I really enjoyed this book. It's format was easy to read, with relatively short chapters. I imagine it would appeal to many young adults. I have seen it compared several times to Wuthering Heights. I love Wuthering Heights, and whilst I certainly enjoyed this book really didn't think that it compared to or was really that capable of being compared to Wuthering Heights. Whilst there is certainly romantic tension between Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, themes of love, passion, redemption, and at one point Heath goes 'missing' for three years, the atmosphere between Katarina and Heath is very different to that between Heathcliffe and Catherine - far less dark. I can see it working well as a film exploring the romantic troubles of these often rich, attractive looking (as it seems from the book) teens/young adults.

THIS BOOK 🙌🏻 I'm starting to learn I love a toxic relationship 🤣 (I wonder what that says about me). This is a very character driven book & the characters are what bring this story alive. That being said they will definitely have you screaming at times and hating them.

Although I've said it's a character driven book there's definitely a storyline and plot and some of the things that happened had me shocked. To me it was very reminiscent of a TJR book, and reminded me of Daisy Jones & the Six with the interviews scattered throughout. But not in a copy cat way, more in a homage to way. I really liked the interview snippets throughout as it let you see events from multiple POVs and gave you a more rounded view of the characters.

I know this book might not be for everyone but I absolutely loved it and hope you all do too because it deserves it.

The Favourites has been on my radar for ages and I gave this book 4/5 stars! I love skating romances and this one has been a joy to read. It took me a little while to get into this but once I was a few chapters in I was hooked and the pace picked up. There is a lot of mention about ice skating and what happens but this I enjoyed. I enjoyed the documentary elements at the end of each chapter and could clearly visualise it. The characters I was infested in and really enjoyed how their love of the sport and how that effects the characters loves and life around ice skating. I didn't love the characters as much as I have in other books but I still really enjoyed reading about them, I think it was their attitudes but what I did really love was the character development throughout the book. The ending was what I thought it would be but I really liked it and was happy for the characters. The Favourites is a brilliant in depth romance around ice skating that I loved.

A modern retelling of 'Wuthering Heights' set in late 90s America - with ice-skating? You've got my attention!

Let's start with the original novel. I feel like 'Wuthering Heights' is often misunderstood. If you hadn't read it, and based it purely on cultural impact (Kate Bush's song, some of the film adaptations) you'd peg it as simply a love story. It's so much more than that. It is a revenge story and, as with all revenge stories, you are left pondering - is revenge truly worth it if it unintentionally destroys you along with the person or people you hate?

One of the most mysterious and intriguing things about the novel is how on earth young, sheltered Emily Bronte could write it in the first place. It's pretty much unanimously agreed that she never had a romance in her life. Whilst Charlotte fell in love with her Professor, who is thought to have inspired Mr Rochester, there was no man who inspired Emily. It's why the 2022 film 'Emily', which depicts Emily having a steamy affair which inspires 'Wuthering Heights', is so very offensive. Emily (and indeed, her sisters Charlotte and Anne) - used their incredible imaginations to take them far away from their origins, and that shows how brilliant they all were.

Reading 'The Favourites' reminded me of 'Hollow Bones' which I reviewed last year. It was a modern retelling of 'Measure for Measure' and I put all my fangirl energy into finding the main parallels. 'The Favourites' keeps the deep, obsessive bond between its Cathy and Heathcliff (this time, Katarina and Heath), the feckless brother, the death of parents and a very specific child-related subplot, but aside from that it's very much mired in the world of competitive ice dancing. Like most adaptions of 'Wuthering Heights', it focusses on the first Cathy, and not what comes later in the novel.

And 'The Favourites' is an absolute page-turner. I've never been more interested in a sport in my life. The ice dancing in this novel captured me. The competitiveness, the backstabbing, the rise and fall, the wins and loses - it's a bumpy and electric ride, and you see its inevitable toll on the ice dance skaters, who are very young when the novel opens. 'Is it worth it?' the text asks. 'Is it worth it to be in the record books, if you sacrifice a piece of your soul and potentially end up unhappy regardless?'

Towards the end, I encountered a paragraph which really struck me. It would be poignant under any circumstances, but given this specific backdrop, it is a real punch in the guts:

"Happiness couldn't be won. It couldn't be hung around our necks while a crowd of thousands cheered. It wasn't a prize, something we had to suffer and toil to earn. If we wanted happiness, we had to create it ourselves. Not in one shining moment on a medal stand, but every single day, over and over again."

