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grunbean's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
4.75
Another Taylor Jenkins-Reid book, another book that can’t be put down. I’d describe a lot of her work as ‘sleeper’ books’. I was unsure when I first started reading (partly because I know nothing about tennis), but once I hit the midpoint I couldn’t stop reading until it was done.
There is something so unique about how this author can bring so much to stories I wouldn’t have blinked twice at. A really good read - perfect for the summer!
There is something so unique about how this author can bring so much to stories I wouldn’t have blinked twice at. A really good read - perfect for the summer!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Racism, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, and Sexism
sefrahudman's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this book a lot for how unlikable the main character was for most of the book. She was written that way and so it made her very real feeling and somewhat enduring at times. I like that she got some good growth near the end of the book. I also really appreciated that. I spoke Spanish, because as I listened to the audiobook, if I had not, I would have lost a lot of what was being said. Most of the exchanges were probably pretty easy to follow even if you didn’t speak Spanish, but it is definitely an asset in the audiobook being able to just listen and know what was being said. Speaking of the audiobook, it was perfection. They had all the different voices and clips that sounded like it was actually a newscast, and it was awesome!
I felt like the explanations of tennis were very accessible for somebody who didn’t really understand very much about tennis before this book. I still got sort of confused sometimes with the difference between a game, a match and a set, but it was fine, and I was able to still get excited about the matches or games or whatever they were.
I felt like the explanations of tennis were very accessible for somebody who didn’t really understand very much about tennis before this book. I still got sort of confused sometimes with the difference between a game, a match and a set, but it was fine, and I was able to still get excited about the matches or games or whatever they were.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Cursing, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Lesbophobia
stephmcoakley's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Grief, Sexism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Medical content, and Misogyny
nora_knight's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Everything that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes is so so beautiful. Her characters are so intricately crafted, so perfectly flawed, and entirely human; it takes my breath away every time. I don't particularly enjoy tennis but this book was so incredibly engaging, I couldn't put it down. I absolutely adore how TJR truly understands her characters, what motivates them, and their truths (the ones they've admitted and the ones they haven't); it shines in the ways her characters interact and form relationships. Reading her writing is like reading art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Cursing, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
I will preface this review with two things: I have very limited knowledge of tennis (most of it comes from media talking about Serena Williams) and I have read Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo.
There was more tennis technical jargon and stuff than I thought there was going to be. It took me a hot minute to learn it but even then I think I only understand enough for the context of this book. Other than that this book was pretty much what I expected including a Mick Riva mention
I know this book is inspired by the Williams sisters and their father but how inspired?? Again I have l’initier tennis world knowledge but I felt like pieces were taken from media sound bites of the them.
I did enjoy the formatting of the book, similar to Evelyn Hugo with the journal pieces interspersed with the chapters that are broken down chronologically in relation to major events. It’s what you expect from a TJR book with a strong independent female character that doesn’t give a shit about what others think.
I have more thoughts on the characters and plot of this book that are mildly spoilers so I will keep them from this review.
There was more tennis technical jargon and stuff than I thought there was going to be. It took me a hot minute to learn it but even then I think I only understand enough for the context of this book. Other than that this book was pretty much what I expected including a Mick Riva mention
I know this book is inspired by the Williams sisters and their father but how inspired?? Again I have l’initier tennis world knowledge but I felt like pieces were taken from media sound bites of the them.
I did enjoy the formatting of the book, similar to Evelyn Hugo with the journal pieces interspersed with the chapters that are broken down chronologically in relation to major events. It’s what you expect from a TJR book with a strong independent female character that doesn’t give a shit about what others think.
I have more thoughts on the characters and plot of this book that are mildly spoilers so I will keep them from this review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Sexism
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