Just in time for National Siblings Day! I received this courtesy advance copy of The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll from Net Galley. In return, I supplied my unpaid, unbiased review of this book. 

The Favorite Sister, Jessica Knoll

Buckle up, The Favorite Sister is one hell of a ride! Based in reality TV land, completely foreign territory to me, I was fully engaged by the second chapter. The Favorite Sister quickly became that can’t put it down, stay up late read I needed. The plot is just twisty enough to keep the reader guessing, but not so overboard as to become totally implausible. The characters are at once identifiable.  As in, we all know someone like that.  At the same time, the author reveals a hint of the seemingly glamorous TV lifestyle that is a mystery in itself. The cast is diverse enough in actions and personalities to engage without seeming too farfetched (even with the TV show casting element considered). The complications grow as the outsider breakaway star of the series brings her sister in as part of the cast for the new season.

But there’s the twist, they are not who they seem to be when the show is taping. Once the facade begins to crumble, what has been staged to appear upbeat, motivational, and inspiring becomes  a ring of ever expanding lies. Throw one handsome, shiftless husband into the mix, and more discontent abounds.  The season flies, and culminates with mayhem, murder, and the revelation of masquerades.

Opinion

The author calls out the stereotypes of female protagonists, while creating characters displaying those very same characteristics, all for the ratings game. And once in the race for ratings, there is no exit for these characters. Even as a work of fiction, this confirmed my own bias against reality TV in general, and the gender specific politics of outwardly encouraging women to support one another while taking delight in the constant state of near cat fight.