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Co nam zostawił
Dwie kobiety. Jeden testament. Tajemnica, która zmieni wszystko.
Arlo jest terapeutką, uczy ludzi, jak radzić sobie z bólem. Wie, co powiedzieć, gdy ktoś czuje się niewidzialny. Umie przekonać, że dzieciństwo nie definiuje całego życia. Ale kiedy umarł jej ojciec, cała ta wiedza przestała mieć znaczenie. Zwłaszcza gdy okazało się, że wykreślił Arlo z testamentu.
W tym samym czasie Mickey, przedszkolanka z bagażem trudnych doświadczeń, niespodziewanie dowiaduje się, że została w tym testamencie uwzględniona. Jednak aby dostać spadek, musi spełnić jeden warunek – odbyć serię sesji terapeutycznych u Arlo.
Żadna z nich nie wie, że są siostrami. Obie mierzą się z żalem do ojca – jedna za to, że ją porzucił, druga za to, że odrzucił ją w ostatniej chwili. Spotkanie zmusza je do konfrontacji z przeszłością i odpowiedzi na pytanie, czym tak naprawdę jest rodzina. Z każdym kolejnym spotkaniem granice między pacjentką a terapeutką się zacierają, a prawda, którą odkrywają, okazuje się trudniejsza do zaakceptowania, niż mogły przypuszczać.
To co nam zostawił to poruszająca historia o rodzinnych więziach, trudnych wyborach i odwadze, jakiej potrzeba, by otworzyć się na nowe. To opowieść o nas wszystkich – o tym, co robimy, by zasłużyć na czyjąś miłość, o tym, co boli najbardziej, i o tym co zostaje, kiedy już nie mamy do kogo zadzwonić.
Arlo jest terapeutką, uczy ludzi, jak radzić sobie z bólem. Wie, co powiedzieć, gdy ktoś czuje się niewidzialny. Umie przekonać, że dzieciństwo nie definiuje całego życia. Ale kiedy umarł jej ojciec, cała ta wiedza przestała mieć znaczenie. Zwłaszcza gdy okazało się, że wykreślił Arlo z testamentu.
W tym samym czasie Mickey, przedszkolanka z bagażem trudnych doświadczeń, niespodziewanie dowiaduje się, że została w tym testamencie uwzględniona. Jednak aby dostać spadek, musi spełnić jeden warunek – odbyć serię sesji terapeutycznych u Arlo.
Żadna z nich nie wie, że są siostrami. Obie mierzą się z żalem do ojca – jedna za to, że ją porzucił, druga za to, że odrzucił ją w ostatniej chwili. Spotkanie zmusza je do konfrontacji z przeszłością i odpowiedzi na pytanie, czym tak naprawdę jest rodzina. Z każdym kolejnym spotkaniem granice między pacjentką a terapeutką się zacierają, a prawda, którą odkrywają, okazuje się trudniejsza do zaakceptowania, niż mogły przypuszczać.
To co nam zostawił to poruszająca historia o rodzinnych więziach, trudnych wyborach i odwadze, jakiej potrzeba, by otworzyć się na nowe. To opowieść o nas wszystkich – o tym, co robimy, by zasłużyć na czyjąś miłość, o tym, co boli najbardziej, i o tym co zostaje, kiedy już nie mamy do kogo zadzwonić.
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
462 people are currently reading
32327 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Dick
4 books70 followersMorgan Dick is a writer from Calgary, Canada. Her short fiction has appeared in Grain, Geist, CAROUSEL, Cloud Lake Literary, The Prairie Journal, Vagabond City Lit, and The Humber Literary Review. Her debut novel draws from her time working in the mental health field.
---
Oh, hi!
I'm Morgan, a writer from Calgary, Canada.
FAVO(U)RITE DAUGHTER, my debut novel, releases on April 29, 2025 in Canada/US and on May 1, 2025 in the UK.
When not at my desk, I can usually be found hiking in the Rocky Mountains, flailing about on cross country skis, or making up stories with my three niblings, the best writers of all.
---
Oh, hi!
I'm Morgan, a writer from Calgary, Canada.
FAVO(U)RITE DAUGHTER, my debut novel, releases on April 29, 2025 in Canada/US and on May 1, 2025 in the UK.
When not at my desk, I can usually be found hiking in the Rocky Mountains, flailing about on cross country skis, or making up stories with my three niblings, the best writers of all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,004 reviews
December 10, 2025
i didn't even know my parents wrote a book about me
this was a delightful book about horrible people (so again: could be my personal story).
i read a lot of this with my shoulders at my ears, which included several points at which i physically made myself put this book down because it was elevating my blood pressure and culminated in me giving in and devouring half of it in one sitting.
i love books in which everything starts out horrible and ends wonderfully for their soothing properties, but rarely do they feel as razor sharp and complicated and unforgiving and real as this one. it was very funny, and very tough, and somehow overall a good time.
bottom line: all my fellow forgiveness stans get in on this.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
this was a delightful book about horrible people (so again: could be my personal story).
i read a lot of this with my shoulders at my ears, which included several points at which i physically made myself put this book down because it was elevating my blood pressure and culminated in me giving in and devouring half of it in one sitting.
i love books in which everything starts out horrible and ends wonderfully for their soothing properties, but rarely do they feel as razor sharp and complicated and unforgiving and real as this one. it was very funny, and very tough, and somehow overall a good time.
bottom line: all my fellow forgiveness stans get in on this.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
February 7, 2025
4+
Kindergarten teacher, Mickey reads of her father‘s death via an obituary with indifference. She’s 33, has few vices if you don’t count the vodka and surreptitious episodes of Bridgerton. To her huge surprise, her father‘s lawyer contacts her. Why is it a surprise? Well, she has had no contact with her father for twenty six years since he left her and her mother. He leaves her a bequest which is both large and conditional. An unfortunate sequence of circumstances forces Mickey to engage with Arlo (Charlotte), Mickey‘s half sister and a psychologist and both are in for some unexpected shocks. Therapist and patient, both seeking truths of a different kind. Make or break?