This novel has the highest rating I have ever seen on Goodreads - at the time of this review, it is at 4.5. Literature is of course subjective, but from my perspective, I think it certainly deserves it!

Thank you to Random House UK, Vintage and and Netgalley for the ARC!

this 👏🏻 book 👏🏻

I was OBSESSED with this book - I didn't want to put it down from the first page. The characters, the story line, the twists and turns. It was all just spectacular drama.

I wouldn't call this a romance book in any way whatever but something kept drawing me into the pages. The writing - which is set out in partly interview style, partly FMC POV at the time - was beautiful and addictive.

This book is filled with passion, desire, obsession, drama, despair, heartache, and determination. It was truly an emotional rollercoaster and I was all for it.

I'm not sure I would say I was satisfied with the ending. I was angry for some of the characters, I was angry at some of the characters. but the ending worked. it felt right almost.

‘The Favourites’ by Layne Fargo tells the story of fictional ice dancing superstars Kat Shaw and Heath Rocha, charting the highs and lows of their career (and relationship) through Kat’s narration and snippets of interviews from a tell-all Netflix special. Full to the brim with intrigue, love, betrayal, ambition and pain, the tale simmers with tension and charts some absolutely shocking moments as Olympic dreams shatter into a million pieces as sharp as boot blades and shiny as the sequins on figure skating costumes.

I adored the depth of all of the characters in this book! Katarina’s lofty goals and steely ambition made her inspirational yet flawed, and while some of Heath’s decisions were suspect, his burning love and twisted loyalty were compelling. The Lin twins were complex and vital supporting characters, and supporters/antagonists including legend Sheila Lin, Kat’s brother Lee, skater-turned-blogger Ellis and the Russian contingent had their motives thoroughly explored. Some of the remarks from former judge Jane Curran had me reeling against the establishment and they really added to the cut-throat narrative.

The plot itself had so many layers, and I appreciated how it captured the agony and sacrifice involved in elite sport, amplified by the partnered nature of ice dance. The romance aspects were addictive but not the primary focus… encapsulated by the pivotal and revealing line where Kat explains that her first love was NOT Heath, but figure skating.

This book gets five stars from me (my first of 2025!) I could barely put my kindle down, and 100% recommend to anyone who adored the spiky, unapologetic ambition on display in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s ‘Carrie Soto Is Back’ or the beauty and tragedy of connections on the ice in ‘From Lukov With Love’ by Marina Zapata. I’m excited for this in audiobook format (like TJR’s ‘Daisy Jones And The Six’, it’s recorded as an oral history with a full cast) and I’m desperate for a screen adaptation (Netflix’s ‘Spinning Out’ should never have been cancelled, but this would be an ace replacement to continue the vibes!)

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Random House UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

(ARC - gifted)

it feels almost unfair that i think i've read my best book of 2025 this early in the year. absolute 6 star read!!!

it was described to me as a romance, but the romance really is a secondary theme. we start in the late 90s and follow Kat, who is determined to make it as an ice dancer with her skating partner Heath. we then follow several years in the ice skating world, with interviews and quotes for a documentary about Kat from notable people in the story woven in between chapters.

it's so much more than a romance. it's about scandals, relationship with fame, the impact of technology and social media on the sport, wealth disparity, family relationships, rivalries, and the scope of human spirit and determination. it's a wonderful, gritty and rewarding story and if you enjoy a strong, flawed main character, well-developed side characters or something that fills a Taylor Jenkins-Reid shaped hole in your reading, i think you'll love it as much as i did 🩷

5/5 ⭐️ Ok wow I loved everything about this book. This was so good! It puts you through all the emotions.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.

This was one of my top ten reads of 2024, and I predict that it will find its place onto many, many more 2025 best books lists. 

This book is a MUST read for anyone who enjoys Taylor Jenkins Reid's literary world of celebrity fame and scandal, specifically the tell-all interview style of Daisy Jones and the Six and the cutthroat ambition of Carrie Soto is Back. TJR is credited as an inspiration for The Favourites in the acknowledgements, but honestly I think Fargo's writing oft the celebrity sphere reigns supreme.


Spanning multiple decades, this is a Wuthering Heights retelling told through competitive ice dance. Every chapter seems to crescendo on an unbelievable cliffhanger that makes the book genuinely un-put-down-able, with multiple plot twists catching me completely off guard and leaving me reeling. You never know what is going to happen next, up to the final sentence. 


