it would be absolutely ridiculous to give this anything less than 5 stars. layne fargo blew me out of the water. kat and heath are the most real, flawed, loveable, hateable characters i have ever read. the lin twins are so complex and a great example of secondary main characters. i love the olympics so much and it was so much fun to get the inside scoop even if it was fictional. fargo also couldn't resist a little thrillery twist either and honestly i ate it up. the relationships of all of these characters are so realistic and devestating. please read this.

What a fun figure-skating drama! It followed a predictable structure but kept things interesting with enough twists and turns to make it feel rewarding. It took me a bit to fully invest in the characters, but the promise of drama on the horizon kept me in it. It shifts from the main character, Kat’s, perspective and documentary-style interviews. As a big fan of the Canadian ice dance duo, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, it was impossible not to picture them when certain references popped up. How could I not imagine them dominating the Vancouver Olympics with their steamy Moulin Rouge number? I would have liked a bit more unpacking of motivations as the story wrapped up. This was an engaging read with a great balance of relationships and unhealthy competition.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for access to this book.

These people are messed up! Straight up certifiable, scandalous and ruthless which is why I couldn't put the book down. It really makes you wonder if things like this really happen in this sport and I couldn't help but think back to the whole Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding fiasco. Yes I'm that old and I remember it well. I think the ending fell a bit flat and I would have liked more story and a little less skating. But there's no doubt this will be one of the most talked about books of the year and rightfully so. Read it and see for yourself. My thanks to Random House Publishing for providing a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for this e-ARC of The Favorites! This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and wow, this was certainly a rollercoaster. This book follows Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha. If those names sound familiar, it's because they're essentially the Wuthering Heights characters. Seriously think of this book as Wuthering Heights meets Daisy Jones and the Six, which based on the review that bestselling author Jodi Picoult gave this book, is genuinely what the author was aiming for. And Layne Fargo definitely succeeded.

I genuinely believe if you loved the toxic and "realness" of Daisy and Billy from Daisy Jones and the Six and you love the on again, off again, "I literally hate you and I want to kill you but kiss you and break your neck all at the same time", this is definitely for you! And I enjoyed it with Katarina and Health... to an extent. I think based on early reviews, I might have romanticized and idealized the romance a bit, but as I read, I quickly adjusted my expectations. This book is a romance, but I think it couldn't decide what it wanted to be towards the end, as Fargo lost steam. I think around the 75% point, Katarina became a stripped down, unrecognizable character, and I don't know if that was what was supposed to be her character development, going from this ambitious star to someone who just felt passion for the sport and was simply tired, but it felt equivalent to the whole "main character loses her powers". I'm trying to wrap my mind around this creative choice and decide for myself if this is something that is simply Katarina's change because of the cards she was dealt in life, or if this was out of character. Jury is still out.

My biggest qualm is honestly Heath's character. I know Heath is based on Heathcliff, and his entire essence is that he would do anything to be with Katarina but even though this book was the "Shaw and Rocha story", I never saw Heath as being his own character. Like the choices Fargo made with Katarina, is this purposeful? Is this supposed to be the point? And the ending... I won't spoil it, but there's a choice that involves him and another main character that I just... and the way Katarina handled it? The way this is still promoted as a romance?

Ultimately, I really enjoyed this book and it was extremely well-written, but this was also an extreme case of letting social media and the way the author described it make my feelings for this book oscillate. Yes, it's a romance but not in the way it's currently glorified. It's a romance because they love each other... but honestly because this is all they've ever known. And yes, toxic romance exists and that love is still there, but as Fargo grasped at this sense of redemption and healing at the end, she then whips you back to this toxic romance and people describe this book as this quintessential childhood sweethearts to lovers when it's more like childhood sweethearts to lovers to "I'm clinging to you because I'm addicted to hurting myself" and that feeling is the most I've ever felt in my life and I need to cling to that.

I'm giving this book 5 stars nevertheless because I genuinely have so much to dissect and while a lot of it is just my complaints, it elicited a lot of emotions out of me and made me want to pick up the physical copy. So there's that.

I was so excited to get a copy of The Favorites after seeing so many rave reviews! I loved the set up revolving around a famous ice skating duo involving love and scandal. I also agreed with the comparisons to Taylor Jenkins Reid. However, this one didn't completely live up to the hype for me. I liked it but I didn't love it. I thought it was a bit too long and at points didn't hold my attention as much as I was hoping. 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

3 🌟

Unfortunately, this book did miss the mark for me. I did enjoy its documentary style, and it was a breeze to read through. I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would.