This is an emotional, moving and thought provoking read that I find compelling and very engaging. It’s a novel that encompasses many things and does so with feeling and authenticity. First and foremost, it’s about loss and grief which characters inevitably respond to differently. It’s also about relationships, between mother and daughter, between father and daughter and so on, these are complex family issues and we ‘watch’ how these change and evolve. I love the way the author has written it with a constantly changing tone. The dynamics are really intriguing and at times they and us as readers, are on a rollercoaster and if I can mix my metaphors, there are train wrecks of lives. It’s written with liveliness and wit, with empathy and sympathy and it makes me care and root for Mickey and Arlo, even when they make it hard for themselves.
The characterisation is exemplary, many are damaged but they have redeemable qualities. Mickey has so many issues that I range from feeling sorry for her but also wanting to shake her! Many scenes between Arlo and Mickey are tense and emotional as they seek to find their truth about their father and find a way forward through the wreckage. I love the ending which after all the angst gives grounds for optimism.
Overall, this is a really good, well written novel which I become fully involved in.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General/Viking for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.
Kindergarten teacher, Mickey reads of her father‘s death via an obituary with indifference. She’s 33, has few vices if you don’t count the vodka and surreptitious episodes of Bridgerton. To her huge surprise, her father‘s lawyer contacts her. Why is it a surprise? Well, she has had no contact with her father for twenty six years since he left her and her mother. He leaves her a bequest which is both large and conditional. An unfortunate sequence of circumstances forces Mickey to engage with Arlo (Charlotte), Mickey‘s half sister and a psychologist and both are in for some unexpected shocks. Therapist and patient, both seeking truths of a different kind. Make or break?
This is an emotional, moving and thought provoking read that I find compelling and very engaging. It’s a novel that encompasses many things and does so with feeling and authenticity. First and foremost, it’s about loss and grief which characters inevitably respond to differently. It’s also about relationships, between mother and daughter, between father and daughter and so on, these are complex family issues and we ‘watch’ how these change and evolve. I love the way the author has written it with a constantly changing tone. The dynamics are really intriguing and at times they and us as readers, are on a rollercoaster and if I can mix my metaphors, there are train wrecks of lives. It’s written with liveliness and wit, with empathy and sympathy and it makes me care and root for Mickey and Arlo, even when they make it hard for themselves.
The characterisation is exemplary, many are damaged but they have redeemable qualities. Mickey has so many issues that I range from feeling sorry for her but also wanting to shake her! Many scenes between Arlo and Mickey are tense and emotional as they seek to find their truth about their father and find a way forward through the wreckage. I love the ending which after all the angst gives grounds for optimism.
Overall, this is a really good, well written novel which I become fully involved in.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General/Viking for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.
May 28, 2025
I enjoyed the first third of this book a lot. It’s a total soap opera, featuring a contrived premise (two adult half-sisters who have never met become therapist and patient, unbeknownst to either) and a lot of drama, but in control of it. It’s quick and dishy and fun, with a cast of characters consisting entirely of train wrecks, as it should—a generic “likeable” protagonist would’ve ruined everything.
As so often happens for me though, it all wears a bit thin as it continues. The book gets very earnest about mental health problems and alcoholism, and yet feels shallow in its approach. One of the protagonists jumps straight from “functioning alcoholic” to “a short step from homelessness and imprisonment” under circumstances where that might in fact make sense, but without the book acknowledging what a steep tumble she’s just taken. (And I think I’d feel pretty okay about getting suspended from my not-especially-lucrative job if I’d just discovered I’d inherited $5.5 million, you know? I know Fictionland is a magical place where money doesn’t really matter, but if it’s not really gonna change anything it maybe should’ve been more like $50,000.) I also felt like some of the book’s moral judgments were off-base: And I would have liked to see some big moments in the last third explored further. Finally, I questioned pretty much every plot point involving a professional in any respect (which was most of them, to be clear).
That said, if you’re in the market for a fun, fast, addictive family drama featuring a lot of messed-up people all trying to do better, this book has a certain charm. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend Favorite Daughter, but I did mostly enjoy my time with it.
As so often happens for me though, it all wears a bit thin as it continues. The book gets very earnest about mental health problems and alcoholism, and yet feels shallow in its approach. One of the protagonists jumps straight from “functioning alcoholic” to “a short step from homelessness and imprisonment” under circumstances where that might in fact make sense, but without the book acknowledging what a steep tumble she’s just taken. (And I think I’d feel pretty okay about getting suspended from my not-especially-lucrative job if I’d just discovered I’d inherited $5.5 million, you know? I know Fictionland is a magical place where money doesn’t really matter, but if it’s not really gonna change anything it maybe should’ve been more like $50,000.) I also felt like some of the book’s moral judgments were off-base: And I would have liked to see some big moments in the last third explored further. Finally, I questioned pretty much every plot point involving a professional in any respect (which was most of them, to be clear).
