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serena_hien's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Lesbophobia
sfbookgirl's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hate to say it, but this was not an enjoyable read. CARRIE SOTO IS BACK is a “historical fiction” book that brings up a lot of issues revolving around race and the portrayal of race written by a white author. The book is about a Latina woman named Carrie Soto who is a professional tennis player. She is kind of a bitch and she knows it, yet does nothing to change her attitude because she is the bomb dot com at tennis. After seeing that a much younger player is closing in on beating one of Soto’s world records, Soto decides to come out of retirement to beat the sh*t out of this young player. This is the entirety of this book. Some good old rally between two characters that literally never ends.
In regard to the book’s race issues, it doesn’t sit right with me that TJR decides to have Carrie be Latina yet literally mentions it once. It gives off the impression that she was looking to “diversify” her characters without really doing the work to properly represent them. The icing on the cake is a quote written toward the end of the book:
“Gwen shakes her head. ‘You know damn well there’s another set of rules for you. Just like there’s even another set of rules for me.’
I look at her, understanding that as much as I know what it’s like to be a woman in this world, I have no idea what it’s like to be a Black woman” (301).
So yes…Carrie doesn’t know what it means to be a Black woman because she isn’t Black. Just like how TJR doesn’t know how to write a Latina woman because she isn’t Latina.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
aimsro's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Alcohol
m4rtt4'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
4.25
I've never been so invested in any sport as I was in tennis while reading this book! So intense. Through Carrie Soto I could see what I would have become as an athlete - the ever-so-greedy perfectionist that hates losing - but also I'm glad that my imposter syndrome reminds me to be humble. The book could have had some more scenes outside the tennis courts, as if Carrie didn't have a life outside them, but then again she probably didn't and the storyline perfectly reflects that. It's so weird but also cool af that Taylor Jenkins Reid always manages to create characters that feel so real, like any real-life celebrities and whatnot, while still being completely fictional.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexism
risemini's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Racism, and Alcohol
ukponge's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
kdailyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Vomit, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
laurataylor's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
What do I know about tennis? Little to nothing. I'm not even a sports person.
But as with her previous books, Taylor Jenkins Reid takes characters in their areas of fame and makes you care about their experiences. About their world and everyone around them, like we are in the know.
Much like Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and Nina Riva; Carrie Soto is a formidable and unforgettable main character.
I adored Carrie Soto Is Back. I adore how TJR rewards her loyal readers with associations to her other books. I adore being in the world of her books, the uniquely vibrant places they are, and references of the time.
Absolutely recommended!
But as with her previous books, Taylor Jenkins Reid takes characters in their areas of fame and makes you care about their experiences. About their world and everyone around them, like we are in the know.
Much like Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and Nina Riva; Carrie Soto is a formidable and unforgettable main character.
I adored Carrie Soto Is Back. I adore how TJR rewards her loyal readers with associations to her other books. I adore being in the world of her books, the uniquely vibrant places they are, and references of the time.
Absolutely recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent
kaseymkelley's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
TJR does it again. I absolutely loved this heart-warming story and getting to learn more about Carrie Soto. When we meet her in Malibu Rising, she is absolutely awful. I couldn’t stand her. I’m so, so glad TJR wrote more about her story. I absolutely fell in love with Carrie and her passion by the end of the story. I also loved all of the Evelyn, Daisy, & Malibu Easter eggs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
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