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Carrie Soto Is Back
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Best Historical Fiction (2022)Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.
By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the 'Battle-Axe' anyway. Even if her body doesn't move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.
In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback.
By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the 'Battle-Axe' anyway. Even if her body doesn't move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.
In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2022
About the author
Taylor Jenkins Reid
24 books181k followersTaylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as four other novels. She lives in Los Angeles. You can follow her on Instagram @tjenkinsreid.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65,297 reviews
September 22, 2023
➸ 4.25 stars
➷ TJR never fails to amaze me with her writing style, i always become immersed in the story. all her books have been easy reads for me, i love how she writes realistic, emotionally complex characters and the relationships - it’s what TJR does incredibly well in my opinion, she knows how to write unforgettable characters! i find it compelling how unlikable and realistically flawed her FMCs often are, but i support women’s rights and i support women’s wrongs!! carrie is a tough character and she goes after what she wants with no remorse—because of her upbringing carrie has an extreme case of athletic perfectionism and we get to see the upsides and downsides of her competitiveness, but you can’t help but root for her as the book progresses.
— there is a lot of commentary on how women are portrayed in the media and in sports. this was a great insight into how society treats women's successes, especially as they get older. i loved how TJR touched on the double standards when it comes to male vs female athletes - the power and prejudice of the media is strongly present in the book. the media coverage for carrie was quite sexist and derogatory, she is constantly called a “bitch” by male commentators for being confident and trash talking other players (she is a brutally honest person) but when you see male players do that they are always highly praised, it shows it’s only acceptable for men to do it but unforgivable for a woman.
➷ one of the highlights of this book is the close father/daughter relationship between carrie and javier. yes he did push her too hard to become the best tennis player and sent her the message that winning was important - this causes her to have a sheltered childhood/life bc her world only revolved around becoming the worlds greatest tennis player. javier was one of my fav characters and you can’t help but feel sympathy for him bc he was at the lowest points in his life after losing his wife and coaching was his escape after being left with unbearable heartache. even though he was tough on carrie, he loved her with everything he had. he had good intentions and he only wanted what was best for her while also wanting to see her full potential bc he knows she had it in her. the trust, respect and close bond they have between each other was really admirable and heartwarming, it brought me back to when i was younger and my dad and i would always watch the Australian Open, he would take me out to play fun practice matches and taught me so many things about the game,, and to this day we still have that close bond - so it was really easy for me to connect to this book.
➳ carrie soto was the number one tennis player in her prime with the most grand slam wins - that is, until nicki chan ties it right in front of carrie's eyes, creating a spark in her. in a surprise decision she decides to come out of retirement to protect her title and reclaim her legacy. carrie was a realistic character and oftentimes unlikable, yet i still found her compelling. she was unapologetically herself, fierce, competitive, abrasive and does not take any shit from anyone and proudly owns the “bitch” title that was given to her. she knows she is talented and doesn’t need others to tell her, nor does she care whose feelings she hurts climbing to the top. we can see that she is a good person but she is closed off emotionally from others and has a hard time losing! i loved watching her character grow and become compassionate and understanding of others and that it’s okay to open up your heart and be vulnerable. i wish we got to see more of her relationship with bowe and friendship with nicki.
➷ taylor jenkins reid is an absolute genius at writing stories that feels like real life and makes you forget that you’re reading fiction!! just like DJATS you feel like these characters are real people — i love how she creates a beautiful world with unique characters who have depth and i loved how the characters from her other books where subtly incorporated into the story. this was a real page turner, i laughed, i cried and it had me on the edge of my seat, the suspense was thrilling bc you’re constantly wondering is she going to win??.
— this was a light, easy and engaging read but also pretty predictable. this story highlights the importance of never giving up and female ambition in a male-dominated sphere. i love the compelling characters and strong development. i was impressed with TJR’s knowledge of tennis and the ability to capture the excitement of watching a game.
“we live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men”
➷ TJR never fails to amaze me with her writing style, i always become immersed in the story. all her books have been easy reads for me, i love how she writes realistic, emotionally complex characters and the relationships - it’s what TJR does incredibly well in my opinion, she knows how to write unforgettable characters! i find it compelling how unlikable and realistically flawed her FMCs often are, but i support women’s rights and i support women’s wrongs!! carrie is a tough character and she goes after what she wants with no remorse—because of her upbringing carrie has an extreme case of athletic perfectionism and we get to see the upsides and downsides of her competitiveness, but you can’t help but root for her as the book progresses.
— there is a lot of commentary on how women are portrayed in the media and in sports. this was a great insight into how society treats women's successes, especially as they get older. i loved how TJR touched on the double standards when it comes to male vs female athletes - the power and prejudice of the media is strongly present in the book. the media coverage for carrie was quite sexist and derogatory, she is constantly called a “bitch” by male commentators for being confident and trash talking other players (she is a brutally honest person) but when you see male players do that they are always highly praised, it shows it’s only acceptable for men to do it but unforgivable for a woman.
➷ one of the highlights of this book is the close father/daughter relationship between carrie and javier. yes he did push her too hard to become the best tennis player and sent her the message that winning was important - this causes her to have a sheltered childhood/life bc her world only revolved around becoming the worlds greatest tennis player. javier was one of my fav characters and you can’t help but feel sympathy for him bc he was at the lowest points in his life after losing his wife and coaching was his escape after being left with unbearable heartache. even though he was tough on carrie, he loved her with everything he had. he had good intentions and he only wanted what was best for her while also wanting to see her full potential bc he knows she had it in her. the trust, respect and close bond they have between each other was really admirable and heartwarming, it brought me back to when i was younger and my dad and i would always watch the Australian Open, he would take me out to play fun practice matches and taught me so many things about the game,, and to this day we still have that close bond - so it was really easy for me to connect to this book.
”my heart hurts when
you hurt because you are my heart.”
➳ carrie soto was the number one tennis player in her prime with the most grand slam wins - that is, until nicki chan ties it right in front of carrie's eyes, creating a spark in her. in a surprise decision she decides to come out of retirement to protect her title and reclaim her legacy. carrie was a realistic character and oftentimes unlikable, yet i still found her compelling. she was unapologetically herself, fierce, competitive, abrasive and does not take any shit from anyone and proudly owns the “bitch” title that was given to her. she knows she is talented and doesn’t need others to tell her, nor does she care whose feelings she hurts climbing to the top. we can see that she is a good person but she is closed off emotionally from others and has a hard time losing! i loved watching her character grow and become compassionate and understanding of others and that it’s okay to open up your heart and be vulnerable. i wish we got to see more of her relationship with bowe and friendship with nicki.
”one of the great injustices of this rigged world we live in is that women are considered to be depleting with age and men are somehow deepening."
➷ taylor jenkins reid is an absolute genius at writing stories that feels like real life and makes you forget that you’re reading fiction!! just like DJATS you feel like these characters are real people — i love how she creates a beautiful world with unique characters who have depth and i loved how the characters from her other books where subtly incorporated into the story. this was a real page turner, i laughed, i cried and it had me on the edge of my seat, the suspense was thrilling bc you’re constantly wondering is she going to win??.
— this was a light, easy and engaging read but also pretty predictable. this story highlights the importance of never giving up and female ambition in a male-dominated sphere. i love the compelling characters and strong development. i was impressed with TJR’s knowledge of tennis and the ability to capture the excitement of watching a game.
January 18, 2024
TJR is the creator of epic, unforgettable heroines and the queen of fascinating historical fiction, helping us time travel and experience the vivid images, daily lives, and true cultures of different time zones where we want to spend more time and never return back to reality!
“Carrie Soto is back”: might be one of her most exciting, engaging, adrenaline-pumping, entertaining, heart-throbbing novels she’s ever written!
TJR’s heroines are flawed, but brave enough to rise from the ashes, learning from their mistakes by taking risks and challenges. Sometimes you really hate them or resent them, but they always find a smart and unique way to get under your skin and charm you with their power, endurance, resilience, and bravery.
Just like Carrie Soto did in this book, and just like Daisy Jones, Evelyn Hugo, and Nina Riva had done to us! Both of these amazing heroines changed our worlds! We chanted for them! We screamed at them! We wished for their happiness, and we witnessed their self-growth and their search for the meaning of life!
Now let’s focus on who Carrie Soto is!
Carrie Soto is a total bitch! She’s born to be a tennis star! Her eyes are always on the ball! The only thing she wants is to be the best, the one, becoming invincible, crushing her opponents, at the expense of winning more enemies and people’s hate! She’s crude! She’s a husband-stealer! But under that ice queen facade, she’s lonely, she’s sensitive, she’s insecure. She secretly thinks people will abandon her as soon as they notice that sensitive part of her, just like the men she’s had one-night stands with and never heard back.
Her father Javi was a great tennis player called “Jaguar” who immigrated to the USA from Argentina, finding the love of his life. Since she was a little girl, Carrie keeps visiting her father at the tennis courts where he coaches people for tournaments until she becomes one of his most important students, to be trained to be a beast who destroys her opponents!
Carrie becomes callous, relentless, an ice queen, a battle-axe, focusing on winning. She even fires her own father to become the winner, working with another coach who helps her dreams come true!
And in 1994, she’s 37, she’s single, her only friends and confidantes are her father Javi and her agent Gwen. Her records are about to be taken away by a brutal, competitive, 31-year-old brilliant tennis player Nicki Chan. Carrie cannot let that happen! Without being the best tennis player, who can she be? Nobody! She doesn’t have any love interest, and any aim in life makes her excited. She has to return back! She has to get back what belongs to her! She has to be the best of the best again!
This means she has to train more and work with the man she had a past with. The man’s name is Bowe Huntley, who is a struggling tennis player working so hard to get in shape after being sober, getting through divorce, and lots of game losses.
Carrie has no intention of becoming friends with him. They tend to act civil and do their jobs for becoming the best!