That said, if you’re in the market for a fun, fast, addictive family drama featuring a lot of messed-up people all trying to do better, this book has a certain charm. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend Favorite Daughter, but I did mostly enjoy my time with it.
April 24, 2025
oh yes i loved this (thank you to the author for sending me a copy). i'm a sucker for complicated family dynamics
August 20, 2025
definitely not the right book to read to cure your depression but that aside, it also didn’t provoke any strong feelings
April 21, 2025
The story of Mickey and Arlo wasn’t as ‘darkly funny’ as I expected and I’m glad of it. There wasn’t exactly too much fun in the lives of the two sisters. Mickey, who was left by her father at the age of seven, and Arlo, who nursed her father in his last months, bot have different thoughts and feelings for him. Although he was an alcoholic, Mickey still remembers him as the father who read her stories and took her to fun places. Arlo remembers him as the alcoholic who build an imperium and taught her valuable lessons – at least that’s what she believes.
Both sisters are in for a big surprise when Mickey is left a lot – and I mean a lot – of money although this has to be kept a surprise for both of them till a later stage. Mickey is a very dedicated kindergarten teacher and Arlo became a psychotherapist but during the story they both have to really think about the choices they made in life. Mickey even more than Arlo because Mickey is an alcoholic too. A real one, and not just one of those young women who drink too much in the weekend. It was very painful to read how Mickey tried to fight her illness and it was also rather painful to read how Arlo was fighting her own demons.
An original story with good, although not very sympathetic characters and sometimes a bit slow, but a very enjoyable debut.
Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for this review copy.
Both sisters are in for a big surprise when Mickey is left a lot – and I mean a lot – of money although this has to be kept a surprise for both of them till a later stage. Mickey is a very dedicated kindergarten teacher and Arlo became a psychotherapist but during the story they both have to really think about the choices they made in life. Mickey even more than Arlo because Mickey is an alcoholic too. A real one, and not just one of those young women who drink too much in the weekend. It was very painful to read how Mickey tried to fight her illness and it was also rather painful to read how Arlo was fighting her own demons.
An original story with good, although not very sympathetic characters and sometimes a bit slow, but a very enjoyable debut.
Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for this review copy.
May 23, 2025
I liked it at first but I found the second half nearly impossible to get through because both main characters are just horribly unlikeable. I'm all for flawed and complicated characters but they need to have some redeeming qualities and/or relatability and these definitely didn't for me.
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August 8, 2025Interesują mnie powieści, których bohaterami są terapeuci, psycholodzy czy psychiatrzy i ostatnio mam do nich wyjątkowe szczęście. Niestety, często w literaturze, zwłaszcza tej kryminalnej, przedstawia się ich jako czarne charaktery: manipulantów, którzy wykorzystują zaufanie swoich pacjentów. Dlatego z ulgą przyjąłem, że w tej historii nie mamy do czynienia z takim uproszczeniem. Owszem, Arlo — jedna z głównych bohaterek i zawodowa terapeutka — ma na swoim koncie kilka przewinień, ale są one subtelne, osadzone w psychologii postaci i wybrzmiewają głównie w jej trudnej relacji z przyrodnią siostrą, Mickey.
Mickey to przedszkolanka z bagażem doświadczeń i problemem alkoholowym. Kobiety się nie znają, ale ich losy splatają się po śmierci ojca, który – delikatnie mówiąc – nie był wzorem rodzica. Obydwie w różnym stopniu doświadczyły traumy, jaką po sobie pozostawił. Po jego odejściu Mickey dowiaduje się, że odziedziczy spory majątek — ale pod jednym warunkiem: musi odbyć kilka sesji terapeutycznych. Z kolei Arlo, która opiekowała się ojcem aż do jego śmierci, zostaje pominięta w testamencie. Jest zraniona i zdezorientowana. Nie rozumie, dlaczego została ukarana. Ale czy na pewno miała to być to kara?
"Co nam zostawił" to powieść obyczajowa, dramatyczna, niespieszna. Opowiada o rodzinnych więzach, bliznach z przeszłości i potrzebie ich uleczenia. Morgan Dick pokazuje, że zmiana jest możliwa — ale tylko wtedy, gdy jesteśmy gotowi ją przyjąć i otworzyć się na drugiego człowieka. Doceniam, że autorka porusza tematy alkoholizmu, dorastania w rozbitej rodzinie, a całą fabułę buduje na silnym kontraście — dwóch sióstr wychowanych w zupełnie innych światach. Pięknie rysuje życiorysy obu bohaterek, nie oszczędzając ich, ale też nie użalając się nad nimi. Rzuca im kłody pod nogi nie po to, by je skrzywdzić, ale by dać im szansę na rozwój, dojrzewanie i – przede wszystkim – przebaczenie. Sobie nawzajem i samym sobie.
Jeśli szukacie poruszającej, emocjonalnej książki obyczajowej o siostrzeństwie, o stawianiu czoła demonom przeszłości i o tym, że zmiana jest możliwa, sięgnijcie po "Co nam zostawił".
