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A review by jukietoss
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Layne Fargo's THE FAVORITES is absolutely captivating. Her prior release, THEY NEVER LEARN, is a favorite thriller so I wasn't sure what to expect with the genre change. What she delivered is plot driven drama that'll have you flipping pages as quickly as your fingers will let ya, whipping you through the tumult with only an occasional reprieve to catch your breath.
Fargo wielded the documentary format (breaks for commentary from peripheral players, descriptions of scenes playing on the screen) perfectly, delivering it between first-person accounts from the story's protagonist. This stylistic choice enabled the action to advance with precise editorial control from Fargo on which action we see on the page and what we learn in passing. With all of the descriptions we read of Katarina and Heath ripping across the rink, Fargo succeeded in making the entire book feel like a sprint across ice, wind at our heels.
This book is the perfect choice for readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid; appreciation of ice dancing is not a prerequisite. Its fast pace and high drama make it a perfect page turner. Whether you're trying to break a reading rut or escape daily life, Katarina and Heath's story will leave you gasping.
Fargo wielded the documentary format (breaks for commentary from peripheral players, descriptions of scenes playing on the screen) perfectly, delivering it between first-person accounts from the story's protagonist. This stylistic choice enabled the action to advance with precise editorial control from Fargo on which action we see on the page and what we learn in passing. With all of the descriptions we read of Katarina and Heath ripping across the rink, Fargo succeeded in making the entire book feel like a sprint across ice, wind at our heels.
This book is the perfect choice for readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid; appreciation of ice dancing is not a prerequisite. Its fast pace and high drama make it a perfect page turner. Whether you're trying to break a reading rut or escape daily life, Katarina and Heath's story will leave you gasping.