For an almost 450 page book, this flew by! Packed with plot, The Favorites moves at a fast pace appropriate for the sport at the center of it all. Going into it knowing nothing about ice dance - I thought it was the same as pairs skating! - presented no problems, as the technical aspects of the sport mattered less (to me) than the passion and artistry. The plot had some well-executed twists (pun intended) and I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters. Garrett, Ellis Dean, and Kirk - what a bunch of good, loyal guys! 

The influence of Taylor Jenkins Reid radiated off the page. By the time I reached the acknowledgments, they confirmed that TJR had impacted not just the oral history format, but Layne Fargo's research and approach to the story. This felt like a fun discovery for a longtime TJR fan. 

I'm already looking forward to reading Fargo's next book!