Mickey to przedszkolanka z bagażem doświadczeń i problemem alkoholowym. Kobiety się nie znają, ale ich losy splatają się po śmierci ojca, który – delikatnie mówiąc – nie był wzorem rodzica. Obydwie w różnym stopniu doświadczyły traumy, jaką po sobie pozostawił. Po jego odejściu Mickey dowiaduje się, że odziedziczy spory majątek — ale pod jednym warunkiem: musi odbyć kilka sesji terapeutycznych. Z kolei Arlo, która opiekowała się ojcem aż do jego śmierci, zostaje pominięta w testamencie. Jest zraniona i zdezorientowana. Nie rozumie, dlaczego została ukarana. Ale czy na pewno miała to być to kara?
"Co nam zostawił" to powieść obyczajowa, dramatyczna, niespieszna. Opowiada o rodzinnych więzach, bliznach z przeszłości i potrzebie ich uleczenia. Morgan Dick pokazuje, że zmiana jest możliwa — ale tylko wtedy, gdy jesteśmy gotowi ją przyjąć i otworzyć się na drugiego człowieka. Doceniam, że autorka porusza tematy alkoholizmu, dorastania w rozbitej rodzinie, a całą fabułę buduje na silnym kontraście — dwóch sióstr wychowanych w zupełnie innych światach. Pięknie rysuje życiorysy obu bohaterek, nie oszczędzając ich, ale też nie użalając się nad nimi. Rzuca im kłody pod nogi nie po to, by je skrzywdzić, ale by dać im szansę na rozwój, dojrzewanie i – przede wszystkim – przebaczenie. Sobie nawzajem i samym sobie.
Jeśli szukacie poruszającej, emocjonalnej książki obyczajowej o siostrzeństwie, o stawianiu czoła demonom przeszłości i o tym, że zmiana jest możliwa, sięgnijcie po "Co nam zostawił".
April 9, 2025
Yes, that was true. Everything she’d ever done for her father—every mess she’d cleaned up, every toenail she’d clipped—had served one purpose: to remain the most important person in his life. As if his heart were a piece of land she had to occupy at all times, or else someone else might come and take it from her.
2.5 ★
Let me say ahead of everything: this is not a bad novel per se. It’s solid, both in writing and in premise. But it also misses its potential and thus ended up being a disappointment for me.
The initial concept was unique and compelling: a therapy session between two estranged sisters, unaware of their connection, promised a layered and insightful look at grief, family, and identity.
These sessions, however, were only touched on briefly, while the narrative focused instead on a contrived plot driven by implausible and often absurd decisions. There was a persistent sense that the characters were being maneuvered to hit thematic milestones. Rather than feeling like individuals responding to lived experiences, they seemed to be performing assigned roles — meant to illustrate contrast, spark transformation, or deliver revelations. They became caricatures, and their interactions felt inauthentic and flat, with reactions that often strained plausibility in service of the narrative.
It doesn’t help that the novel leans heavily on telling over showing, and that the first third dragged without meaningful layers or emotional progression. And as more characters conveniently crossed paths to facilitate personal growth and a likely happily ever after, the whole thing began to resemble a lower-budget Netflix drama with a holiday release date: well-meaning, predictable, and emotionally engineered to a fault.
And yet, I don’t think the author lacks sensitivity or insight. The underlying themes — grief, neglect, addiction, loneliness — are handled with care. The frame that carries them, however, is too flimsy to support their weight.
May 6, 2025
A thought provoking and heartwarming debut!
Intriguing premise. Mickey’s father died but she hasn’t seen him since he abandoned her and her mom when she was 7. He started a new life and had a new family with a daughter Charlotte. When he dies he gives her all his money- 5.5 million. But the condition is, she must go to therapy. Little does she know: the therapist is her half sister. This is so good, I highly recommend it. Dad was an alcoholic and Mickey is coming to terms with the fact that she probably is as well. Multi POV between Mickey and Arlo her sister.
Read if you like;
Grief stories
Family dynamics
Alcoholism - struggles of early recovery
Heartwarming - hope-filled stories
Intriguing premise. Mickey’s father died but she hasn’t seen him since he abandoned her and her mom when she was 7. He started a new life and had a new family with a daughter Charlotte. When he dies he gives her all his money- 5.5 million. But the condition is, she must go to therapy. Little does she know: the therapist is her half sister. This is so good, I highly recommend it. Dad was an alcoholic and Mickey is coming to terms with the fact that she probably is as well. Multi POV between Mickey and Arlo her sister.
Read if you like;
Grief stories
Family dynamics
Alcoholism - struggles of early recovery
Heartwarming - hope-filled stories
May 5, 2025
This is such a layered and messy story of estranged sisters and their complicated relationship with their father. Mickey and Arlo are both struggling is such raw ways that you can’t help but root for each other them—they’re both just trying to find a sense of belonging! This is a story of grief, addiction and sisterhood— recommended for fans of Coco Mellors and Emma Cline. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
September 2, 2025
Sometimes, a book cover beckons me; as I've confessed before, I'm a cover design enthusiast. While I'm not one to care for endorsements from other authors, when it comes to a debut, I guess it's helpful; in this case, they were from Marian Keyes and Catherine Newman.
Favourite Daughter is about two half-sisters. Mickey is a thirty-three-year-old kindergarten teacher, single and a loner. Arlo is twenty-five and a psychologist.
Their father died. Mickey hasn't seen him since she was seven. Arlo lived with him all her life and she worshiped him. Let's just leave at that, as it's best to know as little as possible.
This easy-to-read novel was, among other things, about trauma, toxic parents, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and loneliness. Despite all these not-so-fun themes, Favourite Sister was uplifting and optimistic, and I enjoyed getting to know the sisters and those in their orbit.
