Not normally a romance person, but I have read other things by this author and enjoyed them. Despite being lengthy, I loved this book. The characters were so well fleshed out and the story felt so authentic that I couldn’t put it down. I also loved the documentary style writing.

The Favorites is a book that I read anxiously-- I was dying to know what would happen next.

It takes us behind the scenes of an ice skating duo from their childhoods to their breakup to everything in between.

It's nostalgic and emotional, watch them as younger teens making decisions they're not old enough to understand and then covering their emotions to protect themselves from the hurt from those decisions.

It's definitely a good read, especially if you liked "Daisy Jones and the Six."

I cannot say that I loved this book as much as so many have. It felt so slow to me. I wanted to just flip through the pages and find out what eventually happened. Glad I didn't.

Kat and Heath are lifelong companions who love each other very much. Kat has an even bigger love, so she thinks, to be the gold medalist in Ice Dancing. Things start to go her way when she finally meets her idol Sheila Lin and then things don't go their way. Lots of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed the interviews in the chapters with different views on who they were and what happens.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy for review.

I was really intrigued by this one but it’s too long. and the characters just aren’t redeemable for me

I love reading about figure skating and the documentary vibe to this book. However I really struggled connecting to the characters and struggled with the toxic drama. Unfortunately wasn’t for me.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hands down one of my favorite reads of the year! 👐 I kept hearing the buzz on this book, so I requested it. Ice skating ⛸️ really wasn't on my favorites list (pun intended), so I wasn't certain of how I would feel about this story.

Wowza! 😮 This was a PHENOMENAL read! There is so much twisted drama, an array of competitive relationships, romance 😍, cut-throat melodrama, back stabbing 🗡, and a roller coaster🎢 of emotions!!

This story involves a young woman, Katrina, who will stop at nothing to get a gold medal🏅, yet has no means to fund her ice skating career. She began skating with her boyfriend, Heath. Later, she manages to gain the sponsorship of her favorite ice skating coach, who doesn't think Heath is talented enough.

The passion and obsession with each other and the sport pressures them to act only in their own best interests. The storyline has so many twists and turns. You won't guess what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheFavorites ##GeneralFiction ##WomensFiction #Romance #LayneFargo

I loved this book. I kept wanting to Google Katerina and Heath because they felt so real to me. I haven't read a "sports book" or a book about ice skating in a long time. I learned so much and truly felt I was reading a memoir. This story had heartbreak, and friendship, and loss, and love. A little bit of everything. As much as I was rooting for Kat and Heath, I had a love/hate relationship with them. I felt like I was on the roller coaster of emotions. I wanted to cry with them and laugh and yell at them all at the same time.

This is such a wonderful read!

This book!!!! A must must must read! Its was absolutely amazing! I connected to each of the characters! The story just blended so well together and you fully feel all the feels! This story was about everything! Family, first love, friendship, heartbreak! I highly recommend!

I started Out reading this on the kindle but got the audio and man the audio is so good. I would Advise everyone to listen to this one. It was very well done.

As a former ice skater, I knew I couldn’t miss The Favorites. This is an epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice. It begins with two young skaters whose instant connection makes them a formidable due on the ice. Clinging to skating-and each other-to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, until a shocking incident brings their partnership to an end.

Spanning decades, this book is told from Kat’s POV as well as an unauthorized documentary that claims to uncover the “real story” of Kat and Health through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. This story has it all: love triangles, family drama, and self-discovery, alongside scandal, betrayal, tragedy, and triumph. It was a fun and juicy ride that kept me hooked and didn’t take itself too seriously. This book is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, especially Daisy Jones and The Six.

I’m conflicted about my review of this book. While I really appreciated the documentary style approach, I felt that those chapters were the only parts of the story that truly moved the plot forward. That being said, I did enjoy the behind the scenes look at the cutthroat world of ice skating.
Katarina and Heath have shared a deep connection since childhood, competing for the affection of others, which they ultimately find through ice dancing. However, Katarina’s sheer determination and willpower begin to strain the bond she shares with the one person she truly loves and trusts. At times, I felt the story dragged, with a desire to see more from the characters in a quicker timeframe. I did, however, enjoy the evolving dynamics between them and the other ice skaters over time.
I do wish the book had introduced more characters to enrich the love story or delved deeper into the intricacies of the skating world. If you enjoy a romance tested by challenges with a satisfying, happy ending, this book will be a great fit for you.


*Thank you to Layne Farg, Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. i understand how popular this book turned out to be but it was just okay for me. it was a lot of young love and back and forth between the two characters. i don't think the book needed to be as long and drawn out as it was but i did not DNF to find out what the fuss was about.

The scandal??? The drama??? This book was so messy and I ate it up.

The audio of this book is INCREDIBLE.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I didn't know I cared so much about ice dancing but the drama was CHEF'S KISS! I loved the writing and the way it was written in interview format. This was an easy 5 STAR book!

This was so good. Katarina wants to be an Olympic champion. What is she willing to sacrifice for that to happen? Her great love, Heath? Her friendship with skating rival, Bella? Her own life?

4.5/5 🌟⛸️❄️
WOW. That’s all the comes to mind with this book. The details in the writing were perfect. The style in which we also got to view parts of the “documentary” while hearing the main characters POV was amazing.

I am struggling with how to leave a review without spoiling anything, so please just go read it.. like right now. 🤩

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review!

#booksonaburger #bookstagram #bookreview #TheFavorites #ARC #netgalley

Layne Fargo's The Favorites is an absolute triumph, a dazzling and utterly addictive read that deserves every single one of its five stars. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the complex and compelling world Fargo creates within the realm of elite figure skating.

This isn't your typical sports romance. Fargo delves into the dark side of ambition, the messy complexities of human relationships, and the often-destructive nature of obsession. The characters are brilliantly drawn, flawed, and utterly unforgettable. Katarina Shaw is a force of nature, a protagonist who demands your attention and refuses to be easily categorized. The dynamic between her and Heath Rocha is electric, filled with both intense passion and simmering tension.

What truly elevates this novel is Fargo's masterful storytelling. The narrative weaves together past and present, using a compelling documentary-style format that adds layers of intrigue and suspense. The pacing is perfect, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds.

The Favorites is a masterclass in character development, atmospheric writing, and gripping storytelling. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. If you're looking for a read that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, look no further. This would also be a great read for any fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book is a must read- five stars! I also suggest the audio- fantastic listen!

This book was quite the ride! It had just enough delicious drama to keep me guessing what was going to happen next.

I started this book with just my eyes, but ended up finshing it by listening to the audio as well. And I must say the audiobook elevated the story even more for me! So good!

It's been almost 15 years since I've read Wuthering Heights, but I was still able to appreciate the allusions and references to that classic novel.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

What a WHIRLWIND

Already a fan of figure skating, this book was the messy, angsty, absolutely invigorating story of my dreams

Pacing, writing style and characterization all on point

Layne Fargo you are now an auto-buy author to me!