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The Favorites
An edgy, feminist campus novel about justice, gender, and power, following a woman who enrolls in law school and competes her way into an elite "Law and Literature" cohort to get revenge on the charismatic professor who wronged her sister
Most students would kill to be accepted into the prestigious Law and Literature cohort at Franklin University. But for Jessie Mooney, enrollment in the course is about more than elite campus status, rigorous thought, and professional connections. It’s her chance to get close to charismatic professor Jay Crane—and take him down.
From the moment she discovered their secret relationship, Jessie's been convinced Crane is to blame for the events leading to her sister’s death. Still haunted by their last email exchange— You know what you did —she'll cross any line to hold him accountable. But when Jessie finally earns Crane’s trust and the coveted position as one of his “favorites,” attracting the other students’ envy and suspicion, the truth becomes darkly twisted. Is it justice Jessie craves, or revenge? And what does she stand to lose if she gets her way?
Shimmering with tension, this provocative novel explores the nature of obsession, the inequities of power, and the ways that anger, desire, and love reveal the best, and worst, of us.
Most students would kill to be accepted into the prestigious Law and Literature cohort at Franklin University. But for Jessie Mooney, enrollment in the course is about more than elite campus status, rigorous thought, and professional connections. It’s her chance to get close to charismatic professor Jay Crane—and take him down.
From the moment she discovered their secret relationship, Jessie's been convinced Crane is to blame for the events leading to her sister’s death. Still haunted by their last email exchange— You know what you did —she'll cross any line to hold him accountable. But when Jessie finally earns Crane’s trust and the coveted position as one of his “favorites,” attracting the other students’ envy and suspicion, the truth becomes darkly twisted. Is it justice Jessie craves, or revenge? And what does she stand to lose if she gets her way?
Shimmering with tension, this provocative novel explores the nature of obsession, the inequities of power, and the ways that anger, desire, and love reveal the best, and worst, of us.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
105 people are currently reading
16910 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
October 11, 2023
3.5⭐️ I really like the premise of this one, the social commentary on the lack of justice surrounding rape and our rape culture as a whole, and the dark academia vibes this book gives off in droves. However, something seems to be missing in its execution and that prevented this from being a win for me.
First and foremost the pacing was off during the second 2/3 of the book after a great intro. It is a very slow moving story and as a result, it seems to drag quite a bit during the middle portion. It does pick back up, but at a point you then need to suspend a bit of disbelief.
I have seen criticism that this book shows why victims don’t feel they can come forward but i think that’s inaccurate. This book illustrates the severity of what happens when a culture embraces victim shaming and is more often than not, apt to believe an attacker over the attacked. And yet this important message seems to get a bit lost in the weeds.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
• stories of revenge
• social commentary
• strong protagonists
• dark academia vibes
Thank you HTP Books and Harper Audio for my gifted copies in exchange for my honest review.
First and foremost the pacing was off during the second 2/3 of the book after a great intro. It is a very slow moving story and as a result, it seems to drag quite a bit during the middle portion. It does pick back up, but at a point you then need to suspend a bit of disbelief.
I have seen criticism that this book shows why victims don’t feel they can come forward but i think that’s inaccurate. This book illustrates the severity of what happens when a culture embraces victim shaming and is more often than not, apt to believe an attacker over the attacked. And yet this important message seems to get a bit lost in the weeds.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
• stories of revenge
• social commentary
• strong protagonists
• dark academia vibes
Thank you HTP Books and Harper Audio for my gifted copies in exchange for my honest review.
September 16, 2023
Jessie Mooney travels from Ireland to Philadelphia to enroll in a graduate law program at Franklin University. She is thrilled to have been accepted into a very competitive Law and Literature class there not because of its cachet but because of its professor, Jay Crane. She wants to become one of his infamous “favorites” because she blames him for her sister’s death and has a plan.
Set during the 2016 election and the very beginning of the #MeToo movement, there are important issues here: questions of the nature of justice, retribution, right vs legal, male power, consent, sexual predators, injustice, victimization, the inadequacies of the legal system, and is stalking ever justified?. This is a very slow burn…and maybe more a fizzle than a burn. For fans of dark academia, there is much grist for a book group discussion, including the ending.
Thanks to #netgalley and @htpbooks @graydonhousebooks for the ARC.
Set during the 2016 election and the very beginning of the #MeToo movement, there are important issues here: questions of the nature of justice, retribution, right vs legal, male power, consent, sexual predators, injustice, victimization, the inadequacies of the legal system, and is stalking ever justified?. This is a very slow burn…and maybe more a fizzle than a burn. For fans of dark academia, there is much grist for a book group discussion, including the ending.
Thanks to #netgalley and @htpbooks @graydonhousebooks for the ARC.
September 25, 2023
Review coming soon.
January 6, 2024
dark academia books with
teacher-grooming tropes do
usually feel therapeutic but
this was also crude, deep
in its bitter commentary.
teacher-grooming tropes do
usually feel therapeutic but
this was also crude, deep
in its bitter commentary.