But at the age of 37, Carrie realizes her life, her goals can change. She slowly learns to open her heart to people by looking at a different perspective. Maybe becoming the best is subjective. Maybe she never exceeds her own expectations.
I loved most of the characters! Javi is my star, and I’m taking a bow for sweetheart Bowe, who was caring, patient, and so lovable.
I enjoyed the crossovers from "Daisy Jones and the Six" as Carrie reads the biography and dates Nina’s husband from "Malibu Raising."
If you don’t like tennis, this book will make you a big fan by explaining the basic rules smartly. Each chapter keeps you on your toes, and you feel like you've been transported to the tennis matches, sitting on the benches to watch the games live with your heart in your throat! The narration couldn't be more exciting! You jump up and down, scream, cross your fingers, and wish so hard to see Carrie win!
Overall, I love sports and anything TJR writes. Of course, I'm giving this book 5 shiny stars! I devoured it and truly enjoyed it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy of one of the most anticipated books of 2022 in exchange for my honest opinions.
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“Carrie Soto is back”: might be one of her most exciting, engaging, adrenaline-pumping, entertaining, heart-throbbing novels she’s ever written!
TJR’s heroines are flawed, but brave enough to rise from the ashes, learning from their mistakes by taking risks and challenges. Sometimes you really hate them or resent them, but they always find a smart and unique way to get under your skin and charm you with their power, endurance, resilience, and bravery.
Just like Carrie Soto did in this book, and just like Daisy Jones, Evelyn Hugo, and Nina Riva had done to us! Both of these amazing heroines changed our worlds! We chanted for them! We screamed at them! We wished for their happiness, and we witnessed their self-growth and their search for the meaning of life!
Now let’s focus on who Carrie Soto is!
Carrie Soto is a total bitch! She’s born to be a tennis star! Her eyes are always on the ball! The only thing she wants is to be the best, the one, becoming invincible, crushing her opponents, at the expense of winning more enemies and people’s hate! She’s crude! She’s a husband-stealer! But under that ice queen facade, she’s lonely, she’s sensitive, she’s insecure. She secretly thinks people will abandon her as soon as they notice that sensitive part of her, just like the men she’s had one-night stands with and never heard back.
Her father Javi was a great tennis player called “Jaguar” who immigrated to the USA from Argentina, finding the love of his life. Since she was a little girl, Carrie keeps visiting her father at the tennis courts where he coaches people for tournaments until she becomes one of his most important students, to be trained to be a beast who destroys her opponents!
Carrie becomes callous, relentless, an ice queen, a battle-axe, focusing on winning. She even fires her own father to become the winner, working with another coach who helps her dreams come true!
And in 1994, she’s 37, she’s single, her only friends and confidantes are her father Javi and her agent Gwen. Her records are about to be taken away by a brutal, competitive, 31-year-old brilliant tennis player Nicki Chan. Carrie cannot let that happen! Without being the best tennis player, who can she be? Nobody! She doesn’t have any love interest, and any aim in life makes her excited. She has to return back! She has to get back what belongs to her! She has to be the best of the best again!
This means she has to train more and work with the man she had a past with. The man’s name is Bowe Huntley, who is a struggling tennis player working so hard to get in shape after being sober, getting through divorce, and lots of game losses.
Carrie has no intention of becoming friends with him. They tend to act civil and do their jobs for becoming the best!
But at the age of 37, Carrie realizes her life, her goals can change. She slowly learns to open her heart to people by looking at a different perspective. Maybe becoming the best is subjective. Maybe she never exceeds her own expectations.
I loved most of the characters! Javi is my star, and I’m taking a bow for sweetheart Bowe, who was caring, patient, and so lovable.
I enjoyed the crossovers from "Daisy Jones and the Six" as Carrie reads the biography and dates Nina’s husband from "Malibu Raising."
If you don’t like tennis, this book will make you a big fan by explaining the basic rules smartly. Each chapter keeps you on your toes, and you feel like you've been transported to the tennis matches, sitting on the benches to watch the games live with your heart in your throat! The narration couldn't be more exciting! You jump up and down, scream, cross your fingers, and wish so hard to see Carrie win!
Overall, I love sports and anything TJR writes. Of course, I'm giving this book 5 shiny stars! I devoured it and truly enjoyed it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy of one of the most anticipated books of 2022 in exchange for my honest opinions.
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February 3, 2024
It sends a tiny thrill through me . . . staring up at a mountain I have yet to scale, each match a step toward the top. It has been so long since I have felt the perfect ache of climbing.
I'm always drawn towards stories about overcoming adversity at great odds and achieving the impossible through sheer determination and hard work. So is it any surprise that this story totally grabbed ahold of me and refused to let go?
Carrie Soto, the greatest player in tennis history, knows the joy and sacrifice of victory. Trained by her father since she was a toddler, she holds the record for the most Grand Slams to her name. But that achievement has come at great personal cost. When a new crop of upstarters threatens her legacy, she is left with no choice. Now she is coming out of retirement to defend her record, working with her father one last time to show herself and the world what she is capable of.
What an absolutely captivating story this was. From the very first page, I was mesmerized both by the well-drawn characters as well as the compelling narrative. Yes, this is fiction, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Instead, it feels like a piece of real tennis history brought to life, and we the readers are there to witness it in all of its glory and heartache.
One aspect of this story that surprised me is that the character of Carrie Soto isn't altogether likable. She's brash, confident to the point of arrogance, and often rude to all who stands in her way. She isn't always in it for the love of the game; rather, she wants to win at all cost, even if the price is her own happiness. But it really speaks to Reid's strong storytelling abilities that such a character doesn't take anything away from my enjoyment of the book. In fact, Carrie's flaws make her portrayal and her eventual personal growth that much more compelling.
There is a lot of tennis in this book. And I absolutely lapped it up. Even as someone who doesn't play the game (though I do occasionally watch a match on tv), I found all the tennis jargon in here easy to follow. In fact, reading it reminds me of how riveting this game can be, and I was impressed with Reid's ability to capture not just the grueling physical aspects but also its mental facets as well.
But this book isn't just about competing and winning. In true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, it's bursting with heart and soul. It shines a stark spotlight on what it means to be human, to want to strive to be the best you can be, and to achieve whatever you set your heart to. It reminds us that hard work matters, and that age ain't nothing but a number. But it also shows that it's okay to fail, that letting go is sometimes the right thing to do, and that greatness isn't always measured by what everyone else says.
Carrie's father compares her to Achilles, and that feels particularly apt. Achilles craved glory and greatness, and he worked hard towards it his whole life. He finally achieves all that he dreams of during the Trojan War, but it comes at a steep price. And so Carrie does too. She is a warrior of the highest caliber, training every moment of her life, for that one moment of glory so that she will go down in history.
What a story! It's exciting and uplifting and inspirational, but it never loses sight of its heart. In fact, that is a hallmark of Taylor Jenkins Reid's recent books. And it shows that she is still a master of her craft, taking us on literary journeys so intimate and exhilarating, we can't help but feel they're real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Daisy Jones & The Six
Malibu Rising
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
August 22, 2022
In my opinion, Taylor Jenkins Reid is back!!
I know for a lot of people she never left, but after really loving a couple of her earlier books, I have been disappointed by Daisy Jones & The Six and Malibu Rising. The format in the former didn't work for me (I very much like to be immersed in a story) and I don't know what was going on in the latter but it didn't hold my attention.
This was Evelyn Hugo-level riveting for me. I couldn't put it down.
Reid pulled me right inside the mind of Carrie Soto and right into each heart-pounding game of tennis. I am not a sports person, don't watch sports, but I was for the duration of this novel. The gruelling training, the ferocious competition, Carrie's need to be the best and her fear that she might not be. The story of a young girl who sees other children building sandcastles and thinks:
Carrie is not a likable sports personality, which, of course, made me like her even more. She doesn't play to fans, her mouth often runs away from her, and she's a sore loser. She can't help it. Raised by single father Javier, she has lived and breathed tennis her whole life. It is who she is and the thought that she might not be the best... well, it's unthinkable. When a younger player matches her all-time slam record, thirty-seven year old Carrie plans a comeback. At her age, it's not easy. Can it even be done?
As well as being a fabulously gripping story of ambition verging on obsession, it is also about being a woman in sports-- the sexism, the double standards, the focus on her likability (or in Carrie's case, lack of), the trivializing of her achievements by male tennis players. It's also a lovely story of the relationship between a woman and a father who is also her coach, cheerleader and number one fan.
At its heart, the book's message is a simple old one. One that could have been cheesy in the wrong hands, but Reid pummels our heart enough along the way that the message comes as a relief. It's this: everything is temporary and all good things come to an end. You can try to cling to it as long as possible, sucking every bit of life and enjoyment out of it, or you can love and appreciate every second while it is happening and, in the end, let it go.
I know for a lot of people she never left, but after really loving a couple of her earlier books, I have been disappointed by Daisy Jones & The Six and Malibu Rising. The format in the former didn't work for me (I very much like to be immersed in a story) and I don't know what was going on in the latter but it didn't hold my attention.
This was Evelyn Hugo-level riveting for me. I couldn't put it down.
Reid pulled me right inside the mind of Carrie Soto and right into each heart-pounding game of tennis. I am not a sports person, don't watch sports, but I was for the duration of this novel. The gruelling training, the ferocious competition, Carrie's need to be the best and her fear that she might not be. The story of a young girl who sees other children building sandcastles and thinks:
I wondered why anyone would want to build anything out of sand, when tomorrow it will be gone, and you'd have nothing to show for your day.
Carrie is not a likable sports personality, which, of course, made me like her even more. She doesn't play to fans, her mouth often runs away from her, and she's a sore loser. She can't help it. Raised by single father Javier, she has lived and breathed tennis her whole life. It is who she is and the thought that she might not be the best... well, it's unthinkable. When a younger player matches her all-time slam record, thirty-seven year old Carrie plans a comeback. At her age, it's not easy. Can it even be done?
