The Favorites

A Novel

By: Layne Fargo

Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Louisa Zhu, Amy Landon, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Suzanne Toren, Graham Halstead, Julia Emelin, Layne Fargo, Eric Yang, Johnny Weir, Brandon Perea

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—now with bonus material including two never-before-seen chapters!

“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 Wish You Were Here

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.

This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF which contains the discussion questions, Meet the Ice Dancers, The Favorites playlist, and Ice Dancing: Rules and Fun Facts from the book.

This is amazing

I love the interview/documentary style format of this story. This book made me happy, sad, MAD, want to scream and laugh. I loved it so so much. So much tension, angst and drama!

Not your typical happy ending.. a continuing story

Strong Characters. Unexpected outcomes.. kept me guessing and engaged. Looking forward to her next novel

Captivating

I loved it! Couldn’t stop listening. Characters are likable but they make mistakes because they are immature. I loved learning about ice dancing and how competitive it is. I loved the angsty love story. There were several plot twists. The end was bitter sweet but very realistic.

Read in one sitting

The story held me all throughout- I couldn’t put it down. So much drama and intrigue in ice skating!

A great, addictive read!

Wonderful book, one of the best I have read in a while!!!!!!! I listened to it in 2 days! Bravo