December 3, 2023
Right away I was rolling my eyes at the classroom part of this plot. I tried to ignore it. After all, so many novels and films use classroom discussion as completely unsubtle laying out of themes. But this book does it way more than I've ever seen. There are just so many class discussions and Hennigan makes so much of this novel around the class that it quickly grows tedious. It's a major flaw. But I assumed Hennigan was taking somewhere worth going. But she is not, another major flaw. That's two too many for me.
It does not help that I went to law school and just kept thinking it was all ridiculous. No one would want to take this Law & Literature class. They definitely wouldn't write an entire essay just to be considered. And they wouldn't find the class itself interesting. Especially since apparently this is the kind of course where you are supposed to read all of Paradise Lost or Crime and Punishment for a single week's discussion. Jessie thinks her essay on Antigone is really great but I just kept thinking this is the most boring and obvious topic for a law and literature essay, you would never get into this class. And then the conversations themselves are just not all that exciting, they just keep happening, over and over, these long back and forths. Often Hennigan will have similar long tangents as Jessie considers her actions, considers her philosophies, considers her choices. They are also quite tedious.
And for all of that, it just has nowhere to go. It sets us up as if this is going to a big conclusion, but it is not. It is a ridiculous plot in the first place, but it pretends to be this high stakes thriller when it just is not. I wish it had either been something more interesting or really thrown the wheels off and gone harder with some thriller energy. As it is, I was just mad at it by the time I was done.
It does not help that I went to law school and just kept thinking it was all ridiculous. No one would want to take this Law & Literature class. They definitely wouldn't write an entire essay just to be considered. And they wouldn't find the class itself interesting. Especially since apparently this is the kind of course where you are supposed to read all of Paradise Lost or Crime and Punishment for a single week's discussion. Jessie thinks her essay on Antigone is really great but I just kept thinking this is the most boring and obvious topic for a law and literature essay, you would never get into this class. And then the conversations themselves are just not all that exciting, they just keep happening, over and over, these long back and forths. Often Hennigan will have similar long tangents as Jessie considers her actions, considers her philosophies, considers her choices. They are also quite tedious.
And for all of that, it just has nowhere to go. It sets us up as if this is going to a big conclusion, but it is not. It is a ridiculous plot in the first place, but it pretends to be this high stakes thriller when it just is not. I wish it had either been something more interesting or really thrown the wheels off and gone harder with some thriller energy. As it is, I was just mad at it by the time I was done.
January 24, 2024
This book upset me on so many levels. Aside from the terrible writing - a thinly drawn protagonist whose every line is cringe and whose wholly misplaced and psychotic vendetta is the only thing we know of her character (yet everyone falls for her… why?) - the novel highlights everything that is scary about modern day society. Despite the clear agenda, I was rooting heavily for the antagonist, as the so called hero of the novel break every rule based on the presumed guilt of another, justifying all of her actions and ignoring all of her biases and inconsistencies. A dangerous book that shows us just how warped society is today.
November 19, 2023
The Favorites is a thriller about a woman who works her way into an exclusive grad school course to frame the popular professor for misconduct in an elaborate plan to avenge her wronged sister. I was intrigued by the pitch for this book as a #MeToo dark academia thriller, particularly because I enjoy thriller/suspense books with "good for her" energy.
Despite the book being extremely plot-heavy, I found the pacing of the book to be rather slow. The first 2/3 of the book focuses on Jessie working her way closer to Professor Crane over the course of a semester, with many extended scenes taking place in his class. The final third focuses on Jessie's attempt to bring justice on the professor, suddenly bringing a few members of her cohort, who we've barely spent time with, into significant portions of the plot. The pacing feels really unbalanced.
I struggled with Crane's characterization in the final act of the book. The attempts to expose the capacity for violence behind the man who "thinks he's one of the good ones" felt a little cartoonish. I wasn't sure why Jessie was so determined for him to understand the full weight of what he had done to her sister. It felt unrealistic. Offenders' ability to rationalize their actions to fit their own narrative is largely why this problem exists in the first place.
While I was intrigued that the resolution follows a more realistic path, rather than a full revenge fantasy, it necessarily feels underwhelming. The peeks of "Crane as supervillain" especially contributed to the unsatisfying ending. I'm not sure how I feel about The Favorites. I found the execution rather underwhelming.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Despite the book being extremely plot-heavy, I found the pacing of the book to be rather slow. The first 2/3 of the book focuses on Jessie working her way closer to Professor Crane over the course of a semester, with many extended scenes taking place in his class. The final third focuses on Jessie's attempt to bring justice on the professor, suddenly bringing a few members of her cohort, who we've barely spent time with, into significant portions of the plot. The pacing feels really unbalanced.
I struggled with Crane's characterization in the final act of the book. The attempts to expose the capacity for violence behind the man who "thinks he's one of the good ones" felt a little cartoonish. I wasn't sure why Jessie was so determined for him to understand the full weight of what he had done to her sister. It felt unrealistic. Offenders' ability to rationalize their actions to fit their own narrative is largely why this problem exists in the first place.
