At the beginning of the year, I resolved to listen to more audio books, and while it is not my preferred reading medium, I am finding that I really enjoy it – especially if the narrator(s) “work” with the words. I think some of my early dislike of audio books was due to poor narration that couldn’t hold my attention. I recently read Layne Fargo’s The Favorites (Random House 2025), narrated by Christine Lakin, Louisa Zhu, Amy Landon, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Suzanne Toren, Graham Halstead, Julia Emelin, Layne Fargo, Eric Yang, and Johnny Weir. It was a PRODUCTION, let me tell you. I’m not sure if it was the set up of the book being a documentary with multiple talking heads, but the audio is bloody fantastic. And Johnny Weir narrating a character in a book about competitive ice dancing? Color me sold.
Some folks draw a ready comparison between The Favorites and works by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Fargo does thank Reid in her acknowledgments, but I’ve never read TJR. (I know. I KNOW.) The Favorites, however, is the best kind of reading candy. It’s toxic and sexy, bloody and brilliant, full of obsession, jealousy, and glitter. Every character skates in a morally grey part of the rink, each with a taste of villain and hero, and I loved each jagged-lined one.
The novel is equal parts bildungsroman, love story, thriller, and competitive sports novel – and these four parts bleed seamlessly into the other. The writing is as sharp as the blades on the skates and as fun as a free skate program.
Long story short – Katarina Shaw is a young kid with a dream – she’s going to be an Olympic skater, and she will do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals. When she meets Heath Rocha, a broken kid in the foster care system, they lean into each other to escape reality for dreams. They become a formidable pairs team, full of passion, angst, and toxicity. Their relationship on the ice is magic, off the ice, it’s toxic and marred by gossip and competitive spirits. Their relationships with their colleagues and fellow competitors are full of respect and sabotage, false smiles and distrust. It is an edge of the seat, thrilling read – a train wreck of a career you can’t look away from.
As someone who grew up in the 80s & 90s, Nancy and Tanya were household names. And I’d watch the skaters, the gorgeous outfits and breathtaking jumps, turns, and fancy footwork with a child’s abandon and imagination. This book fed something in that little girl in me and reminded me of sitting cross legged on the living room floor and being entertained by the beautiful and talented athletes.
Read this book.
And there is plenty of time to read it before April 21st when Laura Beth will be hosting an author chat with Layne Fargo! For more information, check out Laura Beth at:
https://www.youtube.com/@lbtheloverofbooks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lbsbooklovers/
https://www.instagram.com/lbtheloverofbooks/
You can see her upcoming schedule of author chats and watch some of the other ones on her Youtube channel!
A Girl Named Tommi 