The Favorite Sister

The Favorite Sister follows five women who star in a reality TV show called Goal Diggers, which showcases successful female entrepreneurs in New York City. When one of the cast members is found dead, the story moves between past and present to reveal the complex dynamics between these ambitious women. Brett Courtney is a fan favorite on the show - a young, wellness brand founder who built her company with her older sister Kelly. The other cast members include a dating app creator, a bestselling author, and the founder of a juice bar empire, each bringing their own agenda and secrets to the production. Through the lens of reality television, the novel explores female relationships, ambition, and authenticity in the modern media landscape. The book peels back layers of performative feminism and manufactured drama to examine how women navigate power, success, and competition in public spaces.

Readers report the book starts slowly and requires patience to get through the first third. Many note it becomes more engaging after the initial chapters, with the murder mystery and reality TV elements drawing them in. Readers appreciated: - Sharp commentary on female relationships and competition - Behind-the-scenes look at reality TV production - Complex female characters - Unexpected plot twists - Dark humor throughout Common criticisms: - Too many narrators/POV switches - Confusing timeline jumps - Difficult to connect with or like any characters - Marketing misleadingly positioned it as a thriller - Dense writing style requires concentration Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (450+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 3.4/5 (200+ ratings) "The story drags for the first 100 pages but pays off if you stick with it," notes one Amazon reviewer. A frequent Goodreads comment mentions "wanting to like the characters but finding them all deeply unlikeable."

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🎬 Author Jessica Knoll was inspired to write The Favorite Sister after observing the dynamics of reality TV shows like The Real Housewives franchise. 📚 The book tackles complex themes of female competition, success, and sisterhood while simultaneously serving as a murder mystery thriller. 💼 Before becoming a novelist, Knoll worked as a senior editor at Cosmopolitan magazine and later as an editor at SELF magazine. 🔍 The novel's portrayal of wellness culture and yoga entrepreneurship reflects real-world trends in the multi-billion dollar wellness industry. ⭐ The Favorite Sister debuted on the USA Today Best-Selling Books list and was named one of the most anticipated books of 2018 by multiple publications, including Entertainment Weekly and Bustle.