This books reminds me a lot of a show you hate but can't stop watching. And no, this isn't me saying I hated this book because that is far from the the truth, but some of these characters just had me wanting to scream at my kindle screen and risk looking more mentally unstable than I already am. This was messy and juicy and fun. It was beautifully written and reminded me a lot of Daisy Jones and the Six which is one of my favourite books ever. Layne Fargo, you're a genius for this.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this ARC.

I think this one is worth all the hype. We get all kinds of sports books, but never any about competitive ice dancing. As someone who loves figure skating and really enjoyed ice dancing at the Olympics from an early age. This hit a lot of nostalgia for me. I love that the main couple was likable, but also not at the same time making them feel incredibly real.

One of the best reads of the year, compulsively readable, characters you root for and some you love to hate, from the very first page. Lots of fun easter eggs as a figure skating fan too.

This book is truly a feat!! I’m a long time fan of Layne Fargo and this book is really something special. It’s fully engrossing and the audio is incredible.

The Favorites is a psychologically rich novel that dives deep into the world of ambition, performance, and the murky waters of power and influence.

Fargo’s prose is confident and cutting, and she excels at creating tension beneath the surface of every interaction. The characters are vividly drawn, flawed but compelling, and their relationships feel authentic in their complexity. The book steadily builds intrigue, keeping you turning pages not with explosive plot twists, but with subtle revelations and shifting allegiances.

If you enjoy character-driven stories with a dark undercurrent and themes of ambition, mentorship, and self-discovery, The Favorites delivers. It’s not a thriller in the traditional sense, but it crackles with emotional suspense.

This book reminded me of Daisy Jones & the Six but with ice dancers instead of rock stars! It's told in the same interview/documentary style and I just love that. It's such a compelling story, the characters are messy and obsessive, they make lots of mistakes but keep going. I was on the edge of my seat and unable to put this book down because I had to know what happens next! Kat and Heath's epic romance spans decades and even though they are toxic and dysfunctional at times, their passion and love for each other always shines through.

I've been trying to figure out what to say about this book, but I think it might have to be short and sweet.

I loved everything about The Favorites, even the parts I hated.

I loved the split between regular chapters and the pieces from the documentary. I loved the ice dancing and how the descriptions of their performances were just enough. I loved that it took place in early 2000s. I wanted, so many times, for everything to go right for once and it never did and I kind of hate that but also I don't because that's real life. Things shouldn't be perfect and I do hate always reading an HEA, so this was a breath of fresh air no matter the devastation. You know a book is well written when it can produce an emotion from you, the reader. I felt that with this book. A lot. There were moments when I was so angry, the things that happened to Kat could have been happening to me.

Heath may honestly be the worst. I hate him so much but also, good job, Layne Fargo, for making me be able to feel this way.

The Favorites is a beautifully written, emotionally layered story set against the shimmering backdrop of competitive ice skating. With compelling characters, subtle tension, and a heartfelt exploration of ambition, loyalty, and identity, it pulls you in from the first page. A standout read—graceful, sharp, and unforgettable.

READ THIS BOOK! It is so good! It is beautiful and toxic and dramatic..... a scandalous treasure. It is an addicting read with it's short chapters, and just could not put it down. I have always had a love for figure skating and I knew how toxic it could be. This love story which is a retelling of Wuthering Heights captivated me. It is truly one of the best reads of 2o25 so far. Again, you need to read this book!
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read it.

This is drama in book form. A perfect bingeable book to cure any book hangover. I really loved the mixed media aspect of this book as well as the deep dive into figure skating. I thought it was too dark at times, but really fun and engaging.

I absolutely loved this book! It brought me right back to watching Olympic skating. Although the characters did frustrate me at points, the story was engaging and hard to put down. Would definitely recommend this book to any competitive skating fans!

I’ve said this before, but in case you don’t know this about me, ice skating is one of my favorite sports. I love every ice skating discipline. I will watch every single one of them in whatever competition, big or small, international or domestic. So this book was pretty much made for me.

There’s something so compelling and propulsive about this story’s use of drama and melodrama. There are moments where it just feels like one gut punch after another, and I just found myself continuously drawn in and wanting to know what would happen next.

This is the first Layne Fargo book I’ve ever read, but from what I’ve seen I think she’s written mostly thrillers up to this point, and I think that really shows. Like, yes this is very much centered on a messy relationship that bridges the athletic and the personal and continually runs the entire spectrum between tender and toxic. But there’s also this constant underlying sense of tension, this feeling that something could go horribly wrong at any moment.

So even though there were moments where I felt like the story was a bit over the top, I do have to commend the author for creating this sense of magnetism and urgency that continuously propels the story forward and brings a really strong energy to what’s happening on the page. I thought the structure of the story was also effective, because the chapters are punctuated by interviews and transcripts from this tell-all documentary about Katarina and Heath that’s kind of running concurrently to the story and providing a 360 degree perspective on some of their highest and lowest moments. Do I think that kind of literary device is groundbreaking? No. Do I think it has mass appeal and brings the reader into the story in an interesting way? Yes.

I guess while I love the drama of this book, while it absolutely drew me in and had my jaw on the floor a few times, I didn’t really take anything meaningful away from the story. I think there’s even a point at the end where the author remembers that the story needs to have some kind of message and it’s just spelled out in a sentence or two, which is not my preference. I don’t like when stories spoon feed me and outright tell me what it is that I should take away, but even more so when it’s just this random, off-hand thing and not actually woven into the story or the characters.

The biggest thing I think this story has going on for it is that it’s juicy, it’s dramatic, it’s sexy. It’s a really good story. I did guess quite a few plot twists, and like I said, sometimes the melodrama was a bit much for me. But I did still enjoy listening to this and I would still give it a solid four stars.

I had some serious issues with some parts of this book, but I did really enjoy the portrayals of the olympics and the sport of ice dancing. I liked the format of the storytelling--having the narrator alternate with narrators from a documentary. It gave me Taylor Jenkis Reid vibes. However, I felt that the character of the MMC was really flat and some aspects of the story were really too difficult to believe. 3 stars.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo checks off all the boxes: drama, romance, competition, high stakes, scandal! Take your time with this one, because there's a lot going on. The frequently used comparison of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights meets Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is spot on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This had a Taylor Jenkins Reid feel (writing and format), which was definitely a positive. After just reading a book with an on again/off again relationship, the storyline was a tad bit wearing. However, overall, I really enjoyed it.

Wanted to love this one, as it's had so very much hype. But, for me, the 2 main characters were infuriatingly vapid and their feelings were so overwrought. Had to DNF at 25%.

What a read! The drama, the passion, the performance of ice skating, ice dance, and the olympics all wrapped into a book on tough beginnings, clawing your way to the top, lifelong love and friendship, competition, sabotage.... there's so much. I think this book has everything a reader could ask for in an engrossing and engaging book.

Great read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC.
The characters are raw and interest captivating, the scandals are messy, and the uncovering of the sport’s dark underbelly is fascinating. Figure skating drama kept me on the tip of my toes and flipping through the pages as fast as I could. It was hard to put down, and had all the emotions flowing.

I have seen nothing but raving reviews on this book since its publication earlier this year, and I’ll admit, I get it. Reading this book felt the same as watching a really good drama. I was definitely entertained and completely drawn into this world of ice dancing (which tbh I never thought I would be interested in), so that’s a signal of an addictive read. I do think some of the drama was laid on a bit too thick, but i was into this read strictly for the drama and entertainment. In all, I think this was a really nice break from my usual reading (heavy, tear-jerkers) and the audio cast was 10/10!

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK I CAN'T IT WAS SO GOOD AND HORRIBLE BUT GREAT AT THE SAME TIME!

This book had everything! Friends-to-lovers romance, sports romance, tragedy, and suspense! At no point could I have predicted what would happen on the next page. Truly no idea... and I loved it! I will never not think about this book. A six-star read for sure!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)