The Accidental Favorite
A Novel

Quotes

“Even under pressure, sisterhood is powerful in this entertaining and well-crafted novel.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“A compelling drama about a dysfunctional family that will make readers laugh out loud and cringe all at once....Littlewood’s sharp characters and emotional depth beautifully capture the messy and complicated side of adults’ relationships to their families of origin, quirks and all.”
—Library Journal

“[A] fascinating look at one family and their complicated truths….Every moment feels alive....Full of tender moments and thoughtful insights, The Accidental Favorite will be a favorite of readers, perfect for those with imperfect families—which is to say all of us.”
—Shelf Awareness

“Tensions flare during an English family’s vacation in the country in Littlewood’s emotive sophomore outing....The author’s fans will find much to love.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Fran Littlewood is an expert chronicler of family dynamics, and particularly the complex, competitive, and sparkling nature of sisterhood. Once I picked up The Accidental Favorite, I did not want to put it down until the last page was turned.”
—Lottie Hazell, author of Piglet

“A tender story about the corrosive power of secrets and what it means to finally let them go. Littlewood writes with pinpoint accuracy about the dynamics between siblings and the beautiful and terrible mess that is family.”
—Daisy Alpert Florin, author of My Last Innocent Year

“Now and again I read a book which is so FABULOUS I get queasy with jealousy. This is one such book. God, I wish I had written it. 3 sisters in their 40s. Funny, dark, fascinating and utterly UTTERLY convincing. On my QWJ (Queasy With Jealousy) Scale, I award it 16/10.”
—Marian Keyes

“The Accidental Favorite is an absolute knockout—ferociously observed, fantastically funny and deeply relatable. I could not stop reading this dark-edged, pacy, moving novel and was consumed with thoughts about the characters whenever it wasn’t in my hands. Sensationally good.”
—Rosie Walsh, author of The Love of My Life

“There’s to be no Difficult Second Album Syndrome for Fran Littlewood. The Accidental Favorite starts with a (literally) cracking premise, and gets messier and more mysterious from there. It is darkly funny, keenly observed, and full of poignant, vivid imagery.”
—Tim Minchin

“Fran Littlewood has that incredible ability to write minute family dynamics with such insane accuracy and wit that it feels like she’s been observing you and your family for years. It’s the incisive level of detail she holds that makes The Accidental Favorite such a brilliant read with a concept that is both relatable and hilariously messy. This is a novel that captures the big and little things about siblings and family life that create the beautiful and fractured thing we call family. You’ll want to pass this book onto your siblings and your parents, but be warned!!”
—Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us

“Fran writes like a wilder, more breathless Claire Lombardo. . . . A huge talent. Set over the
course of a family reunion that goes very wrong, The Accidental Favorite is a layered, textured story
about the reverberations of the past and secrets in a family, and a psychologically astute
look at love and relationships. It’s wonderful and very funny. You’re in for such a treat. I
LOVED it.”
—Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls