WOW Layne Fargo really hit it out of the park with this book!

I read They Never Learn by this author a couple years ago and LOVED it, so I was excited to see her announcement for this book last year. But when I saw it wasn't going to be another thriller but a fiction novel about Olympic ice dancing, I was VERY intrigued.

The story follows Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, an ice dancing pair who meet as children and form an instant connection that makes them an unstoppable force on the ice and give them the opportunity to leave their turbulent lives in their small town in Illinois. We follow them throughout the years and their relationship as they rise through the ranks and become champion ice dancers. All the while we also follow their turbulent romantic relationship from childhood sweethearts to something more.

But their legacy is forever changed when their final Olympic Games appearance brings their partnership to a shocking end.

On the ten-year anniversary of their final Olympic Games approaches, an unauthorized documentary is set to air without either Shaw or Rocha's involvement and reignites the public obsession with the pair. The documentary sets to tell "the real story" of what happened by interviewing their closest friends and rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary after everything she has gone through, but after years of silence, she is finally ready to tell her side of the story.

The entire time I was reading this I could perfectly see this story being made into a limited series. The drama, tension, theatrics, and intensity that alone comes with Olympic level athletes is already the perfect backdrop for this story and Fargo did such an amazing job creating characters with so many different layers of depth I couldn't look away. Kat isn't perfect and she lets the reader know she's not and doesn't apologize for it, but also owns up to her own mistakes she made throughout her own career as well. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up rereading this next year during the Winter Olympics!

Kat and Heath…it was a whirlwind! Toxic, thrilling, addictive and at times over the top. I was invested in their stories past, present and future. Written in TJR-esque style reminding me of Carrie Soto and Daisy Jones & The Six. I loved the interviews from the documentary about Kat and Heath that were interspersed throughout the book between chapters. This style allowed readers to get multiple perspectives on the couple and all the gossip. If you have ever watched ice dancing or figure skating and wondered about the relationships behind the scenes this book is for you! You will be truly immersed in the life of skating and what it takes to win the gold.

Absolutely loved this book. Scandal, drama, obsession, plenty of plot twists set in the world of competitive ice dancing and the Olympics. Kat will do anything to win gold at the Olympics with her partner and boyfriend Heath. Neither one has money or a supportive family so they jump at the chance to be trained by the Lin Family. Ups, downs, partner changes, sabotaged performances this book has plenty of plot and drama that kept me turning pages. I was happily immersed in the competitive skating world.

I finished this book in two days... so to say I was obsessed would be an understatement. This has the potential already to be one of my favorite books of the year.

With a similar writing style to TJR books, I was immediately sucked into this story. I absolutely loved the combination of story telling and interviews / commentating outlines to break up the story and provide more context into what was going on. This book was such an emotional rollercoaster and all the twists had me GASPING!

I will definitely be doing a reread of this on audio bc it has a WHOLE FULL CAST - sign me UP! & honestly this book will be a comfort reread for me in the future too. This absolutely needs to be made into a movie or limited series - like right now. It would be so good & everyone would binge it so fast.

brb, I'll be thinking about this book for a long time

We're in the second week of January and already I'm reviewing what is definitely going to be at the top of my favorite books list of 2025! ⛸️❄️

The Favorites by Layne Fargo is pure perfection. If you enjoyed reading Taylor Jenkins Reid, particularly Daisy Jones & the Six or Evelyn Hugo, I think you will totally devour this book. 🫶🏻

This is an epic love story about elite figure skaters. I went into this book knowing minimal about figure skating and am now penning the 2028 Olympics schedule into my calendar (and also figuring out the platform to watch I, Tonya!). Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, both kids living in nowhereville with no money and no connections, bust their asses to become the most formidable duo on the ice. They go from childhood sweethearts to world champs, with the most rollercoaster insane, scandalous, toxic, relationship. We get an insider view of the insane ice dance world and how far the contenders will go to get ahead - no one is trustable, and anyone will betray you. I LOVED the format here - through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals from an unauthorized documentary ten-vears after their final skate. ⛸️

👏🏻 IT IS SO GOOD! Scandalous, thrilling, addictive - I. AM. OBSESSED! 👏🏻 I was totally enamored by the characters and am crossing my fingers and toes that this will become an audiobook and be on the big screen! There is a *subtle* hint in Fargo's acknowledgements (this is why you must always read acknowledgement sections!!) about how she's hoping to divulge secret meeting deets after publication, so let's hope!! 🤞🏻

Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and Layne Fargo for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Releases 1/14, get this on your holds/pre-order ASAP, this is definitely going to be a hit! 💖

I could not put this book down. If I wasn't physically reading it, I was listening to the audiobook. I was finding every possible chore to do just so I could get more audiobook time in. The full cast ensemble was great, but even reading the physical book I could. not. stop.