— Thank you to Random House publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo is an intense story about an ice dancing couple and their messy road to the Olympics. Kat and Heath have been childhood best friends with a complicated history and become ice dancing partners. Heath is devoted to Kat, and Kat is obsessed with winning. When they at being trained by an Olympic professional, their lives become messy as they start interacting with competitors their age. As they grow apart and are drawn back together, will they achieve Kat’s dream of an Olympic gold medal or Heath’s dream of being together?

This book was amazing! The characters were well developed, and their story drew me in; I was invested until the end! I would definitely recommend reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

There’s so much to say about Layne Fargo’s The Favorites, it is difficult to know where to begin. So, let us start at the beginning, that is, what brought me to this absolutely insane, drama-laden book. Olympic Ice Dancing. The lesser known Ice Dancing competition of the Olympics is my favorite figure skating event, far exceeding singles and pairs. It is literally dancing on ice, and I unabashedly love it. Nonetheless, when I learned that there was a book being published centered around Olympic hopeful ice dancers, I literally ran to get my copy.

Written in an interview style, like a documentary made for streaming, The Favorites tells what really happened between ice dancing’s favorites, Katharina Shaw and Heath Rocha. Katarina and Heath were skating underdogs; poor nobodies from the Midwest who were scoffed at for even dreaming of making it to the Olympics. Whereas their competitors were all spit and polish, Kat and Heath were nothing but grit and passion.

Fueling that passion on the ice were their intense feelings for each other outside of the rink. As Kat and Heath climb the ranks, attracting a storm of media attention not only for their dramatic and rebellious skating, but also for their relationship behind the scenes, this daring duo becomes the team to beat. That is, until a scandalous incident at the Olympic Games rips the couple apart, sending out shock waves felt not only in the skating community, but across the world, as well.

Now, ten years later, an unauthorized documentary is being produced to tell the real story about what happened between Kat and Heath on and off the ice. Pooling their friends and rivals, the filmmakers bring together a coalition of people all too eager to tell what they really know about the infamous Kat and Heath. From gossip bloggers, to skating partners and coaches, to rivals on the ice, everyone has a story to tell …

I had no preconceived notions about The Favorites going into it, except that I knew that it was going to be about ice dancing. I took note that it was inspired by Wuthering Heights, but having read the classic in high school and forgotten it, I had no memory of the plot upon which to draw. Furthermore, I did not know that this book was going to read like a behind-the-scenes documentary, which explains where the Daisy Jones and the Six references came from! Needless to say, I devour books written in the interview/media-centric style. Why? Because their audiobooks are generally amazing!

Case in point: the audiobook production for The Favorites. If you are going to read this book, you MUST listen to it! The audiobook utilizes a full cast and is recorded in such a way, it is as if you are actually listening to a documentary about the events of this novel. The audiobook is definitely the way to go here, as the actual reading experience of this book may come across as a bit disjointed and choppy with the constant quips, quotes, and inserts from the various players in this unfolding saga.

As for the story itself, I did not know that it was possible to pack this much drama into one book! Fargo’s skating community is cutthroat, ruthless, and scandalous. Apparently you must always watch your back and trust no one … even those you consider to be your closest friends. The truth behind Kat and Heath’s falling out is the stuff of documentary dreams, and will appeal to anyone who loves a good dishy exposé read.

While I’ll admit that The Favorites was a bit too melodramatic for my tastes - by the end, I was asking myself, “How much more scandal can they pack into this book?!” - I was nonetheless thoroughly entertained throughout this rollercoaster of a read. If you are showing up for this circus, you have to be all in for the sensationalized storyline and exposé style. There are no redeeming characters here, so don’t come into The Favorites expecting to fall in love with the players. Rather, lace up your skates for one head-spinning read that twists and turns faster than a skater on the ice.

Absolutely loved!!!!!!! This was exactly what I needed to read right now, and I will read anything this writer puts into the world. Very reminiscent of Taylor Jenkins Reid—fast paced, so well written, amazing characters and character development. As a bookseller, I love a book I can recommend to so many different types of readers. Bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House and Layne Fargo, for this ARC of The Favorites that came out on January 14, 2025!

This book was incredible. 5 big stars! I loved the unique way this story was written and loved all the characters. What a fantastic romance, drama novel about Olympic Skaters. I couldn’t put it down!

