THE FAVORITES by Layne Fargo grips the reader in a tight hold from the first page and doesn’t let go until the thrilling end. This novel combines Katarina Shaw’s perspective on her and Heath Rocha’s ice dancing career along with an effective oral history format that gives others’ insider perspectives into a complicated skating dynasty. It publishes January 14, 2025. 

I was “all in” on ice skating in the 1990s and early 2000s, like a huge segment of the country. The 1994 feud between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan spurred many of us to be glued to our TVs and become enamored by the beautiful skating. This novel gives many vibes similar to those of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX but set against ice dancing instead of music.  

In this fictional story that takes elements from the ice dancing world, Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha meet early in life, and they both don’t have role models. They just have each other. They are scrappier than the other ice dancing couples, including Garrett and Bella Lin, who are the twins of ice skating legend Sheila Lin. When Sheila Lin takes Katarina and Heath under her wing, they move to the upper echelon in skating with more resources and coaching skill at their disposal. 

Part ice dancing manifesto - with play-by-plays of many competitions, from Katarina’s as well as other insiders’ perspectives - and part interpersonal drama, I was glued to this novel from the first page. The main characters were fascinating along with the characters that give commentary on each performance in a documentary interview style. I think if you’re like me and have seen several ice skating competitions, this will pull back the curtain on a world that is very intriguing. 

While a little longer than the typical novel, I didn’t feel the length at all and had to find out if these ice dancers attained their ultimate victory, given all the obstacles and frenemies in their way.