It feels good to have a vibes pick be worthwhile your time.
Recommended
Favourite Daughter is about two half-sisters. Mickey is a thirty-three-year-old kindergarten teacher, single and a loner. Arlo is twenty-five and a psychologist.
Their father died. Mickey hasn't seen him since she was seven. Arlo lived with him all her life and she worshiped him. Let's just leave at that, as it's best to know as little as possible.
This easy-to-read novel was, among other things, about trauma, toxic parents, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and loneliness. Despite all these not-so-fun themes, Favourite Sister was uplifting and optimistic, and I enjoyed getting to know the sisters and those in their orbit.
It feels good to have a vibes pick be worthwhile your time.
Recommended
January 13, 2026
Oké laat ik beginnen met dat ik dit boek waarschijnlijk niet had uitgelezen als ik ‘m niet had meegenomen in de trein😅 Uiteindelijk toch op 3 sterren geëindigd, want het verhaal zit goed in elkaar, maar het is gewoon echt niet mijn soort boek 🤷🏼♀️
Ik lees zelden trigger warnings zodat ik bepaalde boeken of onderwerpen kan skippen. Maar blijkbaar heb ik wel een onderwerp waar ik niet over wil lezen, en dat zit in ‘Favoriete dochter’. Het boek heeft weliswaar geen TW’s, maar zou het wel moeten hebben, vind ik. Het boek draait voornamelijk om alcoholisme en daar ga ik dus blijkbaar niet goed op.
Zoals ik al zei, het boek zit goed in elkaar, maar dit boek is het gewoon echt niet voor mij. Als je geen probleem hebt om over dat onderwerp te lezen, dan is ‘Favoriete dochter’ een aanrader, maar voor mij was dit een nee.. 🤷🏼♀️
Ik lees zelden trigger warnings zodat ik bepaalde boeken of onderwerpen kan skippen. Maar blijkbaar heb ik wel een onderwerp waar ik niet over wil lezen, en dat zit in ‘Favoriete dochter’. Het boek heeft weliswaar geen TW’s, maar zou het wel moeten hebben, vind ik. Het boek draait voornamelijk om alcoholisme en daar ga ik dus blijkbaar niet goed op.
Zoals ik al zei, het boek zit goed in elkaar, maar dit boek is het gewoon echt niet voor mij. Als je geen probleem hebt om over dat onderwerp te lezen, dan is ‘Favoriete dochter’ een aanrader, maar voor mij was dit een nee.. 🤷🏼♀️
August 22, 2025
any book about the complex relationship a daughter has with her parents is going to draw me in but this one drew me in and then BROKE me. my shattered heart left in the margins of this book. (yes i did read this on my kindle stfu)
”i just don’t get too close to people. people are bound to disappoint you. even the good ones. especially the good ones. your closest friends, family. these are the people who screw you over the worst”
nobody in this book is the hero. nobody in this story did everything right. if anything, every single character in this book is severely flawed but the humanity in the story makes you weep for all of them. daughters deserve to be children and not the carer and worrier of their alcoholic fathers. wives deserve to be loved by the man they marry and not live in fear of them. and alcoholics deserve the help they need. but such is life.. i like that this book didn’t hide any of that. there is no beauty in the pain. it’s bleak and dark and heartbreaking.
but my sweet, sweet arlo. i feel like NOBODY understood her. but i really do understand her more than i understand myself🥲
… “life is maybe”.
”i just don’t get too close to people. people are bound to disappoint you. even the good ones. especially the good ones. your closest friends, family. these are the people who screw you over the worst”
nobody in this book is the hero. nobody in this story did everything right. if anything, every single character in this book is severely flawed but the humanity in the story makes you weep for all of them. daughters deserve to be children and not the carer and worrier of their alcoholic fathers. wives deserve to be loved by the man they marry and not live in fear of them. and alcoholics deserve the help they need. but such is life.. i like that this book didn’t hide any of that. there is no beauty in the pain. it’s bleak and dark and heartbreaking.
but my sweet, sweet arlo. i feel like NOBODY understood her. but i really do understand her more than i understand myself🥲
… “life is maybe”.
May 1, 2025
UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick
Publication date: 1st May 2025
Plot follows Mickey, a nursery teacher who learns about the death of her father via an obituary with indifference. After not having contact with her father for 26 years her father's lawyer reaches out to tell her that her father has left her money but she can access it under one condition... That's where Arlo comes in, a therapist and her half sister
This was an emotional somewhat thought provoking read, I don't think I've ever rooted for two sisters this hard I feel like I lived their story with them. I loved the character development so much the story itself was engaging, I couldn't put the book down until I found out how it unfolds
Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the arc
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick
Publication date: 1st May 2025
Plot follows Mickey, a nursery teacher who learns about the death of her father via an obituary with indifference. After not having contact with her father for 26 years her father's lawyer reaches out to tell her that her father has left her money but she can access it under one condition... That's where Arlo comes in, a therapist and her half sister
This was an emotional somewhat thought provoking read, I don't think I've ever rooted for two sisters this hard I feel like I lived their story with them. I loved the character development so much the story itself was engaging, I couldn't put the book down until I found out how it unfolds
Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the arc
January 30, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
Mickey and Arlo were both absolute delusional train wrecks, but I loved this bonkers yet sadly hopeful sisters story. There’s just so much to unpack here. This would be a great book club pick. Also, bonus points because Morgan Dick is from Calgary!