This was an incredible read. Great characters, great plot, great pacing. Just incredible.

I already know this will be one of my favorite reads of the year. I can't stop thinking about this story and these characters. Thank you so much to Random House for the ARC, I am in love with this book.

OBSESSED. the tension, the passion, i LOVED this. not a single thing i would change. i gasped, i cried, i am ruined i loved every second of reading this. i am 100% going to be reading this again.

If you’re into drama, ambition, and a little bit of heartbreak, *The Favorites* delivers it all on ice. The story revolves around Katarina Shaw, a fiercely determined ice dancer chasing her Olympic dreams, and her skating partner, Heath Rocha, a boy from the foster care system who she’s also in a relationship with. Their chemistry on the rink is undeniable, but it’s Katarina’s drive and grit that really push them forward.

Katarina’s life hasn’t been easy—her parents are gone, and she’s stuck living with her terrible brother, who’s done nothing to support her. Honestly, she’s had to fight for everything, pulling herself up by her ice skates (literally) to make it in the brutal world of competitive skating. When her idol, Sheila Lin, invites Katarina and Heath to train at her elite facility, it feels like a dream come true—or maybe a nightmare. Alongside Sheila’s twins, Bella and Garrett, the training is intense, and the world of ice dancing turns out to be even more cutthroat than Katarina imagined.

What really makes this story stand out is how it blends the fierce passion of chasing a dream with the messy relationships and sacrifices that come with it. The pacing is tight, and the documentary-style interviews from skating pros add a unique layer to the storytelling. It’s all about love, ambition, and finding your way, but without feeling too cheesy or over-the-top.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this book. I’ve been listening to The Last Time (Taylor’s Version) on repeat the entire day while holding back tears because I finished reading.

I’ve never read a book with an interview style section, so I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it. But oh my goodness… I don’t know whether I consumed this book or the book consumed me. The emotions this story and these characters drew out of me were so visceral and intense. I’m still wrapping my head around the emotional warfare this book put me through. The writing was incredible. The plot was riveting. The emotions were gut-punching. The tension ate me alive. The betrayal cause me actual heart pain. I seriously just found myself speechless after I finished reading. And I immediately wanted to start reading it over again.

I could not have imagined this book to have a single thing changed about it. It was genuine perfection. Layne Fargo is absolutely brilliant and I am completely in awe of this story she created. This will be a book I scream about from the rooftops and force people to read. I rarely get surprised by plot twists in books these days, but this book took me for a ride and had me gasping, yelling, and crying. But I LOVED it.

This book deserves to be praised and read by everyone. I can’t wait for people to get their hands on this. It is a breathtaking story and I will be thinking about this book constantly.

*Thank you SO much Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Wow! This was so fun. I wasn’t expecting to tear through it but it was so compulsively readable. Couldn’t get enough! Characters were well developed, the plot was outrageous but fun! I adored the pacing and also the history of the sport. Wonderfully researched and made for any ice dancing fan or novice alike. Bravo

5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m literally at a loss for words! Kat and Heath are an addictive duo that steal the emotions from within your chest, lay them all out, to take you on a wild journey. Spanning from the tail end of adolescence all the way through adulthood in the world of elite ice dancing, this book offers a look into the minds behind the dream of wanting to become an Olympic gold medalist.

The format of this book was unlike anything I read. I know there are other books that have been written this way, but it was my first time reading a book setup as a documentary interview to go along with the story itself. I thought it was such an immersive way to get different point of views on the main plotline. It ruptures that fourth wall that books are prone to have and makes it seem as if you are right there watching everything unfold. On top of following complex, flawed, but deeply raw human characters, this book sheds light on the corruption that infiltrates itself into large organizations. The privilege, greed, narcissism, toxicity, egocentrism, it’s all there.

Throughout the entirety of the book, my mind kept replaying one question: How far you are willing to push yourself to achieve the dreams written in your heart as it’s concurrently destroying you in the process.

From the first pages in the book Heath and Kat had an undeniable bond. Both having come from tragic home life’s, their passion for a better life through ice dance left you wanting to see them succeed imminently. After a negative outcome to a competition, Kat and Heath were left with a promising opportunity and from there everything changed.

I devoured this book. It lived up to the height and then some. Layne Fargo has dreamed up a world so enthralling. Despite the amount of time covered in this book, the flow was seamless. Heath, Katarina, Bella, and Garrett hold such a special place in my heart with everything they put me through. I feel like my review is all over the place, and may not make sense, but this story left me speechless and I’m still just trying to gather all my thoughts.

