The Favorites: A Novel
$0.99
To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice
“Part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, this novel is as brilliantly choreographed as a gold medal performance and will keep you guessing until its last page.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here
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 roller-coaster 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. 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.
Emily Simpson –
Your life is suddenly no longer your own & you absolutely must skirt responsibilities to fully binge
Have you ever plopped down on the couch for a cozy night, curious about this new, interesting show only to find out a few minutes in that your life is suddenly no longer your own and you absolutely must skirt responsibilities to fully binge the show in its entirety in the shortest time possible? That’s what this book was like (mostly, I did have some responsibilities I couldn’t avoid). I was at once immediately hooked and desperate to unfold the story of Heath Rocha and Katarina Shaw. It must have been difficult for Fargo to abandon two projects she’d spent years on but, man, there’s no way she doesn’t feel like she made the right call- there’s already talk about filming rights?!You don’t have to like Kat and Heath, or Bella and Sheila, Frannie or Ellis, even sweet Garrett, or anybody else in this story, actually. That’s the thing though, you don’t have to love somebody to be enthralled by them. Especially with so much prime reality tv-esque drama. This story capitalizes on that concept so brilliantly. But that raw energy, that drive, that passion, that hunger, that spark? Oh, it’s near impossible to ignore or not be excited by. Everything is so vivid, easily visualized, and addictively enchanting. Do I understand all the many choices the characters made? Abso-friggin-lutely not. Do I respect the choices? Some of them, sure. Does every choice align with what you think said character would do (with two exceptions by the same person, imo)? 100%. There is no uncertainty about who these characters are, about what they are willing, or not, to steal or risk for their dreams, for the gold. There’s no “Hollywood” ending here, in some regards, but I think that makes the journey all the better, all the richer.Part I, Tonya, part expertly crafted TJR characters and storytelling, part mystery and revenge, part romance, part sisterhood and found family, part tragedy, all parts phenomenal.Did I listen to the author’s curated playlist to go along with the book? I put it on, but I was swept in the prose, paying hardly any mind to the music beside me. I did play some of it while driving and doing other mundane chores, and think it expands the emotional aspect of the story.As for the book’s condition: mine arrived on time, in great condition. There is a crease in the front cover, somehow, but that’s a-ok. There were a few ink dots on a few pages about halfway through, like from the printer, not somebody letting their fountain pen drool over this masterpiece storytelling. Well bound, no loose pages. Even if you had to read each looseleaf page in a cold stable and it took twenty hours instead of 6.5, who cares. Read the dang book.
louvejita –
Good story
Katarina Shaw has wanted to be an Olympic champion skater since she first saw the sport on TV at the age of 4, but she’s struggling to make ends meet and her only chance is for her and her partner to be noticed at a major competition. Then she gets her wish in the form of an invitation for the summer program at a prestigious skating academy and their lives will change dramatically.This book is definitely inspired by Bronte’s work, but the blurb is sadly misleading when it comes to the documentary. Still, it’s a very good story about the tortuous climb to the top of an unlikely heroine, one who doesn’t hesitate to take the hardest steps to sate her ambition and the boy who’s loved her since they were children and who’d do anything for her.I enjoyed reading this book and it sometimes felt more like watching a movie, the author’s descriptions are that good. I feel the translation of Wuthering Heights into the world of elite ice skating is on point and the portraying of the characters was very realistic. This book has it all: love, passion, treason and revenge and, at the end of her road, Katarina truly learns what’s important in life. 4 stars
Temi Omotayo –
ARC Review
5⭐️You ever read a book and instantly know it gonna be a favorite? This was that book for me! It made me feel all the emotions and sucked me into the book having me anxiously turning each page. This book is scandalous, thrilling, and ADDICTING to read. This was so much more than a sports romance. This highlights how far people can/will go to win, power dynamics, manipulations, sacrificing everything for a goal, and more all in the lens of the competitive ice skating world.From the moment we meet Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, we instantly feel for them due to both of their individual dire home situations. They escape into each other and skating as a reprieve from their situations and a way to make a life for themselves. They are childhood sweethearts who run away from home to begin their journey to become Olympic ice skaters. Their relationship over the years is manipulative, toxic, dysfunctional, passionate, and FILLED with so much damn love. They truly are each other’s’ home from the very beginning.Kat and Heath get a chance to train with the Lin twins, children of legendary Olympic skater Sheila Lin, and everything changes from that moment. I absolutely adored Grant and Bella as the main side characters for what they brought to the story and how they challenged Kat and Heath. From their first meeting, these four become intertwined into roller coaster relationships and moments that truly had my heart breaking at times. After an incident happens, their four lives are changed forever.Flash forward 10 years later, a documentary is being made about that fateful incident and the aftermath of consequences in caused. I love how the story uses the