“But how to explain it? How did people do this all the time? How did they take everything they felt and squeeze it into words that could be spoken, heard, understood? It was impossible.”
Indeed.
Mickey and Arlo were both absolute delusional train wrecks, but I loved this bonkers yet sadly hopeful sisters story. There’s just so much to unpack here. This would be a great book club pick. Also, bonus points because Morgan Dick is from Calgary!
“But how to explain it? How did people do this all the time? How did they take everything they felt and squeeze it into words that could be spoken, heard, understood? It was impossible.”
Indeed.
February 23, 2025
Geteilter Vater
Mit Leib und Seele ist Mickey Vorschullehrerin und natürlich trinkt sie nicht in der Schule. Doch eines Tages wird der fünfjährige Ian nicht abgeholt. Eigenmächtig entscheidet Mickey, ihn selbst nach hause zu bringen. Sie ahnt nicht, welche Schwierigkeiten sie sich damit einhandelt. Als Mickey erfährt, dass ihr verstorbener Vater ihr eine Menge Geld hinterlassen hat, ist sei wie vom Donner gerührt. Ihr Vater, ein Alkoholiker, hat ihre Mutter verlassen, als Mickey erst kurz zu Schule ging. Doch das Geld ist an eine Bedingung geknüpft, Mickey muss sieben Therapiestunden ablegen. Arlo hatte den besten Vater, den sie sich vorstellen konnte. Und sie hat ihn gepflegt bis zum Schluss. Als sie erfährt, dass ihre unbekannte Halbschwester das ganze Geld erbt, ist sie wie vom Donner gerührt.
Zwei Frauen, Schwestern, die sich nie kennengelernt haben. Wie hätte das Leben sein könnten, wenn sie sich immer gekannt hätten? Auf Beide hat der Vater, der als Alkoholiker häufig fies und unleidlich war, ihrer beider Leben beeinflusst? Mickey wollte nie so werden wie er und doch trinkt sie jeden Tag, manchmal bis zum Augenstillstand. Also meinte immer, sie müsse seine Sucht managen und doch ist er gestorben. Und nun? Die Therapiestunden mit Mickey erweisen sich auch als nicht so einfach.
Eine ungewöhnliche, aber nicht völlig abwegige Geschichte, die einen mitnimmt. Auch wenn man selbst die Problematik mit der Sucht nicht so ganz versteht, weil man Glück gehabt hat und damit nur am Rande in Berührung kam, so berührt die Geschichte doch. Sie stellt die Schwestern mit ihren Stärken und Schwächen dar, menschlich wie Menschen eben sind. Sie hadern mit sich, ihrem toten Vater und den anderen Menschen, die in ihrem Leben sind oder auch gerade nicht. Es ist sehr berührend beschrieben, wie sie versuchen, etwas zu ändern, nicht immer erfolgreich. Und dennoch stehen sie auf, wenn sie gescheitert sind und versuchen von Neuem, zu einer Lösung zu finden. Das zeigt große Empathie und ist auch wegen der klaren Sprache sehr angenehm zu lesen.
Die Darstellung der zwei Frauen auf dem Cover, die zusammen und doch irgendwie getrennt sind, ist sehr treffend und passt gut zu dem Roman.
Mit Leib und Seele ist Mickey Vorschullehrerin und natürlich trinkt sie nicht in der Schule. Doch eines Tages wird der fünfjährige Ian nicht abgeholt. Eigenmächtig entscheidet Mickey, ihn selbst nach hause zu bringen. Sie ahnt nicht, welche Schwierigkeiten sie sich damit einhandelt. Als Mickey erfährt, dass ihr verstorbener Vater ihr eine Menge Geld hinterlassen hat, ist sei wie vom Donner gerührt. Ihr Vater, ein Alkoholiker, hat ihre Mutter verlassen, als Mickey erst kurz zu Schule ging. Doch das Geld ist an eine Bedingung geknüpft, Mickey muss sieben Therapiestunden ablegen. Arlo hatte den besten Vater, den sie sich vorstellen konnte. Und sie hat ihn gepflegt bis zum Schluss. Als sie erfährt, dass ihre unbekannte Halbschwester das ganze Geld erbt, ist sie wie vom Donner gerührt.
Zwei Frauen, Schwestern, die sich nie kennengelernt haben. Wie hätte das Leben sein könnten, wenn sie sich immer gekannt hätten? Auf Beide hat der Vater, der als Alkoholiker häufig fies und unleidlich war, ihrer beider Leben beeinflusst? Mickey wollte nie so werden wie er und doch trinkt sie jeden Tag, manchmal bis zum Augenstillstand. Also meinte immer, sie müsse seine Sucht managen und doch ist er gestorben. Und nun? Die Therapiestunden mit Mickey erweisen sich auch als nicht so einfach.
Eine ungewöhnliche, aber nicht völlig abwegige Geschichte, die einen mitnimmt. Auch wenn man selbst die Problematik mit der Sucht nicht so ganz versteht, weil man Glück gehabt hat und damit nur am Rande in Berührung kam, so berührt die Geschichte doch. Sie stellt die Schwestern mit ihren Stärken und Schwächen dar, menschlich wie Menschen eben sind. Sie hadern mit sich, ihrem toten Vater und den anderen Menschen, die in ihrem Leben sind oder auch gerade nicht. Es ist sehr berührend beschrieben, wie sie versuchen, etwas zu ändern, nicht immer erfolgreich. Und dennoch stehen sie auf, wenn sie gescheitert sind und versuchen von Neuem, zu einer Lösung zu finden. Das zeigt große Empathie und ist auch wegen der klaren Sprache sehr angenehm zu lesen.