While I was intrigued that the resolution follows a more realistic path, rather than a full revenge fantasy, it necessarily feels underwhelming. The peeks of "Crane as supervillain" especially contributed to the unsatisfying ending. I'm not sure how I feel about The Favorites. I found the execution rather underwhelming.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2023
The Favorites by Rosemary Hennigan. Thanks to Graydonhouse books for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jessie sets out to becomes Professor Crane’s favorite student, to no surprise of the rest of the competing Law and Literature class. Jessie has darker motivations and reasons for becoming his favorite.
This was an interesting story of revenge within academia. The plot evolved into a cat and mouse that was quite tense towards the middle. The ending was less of a suspense/thriller and more of a contemporary or literary fiction. I was expecting the thriller momentum to keep going but was a little disappointed in the ending. It would have been a five star read for me otherwise. I still recommend it as it was a very interesting read and important because it was very realistic.
“There were two of us in this game and it was increasingly unclear which of us was the cat, and which the mouse.”
The Favorites comes out 11/7.
Jessie sets out to becomes Professor Crane’s favorite student, to no surprise of the rest of the competing Law and Literature class. Jessie has darker motivations and reasons for becoming his favorite.
This was an interesting story of revenge within academia. The plot evolved into a cat and mouse that was quite tense towards the middle. The ending was less of a suspense/thriller and more of a contemporary or literary fiction. I was expecting the thriller momentum to keep going but was a little disappointed in the ending. It would have been a five star read for me otherwise. I still recommend it as it was a very interesting read and important because it was very realistic.
“There were two of us in this game and it was increasingly unclear which of us was the cat, and which the mouse.”
The Favorites comes out 11/7.
August 18, 2023
This book started off amazing, it sucked me in right away. It was great up until around the 70% mark, when things started to turn. I will have to say I don’t appreciate what this author did. As a victim of sexual assault myself, what was portrayed in this book is what makes it harder for victims to come forward. This is my first time ever rating a book this way. I honestly wish I hadn’t finished because I just have so many emotions.
October 7, 2025
4.0/5
“Their grief was a well and I risked drowning in the cold waters of their unhappiness.”
“Their grief was a well and I risked drowning in the cold waters of their unhappiness.”
November 20, 2023
"We're born in the dark, looking for something to light to way."
Interesting story, about revenge and the lengths we go for it. But it's also about conflicting truths - the story we tell ourselves happened, which may differ from reality. It's another story that hints at the loss of a promising young woman at the expense of a man, just continuing through his life unaffected by the harm he caused.
But the insertion of politics was a bit distracting. It wasn't a huge piece of the plot, but knowing how it all turned out and the ripples we still feel today, it didn't add to the story for me. I also would have been okay with it being just a little darker, a little less left to chance and a little more ugly revenge. But it was good, kept me reading, and held my interest.
Interesting story, about revenge and the lengths we go for it. But it's also about conflicting truths - the story we tell ourselves happened, which may differ from reality. It's another story that hints at the loss of a promising young woman at the expense of a man, just continuing through his life unaffected by the harm he caused.
But the insertion of politics was a bit distracting. It wasn't a huge piece of the plot, but knowing how it all turned out and the ripples we still feel today, it didn't add to the story for me. I also would have been okay with it being just a little darker, a little less left to chance and a little more ugly revenge. But it was good, kept me reading, and held my interest.
April 6, 2024
DNF, first full hour was a class lecture. Super dull and I didn’t love the politics being shoved down my throat. Found the main character annoying and the academic discussion pretty surface level. Not dark academia, sorry.
November 25, 2023
This was a solid 4⭐️ read for me. Dark academia is my favorite trope & this campus thriller was definitely an entertaining game of revenge.
It addresses some difficult issues around the #metoo movement, & other culturally relevant themes like the abuse of power between teacher/student relationships, misogyny, and believing victims (esp women) , the justice system & how it can fail victims & protect those in power.
This revenge plot dives deep into the notion of right vs. legal and explores the question of how do you define justice? Who gets to decide? Our protagonist is seeking vengeance and she's out for blood in her fight against the patriarchy.
The ending leaves the reader with even more questions, but it does wrap up nicely - it's just one of those endings that makes you think about things over & over… and in some cases analyze your own mindset . It was a powerful story. If you read to the end you will also catch that Hennigan was a practicing lawyer as well which helped validate to me her perspective on the justice system and the research behind this story.
It addresses some difficult issues around the #metoo movement, & other culturally relevant themes like the abuse of power between teacher/student relationships, misogyny, and believing victims (esp women) , the justice system & how it can fail victims & protect those in power.
This revenge plot dives deep into the notion of right vs. legal and explores the question of how do you define justice? Who gets to decide? Our protagonist is seeking vengeance and she's out for blood in her fight against the patriarchy.
The ending leaves the reader with even more questions, but it does wrap up nicely - it's just one of those endings that makes you think about things over & over… and in some cases analyze your own mindset . It was a powerful story. If you read to the end you will also catch that Hennigan was a practicing lawyer as well which helped validate to me her perspective on the justice system and the research behind this story.
