Carrie Soto is Back: It’s a Tennis Story This Time!

Posted On March 18, 2023

Hi Readers! It is March!! My favourite month of the year, for the sole reason that it’s my birthday month! And because books give me immense joy, I am going to be picky about the books I choose. And, voila! The first book which I have already read and finished was fabulous! I had a feeling I would love it because it’s Taylor Jenkins Reid, so hallelujah!

If you want to read my reviews on her earlier books, check them out below!

Daisy Jones And The Six

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Malibu Raising

~~GOODREADS DESCRIPTION~~

In this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime—from the New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising.

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

~~THOUGHTS~~

First of all, I am amazed at how Taylor Jenkins Reid can pick up any possible professional aspect and write a book on it in such a stunning way. It was music, then acting, then swimming and now with Carrie Soto, it’s Tennis! And, to make it even more delectable, the main character is always a woman. A flawed, brilliant, beautiful woman who doesn’t believe in her power but gains it by the end of the book. The sheer joy of reading these women has been so enthralling.

And, even all the secondary characters glorify the story more. Be it Billy Dunne or Celia St. James or the Rivas or Javier and Bowe. They complement each other amazingly well.

Secondly, the story! When the story is of a retired tennis player coming out of retirement to reclaim her record, you can imagine it to be pretty predictable. Carrie decides to play in four major tournaments. Given how many books I have read, I had thought she would win the last one or the last two. And yet! Yet, you cannot help but root for Carrie to win every single one. Only this book despite having a predictable story is a book that was totally unputdownable! I finished it in three days.

And lastly, I loved the subtle mention, now and again, of gender discrimination prevailing in the sports world and in extension, to the real world. As you can see from the images, all the quotes I highlighted are about men and women. I also loved how the importance of mental health in sports. The whole talk about ‘being in your head’ is so vital when you are playing a sport. And the way it was written throughout the book was brilliant.

~~TO READ OR NOT TO READ~~

If you have read and loved any of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, then you should read this book. Whether you are a sports fan or not, I think you should read it, because it’s about so much more than Tennis. If you love character-based books, then you should read this. And, if you love to read stories with amazing women as the main characters, then this one is the one to pick. I can’t seem to think of any reasons why you should not read this book, so go ahead and read it! I have rated Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid at 4.5/5 stars!

Until next time,