The Favor by Adele Griffin: Book Review

The Favor is the suspenseful story of two women from different social classes who share a journey as one woman carries a baby for the other.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

From The Publisher:

At I’ll Have Seconds, a high-end fairytale vintage dress shop in Manhattan, Nora Hammond loves nothing better than pairing a rare find with the perfect client.

At home, Nora grapples with the bleaker reality of enormous debt, a tiny apartment, and ever-dwindling hope that she and her husband Jacob will have a family of their own.

When socialite Evelyn Elliot charges into Nora’s life, the women spark an immediate connection, and Nora is jettisoned into the heady whirl of New York’s moneyed elite. As Evelyn’s stylist and confidante, Nora needs to learn all new rules of engagement for the uber-wealthy. But it isn’t until Evelyn decides her next cause is to carry a baby for Nora, that these rules― and this unlikely friendship―are tested.

A contemporary story that celebrates alternative routes to family, The Favor is an incisive examination of what it means to long for a child and what relationships cost us―and what they’re worth.

My Thoughts:

Nora and her husband are experiencing the financial strains of having been through multiple courses of IVF. Now her male co-worker at I’ll Have Seconds, a Manhattan high-end vintage dress shop has announced that he and his husband are expecting twins via a surrogate.

When a multi-millionaire named Evelyn comes into the shop, Nora spins her magic finding multiple pieces perfect for her. The two get on famously despite the differences in social class and Evelyn begins paying Nora to find her unique pieces. The extra money begins allowing Nora to pay off some of their debt. Eventually, the relationship grows to the extent that the two begin socializing together.

Then Evelyn offers to be Nora’s surrogate for the one remaining embryo. After careful contemplation, Nora and her husband agree and begin to dream of their long-awaited child. Evelyn decides to track and monetize this journey on social media. Her jet-setting lifestyle continues as the pregnancy progresses. Then a break in trust between the two women starts to threaten everything in their relationship.

What an interesting story of social class, friendship and trust! The Favor is propulsive and suspenseful with messaging surrounding trust. The characters are well-developed with interesting backstories. The story flows logically and the conclusion satisfying. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Literary Fiction or Women’s Fiction.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Meant To Be by Emily Giffin