October 26, 2024
Disappointing and a bit of a slog to get through. The subject matter was uncomfortable but also stilted, and I just didn’t find the writing very compelling or sharp.
November 18, 2023
Dark academia is my favourite trope and this campus thriller was definetly an entertaining game of cat and mouse.
Coming in at less than 300 pages, despite being a slow burn at times, it’s a super quick read and easy to fly through. However, it does address some difficult and polarizing issues around the #MeToo movement, toxic relationships, abusive power dynamics, rape culture and victim blaming.
This revenge plot dives deep into the notion of right vs. legal and explores the question of how do you define justice? Who gets to decide? Our protagonist is seeking vengeance and she’s out for blood in her fight against the patriarchy.
In the end it was less than a thriller and more of a thought provoking fiction read. While I felt it was slightly underwhelming by the end, it was still a powerful story. If you stick around at the end, you’ll also catch that Hennigan was a practicing lawyer as well which helped validate to me her perspective on the justice system and the research behind this story.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
Coming in at less than 300 pages, despite being a slow burn at times, it’s a super quick read and easy to fly through. However, it does address some difficult and polarizing issues around the #MeToo movement, toxic relationships, abusive power dynamics, rape culture and victim blaming.
This revenge plot dives deep into the notion of right vs. legal and explores the question of how do you define justice? Who gets to decide? Our protagonist is seeking vengeance and she’s out for blood in her fight against the patriarchy.
In the end it was less than a thriller and more of a thought provoking fiction read. While I felt it was slightly underwhelming by the end, it was still a powerful story. If you stick around at the end, you’ll also catch that Hennigan was a practicing lawyer as well which helped validate to me her perspective on the justice system and the research behind this story.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
November 15, 2023
**Spoilers**
The premise was good but the execution was a tad...boring. The parts where it got good were as the plan was progressing. I would have enjoyed it drawn out a bit more. See the professor fall all the way.
Also I am not 100% convinced the professor actually assaulted her sister BUT he was certainly inappropriate and needed to be fired from teaching period. I was hoping for more proof to make me feel like he was truly a monster.
The way it was written he could've just been a sleezy professor who likes to bed his adult students. But...I could have missed something as I sometimes drifted off during the audio book since it was...well boring.
The premise was good but the execution was a tad...boring. The parts where it got good were as the plan was progressing. I would have enjoyed it drawn out a bit more. See the professor fall all the way.
Also I am not 100% convinced the professor actually assaulted her sister BUT he was certainly inappropriate and needed to be fired from teaching period. I was hoping for more proof to make me feel like he was truly a monster.
The way it was written he could've just been a sleezy professor who likes to bed his adult students. But...I could have missed something as I sometimes drifted off during the audio book since it was...well boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2023
3.5
if promising young woman was set at a law school during the 2016 election, and given a fizzle ending rather than a bang. i mostly enjoyed this, and i don't think it was bad by any means, but it was lacking in a few departments.
the pacing was veeeeeery slow. nothing happened for the entire first half of this 300 page book. but simultaneously, i felt like there was a lot missing from jessie's internal world. the whole premise of the book is based off of her grief following her sister's death, but every time she talked about her sister, the author employed a lot of cliches. it just didn't feel like real grief. the final passage of the book (not a spoiler) is basically just like, "my sister is always with me, forever <3333"
frankly, the other big problem was that i did not believe in the exclusivity of this "elite" cohort. we're supposed to think that this is a prestigious law school, and that the students are all in fierce competition to get into the law and literature class. so why is the class so boring and basic???
the first day is spent talking about atticus finch and if he's a good lawyer. did we not all cover this in ninth grade? then later on, they spend a class discussing paradise lost and debating which figure truly represents justice, between god and the serpent. i had more or less the same discussion in my sophomore year brit lit class at state school.
i honestly was shocked when i reached the acknowledgements and discovered that the author is actually a lawyer and based the academic parts of the book on discussions with her law professor husband. the material is giving literature 101, not super elite exclusive cohort at law school.
i did like the book overall, but i'm not jumping to recommend it to anyone.
thank you to netgalley for an arc.
if promising young woman was set at a law school during the 2016 election, and given a fizzle ending rather than a bang. i mostly enjoyed this, and i don't think it was bad by any means, but it was lacking in a few departments.
the pacing was veeeeeery slow. nothing happened for the entire first half of this 300 page book. but simultaneously, i felt like there was a lot missing from jessie's internal world. the whole premise of the book is based off of her grief following her sister's death, but every time she talked about her sister, the author employed a lot of cliches. it just didn't feel like real grief. the final passage of the book (not a spoiler) is basically just like, "my sister is always with me, forever <3333"
frankly, the other big problem was that i did not believe in the exclusivity of this "elite" cohort. we're supposed to think that this is a prestigious law school, and that the students are all in fierce competition to get into the law and literature class. so why is the class so boring and basic???
the first day is spent talking about atticus finch and if he's a good lawyer. did we not all cover this in ninth grade? then later on, they spend a class discussing paradise lost and debating which figure truly represents justice, between god and the serpent. i had more or less the same discussion in my sophomore year brit lit class at state school.
i honestly was shocked when i reached the acknowledgements and discovered that the author is actually a lawyer and based the academic parts of the book on discussions with her law professor husband. the material is giving literature 101, not super elite exclusive cohort at law school.
i did like the book overall, but i'm not jumping to recommend it to anyone.
thank you to netgalley for an arc.
