Barely Famous – “The Favorite(s) With Layne Fargo”

Host: Kail Lowry
Guest: Layne Fargo (Author)
Release Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of Barely Famous, host Kail Lowry engages in a lively, candid, and insightful conversation with novelist Layne Fargo, best known for her novel The Favorite(s). Their discussion weaves through the creative process of writing problematic women, the allure of toxic characters, navigating the world of contemporary publishing, and the impact of unlikable female heroines on readers and culture. Layne delves into inspirations behind her work (including real-life figure skating drama and classic literature), reflects on her writing journey, and unpacks the complexities of female ambition and friendship. The episode is packed with vulnerable moments and witty banter, shining a spotlight on women who break the rulebook—both on the page and in life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Audiobook Experience and Crafting The Favorite(s)

• Full-Cast Audiobook & Innovative Storytelling

  • Kail praises the full-cast audiobook format, calling it “so well done,” and shares her obsession with Lane’s work. (00:33)
  • Layne reveals the structure was inspired by “trashy sports documentaries,” especially those on Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, and aimed to capture the dramatic, gossipy energy in a way reminiscent of Wuthering Heights’ secondary perspective narration. (01:58)
    • Notable quote:
      “My love of trashy sports documentaries...it’s such a fun format because you get to hear from all these different people, and it's a little irreverent and dramatic.” – Lane Fargo (01:58)
  • The setting spans from 2000 to 2014, intentionally before social media’s dominance, to showcase an era when celebrities couldn’t control their narratives, especially as women. (02:51–03:30)
    • “It was just a weird time to be famous, especially as a woman.” – Lane Fargo (02:51)

• Casting Johnny Weir

  • Layne championed figure skater Johnny Weir to voice Ellis Dean in the audiobook, initially thinking it was “a completely delusional idea.” He ended up accepting and did “such an incredible job.” (04:08–04:47)

2. Inspiration, Character Dynamics & Themes

• From “Failed Projects” to The Favorite(s)

  • The book emerged from two shelved stories (about ice dancers and a gothic romance), combined after a rereading of Wuthering Heights inspired a reimagining set within competitive skating. (01:05–01:23)

• Ambition, Jealousy, and Female Friendship

  • The frenemy dynamic between main characters Bella and Kat is rooted in Layne’s own experiences with other writers—highlighting how jealousy and admiration can coexist among ambitious women. (05:58–07:26)
    • “To be able to hold both of those things at the same time, where it's like, I love you, I'm happy for you, I want you to succeed. But I'm also so jealous of you right now.” – Lane Fargo (05:58)
  • Kail relates, describing how complex emotion plays out among her own peer group in reality TV. (06:53)

• Relatable Toxicity

  • The book’s characters embody traits that most women, and particularly creatives, experience but rarely see represented authentically.
    • “You don’t have to be a figure skater to relate to that.” – Kail Lowry (07:54)

3. Writing Process & Backstory

• On Rejection and Persistence

  • Layne shares the difficult path to publication: querying agents, “99+ rejections,” and learning through personalized feedback. She thanks the agent who told her earlier work felt inauthentic, as it pushed her to write more authentically. (12:53–14:05)

    • “It hurt so much because she was absolutely right...So I kind of took that to heart and tried to write things that were more authentic to me.” – Lane Fargo (13:03)

  • Fun anecdote: Lane made a sticker chart for every rejection, making the process “weirdly comforting.” (14:26)

• The Role of Theater & Women’s Studies
  • Her women's studies background inspires her anti-patriarchal themes; her theater experience helps craft distinctive voices—especially important for dialogue-driven sections. (15:48–16:39)
  • “It was more like writing a play.” (16:00)

4. Unlikable Female Characters & The Villainess

• Writing and Relating to ‘Unlikable’ Women

  • Layne loves to write "toxic" or "unlikable" women, unapologetic in their ambition and messiness.
    • “Absolutely. Yeah, it’s a theme in my books. It’s a theme in my life.” – Layne Fargo (24:30)
  • Layne also hosted a podcast on the topic:
    • “It’s basically impossible to write a female character that is universally beloved or even liked...You can’t win.” (25:14)
  • Embracing being disliked as both inevitable and freeing:
    • “The freedom comes in embracing it and just being realistic about, not everyone’s going to like me.” (26:12)

• Is There Always a Villain?

