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Book Review: The Favorites by Layne Fargo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Layne Fargo’s The Favorites is an absolute triumph, a novel so rich with emotion, complexity, and raw human connection that it left me breathless. This beautifully written, harrowing love story unfolds within the glittering yet brutal world of elite figure skating, and I was completely swept away. Fargo doesn’t just tell a story; she immerses you in the minds and hearts of her characters, leaving you reeling with their love, hatred, passion, and pain.

At its heart, The Favorites is the story of Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, two fiercely determined individuals bound by a connection that transcends the ice. From their humble beginnings—Kat chasing Olympic dreams without her family’s support, Heath surviving the foster care system—to their meteoric rise as an ice-dancing duo, their relationship burns with an intensity that is both awe-inspiring and deeply flawed. Fargo masterfully depicts the fine line between obsession and devotion, creating a bond so compelling it’s impossible not to root for them, even when their choices are maddening.

The novel is unapologetically raw. Fargo peels back the layers of Kat and Heath’s relationship, exposing their insecurities, ambitions, and darkest secrets. Neither character is conventionally likable, but that’s what makes them unforgettable. Their humanity—messy, beautiful, and deeply relatable—shines through. I felt every moment of their journey, from the fiery highs of Olympic triumphs to the gut-wrenching lows of betrayal and loss.

The narrative’s structure is another triumph. The use of an unauthorized documentary as a framing device adds a modern and voyeuristic edge, allowing Fargo to explore the public and private facets of Kat and Heath’s lives. As the layers of their story unfold, the tension builds relentlessly, and the truth behind their dramatic split is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.

Described as part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, The Favorites lives up to the comparison and then some. Fargo’s prose is as sharp as a skate blade, her characters as vivid and unpredictable as a live performance. The novel dances between love and hate, creation and destruction, with the grace of a gold-medal routine.

For me, The Favorites is more than a book—it’s an experience. It captured my heart and refused to let go, leaving me emotionally wrecked and utterly satisfied. This will be a tough book to beat this year. If you love stories that are equal parts passion and pain, with unforgettable characters and a setting that dazzles and devastates in equal measure, do yourself a favor and read this book.

Layne Fargo, take a bow.