Goodreads says, "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."
Kat Shaw has been dreaming of one thing since she was a little girl watching skater Sheila Lin compete at the Olympics. Kat wants to win a gold medal in ice dance; she wants to be the best. As a child, she is paired on the ice with Heath Rocha, a child in foster care, who shows promise. Kat's backstory is a bit depressing as well since her mother died when she was a child and all she has is her dad and her abusive brother. Kat and Heath find friendship (which turns into even more) as they get older and rely on the consistency of their sport to get them through life. When at a competition in Cleveland, they compete against Sheila Lin's twins, Garrett and Bella. Even though they didn't place well, Sheila reached out to them to come train at her facility in California. Of course, Kat jumps on this opportunity to get out of her town and away from her abusive brother, as the situation has gotten much worse since her father's untimely death. So, Kat and Heath live and train in California and it opens their world up even more. Kat, who is ruthless, competitive, and wants to win at all costs, starts to recognize that her partnership with Heath, even though she loves him, isn't going to get her a gold medal. So, as the story progresses, Kat's breakups, time apart from Heath, her training, and her competitions all get messy as Heath will always have her heart. If you love a good sports romance, Layne Fargo delivers a juicy one in The Favorites.
I adored the setting of The Favorites. There was a time when I was very interested in the drama of figure skating (I'm looking at you Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan!) and The Favorites really captured all of that and more. Fargo does an excellent job developing the love story between Kat and Heath, but also the competitive world of elite figure skating. I really enjoyed following Kat's climb to the Olympics and all the drama that ensued. I also really appreciated how Fargo included excerpts from the documentary on Kat and Heath. This was done very well and only added to the suspense and mystery of what exactly happened to them.
I will say at times it was a bit melodramatic for me, much in the way that Colleen Hoover's novels are. Lots of melodrama, lots of toxic behavior, and soap opera antics; however, this didn't deter me from enjoying the novel overall. After the fact, I learned that The Favorites follows some of Wuthering Heights themes and now that makes sense even more in retrospect.
Even though I had some issues with the tumultuous and sometimes toxic romances featured in The Favorites, I had such a great time reading it. It's one of my favorite sports romances I've read (maybe ever!) and it shouldn't be missed this winter if you are looking for something fresh and fun. Have you read The Favorites? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.
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