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thekeyescollection's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
knkoch's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A quick, straightforward read where the writing seems to echo the speed of a tennis match. I found this interesting and enjoyable, if not necessarily deep or nuanced. I am not a sporty, driven Carrie Soto-type, so I liked getting to live in that perspective for a while. This wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but that’s what I deserve for basing expectations on cover alone.
The writing was rather thin and streamlined, and I started to tire of Carrie’s forced first-person perspective after some time. It was pretty clear early on the emotional/mental journey she needed to go on, but as a simple page-turner, this worked fine. We all need that sometimes. I learned more about tennis, and I’ve been very tempted to break out the N64’s ‘Mario Tennis’ game as a result.
The writing was rather thin and streamlined, and I started to tire of Carrie’s forced first-person perspective after some time. It was pretty clear early on the emotional/mental journey she needed to go on, but as a simple page-turner, this worked fine. We all need that sometimes. I learned more about tennis, and I’ve been very tempted to break out the N64’s ‘Mario Tennis’ game as a result.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
kassidyreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Racism
velvet_young's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent
Minor: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
chrisljm's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As someone who knows nothing about tennis, seeing the events of the tournaments play out was riveting. Carrie is a tough personality to love but I can’t help but hope she accomplishes all that she strives for. What makes this tough is it’s also difficult not to root for her main opponent Nicki Chan. Both characters have such compelling reasons to fight for their legacy, and still the end results are so satisfying.
However, I did wish TJR gave more depth to Carrie and her tennis career prior to her comeback, in a more showing and less telling way, but even so, I was able to feel her strength and determination with the sport, as well as the love between her and her father.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, and Blood
laguerrelewis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my first book by Jenkins-Reid, and what an introduction. She has a masterful understanding of character, and crafts a beautifully moving story about success, meaning, love, ambition, identity, and resilience. The tennis matches have been praised consistently, and for good reason—they thrill, and are understandable to the layman and enjoyable for the fans. Carrie Soto is a rollercoaster of emotion that had me grinning ear to ear as tears rolled down my cheeks. Bonus points for a romantic plotline straight out of an Austen novel. Great showing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
lizaxwin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow! What a fantastic book. I mean, I didn’t expect anything less from Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I’m blown away nevertheless. It never once got boring to read about the matches, even though I‘m not really that much into tennis. All the different reporting types made it be interesting throughout. And I also loved that the love story was not in the center. Still, it was told beautifully. The only thing that bothered me a little were how much was written in Spanish, maybe this could’ve been handled differently without making it seem inauthentic?! Idk, or maybe it’s just a sign for me to finally take up Spanish lessons, lol.
Let me just sum this book up for you in a simple sentence: TJR is to writing what Carrie Soto is to tennis.
Let me just sum this book up for you in a simple sentence: TJR is to writing what Carrie Soto is to tennis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
kfquarium's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
booksalacarte's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5⭐️ 2🌶️
Tennis
Professional Athlete
Loving the dream
Comeback
Older MC’s (mid-late 30’s)
Underdog
Unapologetic female elite athlete
Misogyny
Second chance Romance
Grumpy/sunshine
Biggest fan parent
Single father
Self discovery/rediscovery
Did I know anything about tennis before reading this book? Absolutely not.
Do I know anything after reading?….. maybe? I could probably watch it and not be bored now.
Did I love this book? Yes. Yesyesyes.
The structure was so interesting! TJR never fails to set books up to be structurally interesting in a way that enhances the story. Having the FMC’s POV broken up by sportscasters commentary about her game and competition was an awesome way to build tension and get the feel of the nature and stakes of the story.
I always love TJR’s Easter eggs for her other books. That they all live in this alternative universe together.
Carrie was an unapologetic, hard as nails, powerhouse of a character and I loved every second of balancing on the edge of her sarcasm and intensity while her inner monologue showed us exactly how insecure she is. It made her superhuman abilities more human.
The romance in the book was so interesting in how it was presented as iron sharpening iron. Both were so flawed and watching things develop was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Carrie’s relationship with her father was so beautiful and my favorite thing about the book. It was dynamic, full of ups and downs, heartbreaking. I was fully invested. The grief represented in the book was so well done. I found myself adoring her father which made the arc of the story so amazing.
This is a favorite. But TJR’s books always are for me.
Tennis
Professional Athlete
Loving the dream
Comeback
Older MC’s (mid-late 30’s)
Underdog
Unapologetic female elite athlete
Misogyny
Second chance Romance
Grumpy/sunshine
Biggest fan parent
Single father
Self discovery/rediscovery
Did I know anything about tennis before reading this book? Absolutely not.
Do I know anything after reading?….. maybe? I could probably watch it and not be bored now.
Did I love this book? Yes. Yesyesyes.
The structure was so interesting! TJR never fails to set books up to be structurally interesting in a way that enhances the story. Having the FMC’s POV broken up by sportscasters commentary about her game and competition was an awesome way to build tension and get the feel of the nature and stakes of the story.
I always love TJR’s Easter eggs for her other books. That they all live in this alternative universe together.
Carrie was an unapologetic, hard as nails, powerhouse of a character and I loved every second of balancing on the edge of her sarcasm and intensity while her inner monologue showed us exactly how insecure she is. It made her superhuman abilities more human.
The romance in the book was so interesting in how it was presented as iron sharpening iron. Both were so flawed and watching things develop was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Carrie’s relationship with her father was so beautiful and my favorite thing about the book. It was dynamic, full of ups and downs, heartbreaking. I was fully invested. The grief represented in the book was so well done. I found myself adoring her father which made the arc of the story so amazing.
This is a favorite. But TJR’s books always are for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail