Genre: Contemporary / Historical
Book Type: Audio
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrator: Stacy Gonzalez, Mary Carillo, Patrick McEnroe, Rob Simmelkjaer, Brendan Wayne, Max Meyers, Reynaldo Piniella, Vidish Athavale, Tom Bromhead, Heath Miller, Julia Whelan & Sara Arrington
Pages / Length: 382 pages / 10 hours and 30 minutes
Publisher: Ballentine Books (August 30, 2022) / Random House Audio
Book Description:
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. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.
Thoughts:
I mean, over the last 18 months I’ve become a HUGE TJR fan, and this book is an example of why I love her so much!
I love a strong, female character, but also love how well this book depicts the challenges, a woman faces by being strong and independent, and the pressures to be the image others want you to be. I loved Carrie’s strength in knowing who she was and what she wanted to be - unapologetically so. As she described the stress she faced as “It wasn’t enough to play nearly perfect tennis. I had to do it, and also appear charming. And that term head to appear effortless.”
As much as I loved Carrie, her dad was equally my favorite with his inspiration words of wisdom:
“Do not let what anyone says about you determine how you feel about yourself.”
“You were not born that person. You were born to become that person.”
This was absolutely heartfelt, inspiring and moving, and is why I am an auto-buy for TJR.
***Also, the audio on this was one of the best I’ve ever listened to!***
Favorite Quotes:
🎾 My father stopped in place. "Because we are winners. Do no grow a chip on your shoulder, Carolina," he said. "Do not let what anyone says about you determine how you feel about yourself." (Page 25)
🎾 "Every match you play, you are one match closer to becoming the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen. You were not born that person. You were born to become that person. And that is why you must beat yourself every time you get on the court. Not so that you beat the other person -"
"But so that I become more myself," I finish. (Page 34)
🎾 No matter how good I was on the court, I was never good enough for the public.
It wasn't enough to play nearly perfect tennis. I had to do that and also be charming. And that charm had to appear effortless.
I couldn't seem to be trying to get them to like me. I could not let anyone every suspect that I might want their approval. (Page 53 - 54)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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