The Favorites

“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.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Layne Fargo

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Random House

First Published: January 14, 2025

Read: December 10 to 15, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: 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 about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo 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, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.

As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the "real story" through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can't stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she's telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.

Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.