This is one for the people out there who religiously watch Tessa & Scott's 2014 Moulin Rouge routine. Prepare to be forever changed as a person. 


Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

The Favourites by Layne Fargo has so many great reviews already by others who are far better than I at explaining just why it’s so brilliant, that I just wanted to come on to add that I loved it too!

I have stayed up far too late for two nights now as I just couldn’t stop reading it. I’m on holiday and one of the reasons I loved this book so much was that, despite the many characters and sweeping timelines, the writing was so skilful I found it completely captivating and an easy and enjoyable read. I’m pretty devastated I’ve finished it to be honest!

I rarely read books twice (too many books, too little time) BUT I would definitely make listening to this book an exception. I have a feeling some great narrators would up the ante another notch or five!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage, Chatto & Windus for an eARC of this wonderful book.

The Favourites by Layne Fargo is a gripping sports drama that follows Katrina Shaw and her dance partner, Heath Rocha, on their journey from humble beginnings to the Olympic stage. Inspired by childhood idol Sheila Fin, Katrina dedicates her life to ice skate dancing, training with Heath, an orphan supported by her father. After her father's passing, financial struggles and personal obstacles—like her troublemaking brother—test her resolve.

The duo rises through fierce competition, facing the talented Lin twins, Bella and Garrett, only to be trained by Sheila Fin herself as rivals to the Lins. The story is layered with passion, betrayal, and political intrigue, offering a fresh take on the sports genre. Narrated through interviews with characters from Katrina and Heath's lives, the book explores ambition, love, and resilience with emotional depth.

I really wanted to love this because it sounded excellent, but alas, here we are.

The book follows ice dancing duo Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha through their turbulent career. They've always held the public interest and been the 'favourites' because of their scorching chemistry and underdog backstory, but the book starts off 10 years after the 2014 Olympics and the drama that unfolded there. Katarina wants to tell the story her way.

This wasn't a bad book. It was dramatic and compelling and honestly heart-breaking at times, but at the same time, it was just TOO LONG. I ended up getting a little bit bored as we went thorough the same drama and performances again and again.

But my biggest issue was Heath. He was just awful and so it made it so hard to route for them. I also feel like stories like this just aren't my vibe, where there is a constant will they/won't they and the couple is just so toxic, but apparently destined for each other?!? The relationship reminded me of Normal People, which I thought was a fine book, but I just feel like the people in these couples deserve better.

If you like Taylor Jenkins Reid's style and books with drama and sports, I think you'll enjoy this!

Something in the description intrigued me and it definitely wasn’t the ice skating, that is not something I am bothered about, but whatever it was I was right, this is an amazing book.
It follows Katrina Shaw and Heath Rocha from when they meet at a skating rink through all their troubles of surviving and working extra jobs just to afford ice time, and they make it, they get to the Olympics. This was Katrina’s dream to win and win big, Heath did it to please her, everything he did was for her.
I loved the drama and the way the story is interspersed with the dialogue from a documentary, helping also to tell their story. This book has it all, intrigue, romance, back stabbing and passion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Ok, so the last time I watched something about figure skating was when I became completely obsessed with Yuri on Ice, an anime which combines the drama of competitive figure skating with the drama of real life. The Favourites has that same compelling figure skating drama, and here I am, obsessed all over again.

It’s the detail that had me drawn in, from the captivating paragraphs describing choreography, music and emotion, to the passion of every competitor which oozes from the page. The competitions are as much a part of the plot as the reality behind the scenes, with enthralling performances and toxic rivalries heightening their intensity. Fargo’s cinematic writing made the performances so easy to picture that I felt like I was watching along with the audience, fully enraptured by every dance.

Behind all this are characters dealing with the pressures of competing, alongside balancing relationships and emotional struggles. Katarina and Heath’s tumultuous relationship takes centre stage as Katarina’s desperation to be the best consumes her, going to excessive lengths to ensure she can make it to the top. The way they’re both treated for not having the same wealthy background as the other skaters was infuriating to read, and made Katarina’s determination all the more believable.

There’s obsession, heartbreak, unexpected plot twists, and skating rivalries which had me hooked. Honestly, there’s no way my review can do this book justice, so please add it to your TBRs.