The bulk of the commentators... They wanted a woman whose eyes would tear up with gratitude, as if she owed them her victory, as if she owed them everything she had.
As well as being a fabulously gripping story of ambition verging on obsession, it is also about being a woman in sports-- the sexism, the double standards, the focus on her likability (or in Carrie's case, lack of), the trivializing of her achievements by male tennis players. It's also a lovely story of the relationship between a woman and a father who is also her coach, cheerleader and number one fan.
At its heart, the book's message is a simple old one. One that could have been cheesy in the wrong hands, but Reid pummels our heart enough along the way that the message comes as a relief. It's this: everything is temporary and all good things come to an end. You can try to cling to it as long as possible, sucking every bit of life and enjoyment out of it, or you can love and appreciate every second while it is happening and, in the end, let it go.
May 23, 2022
*DNF @ 32%* I absolutely adore TJR, and I have and will read everything she writes. But this...I just can't finish. It's very well-written, as per the usual of this author, but there were a few things that just didn't work for me.
Carrie's father repeatedly speaks Spanish at length. TJR makes no attempt to offer any translation or explain what was said. Readers who aren't fluent will be left clueless. Did I miss something important? Did TJR insert a hidden gem? I'll never know!
Also, this book is about TENNIS. Not tennis, but all CAPS. TENNIS. As in, the entire book to the point I threw in the towel, is about TENNIS. There is no drama. No mystery. No plot. There is just the history of a TENNIS career. So, unless you really LOVE TENNIS, you're going to get really bored, really fast.
That sounds really harsh, I know, but c'est la vie! Maybe I'll try to finish this again in the future one day when I'm in a different mood, but until then, just no.
Carrie's father repeatedly speaks Spanish at length. TJR makes no attempt to offer any translation or explain what was said. Readers who aren't fluent will be left clueless. Did I miss something important? Did TJR insert a hidden gem? I'll never know!
Also, this book is about TENNIS. Not tennis, but all CAPS. TENNIS. As in, the entire book to the point I threw in the towel, is about TENNIS. There is no drama. No mystery. No plot. There is just the history of a TENNIS career. So, unless you really LOVE TENNIS, you're going to get really bored, really fast.
That sounds really harsh, I know, but c'est la vie! Maybe I'll try to finish this again in the future one day when I'm in a different mood, but until then, just no.
September 27, 2022
thanks, TJR. this made me cry ugly tears on a public bus.
and about tennis! i shouldnt be crying about tennis. i hate sports! lol.
but i absolutely love with every fibre of my being a good story about a daughter and her relationship with her father. the heart of this story is javier soto and his unconditional love and support for carrie, both on and off the court. that is what made me cry.
i wish i wasnt living halfway across the world from my own dad so i could hug him right now. 💕
↠ 4.5 stars
and about tennis! i shouldnt be crying about tennis. i hate sports! lol.
but i absolutely love with every fibre of my being a good story about a daughter and her relationship with her father. the heart of this story is javier soto and his unconditional love and support for carrie, both on and off the court. that is what made me cry.
i wish i wasnt living halfway across the world from my own dad so i could hug him right now. 💕
↠ 4.5 stars
July 26, 2023
only taylor jenkins reid could trick me into reading a sports book.
let alone actually...enjoying it?
sure, it was predictable and kind of dragged, but it was not not fun. and considering the immediate comparison (cough cough, malibu rising, cough)...i will take not not fun.
even if the very end is corny city.
bottom line: taylor jenkins reid is back!
3.5
let alone actually...enjoying it?
sure, it was predictable and kind of dragged, but it was not not fun. and considering the immediate comparison (cough cough, malibu rising, cough)...i will take not not fun.
even if the very end is corny city.
bottom line: taylor jenkins reid is back!
3.5
Want to read
February 12, 2022If Mick Riva makes an appearance in this book istg it’ll be my 13th reason. this man is EVERYWHERE😭
Want to read
February 16, 2022I NEED THIS NOVEL NOW
like after seeing carrie soto in malibu rising i’m so ready for this skdkskkd
like after seeing carrie soto in malibu rising i’m so ready for this skdkskkd
January 9, 2023
4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
September 16, 2022
I refuse to believe that Carrie Soto isn't real.
my spotify playlist
This was my most expected book of the year. And it did not let me down.
I don't know exactly how TJR had me glued to my book, feeling anxious for some matches that weren't real, played by tennists that are not real, but it feels like they are. I don't understand shit of tennis, to be honest, and one of my friends taught me a lot about it, so I was watching all of the videos that he was sending me, lmao.
I can't put into words how great this book is. I'm speechless.
Carrie is competitive, fierce, strong, brave and the best tennis player. And she knows it. She knows her potential, so she works hard to win. Because she loves to win.
TJR's writing style is wonderful as always. She knows how to grab your attention and keep your eyes glued to her books. Her writing styles is so addictive and fast paced. You don't even feel the time flying!
I loved Carrie. She's stubborn as hell, selfish, grumpy at times, but brilliant. She knows how to play, how to make strategies, how to attack, how to deffend herself and when to do it. And after all, she's human.
Amé que hablaran usando el "vos" y no el "tú", lo cual me hizo sentir identificada porque en mi país nos voseamos en vez de tutear, y aaaah, se sintió como un respiro. We stan.
I liked Carrie and Javi's relationship. They were a great duo, despite everything. He was the real strategist and had a really good eye and mind for tennis.
Bowe was really sweet and idiot at the same time.
Carrie finally understood that it's okay to lose and to find someone who's actually better than her at tennis, and not to hate her for it, but instead, see the beauty in Niki's style.
I was very emotional towards the end, sobbing so bad because of Javier, but rooting all the way for Carrie and Niki, and also for Bowe.
I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN VERY WELL HOW THIS BOOK MADE ME FEEL. I'M STILL PROCESSING!
my spotify playlist
This was my most expected book of the year. And it did not let me down.
I don't know exactly how TJR had me glued to my book, feeling anxious for some matches that weren't real, played by tennists that are not real, but it feels like they are. I don't understand shit of tennis, to be honest, and one of my friends taught me a lot about it, so I was watching all of the videos that he was sending me, lmao.
I can't put into words how great this book is. I'm speechless.
Carrie is competitive, fierce, strong, brave and the best tennis player. And she knows it. She knows her potential, so she works hard to win. Because she loves to win.
TJR's writing style is wonderful as always. She knows how to grab your attention and keep your eyes glued to her books. Her writing styles is so addictive and fast paced. You don't even feel the time flying!
I loved Carrie. She's stubborn as hell, selfish, grumpy at times, but brilliant. She knows how to play, how to make strategies, how to attack, how to deffend herself and when to do it. And after all, she's human.
Amé que hablaran usando el "vos" y no el "tú", lo cual me hizo sentir identificada porque en mi país nos voseamos en vez de tutear, y aaaah, se sintió como un respiro. We stan.
I liked Carrie and Javi's relationship. They were a great duo, despite everything. He was the real strategist and had a really good eye and mind for tennis.
Bowe was really sweet and idiot at the same time.
Carrie finally understood that it's okay to lose and to find someone who's actually better than her at tennis, and not to hate her for it, but instead, see the beauty in Niki's style.
I was very emotional towards the end, sobbing so bad because of Javier, but rooting all the way for Carrie and Niki, and also for Bowe.
I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN VERY WELL HOW THIS BOOK MADE ME FEEL. I'M STILL PROCESSING!
September 9, 2023
A Grand Slam
Carrie Soto is a tennis legend, claiming 20 Grand Slam titles. For years, her father, Javier, has been her coach. Now, it is 1994, and Carrie is retired. During the US Open, Carrie watches as Nicki Chan matches her record. Carrie wants to come out of retirement to reclaim her record. Will Carrie be able to affirm her place in tennis history?
First of all, let’s talk about how TJR, Taylor Jenkins Reid, is such a great author. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising, and Daisy Jones and The Six, all great books. Carrie Soto is Back is also very readable with short sentences and paragraphs. The pages were flying by, and I found the book easy to read.
Second, there is some depth to this book as we sort through Carrie’s relationships and feelings. Carrie unapologetically talks about how she is the greatest tennis player of all time and how much she works for her success. And people don’t like her outspokenness.
It really reminded me of a YouTube video that I watched recently. The commentator said that back in the 90’s, when women were asked about their success, they would often times blush, giggle, and say how they were lucky. Only until recently have more women been able to say, “I got to where I am because of hard work.”
I have also fallen into this trap before, thinking a person was successful because they were lucky. On International Women’s Day, my employer hired a wildly successful TV anchor to give us a pep talk. Like many people, I thought, “She’s just lucky.”
However, the TV anchor passed her resume around, by hand, to hundreds of potential employers. Finally, one station allowed her to cover the traffic report. She spent her week driving around and covering potholes and traffic accidents. On night and weekends, she would wait at the station, ready to fill in for one of the TV anchors if there was a last-minute cancellation. It took her years to finally obtain her position. Luck had nothing to do with her success.
And I hope that Carrie Soto is Back inspires more of these conversations.
Third, Carrie Soto is Back definitely surprised me, and these surprises made the book stronger.
Overall, if you are looking for a captivating, engaging, easy-to-read book, pick up Carrie Soto is Back!
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
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Carrie Soto is a tennis legend, claiming 20 Grand Slam titles. For years, her father, Javier, has been her coach. Now, it is 1994, and Carrie is retired. During the US Open, Carrie watches as Nicki Chan matches her record. Carrie wants to come out of retirement to reclaim her record. Will Carrie be able to affirm her place in tennis history?