November 17, 2023
✨B O O K • T O U R✨
The Favorites by Rosemary
This is a tour for @TLC Book Tours #partner
My favorite read of the YEAR. YES THE WHOLE YEAR. I love this book so much.
Every character in this book is perfect. I loved the academic discussions in the classrooms. They were so much fun to read. Does that make me a nerd? Guilty as charged … but for real I loved every minute of this book.
You’ll be hooked from the beginning and will have to finish in one sitting. I flew through this book - which kind of sucked because this is the first book in a while that I was GLUED TO. I never wanted it to end.
Fast-paced there’s never a dull moment. READ THIS BOOK if you like some feminist payback in the form of a devious plan. I hope you’ll like this book as much as I have.
“With the face of a girl and the heart of a viper,” (37).
“You think life is predictable, but it’s chaos…it’s all just chaos,” (153).
#TLCBookTours #TheFavorites #booktok #2023thriller #bookstagram #tbr #bookworms #booksofig #alwaysreading #bookrecommendation #bookaesthetic #bookishlife #readstagram #girlswhoread #readersofinsta #bookstagram #thrillers #lovestoread #alwaysreading #readwithme
The Favorites by Rosemary
This is a tour for @TLC Book Tours #partner
My favorite read of the YEAR. YES THE WHOLE YEAR. I love this book so much.
Every character in this book is perfect. I loved the academic discussions in the classrooms. They were so much fun to read. Does that make me a nerd? Guilty as charged … but for real I loved every minute of this book.
You’ll be hooked from the beginning and will have to finish in one sitting. I flew through this book - which kind of sucked because this is the first book in a while that I was GLUED TO. I never wanted it to end.
Fast-paced there’s never a dull moment. READ THIS BOOK if you like some feminist payback in the form of a devious plan. I hope you’ll like this book as much as I have.
“With the face of a girl and the heart of a viper,” (37).
“You think life is predictable, but it’s chaos…it’s all just chaos,” (153).
#TLCBookTours #TheFavorites #booktok #2023thriller #bookstagram #tbr #bookworms #booksofig #alwaysreading #bookrecommendation #bookaesthetic #bookishlife #readstagram #girlswhoread #readersofinsta #bookstagram #thrillers #lovestoread #alwaysreading #readwithme
November 15, 2023
Binged this in 2 days on audiobook. The narrator was absolutely fantastic. I don't do a ton of books in this genre (dark academia/mystery/quest for justice/revenge), but I found myself really enthralled in this one.
The ending leaves the reader with even more questions (well done!), but it does wrap up nicely - it's just one of those endings that makes you analyze everything all over again and makes you analyze your own mindset.
Everyone ends up being a bit morally gray (to outsiders) in their pursuit of justice. Or revenge. Or are the two as potentially interchangeable as we see in this book?
There were some really interesting and culturally relevant themes explored, like abuse of power between teacher/student relationships, misogyny, and believing victims (esp. women), the justice system, and how it can fail victims and protect those in power, etc.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I really enjoyed this and all the characters. Especially those who helped Jess along the way.
How far would you go to avenge someone you love?!
The ending leaves the reader with even more questions (well done!), but it does wrap up nicely - it's just one of those endings that makes you analyze everything all over again and makes you analyze your own mindset.
Everyone ends up being a bit morally gray (to outsiders) in their pursuit of justice. Or revenge. Or are the two as potentially interchangeable as we see in this book?
There were some really interesting and culturally relevant themes explored, like abuse of power between teacher/student relationships, misogyny, and believing victims (esp. women), the justice system, and how it can fail victims and protect those in power, etc.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I really enjoyed this and all the characters. Especially those who helped Jess along the way.
How far would you go to avenge someone you love?!
October 11, 2025
Cool, inviting cover. Great description of a story I would normally love. I just couldn't get into it. The basics are all there but for some reason it did not connect for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for the purpose of this review. Two stars.
April 15, 2024
Good, fast paced, easy read
January 15, 2024
*In Ireland & UK this book is The Favourite*
The Favourite by Rosemary Hennigan publishes with Orion Books January 18th and is described by Disha Bose as ‘dark academia at its best. A page-turning, gripping novel'. Rosemary Hennigan was inspired to write it after returning home from Philadelphia following the 2016 elections there which saw Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the Presidential race that shocked women to the core. The voices of those women left their mark on Rosemary Hennigan and, as a law graduate and solicitor, she felt the need to write a book centred on a character who was angry with the justice system and its patriarchal influences.
Jessica Mooney is a young student continuing her law education in Franklin University, Philadelphia after graduating from Trinity College in Dublin. Jessica’s older sister, Audrey, had also studied law at Trinity but something happened and Audrey packed in her course, leaving college and Dublin behind her. Audrey came home in a body bag and the mark her death left on Jessica was huge. Audrey had been a student of Professor Jay Crane, an American lecturer, during his time teaching at Trinity and, from what Jessica has since learned, he had been a huge part of Audrey’s life during his time there.