There are just some books that, while you read it, know it will stay with you for a long time. Is this book perfect? Absolutely not. Did I love it? Yes.

did i finish this or did it finish ME????? barely survived this one but would do it again in a heartbeat. i'm sad i'll never be able to read this for the first time again.

I read this book a month ago and it is still consuming my every thought. I am genuinely addicted to heath and katarina's story. and it comes out on jan 14th so everyone get ready because you will never be the same again.

It is books like this that remind me why I love reading so much - books that grab me by the throat and don't let go, epic love stories that make me feel ALIVE, characters so raw and passionate and flawed and human, it makes me feel like I’m on fire. Help I’m still at the restaurant. sitting in this corner I haunt.

I stayed up till 4am to finish this book! I just couldn't put it down. It definitely lives up to the hype. I would never have thought that a book centered around the competitive world of ice dancing would enchant me so much. It gives me The Cutting Edge movie vibes but this is the twisty, ultra back stabbing, passionate, dark version. You're rooting for underdogs Katarina & Heath when they take to the ice dancing scene. Most of their competitors look down on this "rough around the edges"pair. They don't have a well known coach, fancy Olympic size skating rink, or flashy costumes but there is natural talent there & Kat's determination to make her dreams come true. When Kat's idol, Shelia Lin offers them a chance to train at her Academy, Kat wants to jump at the chance but Heath's hard knock life has taught him to never trust something that seems too good to be true. But he'll do anything to make Kat happy so off to LA they go. Once there, Kat gets a taste of the high life and her relationship with Heath will be put to the ultimate test. It's hard to know who to trust. There will be fighting, jealousy, sabotage, and life or death situations. Who knew ice dancing was such a bloody sport?! Read this!!

Fargo weaves a beautiful, intricate web of a story with The Favorites! It reads like a memoir, documenting the highs, lows, backstabbing, and treachory that can take place in high level sports, like figure skating. If you grew up in the 90s and are familiar with Harding and Kerrigan, you will be drawn to this story with its reminiscent telling of rivals, the lengths we might go to win, and the heart and soul we leave at the feet of our passions. Katarina and Heath, drawn together in inexplicable ways, bonded by traumatic experience and loneliness, make a fiery ice dance duo. This novel is a nod to not only their, 'will they won't they' love story, but also to Kat's epic love story for skating. This novel is full of triumph, forgiveness, and grit- a refusal to quit when one door closes. When Katarina sets her passions on something or someone, there is no stopping her. I highly recommend this novel- even if you don't like skating, the drama alone will keep you entertained.

4.5 stars!

They were friends, they were lovers, they were the favorites! This was a deep feeling book that stayed with me a few days after I read it and definitely put me through a gauntlet of emotions.

The story is a sports drama that revolves around Katarina Shaw and Health Rocha, a dynamic ice dancing duo. Kat will do anything to achieve her goal of an Olympic gold medal and Heath will do anything to keep Kat happy because he loves her. It starts with their humble beginnings in Illinois and takes you on their journey as they climb up the ranks and make it to the world's biggest stage. Filled with scandal, love, tragedy, backstabbing and forgiveness, this was a saga and a bit of a tragedy and I was so captivated I had a hard time putting it down but also wanted to toss this book out the window at times. The characters infuriated me and I wanted to scream at all of them but I couldn't stop reading.

Kat was so stubborn and selfish at times. She rarely thought of anyone but herself but she also wasn't vindictive and manipulative. She was so focused on her own goals, her own wants and needs, that it didn't allow her to see what anyone else wanted. She also was going to do whatever it took and step over whoever stood in her way to get that gold. Heath just wanted her and could care less about everything else.

Kat and Heath were so right for each other they were wrong. They burned too bright and in turn burned each other. True love but too stubborn to really love each other. It was sad to read at times because I think they hurt each other and got revenge on each other more than they showed true love toward each other.

The supporting characters were all amazing. Bella’s confidence and manipulation made for a perfect frenemy and Ellis Dean, former skater turned gossip reporter, might have stolen the book for me. What a sneaky slimy character who I also found kinda charming.

I thought the author did a fantastic job of bringing you into the world of ice dancing without having any prior knowledge. It flowed effortlessly and you were able to jump right in. Parts of the book are told in the form of interviews from a documentary series and I really enjoyed hearing the opinions and views of others who were around the duo.

