A story of family drama, sibling relationships and deep held secrets and resentments. Mickey and Arlo are sisters separated by a father who abandoned one and fiercely loved another. Yet when he dies and leaves Mickey his money, on the condition she attends therapy with her half sister, it opens wounds left to fester.

This was one of the best portrayals of alcoholism and it's social implications I've ever read. There's the generational trauma, the functional alcoholic who still goes to work and tries desperately to hide their addition, and there's the ripple effect of loved ones having to deal with the fall out and care of said addiction. I liked the dynamics between the sisters. Both of them have so much in common beyond a shared parent, yet they don't see it at first. To see them work through their issues without actually knowing who the other is was an interesting way to introduce their relationship, The secondary characters also helped flesh out the sisters, give them a backstory and more substance and complexity to them beyond the central themes of family and addiction.

I'm amazed this is a debut, given how nuanced the characters were. An emotional and thought provoking read that deals with hard topics in a sensitive and interesting way.

Michelle is a kindergarten teacher, she and her mother were abandoned by her father when she was a child, he was an alcoholic and abusive. She learns of his death through the obituary in the paper, and she later gets a call from a lawyer who is handling the estate that her late father left her 5.5 million but she has to meet conditions in order to inherit the money.

Charlotte is a therapist, who ideally should have all the tools to handle her father's death, but she is struggling, and when she learns her father left her nothing in the will she spirals. But little does she know her father had a plan for her after his death, and coming face to face with her half sister may be the key to them both finally healing from the devastation their father left in their lives.

I think the author did an incredible job of writing very flawed and broken people. Both Michelle and Charlotte were absolutely awful people, and I hated them for practically the whole book. I had a lot of trouble relating to them and did not feel sympathy for them which was my main problem with the book. The author also really nailed the therapy portion of the book, and how is takes rock bottom to really recognize you need to make a change. The book just did not invoke any emotion from me.

Morgan Dick’s novel about two sisters who discover each other after the death of their alcoholic father is a compelling story packed with interesting characters and thought provoking issues.
It's a great debut novel that tackles the age-old issues of messed-up families and the damage they can cause. It's an intriguing tale about complex lives, and it manages to be both darkly funny and deeply unsettling.
While I didn't find the plot entirely believable, it was an enjoyable read.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC.

This book is whip-smart and unflinchingly raw in the best possible way. It’s a story that understands brokenness with such clarity and humor that it never feels heavy, just honest. Every page walks the tightrope between grief and sarcasm and somehow never loses balance. I loved it for its voice, for its sharp observations, for the way it let hurt exist alongside the possibility of connection. It was cathartic, clever, and just completely unforgettable.

A novel full is misunderstanding. Mickey has lost her father twice - once when he ran out on her and her mother when she was seven years old, and then more recently when he died and unexpectedly left her a lot of money - but on condition of attending therapy. Which is something she definitely needs, being an alcoholic kindergarten teacher with people issues. But when she gets to therapy, the therapist isn't all that she seems.

This is a very dark, very funny and also very disturbing view of the impact close relationships have on vulnerable people, and how help can come from unexpected places.

Half sisters Mickey and Arlo share the same father however have never met. Their father, an alcoholic, walked away from Mickey and her mother when Mickey was seven years old. Mickey's feelings towards her father are nothing but hatred, and when she reads of his death in an obituary she simply shrugs and carries on with her life as a nursery teacher. Mickey is herself dependent on alcohol, carrying a bottle of vodka in her bag most of the time. Arlo, a qualified psychotherapist, nursed her father in the final months of his life, caring for his every need. Both girls are shocked to learn it is Mickey who has inherited a substantial amount of his money, whilst Arlo has been left nothing. There is a catch however, Mickey must attend seven therapy sessions with Arlo before she can receive the cash. With neither girl knowing the true identity of each other this is a car crash waiting to happen.

