I loved this - completely compulsive read that I literally couldn't put down. It intersperses documentary-style interviews with narrative, focusing on the stormy on and off-ice relationship of a famous skating duo. The life of skating was fascinating, the characters were magnetic and charismatic and the pace never stopped. Feels like this is a movie in the making.

The Favourites is an intensely drama tic compelling read with two main characters whose epic love story you follow avidly.
From meeting in the foster care system this is Kat and Heath’s journey from the beginning of their relationship to he Olympic ice skating championships to when a heart stopping misunderstanding tears them apart.
A documentary is made that charts their ambitions, romance and very personal struggles and an unforgettable story that flows beautifully and leaves you breathless
I loved every age of this book and it will stay with me for a very long time and will probably be reread many times.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Whoah stop the ride, but I don't want to get off!

This book was like a fast ride at the fair where I felt drawn and torn in all directions and felt a bit shaken by how twisty it was but I still didn't want it to end.

Wuthering Heights meets Daisy Jones and the Six.

My god, this book made me feel all the emotions. Very well written and the author did a fantastic job

This is such a good read... I wasn't sure what I would think of it at first as it began in a rather different way but I was totally drawn in and ended up devouring this story.

The story tells of Katarina who has dreamt all of her life of being an ice dancer like Sheila Lin who she adores. So when Sheila invites her to be part of her training academy, Katarina feels as though her dreams have come true... well, almost. Her dream is to win Olympic gold... but there are so many hurdles to get through from competitors, injury, and her own skating partner...

Throughout the story we see how Katarina and Heath - her dance partner - develop and become a very complicated couple where emotions run high.

What I loved is the way that Katarina came across as very strong-willed, fiery, that she courted the press in one respect but also wasn't afraid to let her true-self show.

The insight into the world of competitive team sports at Olympic level was absolutely incredible, I hadn't ever considered so many aspects which this story touched upon.

I never knew what would happen. Usually in novels I can guess what the 'twist' is or how it will end, but I genuinely didn't know. I just kept turning the pages.

By the end of the novel, I felt as though I knew exactly who Katarina was. Such an incredible story, one of the best I have read this year!

I loved the setting of the competitive world of competitive ice dance- including the seedier underbelly that you never imagine when watching the smiling, glittering performances on the TV!
I also liked the way the book was set out, in a series of documentary interviews set some years after an "event". My only criticism would be that I felt the build up to the event was so tension filled that what actually happened was something of an anti-climax. That said this is a well plotted book full of intricate details.

I enjoyed this book a lot , lots of intense emotions and I felt like I was just sitting in the room while the story was unfolding before me , will definitely recommend my friends read this book thank you

Katarina Shaw only ever had one dream, to be the best. Early photos showed her as a four year old posing on her skates. Heath came later. They met at school, started skating together and their partnership was a match made in heaven. Or was it?

As teenagers they rose up through the rankings, obliterating other pairings that came up against them, podium placings, the nationals, the world, the Olympics it was all there for the taking.

You don't need to be an ice skating fan to enjoy reading this novel, my one visit to the rink ended with a broken hand and I never went back for a second go. It didn't stop me getting caught up in the glitz, the competitiveness, the betrayal and the angst that this novel delivers in bucketloads.

The narrative is broken up by excerpts from a documentary made several years later about the events that happened and the format worked well.

An insightful look behind the scenes at the cutthroat world of competitive ice skating brought to life in a novel. Bright lights, dazzling costumes and pure toxicity, this novel has TV/movie written all over it

Wow, this book was thrilling, exciting and intense in equal measure. I couldn’t put it down. I loved how the story was broken up with interviews.

Fans of Daisy Jones and Magnolia Parks will love this.

Thank you NetGalley and Vintage Books for sending me this ebook. All thoughts are my own.

This book made me experience every emotion known to man (but mainly stress?) Sometimes it made me feel so much that it actually hindered my enjoyment at times because I was anxious. But I think the sheer fact that it affected me is a testament to the book’s strength. Heath and Katarina’s relationship was messy and complicated and intense. And the supporting characters were just as fascinating. You really are on the journey with them, and somehow you can’t help but root for them, no matter what. An impressive feat.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling and relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

🌟 Book Review: The Favourites by Layne Fargo 🌟

Easiest five star I've ever given.

If you’re looking for a dazzling blend of ambition, romance, and the high stakes of elite figure skating, The Favourites is your perfect match! Layne Fargo delivers an epic love story that glides seamlessly between heart-pounding competition and the personal struggles of its unforgettable characters, Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha.