Die Darstellung der zwei Frauen auf dem Cover, die zusammen und doch irgendwie getrennt sind, ist sehr treffend und passt gut zu dem Roman.
September 21, 2025
کاش جایی وجود داشت کسایی که قلم خوبی ندارن ولی ایده خوبی دارن اون ایده بتونن بفروشن.
ایده کتاب واقعا خوب بود ولی قلم؟
از سطحی ترین چیزایی بود که دیدم داستان هیییچ عمقی نداشت و نویسنده فقط میگفت که گفته باشه و رد میشد.
ایده خوب پردازش افتضاح.
ایده کتاب واقعا خوب بود ولی قلم؟
از سطحی ترین چیزایی بود که دیدم داستان هیییچ عمقی نداشت و نویسنده فقط میگفت که گفته باشه و رد میشد.
ایده خوب پردازش افتضاح.
May 29, 2025
this was messy and stressful and the characters were all complicated as hell. I loved it so much. my kind of book mwah
October 13, 2025
A touching story about two sisters, grief, loss, and the struggle to cope with mental illness and family — told with wit and warmth rather than despair.
April 19, 2025
FAVORITE DAUGHTER is an outstanding debut by a new Canadian author, Morgan Dick that you don’t want to miss. If you enjoy novels with very complex and extremely messy family dynamics, then this one is for you. It revolves around two half-sisters who have never met before, but are brought together under some questioning circumstances after their father dies.
Arlo and Mickey really could not be more different. Mickey is a kindergarten teacher, Arlo is a therapist. Arlo adored their father, Mickey did not. Only one daughter receives a substantial inheritance that causes some resentment and confusion. I thought it would easy for me pick a “favorite daughter” but I really could not. I was equally invested in each individual storyline and their hardships, struggles, and personal challenges. It was satisfying to witness their growth throughout as well.
Even though this one is being described as darkly funny, it’s by no means a light and fluffy novel. It explores some tough themes like grief, alcoholism, abandonment issues, moral dilemmas, and inheritance disputes.
WHAT I LOVED:
- Dual POVs
- Great character development
- Unique plot
- Heavy subject matter
- Family drama and dynamics
- Flawed and realistic characters
- Father/daughter relationships
- Mother/daughter relationships
The audio version of this novel features two narrators who both do a marvelous job bringing the sisters to life. Audiobooks with multiple narrators are always such a treat for me. Having a different voice for each of the women truly enhanced the listening experience.
Overall, I was very impressed with this debut. Dick writes with such emotion and intensity that instantly grabs your attention. I was engaged and entertained from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future!
FAVORITE DAUGHTER releases on April 29th! 4/5 solid stars!
Arlo and Mickey really could not be more different. Mickey is a kindergarten teacher, Arlo is a therapist. Arlo adored their father, Mickey did not. Only one daughter receives a substantial inheritance that causes some resentment and confusion. I thought it would easy for me pick a “favorite daughter” but I really could not. I was equally invested in each individual storyline and their hardships, struggles, and personal challenges. It was satisfying to witness their growth throughout as well.
Even though this one is being described as darkly funny, it’s by no means a light and fluffy novel. It explores some tough themes like grief, alcoholism, abandonment issues, moral dilemmas, and inheritance disputes.
WHAT I LOVED:
- Dual POVs
- Great character development
- Unique plot
- Heavy subject matter
- Family drama and dynamics
- Flawed and realistic characters
- Father/daughter relationships
- Mother/daughter relationships
The audio version of this novel features two narrators who both do a marvelous job bringing the sisters to life. Audiobooks with multiple narrators are always such a treat for me. Having a different voice for each of the women truly enhanced the listening experience.
Overall, I was very impressed with this debut. Dick writes with such emotion and intensity that instantly grabs your attention. I was engaged and entertained from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future!
FAVORITE DAUGHTER releases on April 29th! 4/5 solid stars!
May 9, 2025
Oh, I really liked this heart wrenching story about two estranged half-sisters, who are messed the heck up! After their shared father dies, he forces them together through his will, unknowingly at first. They have never met, one daughter was abandoned at age 7 by her father and never saw him again, and one is left living under his large shadow. This is a novel that at its core is about loss and grief which characters respond to in different messy ways. It’s also about relationships, between parents and daughters and how confusing they can be. It is also about alcoholism, a very difficult disease to be on other side of, loving someone who is an alcohol or dealing with addiction itself. There are no easy ways to deal with this disease, and I think Dick was able to manage with it well in all its nuanced ways. Both sisters, Mickey and Arlo, are terrible and messy and so real- but I felt for them, and felt optimistic with the ending, that they both might continue to get better.
April 28, 2025
Intense, sobering, and thought-provoking!
Favourite Daughter is a perceptive, compelling tale that takes you into the lives of Mickey and Arlo, two young women who are both struggling to come to grips with the loss of their father, pasts filled with secrets and abuse, familial relationships that are strained and fractured, and a half-sister they’ve never met.
The prose is sombre and raw. The characters are complex, damaged, and burdened. And the plot uses a sensitive, reflective style to unravel all the personalities, motivations, and relationships within it.