Jessica is in search of justice and is willing to do anything to salvage the memory of her sister. Jessica studies hard and gains a much sought after place in the Law and Literature class that Crane teaches back at Franklin. There he teaches full time and has the life one would expect for a man in his position. Only Jessica knows the truth and is prepared to make some very unconventional and risky moves in order to bring justice to Audrey and to all women who have suffered a similar fate.
Jessica knows that Crane has a reputation for picking favourites and she is willing to do anything to achieve this position. But will she make a move too far? Can this young student achieve justice against a man and the institution he represents?
Rosemary Hennigan worked in corporate law, in advocacy and in the NGO sector so her knowledge of the legal system brings an interesting angle to this tale. Stimulating classroom debates are many, adding a fascinating element to the story, making the reader think outside the box about how they would respond to the questions posed. As Jessica weaves her way into Crane’s life, she crosses paths with other students from different strata of society. This mix provides great insights into the different perspectives and expectations that lie on young people, depending on their background.
Jessica is determined in her quest, of that there is no doubt. Her need for justice for her sister is rightfully strong. She is young and impetuous, determined to see justice done but I would question the reality of what she does and the many coincidences that are all neatly aligned.
Maybe it was the academic setting, but I did feel that The Favourite is aimed at a much younger audience than myself. When I read My Dark Vanessa by Elizabeth Russell in 2021 (which is also in an academic setting) I said that it was a very relevant book for the society we live in today, handling themes of control, obsession and manipulation. I also said that the transfer of guilt needed to be lifted off the shoulders of those carrying deep hurts within. I felt disturbed reading My Dark Vanessa. I felt disconcerted and disgusted but also compelled to turn the pages. With The Favourite I just didn’t have the same reaction. The subject matter is obviously very relevant but I wasn’t as convinced. It’s a good read but unfortunately this one just did not have the impact on me that I was hoping for.
The Favourite by Rosemary Hennigan publishes with Orion Books January 18th and is described by Disha Bose as ‘dark academia at its best. A page-turning, gripping novel'. Rosemary Hennigan was inspired to write it after returning home from Philadelphia following the 2016 elections there which saw Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the Presidential race that shocked women to the core. The voices of those women left their mark on Rosemary Hennigan and, as a law graduate and solicitor, she felt the need to write a book centred on a character who was angry with the justice system and its patriarchal influences.
Jessica Mooney is a young student continuing her law education in Franklin University, Philadelphia after graduating from Trinity College in Dublin. Jessica’s older sister, Audrey, had also studied law at Trinity but something happened and Audrey packed in her course, leaving college and Dublin behind her. Audrey came home in a body bag and the mark her death left on Jessica was huge. Audrey had been a student of Professor Jay Crane, an American lecturer, during his time teaching at Trinity and, from what Jessica has since learned, he had been a huge part of Audrey’s life during his time there.
Jessica is in search of justice and is willing to do anything to salvage the memory of her sister. Jessica studies hard and gains a much sought after place in the Law and Literature class that Crane teaches back at Franklin. There he teaches full time and has the life one would expect for a man in his position. Only Jessica knows the truth and is prepared to make some very unconventional and risky moves in order to bring justice to Audrey and to all women who have suffered a similar fate.
Jessica knows that Crane has a reputation for picking favourites and she is willing to do anything to achieve this position. But will she make a move too far? Can this young student achieve justice against a man and the institution he represents?
Rosemary Hennigan worked in corporate law, in advocacy and in the NGO sector so her knowledge of the legal system brings an interesting angle to this tale. Stimulating classroom debates are many, adding a fascinating element to the story, making the reader think outside the box about how they would respond to the questions posed. As Jessica weaves her way into Crane’s life, she crosses paths with other students from different strata of society. This mix provides great insights into the different perspectives and expectations that lie on young people, depending on their background.
Jessica is determined in her quest, of that there is no doubt. Her need for justice for her sister is rightfully strong. She is young and impetuous, determined to see justice done but I would question the reality of what she does and the many coincidences that are all neatly aligned.
Maybe it was the academic setting, but I did feel that The Favourite is aimed at a much younger audience than myself. When I read My Dark Vanessa by Elizabeth Russell in 2021 (which is also in an academic setting) I said that it was a very relevant book for the society we live in today, handling themes of control, obsession and manipulation. I also said that the transfer of guilt needed to be lifted off the shoulders of those carrying deep hurts within. I felt disturbed reading My Dark Vanessa. I felt disconcerted and disgusted but also compelled to turn the pages. With The Favourite I just didn’t have the same reaction. The subject matter is obviously very relevant but I wasn’t as convinced. It’s a good read but unfortunately this one just did not have the impact on me that I was hoping for.
February 21, 2024
My version of this was called The Favourite, with a different cover. Maybe it's the plural in other regions?
