Book Review- Taylor Jenkins Reid's Carrie Soto is Back

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Carrie Soto is Back.

Retired tennis champion Carrie Soto decides to play another season when a younger player surpasses Carrie’s Grand Slam record. In her mid-thirties and having not played professionally in years, Carrie fears that she will not only lose her Grand Slam record, but also face ridicule for trying. Carrie must fight to get back into physical and mental shape, primarily battling her own pride. Carrie must not only be better than the other players, but exceed the player she was in her youth. The public loves a good comeback story, but Carrie was also a polarizing figure, a ruthless player dubbed “The Battle- Axe,” who never develop a warmth within the tennis community.

On her side, she has her father, Javier, who is both a demanding coach and loving parent. To aid in her training, Carrie practices with fellow player and former love interest, Bowe Huntly. Like Carrie, Bowe is an older tennis player who is struggling to remain on the circuit. Unlike Carrie, Bowe is a charismatic and likable player who has the love of the audience and commentators. As they improve their skills on the court, their early tension gives way to friendship and eventually romance.

I throughly enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back. I’ve read all of Reid’s recent books and this is my new favorite. Carrie Soto is a bad-ass who fights for what she wants and knows her value. She’s tough. She also very cold and private. She’s extremely guarded, making her a difficult person for many people to like. However, as this is a novel and we can dive into Carrie’s perspective, we get to see why she is so difficult. Carrie lost her mom at a young age, devastating their family and leaving Javier to focus on raising his daughter. Javier is a former tennis star and it is his great passion, one that he wanted to pass along to his daughter, who loves tennis, but also desperately wants to please her dad. As Carrie shows skill and promise towards a future in tennis, her world grows smaller, everything is about tennis and winning. Carrie does not develop normal social skills and doesn’t have a typical childhood.

Carrie’s comeback story is one of transformation. When she retires from tennis in her early thirties, she does not know who she is or how to move forward. Plunging back into tennis allows her to regain her bearings, but she also knows that it is not going to last forever, she is getting older and tennis is a young person’s sport. This last hurrah gives her time think about life beyond tennis and what that might mean for her. It’s a fantastic set up for a very satisfying character arc. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if Carrie regains her titles or fails, it only matters that Carrie can move on. I loved this story arc. The framing of the tennis matches keeps the story exciting, but the core is about personal growth.

The connection between Javier and Carrie is beautiful and emotional. I felt this was the true heart of the story, as we get to see how Carrie’s views of her relationship with Javier change with time and perspective. She is so consumed with tennis that she does not see that her father is always proud of her. When Carrie can resolve some of the conflicts she has had with her father and her childhood, she is allowed a sense of peace. It’s lovely.

I also liked the theme of not allowing age to stop you from chasing dreams. Both Carrie and Bowe are counted-out as potential tournament threats and they know that they might not be as quick as younger players, but they also know that they have muscle memory and skills that they can use to be competitive. The themes with Carrie and Bowe are two-fold: don’t let age stop you, but also know that your whole life is not defined by a single accomplishment. There is so much more to every person. This really resonated with me.

Carrie Soto is Back is a fabulous read! You do not need to know much about tennis to enjoy it, as it is well explained. Also, you do not need to have read Reid’s previous books, although Carrie does make an appearance in her previous novel, Malibu Rising. Reid always drops in mentions of characters from her other works, more as an Easter egg for fans. It’s a fun touch.

Book Review- Lisa Jewell's The Family Remains

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for a copy of Lisa Jewell’s The Family Remains.

The Family Remains is a sequel to Jewell’s 2019 novel, The Family Upstairs. The first novel in the series ended without necessarily requiring a sequel, yet left many of the characters adrift after escaping a traumatizing situation. The Family Remains brings a sense of closure to their lives, allowing the characters time to rebuild and process. Although, of course the story is not so simple, as that would make for a very dull book!

In The Family Remains, siblings Lucy and Henry are faced with confronting their past, when Henry decided to track down an old friend. Henry is a mysterious character and it is unclear if unresolved childhood damage has turned him into a dangerous adult. Lucy, who has been living under a different identity and fears exposure, is compelled to risk her secrecy and fly to Chicago to find Henry. Exposure for the siblings is further risked when the body of a pop-star washes ashore on the Thames, a decades old murder that involves the siblings.

