Book Review: The Favorite Girl by Monica Arya
The Favorite Girl by Monica Arya
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense
Vibe: Polished. Perverse. Paralyzing.
Length: 404 pages
The Story
When Demi Rao answers a strange live-in job posting for a housekeeper at the opulent Ivory Estate, she believes it’s her way out of a brutal past. But the rules are strange—white clothes only, no makeup, no questions—and the quiet perfection of the mansion feels more like a cage than a home.
As she uncovers what’s really happening behind the locked doors of the Ivory family’s empire, the truth is more disturbing than she could have imagined. There are no accidents here, only experiments. And Demi might be the next one.
Every woman has a breaking point.
Every secret has a cost.
And not every girl gets to be the favorite.
What I Loved
1. The atmosphere
Arya crafts unease with precision—white walls that feel like prison bars, dinner scenes laced with dread, and moments of silence that stretch until they snap. The tension is constant and unnerving.
2. The social commentary
Beneath the shocks and suspense, The Favorite Girl unpacks how women’s identities are shaped and erased under control—how desperation can be exploited, and how survival sometimes demands complicity.
3. The pacing and reveals
The first half simmers, but once the mask slips, it becomes impossible to stop reading. Every reveal deepens the horror, and every chapter leaves you just a little more breathless.
What Fell Short
1. The writing sometimes wavers
Some passages feel rushed or overwritten, and dialogue occasionally leans melodramatic—but the story’s energy mostly carries it through.
2. Trauma fatigue
This is a heavy read. Abuse, coercion, and psychological torment feature prominently, and while necessary to the plot, it can become overwhelming.
3. A rushed ending
The finale resolves in a flurry of violence and revelation that could’ve used a few more pages to breathe. Still, the impact lingers.
Pull-Quotes for Blog or Instagram
“Perfection isn’t peace. It’s the silence that comes before the scream.”
“Some houses don’t need ghosts. The living are frightening enough.”
“The Ivory Estate doesn’t want guests. It wants obedience.”
My Take
The Favorite Girl isn’t the kind of thriller you forget. It’s messy, visceral, and deeply psychological—less about murder and more about manipulation. There were moments I wanted to look away, but that’s the mark of a story doing its job: forcing you to sit in discomfort, to witness what power and fear can do to a person.
It’s a nightmare dressed in silk, written for readers who crave intensity and unease.
Final Verdict
✨ 3.7 / 5 stars ✨
Brutal, haunting, and unforgettable. Not a comfort read—but a compelling one.
Live Deliciously Verdict:
If you loved The Housemaid by Freida McFadden or Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris but wanted something darker and more psychological, The Favorite Girl belongs on your nightstand—just maybe not before bed.