This story was messy and almost a 5 star read till the very end. It didn’t end with a big bow, but the pieces were in place and I’m not sure the ending was for me after everything we saw these characters go through. Overall it was dramatic, messy, cutthroat and scandalous and I loved it!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Layne Fargo
Genre: Dramatic novel, Fiction
Similar to: Taylor Jenkins Reid and Rebecca Yarros

Thank you net galley and the publisher for the early copy. This was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases and there aren't enough words to describe how upset I am that it didn't live up to expectations for me.

It started very strong and gradually went downhill. I loved Kat and her ambition and how author portrayed women in elite sport. Overall this felt like a safe book, touched on a few social issues but glossed over them fast. The book mostly focuses on a soapy drama and relationships, not enough on skating or technicalities.
The ending is what ruined it for me. Last 100 pages felt rushed, next to zero descriptions (especially comparing to the first part of the book) and just overall ending didn’t left much to chew on.
With that said I recognize this is not that type of the book so it’s more of a me problem. This is a brain candy and a perfect read by the beach. And it did not find me at the right time unfortunately.
The other issues that bothered me:
1. We all know what happened in Sochi 2014. Seeing author fully ignoring that event in the book seemed weird. I don't need a full account but it was shocking to not even see the offhand comments about it.
2. Also considering what happened in 2022 games (specifically skating discipline), the choices made in the book are extremely tone deaf.
3. As a last straw the presentation of “good russian” was weird and truly did not have to be included at all.

Considering this was a fiction book that included real life events, it felt wrong for me that author chose to ignore major events that have a ripple effect 10 years later.
Overall, I still had fun and i will not discourage anyone from reading it but I am providing my true and honest thoughts about the book.

I knew “The Favorites” was good even before starting it, I could feel it in my bones.
What I didn't know is that it would have felt like a long panic attack, from the very first chapter till the last page, so emotionally draining that worsened my anxiety.

No, it wasn't a fun read. Some books aren't meant to be fun and some people aren't cut out for messy characters with messy stories.
But how describe it to you all, innocent people with your heart still intact? The only word I can think of is “addictive”: you'll be obsessed with Kat and Heath’s story, the ways they manipulate and help each other, the ways they collide every time they're too close but can't stay away from each other, and the uncountable times you would want to get in the book and scream at their faces.
That said, I’d still want to erase all my memories from the past week only to read this again like the first time, inflict myself the same pain I've just complained about and lose my mind all over again.

Truth is, I struggled with the characters because I saw them for who they were and what they believed in, but I still would have wanted them to act differently.
The problem wasn't the drama per se, it's just that to reach their finished acts they went through some tough things that made me suffer, and I didn't particularly enjoy that.
But, with all that said, I'm deciding this was a good book even if I don't agree with their choices - and I call this growth.

A special mention needs to go to the narrative style: the similarities with “Daisy Jones and The Six” are all here but, even if I’m a big fan of TJR’s book, the half-documentary half-pov writing is some genius shit.
Not to comment about who you can clearly see behind the MCs - Tessa and Scott, you will always be famous, and not only for your last performance.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book was so immersive and vivid- I physically could not put it down!

A wild, toxic, all-consuming love story set on ice skating- Katarina Shaw is determined from a young age to win Olympic gold, after witnessing icon Sheila Lin do just that, at a time when she needed hope the most. When she meets Heath Rocha, a foster kid who’s never had a place to belong, they form a bond that will span decades. With very little resources and support, these two cling to each other and set off against all odds to achieve their dream (really it’s her dream- but he would do anything for her).

The trajectory of their lives change when they meet the Lin twins, ice skating duo and children of the iconic Sheila Lin, and are invited to train at their mother’s school. As they dedicate their lives to training for that Olympic gold, we see just how ruthless the competition, and they, can be.

The story is told by our FMC Kat, as well as through a documentary that has just come out ten years after all of the events that dives into the “Shaw & Rocha” story.

Characters you love and hate, toxic and found family, love, drama, betrayal, heartbreak, insatiable drive, glamour and the dark side of sports. You do not want to miss this one!

Pub date January 14th! Thank you so much @netgalley for the ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up

This was dramatic and all-around intriguing. I love following a toxic, ambitious main character over the course of many years, and seeing how her relationship to the sport evolves with life experience. If you like sports dramas, ice skating, the Olympics, and a toxic push-pull romance, with sometimes soap opera levels of drama, you’ll enjoy this.

I highly recommend this to fans of Daisy Jones & the Six (and TJR in general) for the format. It’s a mix of documentary/interview style transcript and first person narrative — which really lent itself to seeing situations from all perspectives.

Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!