"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.

Everything you’ve heard is true! This book is incredible you will not want to put it down. Absolutely on par with TJR nd which a unique story. Will be a top read of the year

The Favorites has made me like Layne Fargo again. It reminded me of some of my favorite books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Shaw and Rocha are the classic lovers who need to keep coming back to each other. There is an harsh look at the figure skating world, the world of haves and have nots and the inequality of it all.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Layne Fargo. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha have been connected since they met as children. Both had difficult and abusive childhoods, but Katarina had a dream and she brought Heath into it with her. She dreamed of being an Olympic ice dancer like her idol, Shelia Lin. Through true grit and determination, they became a duo not to be dismissed, until an incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to an end. As the 10-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public's obsession with Shaw and Rocha. Sensational rumors have always swirled around them, but it's time to set the record straight.

I absolutely loved this novel! The story spools out from first person POV to the transcript of the documentary interviews and it's the perfect way to tell this story, It's not only a fascinating look into the ice dancing world, but it's such a good story about the characters' drive, dedication, and the obsession to win at all costs. I couldn't read fast enough because I loved all the drama, tension, and excitement. If you're a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid or couldn't get enough of the Tanya Harding story, this book is for you. It's a must read!

RANDOM HOUSE *gets aggressively close to mic*…… HOW DARE YOU. 😭🥹😩!!!!!!

This was SUCH a beautiful story and book and the way Layne writes with such conviction in her characters was choke-holding, truly.

I cannot thank you enough for this ARC it was such a beautiful story and serves as the true example of what the human experience can be read AND written as…. I felt so attached to all of them that by the end I was an emotional mess. My heart hurts and I feel heavy and that is the beauty of this book…. to create a space for readers to go and explore what success and achievement look like…. I’m closing this book with goosebumps and immediately grabbing a glass of wine.

CONGRATS to the author!! Editors!! Publisher!! And especially whomever scoops this up for tv because it undoubtedly will be adapted.

GOLD MEDAL BABY!!

4.5 stars

Set in the cutthroat world of competitive ice dancing, The Favorites is unputdownable. Kat and Heath take the world by storm with their scandals and dramatic skating on their way to the Olympics, but then it all falls apart. Alternating between snippets of interviews for a 10th anniversary documentary about the duo and their own stories, this was an excellent and immersive read. For fans of epic love stories and lots of drama.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 Stars
"The Favorites" by Layne Fargo absolutely consumed me - I devoured it both through immersive reading and the absolutely stellar audiobook performance. This intoxicating story of ambition, figure skating, and devastating love grabs you by the soul and refuses to let go.
At its core, we follow Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, whose partnership on and off the ice defies everything standing in their way - from Kat's unsupportive family to Heath's time in foster care. Their chemistry is electric, their style rebellious, and their relationship burns with an intensity that both elevates and threatens to destroy them. When tragedy strikes at the Olympics, their partnership shatters, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions that resurface a decade later through an unauthorized documentary.
The interview-style narrative brilliantly weaves multiple perspectives, showing how differently each person interpreted the events that shaped Shaw and Rocha's story. What sets this book apart is its unflinching look at the cost of greatness in elite sports, exploring how far people will go for Olympic gold and what happens when your whole world revolves around one person and one dream.
Tropes & Elements:

🎭 Childhood Sweethearts to Enemies to Lovers (sort of...)
🏆 Sports Romance with Elite Athletes
💫 Found Family & Foster Care Rep
🌪️ Toxic Love That Consumes Everything
🎬 Documentary-Style Storytelling
❄️ Ice Dancing/Figure Skating Setting
🔥 Closed Door Spice
🌟 Ambitious Female Main Character
🎪 Complex Side Characters With Their Own Agendas

This rollercoaster of emotions will leave you breathless, frustrated, and ultimately unable to look away. The audiobook especially deserves praise for bringing this intense story to life in a way that enhances the already captivating narrative.