Favourite Daughter is ultimately a novel about life, loss, family, secrets, grief, abuse, alcoholism, addiction, forgiveness, and the long-lasting effects of a dysfunctional childhood. It’s a well-written, emotional debut by Dick that does a great job of reminding us that everyone who enters our lives, no matter the length of time, impacts, shapes, and defines it.
Favourite Daughter is a perceptive, compelling tale that takes you into the lives of Mickey and Arlo, two young women who are both struggling to come to grips with the loss of their father, pasts filled with secrets and abuse, familial relationships that are strained and fractured, and a half-sister they’ve never met.
The prose is sombre and raw. The characters are complex, damaged, and burdened. And the plot uses a sensitive, reflective style to unravel all the personalities, motivations, and relationships within it.
Favourite Daughter is ultimately a novel about life, loss, family, secrets, grief, abuse, alcoholism, addiction, forgiveness, and the long-lasting effects of a dysfunctional childhood. It’s a well-written, emotional debut by Dick that does a great job of reminding us that everyone who enters our lives, no matter the length of time, impacts, shapes, and defines it.
July 15, 2025
3.5. Love a messy family.
September 23, 2025
Dat Micky via een rouwadvertentie moet vernemen dat haar vader dood is, is op zich niet zo vreemd: twintig jaar eerder is hij uit haar leven verdwenen om elders een nieuw bestaan te beginnen.
Een nieuw gezin te stichten.
Een nieuwe dochter te krijgen.
Dat Micky in het testament voorkomt is dan wél weer een verrassing.
Net als de voorwaarde waaraan ze moet voldoen om de haar nagelaten miljoenen ook effectief te krijgen.
Het hele boek lang dingen twee elk op hun eigen manier beschadigde jonge vrouwen naar je gunst - waarbij ze het je niet makkelijk maken: wat ze elkaar, hun omgeving, maar vooral zichzelf allemaal aandoen is immers allesbehalve fraai.
Maar toch blijf je hen omarmen, wat volledig de verdienste van de schrijfster is: elke fout, elke rotstreek, elke duistere gedachte wordt in een warm deken van milde humor gewikkeld, waardoor ik - mede door de therapeutische sessies - meermaals aan de hartverwarmende serie ’Shrinking’ moest denken.
‘Favoriete Dochter’ is licht en luchtig, maar met de nodige scherpe randjes.
Perfect om als vader (of moeder) eerst zelf te lezen en vervolgens cadeau te doen aan een dochter.
Op voorwaarde dat je er maar één hebt, weliswaar.
Een nieuw gezin te stichten.
Een nieuwe dochter te krijgen.
Dat Micky in het testament voorkomt is dan wél weer een verrassing.
Net als de voorwaarde waaraan ze moet voldoen om de haar nagelaten miljoenen ook effectief te krijgen.
Het hele boek lang dingen twee elk op hun eigen manier beschadigde jonge vrouwen naar je gunst - waarbij ze het je niet makkelijk maken: wat ze elkaar, hun omgeving, maar vooral zichzelf allemaal aandoen is immers allesbehalve fraai.
Maar toch blijf je hen omarmen, wat volledig de verdienste van de schrijfster is: elke fout, elke rotstreek, elke duistere gedachte wordt in een warm deken van milde humor gewikkeld, waardoor ik - mede door de therapeutische sessies - meermaals aan de hartverwarmende serie ’Shrinking’ moest denken.
‘Favoriete Dochter’ is licht en luchtig, maar met de nodige scherpe randjes.
Perfect om als vader (of moeder) eerst zelf te lezen en vervolgens cadeau te doen aan een dochter.
Op voorwaarde dat je er maar één hebt, weliswaar.
July 28, 2025
5/5
About halfway through the book, I truly thought that Mickey and Arlo’s character arcs were irredeemable. And yet, somehow they both end up in places of respective brokenness that feel just light enough to make a comeback. Can two opposing forces both be the underdog of a story? Very, very messy, but worth the emotional investment.
About halfway through the book, I truly thought that Mickey and Arlo’s character arcs were irredeemable. And yet, somehow they both end up in places of respective brokenness that feel just light enough to make a comeback. Can two opposing forces both be the underdog of a story? Very, very messy, but worth the emotional investment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2025
So... I think this was a well-crafted, well-written book, so like in terms of the book's merit, it would probably get a 4-star and I can see why people would enjoy it. And I did enjoy it for a period of time. However, this is the most stressful, anxiety-inducing read ever! The characters continually make the WORST possible decisions, which just make their lives get worse and worse. Also, I was unaware that Mickey was an alcoholic (TW for that in a major way) and I have never read from that perspective before... and I never wish to again. That's not to say that that isn't an important perspective to read from, but I personally just never want to read from that perspective again, because the second-hand anxiety it gave me was not fun. I was sort of expecting this story to be like kind of funny and dramatic, with these two sisters eventually figuring out who the other one was and coming together, but instead it was just stressful and honestly a little boring. So, the book is probably a 4-star if this is your sort of story, but for me, I did not have a good time and I rate based on enjoyment, so a 2.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viking for the eARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viking for the eARC.
May 18, 2025
You know when you’re reading an amazing book and it just goes by too quickly? Ya, this book! I didn’t want it to end! I love, love, LOVE this story! I’m hooked by a good family dysfunction. This story was such an honest, heartfelt and realistic depiction of the struggles of those living with mental health and substance use disorders. My only disappointment was that I would have really liked an epilogue - maybe a second book 🤔?
June 5, 2025
At the end of the day, their father fucked their lives up pretty bad.
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