Morgan Dick’s debut novel Favorite Daughter is a tragicomic exploration of addiction, abandonment, and the painful bonds of family. Through the alternating perspectives of half-sisters Mickey and Arlo, Dick crafts an unflinching yet surprisingly tender portrait of two women unknowingly connected by the manipulations of their problematic father, even after his death.
The novel introduces us to Mickey Morris (née Kowalski), a kindergarten teacher with an alcohol dependency who learns of her estranged father’s death through an obituary where she isn’t mentioned among his loved ones. Meanwhile, Arlo (née Charlotte) Fink has devoted her life to caring for her alcoholic father, whom she has idolized despite his many flaws. When Mickey discovers her father has left her $5.5 million in his will – with the condition that she complete seven therapy sessions – she has no idea her therapist is actually her half-sister, who has been cut out of the will entirely.
Character Development: Damaged Yet Deeply Authentic
Dick’s greatest achievement is crafting two profoundly damaged protagonists who remain deeply sympathetic despite their worst behaviors. Mickey and Arlo represent different responses to parental trauma – Mickey through defiant self-destruction, Arlo through obsessive caretaking and control.
Mickey resonates as a brittle, sharp-edged woman who has walled herself off from meaningful connections. Her relationship with alcohol mirrors her father’s, yet Dick portrays her addiction with nuance rather than judgment. Mickey’s internal monologue – caustic, self-aware, and often darkly funny – provides some of the novel’s most arresting moments: “People are simple. Adults act in their own self-interest. We might huddle together for warmth sometimes, but when hunger strikes, we’ll fight to the death over a—a deer carcass or whatever.“
Arlo initially appears more put-together as a successful psychologist, but her obsession with her father and willingness to manipulate Mickey reveal equally deep wounds. Her gradual unraveling as she discovers her father’s betrayal showcases Dick’s talent for psychological complexity.
The supporting characters add tremendous depth to the narrative:
- Daria, Mickey’s blunt, no-nonsense neighbor with surprising compassion
- Chris, who finds himself unexpectedly caring for his nephew Ian
- Tom Samson, the awkward lawyer who connects both sisters
- Deborah and Mother (Leonora), the women who were married to Adam Kowalski and suffered differently from his addiction and manipulation
Plot and Pacing: A Narrative That Builds Momentum
What begins as a darkly comic premise – a therapist unknowingly counseling her half-sister – develops into something more profound. The plot unfolds with increasing tension as Arlo discovers Mickey’s identity and begins manipulating their sessions in hopes of reclaiming her inheritance. Meanwhile, Mickey’s life spirals out of control after she injures Ian at her birthday party, leading to a series of crises that force her to confront her own addiction.
Dick navigates this complex narrative with impressive control. The alternating perspectives allow readers to understand both sisters’ motivations while creating dramatic irony as we see each character’s blind spots. The novel’s climax at their father’s headstone unveiling delivers an emotional punch that feels both surprising and inevitable.
Thematic Depth: More Than Just Family Drama
Favorite Daughter by Morgan Dick explores several interconnected themes with intelligence and sensitivity:
- Addiction as inheritance: Dick portrays addiction not just as a personal failing but as a legacy passed down through generations. Mickey’s struggle with alcohol mirrors her father’s, while Arlo’s codependency represents a different kind of addiction.
- The complexity of forgiveness: The novel refuses easy answers about forgiving those who’ve hurt us. Mickey’s relationship with her mother, Arlo’s relationship with her father’s memory, and ultimately the sisters’ relationship with each other all grapple with the question of whether forgiveness is possible or even desirable.
- The search for identity beyond family trauma: Both sisters must ultimately confront whether they can define themselves outside the shadow of their father’s influence.
- Truth versus comfort: Throughout the novel, characters must choose between comforting lies and painful truths. Arlo’s professional downfall comes from avoiding a painful conversation with a suicidal client, while Mickey’s recovery begins when she finally faces her addiction.
Prose Style: Sharp, Contemporary, and Refreshingly Honest
Dick’s prose perfectly balances literary sophistication with accessibility. Her writing is clean and direct yet capable of startling beauty and insight. Her dialogue crackles with authenticity – capturing the rhythms of awkward therapy sessions, drunken confessions, and the halting attempts at connection between estranged family members.
The novel’s language shifts subtly between Mickey’s and Arlo’s sections, reflecting their different personalities. Mickey’s chapters feature more fragmented sentences and sharp observations, while Arlo’s contain more analytical and occasionally self-justifying language.
Particularly effective are Dick’s descriptions of addiction. Rather than relying on clichés, she captures the specific rituals and rationalizations that accompany Mickey’s drinking: “The vodka ate through the snow cleanly, tunneling to the pale grass beneath. She watched it flow out in a gush, a stream, a trickle.“
Critique: Minor Flaws in an Otherwise Exceptional Debut
While Favorite Daughter by Morgan Dick is an impressive debut, it’s not without flaws:
- The novel occasionally relies too heavily on coincidence, particularly in bringing characters together
- Some supporting characters, like Evelyn (Ian’s mother), could have been more fully developed
- The epilogue, while satisfying emotionally, wraps up the sisters’ relationship somewhat neatly given the complexity of their prior interactions
These minor issues don’t significantly detract from the novel’s overall impact, however. Dick has created a debut that feels remarkably assured.
Emotional Impact: A Novel That Lingers
What makes Favorite Daughter by Morgan Dick particularly affecting is how it balances darkness with genuine warmth and hope. Despite its unflinching portrayal of addiction and family dysfunction, the novel never descends into bleakness. Moments of connection – Mickey’s bond with her student Ian, Arlo’s gradual recognition of her own codependency, the sisters’ tentative steps toward reconciliation – provide emotional counterweight to the novel’s more painful aspects.
By the novel’s end, both Mickey and Arlo have begun the difficult work of redefining themselves outside their father’s influence. Their journey isn’t neat or complete, but the glimpse of their potential relationship offers a hard-earned optimism that feels authentic rather than sentimental.
Final Verdict: A Remarkable Debut Worth Reading
Favorite Daughter marks Morgan Dick as a significant new voice in contemporary fiction. Her compassionate yet unflinching portrayal of flawed characters grappling with family trauma, addiction, and identity creates a reading experience that is both intellectually and emotionally satisfying.
The novel will appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Character-driven family dramas with psychological depth
- Stories that balance darkness with humor and hope
- Complex female protagonists
- Nuanced portrayals of addiction and recovery
- Authors like Otessa Moshfegh, Ann Patchett, and Celeste Ng
Dick shows exceptional promise in this debut. Her ability to create deeply flawed yet empathetic characters, her ear for dialogue, and her willingness to explore difficult subjects without descending into either melodrama or cynicism mark her as a writer to watch. Favorite Daughter by Morgan Dick offers that rare reading experience – a novel that entertains while also challenging readers to examine their own assumptions about family, forgiveness, and the possibility of meaningful change.
