Book Review: The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Title: The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Release Date: 14th January 2025
Publisher: Chatto & Windus
RRP: $34.99
Rating: 5/5 stars
Synopsis:
An epic love story that reimagines the tempestuous romance of Wuthering Heights in the sparkling, savage world of elite figure skating
Everyone thinks Heath Rocha was my first love. He wasn’t. My first love was figure skating.
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 unauthorised 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 rumours have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.
Alternating Kat’s own account of her dramatic rise and devastating fall with scandalous snippets from the tell-all film, and capturing the can’t-look-away intensity of Emily Bronte’s classic novel, The Favourites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win
Review:
If you enjoy scandalous drama-driven stories well known and loved in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books (particularly Carrie Soto Is Back and Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo), paired with the dazzling beauty and controversy of figure skating, and add a dash of revenge and tension-filled chemistry… You will be obsessed with The Favorites.
I cannot tell you the amount of heart-palpitating moments I had while reading this book. The tension and anxiety evoked from the scandals and toxicity between everyone!!! It was so intense yet ADDICTING. I couldn’t look away even for a moment. Kat and Heath had me turning those pages, I didn’t even realise I had spent two hours on the couch devouring 250+ pages. THIS is the kind of pick-me-up book that you can binge-read by the pool or even if you want to cozy up by the fireplace (there’s a lot of wintery moments in the book, which makes it perfect for a winter read too!).
I don’t even care how aggravating the characters were (they actually did drive me NUTS 😭). I felt all of their pain and frustration, the hurt and betrayal, the thirst for glory and hunger to win. I felt it all. As much as I loathe the miscommunication trope, the author was able to make every action justifiable and nuanced. You understand why the characters did what they did. You may even despise what they did, but you may find yourself rooting for them because they’re so convincing and, at times, even sincere.
Everyone has their own goals but clash with one another in the process. The push and pull between Kat and Heath was palpable. Every searing look and touch they had - on and off the ice - was electrifying. I actually felt a little sad when I finished the book. To know that Kat and Heath are two fictional characters whose story I’ve felt so attached to… Who went through so much on and off the ice… Endured all the emotional and physical pain… All of it ending in just 400 pages. I wanted more. I hate to admit that I felt a little empty finishing the book. I couldn’t stop thinking of them. They had SO much depth. You hate them and love them at the same time. You want the glory and fame for them, but you also want them to just call it quits and live a peaceful life off grid. You wish they were real. You’re thankful that they’re not.
It’s a lot, all of it, but I think only the best books can make you feel this way about their characters.
I don’t think I can recommend this book enough. I love that I’m collecting new favorites each month, and The Favorites is definitely up there now, alongside Water Moon (my first favorite book of 2025).
Thank you SO much to Penguin for sending over a beautiful finished copy in exchange for an honest review! This was one of my most anticipated reads ever and I’m SO incredibly happy it delivered ✨
