered, as the story continues flipping between the past and now, slowing releasing all the juicy details. Who killed Brett and why? Many secrets are discovered along the way to keep you guessing who was the murderer.

Thick with suspense, this book was even better than Ms Knoll's first novel, The Luckiest Girl Alive. I kept turning pages interested in what secret would be revealed next. And just when you think no more secrets could exist, you are hit with a few more. The last chapter left me surprised - the killer was not at all who I suspected.

I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

Jessica Knoll's The Favorite Sister reads like a TMZ story. The plot centers on five career-oriented woman who have become celebrities from starring in a reality TV show. As you read though the story, you discover that the women's realities are lies and their truths are marred by secrets. Though the story is slow to develop, it gains momentum after a few chapters, pulling you into this world of deception and revealing that the lies have led to murder. The characters are difficult to like, in fact sometimes they are loathed, but you still want to uncover their secrets. Just when you think you have figured out what has led to the murder another twist is added and another layer of lies is torn away. The ending leaves is a bit of a shock but it fitting with the theme of the story, that reality TV is not real and people aren't what they seem.
I really enjoyed reading this book. If you're looking for a story where truth and lies are intermingled and reality is scripted, then pick up this book and enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing this advanced copy of the book, the opinions are my own.

I loved the way Jessica Knoll wrote her first novel and so I was extremely anxious to get my hands on this one. I applied for giveaway after giveaway and finally I got it! Off the bat I must say - this is NOT a thriller or suspense novel and perhaps thats where I was thrown off, I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat, biting tooth and nail to get through another chapter the way I was with her first novel, The Favorite Sister should definitely be described as a drama, as any good reality show is. I read another review of the book and he stated The Favorite Sister = When the Real Housewives and Big Little Lies collide and I couldn't agree more. This book provides pop culture, drama, juicy gossip and mystery. The characters were described very well, I have a great picture of each Goal Digger in my head (Goal Diggers is a reality show that strives to show millennial women successfully undertaking careers, while pushing gender norms aside). Off the bat I couldn't put all the pieces together for quite awhile. I felt that there was too much being thrown at me at once and throughout felt overloaded with feminist political agenda. There were many times I put the book down and had to try again later but I refuse to NOT finish a book. Reading the 'behind the scenes' of reality television was fascinating and disappointing at the same time, I found myself wanting to befriend Jessica just to find out if her research proved this to be true?! At the end, I'm very glad I followed this one through. Once I finished I realized the twists and the turns and I saw the plot for the written reality show that it was, exploring how self absorbed , catty and vindictive women (and the one man in the book) can be especially about their own agendas. But let's be honest, I wouldn't want to be on the edge of the couch for the reunion show.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This mystery thriller is so fascinating because it involves women who are cast in a reality television show called Goal Diggers, which makes it seem especially timely and also provides an excellent backdrop for dark comedy, social commentary, and murder.

This was told from alternating first person perspectives, which was the perfect way for this story to unfold. I could not tear myself away as twist after twist was revealed. I found myself so engrossed, and this was so well written and realistic, that I forgot that I was reading a work of fiction. The characters are believable and complex, and their voices seem authentic. This book is marinated in pop culture references. This is the perfect read for the beach, vacation, or escape. It is easy to read and entertaining, while at the same time very thought provoking.

The Favorite Sister is a story of five wealthy, self-made women living in NYC and filming a reality show called Goal Diggers (think Bravo’s Real Housewives of any city). Readers are taken on a wild ride navigating friendships and business opportunities. When the cameras are rolling these women support and lift each other up, but once the cameras are gone…get ready for the backstabbing, plotting against one another, and manipulation to begin. In the first chapter, you are told that one of the main characters is dead; the book’s characters lead you through their takes on the events that ultimately lead to her untimely death. I thought I had it all figured out numerous times, but after many twists and turns, I ended up being completely wrong. The references to recent current events were a nice addition; some made me laugh and it kept it feeling fresh. I found the book very slow to start, I was having a hard time keeping the characters straight, but I’m glad I stuck it out because I ended up loving it! The Favorite Sister is a great book that will leave you guessing right up until the end.

