leahgustafson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
I put off reading this one longer than I’d liked. Honestly, this one might be tied for my favorite TJR book. This book is intense, face-paced, and I could not get enough!
•
Carrie is an extremely complex character. She can be cold, closed-off, and sometimes down-right rude. However, there are things that make her likeable too. I connected with her competitiveness, intensity, drive, and will to win. You can’t help but admire her determination and work ethic.
•
I love how TJR highlights barriers and double standards female athletes face. This wasn’t super overt, but comments about what women should be wearing, how they are expected to act towards each other, and what the media expects them to say is in sharp contrast with the male players’ behavior. Perhaps my favorite thing about this story, aside from the character development, is the exploration of “greatness.” Throughout the story there are various metrics presented to determine who is “the best.” The reader (alongside Carrie) comes to find that all of these are extremely subjective. This is a very difficult lesson that Carrie struggles with throughout the story, often sacrificing her own happiness and relationships with others along the way in order to “achieve” and continue chasing this title.
•
I absolutely adored Carrie’s relationship with her father, Javier. I feel like they both grow a lot throughout the story, and TJR does a great job developing him as well.
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
lianne_rooney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Medical content and Cancer
thebookpaiges's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Racism, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
nadiaherondale's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I shouldn't be too proud I guess, of saying that I see myself so much in Carrie Soto that there were parts at the beginning that cut too deep. I just love her, her growth, her strength, her perfectionism and anger and the sheer willpower of being herself despite what everyone thinks. And what can I say about Bowe, and Nicki, and Gwen? Just that, once again, I'm mesmerized by Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing, of her ability to write such complex characters that you can't help but fall in love with all of them. There was never a moment on this book in which I wanted it to end a well deserved 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming and Infidelity
Minor: Sexism
nicolawarmington's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
katywhyte's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Racism, Misogyny, and Alcoholism
hmih's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Cursing
Minor: Cancer
samsbgarcia's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
nanci's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
abitofapoet's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Yet another Taylor Jenkins Reid book that I absolutely have to give five stars to. I honestly wasn’t sure about how much I would like this, especially considering the only sport I’m interested in typically is hockey, but I loved this book. I was hanging on to every word, and I felt like I was actually watching each tennis match. It was described so perfectly, and so easy to follow even for someone who doesn’t know the sport well. (I’d say the extent of my knowledge previous to this came from playing Wii sports tennis with my sister lollll)
Carrie’s feelings of desperation, hopelessness, and being so power-hungry were written perfectly. Listening to the audiobook I was 100% in her head. I also adored the relationship between her and her father, and found myself falling in love with the love her that and Bo have for each other.
I cannot wait to read more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books!!
Carrie’s feelings of desperation, hopelessness, and being so power-hungry were written perfectly. Listening to the audiobook I was 100% in her head. I also adored the relationship between her and her father, and found myself falling in love with the love her that and Bo have for each other.
I cannot wait to read more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Injury/injury detail