[3] The novel centers on Stephanie, a mom blogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's sudden disappearance from their small town in Connecticut.

Strafford added that, "But let it be said that Bell possesses a wicked imagination and a firm grasp on plotting; she fills A Simple Favor with multiple twists, all the while providing subtle clues for the astute reader.

"[6] On the other hand, Publishers Weekly felt that Bell "squanders an intriguing setup with ill-defined stakes and tired, telegraphed plot twists," describing the novel as "convoluted".

[1] The Belfast Telegraph's Georgina Rodgers agreed, saying, "Stephanie and her blog were very two-dimensional and not believable and parts of the plot felt forced and too far-fetched.

In June 2017, Paul Feig signed on to direct the film adaptation, which stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding.