3dwaifu's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
drunkbookclub's review against another edition
2.0
This is an easy and swift read, and I didn’t completely dislike it. The character of Carrie Soto is interesting, flawed, powerful, and I quickly got drawn into her world. I want to watch some tennis now (and I have never been interested in that). I appreciate the effort showing the struggles women, especially women of colour, face in the sports industry. But several things annoyed me. While the story was about Carrie Soto coming back from retirement, showing everybody what she can do if she wants to, and doesn’t need anyone - especially a man - to achieve her goals, in the end, it felt like a stereotypical story of a successful, powerful woman, being “so strong and hard on the outside, but lonely in the inside”, and is in the end just looking for real love. In general, the book felt too superficial and shallow, and the characters undergo no development. It also doesn’t sit well with me that she is a white woman writing about marginalised women of colour.
It would have been a far more interesting story if Carrie and Nicki had just ended up together.
It would have been a far more interesting story if Carrie and Nicki had just ended up together.
alliesrecentreads's review against another edition
5.0
If Taylor Jenkins Reid writes it, I will read it. Carrie Soto is Back is emotional and gripping and inspirational and everything we have all come to love about TJR's work.
I'll admit that I was nervous about Carrie Soto when this book was first announced because, Malibu Rising, but I knew TJR wouldn't do me wrong and she did not disappoint.
When her record is threatened, Soto decides to pick a racket back up for the first time in years. Working with her father, she hits the court to prepare to beat women decades younger than her at some of the biggest games in Tennis.
Carrie Soto is abrasive and ambitious and not the type of woman anyone wants to support. Her crass attitude and the way she doesn't shy away from acknowledging her success makes people uncomfortable but quite frankly, she doesn't care one bit. This is one of my favorite things about the heroines written by Jenkins Reid, they are never easy to like and for that reason, I like them so much more. Evelyn, Nina, Daisy and Carrie are all realistic in a way that most fictional leading ladies are not. They have passions and ambitions that are so intense, you can't help but forget they aren't real.
If you are on the fence about reading Carrie Soto because of Malibu Rising, because sports books aren't your thing, or for any other reasons, trust me when I tell you that you need to read this book anyway. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I'll admit that I was nervous about Carrie Soto when this book was first announced because, Malibu Rising, but I knew TJR wouldn't do me wrong and she did not disappoint.
When her record is threatened, Soto decides to pick a racket back up for the first time in years. Working with her father, she hits the court to prepare to beat women decades younger than her at some of the biggest games in Tennis.
Carrie Soto is abrasive and ambitious and not the type of woman anyone wants to support. Her crass attitude and the way she doesn't shy away from acknowledging her success makes people uncomfortable but quite frankly, she doesn't care one bit. This is one of my favorite things about the heroines written by Jenkins Reid, they are never easy to like and for that reason, I like them so much more. Evelyn, Nina, Daisy and Carrie are all realistic in a way that most fictional leading ladies are not. They have passions and ambitions that are so intense, you can't help but forget they aren't real.
If you are on the fence about reading Carrie Soto because of Malibu Rising, because sports books aren't your thing, or for any other reasons, trust me when I tell you that you need to read this book anyway. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
peacesamm's review against another edition
4.0
A bit predictable, but still made me enjoy the story. The character was frustrating at times, but not too much where it ruined the book
diang's review against another edition
3.0
I am not going to lie this was quite underwhelming. I really wanted this book to succeed, because I love tennis. But it didn't hit me.
Even as a tennis lover, this book was too much tennis for me. It feels like you're reading news summaries of tennis matches. And in between those summaries, you could find the littlest plot. Don't get me wrong, I loved the father-daughter relationship, the rivalry with Nicki and the romance with Bowe. But it lacked depth.
Carrie is a character with her walls up high. And reading the entire book from her perspective got a little bit tough. I think it would've been better if we had the POV of her dad or the love interest in particular situations.
It was an okay read. Not mindblowing or revolutionary.
Even as a tennis lover, this book was too much tennis for me. It feels like you're reading news summaries of tennis matches. And in between those summaries, you could find the littlest plot. Don't get me wrong, I loved the father-daughter relationship, the rivalry with Nicki and the romance with Bowe. But it lacked depth.
Carrie is a character with her walls up high. And reading the entire book from her perspective got a little bit tough. I think it would've been better if we had the POV of her dad or the love interest in particular situations.
It was an okay read. Not mindblowing or revolutionary.
happilywilted's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I need this to be a movie or series yesterday.
I read a review from someone saying that every book that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes could be a movie/series, and I absolutely agree. The characters were so fleshed out, and I genuinely cared about everyone.
I laughed, cried, etc. from this story, it was just so good.
After reading this and one other from TJR, I will continue to read more, because I can't get enough.
I knew nothing about tennis before this book, and I almost know nothing now, but I love it and enjoyed every second of it.
10/10 would recommend.
I read a review from someone saying that every book that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes could be a movie/series, and I absolutely agree. The characters were so fleshed out, and I genuinely cared about everyone.
I laughed, cried, etc. from this story, it was just so good.
After reading this and one other from TJR, I will continue to read more, because I can't get enough.
I knew nothing about tennis before this book, and I almost know nothing now, but I love it and enjoyed every second of it.
10/10 would recommend.
sararvsilva's review against another edition
5.0
Maravilhoso! É bom no nível de ‘Os Sete Maridos de Evelyn Hugo’. Foi um livro que eu comecei e, apesar do começo bastante arrastado, não consegui parar de ler. Estava a torcer pela Carrie como se tudo fosse realidade.
A Taylor é tão poderosa que me deixou com vontade de ver tenis depois de ler este livro. Fiquei completamente obcecada com a Carrie - que é uma personagem super complexa e muito bem construída - e com a maneira dela ser. Destemida.
O que adoro nestes livros é que para além da história super bem construída e das personagens serem apaixonantes, a Taylor aproveita a sua influência para falar de assuntos importantes, como a presença das mulheres no desporto, o facto de a Carrie ser uma mulher “mais velha” e ainda assim se superar, dá força às mulheres para não desistirem dos seus sonhos.
Adorei o romance, adorei a história, adorei o esforço que a Carrie faz, amei a relação pai/filha mas acima de tudo amei a Carrie, que é uma personagem que não deixa nada por dizer!
A Taylor é tão poderosa que me deixou com vontade de ver tenis depois de ler este livro. Fiquei completamente obcecada com a Carrie - que é uma personagem super complexa e muito bem construída - e com a maneira dela ser. Destemida.
O que adoro nestes livros é que para além da história super bem construída e das personagens serem apaixonantes, a Taylor aproveita a sua influência para falar de assuntos importantes, como a presença das mulheres no desporto, o facto de a Carrie ser uma mulher “mais velha” e ainda assim se superar, dá força às mulheres para não desistirem dos seus sonhos.
Adorei o romance, adorei a história, adorei o esforço que a Carrie faz, amei a relação pai/filha mas acima de tudo amei a Carrie, que é uma personagem que não deixa nada por dizer!
rocketdaddie's review against another edition
5.0
i can’t think of a sport i care about less than tennis and yet i was captivated the whole time
antcetera's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25