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A review by nzlisam
The Favourites by Layne Fargo
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The eyes of the world are watching rising stars Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha. Will they be the Olympic figure-skating favourites?
Since they first laid eyes on one another as children, it’s been Katarina and Heath against the world. Years of ice-skating together as a team, these best friends turned teenage sweethearts are about to see their professional dreams realised. Kat has always known that she loves the competition and limelight more than Heath, but she also believes Heath will do anything for her.
This soapy sport drama chronicled the rise and fall of Katarina’s figure skating career, and her much-publicised fall from grace. In the prologue we learn that something catastrophic happened ten years ago, and that whatever it was still haunts Kat to this day. The answers were then bit-by-bit revealed in two ways – via a revealing documentary series interviewing those closest to the scandal, and through Kat’s own first-person account.
Layne Fargo introduced us to the glittering, breathtaking, cutthroat world of figure skating, and all the talent, ambition, struggles, competitiveness, gossip, backstabbing, and jealousy that goes along with it. The twists ranged from scandalous to shocking to somewhat off the rails by the end. The last 20% was a little too outlandish I thought, and didn’t really fit the tone of the rest of the novel. Layne Fargo did her research though, and it showed – I was completely immersed in the universe she created. The Favourites was also the story of all-consuming, obsessive love – the passion, longing, and desire of it, as well as the possessiveness and toxicity. Inspired by Wuthering Heights this novel was essentially a modern re-telling.
I listened to the audiobook on Spotify and Christine Lakin and Louise Zhu’s narration was a 5-star cinematic listen. Lakin was the perfect choice to voice Kat, and Zhu’s audience-style enthusiasm elevated the written material. I’m sure this title will be nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Audiobook category, deservedly so. If you enjoyed the documentary/high drama-type performances in Taylor Jenkins Reids’s, Daisy Jones and the Six and Lisa Jewell’s, None of This is True then definitely check out The Favouritesaudiobook. You won’t be disappointed!
I think Layne Fargo has found her writing niche with The Favourites.
Since they first laid eyes on one another as children, it’s been Katarina and Heath against the world. Years of ice-skating together as a team, these best friends turned teenage sweethearts are about to see their professional dreams realised. Kat has always known that she loves the competition and limelight more than Heath, but she also believes Heath will do anything for her.
This soapy sport drama chronicled the rise and fall of Katarina’s figure skating career, and her much-publicised fall from grace. In the prologue we learn that something catastrophic happened ten years ago, and that whatever it was still haunts Kat to this day. The answers were then bit-by-bit revealed in two ways – via a revealing documentary series interviewing those closest to the scandal, and through Kat’s own first-person account.
Layne Fargo introduced us to the glittering, breathtaking, cutthroat world of figure skating, and all the talent, ambition, struggles, competitiveness, gossip, backstabbing, and jealousy that goes along with it. The twists ranged from scandalous to shocking to somewhat off the rails by the end. The last 20% was a little too outlandish I thought, and didn’t really fit the tone of the rest of the novel. Layne Fargo did her research though, and it showed – I was completely immersed in the universe she created. The Favourites was also the story of all-consuming, obsessive love – the passion, longing, and desire of it, as well as the possessiveness and toxicity. Inspired by Wuthering Heights this novel was essentially a modern re-telling.
I listened to the audiobook on Spotify and Christine Lakin and Louise Zhu’s narration was a 5-star cinematic listen. Lakin was the perfect choice to voice Kat, and Zhu’s audience-style enthusiasm elevated the written material. I’m sure this title will be nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Audiobook category, deservedly so. If you enjoyed the documentary/high drama-type performances in Taylor Jenkins Reids’s, Daisy Jones and the Six and Lisa Jewell’s, None of This is True then definitely check out The Favouritesaudiobook. You won’t be disappointed!
I think Layne Fargo has found her writing niche with The Favourites.