First of all, let’s talk about how TJR, Taylor Jenkins Reid, is such a great author. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising, and Daisy Jones and The Six, all great books. Carrie Soto is Back is also very readable with short sentences and paragraphs. The pages were flying by, and I found the book easy to read.
Second, there is some depth to this book as we sort through Carrie’s relationships and feelings. Carrie unapologetically talks about how she is the greatest tennis player of all time and how much she works for her success. And people don’t like her outspokenness.
It really reminded me of a YouTube video that I watched recently. The commentator said that back in the 90’s, when women were asked about their success, they would often times blush, giggle, and say how they were lucky. Only until recently have more women been able to say, “I got to where I am because of hard work.”
I have also fallen into this trap before, thinking a person was successful because they were lucky. On International Women’s Day, my employer hired a wildly successful TV anchor to give us a pep talk. Like many people, I thought, “She’s just lucky.”
However, the TV anchor passed her resume around, by hand, to hundreds of potential employers. Finally, one station allowed her to cover the traffic report. She spent her week driving around and covering potholes and traffic accidents. On night and weekends, she would wait at the station, ready to fill in for one of the TV anchors if there was a last-minute cancellation. It took her years to finally obtain her position. Luck had nothing to do with her success.
And I hope that Carrie Soto is Back inspires more of these conversations.
Third, Carrie Soto is Back definitely surprised me, and these surprises made the book stronger.
Overall, if you are looking for a captivating, engaging, easy-to-read book, pick up Carrie Soto is Back!
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
Connect With Me!
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March 19, 2023
4,5 estrellas. Hasta ahora, mi mejor lectura del año.
Read
January 2, 2023TJR excels at writing fictional characters that feel so realistic it's almost jarring. All of her books are a masterclass in characterization and it was exactly that with Carrie Soto. I know nothing about tennis at all but this book had me SO invested in it. Carrie was a fascinating character and I felt like this book had a more satisfying ending than other TJR books I've read. I found there was a moment in the middle where I thought the story was dragging a bit and I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but it quickly picked up and took a turn. Also the audiobook, as per usual for TJR, was fantastic with a full cast and parts that sounded like an actual sports broadcast which was SO cool!!
December 19, 2022
i could literally SOB because this book is over 😭😭🥹🥹🥹
most of you know DAISY JONES & THE SIX is my favorite TJR and let me just say… Daisy walked so Carrie could RUN 🙌🏼🤌🏼 so if Daisy is your favorite like me, you will be thrilled.
but, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK is very different and all about tennis/sports. has great elements (a slow building love story, an amazing father/daughter relationship, coming of age, personal growth, themes/struggles women face, etc.). you’ll need to align your expectations accordingly. i’m a huge tennis fan, so that combined with a powerful, unapologetic female MC was *chefs kiss*
🎾 it’s my second fave TJR book 🙌🏼
🎾 the crossovers in this one were top notch—the Rivas and even Daisy herself 🥹
🎾 this would be fab on audio
🎾 the newspaper clippings of men talking about women athletes were so spot 😡
🎾 Bowe 🥹💛
🎾 the romance was so tender and slow burning and pure
🎾 the dad/daughter relationship was everything 😭
🎾 the last ~60 pages is tried & true TJR writing. i highlighted so many sentences + paragraphs to save for later
🎾 reading about middle aged women still getting after it and reinventing themselves is so much fun. i love how TJR challenges some taboo topics
i teared up when it was over 🥹 THANK YOU Ballantine for the gifted ARC!
this releases in August 💛 and NO it’s not a sequel and you don’t have to read MALIBU RISING first (but since it’s a crossover, you’d appreciate it more!)
most of you know DAISY JONES & THE SIX is my favorite TJR and let me just say… Daisy walked so Carrie could RUN 🙌🏼🤌🏼 so if Daisy is your favorite like me, you will be thrilled.
but, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK is very different and all about tennis/sports. has great elements (a slow building love story, an amazing father/daughter relationship, coming of age, personal growth, themes/struggles women face, etc.). you’ll need to align your expectations accordingly. i’m a huge tennis fan, so that combined with a powerful, unapologetic female MC was *chefs kiss*
🎾 it’s my second fave TJR book 🙌🏼
🎾 the crossovers in this one were top notch—the Rivas and even Daisy herself 🥹
🎾 this would be fab on audio
🎾 the newspaper clippings of men talking about women athletes were so spot 😡
🎾 Bowe 🥹💛
🎾 the romance was so tender and slow burning and pure
🎾 the dad/daughter relationship was everything 😭
🎾 the last ~60 pages is tried & true TJR writing. i highlighted so many sentences + paragraphs to save for later
🎾 reading about middle aged women still getting after it and reinventing themselves is so much fun. i love how TJR challenges some taboo topics
i teared up when it was over 🥹 THANK YOU Ballantine for the gifted ARC!
this releases in August 💛 and NO it’s not a sequel and you don’t have to read MALIBU RISING first (but since it’s a crossover, you’d appreciate it more!)
July 20, 2022
"Most assholes don’t have comebacks.”
4.5 stars
Carrie Soto Is Back is a novel about family, love, tennis, and the price of fame.
The novel opens in 1994 when former tennis star Carrie Soto witnesses seeing her record o 20 Grand Slam titles shattered. She comes out of retirement at age 37 and makes an arduous journey back to the court to prove that she is the best female tennis player in the world. Going back to her childhood, the reader also learns how she became known as the Battle Axe, a.k.a., The Bitch.
As much as this novel is about tennis, it is also about Carrie’s relationship with her father, Javier. Their dynamic is the heart and soul of this novel.
Carrie Soto Is Back is, in a way, a character study. The reader sees Carrie transform into a star but also lose her fame. Very slowly, her tough veneer slips away, and it is apparent that Carrie is much more vulnerable than she seems. She is not the most likable character, but TJR made me love Carrie.
The novel moves a little slowly in the beginning and covers a lot of tennis, but the slow pacing picks up as Carrie’s career takes off.
This was my first book by TJR, and I didn’t know what to expect going in. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, nor did I expect to cry as much as I did. This book hit me emotionally, and I came to love Carrie, Javier, Bowe, and Gwen. I already miss them.
I finally get the hype about TJR!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Carrie Soto Is Back is a novel about family, love, tennis, and the price of fame.
The novel opens in 1994 when former tennis star Carrie Soto witnesses seeing her record o 20 Grand Slam titles shattered. She comes out of retirement at age 37 and makes an arduous journey back to the court to prove that she is the best female tennis player in the world. Going back to her childhood, the reader also learns how she became known as the Battle Axe, a.k.a., The Bitch.
As much as this novel is about tennis, it is also about Carrie’s relationship with her father, Javier. Their dynamic is the heart and soul of this novel.
Carrie Soto Is Back is, in a way, a character study. The reader sees Carrie transform into a star but also lose her fame. Very slowly, her tough veneer slips away, and it is apparent that Carrie is much more vulnerable than she seems. She is not the most likable character, but TJR made me love Carrie.
The novel moves a little slowly in the beginning and covers a lot of tennis, but the slow pacing picks up as Carrie’s career takes off.
This was my first book by TJR, and I didn’t know what to expect going in. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, nor did I expect to cry as much as I did. This book hit me emotionally, and I came to love Carrie, Javier, Bowe, and Gwen. I already miss them.
I finally get the hype about TJR!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2022
I think this is my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid book so far, my love for her writing just grows with every single novel that I read.
Carrie Soto is back follows the legendary tennis player, Carrie, as she returns to the tennis world in an attempt to save her record. But, after being retired for years has she got what it takes to make the come back she is aiming for?
What a book this was! TJR manages to create such incredible and strong female leads in her books. I fall in love with the personal and unique power that every single one of them has. Carrie has a determination and motivation that I found incredibly inspiring. I loved the message of trying your best, having fun whilst doing it and excepting that it may not turn out like you hoped, but that is fine.
The tennis scenes in this sent me right back to my teen years when I used to play. Although you don’t need any knowledge of tennis to be able to follow what is happening. My only criticism was that the book frequently moved to Spanish without any translation. Luckily, I was reading on my kindle so I could translate it easily but this would be tricky with a physical book. Overall, this was a book that I did not want to put down, but it had a beautiful simplicity to it as well. At one point, I became incredibly emotional and actually couldn’t read on, it hit a raw spot for me but was handled so well.
I recommend this book to any fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or those who love a strong female lead in their books! I want to thank Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Taylor Jenkins Reid for sending me a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.
Carrie Soto is back follows the legendary tennis player, Carrie, as she returns to the tennis world in an attempt to save her record. But, after being retired for years has she got what it takes to make the come back she is aiming for?
What a book this was! TJR manages to create such incredible and strong female leads in her books. I fall in love with the personal and unique power that every single one of them has. Carrie has a determination and motivation that I found incredibly inspiring. I loved the message of trying your best, having fun whilst doing it and excepting that it may not turn out like you hoped, but that is fine.
The tennis scenes in this sent me right back to my teen years when I used to play. Although you don’t need any knowledge of tennis to be able to follow what is happening. My only criticism was that the book frequently moved to Spanish without any translation. Luckily, I was reading on my kindle so I could translate it easily but this would be tricky with a physical book. Overall, this was a book that I did not want to put down, but it had a beautiful simplicity to it as well. At one point, I became incredibly emotional and actually couldn’t read on, it hit a raw spot for me but was handled so well.
I recommend this book to any fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or those who love a strong female lead in their books! I want to thank Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Taylor Jenkins Reid for sending me a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.
November 19, 2022
Taylor Jenkins Reid, as usual, managed to write a stunning book that will win the hearts of the readers.
She chose to discuss the world of tennis through the life of Carrie Soto in this book.
Carrie is a true champion who holds the current world record for the most number of grand slams. She retired from the game six years ago. It is the 90s now, and a fierce, stunning player named Nicki Chan is on the verge of breaking her record.
