aovenus's review
3.0
I'm someone who didn't know anything about professional tennis and found tennis matches on TV boring to watch. But this book made that world very interesting and intriguing. I'm even tempted to catch a match or two on TV after reading this book. On the other hand, I do have mixed feelings about Charlie. She puts on a facade of being innocent and sweet, and seem to struggle with moral values. And yet, she acts extremely ruthless and self-centered most the time in the book, such as when she fires her coaches, or when she finds out about her father's girlfriend. She plays victim A LOT and makes everything about her.
alyfeth's review against another edition
3.0
A little slow - but I'm not sure anything will compare to The Devil Wears Prada for me.
khorrocks's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting insight into the world of professional tennis (through the lens of a chick lit novel).
The beginning held a lot of promise: a talented tennis player, heading towards the top of her game has a major injury - what does her future hold? But then the middle just got muddled and the ending was rushed and unfulfilling.She made it to her first Grand Slam Final, and we're given a play-by-play, and yet she loses. But at the end of the book, she goes to the US Open and we're left hanging? And throughout the book we read on and on about her "relationship" with Marco (who treated her horribly), but when she finally gets together with Dan we get no details? What's the deal? . Overall, it made me glad I didn't continue with tennis after seventh grade tennis camp.
But more often the mental focus was about consistency. The ability to squash the insistent, horrible thoughts in your mind: the slippery grass; the opponent’s faster-than-expected serve; the raucous crowd; the twinge in your elbow; the lame line umpire; the idiot in the stands in a neon shirt who won’t sit down; the sweat in your eyes . . . On and on the mind went, cycling through all the assaulting sights and smells and sounds that competed for a player’s attention. Only a select few of the players—through practice, experience, and sheer determination—ever developed the mental toughness to tune it all out. It was why hundreds of them had the strokes and the game to win, and so few were actual winners.
The beginning held a lot of promise: a talented tennis player, heading towards the top of her game has a major injury - what does her future hold? But then the middle just got muddled and the ending was rushed and unfulfilling.
But more often the mental focus was about consistency. The ability to squash the insistent, horrible thoughts in your mind: the slippery grass; the opponent’s faster-than-expected serve; the raucous crowd; the twinge in your elbow; the lame line umpire; the idiot in the stands in a neon shirt who won’t sit down; the sweat in your eyes . . . On and on the mind went, cycling through all the assaulting sights and smells and sounds that competed for a player’s attention. Only a select few of the players—through practice, experience, and sheer determination—ever developed the mental toughness to tune it all out. It was why hundreds of them had the strokes and the game to win, and so few were actual winners.
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
3.0
I got this in one of my Book Riot boxes but the odds are good that I'd have read it anyway because I liked The Devil Wears Prada and I really enjoy tennis.
I enjoyed the bones of this story but it still fell a bit flat to me. I think I didn't like Charlie quite enough and I found much of the story repetitive. I also thought the romantic resolution could have had a lot more build up. It wasn't hard to see where it was going just because I've read chick lit before and know the formula but I wanted to be more invested in what happened with that.
Verdict: it's fine if you like tennis but would likely be a snore if you don't
I enjoyed the bones of this story but it still fell a bit flat to me. I think I didn't like Charlie quite enough and I found much of the story repetitive. I also thought the romantic resolution could have had a lot more build up. It wasn't hard to see where it was going just because I've read chick lit before and know the formula but I wanted to be more invested in what happened with that.
Verdict: it's fine if you like tennis but would likely be a snore if you don't
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
3.0
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2016/09/10/the-singles-game-lauren-weisberger/
girlruppy's review against another edition
3.0
Easy light read. Predictable characters & plot, but still a fun quick read.