Review: Carrie Soto Is Back

Originally, this book wasn't even in my tbr and I hadn't even thought about reading it.  Like I'd seen some of my Goodreads friends from America actually entering giveaways for this book [Goodreads really need to start International giveaways, f you Jeff Bezos]. But yeah, when I found this book along with a book I was waiting for, I decided, why not?

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season.

QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 5/5, STUNNING, BEAUTIFUL AND THAT IS EXACTLY HOW YOU WRITE A NOVEL.

Possible Trigger Tags: 

1. Death of parent

2. Grief

3. Misogyny

4. Body shaming

5. Minor mentions of alcoholism

WHAT DID I FEEL ABOUT THE  BOOK'S: 

1. Writing Quality: So I'd really like to say is that Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to write a story based in the industry. First Daisy Jones, then Evelyn Hugo and now Carrie Soto. Well, more like documentaries and autobiography style. But my point being is that, the book is a very draw-you-in kind of thing. The story is being told in first person narration through Carrie's POV and I think what makes it better is just the fact that it sounds like a fricking documentary.

2. Character Development: Now unlike other stories, which contain a lot of characters, this book focuses on mainly three. 

Carrie: Carrie is relentless and she hates losing. From a young age she's been taught to be ruthless and to be a better version of her last game every single time. She has this innate fire inside her heart that makes her want to win every single thing in which she's competing. She strives to be the best and she actually does have the skill to back it up. But I think Carrie is a bit insecure about herself. Having grown around tennis and being coached as well as brought up by her father, it kind of made her close in on itself and hence prevented her from being a better human being. She does feel insecure sometimes and hence tries to hide away her insecurities by using her skills and striving to be on top. And she's scared, she's scared that feeling things might throw her off her game so she closes her heart off every single time.

Javier Soto: Javier Soto is a passionate father not gonna lie and I really love how supportive he is to his own daughter. It's not uncommon in tennis that players are coached by their parents and I think it's wonderful. And unlike how parent-coaches are usually portrayed as being only a wonderful coach and a terrible parent, Javier is actually a really great parent as well as a great coach. He knows when to turn off coach mode and be a parent and when to turn off parent mode and be a coach. And I think we need a more healthy portrayal of parent-coaches with their player children. We need it, because it exists.

Bowe Huntley: That name really sounds like an 80s rock musician to be honest. Like that name really emits those vibes, doesn't it? I really get those vibes. He's not really much developed as a character much, but he is seen as the nice guy who just simply needs a second chance after all the vices are removed from him. But yeah, he does seem really supportive of Carrie's career and I guess that's that.

3. Couldn't put it down- Ness: 10/10, very easy to read, very compelling.

4. Plot: Now, what makes this novel very much close to me is the setting and industry that it's built in. I very much suck at playing sports, and I follow only very select ones, but this one is much more closer to my heart. I have followed the game of tennis for about 10-12 years and every time the Grand Slams happen I try to make sure I can catch every single one of the matches [mostly men's and women's singles]. And I cannot even begin to describe the happiness I felt because I didn't feel out of place and rushing over to Google every time I didn't know a term. Because I did know, I knew every single code-word and I knew every single term and I could actually imagine what was happening on the court without having to think much. And I think that is the best thing that a book has ever done to me. And following Carrie's story out of retirement back to fame, that was just wonderful. Fuck, I feel emotional and nostalgic. 

Have Studio Ghibli houses cuz they cute.

Also, like a cringe YouTuber I must now present, my server, Rosie's Cave in case y'all want to get more quirky stuff from yours truly.

OVERALL, A GEAT READ, read this book ASAP!