Taylor Jenkins Reid has become a must-read for me when a new book is released. Her quick-wit, tight writing, and compelling characters always seem to keep me engaged and her newest book is no exception. One of my favourite aspects of Jenkins Reid books is the fact that her novels never really feel familiar. I don’t read them and get a sense of deja-vu of her past books (or anyone elses) although I always am able to quickly visualize the characters she is writing about and place them with real people I have met or read about.
I enjoyed this book. As the daughter of a former high-performing athlete and professional coach, reading this book made me appreciate the time and detail that went into describing the incredible focus, determination, mental and physical discipline required to be an athlete. I also love that the book focused on the relationship to the sport and her father (coach). There was some romance, but that wasn’t what the story was about. The book is long, but it could have been longer if she had spent more time on describing games or interactions with characters, but again… how many ways can you describe a tennis game in detail especially to an audience who might not understand the nuance between matches.
I don’t think you can read this book without having Serena Williams front of mind. (Just like I was constantly picturing Liz Taylor and Rita Hayworth when reading the 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo). I wasn’t imagining Serena as the character of Carrie, for one Carrie is described as Latina, and for another, there is a lot of focus on the way Carrie reacts and interacts with other players that were very specific to the character, which is I think the point and super intentional, pretty sure the author wanted us to imagine great tennis players playing great tennis as we read, without specific caricatures coming to mind.
It isn’t a deep book, it isn’t surprising or going to change the world. It’s a good book about sport and athletes and family. There wasn’t murder, chaos, betrayal and that’s what I like about Jenkins Reid – she writes fictional books that feel like stories about real people who lead real lives. Nothing about Carrie Soto is Back was fantastical- but it was a bit inspirational and I have to admit I loved the ending, which I can’t say for too many books.