Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows the atmospheric rise of Kat and Heath, a pair of young ice dancers with Olympic dreams. After Heath is taken in by Kat’s family as a foster child, the pair quickly become partners on and off the ice. As we follow them from their meager lives in a Chicago suburb to the bright lights of the international ice dancing stage, we are made privy to the intimate struggles they face both on and off the ice. Their complicated personal relationship combined with their determination to succeed makes for a high stakes story that gripped me from beginning to end. The book is written in a documentary style and switches between the past story of how Kat and Heath came to be and present day interviews that provide an outside perspective from people associated with their rocky attempt to rise to the top.

⛸️Read this if you enjoy books with multi-layered characters and a background that reads like a soapy, dramatic documentary. It gave big time Daisy Jones and the Six vibes!
⛸️I loved jumping back and forth between the present and the past in this book. The pieces of Kat and Heath’s story interspersed with present day interviews kept the twists and turns coming.
⛸️I’m actually planning a reread because I’m dying to listen to this on audio with a full cast, that’s how much I enjoyed it!

4.5 stars

This was sooo intense! The world of figure skating is super interesting to me and I loved the way Kat & Heath’s story was presented in the form of a documentary with interviews alongside Kat’s POV. While I loved the competitive skating aspect, this is ultimately a story about love, ambition, passion, obsession, etc. I honestly wouldn’t say that I liked any of the characters, but I was drawn to them nonetheless. Kat especially had her flaws, but I respected her as a strong woman who wasn’t afraid to speak up for herself and defy societal expectations.

I was completely enthralled by Kat & Heath’s relationship - it was passionate and intense but also toxic and codependent. Their story is truly one that you can’t look away from and I literally had to stop myself from flipping to the end to find out what happens. I will say there was a storyline near the end that contained several of my least favorite tropes so it’s safe to say I didn’t love that bit. But I think the fact that the characters were able to evoke such strong reactions in me shows how well done the story was, and I was satisfied with how it ended. I can see why this book is already being talked about a lot and I’m sure it will only be more so when it comes out!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was a recipe for success for me. Wuthering heights and DJ&TS are two of my all time favourite books and throw in ice skating, a bit of from lukov with love and im obsessed. I thought the book brilliantly mirrored wuthering heights in all the ways that count and differentiates itself to keep it intriguing and current. I loved the way it was told part interview and part first person, it really helped me see it from a scandalous view as well as an empathetic one. It felt like a saga how it spanned such a long time frame and this book made me want to put it down in the best ways: I felt so much for the characters it hurt too much sometimes to see what would happen to them. The story just felt so real. It didn't give me five star feelings and I do think it may have dragged a bit but overall an amazing read and I highly recommend.

I had never read anything by this author before, so I wasn't sure how I would connect with her storytelling style.. This book really caught me off guard. With a storytelling style reminiscent of Daisy Jones, combined with ice skating and more, it's just perfect. this reminded me a lot of Taylor Jenkins Reid books in the way she tells stories.

When childhood friends and longtime skaters find themselves in the world of Olympic Ice Dance, the politics and competition try their best to drive Katarina and Heath apart. The story had such a push and pull dynamic that I felt anxious the entire time!

I couldn't stop reading; it was fast-paced and held my attention throughout. The characters were both lovable and frustrating, and I found myself getting mad at everyone multiple times! Overall this was good its a relationship at the core of this story but there's a lot more to it.

4.5 STARS

SCANDALOUS. INTENSE. JAW DROPPING. DRAMATIC.

Katarina Shaw lost her mother when she was 4 years old… what got her through this hardship was watching the Olympic athlete she idolized - Sheila Lin, figure skating champion extraordinaire. Kat’s dad supports her dreams and she convinces her childhood crush / first love Heath Roca to join her in following those big dreams. Oh boy things get messy real quick. Kat & Heath endure their respective hardships and struggle with lack of funds to turn their dreams into reality…. However— Sheila Lin herself recognizes the talent and potential in Kat & Heath and invites them to train at her academy in California… leaving Illinois behind. Little do they realize Sheila Lin is cut throat as they get and is motivated by making her competitive twins Garrett and Isabella as successful as possible….. whatever it takes and that’s just the beginning….

This story is told alternating from the POV of a documentary featuring various interviews and written visuals alongside Kat’s third person perspective.

This novel was incredible. I was beyond captivated - there are no boring parts this story is one wild scandal after another filled with outrageous commentary. I love love love this one. It was such an emotional rollercoaster & I was shocked at how the events transpired. I’m not huge into any sports- I can’t ice skate to save my life but the stories of the characters along with the visuals of the skating was so enthralling. I could clearly picture the skate routines even though I’m not super familiar with the sport. The drama that took place on and off the ice — ooof… scandalous is an understatement this was WILD.

