I LOVED this so much!! The hype is real, and I already know this is going to be one of my top reads of the year.

People are describing this as Daisy Jones & the Six meets the Olympics, but I think the most relevant comparison to make is to its inspiration, Wuthering Heights. It's been ages since I've read it (I'm due for a reread), but the torturous love it describes is so akin to the classic: its toxic, it's gutting, it's full of yearning, it's romantic.

The glittering world of fame and ice dancing was a beautiful backdrop to a story of revenge, complicated friendships, and redemption. There was juicy drama at every turn, heartbreak over and over again. You both love and hate these characters and what they're willing to do to pursue their ambitions and desires.

I was utterly hooked and enchanted by this. I'm emotionally devastated that I can't actually watch Kat and Heath's routines.

(Minor point deductions for me wishing Kat's POV had gone a little deeper [the storytelling was so fast-paced, there wasn't really time]. Also the ending wasn't exactlyyy what I wanted as the story started to diverge away from Wuthering Heights.)

The overall performance: astounding and completely memorable.

Read if you like:
🪩 Scandal and drama
⛸️ Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
🧪 Toxic relationships
💔 Unlikeable & complex female characters
📽 Documentary-style narratives

I cannot tell you the last time I read a book this good. But it’s been years since I’ve been physically and emotionally unable to put it down! I was sucked in from the start.

If I could give ten stars I would. This was my first book by Layne Fargo but definitely not the last. I loved her writing style so much. It definitely reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid.

This is far different than my normal romance or thriller books. It has depth, beauty and such intense emotion. I hope this gets all the flowers it deserves because it was a masterpiece. How can I read anything after this?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!

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AHHHHHH! The hype is so well deserved for this book!! This was the final book I read for 2024 and it was the perfect book to go out on. I am obsessed with a juicy, drama-filled sports story and this absolutely brought that and more. I loved the cut scenes from the documentary and was in shock by the end of those. I completely forgot that it was based on Wuthering Heights until after I finished it and definitely could see the winks and nods after, but it is thoroughly enjoyable without looking for those links. After I finished, I immediately told a friend who really enjoys Taylor Jenkins Reid books that she needed to pick this up as soon as it hits the shelves. It reminded me so much of Carrie Soto is Back, but has the same rich drama of most of TJR's books. I've also seen the romance between Heath and Kat compared to a Mariana Zapata book. I can definitely see, but to be clear this romance is anything but a slow-burn. They are on fire from start to finish! I loved this book and have already added it to my collection. I will most certainly be rereading it before too long!

3 ⭐️

this was an interesting story to say the least. in the least spoiler-y, and shortest summary ever, The Favorites follow Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha throughout childhood and adulthood in their pursuit to win an olympic gold medal for ice dancing. the journey takes us from their abusive household in Illinois, to the toxic LA lifestyle with world famous ice dancer, and Katarina’s role model, Sheila Lin and her twin children ice dancers, Bella and Garrett.

for the most part, i enjoyed the novel. it was incredibly addicting, i was extremely entertained for about 70% of the time, and Katarina’s growth at the end was nice to read. and im about to go off about the book but please know, i did think the writing was really good, i just don’t think this kind of toxic, wild drama is for me.

now…. for the spoilers. pls don’t continue reading if you don’t want spoilers i am slightly annoyed and have to voice it here. and i know this is going to have hot takes/unpopular opinions.

i very much disliked Heath. i actually think the only characters i enjoyed were Katarina and Garrett. to be fair, i understand this book was about trauma and toxicity, and i do not believe in characters needing to be perfect BUT, i could not. this story would have had me in a chock hold if we had Heaths POV at LEAST a few times throughout. i never understood his motivations (other than being obsessed with Katarina? even when he said he had to do things for him and not her, it was still for her lol), and knew little to nothing about him. Katarina had her faults, don’t get me wrong, but that man wronged her in so many ways and it was all just brushed over.

honestly, so many serious things happened to these characters and every single time it was brushed over like, “three years later we went on a walk together and decided to skate again” ?? wish i could be that unbothered.

like, Heath leaving to train with the Russians to get better at skating for Katarina. i felt bad for what he experienced but also….my guy could’ve tried to just talk to Katarina. ya know, the only family, friend, and love he knew. instead of running off to the evil dance teacher he didn’t even trust. he literally just disappeared for years without a trace and pops back up like Katarina is the problem.

