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A review by shamelesslyintroverted
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.0
When I tell you that I was scared to read this because of the tennis… I’m so glad I pushed through and read it anyway.
This book is not about tennis. I found Carrie very relatable due to her perfectionism and how independent she requires herself to be. Nobody can get close, aside from her father. She must win, no matter the cost.
She’s cold, unfeeling, and has been granted the nickname that no woman ever wants to be called: the bitch. She doesn’t wave at fans or kiss babies. She’s there for one reason: to win.
🎾 Carrie Soto is a badass tennis player who comes out of retirement to make sure her records are safe when a younger player threatens to break them. 🎾
This is truly an ode to the eldest child who is their own worst enemy and loudest critic. I loved watching Carrie’s journey as she makes connections and learns things about herself. I also love that she’s older! We need more stories about people in their 30s-40s!
Ps: I really love Nicki Chan as a character. 🤭
I cried throughout the last fifty pages. The loss of her father really hit home, but I can see why TJR did it as a writer. Carrie finally understood her father's words and intents after having to compete without him. I also loved their last conversation. It really hammered the theme home, but in a heartbreaking way.
I loved quite a few things about this book, including:
- how she found love with Bowe at the end. Her personality and flaws and traumas are so anti-love, so when she acknowledged and welcomed love with someone... made my heart happy.
- Nicki. Everything Nicki. I loved her personality, even at the end when she was actually allowing her hatred for Carrie to show. I loved that parallel because Carrie was finally finding the fun in Tennis and accepting that she's going to retire, which lead to the welcoming attitude toward her loss as Nicki was letting herself get upset visibly. I also loved that she ended up coaching Nicki at the end. It's a full circle moment.
What I didn't love, but understand, is how the book ends midsentence. Like. Fuck you. Why would you do that to me? I want to know if Nicki ended up beating the records and we don't get to see it? I'm assuming that she does. I'm choosing to believe that she does, but I understand that it doesn't matter. Winning was never the point.
This book is not about tennis. I found Carrie very relatable due to her perfectionism and how independent she requires herself to be. Nobody can get close, aside from her father. She must win, no matter the cost.
She’s cold, unfeeling, and has been granted the nickname that no woman ever wants to be called: the bitch. She doesn’t wave at fans or kiss babies. She’s there for one reason: to win.
🎾 Carrie Soto is a badass tennis player who comes out of retirement to make sure her records are safe when a younger player threatens to break them. 🎾
This is truly an ode to the eldest child who is their own worst enemy and loudest critic. I loved watching Carrie’s journey as she makes connections and learns things about herself. I also love that she’s older! We need more stories about people in their 30s-40s!
Ps: I really love Nicki Chan as a character. 🤭
I loved quite a few things about this book, including:
- how she found love with Bowe at the end. Her personality and flaws and traumas are so anti-love, so when she acknowledged and welcomed love with someone... made my heart happy.
- Nicki. Everything Nicki. I loved her personality, even at the end when she was actually allowing her hatred for Carrie to show. I loved that parallel because Carrie was finally finding the fun in Tennis and accepting that she's going to retire, which lead to the welcoming attitude toward her loss as Nicki was letting herself get upset visibly. I also loved that she ended up coaching Nicki at the end. It's a full circle moment.
What I didn't love, but understand, is how the book ends midsentence. Like. Fuck you. Why would you do that to me? I want to know if Nicki ended up beating the records and we don't get to see it? I'm assuming that she does. I'm choosing to believe that she does, but I understand that it doesn't matter. Winning was never the point.