A Simple Favor

A Novel

De: Darcey Bell

Narrado por: Andi Arndt, Xe Sands, Matthew Waterson

The Inspiration for the film starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding. Don't miss the sequel, Another Simple Favor, streaming soon on Prime Video!

"Riveting and brilliantly structured, A Simple Favor is an edge-of-your seat domestic thriller."—Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author

A single mother's life is turned upside down when her best friend vanishes in this chilling debut thriller in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

She’s your best friend. She knows all your secrets. That’s why she’s so dangerous.

It starts with a simple favor—an ordinary kindness mothers do for one another. When her best friend, Emily, asks Stephanie to pick up her son Nicky after school, she happily says yes. Nicky and her son, Miles, are classmates and best friends, and the five-year-olds love being together—just like she and Emily. A widow and stay-at-home mommy blogger living in woodsy suburban Connecticut, Stephanie was lonely until she met Emily, a sophisticated PR executive whose job in Manhattan demands so much of her time.

But Emily doesn’t come back. She doesn’t answer calls or return texts. Stephanie knows something is terribly wrong—Emily would never leave Nicky, no matter what the police say. Terrified, she reaches out to her blog readers for help. She also reaches out to Emily’s husband, the handsome, reticent Sean, offering emotional support. It’s the least she can do for her best friend. Then, she and Sean receive shocking news. Emily is dead. The nightmare of her disappearance is over.

Or is it? Because soon, Stephanie will begin to see that nothing—not friendship, love, or even an ordinary favor—is as simple as it seems.

Bell masterfully ratchets up the tension in a taut, unsettling, and completely absorbing story that holds you in its grip.

©2017 Seven Acres, LLC (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

I'm not sure who or what I liked least...

Very interesting concept for a story... but that's where it ends for me. I didn't care at all for the characters , not even the ones we were meant to like. I didn't like the narration and I didn't like the ending.

Stick with it, it is worth it

If you could sum up A Simple Favor in three words, what would they be?

The blog style that the book starts out with is initially annoying, however, if you stick with it, the medium becomes multi-dimensional and complex and the story is clever and interesting. The narrative does latch onto sexist stereotypes (the stupid "super mom" and the intelligent, evil beautiful women), but the story line is strong enough so you can simultaneously be critical of the book while enjoying it.

What did you like best about this story?

The juxtaposition of different narrative mediums (blog versus personal thoughts) and points of view.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Emily.

Simply hateful

I have a simple problem with this book. There was not one single relate-able or likable character. I found all of the characters to be ill formed and detestable and the dialogue between them stilted. The book relies on some very old tricks and gimmicks that were hardly a surprise. I was waiting for the twist and it never came. Also missing - a resolution. It was as if the author said “enough already - I need to be done with this. You figure out the ending.” I listened thru because I liked the idea of a blog as a plot vehicle and I really wanted things to come together or a Gone Girl style twist to happen but alas... it didn’t. Vapid characters and weak plot.

overall good

overall story was entertaining. narrarators voices very nice. It was predictable by the third chapter. the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. sorry.

Diabolical!

This was a great story! The weird thing about it is that I knew how it would end but still needed to hear it. I was a bit disappointed by the ending but you can’t always get what you want. I finished it in a couple days. It’s one of the reasons I love Audible!

A simple favor quick opinion

Story was good. Emily narrator was blasé and dull it didn’t match the devious character

Gullible Follower

It was hard to believe that anyone would cooperate in doing something horrendous and help to implement the plans of someone who has demonstrated evil and has betrayed that very person.

I still don’t know.

First thing. This reminded me of Gone Girl. But not nearly as good. It has all the twists and turns. Great characters and such. But less meat. I feel like I needed just a bit more. Excellent performance by the readers.

It’s a solid 3.5 meh. I’m not mad at it.

Good but bad ending

The story and narration was good. Several twists and turns. Really enjoyed it, but the ending ended abruptly. Surprised it was over just like that. Expected a more dramatic ending.

Needs Closure

I was really enjoying this book, right up until the “ending”. It felt very incomplete. I would have given 5 stars if there had been more closure to the end of the story.