The judges score:
🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟

The most talked about January release and with valid reason.The best book I have read in quite awhile.
It’s so much more than skate dancing. It is addictive, dramatic, mystical, and toxic! You do not have to be a fan of this sport or any Olympic sport to enjoy this page turning, conniving, sabotaging, scandalous, roller coaster love story!!!
There are two main characters, Kat and Heath, with great side characters. At an early age Kat wants to be just like her idol, and win an Olympic gold medal in dance skating.
Heath, a boy shuffled in the foster system, will do anything for Kat. Odds are against them, but he learns to skate to be her partner, always at her side, always has her back.
This is written documentary style with full cast narration. It’s the 10 year anniversary of “what happened” and Kat finally wants to give her side of the story. It will keep you guessing and emotionally involved as you will be cheering then mouth hitting the floor.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the 5 golden star ARC in exchange for my opinion/review.
I have told all my reading friends about this book and had my non reading friends listen too! I ordered a hard copy for my library!!!

✨ The Vibes ✨
Wuthering Heights in the world of competitive ice dancing

📖 Read if…
✨ Wuthering Heights is your favorite classic
✨ You become an ice dancing expert during the Winter Olympics
✨ You love complex characters that feel like real people

Happy pub day to The Favorites!!!!

Is it too early to say this is my favorite book of the year?

The Favorites follows Katarina and Heath, two ice dancers who are determined to become Olympic champions. The story starts with the early days of their career and is framed around a documentary that is digging into their history.

This book truly has everything you could ask for. It in some ways reads like historical fiction (even though it takes place throughout the 2000s) because of the oral history elements and extensive details, and there’s plenty of romantic tension between Katarina and Heath that will be sure to satisfy romance fans. I’ve seen it compared to many of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, which is an apt comparison. I saw a lot of similarities between The Favorites and Carrie Soto is Back, particularly the focus on elite athletes and the highs and lows of competitive sports.

What made The Favorites an instant favorite for me was how the story really came off the page. Katarina and Heath are obviously fictional characters but I found myself wanting to Google them and watch their routines, only to be disappointed when I realized I couldn’t. I audibly gasped at several points but that just speaks to how the story draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very last word. But that’s a testament to how authentic and real Layne Fargo’s writing feels!!!

I’m just one of many people singing the praises of this book but hopefully that encourages you to pick it up. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Layne Fargo absolutely delivers with The Favorites! This book is a seductive, sharp, and twisty exploration of fame, power, and obsession. I was completely hooked from the first page, unable to look away as the characters spiraled deeper into their darkest desires. Fargo masterfully weaves tension and glamour, creating a story that’s as irresistible as it is chilling.

If you love messy relationships, high-stakes drama, and morally complex characters, this is a must-read!

I love all things ice skating, so was excited to receive an ARC in exchange for feedback.
Katarina and Heath, childhood friends and sweethearts, become ice dancing partners. Their goal is to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
They train under their idol, along with her children at their academy. The story follows heartbreaks and victories, giving an inside look of the skating world.
Great book, kept the pages turning!

I was so excited for this book but ended up having the weirdest reaction while reading. It completely stressed me out, to the point that I had to throw it aside multiple times. This is definitely a case of "wrong book, wrong time" because it is so highly rated and popular. I may attempt a re-read when I am in a different frame of mind. Very strange experience.

The Favorites was a breathtaking dive into the cutthroat world of elite figure skating, filled with ambition, obsession, and raw emotion. Katarina Shaw’s rise from an underdog to an Olympic ice dancer was beautifully juxtaposed with her tumultuous bond with Heath Rocha. Their chemistry, both on and off the ice, was electric, crackling with intensity and complexity that left me utterly captivated.
The narrative structure—split between Kat’s present-day reflections and the highs and lows of her past—added a gripping layer of suspense. The unauthorized documentary framing device brilliantly peeled back the glittering veneer of fame to expose the sacrifices, secrets, and betrayals beneath. The prose was razor-sharp and evocative, making every skate, every heartbreak, and every triumph feel viscerally real.
While the story was steeped in scandal and tension, its heart lay in the fiercely human struggles of Kat and Heath: their longing for freedom, identity, and love. It wasn’t just a book about figure skating; it was a powerful exploration of the cost of greatness and the search for meaning beyond the spotlight.
The Favorites was a stunning portrayal of ambition and artistry, as beautiful and brutal as a perfect double axel. I couldn’t put it down, and I’ll be thinking about it long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!