documentary interviews to show the reader Kat and Heath’s story of escaping their hometime, their true relationships with the Lin twins, and their journey to the Olympics. In these interviews, we get more perspectives from other characters essential to the story including past coaches, rivals, and Ellis Dean, gossip blogger/friend. Through the documentary, we learn what truly happened 10 years prior during the incident, if Kat and Heath had a successful comeback, and where their love story ends years later.I freaking adored this book and it is one of my favorite (no pun intended) reads of the year!! These characters reminded me of the characters in Magnolia Parks at times were you want to slap some sense into them but you can’t help but love them endlessly because they are being unapologetically themselves. Katarina makes you hate her at times for her blind focus on winning the gold medal despite other people’s feelings but you respect her drive and passion. Heath, MY SWEET BOY. Heath is loyal to a fault at times because he let others treat him like crap and never defended himself. Bella was reckless in her actions to achieving her goals but was also the first person to be honest with Kat and call her out on her shit. Finally, Garret was the peacemaker between the four and truly the most supportive friend in the whole book. I connected to every single character in one way or another and went on the widest range of emotions with them.The Favorites is one of the books that you can perfectly picture in your mind as a movie. It is drama filled, packed with tension, thrilling, and passionate. It had me gasping at thrilling parts and sobbing at the truly heartbreaking parts. The ending (or dare I saw the true beginning) of this book was absolutely perfect. I could not have thought of a better end for all of the characters. This is the first Layne Fargo book I’ve read but she has made a HUGE fan out of me! I will now be reading her backlist and everything she releases in the future!
Carla Monticelli –
To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession. And to me? They were everything.The drama in this book was on another level. The obsession—both with each other and with winning—the rivalries, the sheer messiness of it all…I devoured every single page. Layne’s writing gave me major TJR vibes with how raw and immersive it felt. There’s something almost hypnotic about the way she captures ambition—the way it drives, consumes, and ultimately demands its price.Katarina Shaw is intense, passionate, and far from perfect—which makes her feel incredibly real. She gives everything to skating, even when it takes more than it gives. Her relentless drive, despite all she’s lost, is both inspiring and heartbreaking. She doesn’t care about approval—only winning. Watching her growth unfold was so satisfying.Heath Rocha, on the other hand, is a complicated character. His role in the story is crucial, and as his past slowly comes to light, he becomes even more intriguing. His obsession with Katarina is suffocating yet magnetic, making their connection both destructive and impossible to look away from.Their love story is the definition of messy—intense, wild, toxic, and beautiful all at once. Even when they frustrated me, I couldn’t stop rooting for them. Their chemistry is undeniable, radiating through every dance, every glance, every moment they share. But it’s also destructive. It’s chaotic, it’s theirs, and despite everything, you can’t help but hope they find a way to make it work.The audiobook is absolutely phenomenal! It features a full cast, with different voice actors for the interview sections, making the story even more immersive. Every actor brought something unique to their character, and I was completely hooked.Katarina and Heath’s journey is a rollercoaster of twists, heartbreak, and impossible choices. And I know their story will stay with me for a long time.
~ Steph (Stephs_cozycorner) –
Figure skating was one of my favourite sports as a little girl. I dreamed of being a World class figure skater and looked up to the likes of Oksana Baiul, Katarina Witt, Kristi Yamaguchi, to name a few.To say I was obsessed is an understatement. The Tonya and Nancy scandal, Oksana’s ‘94 Lillehammer Olympic championship, Torvill and Dean’s perfect score, to our very own Tessa and Scott. I couldn’t get enough of this sport.This book brings me right back to my prepubescent days and all those feeling’s came flying back. It was hard at times to separate myself and realize I wasn’t reading a non fiction book.Figure skating, in my opinion, is such an underrated sport. The athletes put so much time, sweat and tears into their performances.The Favorites brings you right into the action and into the cutthroat world of amateur figure skating.Katrina Shaw has a no holds barred attitude and will stop at nothing to reach her dreams. Her story with Heath was tragic and beautiful.I was hooked from the beginning but was completely enthralled by the end. This book will no doubt be on my top 2025 list.The audiobook narration was amazing and I loved the full cast. I totally see the comparison to the 𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 audiobook but it’s also very different in its own right.Trust me when I say don’t sleep on this one!!
Elle –
The story was extremely addictive and the format made it so easy to fly through, that I finished the book in less than two days. I honestly could not put it down.The characters felt real, with all their flaws, fears and ambitions…and while I found both Katarina and Heath infuriating at times, I also deeply admired their strength, their passion and their love for each other, despite everything they went through, and for ice skating.If I had to describe The Favourites in 3 words, they would be: angsty, raw and emotional.I loved the format and I would recommend to listen to the audiobook for a more immersive experience…the cast of narrators is amazing!
PCrabb –
Some great storyline jumps and turns and believable characters. I enjoyed ‘hearing’ the real story behind the headline hype, a clever way of seeing two (or more) sides to the same story.