and let me discuss the cheating. i guess it technically wasn’t but….gf took one rude comment from Katarina and not even 20 mins later was in Heaths bed. like how much convincing did that take? also they were sharing the room and they didn’t expect her to come back to bed lmao. following this scandal, they never reached out in 3 years (again) to apologize BUT, Katarina comes back for a funeral and all of a sudden they’re sorry for cheating and blaming her for leaving them to be lonely and only having each other to sleep with out of everyone in la. now Heath is admitting his undying love for her, and that his whole life has been dedicated to pleasing her even though BELLA IS PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD? oh, oh, and wait for it. Katarina and him work it out on the remix and are back together in the end.

i could have understood one or the other. for instance, if Heath and Bella “revenge cheated” then never slept together again and him and Katarina worked it out later. or, if the cheating never happened and Katarina and him broke up, then she came back to find out their were “friends with benefits” from being lonely, and they worked it out from there. but both? how desperate are they? Bella and Heath essentially didn’t exist in the same universe to me this whole book so it was just weird and didn’t make sense. again, i needed more POVs to understand their motivations. bc wyd Katarina is back im town, Bella essentially throws Heath at her bc she doesn’t gaf and just wanted physical intimacy, but they’re still hooking up behind the scenes and Heath is also making googly eyes at Katarina?

overall, i didn’t believe Heath and Katarina’s love. Heath just needs a person and Katarina matched his unhinged energy. then Bella did too. i guess they all belong together fr. they should all just continue their throuple as good friends lol

lastly, the last 30% of them being sabotaged by the Russian ice dancers was a snooze fest and didn’t feel like a part of the rest of the book? ended abruptly, but also not quick enough. im so sorry.

This book has already been getting a lot of buzz, and I get it! The story follows Kat and Heath from childhood through adulthood as they pursue their ambitions in ice dancing. Along the way, it’s drama, drama, and more drama. The chapters are short and mostly end on cliff hangers to keep you turning the pages fast. It’s 450 pages but doesn’t feel long at all. In fact, it’s the book I would expect if Taylor Jenkins Reid decided to write about ice dancing. I have heard that it’s a Wuthering Heights retelling, so I suspect if you were familiar with the source material you would have a richer reading experience than I did. Without it, this read to me like complete brain candy and I did find myself rolling my eyes at times at the twists and turns. That said, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood for something light and fast! I picked it up at the right time and had fun with it, despite its flaws. I’ve heard that audio is the way to go for this one, so if that’s an option for you, I’d try to consume it that way.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

My stomach was in absolute KNOTS during the entirety of this book. My anxiety was HIGH, but it was stunning and SO compelling. I was really invested in each character's development and personal journey. The twists and turns had me REELING. Some of the twists I could not get behind (but they were genius plot choices). This book was so well written. It was honestly SO freaking good

Imagine DAISY JONES AND THE SIX but set in the world of competitive figure skating with the mess, emotions and drama of MAGNOLIA PARKS. Throw in a little inspiration from WUTHERING HEIGHTS and a dash of I, TONYA and you’ve got THE FAVORITES.

THE FAVORITES was genuinely such a roller coaster of a read. This book is so juicy, scandalous, and dramatic that you’ll find yourself absolutely consumed in this world and characters and be itching to finish it all in one sitting.

Layne Fargo’s writing reminded me a lot of Taylor Jenkins Reid, especially since this was written similarly to DAISY JONES AND THE SIX.

I came for the mess, stayed for the mess, and got obsessed with the mess. All the characters were electric, passionate, and intense, that it made for such a complex and enthralling story. You’ll truly become obsessed with this story and the toxicity of it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

AMAZING. WHAT A STORY.
Layne Fargo goes somewhere between NONE OF THIS IS TRUE and DAISY JONES AND THE SIX. Reminiscent of the 2018 Winter Olympics and Tessa and Scott, THE FAVORITES will forever be on my favorites list.
I loved how Kat was so fearless in her pursuit of being the best, and I related to being called a bitch, ruthless, etc. to achieve her goals. I loved how Heath and Kats love was so deep - it was almost fated. It was messy, drama filled, and beautiful. I will likely be rereading it once a year.

Magnolia parks meets Daisy Jones! Addictive and super fun to read. Literally couldn’t put it down. A new fav for sure!One slight character flaw at the end I wasn’t the biggest fan of but I still loved the way it wrapped up in the end.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo ✨⛸️🌹
5 jaw-dropping ⭐️

No literally, there were multiple chapters where my jaw couldn’t have been more on the floor.