From their first encounter in the foster care system to the Olympic stage, Kat and Heath’s journey is anything but smooth. Their chemistry is electric, and you’ll find yourself rooting for them as they navigate a world that’s as unforgiving as it is glamorous. When a shocking incident tears them apart, you can't help but feel the weight of their lost dreams—making the upcoming documentary all the more tantalizing.

Fargo's writing is sharp and captivating, reminiscent of Daisy Jones & The Six but set against the glittering backdrop of Olympic ice skating. The way she intertwines past and present, exposing the raw truths behind the rumors, is nothing short of brilliant. It’s a reflection on legacy, love, and the lengths we go to reclaim our stories.

With a whirlwind of passion and ambition, The Favourites keeps you on the edge of your seat. I give it a solid 5 stars! If you’re ready for a thrilling dance of love and rivalry, grab this book—you won’t want to miss a single thing. ⛸️💖✨

This is an amazing book. Literally full of twists and turns! Some very interesting characters and a great insight into competitive skating and it's issues.

Great book. Lots going on to keep you entertained definitely recommend. Very very good. I devoured it in 4 hours

THE FAVOURITES dives into the tumultuous lives of Kat Shaw and Heath Rocha, an ice-dancing duo whose talent and passionate bond capture the world—until a scandal at the Olympics tears them apart. A decade later, an unauthorised documentary forces Kat to face their past.

Let it be noted that ice dancing and figure skating are the only winter sports I give two hoots about. Sparkly and story-driven, all 6ft of uncoordinated, inelegant me is here for it. Losing myself in dreams of what could never be.

And The Favourites felt very very real. At times I caught myself wanting to look up their routines on YouTube, only to remember, oh…this is fiction. At the same time, I discovered that skating scenes end up being a bit repetitive in literary form, and I much-preferred what was going on off-ice.

I really appreciated how Fargo captured the vibe of early internet fame, where digital literacy was low, social media was in its infancy, and the bloodlust of legacy media who was scrambling to stay relevant while celeb bloggers like Perez Hilton were on the up and up. The depiction of blogger Ellis Dean was clever and added an extra bitchy zing.

Finally, while the Wuthering Heights stuff is lost on me, I think classic fans will enjoy the homage.

Out on the 16th of Jan, The Favourites is a decent start to the 2025 reading list. Here’s hoping the rest of the year keeps up!

This novel is an exhilarating blend of passion, ambition, and heartbreak that had me completely entranced. The layered narrative weaves together the intoxicating world of figure skating with a deeply emotional story of love and betrayal. Katarina’s journey from aspiring Olympian to a woman confronting her past is both heartbreaking and empowering.
The chemistry between Kat and Heath is electric, and their relationship is a perfect storm of obsession and ambition, making every twist and turn feel visceral and raw. It’s a poignant reminder of how public perception can distort reality and how the truth can be even more scandalous than imagined. It’s about finding your voice amidst the chaos. A must-read for anyone who loves a captivating tale of love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

The Favourites by Layne Fargo 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Emotional, thrilling, heartbreaking, addictive - Ice dance meets Daisy Jones & The Six in this scandalous story about Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha’s dramatic rise to champion ice dancers, captivating fans with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style and rollercoaster relationship.

Loved the formatting style of the book, switching from first person to third person interviews, making the story dynamic.

One of my top reads this year! Grab it on 16th January 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley, Layne Fargo & Chatto Books for the ARC!🩵

This is a retelling of the Wuthering Heights story. Overall anxeasy read. Very suitable for young adult audience. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy

After reading this book, it’s hard to think that these aren’t real people.

Set out as a documentary, the story focuses on Shaw and Rocha (Katie and Heath) and their rise to fame and the Olympics

Childhood friends, skate partners turned lovers to enemies. They go through it all!

Life changes when they meet the Lin’s.

Will they stop at anything to become gold medalists.

Such a good read, you really get sucked in and transported to the world of Ice Dance

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I knew from the minute I started this book that it was going to be a five stars. When I couldn’t read this book, I was constantly thinking about when I could next pick it up and thinking about what was going to happen. This book follows Katarina and Heath and they are aspiring ice skaters. It follows them through their story and journey to the Olympics. It is told through story and also interview style which really engaged me as a reader. This book is absolutely breathtaking and I could not recommend it enough.