Immense gratitude to NetGalley & Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review - this was such a treat & I look forward to reading more from Layne Fargo - her writing is CRACK.

** This review was posted Dec 21, 2024 to my blog, GR, socials, Indigo.ca and StoryGraph ... **

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

This is a story about obsessive love, scandal and dark side of ambition that follows the lives of Katarina and Heath, two ice dance skaters from their small-town in Michigan where they have dreams of competing in the Olympics, to the duo making their dreams a reality and competing with the best ice dance skaters in the world.

Katarina and Heath are a couple on and off the ice. Their connection is obvious and also obsessive. I enjoyed their complicated relationship as well as Kat's frenemy bond with Bella, her friend and competitor on the ice. Despite all the dysfunction and sometimes ruthless and prickly demeanors, you can't help but recognize their bonds and cheer them on.

The storytelling style and deep dive into dark feelings definitely has a Taylor Jenkins Reid kinda vibe which I loved. The story alternates between transcripts of a documentary (which gives readers many perspectives) and Kat's POV. There were a couple of points where the storytelling felt long-winded (especially describing skating routines) but overall, this story held my interest and Fargo is highly skilled at dropping teasing tidbits to keep readers turning the page.

This epic and intense love story spans decades and is wrought with tension, scandal and dysfunction and may have you rethinking what you thought you knew about ice dancing.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Random House for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo is an intense story of ambition, love, and betrayal set in the world of elite figure skating. This novel is an unforgettable exploration of the ties that bind and break us. Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha have electrifying chemistry that fuels both their professional relationship on the ice, as well as their volatile personal relationship. Ten years after the Olympics, a controversial documentary threatens to dredge up the truth behind their fall from grace. I loved the behind the scenes look into the cutthroat world of competitive skating. You will learn so much about the pursuit of greatness and the cost of obsession. This was an unforgettable read that will linger with me for a long time!

You know that feeling when you find yourself smack in the middle of someone else’s drama, popcorn in hand, but you can’t look away? That’s what The Favorites by Layne Fargo feels like—as a fan of obsessing over ice skating duos, Daisy Jones and the Six, and Taylor Swift, this was the perfect book for me.

Fargo’s writing is equal parts biting and heartfelt. The characters are messy in the best way—relatable and infuriating, but oh-so-fascinating to watch unfold. You might want to scream at them sometimes, but isn’t that part of the fun? And let’s talk about the pacing: it’s snappy and keeps you hooked, with just enough twists and time jumps to keep you guessing without overcomplicating things.

It’s perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or anyone who loves a smart, exhilarating, emotional page-turner.

3.5 rounded up to 4

This was a fun ride, but the pacing was a bit off at points for me. I thought the oral history sections were fantastic. I wish we had more of those and a little less from Kat's perspective. I also really liked the references to Wuthering Heights. The ending was A LOT - I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit for parts of it, but I still had a good time reading this.

** I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

MESSY, ADDICTING, OBSESSIVE, PSYCHOTIC!!!!!!!


This book was so addicting that I lost sleep over it!! This is for fans of From Lukov With Love, Daisy Jones and the Six, and Carrie Soto. This was beautiful, messy, angsty, and everything inbetween.

This book follows a young girl who comes from a no named town and has dreamed of going to the Olympics ever since she was a little girl. We start with Katarina Shaw at the age of 16 and she is going through her first competition. Throughout the book we also get flashbacks into her childhood to see how she became the person that she is. We also have Heath Rocha who instantly became captivated by Kat the moment he saw her. Heath would do absolutely anything to be in her life and make her happy. He eventually takes ice skating lessons so he too can skate with Kat. The two of them are attached at the hip and eventually become ice dance partners.

Throughout the story we get to see all the drama that the sport has to offer. It is messy, raw, and a little bit psychotic. But you also are rooting for them the whole time. If you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six this book is similar to the interview format. You get to see all of their former teammates and media talk about their rise and fall. If you enjoyed Carrie Soto this book is similar where you are rooting for the anti hero the whole time. You see the dedication that Kat puts in and you just want a win for her. If you enjoyed From Lukov With Love this book is similar with showing how much work they put in just to compete once at the Olympics every 4 years.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. The Favorites follows Katarina Shaw, an ice dancer, as she attempts her life goal of getting a gold medal at the Olympics. The path is not straight forward and is full of drama. The writing style reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story would alternate between Kay’s perspective and a variety of people in an interview format. The story was engaging and I did not want to put it down.

This is the amount of ice skating I was hoping for the first time I read From Lukov with Love. So many twists and turns. The documentary interviews / pacing was great. I gasped many times... Easiest 5 stars I've given in a while.

