The Favorites is a sweeping saga of a story about two ice dancers, Katarina and Heath. The Favorites follows them from their first skating lessons together as children through the many ups and downs of their athletic career. The behind the scenes glimpses of competition and training were fascinating. I found myself rooting for Katarina and Heath as they competed for gold again and again.

This novel was in turns soapy, gossipy, and thrilling. Its length , coming in at 464 pages, is a worthwhile commitment. I rate The Favorites 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Layne Fargo for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Frothing at the mouth over this book! A Wuthering Heights retelling on ice??? Sign me up, babe! Fans of CarrieSoto, Daisy Jones, and even a skosh of Magnolia Parks drama ya better get into this!

To put it simply, I all but inhaled this book and it just might be the start of a new obsession with figure skating romance for me.

“We used to joke they were going to die in each other’s arms or kill each other with their bare hands. Nothing in between.” (Ellis Dean you shady lovable, bitch.)

୨ৎ Mixed media
୨ৎ Black cat FMC
୨ৎ Childhood friends to lovers
୨ৎ Lovers to Enemies
୨ৎ Backstabbing, betrayl, and blood
୨ৎ Closed door romance
୨ৎ Fast paced with short chapters
୨ৎ Fantastic character arcs
୨ৎ Part thriller mystery

This is a love story but it’s so much more than a romance. Just when I thought I knew where this story was taking us there’d be another disorienting twist. In ‘The Favorites’ we follow the rise of Katarina and Heath in the competitive and glamorous world of ice dancing. We watch these characters over decades through the rise and fall of their careers and personal lives. Told through Kat’s first person narrative as well as brief documentary style interviews with other characters I could truly watch this story unfold like a movie in my mind which made it all the more enjoyable to read.

The Favorites shows us the dark side of the competitive world of sports and the extremes people will go to in order to reign victorious. In ice dancing, you better watch your back. Even worse, can you even trust your own team?

“Call me what you want. I don’t give a damn anymore. My story is mine, and I’ll tell it the way I skated: in my own way, on my own terms.”

This was SO different than I thought it was going to be in the best way. I love Layne Fargos thrillers but this just shows I’ll love anything she writes.

The Favorites follows the journey of Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha from when they were pre teens starting ice dance all the way through adulthood on their journey to the Olympics.

If you take Daisy Jones and the Six but replace a rock band for ice skating, you have The Favorites. I flew through this in a day, simply couldn’t put it down. Some parts were infuriating and devastating but it was a beautiful story to see unfold. The highs, lows, betrayal, obsession - it’s a wild ride start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! ⛸️

As a self proclaimed Olympics geek who will watch every moment of available programming and a fan who grew up completely entranced by figure skating, let me just say, I LOVED THIS BOOK! It is a salacious, drama-filled behind the scenes look at the ugliest part of a sport known for glitter and glitz. I could not get enough.

Part love story, part exposé, part soap opera; THE FAVORITES is the compulsively gripping depiction of the unexpected rise to fame of the ice dancing pair of Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha. It chronicles their humble beginnings in a sport normally reserved for athletes of means and the subsequent highs and lows of their careers. They are talented and ambitious, and wholly unprepared for the scheming and jealousy found at elite levels. Their personal lives echo their successes and failures on the ice making this an all too human story of the sacrifices made for fame and glory.

There have been parallels drawn to books by Taylor Jenkins Reed and I can see why. The story is told through first person recollections and documentary style interviews, and they result in a compelling page turner. Layne Fargo doesn’t sugar coat a thing and it brought depth to the rivalries and alliances between competitors and friends. This is a gold medal novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book was addictive. I throughly enjoyed the format. Switching between the narrative and an interview kept the story moving. The two main characters, Kat and Heath, have their story told by others in the interview sections and it’s interesting to see all the different perspectives. It also keeps you guessing about what is coming. I’ve never been so interested in ice dancing in my life. Kat is not perfect and not always likable which I enjoy because it can get boring when the main character is perfect and wrong is done onto her. In this story, everyone messes up and has to deal with the consequences.