📖 short chapters
💘 most romantic, toxic love
⛸️ edge-of-your-seat moments
🌹 INSANE drama / deceit / revenge
🥇 stop-at-nothing p a s s i o n

For me PERSONALLY, this was everything I wanted from Magnolia Parks, but 100,000,000,000x better. Where MP was painfully messy, this was organized + diabolical.

The characters were flawed & messy, yet Fargo has a way of making you root for them anyways. It felt real & raw & perfect. The human emotion. The dedication to a craft + sport. It was all written so tragically beautiful.

I enjoyed The Favorite overall—Layne Fargo knows how to write a story that pulls you in. The mix of ambition, rivalry, and a bit of darkness made for an intriguing read, and I was hooked on the twists as they came.

That said, some parts of the book felt like they dragged on a bit too long. I think it could’ve been trimmed down to keep the story moving and maintain the tension. There were moments where I found myself wanting to skip ahead just to get back to the exciting parts.

I also wanted more from the romance. It was there, but it didn’t hit as hard as I’d hoped, and I was left wanting a stronger connection between the characters. And the ending? It was fine, but it felt rushed and didn’t give me the satisfying wrap-up I was hoping for.

"To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession."

Well consider me part of the latter! I am obsessed with this book!

The Favorites by Layne Fargo is my first 5 star read this year and definitely will be added to my favorite reads! When I tell you after reading the introduction of this one, I am instantly hooked.

The amount of drama, betrayal, turns and twists of events in this book are so so good you'll find it hard to put down!

I went in reading and looking forward to Kat and Heath's epic love story (which is TOTALLY epic) instead I really got more invested on Kat's journey through the competitive sport of Ice Dancing and her side of the story. Nothing can make me more invested in reading a story about a powerful badass woman and why is she one, Katarina Shaw is THAT woman. I loved her from start to finish!

I also love how this documentary type of storytelling and narrating worked for the story itself. The descriptions were great, it was like I'm actually watching the documentary instead of reading and listening to it. This also gave the other characters enough spotlight on the story which will make you really invested on everything that's happening.
It reminded me of how the story was told in Daisy Jones & The Six which I also loved, now I'm hoping to see this one get a series/movie adaptation as well someday! This one will be iconic for sure.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital copy of this book!

WOW! This book kept me on edge from almost the very beginning and the ending…I was pleasantly shocked! “The Favorites” is a story that book lovers will be talking about for years to come and the story is worth all the emotional turbulence that I am sure readers will experience. I had not read any books from author Layne Fargo and let me tell you this book will be the reason she is added to my must read authors,

*The Favorites* by Layne Fargo is an epic love story set in the intense world of elite figure skating. Katarina Shaw, lacking a famous name, funding, or family support, is determined to become an Olympic skater. Her instant connection with Heath Rocha, a lonely foster child, forms a formidable duo both on and off the ice. Together, they rise from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating audiences with their chemistry and rebellious style. However, a shocking incident at the Olympic Games abruptly ends their partnership. A decade later, an unauthorized documentary threatens to redefine their legacy, prompting Kat to break her silence and reveal the true story behind their bond and dramatic fallout.


📣 I highly recommend this book in particular to readers who have enjoyed previous books of the dark psychological suspense genre with themes of obsession, ambition, moral ambiguity and betrayal, featuring complex characters who blur the lines between right and wrong, and where the psychological stakes are as intense as the plot twists. The Favorites is all of this wrapped up in an unassuming package!!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

### **Similar Authors:** ###
1. **Megan Abbott** – Particularly *The Turnout* and *You Will Know Me*, which explore competitive environments and the dark undercurrents of relationships.
2. **Ruth Ware** – Known for suspenseful, character-driven novels like *The Woman in Cabin 10* and *The It Girl*.
3. **Tana French** – Particularly her standalone *The Witch Elm*, which combines psychological depth with slow-burning tension.
4. **Ashley Audrain** – *The Push* offers a similarly unsettling exploration of intimate, fraught relationships.
5. **Gillian Flynn** – Classics like *Gone Girl* and *Sharp Objects* are perfect for fans of dark, twisty plots and deeply flawed protagonists.

