You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
suzyvee's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was another great story by TJR. In the same-TJR-universe 4 book series, I would rank this 3rd.
Carrie Soto is a retired tennis great, having won a record-breaking 20 grand slam titles. After 6 years into her retirement, she decides to make a come back because a young, rising tennis star matched her record on her way to passing it.
The story follows Carrie’s career and shows her determination, grit, and her close and sometimes complicated relationship with her father/coach. I loved how well TJR incorporated real tennis greats into the book and used retired tennis stars’ accomplishments and personalities in her creation of her characters. Loved it.
Carrie Soto is a retired tennis great, having won a record-breaking 20 grand slam titles. After 6 years into her retirement, she decides to make a come back because a young, rising tennis star matched her record on her way to passing it.
The story follows Carrie’s career and shows her determination, grit, and her close and sometimes complicated relationship with her father/coach. I loved how well TJR incorporated real tennis greats into the book and used retired tennis stars’ accomplishments and personalities in her creation of her characters. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
issy_jacob's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Racism
kayes's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent
joensign's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Racism
smeyer0024's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
bitofkit's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Death of parent
emilywemily6's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoy TJR’s historical novels and this one is no exception. I really loved learning more about tennis and seeing multiple timelines tell the story of Carrie Soto. The dynamic audio was also really immersive to listen to! Carrie was unlikeable (on purpose) but occasionally she did/said things that were so egregious that I would have set boundaries and cut her out of my life, and yet her closest friends stuck around for her. She did have character growth towards the end of the book, but it felt like such a stretch compared to where she was at just prior to that turning point since she had little to no growth for the majority of the book. The romance was pretty subtle, which was nice that it didn’t overpower the rest of the story. Overall, not my favorite by this author, but I still really enjoyed it. I think the high emotions from the game play-by-plays bumped this book up in rating just a little bit for me, I definitely felt emotional a couple times throughout this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Cursing
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
grxcequinn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
hmatt's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
3.75
I have been having a time with 3.75 ratings, recently.
This is not my favourite nor my least-favouring TJK! It's a solid read and reliably intersects with the rest of the literary universe. I always appreciate this author's deep-dives into specific subcultures/topics, and this is no exception when it comes to the tennis industry of yore, especially with how it may have intersected with sexism and racism. The father-daughter relationship is particularly well-written and interesting and, as per usual, I could really take-or-leave the romantic relationship that's tacked on. I loved that the Spanish isn't translated, I don't think it needs to be.
This is not my favourite nor my least-favouring TJK! It's a solid read and reliably intersects with the rest of the literary universe. I always appreciate this author's deep-dives into specific subcultures/topics, and this is no exception when it comes to the tennis industry of yore, especially with how it may have intersected with sexism and racism. The father-daughter relationship is particularly well-written and interesting and, as per usual, I could really take-or-leave the romantic relationship that's tacked on. I loved that the Spanish isn't translated, I don't think it needs to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Medical content
rachlincs's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
In my opinion this is one of the weaker books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story is dull and predictable. The motivations of the characters are either explored poorly or really are as vapid as they seem. There were so many issues and topics that those book could have explored in some complexity - ageism, sexism, xenophobia, pride, parental loss etc - but instead it felt like it just ticked them off with a shallow acknowledgement that was so unsatisfying.
The book also really fails Bowe - the character gets so little depth, there's a wasted opportunity to explore the parallel paths of Bowe with the lead character. It was impossible to believe the romance, there was no chemistry between them.
Ultimately it's an easy read or listen. You won't be any the worse for reading it, but don't expect any impact on your life. In the future this will be the book on your shelf that you can't quite remember whether it's read or not.
The book also really fails Bowe - the character gets so little depth, there's a wasted opportunity to explore the parallel paths of Bowe with the lead character.
Ultimately it's an easy read or listen. You won't be any the worse for reading it, but don't expect any impact on your life. In the future this will be the book on your shelf that you can't quite remember whether it's read or not.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Death of parent