"The Favorite Daughter" by Kaira Rouda

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✩

As the one year anniversary of the death of her daughter Mary approaches, Jane decides that she needs to try to shake off the grief that has consumed her and start making an effort to be an active part of her family again. Her husband has been working long hours and avoiding her. Her remaining daughter, Betsy, is about to graduate from high school but also hasn't been home much and avoids Jane whenever she can. They've all been grieving and clearly Jane needs to step up and resume her role as loving wife and mother to bring her family back together. This novel takes place over a span of 4 days and is told entirely from the perspective of Jane who we quickly discover is more than a bit...delusional. I loved the clever asides when Jane addresses the reader directly as if we were her confidante. I did find the story to verge on predictable but there were enough twists to keep me entertained and being inside the head of a delusional narcissist was deliciously engrossing. A perfect summer read. If you enjoyed "The Au Pair" you'll love this one!

Thank you to Graydon House Books and #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheFavoriteDaughter

Ugly cry potential: Low
LOL:  Medium
Character development: Good
Unputdownable-ness: High
Originality: Medium
Quality of Writing: Good
Intellectual Depth: Low
Emotionally Trying: Low

“How Not to Die Alone” by Richard Roper

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✩

Andrew is the male version of Eleanor Oliphant. He is socially awkward and emotionally damaged but incredibly kind and endearing. He works for the British Council and his job is to go to the homes of people who have died alone to try and determine if there is any next of kin and/or funds to pay for a funeral. Due to a misunderstanding during his job interview, Andrew’s co-workers all think that Andrew has a wife and two children. It started out as a simple mistake but grows into a complicated and comical web of lies especially after Peggy starts working with him and reminds him what it feels like to have a social life that exists outside of an online chat group. This book is laugh-out-loud funny, touching, dark and calamitous. 

Ugly cry potential: Med-Low

LOL:  High

Character development: Good

Unputdownable-ness: Medium-high

Originality: Medium

Quality of Writing: Good

Intellectual Depth: Medium

Emotionally Trying: Med-Low

Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. #HowNotToDieAlone