The Favorites

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, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

"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.

Publisher: Random House
Published: 01/14/2025
Pages: 448
Weight: 1.37lbs
Size: 9.51h x 6.36w x 1.55d
ISBN: 9780593732045


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 12/01/2024 pg. 1
Publishers Weekly 09/09/2024
Kirkus Reviews 11/01/2024
Booklist 11/01/2024 pg. 21

About the Author
Layne Fargo writes dark, dramatic stories that support women's rights--and also women's wrongs. She's the author of the novels They Never Learn and Temper, co-author of the #1 bestselling audio original series Young Rich Widows, and co-creator of the Unlikeable Female Characters podcast on Lit Hub Radio.