I struggled with the writing style of this novel initially, finding it difficult to warm to either protagonist or any of the other characters introduced at the beginning of the story. Whilst I understand the need for the author to introduce the reader to each character I felt the first few chapters were a tad disjointed making it hard to find any sympathy for the plight of either girl. In fact to start with, I didn't like either of them very much. Receiving an ARC means you need to persevere and I am so pleased I did. I became more and more invested in their lives and the decisions they were making, alternating between despair and delight as they careered toward the inevitable revelation of their familial connection.

Morgan Dick includes some interesting and thought-provoking themes including ethical dilemma, dysfunctional families and their dynamics, the impact of alcoholism on families, mother/daughter and father/daughter relationships, parental abandonment, grief and inheritance. Ultimately I found myself fully invested in both girls and their emotional challenges. This is a deeply perceptive and (after the first few chapters) compelling read with a satisfactory ending that would make a fabulous book club choice, with many interesting discussion points.

If you enjoy complex and chaotic family dynamics with slightly quirky humour this is for you.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased opinion

I loved this story, Mickey doesn’t need her father and hasn’t needed him since he walked out on her and her mother, but on his death she learns she is due to inherit a large amount of money on the proviso she has counselling. The counselling is with her half sister Arlo, who has been cut out of the will, but neither of them realise they are related.
A great read with good characters and a good story.

This was an easy and enjoyable read, despite the heavy themes it explores (grief, alcoholism, child abandonment, childhood poverty). The author uses dry humour and creates brilliantly chaotic characters, who you're not supposed to particularly like. The plot was clever and though at times it felt unrealistic, the witty writing for me meant that Dick had a bit of creative license with the plotline! It just works and I'll definitely read more from her and recommend this to others.

Life, it can be challenging, whether you're a therapist by profession or not. Favourite Daughter weaves plausible characters with wit and issues. Having watched (perhaps discovered it quite late), In Treatment, this book intrigued me and feels very real with a rather different take on family drama.

Life, it can be challenging, whether you're a therapist by profession or not. Favourite Daughter weaves plausible characters with wit and issues. Having watched (perhaps discovered it quite late), In Treatment, this book intrigued me and feels very real with a rather different take on family drama.

Dick crafts a narrative that delves into the psychological depths of her characters, presenting them as deeply flawed human beings. Aren't we all?. The novel's strength lies in its raw portrayal of complex emotions and the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters. While some readers may find the characters' actions challenging, the story offers a thought-provoking read about the impact of family dynamics.​

Overall, Favourite Daughter is a promising debut that combines personal and family struggles. It's a compelling read for those interested in character-driven stories that don't shy away from the messiness of human relationships and complicated family dynamics.

When kindergarten teacher Mickey learns of her father’s death through an obituary, her reaction is one of indifference. At 33, her life is relatively simple—aside from a fondness for vodka and secret binges of Bridgerton. So when her father’s lawyer unexpectedly reaches out, she’s blindsided. After all, it’s been 26 years since he abandoned her and her mother. The real shock? He’s left her a substantial inheritance—one with significant strings attached.

Circumstances soon draw Mickey into the orbit of Arlo (also known as Charlotte), her half-sister and a psychologist. What begins as a reluctant connection becomes a tangled emotional journey, with both women confronting truths they'd long buried. One is a therapist, the other a reluctant participant, but both are searching—for answers, for reconciliation, for something solid to hold onto. Will their bond survive what they uncover?

This novel is deeply emotional, beautifully written, and thought-provoking. It explores the raw terrain of grief and the many ways it manifests, while also diving into the intricacies of familial relationships—particularly the complicated bonds between parent and child. These dynamics evolve throughout the story, sometimes painfully, sometimes with glimmers of hope. The author handles these shifting tones with grace, taking readers on an emotional rollercoaster—at times intense and chaotic, like witnessing lives derail in real time.

What stands out most is the sharp, empathetic characterisation. These are flawed, hurting people, yet they’re rendered with such care that you can’t help but root for them—even when they sabotage themselves. Mickey, in particular, is a complex mix of vulnerability and resistance. At times I wanted to hug her; other times, I wanted to give her a firm shake. The interactions between Mickey and Arlo are especially powerful—tense, raw, and emotionally charged as they attempt to make sense of their shared past and uncertain future.

