Spoiler-Free Review

If you were an Ice Princess kid and then a Challengers adult – and are also a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan – this is the book for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

What’s The Favorites about?

10 years after her final skate, ice dancer Katarina Shaw tells her story – from her tragic childhood to her Olympic-level skating legacy, and the obsessive romance at the center of it all.

This book had the perfect level of gasp-worthy drama.

Was it a bit soapy at times? Sure. Was I hooked? You bet.

This book used an interesting narrative mix. Each chapter was told from Katarina’s first person POV and then was capped by interview-style transcripts, which were from the “tell-all” documentary about Katarina and her skating partner, Heath. It was reminiscent of Daisy Jones & the Six that way, and provided an interesting 365 viewpoint of every major plot point.

Also reminiscent of the Taylor Jenkins Reid style in general is the main character. She’s ambitious and single-minded, devoted to her sport, and makes mistakes, but is still relatable and worth rooting for. I loved it. It’s always refreshing to see an imperfect female main character on page.

As a lay person, I thought this was a very interesting look at the sport. I can’t confirm its accuracy, only an Olympic skater might be able to provide that insight, but from my perspective it rung true. I am more interested now than ever in watching the skating Olympics.

This review wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t talk about the romance. It was toxic and obsessive, driven by passion and the competitive edge of their sport. It takes the reader on a roller coaster from beginning to end. Every time I thought we’d turned a corner, there was still more. And that provided just the right amount of tumultuousness to their personal lives to impact their professional careers as well.

Should you read The Favorites?

If you’re into ice skating, the Olympics, athletic competitiveness, occasional ruthlessness, stormy romances, and documentary-style fiction, absolutely read this book. The narration is very reflective – these characters are telling this story from 10 years after the fact. So that means some occasional asides and hints at what’s to come. If you’re into that, this is for you. Prior knowledge of ice skating not required.

If you like your romances sweet and affectionate, this won’t be for you. If you prefer your main characters always be likeable, you also won’t be into this one.