nora_knight's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Everything that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes is so so beautiful. Her characters are so intricately crafted, so perfectly flawed, and entirely human; it takes my breath away every time. I don't particularly enjoy tennis but this book was so incredibly engaging, I couldn't put it down. I absolutely adore how TJR truly understands her characters, what motivates them, and their truths (the ones they've admitted and the ones they haven't); it shines in the ways her characters interact and form relationships. Reading her writing is like reading art.
Graphic: Death, Grief, Cursing, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I will preface this review with two things: I have very limited knowledge of tennis (most of it comes from media talking about Serena Williams) and I have read Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo.
There was more tennis technical jargon and stuff than I thought there was going to be. It took me a hot minute to learn it but even then I think I only understand enough for the context of this book. Other than that this book was pretty much what I expected including a Mick Riva mention
I know this book is inspired by the Williams sisters and their father but how inspired?? Again I have l’initier tennis world knowledge but I felt like pieces were taken from media sound bites of the them.
I did enjoy the formatting of the book, similar to Evelyn Hugo with the journal pieces interspersed with the chapters that are broken down chronologically in relation to major events. It’s what you expect from a TJR book with a strong independent female character that doesn’t give a shit about what others think.
I have more thoughts on the characters and plot of this book that are mildly spoilers so I will keep them from this review.
There was more tennis technical jargon and stuff than I thought there was going to be. It took me a hot minute to learn it but even then I think I only understand enough for the context of this book. Other than that this book was pretty much what I expected including a Mick Riva mention
I know this book is inspired by the Williams sisters and their father but how inspired?? Again I have l’initier tennis world knowledge but I felt like pieces were taken from media sound bites of the them.
I did enjoy the formatting of the book, similar to Evelyn Hugo with the journal pieces interspersed with the chapters that are broken down chronologically in relation to major events. It’s what you expect from a TJR book with a strong independent female character that doesn’t give a shit about what others think.
I have more thoughts on the characters and plot of this book that are mildly spoilers so I will keep them from this review.
Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Sexism
More...