The ending strikes just the right note, offering a sense of resolution and the possibility of healing after so much turmoil.

Overall, this is a moving and memorable read, one that pulled me in completely. A compelling, heartfelt novel delivered with wit, depth, and emotional authenticity.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy

This was a great book that delved into topics such as father/daughter relationships and addiction. It was quite heavy at times but I was very emotionally invested and it was very well written highly recommend

Two half-sisters who have never met find themselves in a very strange position following the death of their father. Charlotte and Michelle have had very different upbringings as.a result of their father abandoning his first wife (and daughter); they are outwardly different but maybe they have more in common than they realize.

This is a very entertaining story on the surface but also looks at father-daughter and to a lesser extent mother-daughter relationships.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this one but I was pleasantly surprised at the did not notice the time passing as I raced through the chapters. Favourite Daughter is an excellently written slightly off-beat story that I would highly recommend to others!!

Favourite Daughter @morgandick_author 💖🌸💚🌿

Follows Mickey, a teacher who learns that she is to be given the fortune that her father has left behind. After not seeing her father in 26 years this is a massive surprise. She is given one condition before she is given the money, she must go to therapy.

Arlo is a Therapist, has just lost her farther, she has been beside his side for years throughout his treatment and care, now she is shocked by news regarding her inheritance.

I really enjoyed this emotional and thought provoking book, the characters and relationships are complicated and raw, I loved that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5

4/5

Despite the cover I really enjoyed this book, which I thought was going to be a lot more lighthearted than it was.

Mickey Morris is a kindergarten teacher with an alcohol problem. Mickey's absent father just died, which she's not too bothered about since he abandoned her and her mother when she was only a child. However her father has left her a fortune but to get it she must undergo several sessions of therapy with Arlo.

Arlo's is a psychologist whose beloved father just died. But before his demise he cut her completely out of his will. Arlo is devastated to learn that he has left millions to his estranged child, Michelle Kowalski. She is dealing with her own problems at her practice, having lost a client to suicide.

The two sisters are thrown together without realising who the other is. The question is, is Mickey prepared to face up to her demons and admit that she uses alcohol to get along in the world? And will Arlo's rage at her father's final act blind her to helping any clients as her love for him before he died had left her almost friendless before his death.

This book deals with some incredibly difficult subjects - child abandonment, alcoholism, professional ethics and suicide. It sounds as though it would be two sisters at each other's throats but Morgan Dick deals with it in a very sensitive way. She brings in other characters to round out Mickey and Arlo and give them some depth but both, deeply flawed as they are, are very likeable.

A really good read that kept my attention throughout and I enjoyed coming back to. I would recommend this highly.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin for the advance review copy.

This was an interesting book showing grief and addiction.
How things can affect different people, even within the same family.

At times I struggled to get through this. The writing felt slow and dragging. But overall it tackles important topics.

Evidence suggests that unless preferential treatment is extreme, most offspring are not impacted by being the least favourite child. But I think being left $5.5m in a father’s will versus being disinherited at the eleventh hour definitely constitutes both ‘preferential’ and ‘extreme’ treatment!
Mickey was abandoned by her father at age seven and later by her mother too, when Mickey’s alcohol addiction dictated that her mother institute some boundaries in their relationship. We meet Mickey, a well-intentioned kindergarten teacher, on the verge of an ill-advised choice.
Arlo is a therapist who adored her father and who cared for him her whole life, especially as his health deteriorated. But she depended on him excessively with her own life decisions, and her training has ill-prepared her to handle the grief his death triggers.
So it is a shock to both half-sisters to separately discover it is Mickey who is the will’s beneficiary, but with the stipulation that she attends seven sessions at a prescribed therapy practice. Arlo’s! From beyond the grave is their father orchestrating his daughters’ first meeting, hoping they will remedy each other’s problems and in doing so right a lifetime of his own wrongs?
The story draws on Dick’s personal struggles with mental health issues and the extent to which they can be resolved. Through Mickey, she explores living with an addiction and developing the self-awareness to recognise the delusion of being in control. And with Arlo we experience a crisis of self-confidence leading to breaches of ethics and trust resulting in selfish behaviour bordering on the predatory.
The narrative is told from the alternating messiness of the half-sister’s lives and perspectives and constructed around a concept with some important messages to impart. It is pacy and entertaining despite all the characters being flawed, albeit my preferred treatment would have seen the women’s experiences take the reader to even darker places and for the plotlines to be slightly less neatly tessellated.