I really enjoyed this book. The world of reality TV is something I don't understand, I don't watch it and I don't like it, and the women in this book just confirmed one reason why I don't. I know this is fiction but I can imagine a version of the events in this book really happen, the lying, the backstabbing, the fake fights for TV, the real fights, the fabricating of their jobs or causes, but maybe not the murder.....but I can imagine it would go down like this.

I thought the book had good twists and turns and kept me engaged. There wasn't a single "good" character in the book, including Layla. While women really should be helping each other and building each other up I know that this other seedy side definitely exists! I enjoyed this book much more than her last one.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers for the ARC.

This book had potential, but never reached it. The first half to three quarters was ridiculously confusing because the author talks about multiple, if not all, the characters without introducing them first. I kept going back to see if I'd missed something, but I hadn't. Terrible, terrible structure to use. Also, not to go on a rant here, but I wish "The Girl on a Train" was never written, so every book didn't have to continually switch between past and present. This one does, and it's confusing also- no shocker there. I did like the story a little, though, and finished the book eventually, so it wasn't all bad. Ms. Knoll can write, no doubt about it, but this one was a miss for me.

First of all, I’m not typically one that watches reality TV. For that reason, I didn’t know if I would love this book, but I was drawn to the murder mystery aspect of it. I’m a total sucker for a good mystery.

The book. We meet five women that are part of a reality show called Goal Diggers. We get to hear two sides of the story leading up to Brett’s death- Brett’s side and Stephanie’s side. Don’t worry- that’s not a spoiler. We also get an intertwined present day story from Kelly, Brett’s sister. No one is who they claim to be. As with reality TV, things are never what they seem. We are introduced to the real characters and who they claim to be on Goal Diggers. The show wants ratings and that’s what everyone is out to get. You’ll see there are liars, cheaters, and some real B’s.

Despite the fact that I don’t care for reality TV, I really enjoyed the book. I couldn’t put it down for the last third. It was like a guilty pleasure and totally addicting. Must take this one on vacation!

I REALLY wanted to like this. I loved Luckiest Girl Alive and am a huge reality tv fan (watched RHOC from the beginning, whoop). Needless to say, I was very excited to read The Favorite Sister. The book just...no. I felt absolutely disgusted after reading this book. I hated all of the characters and it made me question my devotion to reality tv (ha just kidding I will still watch Vanderpump Rules forever). The characters were prone to giving mini lectures/monologues throughout which became eye roll inducing.

The book was also extremely confusing at points and hard to follow. And when it was revealed who killed Brett I just thought eh, so what.

The book was certainly entertaining at points but it fell flat for me. Oh well

This book had a crazy beginning and I lost interest in a lot of the fighting and all the characters. I got through it tho and ended up liking the words used by the author and found some parts funny. The end I thought was the best part. I don't normally read books like this and decided to give it a try. It took me a little while in to catch on with what was going on, I really thought I would stop a few times.

I'm glad I stuck with it. I really liked the ending. There are a lot of good reviews on other social media sites so I don't want to discourage you. Please don't go by my review, it just wasn't the book for me.

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Net Gallery for the opportunity.

Cherie'

The cover is beautiful

I enjoyed Knoll's first book and looked forward to reading this but.....sad to report that I DNF 45 percent through. This is a topical novel for using reality tv and reality tv candidates as subjects but gosh it was boring. AND, more importantly, I had a hard time telling the voices from one another and understanding why I should care about any of them. The three main characters- Stephanie, Kelly, and Brett are the most fleshed out because they are the narrators but details were parceled out so slowly that I lost interest. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Others might enjoy this but it never engaged me despite my efforts to keep powering through. I'll admit to clicking to the end to see what happened and, well, leave it to you to decide.

Five successful women sign up for a reality tv show focused on their lives, sounds like perfect right? Wrong, a lot can go wrong when you sign up for the world to see your every move. The ladies soon find them self wrapped up in a murder of a fellow cast member. The Favorite Sister is told from multiple different view points and timelines. It took me a long time to get into this story because of the alternating voices and time lines. The story was entertaining, and the writing was strong. My only issue was the confusing voices. I think a lot of people might put this one down because its too hard to figure out whats going on in the first 100 or so pages. However if you stick with it, you'll enjoy the twist and turns of the story.