Carrie decides to come back from retirement at the age of thirty-seven years to reclaim her record. Her father coaches her. Will Nicki Chan be able to beat the all-time best player? Has Carrie lost her mojo, as few of the sports pundits are criticizing? TJR will give the answers to all these questions through this book.
This book is a true treat for tennis lovers. I love the game of tennis and have watched many marathon matches played between players like Daria Saville and Emma Raducanu in women's tennis and between Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal in men's tennis. If you are a tennis enthusiast, you will feel like watching one of these matches live while reading this book. I think that is a stupendous achievement by the author. She tells even the intricate details about the game so that a novice to the world of tennis also can enjoy this book.
The world of woman's Tennis has seen some extraordinary comebacks. My favorite has always been that of the legend, Martina Navratilova. Margaret Court, Martina Hingis, and Kim Clijsters also made some amazing comebacks. Many of the details written by the author about Carrie reminded me of Navratilova and Clijsters, as I was lucky enough to watch them play on live tv.
This is not just a sports book. There are more layers hidden inside it. It is a story of true love between a father and his daughter. Their bond reminded me of the amazing bond between Richard Williams and his daughters Venus and Serena, who are true legends in the game of tennis. At one point in the novel, I felt deja vu when I read the conversation between Carrie and her father. It reminded me of the words of Maria Sharapova about her father, Yuri Sharapova, and the amazing bond they shared between them. She once said," My father Yuri believes in miracles, and so do I." This book also shows the battle of egos between the players and the race for winning grand slams and breaking records.
The author could have been easily carried away while writing this book and could have written it in a cinematic way by adding all the popular elements that readers crave. But she decided to take a different route. She took a realistic approach to the narration. Moreover, she also chose to discuss many important topics like sexism, body shaming, and many other issues affecting the game of tennis.
What I learned from this book
1) Sexism in women’s professional tennis.
Tennis might be sadly one of those sports where women have faced sexism at the highest level for the last few decades. The match between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams shocked many true tennis lovers. Few of the rules and dress codes of women's tennis have been a topic of discussion for some time now. The author invites our attention to a few of the sexist problems that tennis is facing now.
2) What is the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose?
It is said that playing to win comes out of inspiration, whereas playing not to lose comes out of desperation. When we are playing tennis or any other game, the most important quality we should have is the enthusiasm and the attitude to enjoy our game. That will be only present when we are playing to win. If we are playing not to lose, we are playing from a position of weakness. The author has done an amazing job in making us understand this vital lesson through this novel.
3) How do the best players in the world deal with the crowd when they are playing a match?
The author tells us the best way to deal with the crowds through Carrie's character in this book.
My favourite three lines from this book
What could have been better?
The author chose to make Carrie’s character with many imperfections, and her character arc is deliberately created in an imperfect way even though she is a world champion to make the novel more realistic. I loved how the author decided to raise her voice against sexism through her characters. Still, I wouldn't say I liked a few of the statements told by Carrie. I will share one quote told by Carrie here.
I didn't expect such a statement from Carrie's character. We can try to substantiate by telling about the time period when this story is happening. But this book was published in August 2022, and the author should have been a little more careful about such statements coming from the protagonist, especially in a novel written in such a progressive and realistic way. But this is just a minor mistake I found in this book, and I know I am picking needles in a haystack here. The author wrote the rest of the novel in a perfect way.
Rating
4.5/5 The topics Taylor selects to write for each novel are all entirely different, and every time she convincingly wins the heart of the readers who are fans of those specific topics. I think that is the true quality of a great writer, and I am sure we will see many more amazing books from her.
We can easily say that Taylor Jenkins Reid is either a true tennis fan or has done an extraordinary amount of research about the game to write this book. I think you should never miss the opportunity to read this book if you are a true tennis fan.
She chose to discuss the world of tennis through the life of Carrie Soto in this book.
Carrie is a true champion who holds the current world record for the most number of grand slams. She retired from the game six years ago. It is the 90s now, and a fierce, stunning player named Nicki Chan is on the verge of breaking her record.
Carrie decides to come back from retirement at the age of thirty-seven years to reclaim her record. Her father coaches her. Will Nicki Chan be able to beat the all-time best player? Has Carrie lost her mojo, as few of the sports pundits are criticizing? TJR will give the answers to all these questions through this book.
This book is a true treat for tennis lovers. I love the game of tennis and have watched many marathon matches played between players like Daria Saville and Emma Raducanu in women's tennis and between Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal in men's tennis. If you are a tennis enthusiast, you will feel like watching one of these matches live while reading this book. I think that is a stupendous achievement by the author. She tells even the intricate details about the game so that a novice to the world of tennis also can enjoy this book.
The world of woman's Tennis has seen some extraordinary comebacks. My favorite has always been that of the legend, Martina Navratilova. Margaret Court, Martina Hingis, and Kim Clijsters also made some amazing comebacks. Many of the details written by the author about Carrie reminded me of Navratilova and Clijsters, as I was lucky enough to watch them play on live tv.
This is not just a sports book. There are more layers hidden inside it. It is a story of true love between a father and his daughter. Their bond reminded me of the amazing bond between Richard Williams and his daughters Venus and Serena, who are true legends in the game of tennis. At one point in the novel, I felt deja vu when I read the conversation between Carrie and her father. It reminded me of the words of Maria Sharapova about her father, Yuri Sharapova, and the amazing bond they shared between them. She once said," My father Yuri believes in miracles, and so do I." This book also shows the battle of egos between the players and the race for winning grand slams and breaking records.
The author could have been easily carried away while writing this book and could have written it in a cinematic way by adding all the popular elements that readers crave. But she decided to take a different route. She took a realistic approach to the narration. Moreover, she also chose to discuss many important topics like sexism, body shaming, and many other issues affecting the game of tennis.
What I learned from this book
1) Sexism in women’s professional tennis.
Tennis might be sadly one of those sports where women have faced sexism at the highest level for the last few decades. The match between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams shocked many true tennis lovers. Few of the rules and dress codes of women's tennis have been a topic of discussion for some time now. The author invites our attention to a few of the sexist problems that tennis is facing now.
“We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men.”
2) What is the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose?
It is said that playing to win comes out of inspiration, whereas playing not to lose comes out of desperation. When we are playing tennis or any other game, the most important quality we should have is the enthusiasm and the attitude to enjoy our game. That will be only present when we are playing to win. If we are playing not to lose, we are playing from a position of weakness. The author has done an amazing job in making us understand this vital lesson through this novel.
“I am afraid of losing. I am afraid of how it will look to the world. I'm afraid of this match being the last match my father ever sees me play. I am afraid of ending this all on a loss. I am afraid of so much."
3) How do the best players in the world deal with the crowd when they are playing a match?
The author tells us the best way to deal with the crowds through Carrie's character in this book.
"And here's the thing about arena sports—it's not just about how good you are at the game. It's about how good you are at feeling the crowd when they are with you and ignoring the crowd when they aren't.
It's about how swept up you can get in the momentum when winning, but also how defiant you can be when the tide turns against you."
My favourite three lines from this book
“I’m not obsessed with anything. I'm dedicated to winning. And I work hard at that."
“Honor is...sometimes just a nice word for ego.”
“Good is the enemy of great.”
What could have been better?
The author chose to make Carrie’s character with many imperfections, and her character arc is deliberately created in an imperfect way even though she is a world champion to make the novel more realistic. I loved how the author decided to raise her voice against sexism through her characters. Still, I wouldn't say I liked a few of the statements told by Carrie. I will share one quote told by Carrie here.
“Can you suffer the indignity of losing to a woman twice in one day?”
I didn't expect such a statement from Carrie's character. We can try to substantiate by telling about the time period when this story is happening. But this book was published in August 2022, and the author should have been a little more careful about such statements coming from the protagonist, especially in a novel written in such a progressive and realistic way. But this is just a minor mistake I found in this book, and I know I am picking needles in a haystack here. The author wrote the rest of the novel in a perfect way.
Rating
4.5/5 The topics Taylor selects to write for each novel are all entirely different, and every time she convincingly wins the heart of the readers who are fans of those specific topics. I think that is the true quality of a great writer, and I am sure we will see many more amazing books from her.
We can easily say that Taylor Jenkins Reid is either a true tennis fan or has done an extraordinary amount of research about the game to write this book. I think you should never miss the opportunity to read this book if you are a true tennis fan.
September 28, 2023
Edit po roku: obniżam z 4 na 3 gwiazdki
Zabijcie mnie, ale ostatnio czegoś mi brakuje w książkach Reid.
„Siedmiu mężów…” zaskoczyło mnie i po trzech latach od premiery, dalej do niej wracam.
„Daisy Jones…” była super rozrywką.
„Na zawsze, ale z przerwą” bardzo mnie wzruszyła i otuliła.
„Malibu Rising” była w porządku, po prostu w porządku.
„Carrie Soto…” była dobra, ale nic ponad to. Świetnie śledziło mi się losy głównej bohaterki i na tym się w sumie kończy. Nie było wzruszenia, zaskoczenia, efektu wow.
Zabijcie mnie, ale ostatnio czegoś mi brakuje w książkach Reid.
„Siedmiu mężów…” zaskoczyło mnie i po trzech latach od premiery, dalej do niej wracam.
„Daisy Jones…” była super rozrywką.
„Na zawsze, ale z przerwą” bardzo mnie wzruszyła i otuliła.
„Malibu Rising” była w porządku, po prostu w porządku.
„Carrie Soto…” była dobra, ale nic ponad to. Świetnie śledziło mi się losy głównej bohaterki i na tym się w sumie kończy. Nie było wzruszenia, zaskoczenia, efektu wow.