⭐️Overall Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel was provided by the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.

This book falls victim to "over hype". It very much is like TJR Daisy Jones mixed with Carrie Soto. I kept thinking something big was going to happen based on the way each chapter ends on a cliff hanger, but nothing really did. I finished it to write a review, not because I cared about the ending.

I loved this book so much. The reader follows Katarina Shaw, a determined ice dancer, who has Olympic aspirations at a young age, and her partner, Heath Rocha. Partners both on and off the ice, Katarina and Heath must fight tooth and nail for every victory. They soon enter the world of high level competitive ice dancing, which is cutthroat and high stakes.

Told in a documentary style, fans of “Daisy Jones and the Six” will enjoy this novel, filled with romance, intrigue and the pressures of living a Olympian-level athlete’s lifestyle.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo is the story of Katarina, Heath, and figure skating at the Olympic level. I enjoyed journeying with these characters and really enjoyed the backdrop of elite-level athletes. The story is told against the backdrop of a documentary, though I didn't find that the documentary pages actually added that much to the story.
This was a book that I enjoyed coming back to during the week while I read it, very readable! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Favorites is available now.

THE FAVORITES by @laynefargo is making a huge splash this year for EXCELLENT reason. I can’t compare it enough to the legendary sports story CARRIE SOTO IS BACK meets the storytelling and toxic romance of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX.

Alternating between the fictional documentary and first person narrative, the book tells the story of Katarina Shaw’s ice dancing career — the good, the bad, and the bloody.

The story follows Katarina Shaw through her intense figure skating career with partner Heath Rocha. Katarina is determined to make it to the top and become an Olympic gold medalist, but what is she willing to risk along the way?

This book was amazing! There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about it. The story is told through Katarina’s point of view along with interviews from a from an unauthorized documentary. The interviews lend themselves to the gossip and scandal that surround Katarina and Heath and their skating career. As a fan of figure skating, I found the plot to be absolutely intriguing as there is some insight to the figure skating world. In addition, I really enjoyed the development and intensity of the characters. If someone wants to be a champion, what lengths will they go to?
Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was an emotional rollercoaster!

I enjoyed all the twists and turns!
My jaw dropped so many times!

I basically read this book in under 24 hours.
I’ve never read anything like it!

Absolutely incredible! It’s only January and I think this will be my favorite book of 2025.

Having grown up in the era of Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Oksana Baiul, Tara Lapinski, etc, this book gave me ALL the nostalgic feels while also telling a story completely original. Katarina and Heath are childhood soulmates who naturally also became ice dancing partners at the age of 13. For Katarina. Nothing matters but skating her way to the top. For Heath, nothing matters but what Katarina wants. We get to grow with them, win with them, lose with them, and everything in between. This is a beautiful story of friendship, love, passion, and what it’s like truly growing up and older with someone. There weren’t enough stars for this one. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

One of my favorites of the year so far, an absolute banger! I went into this with the highest expectations, as a certified Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, and I was obsessed. Not in the way everyone else was, but I get the hype. There is zero reason why I should read a 448 page novel and still crave another 448 pages. I wanted all the nitty gritty details about our character's lives, despite how unlikeable and toxic they are throughout. And that's my main qualm with this: although I loved it for the drama, a lot of it was surface level and the payoff for all that drama just never happened. There were a few directions that would have made sense but what Fargo landed on was kind of a cheap thrill. But I'm not a hater, it was still a damn good book. A definite "I support women's rights but also support women's wrongs" situation. Contrary to popular belief though, Heath is the villian in this story and I hate him. He is the ironic thorn in Kat's side for decades and I never rooted for their romance. Too many betrayals on his end for him to be redeemable. Also THAT ENDING WAS A CRIME. I threw the book across the room and stared at the wall for hours. I'm still thinking about them weeks later, which is a feat!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book reminded me a bit of Magnolia Parks, but with the added elements of skating, reckless ambition, and heated competition. I don’t know that this book was a romance, so much as it was a book dedicated to the pursuit of victory. There was perhaps less passion between the two characters as there was a passion for the sport. If you’re looking for a fluffy romcom, this isn’t it, but if you’re looking for a fiery documentary-style read about skating and heartbreak, pick this one up immediately.

So romantic and swoonworthy; Brings you right to the edge of the ice rink for all it's emotional intensity and competitive spirit. Obsessed with this! I have been talkig it up to everyone I know. I also loved the documentary, Daisy Jones and the Six style format.