  • Lane resists clear-cut villains in The Favorite(s), preferring characters who are flawed but understandable. In her other books (Temper, They Never Learn), the “villain” is often the patriarchy. (35:18–36:17)
    • “I did not want to have a clear villain—I wanted everyone to...just, you know, sometimes make choices we might not agree with...” – Lane Fargo (35:51)

5. Industry Realities & Community

• Publishing Nerves & Support Systems

  • Layne admits to insomnia and panic attacks before her first book launch and discusses the importance of critique groups and “trusted group chats”—for sharing “thoughts that shouldn’t be on the Internet.” (17:55, 19:13)
    • “My big recommendation to all authors: have a trusted group chat.” – Lane Fargo (19:13)

• No Competition Among Women Writers

  • Rather than seeing similar books as competition, she urges mutual support:
    • “I try to think of other authors as colleagues, not competition.” (21:51)
  • The idea that readers often want more of what they like, not less:
    • “It’s not like they read one and they’re done…it’s a virtuous cycle.” (21:51)

6. Cultural Impact, Gender, & Authenticity

• Women’s Stories & Societal Expectations

  • The conversation turns to double standards for ambitious women, the costs of “likability,” and the power of being unapologetic.
    • “What does it actually cost to be the good girl that everyone likes?” – Kail Lowry (25:52)
  • On not apologizing for ambition or selfishness:
    • “Just being selfish in general. I think to be an artist, you have to be a little selfish.” – Lane Fargo (32:52)

• On Authenticity vs. Likability

  • Authenticity inevitably alienates some, but attracts the “right” people—fans or friends who really get you.
    • “It attracts the right people…and repels the people who...are not a good fit.” – Lane Fargo (31:48)

7. Real-Life Inspirations: Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, & Scandal

• Layne discusses the infamous figure skating “knee-bashing” scandal between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan as a major influence, explaining the details and cultural biases in their subsequent treatment. (38:30–42:03)
  • “That scandal in the 90's made skating so popular...more people watched it than the Super Bowl that year.” – Lane Fargo (42:47)

8. TV/Movie Adaptations and Cultural Trends

• The Favorite(s) was optioned for both TV and film adaptations (though nothing set yet). Layne is passionate about seeing her story brought to life on screen. (42:08–42:39)
• The general public’s appetite for “women breaking the rules”—because the rules are (typically) patriarchal and made to be broken. (43:40)
  • “I mean, like, rules were mostly made by...old white men.” – Lane Fargo (43:44)

9. BookTok, Reading Culture, and the Future

• BookTok’s power in reviving backlist titles and making reading trendy is celebrated. Layne credits BookTok for giving They Never Learn a sales bump years after release. (47:41–49:02)
  • “What I love about BookTok is it’s made reading cool…it’s almost like a lifestyle.” – Lane Fargo (48:08)
• Discussion of how reading as a family and community can shape values, empathy, and creativity, especially for boys. (49:34–50:29)

10. Rapid Fire: Revenge or Reasonable?

A playful segment where Kail presents scenarios à la “revenge or justice,” and Lane weighs in with her signature dark humor and moral compass. (51:28–53:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Inspiration:
  “I wanted that aspect of kind of a chorus of people talking about them, like, gossiping, essentially.” – Lane Fargo (01:58)
• On Ambition & Female Friendship:
  “There's gonna be jealousy, there's gonna be, like, negative feelings. And in order to stay friends, I think you have to be able to hold both of those things...” (05:58)
• On ‘Unlikable’ Women:
  “It’s basically impossible to write a female character that is universally beloved or even liked, because...you can’t win.” (25:14)
• On Approaching Reviews:
  “If someone’s like, I hated this book. The female main character was so unlikable...One star. Then, like, someone who wants to read a book like that is like, that book is for me, actually.” (44:53)
• On Not Apologizing:
  “Just being selfish in general. Like, I think to be an artist, you have to be a little selfish...So not apologizing for that at all has been a big thing.” (32:52)
• On the Villain Archetype:
  “In the favorites, I did not want to have a clear villain...” (35:51)
• On BookTok:
  “It’s been so cool to see on BookTok how readers have discovered these books…made them these huge hits.” (48:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Audiobook/Format Inspiration: 01:05–02:51
• Johnny Weir Voicing Ellis Dean: 04:08–04:47
• Timeline & Multiple Olympic Cycles: 05:17–05:53
• Female Friendship/Jealousy Dynamic: 05:58–07:54
• Rejection & Early Career: 12:53–14:44
• Influence of Theater/Women’s Studies: 15:48–16:39
• Unlikable Female Characters: 24:20–26:43
• Villainy & Ethics: 35:18–38:01
• Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan Scandal: 38:30–42:03
• Adaptation to TV/Movie: 42:08–42:39
• On BookTok’s Influence: 47:41–49:02
• Rapid Fire: Revenge or Reasonable: 51:28–53:59

Conclusion

This episode is a treasure trove for fans of true-to-life female characters, dark academia, and the messy realities of writing and being a woman with ambition. Layne Fargo and Kail Lowry pull back the curtain on the chaos of literary fame, the nuances of female rivalry and solidarity, and the joy in breaking society’s rules—whether on the ice, on the page, or in their own lives.

Find Layne Fargo's books at indie bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and more. Follow her at @lane.fargo on Instagram and visit LaneFargo.com for updates.