The Favourites book review

The Favourites by Layne Fargo
on January 14, 2025
Pages: 464
Goodreads

To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice
“Part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, this novel is as brilliantly choreographed as a gold medal performance and will keep you guessing until its last page.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name
She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship.
Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.
As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary, but she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.

The hype around The Favourites is UNREAL and I can see why. I wasn’t entire sure what I was getting into when I randomly picked it up on my Kindle but I am so glad I did. For a moment there I thought it was going to be my first five star read of the year but it dragged in parts. So I docked half a star, sue me.

We follow Kat and Heath as they compete in the harsh and unforgiving world of ice skate, with the dream being to compete at the Olympics one day. Their lives are completely entwined and the chemistry isn’t just on the ice. Heath loves Kat but is constantly competing with her obsession with winning and the sport. As they delve deeper into the sport, cracks begin to form and the both of them are wondering is it really worth it?

The plot of The Favourites was a complete surprise to me. I had seen a lot of hype over the story, but hadn’t really looked into it further. What did blow me away was just how enthralled I could be over a story about a sport I had no knowledge off whatsoever, and with two characters who were just as unlikeable as each other. Reading Kat and Heath was a tough one, neither one had very many redeeming qualities and I struggled to root for either of them. However I do think that is why I enjoyed the book so much. It made everything else feel more realistic and helped me connect to them more.

Heath, in particular, is set out to be a wronged character, and although I can sympathise with him, I find it hard when he’s trying to justify his actions. He comes across as an immature control freak and in doing that almost makes the decisions Kat has made the right ones. I would have loved for the book to focus more on their growth as a couple and seeing them learn how to communicate and become better people. I still think by the end they were still stuck in the same cycles and people and it made the ending a whole lot less satisfying.

Why didn’t this get a 5 star? Because there were SO many unnecessary parts that it actually slowed the book down to a drag. There was a lot of back and forth and time skipping that didn’t really make much sense and I thought the middle section lost it’s way a little. I also wasn’t a massive fan of Bella’s twist ending, that kind of ruined the ending for me. Frustrating.

I’m not sure what books to recommend if you liked this one as I’m not a huge sports romance reader and the ones I have read weren’t my favourites. If you have any suggestions then please let me know!