Mickey and Arlo are half-sisters. But they've never spoken and never met. Arlo adored her father - but always lived in the shadow of his personality and burdensome vices. Meanwhile, their father abandoned Mickey and her mother years ago, and Mickey has hated him ever since. When she receives news of her fathers passing, Mickey is shocked to learn that he's left her his not inconsiderable fortune. Mickey must attend a series of therapy sessions before the money can be released. Unbeknownist to either woman. the psychologist Mickey's father has ensured she meets with her half'sister Arlo.

Mickey has had no contact with her father for twenty-six years. Then her father's lawyer contacts her to tell her that her father has passed away, and that he has left her some money, but she can only access it after she has attended some therapy sessions. The therapist her father has chosen for her is \mickey's half-sister Arlo.

This is quite an emotional and shock-provoking read. The story is told from the sister's perspectives. I could not put it dpwn.

Published 1st May 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author #MorganDick for my ARC of #FavouriteDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

This novel has so much dramatic irony that I was just gleefully anticipating the moment when the characters would realise what kind of situation they landed themselves in. The narrative alternates between two half-sisters after the recent death of their father. He has bequeathed five and a half million to his estranged daughter (Mickey/Michelle) from his first marriage and none to his other daughter from his second marriage (Arlo/Charlotte) on one condition: Mickey must attend seven therapy sessions, vouchers included. Unbeknownst to them both, the vouchers given to Mickey were for Arlo's services, so they end up in a therapist-client relationship. The funny thing is that they are both so, so messed up.

Mickey gets fired from her job as kindergarten teacher because her alcoholism is starting to affect her work days. In her mind, though, she's unable to see herself as anything but as a good person, a great teacher, someone who has their life together and is doing well in spite of her bad parents. In short, she perceives herself as a victim. Arlo, on the other hand, is still labouring under the delusion that her father was a wonderful man, a great father, her favourite person in the world, which is why she cannot process why she's been written out of the will.

As time progresses and the women confront others' opinions and versions of what happened, they start to lose faith in their respective worldviews. They also start to spiral, sometimes quite spectacularly. For Mickey, she must acknowledge that she needs help and to actually seek it; for Arlo, she needs to stop putting her father on a pedestal and acknowledge the harm that he has done to the four women in his life. Although the thing connecting them is not ideal—i.e., a shitty dad—Mickey and Arlo also learn what it means to be family.

Ok, so going to start by mentioning I read this in a single sitting. It was so compulsively readable that I just couldn’t put it down, with an engaging writing style that had me instantly hooked. The premise is a little bit farfetched, and there were times when character motivations became a little unbelievable, but overall this was a brilliant novel reflecting on themes of family, sisterhood, addiction, trauma and isolation.

Alcohol addiction was presented in a brutally realistic way, showing the impact this can have on family, personal relationships and your career. It was a tough read at times, but also a heartwarming one, providing detailed insight into addiction from two perspectives, and reflecting on the barriers to recovery.

Some conflicts in this did seem to be resolved too easily, and it didn’t always feel fully believable. I was happy for the characters, but thought that everything was wrapped up a bit too neatly, particularly given the time frame. Also there was an unnecessary reference to a few awful real people, which didn’t need to be there and didn’t mesh well with the character voice for me. However, I loved this overall, and was captivated by the world and characters the author created.

One of my favourite bits of this was seeing the sisters interact, especially when they didn’t know much about each other. It was interesting to watch their relationship develop across the book as they bonded over similar experiences, despite their differences. Both were fantastic characters, realistically flawed but loveable, and I enjoyed reading about them.

A thoroughly engaging, emotional and heartwarming novel. Thank you to @vikingbooksuk for the NetGalley arc 😊