Compared to Daisy Jones is a high bar, but The Favorites is so good and definitely gave me those vibes! The audio with the full cast was perfection! To paraphrase my friend @bethanyburiedinbooks If Daisy Jones and Carrie Soto got together the result would be this book! Layne is an extremely talented author to be able to write one of my favorite dark academia novels, They Never Learn, and then switch to this romance/contemporary fiction novel and do it so well! I did this as a buddy listen and we had it split into 5 days and we all had so much trouble stopping after each days portion! It is a story you want to devour and know what happens immediately! I loved the interview portions to get into the heads of all the supporting characters! It was fascinating to switch between story and interviews. I wasn’t sure I would love this, as I’m not a huge figure skating fan, but it’s so much more than that! It is a coming of age book and a book about forgiveness and love and friendship, and chasing goals and doing whatever you have to do to win. I could go on and on! But this is not one to be missed

This was a fun book to read. I felt that the continuous drama became a bit exhausting, but that was the point. I think this book be very popular and become a lot of book club’s pick.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo is an exciting, emotionally charged ride through the world of Olympic ice dancing, rivalry, and explosive relationships. The story follows Katarina Shaw, a determined young skater who, along with her partner Heath Rocha, rises to fame on the ice, only to see everything crumble after a shocking incident at the Olympics. A decade later, an unauthorized documentary reignites interest in their story, prompting Kat to reveal the truth behind their once-inseparable bond and its dramatic fallout. Fargo’s writing pulls you in with its sharp character development and behind-the-scenes look at the cutthroat world of competitive sports, while the tension between Kat and Heath keeps the stakes high throughout. As a fan of Fargo’s work, I was not disappointed—this book is thrilling and keeps you hooked with every twist. If you’re into stories about complicated relationships and the price of fame, The Favorites is definitely worth reading!

I expected something completely different than what it was and I really loved it. I expected it to be a thriller but this was the story of a woman and her skating partner. They’re top level and Shaw is what you’d expect of an athlete at that top level. Determined and not warm. Her partner Heath is more open and emotional. I would never have picked it up if I’d read the description but I’m glad I did because I was rooting for them to succeed despite all their flaws. I don’t know a ton about figure skating aside from a few infamous scandals and loving to watch it at the Olympics. I recommend it if you enjoy watching figure skating in the Olympics, Carrie Soto is back by Taylor jenkins reid and you liked spinning out. It’s very different from spinning out but you still get to see the beautiful costumes and determination in both.

This book stressed me out occasionally. Why? Because the two man characters couldn't figure their shit out! I liked how the novel is written with first person POV and also from the documentary. You get to experience everything in real time even if it's in the past. You get to follow Kat and Heath through decades of friendship, love and their career.

You hate Bella but then appreciate her being the friend Kat actually needs. Every time Kat and Heath broke up I wanted to bang my head on a wall. I really thought one or both of them might die by the end by luckily that did not happen.

A great book that kept me hooked throughout.

The Favorites is a compulsively readable work of contemporary fiction. Layne Fargo has created characters we root for and despise, in a world many of us know nothing about. A book about ice dancing would have been interesting, but this a novel about drive, passion, and ferocity in a world that seems to be filled with beauty but is as cut throat as they come! There is found family, betrayal, and drama galore. It’s an interesting mix of Carrie Soto Is Back and Daisy Jones and The Six. I was surprised by the characters’ pure determination and fight to win and be the best. I also loved the nostalgia- so many excellent references to 2000s music 🥰 all the stuff I free up listening to! I loved this book about the high-stakes world of Olympian ice dancers so much- thank you for the early copy!!

Wow!
Thanks, Netflix and publisher, for this ARC.
What a book. I could NOT put this extremely engaging and dramatic figure-skating romance? Tragedy? down. I was hanging on every word and more than once exclaimed out loud "NO!!!!" and startled my entire family. If this were a movie it'd be a blockbuster for sure. I have already told all my friends about this one, our library is getting it, and I will be delighted to share it with as many as I can. This is kinda dark at times, it is not a sweet story exactly. There are betrayals and revenge and plotting and complicated relationships and it is absolutely addictive. Loved it!

I saw someone recommend this for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and I would definitely back that. This is kind of a dark sports romance. I am not interested in ice skating, but would recommend for those who are. Because of this, i just found it to be boring. I didn’t really care about the characters either. If you like toxic relationships & intense sports, this is for you.

4.5 stars. I flew through this dark and thrilling contemporary retelling of Wuthering Heights set in the world of elite ice dancing. I am not a Wuthering Heights fan, so I was a little nervous going into this, but in Fargo's more-than-capable hands I was completely caught up in the story. If you want a soapy, scandalous, and epic sports romance, definitely give this book a go. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a digital review copy.

