The Favorites

If Daisy Jones & The Six met The Cutting Edge and had a little Magnolia Parks and Gossip Girl drama thrown in, you’d get The Favorites by Layne Fargo. This book completely sucked me in—I didn’t want to put it down for a second. 😱📚

Told through interview snippets, the storytelling feels fresh and immersive, making you feel like you’re right there in the thick of the drama. If you’re into audiobooks, I highly recommend this one—the full-cast narration is top-tier and adds so much to the experience. 🎧🔥

The story follows skating legend Katrina and her on-again, off-again rival (and something more?) Heath as they navigate the intense world of figure skating ⛸️✨. Along the way, we meet a fantastic cast of side characters, including twins Bella and Garrett, who play major roles throughout the book. This story has everything—childhood sweethearts turned rivals, betrayals, second-chance romance, messy friendships, unconventional family dynamics, and a whole lot of self-discoveries. 💔👫

While this isn’t exactly a romance, love is at the heart of it—love for a dream, love for ambition, love for friends, family, and ultimately, love for yourself. 💖 And while not every character gets a perfect ending, the story wraps up in a way that feels really satisfying. 🙌🏼

If you love fast-paced, drama-filled books with complex characters and high emotional stakes, The Favorites is definitely one to add to your list. I absolutely loved it! 🏆📖

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice Level: 🌶️

Blurb:

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

An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

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 rollercoaster 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 either. 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.

Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.

Xoxo, Melissa