I was really excited to read this book because They Never Learn by Layne Fargo is one of my favorite books of all time. I was even more excited to read this when I saw it being compared to Daisy Jones and the Six - another of my favorites. Butttt this book started slow. Like very slow. I had to take a two week break to find the interest to pick back up again. However, once I hit the 50% mark I couldn't put the book down. I would say the first half could have been slightly less detailed and this book would have been almost perfect.

Katarina may not have the money, or he familiar support, but she has the determination to be the best. Ever since watching the ice dancing Olympics at a young age, Kat has wanted to be the one standing on the top of that podium. With Heath by her side, she knows they can make it to the top. When they get the chance to train with the best, she jumps at the chance, but does Heath have the same drive as Kat?

ALL THE STARS! Seriously, I started this book before bed and stayed up way too late reading the first half because I just could not put it down, droopy eyes be dammed. If you enjoy books about olympics, gymnastics, or ice skating, this book will blow you away! We have scandal! We have competition! We have thrills and chills! We have romance! I don’t want to dive too deep, so just read this book ok? I promise you will not regret that decision! By far one of the best books I read in 2024!

Thank you to @randomhouse for my gifted copy of this book!

4/5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Layne Fargo’s latest, The Favorites! This was such a departure from the author’s previous works, but I LOVED the switch up. We follow Katarina Shaw, an elite ice dancer through the ups and downs of her career and Olympic aspirations. Interspersed throughout are “clips” of interviews from a documentary being done on Shaw and her skating partner Heath Rocha. This was juicy, scandalous, and highly entertaining. I would recommend to honestly anyone. It publishes 1/14/25!

This book is compulsively readable and juicy-- I couldn't put it down. A good read for anyone, it would be even better if you know the drama of 90s/early 200s figure skating like I do; it adds another fun layer of remembering Stars on Ice, the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan debacle, the heartbreak of Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov. It will be an EVEN better reading experience if you also love Wuthering Heights and can piece out how this is a really unique retelling. One layer is enough to enjoy this; three made it really great for me. I didn't expect this to be nearly as well-done as it was, and will definitely be recommending to others when it is released. I've heard the audio will be full-cast and features Johnny Weir; that will be another layer of great. So glad I read this! Thanks very much to Netgalley for the ARC.

OH. MY. GOD.

This is literally utter perfection. If you get the chance, absolutely sprint to read this!!! I highly suggest listening to the audiobook. It has a full cast and it creates a fantastic atmosphere to drive forward the conflicts and tension packed plot.

The drama is INSANE in this book. These MCs go THROUGH IT and despite it all (even with flawed character choices), you root for them anyways. I loved that the politics of the skating world act as the main character that's constantly provoking Kat and Heath over the course of their partnership. The interview style chapters in between really help you get a full bodied feel to the world and the people constantly in Kat and Heath's lives.

I cannot stop thinking about this book. It's utter perfection found within the tension between Kat and Heath professionally as well as emotionally. These characters go through so much. Each one is incredibly flawed and focused on their sole purposes, whether that be to win or to love.

I wouldn't classify this as a romance; however, it' a beautiful example of two people who will forever be intertwined within one another's lives.

Run to listen or read this one January 14th!!!!

Also Johnny Weir as Ellis was the best thing I've ever listened to.

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook!!!

This book took me by surprise. Daisy jones style story telling with ice skating and more, this is everything.

When childhood friends and long time skaters get thrown into the world of Olympic Ice dance, the politics and competition do what they can to pull Katarina and Heath apart. This story was so push and pull and honestly I was anxious the WHOLE BOOK!!

All I wanted was to keep reading, it was fast paced and help my attention through the whole story. The characters are lovable and hatable, I was mad at everyone multiple times!!

I will be recommending this book to everyone!

I was hearing some chatter around this book in the Literary Fiction community and although it's not my absolute favourite genre, I was seeing people who mostly read romance read this and love it so I decided to pick this up and I'm so glad I did! The comp to Daisy Jones and the Six really does pan out. This was so juicy and scandalous, but also so romantic and the writing style was so easy to follow, I adored everything about this. So, if this seems interesting to you, you should definitely pick this up when it releases on January 14th 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5⭐
No 🌶️ but still feels spicy?!

Ummm I think I'm going to need 3-4 business days to recover from this book and write a good review. This book was EVERYTHING. Figure skating, competition, rivals turned friends, lovers turned enemies, the Olympics, a bit of a throuple and a Wuthering Height's retelling all in the same book!! I couldn't put this down and I couldn't guess where the twists and pirouettes and jumps were headed next.

If you loved Spinning Out on Netflix (or The Cutting Edge) and Daisy Jones and the Six and classical novels, you MUST read this in 2025. It was good. Read it so we can gush over it together.