### **Recommended Stories or Novels that are of a similar theme/writing style :**
1. ***Big Little Lies* by Liane Moriarty** – A suspenseful, character-driven story about secrets and lies in suburban relationships.
2. ***My Dark Vanessa* by Kate Elizabeth Russell** – An unsettling exploration of power dynamics, obsession, and self-deception.
3. ***The Silent Patient* by Alex Michaelides** – A gripping psychological thriller about secrets, trauma, and betrayal.
4. ***The Perfect Nanny* by Leïla Slimani** – A chilling story about obsession and tragedy within intimate family dynamics.
5. ***A Nearly Normal Family* by M.T. Edvardsson** – A compelling exploration of moral ambiguity, loyalty, and familial bonds.

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from Random House Publishing Group via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are usually cross-posted to social media, goodreads, bookbub, and blog. 🦄

I absolutely devoured this book. The Favorites reads like an Netflix true crime show mixed with VH1's Behind the Music and a dash of Bravo reality show drama. And all the pieces work well together to tell a compelling story of two skaters and their tumultuous relationship with each other and the sport.
Could it have been more nuanced in the hardships these athletes faced? Sure, but the story wasn't about that (or at least it wasn't the main focus). Instead the story is about Katarina and Heath and their relationship - both on the ice and off. And the story isn't all romance and scandal and infighting (although those are some of the best parts) - there is a focus on the class aspect of ice dancing, the sexism, the racism, and homophobia. Layne Fargo does a great job of balancing the pressures and demands of the sport and being a woman expected to behave a certain way in said sport with the more salacious aspects of the story.
And while Katarina and Heath are the clear stars of the story, Fargo also does a great job of surrounding them with an equally interesting cast of characters especially Bella and Garrett Lin and Ellis Dean.
Someone please adapt this into a TV series!

Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW!!! It's almost unfortunate that this was my first book of the year, because now everything has an extremely high bar to live up to. It was everything I hoped for it to be and more. This is absolutely a love story, but it is also so, so much more. The contrast to only hearing about their story from outside parties to hearing directly from Katarina felt like being swept behind the curtain in the most delicious way. I loved and hated most of the characters at different points, which is just very telling of the success of Layne Fargo's character building.

A Wuthering Heights retelling set amongst elite Olympic ice dancers, The Favorites is a highly enjoyable way to spend a couple of weekend afternoons. This book is perfect for anyone who likes the Brontes as much as they like Taylor Jenkins Reid. The character names were fun Easter eggs scattered throughout, including Currer, Ellis, Acton, Bell, Gaskell, Lockwood, and many more.

This book was a work of art. The plot just kept giving and giving with so many themes weaved together. It gave us a look a poverty, homelessness, abuse, drugs; but also romance, wealth, success, and friendship. I loved looking at the figure skating world from a different pov, which likely shows the truth behind the trenches that professional athletes go to while reaching success. It hooked me from the first page, and I think I could have followed these characters for pages more. It really leaves you thinking about what the true definition of success is and what is most important in life.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Layne Fargo for an ARC of this book!**

Torvill and Dean. Davis and White. Chock and Bates. Virtue and Moir.

Any of these famous pairs sound familiar?

If so, you are probably one of the many figure skating aficionados of the world...and trust me, it's a GREAT club, isn't it?

Well...you can add one more pair of names to this roster, and it's a pairing you won't soon forget: Shaw and Rocha. But WHO exactly were Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha...and why are we now being treated to a behind the scenes documentary on the glory, the glamour, the romance, and the drama with those who knew them best? And what could have led this power couple down a dangerous path....one that ended in murder?

....Let's just say it didn't start out that way. Katarina Shaw didn't have much in her life growing up. An abusive home life has her aching for escape...and she finds paradise each time she speeds onto the ice. Every time she enters the rink all her troubles seemed to 'melt away' and she loses herself in the power and the beauty of the sport. But growing up without the spoils of generational wealth and with little support, her dream to become an Olympic skater seems completely out of reach....until she meets Heath. A fellow skater with troubles of his own, Heath is drawn to Katarina like a moth to a flame, and once the two begin skating together...the spark ignites. And it isn't just their skating that's burning up the ice...the pair have developed a deep, passionate relationship that takes their ice dancing to unparalleled heights...and their audiences just can't get enough.