You do not need to have read The Family Upstairs to understand or enjoy The Family Remains. They are independent books. However, I feel that my experience of the sequel was enhanced by reading the first book. I wish I had read them back-to-back, as I had forgotten many details of The Family Upstairs Jewell does not often write sequels, but I was pleased that she decided to revisit these memorable characters and give them closure, especially Henry.

I’m a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and I have read most of her books. Although I enjoyed The Family Remains, I felt it was a little slower paced and not as engaging as her other books. Perhaps it was due to the necessary information drops to remind us of the events in The Family Upstairs. Also, the first book was very chilling and unexpected, while The Family Remains had less overall tension. It was more of a closure story than a straight-up mystery, which made me feel happy for the characters that I had grown to like, but also didn’t lends itself to the normal surprise of her other books.

One small thing that drove this California native crazy…Lucy’s family goes to burger chain In-and-Out during their visit to Chicago. This chain does not exist in Chicago! Because I knew this, it momentarily took me out of the story.

If you’re a fan, absolutely read The Family Remains. If you’re new to Jewell, read The Family Upstairs.

Book Review- Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died

Thank you to Libro FM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died.

Nickelodeon child star Jennette McCurdy recounts a deeply troubled relationship with her mother, including emotional abuse that lead to a severe eating disorder. McCurdy’s mother had a long battle with reoccurring cancer, eventually passing away when McCurdy was in her twenties. McCurdy candidly explains the relief she felt with her mother gone and her struggle to overcome the toxicity of her upbringing.

I’m Glad My Mom Died is the hot non-fiction book of late summer 2022. I work as a bookseller and it is impossible to get in stock. Customers ask for it in hushed tones, as if saying the title aloud might bring bad luck. I don’t remember the last time a book has initiated so many interesting conversations.

I was drawn to the title. I had not previously heard of McCurdy, as she is a younger generation and I never watched her shows on Nickelodeon. A majority of the customers seeking her book are fans, however, you do not need to be a fan to appreciate her memoir. I’m generally drawn to non-fiction titles dealing with death and mother/daughter relationships, which is why the title, especially paired with the cover photo, made it appealing. Unlike McCurdy, I had a mostly wonderful relationship with my mom, but I can relate to that taboo sense of relief when a parent dies and you have the freedom of breaking away from your childhood, including family expectations.

This memoir is shocking! McCurdy’s mom uses her daughter as a proxy to chase after unfulfilled ambitions. McCurdy would do anything to please her mom and keep harmony in their household, which included relationship tension between her parents. In her focus on being a people-pleaser, McCurdy feels pressure to be perfect, including attending a strict schedule of extra-curricular classes aimed at improving her chances in Hollywood. McCurdy’s body is scrutinized as her mom, who also has an eating disorder, is proud of her daughter’s restrictive eating. The calorie restriction is not only to keep McCurdy thin, but to help delay puberty and keep her looking young to book kid parts. McCurdy develops a fear of puberty. McCurdy uses humor to lighten the topics and perhaps to deflect from truly difficult memories. Her pacing and sarcasm made me laugh. She has a strong comedic sensibility, but ultimately her memoir just made me feel really sad for her situation.

The feeling of hope comes towards the end, after her mother dies. McCurdy can finally let go of toxic relationships, not only the one with her mother, and make efforts to change her self-destructive tendencies. She feels empowered to make positive choices for her own health and happiness. She’s a strong woman.

If you can get your hands on a copy of I’m Glad My Mom Died, you should read it. If not, the audio version, read by McCurdy is a great option. It’s the non-fiction book of the season and definitely a pop-culture moment.

Side note, after finishing the book and doing a little internet digging about McCurdy, I discovered the book was originally a stage play that ran in Hollywood. I hope she reboots her play as i’d love to see it. Also, I had never seen her acting and watched a few clips. Specifically, I watched a bit of Sam & Cat, which she co-starred with Ariana Grande. The show is a cheesy comedy for kids and McCurdy is fine in her role, but Grande is shockingly unwatchable. I guess it’s different looking at it from the perspective of an adult, but I’m really glad that this show wasn’t on my step-kids radar when they visited us! Grande’s squeaky, babyish voice is going to haunt my nightmares.