You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
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:
Yes
A good story, and I like the characters’ journeys. The pacing is a little all over the place, felt like it was going too fast and skipped around a lot, especially when it came to the tennis matches.
For a book set at a tennis tournament, almost all scenes take place between the tennis. Which is fine, but I think the tennis could’ve been used a bit more when it came to characters externally processing their internal dilemmas
For a book set at a tennis tournament, almost all scenes take place between the tennis. Which is fine, but I think the tennis could’ve been used a bit more when it came to characters externally processing their internal dilemmas
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Death of parent
medium-paced
I'm a bit disappointed, I was expecting a tennis version of Haikyuu (sports anime for those who have no clue what I'm blabbering about). However, there. was. no. tennis. I swear there were barely any scenes in the book where they actually played a game. The book focused more on the issues of child athletes - the drugs, grooming, etc, which is fine but not what I was expecting or wanted.
Other than that, I didn't really care about the characters. Leylah was the only one I was semi-interested in. I could barely tell them apart, thankfully there were chapter titles with their names.
Overall, not for me.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Other than that, I didn't really care about the characters. Leylah was the only one I was semi-interested in. I could barely tell them apart, thankfully there were chapter titles with their names.
Overall, not for me.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Vomit, Grief
Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Medical content, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Thank you To Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I enjoyed this story despite not knowing anything about tennis. The story doesn't really explain the mechanics of tennis to the reader but I don't thinks that's really necessary. Yes the girls play tennis and it's like the main plot of the story, but during the tennis matches, it's mainly focused on how the girls feel and how they're hitting and not the tennis itself.
Leylah was my favorite character. I loved how stubborn and mean she was. I also enjoyed her brutal honesty and loyalty to people she cares about, even Alice (who she didn't really know), and Violetta (who at times did not deserve Leylah's loyalty). Her scenes with Noah were some of my favorite. He was super nice and understanding even though he barely knew Leylah and he always gave her the benefit of the doubt and it was really nice to see that someone was trying to break past her tough exterior.
Alice I expected to not remain in the tournament at all and I was right but... she had a mini redemption moment which I guess did help the plot in the long run. I still feel like she could have had her big realizations about herself without being put back in as the "loser card" (or something like that. I don't remember what it was called). Her getting back in on a technicality felt a bit forced almost but, like I said, it works out overall for the story.
Violetta was someone I really had trouble liking. I don't think I ever was really on her side. she seemed really vapid and full of herself at times. At the same time she was facing some serious mental health problems and an eating disorder. So most of the time I felt sympathy for her but also abject hatred for the way she would treat Leylah (by not being able to see how she had privilege in ways that Leylah did not) and for hurting Alice (using the secrets Alice told Violetta against her). I do think in the end that I liked her but it took a very long time to get there.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I enjoyed this story despite not knowing anything about tennis. The story doesn't really explain the mechanics of tennis to the reader but I don't thinks that's really necessary. Yes the girls play tennis and it's like the main plot of the story, but during the tennis matches, it's mainly focused on how the girls feel and how they're hitting and not the tennis itself.
Leylah was my favorite character. I loved how stubborn and mean she was. I also enjoyed her brutal honesty and loyalty to people she cares about, even Alice (who she didn't really know), and Violetta (who at times did not deserve Leylah's loyalty). Her scenes with Noah were some of my favorite. He was super nice and understanding even though he barely knew Leylah and he always gave her the benefit of the doubt and it was really nice to see that someone was trying to break past her tough exterior.
Alice I expected to not remain in the tournament at all and I was right but... she had a mini redemption moment which I guess did help the plot in the long run. I still feel like she could have had her big realizations about herself without being put back in as the "loser card" (or something like that. I don't remember what it was called). Her getting back in on a technicality felt a bit forced almost but, like I said, it works out overall for the story.
Violetta was someone I really had trouble liking. I don't think I ever was really on her side. she seemed really vapid and full of herself at times. At the same time she was facing some serious mental health problems and an eating disorder. So most of the time I felt sympathy for her but also abject hatred for the way she would treat Leylah (by not being able to see how she had privilege in ways that Leylah did not) and for hurting Alice (using the secrets Alice told Violetta against her). I do think in the end that I liked her but it took a very long time to get there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent
emotional
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
Three Asian American teen girls compete at an elite tennis tournament for a shot at their dreams—if only they knew what their dreams were.
There were a few things that I liked about the book:
1. Each character had their own POV. It really allowed a deep dive into the personality and struggles of each character. For example, in Leylah's POV, we learn that despite her stellar tennis skills Leylah struggles in school. I like the realistic portrayal of an student athletes life as they juggle their academic coursework and long hours of practice.
2. I like how the book was structured. The book was split into sections and has a timeline. The first section of the book starts on July 5th ( day before the start of the competition) and each day is its own section and represents an aspect of the competition. I reminds me a cross between a reality TV show and a documentary.
This coming of age novel explores themes such as friendships, family dynamics, racism, mental health, grief, loss and identity. This book is a reminder that sometimes the journey is more important than the victory.
The characters were fleshed out very well. I would love to see a sequel with these characters.
Book received from @coloredbookpages and the publisher (Peachtree) in exchange for an honest review)
There were a few things that I liked about the book:
1. Each character had their own POV. It really allowed a deep dive into the personality and struggles of each character. For example, in Leylah's POV, we learn that despite her stellar tennis skills Leylah struggles in school. I like the realistic portrayal of an student athletes life as they juggle their academic coursework and long hours of practice.
2. I like how the book was structured. The book was split into sections and has a timeline. The first section of the book starts on July 5th ( day before the start of the competition) and each day is its own section and represents an aspect of the competition. I reminds me a cross between a reality TV show and a documentary.
This coming of age novel explores themes such as friendships, family dynamics, racism, mental health, grief, loss and identity. This book is a reminder that sometimes the journey is more important than the victory.
The characters were fleshed out very well. I would love to see a sequel with these characters.
Book received from @coloredbookpages and the publisher (Peachtree) in exchange for an honest review)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Eating disorder, Racism, Grief