The Favorites

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse.

Ambition is the defining feature of Kat, the protagonist of The Favorites. Kat’s character arc is rooted entirely in her ambition of becoming an Olympic-gold-winning ice dancer. However, Kat’s journey and her desire to win do not exist in a vacuum—both are deeply influenced by other figures in the sport, like Sheila and Bella, and she, in turn, serves as inspiration to others, including Francesca. Through these interconnecting stories and experiences, author Layne Fargo explores the costs of ambition.

From the beginning of the novel, Kat is deeply ambitious and fiercely determined. These traits are mirrored by the other women around her, particularly in her idol and coach, Sheila, and her fiercest rival and closest friend, Bella. All three women display both resilience and dedication: Kat parts with her mother’s ring to finance her training at the academy, Bella invites Kat and Heath to train with her and Garrett when she realizes that their talent might eclipse hers one day, and Sheila won two consecutive Olympic gold medals despite having had her children in the years between. The commitment displayed by these women is contrasted against the men’s apparent lack—Garrett and Heath both display unhappiness at the sport’s pressures and relief when they are forced to step back from it.