Want to read
April 13, 2022update 2 : we have a cover people !! i'm getting emotional rn 😭
update : WE HAVE A TITLE HELP 🚨
TJR i'm warning you, i expect nothing but greatness (& for this book not to send me to therapy pretty please )
2022 is our year y'all 😭
WE'RE ALSO GETTING A TAYLOR JENKINS REID BOOK
update : WE HAVE A TITLE HELP 🚨
TJR i'm warning you, i expect nothing but greatness (& for this book not to send me to therapy pretty please )
2022 is our year y'all 😭
WE'RE ALSO GETTING A TAYLOR JENKINS REID BOOK
Want to read
February 16, 2022the 4th instalment in the Mick Riva universe 😌 hopefully it doesn’t have him
April 7, 2024
this was a SERVE. tennis pun ha. i have a whole list of these, guys.
carrie caused a RACQUET (racquet. get it.) for being unapologetically the 'bitch' we all hated in malibu rising. gave me evelyn hugo energy.
but the relationship? lukewarm. comfortable. stale like my secret stash of Oreos under my bed (just kidding mom) (just kidding no way my mom is reading this) (i hope). i wanted her with someone else, this book had the opportunity to be an evelyn and celia story set in 90s tennis but it was a MISS. that was a TERRIBLE CALL on TJR's part.
nevertheless, just like carrie soto, this book is quickly climbing the ranks to be my favourite tjr book. so do whatever u can to get ur hands on this book, i don't care who you have to bribe/threaten/physically maim. (for legal reasons, this is a joke) (for illegal reasons, this is not).
thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for giving me a copy of what was my most anticipated 2022 read and what is now my favourite 2022 read.
carrie caused a RACQUET (racquet. get it.) for being unapologetically the 'bitch' we all hated in malibu rising. gave me evelyn hugo energy.
but the relationship? lukewarm. comfortable. stale like my secret stash of Oreos under my bed (just kidding mom) (just kidding no way my mom is reading this) (i hope). i wanted her with someone else, this book had the opportunity to be an evelyn and celia story set in 90s tennis but it was a MISS. that was a TERRIBLE CALL on TJR's part.
nevertheless, just like carrie soto, this book is quickly climbing the ranks to be my favourite tjr book. so do whatever u can to get ur hands on this book, i don't care who you have to bribe/threaten/physically maim. (for legal reasons, this is a joke) (for illegal reasons, this is not).
thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for giving me a copy of what was my most anticipated 2022 read and what is now my favourite 2022 read.
October 13, 2022
Championship point to Carrie Soto!
Read this if you love-
✔️Sports. Specifically tennis
✔️Powerful yet flawed FMC
✔️Family centred relationships
Carrie Soto is an athelete who aims to be the greatest tennis player in the world. To achieve that goal, there a lot of hindrances in her way, one of it being her own self. Will she be able to be the GOAT? What will it cost her?
I'll admit Carrie was not the most easy person to like. Her attitude in the beginning was not appreciated by me much. But overtime, as I read through her struggles, hard work and ambition- it became so easy to root for her. To see her become the person she wanted to be. To finally enjoy the sport she used to love. This is a journey you don't wanna miss.
It might feel a bit slow at times, especially the transcripts but it's so worth it. The ending was so satisfying.
I also found out later that there are some references to Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones and the six. I had not read any of those books, this is my first TJR book and reading it as a standalone worked for me. Obviously, I didn't get any of those references but hey, it was a beautiful journey. TJR writes so brilliantly, the writing is so immersive. It's tough not to picture Carrie's aces.
So do pick this one up. You wouldn't wanna miss out on the tennis legend in the making 😉
Read this if you love-
✔️Sports. Specifically tennis
✔️Powerful yet flawed FMC
✔️Family centred relationships
Carrie Soto is an athelete who aims to be the greatest tennis player in the world. To achieve that goal, there a lot of hindrances in her way, one of it being her own self. Will she be able to be the GOAT? What will it cost her?
I'll admit Carrie was not the most easy person to like. Her attitude in the beginning was not appreciated by me much. But overtime, as I read through her struggles, hard work and ambition- it became so easy to root for her. To see her become the person she wanted to be. To finally enjoy the sport she used to love. This is a journey you don't wanna miss.
It might feel a bit slow at times, especially the transcripts but it's so worth it. The ending was so satisfying.
I also found out later that there are some references to Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones and the six. I had not read any of those books, this is my first TJR book and reading it as a standalone worked for me. Obviously, I didn't get any of those references but hey, it was a beautiful journey. TJR writes so brilliantly, the writing is so immersive. It's tough not to picture Carrie's aces.
So do pick this one up. You wouldn't wanna miss out on the tennis legend in the making 😉
January 1, 2024
"Everything we achieve is ephemeral. We have it, and then the next second it's gone."
If you've read any of my reviews on my 5 star books, you'll probably see "sometimes you read a book, and sometimes it reads you" written into all of my favorites. I believe that with my whole heart. I believe there is a force in the universe that puts things in your life when you need them, and you get to choose what to do with the new path than opens up because of it.
This book feels more than that. It feels like it was written for me. I actually had a conversation with a friend recently about how we find things we love and then later, sometimes years later, we realize we loved that thing so much because it was a part of us we weren't ready to accept yet. The reason this feels more is because I've been constantly learning how exhausting expectations are since I started therapy in 2019. That journey has been long, and hard, and will be something I travel through for the rest of my life... and to see that so eloquently written into a book. I truly don't have enough words to thank authors for the visibility, strength and ownership they give us readers.
There were so many quotes I could have used as the base, but this one felt the most true. I think ephemeral might be my new favorite word. This is a comeback story. A story about celebrity. A story about a father and a daughter. About expectation, self-reflection, acceptance, joy, respect, life, love, forgiveness and so many other very human experiences. Everyone can find something to relate to: guaranteed. It's about recognizing all of those things and knowing that no matter how many records you have, there will always be someone to come along and make new ones.
When we met Carrie Soto in Malibu Rising it was easy to see her as the other woman and not worry about her outside of that simple fact. I love that TJR has decided to make her own little reality within our own, and wrote a story that's all Carrie's. Because there are always two sides to a story, and now that I've read Carrie's, I'll never think of her as the other woman again. She knew what she was doing, and she hated herself for it, and because of that I can't find it in me to hate her, too.
From that moment, I listened differently. I heard her father's motivation and heard is as she did: an expectation to win. To only win. To be the best. To never let anyone else be better. My heart broke every time she needed to be more. Every time the transcripts written in the story told her she wasn't enough no matter how many records she set. Every time we saw what people thought of her versus who we see she is.
The first time she realizes that her love for tennis is the only thing that matters... I cried. I cried a lot, honestly. Because while this book is about tennis, about being the best and wanting to remain the best... it's more so about realizing you can't be number one forever, and accepting that. It's a journey we all take with ourselves constantly. Or, it's one we should take constantly.
I could probably go on forever. I could quote so many things and explain their meaning to me. I could write about celebrity vs expectation vs self. I'm a writer, a book lover, and a huge advocate for loving what you have and knowing what you deserve. But what this review boils down to is that you are the master of yourself.
You get to choose to accept who you are or fight to be someone different.
The expectation set on your shoulders is a suggestion, not a guide on how to live your life.
I hope that when (if) you pick this up, you recognize those things about Carrie. I hope that as you experience her journey, you see some of your own. Maybe you aren't ready to climb your mountain yet, but in this you see that one day you will. Maybe you're ready and you need to hear that, "You are perfect, even in your imperfection."
Maybe you're in the middle of your climb and you need to hear, "You don't need to show them. You just need to be."
Maybe you're at the top, and you need to hear, "I am not proud, as much as I am grateful."
Maybe you're realizing there's another mountain, because there always will be, and you need to hear, "I have always known there is no mountain you cannot climb, one step at a time."
Whatever it is, pick this up and find your path. Fall in love with Carrie Soto, "the warrior, the king", the maker of her own destiny. And maybe find the start of your own.
If you've read any of my reviews on my 5 star books, you'll probably see "sometimes you read a book, and sometimes it reads you" written into all of my favorites. I believe that with my whole heart. I believe there is a force in the universe that puts things in your life when you need them, and you get to choose what to do with the new path than opens up because of it.
This book feels more than that. It feels like it was written for me. I actually had a conversation with a friend recently about how we find things we love and then later, sometimes years later, we realize we loved that thing so much because it was a part of us we weren't ready to accept yet. The reason this feels more is because I've been constantly learning how exhausting expectations are since I started therapy in 2019. That journey has been long, and hard, and will be something I travel through for the rest of my life... and to see that so eloquently written into a book. I truly don't have enough words to thank authors for the visibility, strength and ownership they give us readers.
There were so many quotes I could have used as the base, but this one felt the most true. I think ephemeral might be my new favorite word. This is a comeback story. A story about celebrity. A story about a father and a daughter. About expectation, self-reflection, acceptance, joy, respect, life, love, forgiveness and so many other very human experiences. Everyone can find something to relate to: guaranteed. It's about recognizing all of those things and knowing that no matter how many records you have, there will always be someone to come along and make new ones.
When we met Carrie Soto in Malibu Rising it was easy to see her as the other woman and not worry about her outside of that simple fact. I love that TJR has decided to make her own little reality within our own, and wrote a story that's all Carrie's. Because there are always two sides to a story, and now that I've read Carrie's, I'll never think of her as the other woman again. She knew what she was doing, and she hated herself for it, and because of that I can't find it in me to hate her, too.
From that moment, I listened differently. I heard her father's motivation and heard is as she did: an expectation to win. To only win. To be the best. To never let anyone else be better. My heart broke every time she needed to be more. Every time the transcripts written in the story told her she wasn't enough no matter how many records she set. Every time we saw what people thought of her versus who we see she is.
The first time she realizes that her love for tennis is the only thing that matters... I cried. I cried a lot, honestly. Because while this book is about tennis, about being the best and wanting to remain the best... it's more so about realizing you can't be number one forever, and accepting that. It's a journey we all take with ourselves constantly. Or, it's one we should take constantly.
