Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, childhood sweethearts turned champion ice dancers, captivated the world with their fiery chemistry until a shocking incident at the Olympics tore them apart, but as a documentary threatens to reshape their legacy, Kat breaks her decade-long silence to reveal the truth behind their intense, obsessive relationship.
There’s so much to say about Layne Fargo’s The Favorites, it is difficult to know where to begin. So, let us start at the beginning, that is, what brought me to this absolutely insane, drama-laden book. Olympic Ice Dancing. The lesser known Ice Dancing competition of the Olympics is my favorite figure skating event, far exceeding singles and pairs. It is literally dancing on ice, and I unabashedly love it. Nonetheless, when I learned that there was a book being published centered around Olympic hopeful ice dancers, I literally ran to get my copy.
Written in an interview style, like a documentary made for streaming, The Favorites tells what really happened between ice dancing’s favorites, Katharina Shaw and Heath Rocha. Katarina and Heath were skating underdogs; poor nobodies from the Midwest who were scoffed at for even dreaming of making it to the Olympics. Whereas their competitors were all spit and polish, Kat and Heath were nothing but grit and passion.
Fueling that passion on the ice were their intense feelings for each other outside of the rink. As Kat and Heath climb the ranks, attracting a storm of media attention not only for their dramatic and rebellious skating, but also for their relationship behind the scenes, this daring duo becomes the team to beat. That is, until a scandalous incident at the Olympic Games rips the couple apart, sending out shock waves felt not only in the skating community, but across the world, as well.
Now, ten years later, an unauthorized documentary is being produced to tell the real story about what happened between Kat and Heath on and off the ice. Pooling their friends and rivals, the filmmakers bring together a coalition of people all too eager to tell what they really know about the infamous Kat and Heath. From gossip bloggers, to skating partners and coaches, to rivals on the ice, everyone has a story to tell …
I had no preconceived notions about The Favorites going into it, except that I knew that it was going to be about ice dancing. I took note that it was inspired by Wuthering Heights, but having read the classic in high school and forgotten it, I had no memory of the plot upon which to draw. Furthermore, I did not know that this book was going to read like a behind-the-scenes documentary, which explains where the Daisy Jones and the Six references came from! Needless to say, I devour books written in the interview/media-centric style. Why? Because their audiobooks are generally amazing!
Case in point: the audiobook production for The Favorites. If you are going to read this book, you MUST listen to it! The audiobook utilizes a full cast and is recorded in such a way, it is as if you are actually listening to a documentary about the events of this novel. The audiobook is definitely the way to go here, as the actual reading experience of this book may come across as a bit disjointed and choppy with the constant quips, quotes, and inserts from the various players in this unfolding saga.
As for the story itself, I did not know that it was possible to pack this much drama into one book! Fargo’s skating community is cutthroat, ruthless, and scandalous. Apparently you must always watch your back and trust no one … even those you consider to be your closest friends. The truth behind Kat and Heath’s falling out is the stuff of documentary dreams, and will appeal to anyone who loves a good dishy exposé read.
While I’ll admit that The Favorites was a bit too melodramatic for my tastes - by the end, I was asking myself, “How much more scandal can they pack into this book?!” - I was nonetheless thoroughly entertained throughout this rollercoaster of a read. If you are showing up for this circus, you have to be all in for the sensationalized storyline and exposé style. There are no redeeming characters here, so don’t come into The Favorites expecting to fall in love with the players. Rather, lace up your skates for one head-spinning read that twists and turns faster than a skater on the ice. - Brooke, Public Relations Librarian