But of COURSE, there's competition...and Bella and Garrett Lin, offspring of famed Olympic-skater-turned-coach Sheila Lin, are top of the ticket. Despite being brother and sister, this duo's technique (and let's face it, their legendary mother) has set a precedent for all others in the field...and they'll stop at NOTHING to win. But when Kat gets the opportunity to TRAIN with Sheila...and ends up becoming FRIENDS with Bella...what does that mean for Heath? Bound and determined to stay on the top tier of the podium and become a worldwide sensation, do the Lins truly have Kat's best interests at heart? And ten years after the fateful skate that brought their partnership to an end, will Shaw and Rocha's friends, rivals, and gossip queens alike finally set the record straight? Or will Kat be brave enough to tell the REAL story, unfiltered and unedited...oh, and maybe clear the record about that pesky murder that nobody quite solved while she's at it?

I have been waiting YEARS for Fargo's next release ever since I DEVOURED They Never Learn, a feminist thriller with one of the most sinister, snarky, and fascinating female protagonists I have EVER read...and when I heard this book was about FIGURE SKATING!? Even more elated. Although at first I was a bit confused about such a dramatic departure from the twisty, thrill-a-minute page turner I'd read and adored years before to this sort of amalgam of drama, love, and suspense...I was ALL in.

And much like the Winter Olympics themselves, when you finally get to see the best of the best AT their best...you understand exactly WHY it was worth the wait! This scintillating, dark, dramatic, and passionate tale of love, glory, and revenge is every BIT worthy of a rink full of roses, teddy bears, and EVERY world title you could hand out!

It's rare that I feel comps (or comparable titles, in non-publishing slang) are 100% accurate. Often, I find them frustrating and at times even misleading. When I see words like "For Fans Of", my guard is IMMEDIATELY up and I tend to take this with a grain of salt. But although I STILL haven't gotten to check out Wuthering Heights (It's the one classic I WILL make time for in 2025, I promise!) I don't know that I can think of a more apt comparison for this one than Daisy Jones & The Six...and it checks ALL of the boxes. From its style, which bounces neatly back and forth from narration to news article clip to interview segment, to the parallel of the "behind the scenes" of fame and fortune, to the wayward, will-they-won't-they and back again romances, to the eventual spirals of jealous and revenge....this book has it ALL. Fargo mentions her adulation for TJR in her acknowledgements, so it was absolutely intentional...and she NAILED it. Not only will you start to believe Shaw and Rocha were real (inspired by Virtue and Moir, by the way), you will have to stop yourself from the requisite Googling after you finish this one...it's just THAT authentic!

And much like TJR's worlds, once you're in this one...you won't want to leave. While I believe at least being a casual figure skating fan will make this a far more enjoyable read, you didn't have to be a tennis pro to enjoy Carrie Soto...and I honestly feel you will BECOME an ice dancing fan by the time you finish this one! (At the very least, you'll become VERY familiar with the kiss and cry and twizzles!) Although this book isn't technically historical fiction, since so much of it is in flashback (and sort of references the vibes of the figure skating boom of the 90's) you'll FEEL like you are back there...in the best possible way. All of the characters, who could have become quickly overwhelming just in terms of volume, are developed and rooted enough in reality to remain accessible, even ones who pop in briefly to say their peace in interviews every so often. Unlike TJR, though, Fargo is still a thriller writer and manages to weave in an undercurrent of suspense from first page to last. As much as you'll find yourself caught up in the love triangles (yup...more than ONE triangle here!) you'll always have that unsettled feeling, like danger is lurking JUST around the next bend...and who knows, it might be!

The only reason I even had to knock down my rating just a bit on this one was despite my love for the subject matter, at times the book FELT every one of its 448 pages and the pacing dragged a bit. This was more of an issue from about 40-60% of the way through the book, as the first sections truly DID feel unputdownable. At the same time, I also realize I was reading this book amidst the holiday season and while recovering from illness, so this may have also colored my perspective. While I enjoy the style, I ironically equated my enjoyment of it EXACTLY to Daisy Jones: I simply wish I'd had the audio book. This isn't to say the narrative NEEDS to be read or actual voices needed to be added...but when I heard Fargo had landed JOHNNY WEIR to play the JOHNNY WEIR-INSPIRED character...I was just a TINY bit gutted I didn't get to participate in a full immersion read. (But then again...it's never too late, is it?)

And although I won't spoil anything about the dark and deadly ambitions of some (or all) of these enigmatic skaters, I'll leave you with this quote from George A. Sheehan that just about sums it up: "If you want to win anything - a race, yourself, your life - you have to go a little berserk,"

4 gold medal worthy stars!

Okay...I know this will be unpopular opinion but I struggled hard to get through this book. Perhaps the audio may be better as I see it has a full cast which I enjoy. I just found it so slow moving and ultimately just not for me

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.