Taylor Jenkins Reid Is Back, with Another Show Stopping Novel

Carrie Soto is the greatest tennis player the world has ever known, setting the record for the most Grand Slam titles of any tennis player in history. She’s fierce, stubborn, determined, and according to the public, arrogant. She’s called multiple things in the media, including her infamous nickname “The Battleaxe”. But call her whatever you want because Carrie couldn’t care less. At the age of 31, Carrie made the decision to retire from tennis. Six years after Carrie’s retirement, she watched as tennis star Nicki Chan won the 1994 US Open, and tied her record. At the age of 37, Carrie made the decision to return to tennis in an attempt to reclaim her record, with her father coaching her all the way. Does she have what it takes to reclaim her place in tennis history? At the end of the day, the only opinion that matters to Carrie is her own. So say whatever you want, Carrie Soto is back for one final season.

This novel had me captivated and I could not put it down. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing makes readers feel like they are reading about a real person. When readers finish any of her stories, they find it hard to believe that the characters aren’t out somewhere in the real world living their own lives. That is how amazing of an author Taylor Jenkins Reid is. Also, the life lessons that she tells in her stories are so inspiring. For example, readers may think that Carrie Soto Is Back is simply a novel about a tennis player, but when reading the book, readers realize that it is a story about feminism, determination, love, loss, and letting go. Every single one of her stories can teach something.

Carrie Soto is a character that to other people may seem unlikeable, but while reading this book you can’t help but fall in love with her. Her confidence is something that everybody wishes they had. It may be seen as cockyness at times, but Carrie is the best and she knows it. Personally, I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of. As the story goes on, you start to see the layers behind Carrie’s confidence. She’s human too and has normal emotions. She experiences heartbreak and doubt just like anybody else and exploring those parts of Carrie was so amazing to read.

One of the best parts of this book was the relationship between Carrie and her father, Javier. They show the love between a father and daughter, but also the difficulties of a parent also being their child’s coach. Javier always pushes Carrie to be the best, but he also just wants her to enjoy the game of tennis. Sometimes Carrie can get so stuck on the concept of winning that she forgets to enjoy herself. This causes some arguments between the two, but no matter what, Javier will always be Carrie’s biggest fan. The special relationship these two share was so sweet and gave the book so much more depth. My favorite quote from the book that describes Javier’s love for Carrie is when Javier said, “My heart hurts when you hurt because you are my heart” (222).

Carrie’s dedication to her sport is inspiring and as a student athlete, reading this book changed the way I view sports. It gave me motivation to be the best version of myself as an athlete that I can be. Even if you are not an athlete, this story can give you the motivation to change your life. After finishing this book, I found myself wanting to have the fire and confidence that Carrie has. A book that has that much influence is one that everybody should read.

In my opinion, Carrie Soto Is Back is definitely a five star book. It is a fun and inspiring read that anyone can enjoy. If you enjoy this book, try reading some of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other hits including The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and The Six, and Malibu Rising. These four novels all revolve around the concept of fame and they all have some sort of connection to each other. They are extremely entertaining and fun reads!