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brendyrobsu's review against another edition
5.0
This book had me in the first half and absolutely won me over in the last half. Couldn’t put this down.
lawryn's review against another edition
5.0
I truly dread reading any sports related stories, but the buzz around this one and my love to Reid’s other books convinced me to give this tennis book a shot. And I LOVED it!!
I love portrayals of women who defy social norms for women and still have a happy ending. Carrie is competitive, ruthless, blunt, and rarely smiles yet is successful and happy in the end all the same. I love this father, daughter story of love at well!
I love portrayals of women who defy social norms for women and still have a happy ending. Carrie is competitive, ruthless, blunt, and rarely smiles yet is successful and happy in the end all the same. I love this father, daughter story of love at well!
nsousa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
I enjoyed reading this book so much. The history was really growing in to me, I laugh, cried and smiled a lot. It was such an rollercoaster. Just wished I had seen more about Carrie and Bowe
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Just loved this! No Paul Bettany or Kirsten Dunst in sight.
I couldn't fail to mention that I thought of the British film 'Wimbledon' when reading this. Not because it's similar, no. While it may also be about a former champ trying for a comeback, Carrie Soto is no Peter Colt.
You may not LIKE Carrie Soto, at least not the public image of her, but she's one heck of a character, and really, she does earn your respect and understanding over the course of the novel. Brought up on tennis by her own champion father Javier (the Jaguar), she trained for greatness from childhood, especially after the early and tragic death of her mother.
Once the greatest tennis player in the world, with records dripping from her belt, she was never well-liked (cue some rather unflattering and sexist nicknames) but her style, intensity and talent were never in doubt.
Carrie is now 37. Too old to take back the crown from the latest tennis queen risen through the ranks? Well, she doesn't think so.
With a coach, a former-lover-turned-hitting-partner, an agent and a lot of racquets in her court, Carrie determines, and publicly so that she'll retake her record back from Nicki Chan within four championships.
What follows for the reader is a crash course in tennis training, tactics and tantrums. We get to grips with Carrie's psyche, see the woman underneath the brash exterior, and definitely start to root for her.
Just loved this! No Paul Bettany or Kirsten Dunst in sight.
This has the BEST cast of secondary characters I've enjoyed for a while - just loved Javier, as both coach and father. Bowe as Carrie's rejected lover and also former-star is quietly powerful in the background. She even has a great agent who's not just there to make money. And the enemy - Nicki Chan. Their interactions are quite intense in themselves, with some powerful dialogue and characterisation of two women with their own agendas, timetables and foci.
I read this in a couple of days, just desperate to read the next match, to see if Carrie's knees hold up, to watch how Javier's coaching tips turn out. And to see if Carrie learns the lessons we are all hoping she does, about accepting that being number one isn't forever.
She's a complex but brilliant creation. And I can't wait to see who plays her one day on screen.
I couldn't fail to mention that I thought of the British film 'Wimbledon' when reading this. Not because it's similar, no. While it may also be about a former champ trying for a comeback, Carrie Soto is no Peter Colt.
You may not LIKE Carrie Soto, at least not the public image of her, but she's one heck of a character, and really, she does earn your respect and understanding over the course of the novel. Brought up on tennis by her own champion father Javier (the Jaguar), she trained for greatness from childhood, especially after the early and tragic death of her mother.
Once the greatest tennis player in the world, with records dripping from her belt, she was never well-liked (cue some rather unflattering and sexist nicknames) but her style, intensity and talent were never in doubt.
Carrie is now 37. Too old to take back the crown from the latest tennis queen risen through the ranks? Well, she doesn't think so.
With a coach, a former-lover-turned-hitting-partner, an agent and a lot of racquets in her court, Carrie determines, and publicly so that she'll retake her record back from Nicki Chan within four championships.
What follows for the reader is a crash course in tennis training, tactics and tantrums. We get to grips with Carrie's psyche, see the woman underneath the brash exterior, and definitely start to root for her.
Just loved this! No Paul Bettany or Kirsten Dunst in sight.
This has the BEST cast of secondary characters I've enjoyed for a while - just loved Javier, as both coach and father. Bowe as Carrie's rejected lover and also former-star is quietly powerful in the background. She even has a great agent who's not just there to make money. And the enemy - Nicki Chan. Their interactions are quite intense in themselves, with some powerful dialogue and characterisation of two women with their own agendas, timetables and foci.
I read this in a couple of days, just desperate to read the next match, to see if Carrie's knees hold up, to watch how Javier's coaching tips turn out. And to see if Carrie learns the lessons we are all hoping she does, about accepting that being number one isn't forever.
She's a complex but brilliant creation. And I can't wait to see who plays her one day on screen.
emilyflamme's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
franleo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
megn317's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Only Taylor Jenkins Reid could get me to care about tennis. I really wasn’t expecting much out of this book but I ended up really liking it. Carrie was a complex character that is written to be unlikeable but I loved her.
marwithreads's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
salenamcrae30's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
lmrw's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25