Page & Pairing Reading Guide
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice--now with bonus material including two never-before-seen chapters!
"Part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, this novel is as brilliantly choreographed as a gold medal performance and will keep you guessing until its last page."--Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here
She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family's support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating--and each other--to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship.
Why This Book Works for Page & Pairing
The Favorites blends obsession, ambition, partnership, and public perception—set against the glittering pressure cooker of elite competition. It’s dramatic, intimate, and perfect for readers who love sports stories with emotional stakes and complicated relationships.
Discussion Questions
- The Favorites explores the cost of greatness—where do you think the line exists between ambition and self-destruction?
- How does the pressure of public perception shape the characters’ personal choices and private relationships?
- In what ways does partnership function as both a strength and a vulnerability in the story?
- Do you believe success in this world requires sacrifice, or are the sacrifices portrayed as avoidable?
- How does the competitive setting heighten the emotional stakes compared to a traditional contemporary novel?
sips
☕ Coffee Smoothie
A cozy, grounding drink that mirrors the quieter moments behind the scenes.
❄️Jack Frost Cocktail
Nothing better than a colorful, themed cocktail.
BITES
Caramelized Onion Mushroom Galette
Refined but practical—ideal for a book club night that feels elevated without being fussy.
Half Baked Harvest Cookbook: Recipes from My Barn in the Mountains
by Tieghan Gerard
125 of your new favorite recipes, featuring maximum flavor, minimum fuss, and the farm to table style that turned Half Baked Harvest from a beloved blog into the megahit cookbook series
"Recipes veer from Braised Pork Tamale Burrito Bowls to Crispy Buffalo Quinoa Bites with no logic other than flat-out good taste."--Epicurious
Tieghan Gerard grew up in the Colorado mountains as one of seven children. When her dad took too long to make dinner every night, she started doing the cooking--at age fifteen. Ever-determined to reign in the chaos of her big family, Tieghan found her place in the kitchen. She had a knack for creating unique dishes, which led her to launch her blog, Half Baked Harvest. Since then, millions of people have fallen in love with her fresh take on comfort food, stunning photography, and charming life in the mountains.
What to Read Next Book list
1. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown