ARC Review: The Favorites by Lynn Fargo

 


My book review of The Favorites by Lynn Fargo.

Title: The Favorites

By: Lynn Fargo

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 448

Release Date: January 14th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:

Layne Fargo’s The Favorites dazzles with its intense exploration of passion, ambition, and the razor-thin edge between love and obsession. Through the volatile partnership of Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, the novel immerses readers in the high-stakes world of figure skating, where triumphs and betrayals skate hand-in-hand. Fargo masterfully balances the characters’ emotional depth with the glitz and grit of their sport, delivering a story that’s as electrifying as an Olympic performance. While the narrative’s twists echo the drama of its Wuthering Heights inspiration, some moments of exposition around the documentary framework feel slightly overdrawn, pulling focus from the central, fiery connection. Nevertheless, The Favorites is a breathtaking exploration of love’s ability to both save and destroy.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

No comments:

Post a Comment