This is the first 2025 book that I have just finished today (Dec.16, 2024) and if this is any indication, 2025 is going to be a fabulous year for books.
The best description I can come up with is Daisy Jones and the Six set in the ice dancing world. There is one narrator telling the story, Katerina, the main protagonist, but it is interspersed with others' comments in an oral history style. I followed competitive figure skating when I was younger. And I knew enough to appreciate all of the details. However, I don't think the reader needs to know anything about figure skating to enjoy this delicious drama of athletes behaving badly. This is an intense story that goes into all the politics, revenge, winning at all cost, how women athletes are portrayed, the partnering of pairs figure skaters, and all the complex relationships between partners, competitors, coaches, etc.

The expected publishing date for this book is January 14th. I will be recommending it to everyone. I think it's going to get a lot of buzz, so I'd pre-order the book to be in the discussion early.
Many thanks to #RandomHouse for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pick this one up if you like dramatic sweeping stories featuring family drama, sports drama, frenemies and a love them/hate them characters. If you enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reids Carrie Soto and Daisy Jones this is one you HAVE to check out.

Katarina Shaw has had one goal her entire life, to win Ice Dancing Gold. Specifically an Olympic gold. She was inspired as a little girl watching the great Sheila Lin. Her partner, Heath Rocha, was a foster kid who picked up ice dancing to stay close to Katarina. When they get the chance to train with the great Ms. Lin, and her children you can be sure there will be excitement.

This book just kept me hooked. Alternating between Katarina going through her story and the dialogue from a 10-year anniversary special about Rocha & Shaw I was constantly going for "one more chapter".

I am little sad I didn't listen to this one after seeing the narration line-up, but I loved it so incredibly much to read as an ebook I may go back and listen to it again to experience the full cast narration

I finished this in 24 hrs so if that says ANYTHING. Going to sleep on my review but if From Lukov with Love, Daisy Jones & the Six, and Magnolia Parks could have a baby = The Favorites. Sprinkle in Wuthering Heights to this baby too. The emotional rollercoaster this book put me through...now that's a STORY! If you don't do the audiobook with the full cast, it's a disservice (for the interview portions at least). But reading it with dramatic figure skating musical playlists was everything too.

The only flaw is that I wish we had Heath’s POV, and I would’ve been feral for it, but the story was the way it was for a reason!

Typically I'd glance over an ice skating story inspired by a classic I barely read in high school. (more like glanced at the SparkNotes) BUT Layne Fargo wrote one of my favorite books, They Never Learn, and this cover is insane. And here we are... I'm obsessed!

💬: "Katarina Shaw was in the building, and that bitch had come to win."

📖: "To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession. An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice."

🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- juicy, cinematic dramas
- a solid documentary element
- amazingly bitchy characters with heart

💭: Say hello to my newest darling. I'm admittedly stingy with five-star reviews, and Layne Fargo is two for two. I love her writing. Her female characters are always fierce. Some people might call them "unlikeable", but I hate how often that term is used for women who are unapologetically themselves. They're flawed, driven, and strong. The relationships are volatile and totally entertaining. The documentary element is so well done, and there's a perfectly snarky character in it who I'm obsessed with.

Have I ever read a 460+ page book so quickly? Nope! The short chapters and baby cliffhangers had me cruising, especially after the 50 percent mark.

⭐️RATING⭐️: I loved it! (5⭐️)

‼️ Note: You may be picking this up because you loved the BANGER of female rage thriller, They Never Learn. Please note this is not a thriller. While it has solid pacing, some exciting reveals, and a little blood, it is more of a drama. You may also be picking it up because it's a retelling of Wuthering Heights. My advice is to leave any expectations at the door, embrace The Favorites for all that it is, and enjoy the ride!

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook early in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️ - I am going to start off by saying, I’m aware there were probably flaws here. My rating goes completely off of the fact that once I started it I couldn’t put it down, and it elicited true emotions from me that ranged from anger to hope to shock to happy.

I loved so much about this story. I loved that it felt like a mix of trash reality tv and a documentary full of scandal and betrayal. I couldn’t stop reading! The format and how everything was laid out was phenomenal! It was truly a movie played in my mind.

The story essentially revolves around two ice skaters with traumatic pasts who go on an absolute roller coaster of a journey to win Olympic gold. They are riddled with codependency and certifiable-y toxic. I loved every second of it. Grab yourself a copy on January 14, 2025!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!

I posted a review on both Instagram and TikTok on December 15, 2024. My handle is @stephlovesbooksss on both platforms!

I am so excited for this book to come out! Figure skating plus drama off the ice makes for a very thrilling ready! Also a modern take on Wuthering Heights? Sign me up! I loved it and I was all in from page one. The fast pace of and plot twists had me gasping out loud literally. I watched a show that was similar to this novel and I was reminded of how much I missed it upon reading this one. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Can’t wait for everyone to read it.