Carrie Soto Is Back

okay, it's been a few days, and I am ready to do a proper review. so I loved it. it's a 4.5/5 for me.

She is unlikeable, but she's great. Here's how you do that right! I am convinced that if a man tried to write this character, he would prolly fail. TJR nails the unlikable women's character with this. She has flaws; she is rough on the edges, but she is a good woman and a remarkable player, and she deserves your goddamn respect!

Couple of things I liked:

the story is so simple. it's in the title, but it works. I enjoyed the tennis; the sports and the two main characters were introduced smoothly. recreating the action, the pause, and the thrill of the next move in sports writing is HARD. I rarely see it written in a way that I can visualise AND be invested throughout. Esp for a sport that I have watched maybe five times? I was invested in action. I binged the chapters because I wanted to know how the game went.

So few characters <3 After Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones, I have happy to have a book with fewer mains. central characters. We have three key figures and then a few that comes and go. I enjoyed getting to them well and seeing their growth trajectory. I got a chance to get attached to them. I am a do-or-die for Carrie's dad now, and he ain't even real.

The slow burn but its fast pace. We have seen her travel through years in her books before. This one goes through the past fairly quickly (?), and the “present” is done linearly. I liked the singular timeline for a change.

The sports commentaries were so well done. As someone who does consume a lot of football, I could see the “commentators” switching sides, calling names, and being disrespectful. it felt real. TJR always adds these little newspaper/tv clips situation, and i love it.

Taylor Jenkin Reid Universe - Carrie refers “Daisy Jones & the Six” in this book. She has created her own cinematic universe and referenced it. Good for you!

All in all, I 10/10 rec this book. this was a fun ride, I had a good time. Thank you very much.