I could probably go on forever. I could quote so many things and explain their meaning to me. I could write about celebrity vs expectation vs self. I'm a writer, a book lover, and a huge advocate for loving what you have and knowing what you deserve. But what this review boils down to is that you are the master of yourself.
You get to choose to accept who you are or fight to be someone different.
The expectation set on your shoulders is a suggestion, not a guide on how to live your life.
I hope that when (if) you pick this up, you recognize those things about Carrie. I hope that as you experience her journey, you see some of your own. Maybe you aren't ready to climb your mountain yet, but in this you see that one day you will. Maybe you're ready and you need to hear that, "You are perfect, even in your imperfection."
Maybe you're in the middle of your climb and you need to hear, "You don't need to show them. You just need to be."
Maybe you're at the top, and you need to hear, "I am not proud, as much as I am grateful."
Maybe you're realizing there's another mountain, because there always will be, and you need to hear, "I have always known there is no mountain you cannot climb, one step at a time."
Whatever it is, pick this up and find your path. Fall in love with Carrie Soto, "the warrior, the king", the maker of her own destiny. And maybe find the start of your own.
June 7, 2023
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 8.30!**
"People act like you can forget your own name, but if you're not paying attention, you can veer so incredibly far away from everything you know about yourself to the point where you stop recognizing what they call you."
Part sports fiction, part romance, part family drama, part historical fiction AND even part bildungsroman, Taylor Jenkins Reid manages to SERVE up everything I was hoping for in Carrie Soto Is Back!
Carrie ‘Carolina' Soto grew up dealing with heartbreak, the sort of pain that can turn into fuel if you can learn how to channel it. After losing her mother at an early age, she learned the ways of the racket from her coach (and father) Javier...and also learned that failure was NOT an option.
She also then decides that she was going to be the best. Period. EVERYONE will know her name. And like her or not, she's going to MAKE IT.
20 Grand Slam wins later...she's racked up titles, fame, and acclaim...but has also been named "The Battle Axe." Reputation aside, Carrie doesn't let the judgments stop her and chooses to retire on this high note. She's content with her choice...until newcomer Nicki Chan starts to claim her turf as new champ, and Carrie isn't having it. Poised for a comeback, she decides to come out of retirement and REMIND everyone who she is and that she hasn't gone for good. But in this new landscape with younger, faster players challenging her body, emotional conflicts and family troubles troubling her heart, and the critics and naysayers plaguing her thoughts, will her bravada hold up? Or has the world already seen the best Carrie Soto truly has to offer?
When I heard this book featured Carrie Soto from Malibu Rising, I was a bit surprised she was going to get her own book and also nervous that I wouldn't be a huge fan of this book. I thought this was going to be a sort of complement to that book, and I was a bit baffled as to why one would be needed. I had an especially hard time connecting with the characters in Malibu Rising, for whatever reason, and truly appreciated the time period the story was set in more than anything else. HOWEVER, TJR herself is 'back' in this one, with fully fleshed out characters who jump right off the page (whether it's their serve or not!) and plenty of emotional push and pull to keep the reader invested.
Carrie herself is a pistol. She's the type not to hold back, and I appreciated the honesty of her character, so driven by the need to win that little else matters. What TJR does so well in Carrie Soto is to give a voice and a heart to the conflict that I'm sure so many athletes struggle with on a daily basis: how much of my competitive nature is inherently ME and why do I have a compulsive NEED to win? My husband is incredibly competitive in his gaming, and while it's not something I relate to personally, it was so interesting to peel back the curtain on why Carrie might feel this way and if her competitive nature informs her character...or vice versa.
This was a lot less on the historical fiction side of things than some of Reid's other books, which to me which somewhat sad since I love looking for all the references she always includes in her books. Most of the novel also takes place in the 80s and 90s and since I grew up during this time, I was hanging on every reference...I just wish there had been more! I do love that TJR always manages to weave in different stylistic bits in her prose, from news articles to interviews, and makes everything feel SO authentic, you often forget that her characters aren't real. (There's also a tiny nod to Daisy Jones that made me smile!)
Obviously this book is FULL of tennis. If you really hate tennis for some reason...don't read it.
I've always been somewhat of a casual fan, so I was worried so much detail about the game would get boring or repetitive (or whiz over my head like a very fast serve) but luckily Reid always knows how to keep things moving and I didn't feel it was too bogged down with extraneous details. Fair warning, there is a good amount of Spanish spoken between Carrie and her father: some of it is easy to figure out through context clues, but I found myself looking up words from time to time. (For example, the translations I found of 'pichona', which Javier uses as sort of a pet name for Carrie, ranged from "pigeon" to "tart"..so perhaps Google can't really settle that debate...and also, maybe it shouldn't!)
Perhaps you think you already know the end to Carrie's story before you begin...but when it comes to endings themselves? Through her character Gwen, Reid serves up a PERFECT outlook:
"Falling in love is really quite simple, " she says. "You want to know the secret? It's the same thing we are all doing about life every single day."
"Forget there's an ending."
And like the legendary Carrie Soto herself, Taylor Jenkins Reid is ALWAYS aces in my book! 🎾
4 stars
Now in paperback!
"People act like you can forget your own name, but if you're not paying attention, you can veer so incredibly far away from everything you know about yourself to the point where you stop recognizing what they call you."
Part sports fiction, part romance, part family drama, part historical fiction AND even part bildungsroman, Taylor Jenkins Reid manages to SERVE up everything I was hoping for in Carrie Soto Is Back!
Carrie ‘Carolina' Soto grew up dealing with heartbreak, the sort of pain that can turn into fuel if you can learn how to channel it. After losing her mother at an early age, she learned the ways of the racket from her coach (and father) Javier...and also learned that failure was NOT an option.
She also then decides that she was going to be the best. Period. EVERYONE will know her name. And like her or not, she's going to MAKE IT.
20 Grand Slam wins later...she's racked up titles, fame, and acclaim...but has also been named "The Battle Axe." Reputation aside, Carrie doesn't let the judgments stop her and chooses to retire on this high note. She's content with her choice...until newcomer Nicki Chan starts to claim her turf as new champ, and Carrie isn't having it. Poised for a comeback, she decides to come out of retirement and REMIND everyone who she is and that she hasn't gone for good. But in this new landscape with younger, faster players challenging her body, emotional conflicts and family troubles troubling her heart, and the critics and naysayers plaguing her thoughts, will her bravada hold up? Or has the world already seen the best Carrie Soto truly has to offer?
When I heard this book featured Carrie Soto from Malibu Rising, I was a bit surprised she was going to get her own book and also nervous that I wouldn't be a huge fan of this book. I thought this was going to be a sort of complement to that book, and I was a bit baffled as to why one would be needed. I had an especially hard time connecting with the characters in Malibu Rising, for whatever reason, and truly appreciated the time period the story was set in more than anything else. HOWEVER, TJR herself is 'back' in this one, with fully fleshed out characters who jump right off the page (whether it's their serve or not!) and plenty of emotional push and pull to keep the reader invested.
Carrie herself is a pistol. She's the type not to hold back, and I appreciated the honesty of her character, so driven by the need to win that little else matters. What TJR does so well in Carrie Soto is to give a voice and a heart to the conflict that I'm sure so many athletes struggle with on a daily basis: how much of my competitive nature is inherently ME and why do I have a compulsive NEED to win? My husband is incredibly competitive in his gaming, and while it's not something I relate to personally, it was so interesting to peel back the curtain on why Carrie might feel this way and if her competitive nature informs her character...or vice versa.
This was a lot less on the historical fiction side of things than some of Reid's other books, which to me which somewhat sad since I love looking for all the references she always includes in her books. Most of the novel also takes place in the 80s and 90s and since I grew up during this time, I was hanging on every reference...I just wish there had been more! I do love that TJR always manages to weave in different stylistic bits in her prose, from news articles to interviews, and makes everything feel SO authentic, you often forget that her characters aren't real. (There's also a tiny nod to Daisy Jones that made me smile!)
Obviously this book is FULL of tennis. If you really hate tennis for some reason...don't read it.
I've always been somewhat of a casual fan, so I was worried so much detail about the game would get boring or repetitive (or whiz over my head like a very fast serve) but luckily Reid always knows how to keep things moving and I didn't feel it was too bogged down with extraneous details. Fair warning, there is a good amount of Spanish spoken between Carrie and her father: some of it is easy to figure out through context clues, but I found myself looking up words from time to time. (For example, the translations I found of 'pichona', which Javier uses as sort of a pet name for Carrie, ranged from "pigeon" to "tart"..so perhaps Google can't really settle that debate...and also, maybe it shouldn't!)
Perhaps you think you already know the end to Carrie's story before you begin...but when it comes to endings themselves? Through her character Gwen, Reid serves up a PERFECT outlook:
"Falling in love is really quite simple, " she says. "You want to know the secret? It's the same thing we are all doing about life every single day."
"Forget there's an ending."
And like the legendary Carrie Soto herself, Taylor Jenkins Reid is ALWAYS aces in my book! 🎾
4 stars
Now in paperback!
September 21, 2022
4 Stars
I picked this up for the same reasons everyone else did...because it's Taylor Jenkins Reid and I'll read anything she puts out.
That said, I read the blurb and that's it. So, I had completely forgotten that the title character was even IN Malibu Rising, let alone her role in it. I don't think it would have made a difference to me either way, as I enjoy books about hated characters, but still...I'm glad I didn't remember who Carrie was until about 25% in because it really allowed me to absorb Carrie independently of anything else.
Now, I was not a tennis player and I never played to the level Carrie did, obviously. However, I WAS a collegiate scholarship athlete who spent the majority of age 5-21 on a sports field with a VERY dedicated and involved father. As a result, I felt VERY connected to Carrie...her competitive nature...her perfectionism...and her fear of failure.