*Thank you to Vintage Books for gifting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

I knew “The Favorites” was good even before starting it, I could feel it in my bones.
What I didn't know is that it would have felt like a long panic attack, from the very first chapter till the last page, so emotionally draining that worsened my anxiety.

No, it wasn't a fun read. Some books aren't meant to be fun and some people aren't cut out for messy characters with messy stories.
But how describe it to you all, innocent people with your heart still intact? The only word I can think of is “addictive”: you'll be obsessed with Kat and Heath’s story, the ways they manipulate and help each other, the ways they collide every time they're too close but can't stay away from each other, and the uncountable times you would want to get in the book and scream at their faces.
That said, I’d still want to erase all my memories from the past week only to read this again like the first time, inflict myself the same pain I've just complained about and lose my mind all over again.

Truth is, I struggled with the characters because I saw them for who they were and what they believed in, but I still would have wanted them to act differently.
The problem wasn't the drama per se, it's just that to reach their finished acts they went through some tough things that made me suffer, and I didn't particularly enjoy that.
But, with all that said, I'm deciding this was a good book even if I don't agree with their choices - and I call this growth.

A special mention needs to go to the narrative style: the similarities with “Daisy Jones and The Six” are all here but, even if I’m a big fan of TJR’s book, the half-documentary half-pov writing is some genius shit.
Not to comment about who you can clearly see behind the MCs - Tessa and Scott, you will always be famous, and not only for your last performance.

Thanks to Random House UK, Vintage, Chatto & Windus and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow, wow, wow!
I loved The Favourites. A brilliant insight into the world of competitive Ice Dance. I have long been fascinated by skating, being a child of the 70s/80s, watching Torville & Dean dance their way to victory at the Olympics! Reading The Favourites brings memories back also of the Tonya Harding scandal, highlighting as it does the acute rivalry between skaters.
The Favourites is well written, never boring or over detailed. It’s written like a documentary, with reflective intervention from the main character Katerina, and most chapters end with little ‘footnote’ comments from coaches, fellow competitors and judges. Great once you got to know who was who.
It’s one of those books which had me at the ‘Just One More Chapter’ stage every night, and I know it will be one of my top books of 2025. Fabulous!

Layne Fargo’s The Favourites is a masterclass in suspense and psychological depth. With razor-sharp prose and complex, morally gray characters, the story keeps you hooked from the first page to the jaw-dropping finale. The tension builds expertly, weaving themes of ambition, jealousy, and desire into an unforgettable narrative. Fargo’s storytelling is bold, gripping, and utterly addictive—a must-read for fans of dark, character-driven thrillers!!

"The Favourites" by Layne Fargo is such a juicy,read! It’s packed with drama, ambition, and just the right amount of dark, twisty vibes. The characters are messy and flawed in the best way, and the story pulls you in from the start. I couldn’t put it down!

This book follows Katerina Shaw in the world of elite figure skating. The story promises drama, scandal, romance as well as the highs and lows of competitive sport. If you’re a fan of Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, you’ll love this!

💚 Likes 💚
- I loved the unique format of this book! Switching between interview transcripts and first person POV, I felt like I was both watching the documentary and living it through the characters.
- It felt so real! I genuinely kept going to google the characters to watch some of their dancers, before remembering they weren’t real people!
- An fmc with personality and attitude. I love when an author can make you root for a flawed (and realistic) character.
- I never knew where the story was going and I loved that! I would actually recommend not reading the blurb and going into this blind

💔 Dislikes 💔
- The pacing was a touch slow at times.

Overall, I adored this book and I truly couldn’t put it down. I’d highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.5⭐️ (rounded up to 5)

What happens when love, obsession, and ambition collide on the ice? The Favourites delivers all that and more!

“They were an obsession. Then a scandal. And ultimately… a tragedy.”

This book had me hooked from the first page. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it surprised me every time.

Set against the high-stakes world of Olympic ice dancing, The Favourites explores the toxic, all consuming love between Kat and Heath, childhood sweethearts turned skating partners. Told through Kat’s first-person POV and a multi POV documentary transcript, it’s a gripping tale of their rise to glory and the devastating fallout that followed.

If you’re into stories about:
• Love and obsession
• Manipulation and scandal
• Rivalry and power

…then you NEED to read this book!

One thing I know for sure? The audiobook is going to AMAZING, in other words I’ll be rereading as soon as the audiobook is available!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.