A review by jess_read
The Favorites by Layne Fargo

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Loved the first two-thirds of the book, and I absolutely hated the rest. After reading some reviews, I realized this was basically a Wuthering Heights retelling, and everything made a lot more sense. I have now learned my lesson: to read the blurb before starting a book and to not touch Wuthering Heights with a ten-foot pole because I know I'll hate it.

I just couldn't get past the whole Bella and Heath situation. I felt like Katarina became such a weak character by the end and was basically forced to settle for a dull, sloppy character like Heath's, just for the sake of a "happy ending." I was hoping the author would pull one more plot twist and have Kat ditch Heath for good, open a training center, produce future Olympic gold medalists, and then rub it in Heath and Bella's faces. Happy, single, and independent. I'd rather there be no happy ending than the one we had. But that's just my two cents.