Who's the Favourite?

Older siblings are bossy, younger siblings always get what they want and only children don’t know how to share. Oh and don’t forget about middle children!


For many of us, our relationships with our siblings will be the longest of our lives, sometimes closing in on a century. Whether loving or fraught, competitive or codependent, these dynamics are integral in shaping who we become. Yet we might not invest in them the way we do our parents, grandparents, children, partners or friends. Why is that?


Exploring the unique and complex nature of these bonds, Catherine Carr separates fact from fiction, revealing the truths behind birth order stereotypes, parental favouritism, memory-making, blended families, trauma, estrangement, bereavement and more. Reflecting on her own upbringing as the middle of three sisters always vying for attention, Carr asks us to consider our brothers and sisters beyond the labels allocated in childhood.


Interwoven with candid interviews with sibling pairs such as Chris and Xand van Tulleken, Johnny and Lillie Flynn, Nick and Gill Hornby, and Manni and Reuben Coe, Who's The Favourite? will provide clarity, humour and comfort. By making sense of our siblings, we might yet better understand ourselves.