THE FAVORITES

Listeners don't need to be superfans of ice skating to be drawn into this audiobook. The world of pairs skating competition provides the setting for a story of young, elite athletes who are fighting for Olympic gold. Structured as oral history, the narrations are uniformly exceptional. Standouts include Christine Lakin as the complicated lead; her voice captures a mix of focused competitiveness and messy relationships. Amy Landon embodies the poised, media-savvy coach. Suzanne Toren, as the experienced skating judge, conveys steely reserve and authority. Graham Halstead, as a former skater, captures the tone of a professional with endless insights. Louisa Zhu anchors the program as the steadfast producer. And Johnny Weir, a real-life Olympian, provides a fittingly energetic performance as a gossip blogger. S.P.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]