The Favorites by Layne Fargo feels like mash-up of I, Tonya and Carrie Soto is Back with a side of reality TV. Honestly, I can’t decide if I loved this book or if it annoyed the heck out of me… but either way, I flew through it.
This book is pure drama. The toxic relationships that hold all of the characters together are layered with betrayal, jealousy, and cutthroat rivalry. What’s at the heart of it all? Competitive ice dancing. Every twirl on the ice could come with a knife in the back, and it’s got all the makings of a reality TV show you know you shouldn’t be as into as you are, but you just can’t look away.
Told through a mix of the main character’s personal narrative and documentary style media excerpts, the storytelling format keeps things interesting, even when the pacing doesn’t. The beginning drags a bit, and just when things heat up, the ending feels like it hits fast-forward and there are some time skips. Some of the (many) plot twists are predictable, but the way they unfold still manages to keep you flipping pages.
Not a single one of the characters is what I’d call likable, but that almost feels like the point. These people are messy, morally gray, and all have their share of trauma or issues. You won’t root for them as much as you’ll be glued to their dramatic choices, behavior, and actions.
You might end up rolling your eyes when reading The Favorites but you also might secretly love every second of it. It’s the literary equivalent of binge-watching a guilty pleasure series in one sitting.
If you’re into sports rivalries and romance, the intrigue of ice dancing, and don’t mind some characters that make you want to scream at them at times, The Favorites might be your next favorite (or most frustrating?) read. Just don’t go in necessarily expecting to root for anyone, this is a story where sabotage is a sport, and forgiveness is not on the podium.