I also really enjoyed the relationship she has with her father. In my mind, that was the true love story here. Not her relationship to tennis, not her relationship to the love interest...but her and Javier. I thought the unfolding of events leading up to the US Open was very touching and the way the last tournament and Javier's "feedback" was layered throughout was brilliant. I also thought the ending was both inspirational AND realistic.
All that said, this book was quite bogged down with a lot of tennis jargon, tennis strategy...just tennis PERIOD. While that wasn't an issue for me (in fact, I quite enjoyed it), I could see it being an issue for some readers.
All in all, after not really loving Malibu Rising I was excited that this one was a hit for me.
I picked this up for the same reasons everyone else did...because it's Taylor Jenkins Reid and I'll read anything she puts out.
That said, I read the blurb and that's it. So, I had completely forgotten that the title character was even IN Malibu Rising, let alone her role in it. I don't think it would have made a difference to me either way, as I enjoy books about hated characters, but still...I'm glad I didn't remember who Carrie was until about 25% in because it really allowed me to absorb Carrie independently of anything else.
Now, I was not a tennis player and I never played to the level Carrie did, obviously. However, I WAS a collegiate scholarship athlete who spent the majority of age 5-21 on a sports field with a VERY dedicated and involved father. As a result, I felt VERY connected to Carrie...her competitive nature...her perfectionism...and her fear of failure.
I also really enjoyed the relationship she has with her father. In my mind, that was the true love story here. Not her relationship to tennis, not her relationship to the love interest...but her and Javier. I thought the unfolding of events leading up to the US Open was very touching and the way the last tournament and Javier's "feedback" was layered throughout was brilliant. I also thought the ending was both inspirational AND realistic.
All that said, this book was quite bogged down with a lot of tennis jargon, tennis strategy...just tennis PERIOD. While that wasn't an issue for me (in fact, I quite enjoyed it), I could see it being an issue for some readers.
All in all, after not really loving Malibu Rising I was excited that this one was a hit for me.
September 2, 2022
Goodness, this book was painfully boring!
Only the last 15% was exciting.
But there is nothing remarkable about this book.
I can hardly believe that TJR wrote this book.
The storyline is so repetitive.
The protagonist is so cocky.
It’s all about tennis, from beginning to the end, nothing else. So, if you really love tennis (and I should capitalize that word), you will be extremely please.
But I felt like I was reading a tabloid about celebrities and athletes. There was no drama or mystery, and there was a predictable relationship.
The use of the Spanish did not bother me, because I do understand it, but for those who can’t understand you will not miss that much, as there was nothing important in those dialogues, except the father’s love and tenderness.
Anyways, don’t mind me.
This book was clearly not directed to me.
But I do recommend the audiobook, which I listened while reading the book.
Thanks to my public library, I did not spend a cent. But I did feel that I wasted precious hours.
Happy reading everyone!
Only the last 15% was exciting.
But there is nothing remarkable about this book.
I can hardly believe that TJR wrote this book.
The storyline is so repetitive.
The protagonist is so cocky.
It’s all about tennis, from beginning to the end, nothing else. So, if you really love tennis (and I should capitalize that word), you will be extremely please.
But I felt like I was reading a tabloid about celebrities and athletes. There was no drama or mystery, and there was a predictable relationship.
The use of the Spanish did not bother me, because I do understand it, but for those who can’t understand you will not miss that much, as there was nothing important in those dialogues, except the father’s love and tenderness.
Anyways, don’t mind me.
This book was clearly not directed to me.
But I do recommend the audiobook, which I listened while reading the book.
Thanks to my public library, I did not spend a cent. But I did feel that I wasted precious hours.
Happy reading everyone!
November 2, 2022
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez and others
I followed tennis closely back in the days that fictional Carrie Soto competed. Still, when the story started, I thought the tennis talk might be too much for me, too boring. But once I got accustomed to it, I enjoyed the talk, the practice, the coaching, and the games. I especially enjoyed the parts of the book with various narrators giving commentary and opinions about Carrie and other players. Very gossipy!
Carrie had been the best but had retired in 1988. Then in 1994, at the age of 37, Carrie decides to come out of retirement as another top player is about to shatter a record that is most dear to her. Carrie's father is behind her decision, he's glad to coach her again so they set to work, focusing just on the four Slam tournaments. There is a lot at stake, including endorsements and money, since Carrie can only make her value as a legend fall if she fails in her comeback attempt. But money isn't what Carrie cares about, she has more than she needs for herself and her charity. It's her ego that is driving her to come out of retirement. Carrie's training partner will be an old flame, Bowe Huntley, a men's player who wants his last year to be his best year.
There is almost nothing I liked about Carrie but I understand that in the sports world, like other worlds, being best has nothing to do with being liked or being a nice person. Carrie is single minded again, focused only on winning another Slam or two. She'll mow down anyone in her way and if she fails to do so she'll rage at herself mercilessly. Winning is everything. Carrie's coach father is one of my favorite characters in this story but I lost much of what he was saying because he spoke so much Spanish that wasn't translated. Bowe was another favorite of mine, with a pretty amazing attitude after years on the circuit as the bad boy of tennis.
Published August 30th 2022 by Random House Audio
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez and others
I followed tennis closely back in the days that fictional Carrie Soto competed. Still, when the story started, I thought the tennis talk might be too much for me, too boring. But once I got accustomed to it, I enjoyed the talk, the practice, the coaching, and the games. I especially enjoyed the parts of the book with various narrators giving commentary and opinions about Carrie and other players. Very gossipy!
Carrie had been the best but had retired in 1988. Then in 1994, at the age of 37, Carrie decides to come out of retirement as another top player is about to shatter a record that is most dear to her. Carrie's father is behind her decision, he's glad to coach her again so they set to work, focusing just on the four Slam tournaments. There is a lot at stake, including endorsements and money, since Carrie can only make her value as a legend fall if she fails in her comeback attempt. But money isn't what Carrie cares about, she has more than she needs for herself and her charity. It's her ego that is driving her to come out of retirement. Carrie's training partner will be an old flame, Bowe Huntley, a men's player who wants his last year to be his best year.
There is almost nothing I liked about Carrie but I understand that in the sports world, like other worlds, being best has nothing to do with being liked or being a nice person. Carrie is single minded again, focused only on winning another Slam or two. She'll mow down anyone in her way and if she fails to do so she'll rage at herself mercilessly. Winning is everything. Carrie's coach father is one of my favorite characters in this story but I lost much of what he was saying because he spoke so much Spanish that wasn't translated. Bowe was another favorite of mine, with a pretty amazing attitude after years on the circuit as the bad boy of tennis.
Published August 30th 2022 by Random House Audio
July 2, 2023
mixed feelings but mostly a positive experience?
biggest thing for me is that the whole ~takeaway message~ thing that TJR always goes for in her books is less obvious in this one. i feel like i haven't taken a frying pan of "THIS IS THE POINT" to the dome this time and i really appreciate that.
but i am noticing that in the past few books that TJR has published she likes to play with timeline in a way that i don't think works. if i were to point out something i think she excels at, it's getting you to care about her characters. love em or hate em, they tend to have nuanced personalities. but the all over the place timeline thing takes away from that. in this book you're thrown into the mid life of carrie and then shown what her goal is: to make a comeback to tennis. great. but why the fuck do i care? we get maybe a couple of chapters showing us her past and how she initially got into tennis. but it wasn't enough to build a sense of "wow i'm rooting for this woman."
while i think the takeaway here wasn't so in your face, it did feel like the only part of the book that mattered. half baked romance, relationship with coach/dad, carrie's reputation in the media... all things that could have been explored deeply. but weren't. just so we could watch this process of carrie slowly losing her ego.
allllll of that complaining aside. i fucking love sports. so if TJR is gonna get me to care about something, it's gonna happen here. and i think it kind of worked. sure it wasn't groundbreaking stuff but i like reading about people kicking ass in really hard circumstances. i liked carrie grappling with her ego. it was relatable seeing her reactions to her competitors. it was a pretty pleasurable listening experience.
could i have gone my whole life without picking up another TJR book? yeah. but duty calls and says i have to read this lady's entire backlist.
biggest thing for me is that the whole ~takeaway message~ thing that TJR always goes for in her books is less obvious in this one. i feel like i haven't taken a frying pan of "THIS IS THE POINT" to the dome this time and i really appreciate that.
but i am noticing that in the past few books that TJR has published she likes to play with timeline in a way that i don't think works. if i were to point out something i think she excels at, it's getting you to care about her characters. love em or hate em, they tend to have nuanced personalities. but the all over the place timeline thing takes away from that. in this book you're thrown into the mid life of carrie and then shown what her goal is: to make a comeback to tennis. great. but why the fuck do i care? we get maybe a couple of chapters showing us her past and how she initially got into tennis. but it wasn't enough to build a sense of "wow i'm rooting for this woman."
while i think the takeaway here wasn't so in your face, it did feel like the only part of the book that mattered. half baked romance, relationship with coach/dad, carrie's reputation in the media... all things that could have been explored deeply. but weren't. just so we could watch this process of carrie slowly losing her ego.
allllll of that complaining aside. i fucking love sports. so if TJR is gonna get me to care about something, it's gonna happen here. and i think it kind of worked. sure it wasn't groundbreaking stuff but i like reading about people kicking ass in really hard circumstances. i liked carrie grappling with her ego. it was relatable seeing her reactions to her competitors. it was a pretty pleasurable listening experience.
could i have gone my whole life without picking up another TJR book? yeah. but duty calls and says i have to read this lady's entire backlist.
September 18, 2022
This book was about tennis in a way Daisy Jones wasn't about music, Evelyn Hugo wasn't about movies, and Malibu Rising wasn't about surfing. Might I say...too much about tennis.
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