Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Carrie Soto is Back” took me on an emotional and moving journey, leaving me in tears. This book was recommended to me through the Hackley Book Club, and I am grateful for the recommendation, as it turned out to be a masterpiece. This book is great for young adults and teens both who like tennis or want to learn more. So many aspects of this book kept me captivated and eager for more with each turn of the page.
“Carrie Soto is Back” follows the life of Carrie, daughter of an Argentine tennis champion, as she ascends the ranks of the tennis world, ultimately achieving the remarkable feat of holding the world record for the most singles Slam titles and attaining the number one ranking multiple times. The story then picks up five years later, as a determined Carrie, now thirty seven, resolves to stage a comeback after learning that her Grand Slam record has been equaled by tennis player Nicki Chan. Determined to reclaim her place at the top, Carrie enters the four Grand Slam tournaments.
It became evident to me when I reached the third chapter that I had a strong feeling of the direction the book was heading towards. Most sports fiction books are pretty predictable because readers are rooting for the main character, so certain things have to occur for the main character to succeed. However, despite this, if there was one thing that excited me and got my blood pumping about this book, was the descriptive detail and sharpness of each match in the book. Taylor Jenkins Reid truly captures each game with such grace, and it is as if I were really in the stands watching Carrie dance on the court. It was predictable yet unpretentious wondering if Carrie would finish her match strong and take a bow.
From the moment I was introduced to Carrie as a character, it was crystal clear that she was no joke. She is such a remarkably complex and intriguing character. She’s cold-hearted, insensitive, and does not care if her words will hurt you. Even her nickname, “Battleaxe,” lets you know all you need to know about her. Carrie is so interesting because, although she appears confident in who she is, throughout the book, you get little glimpses of her being vulnerable and unsure of herself, looking for validation in others to tell her she’s the best. She puts up this whole act to try to appear brave, but deep down, the reader and even Carrie know that she’s trying to protect herself from the harsh realities of the world she lives in. This world she lives in has people constantly criticizing and attacking her for staying in the sport as a woman well past her prime. Carrie pushes people away because she’s afraid of being hurt. From a young age she’s learned this. From losing her mother all the way to how her father trained and raised her to be. I think this quality about Carrie makes her particularly relatable, because I think everyone’s been in a place where one tries to separate themselves from other people to stop themselves from getting hurt. Deep down even though you want to believe something a part of you believes otherwise. Despite all these negatives about Carrie, it is impossible not to empathize with her and root for her. Throughout the book, she undergoes significant personal growth through her different relationships, such as Bowe, who helped her open her heart and be open to criticism. Of course, there were moments when Carrie’s treatment of others bothered me, as she displayed a complete lack of remorse both on and off the court. However, it is her flaws that make her who she is and a great character to read about.
To sum it up, this book has complex characters, authentic relationships, and descriptive settings. It is a great journey about empowering women in sports, and I’m so happy to have been a part of it. Even if you know nothing about tennis, this book will teach you so much about the sport. If anything, Taylor’s writing style, as well as her characters, aced every point, making this book a grand slam read.
