The Favorites

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Discuss the novel’s treatment of the subject of ambition. What does ambition mean to you? What are the things you are willing to sacrifice in your own life in pursuit of your dreams, and where would you draw the line?

2. Kat and Bella forgive each other for numerous instances of hurt and betrayal because of how deeply they understand each other. Have you ever experienced such a relationship in your life, either in complexity or in kindred connection? Describe this relationship and what contributes to the complexity or the strong bond you share.

3. While Heath’s love for Kat does not push him to become a better skater, his desire for revenge serves as a powerful motivator to do so. In your experience, do positive emotions (love, desire) or negative ones (anger, hatred, vengeance) serve as better motivators? What are some examples from your life that you can share to illustrate your perspective?

4. Of the three central characters, whom did you most connect with, and why? What personal choices or experiences can you share from your own life that highlight how you share a kinship or similarity with your chosen character?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Ellis Dean and Inez Acton are two of the interviewees in the documentary narrative who continuously comment on and expose the darker side of the world of ice dancing. What are some of the issues they touch upon that you see as relevant or that require addressing in the world of sport, even in contemporary times?

2. The Favorites explores the lives of celebrity athletes through Kat, Heath, and their colleagues. Discuss the novel’s treatment of both the elite sports world and the athletes who participate. Does its portrayal of celebrity life seem accurate? What comment does the novel seem to be making about the nature of celebrity in the modern world?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Fargo describes having drawn inspiration from Emily Brontë’s classic Wuthering Heights to craft this story. What are all the similarities you can find between the original classic and this book? Do you think Fargo is successful in implementing elements of gothic romance in her reimagining? What are some successful instances that stand out to you?

2. Garrett is the only character in the book who is deeply enmeshed in Kat’s life and also chooses to speak in the documentary. Discuss Fargo’s use of this character. Why do you think she chooses to have him in both contexts? What narrative function does Garrett’s character carry within the larger scheme of the book?

3. Ellis Dean’s website, on which he publishes celebrity gossip and news from the ice-dancing world, makes recurring appearances throughout the book. Discuss how the website illustrates the novel’s larger argument about the disparity between celebrity public and private lives.

4. Comment on the title of the book. Do you consider it an apt title? What significance does it hold, and how does the meaning of the title evolve over the course of the book?