Sorry, but I just found the writing style of this book very disengaging. I'm also wondering if dark academia is a genre suited to me. I've been through all the study, so have no problem relating to the setting and situations that are academically themed, but this book felt more like I was watching episodes of How to Get Away With Murder. That thought repeated in my mind as I read this book. But it felt like a bad replica of that TV series. I just couldn't get into this story.
I didn't think the classroom discussions were well written or even that interesting. I found the whole story line about Jessie's revenge plan to be so over the top. It felt like a plot a ten year old would concoct to steal a cookie from the pantry at midnight. That's the only way I can describe this. The concept may be interesting but the execution was not.
The social themes are important, but I need more than social themes. I need a decent story. I needed a high stakes thriller and I didn't get that. I got something that felt decidedly YA, and not a well crafted YA.
Of course, other readers will enjoy this more than I did, I'm sure.
Sorry, but I just found the writing style of this book very disengaging. I'm also wondering if dark academia is a genre suited to me. I've been through all the study, so have no problem relating to the setting and situations that are academically themed, but this book felt more like I was watching episodes of How to Get Away With Murder. That thought repeated in my mind as I read this book. But it felt like a bad replica of that TV series. I just couldn't get into this story.
I didn't think the classroom discussions were well written or even that interesting. I found the whole story line about Jessie's revenge plan to be so over the top. It felt like a plot a ten year old would concoct to steal a cookie from the pantry at midnight. That's the only way I can describe this. The concept may be interesting but the execution was not.
The social themes are important, but I need more than social themes. I need a decent story. I needed a high stakes thriller and I didn't get that. I got something that felt decidedly YA, and not a well crafted YA.
Of course, other readers will enjoy this more than I did, I'm sure.
October 27, 2024
Jessie Mooney is accepted to Franklin Law School in the USA as an exchange student from Ireland. After writing a superb essay on Antigone, she is one of very few students admitted to Prof Jay Crane’s prestigious course, “Law and Literature where classics such as Crime and Punishment and Paradise Lost are read for their perspective on legal implications. Students in this class are an elite clique where an internal competition is fiercely fought to become Crane's “favorite” ensuring his backing for a successful career.
It evolves that Jessie is not an ordinary student. She could not care less about her future as a lawyer. Instead she is at Franklin only to seek retribution for her sister’s death which she blames wholly on Jay Crane. The professor and Jessie circle each other in a game of cat and mouse as the author deftly weaves together a dichotomy of retribution ie revenge versus serving appropriate justice. Oh what a tangled web. Hannigan has created a tension filled thriller which kept me glued to the pages until it didn't’. I read quickly and was thoroughly immersed in getting to the final outcome to find out if Dr Crane was as guilty as his accuser believed him to be.
Somewhere before the ending the thriller aspect was overtaken by a simple fictional plot which was good but not as engaging as the beginning story. I had thought it was going to be a five star read but the compelling quality of the plot just turned into a fairly predictable conclusion. Four stars for a mostly edgy tension filled book that allows the reader to really think about how justice is served by our legal system Can guilt or innocence be manipulated by preconceived assumptions ? How can punishment support the notion of justice? Many thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House Publishing for a free ebook in exchange for my honest review. Publication was October 15, 2024. I think you’ll like this one.
It evolves that Jessie is not an ordinary student. She could not care less about her future as a lawyer. Instead she is at Franklin only to seek retribution for her sister’s death which she blames wholly on Jay Crane. The professor and Jessie circle each other in a game of cat and mouse as the author deftly weaves together a dichotomy of retribution ie revenge versus serving appropriate justice. Oh what a tangled web. Hannigan has created a tension filled thriller which kept me glued to the pages until it didn't’. I read quickly and was thoroughly immersed in getting to the final outcome to find out if Dr Crane was as guilty as his accuser believed him to be.
Somewhere before the ending the thriller aspect was overtaken by a simple fictional plot which was good but not as engaging as the beginning story. I had thought it was going to be a five star read but the compelling quality of the plot just turned into a fairly predictable conclusion. Four stars for a mostly edgy tension filled book that allows the reader to really think about how justice is served by our legal system Can guilt or innocence be manipulated by preconceived assumptions ? How can punishment support the notion of justice? Many thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House Publishing for a free ebook in exchange for my honest review. Publication was October 15, 2024. I think you’ll like this one.
December 14, 2023
Novels with a dark academic theme are a genre I especially enjoy and in this story lead character Jessie plots to take down Professor Jay Crane who she believes was responsible for the death of her sister, Audrey. I love revenge tales so this was a must read for me and I was engrossed in Jessie's plan to become one of the Professor's favorite students in order to lure him in and set him up for a fall. Jessie wanted justice for her sister but becomes charmed by Jay which becomes problematic since this was not part of her plan to destroy him. As the book quotes, "There were two of us in this game and it was increasingly unclear which of us was the cat and which the mouse". All of the characters were interesting to me and I found their discussions in and out of the classroom fascinating and thought provoking and the time period of the 2016 election added to the angry campus tension as the story progressed. I really relished reading a book that held my interest and made me think and look forward to Rosemary Hennigan's next work.
February 12, 2024
The sour taste formed in my mouth as Jessie's story neared the end with the loss of what her character started with. Justice. Knowing how hard-headed she was at the beginning, beaming with her plan of justice and investigating the fate of her sisters' death in such a crazy manner, we watch her character slowly become more intense and force herself into situations of risk to both parties but she convinces herself it is for the sake of bringing justice. the justice that in the end waded out and consequences barely scratched the surface of the ongoing history regarding this case.
I will have more thoughts tomorrow but for now i shall sleep on it.
I will have more thoughts tomorrow but for now i shall sleep on it.
December 28, 2023
2.5 - entertaining but underwhelming and underdeveloped. The emails between the protagonist and professor made me cringe. This book missed the mark for me in terms of how it addressed the legal system and SA. I don’t think I would categorise this book as a thriller either.
Probably a 2, but an extra 0.5 because this book was a gift :,)
Probably a 2, but an extra 0.5 because this book was a gift :,)
June 23, 2024
Good story! Strong protagonist. I empathised with the setting as I have worked in academia for a while now. Although GoodReads needs to get the book title correct; it’s The Favourite, not The Favourites 🙄
January 23, 2024
AD/PR - It’s a juicy dark academia thriller with a devious revenge plot which sees Jessica enrolling in an Ivy League course. The Professor of the course became embroiled in an illicit affair with her sister when he taught in Ireland. The affair left her sister dead and him free to leave the country completely unscathed. Because OF COURSE IT DID.
The Favourite is one of those books that seem to have equal amounts of 2* and 5* reviews. Personally, I loved it and I think if you read it through a feminist lens then you will too. It’s a real slow burn that builds suspense with a very clever and thrilling game of cat and mouse. I’m always here for dark academia and adding a feminist rage and revenge plot ensured I’d be hooked! I also enjoyed the academic discussions around the justice system, how the law treats women and philosophical theory. They underpin the themes of power dynamics and how this plays out between men and women, teacher and student.
Where this book really shines is in the morally grey (justifiably so) character of Jessica and her genius but thoroughly unhinged scheming! Through her, Rosemary highlights how institutions are inherently misogynistic. Where the victim is far more likely to be blamed than believed over the man in power who abused her. I read quite a few reviews that weren’t happy with the ending… all I’ll say is that it’s a true reflection of life in my opinion. We didn’t get the ending we wanted because women so rarely get the ending they deserve in a story like this in reality.
The Favourite is one of those books that seem to have equal amounts of 2* and 5* reviews. Personally, I loved it and I think if you read it through a feminist lens then you will too. It’s a real slow burn that builds suspense with a very clever and thrilling game of cat and mouse. I’m always here for dark academia and adding a feminist rage and revenge plot ensured I’d be hooked! I also enjoyed the academic discussions around the justice system, how the law treats women and philosophical theory. They underpin the themes of power dynamics and how this plays out between men and women, teacher and student.
Where this book really shines is in the morally grey (justifiably so) character of Jessica and her genius but thoroughly unhinged scheming! Through her, Rosemary highlights how institutions are inherently misogynistic. Where the victim is far more likely to be blamed than believed over the man in power who abused her. I read quite a few reviews that weren’t happy with the ending… all I’ll say is that it’s a true reflection of life in my opinion. We didn’t get the ending we wanted because women so rarely get the ending they deserve in a story like this in reality.
October 11, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for my copy of The Favorites by Rosemary Hennigan!
This story kind of reminded me Promising Young Woman regarding Jessica finding revenge for her sister and the way she did it but tamer (cause that movie's amazingly wild!). I really enjoyed the social commentary on the lack of justice regarding rape and rape culture in today's society and the dark academia vibe. I found myself so engrossed in reading this. I have read quite a bit of comment how nothing much happens until you're halfway past the book and although it is true, I didn't find myself getting bored. The build up to what is the focal point of the story was greatly executed in my opinion.
The pain and conflict that Jessica had gone through the whole book was so well done that you start to feel it in you. The rage, the disappointment, the grief, the fear. Everything. I think I'm just a little disappointed with the ending cause I was hoping for more? 95% of the book was just a banger and then that ending is just.... underwhelming.
This was one hell of a book. I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend if you enjoy social commentaries with a strong MC.
This story kind of reminded me Promising Young Woman regarding Jessica finding revenge for her sister and the way she did it but tamer (cause that movie's amazingly wild!). I really enjoyed the social commentary on the lack of justice regarding rape and rape culture in today's society and the dark academia vibe. I found myself so engrossed in reading this. I have read quite a bit of comment how nothing much happens until you're halfway past the book and although it is true, I didn't find myself getting bored. The build up to what is the focal point of the story was greatly executed in my opinion.
The pain and conflict that Jessica had gone through the whole book was so well done that you start to feel it in you. The rage, the disappointment, the grief, the fear. Everything. I think I'm just a little disappointed with the ending cause I was hoping for more? 95% of the book was just a banger and then that ending is just.... underwhelming.
This was one hell of a book. I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend if you enjoy social commentaries with a strong MC.
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