RIP - The Favorites by Layne Fargo

The Favorites

Layne Fargo

Copyright 2025

434 Pages

You buy the book here, I get a small comission. Let's consider it a tip for my sparking personality!

Now yes, this book has found itself in my obituary column — but don’t start planning the funeral procession just yet. Hear me out before you toss roses on the casket. My lower rating wasn’t because the writing was bad; the storyline just didn’t seduce me. I can’t love every book, even though I try like a hopeless romantic at a speed‑dating event. Goodreads, however, is out here giving it standing ovations, so clearly plenty of readers are twirling happily across this ice‑dancer drama. Just because it wasn’t my favorite doesn’t mean it won’t be yours.

The Favorites follows a decades‑long saga of two inseparable ice dancers, Katarina and Heath. They come from practically nothing but claw their way into one of the top training rinks in the country. There, they train under Katarina’s idol — Olympic gold medalist Shelia Lin — alongside Sheila’s twins, who switch between allies and adversaries with the frequency of a rink Zamboni. Titles, medals, Olympic dreams… everyone wants the glittery crown, and no one is above a little emotional sabotage to get it.

And of course, what’s an elite‑athlete drama without personal chaos, public scandals, and competitors who would absolutely “accidentally” clip your skate if they thought it’d help? This book delivers the mess. Win after win, loss after loss, comeback after comeback — like a sports montage that refuses to fade to black. For me, the repetition made the story feel a bit flat. We kept looping the same track, never quite landing the ending I was hoping for.

But if you love stories packed with family tension, friendship drama, lovers, rivals, scandals, and every emotional direction on the compass, this one might be your next obsession. If you live for the rise‑and‑fall arcs of athletes on the national and Olympic stage, this is absolutely your arena. If you crave messy drama — even if it just circles loops around the rink instead of chaotic zigzagging — you’ll have a great time.

I’m giving it 2.5 stars, but they’re twinkling, sequin‑covered stars ripped straight off Katarina’s competition costume.