If you’re looking for passion, fire, fervor, and more, Layne Fargo is the author for you. Her latest novel, The Favorites, was released at the beginning of this year and has garnered immense praise, with fellow authors claiming that the novel is intoxicating, captivating, and impossible to put down. It follows Kat and Heath, childhood sweethearts turned Olympic champions, who amassed attention from all over, until a shocking incident yanked them apart. Ten years later, the skaters are about to be front and center in the public eye again when an unauthorized documentary vows to uncover the truth about what happened to the pair almost 10 years ago. Kat realizes she has two choices: let someone else tell her story or finally, after a decade, share what tore her apart from the person she was closest to.
Other than The Favorites, Fargo is also the author behind They Never Learn, Temper, and more. Her novels are tellings of fierce feminism, thrilling escapades, and twists at every turn. Creating works of art like Fargo does takes effort and focus; in her interview with Third Coast Review, she walks us through her favorite spots in Chicago, where we can lock in and find the books we love. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring different spots all over Chicago, from her Rogers Park neighborhood to her favorite crab rangoon spot in Chinatown.
It's first thing in the morning: coffee or tea? And who does your favorite brew?
Black coffee, always—usually made at home by my partner, in our fancy machine that grinds the beans before brewing. For a treat, sometimes we’ll buy Metropolis beans instead of whatever’s on hand at Trader Joe’s.
For the most important meal of the day, AKA breakfast, where do you go and what do you order?
Smack Dab is one of the absolute best things about living in Rogers Park! Their breakfast sandwiches are epic (the Bestest Seller is called that for a reason), and I also like to add one of their delicious frozen Detroit-style pizzas to my order, so dinner’s taken care of too.
Are you a grab-and-go lunch eater or a slow sit-down type? What's your place and order?
I’m more of a grazer, grabbing little snacks throughout the day rather than sitting down for a meal at any point. Left to my own devices, I’d have girl dinner for every meal! When I’m writing away from home, I love a light coffee shop snack like a smoothie or avocado toast; Charmers Cafe in Rogers Park and Colectivo Coffee in Andersonville are my go-to spots. If I’m really struggling to concentrate, my ultimate coffee shop writing hack is to buy a big cookie and not let myself eat it until the day’s work is finished.
Afternoon pick me up? Snack? Caffeine or happy hour? Where is your favorite spot to jump-start the evening?
No caffeine after noon for me, or I’d never sleep. I do sometimes enjoy a late-afternoon sweet treat, though, like frozen custard from Lickity Split. My pit bull loves to tag along to the Western Avenue location, because it’s right by Red Door Animal Shelter, and he can say hi to the kitties hanging out in the window.
Dinner time: What place or meal brings your day to a close the right way?
R Public House is right around the corner from me, and they have a heavenly patio setup that’s perfect for summer nights. When the weather’s less ideal, they’re also a great place to pick up takeout mid-evening dog walk. My other favorite Chicago takeout spots are Pizzeria Aroma in Edgewater (I used to live around the corner, and even though I moved further north, I still order delivery regularly) and Lao Sze Chaun (best crab rangoon in the city, in my opinion!).
Layne Fargo lives in Rogers Park, a northern neighborhood of Chicago. Other than writing titillating, impassioned novels, she enjoys exploring the city she loves with her partner and their pets. For information on Layne Fargo not pertaining to her favorite Chicago meals, visit her website.
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