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.

Booksparks 2014 Summer Reading Challenge - Taylor Jenkins Reid's After I Do

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College sweethearts, Lauren and Ryan have been together for nearly ten years and their marriage has hit a rough patch. A long, long rough patch...For many months, the romance has fizzled and they have gone from a loving marriage, to living as roommates. Worse than living as roommates, their relationship has declined to a point where they can't stand to be around one another. They're snipping and irritable over minor things. Finally, they hit a breaking point and their feelings spill out. Rather than immediately filing for divorce, they make a pact to separate for a year and to have zero contact. They will spend the year focusing on themselves and their own needs, in hopes that it will strengthen their marriage when they reunite.

Admittedly, my above paragraph makes Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel, After I Do, sound really ridiculous. It's not though. As I was reading it, I was engaged. Lauren and Ryan feel like real people and having gone through a divorce, I found myself being able to completely relate to their situation and emotions. 

Stylistically, Reid makes a strong choice with writing short chapters early in the story to build tension and to set the time line. It's punchy and keeps the intensity with regard to the pacing. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story and felt that it kept me emotionally invested in the characters. Reid keeps it simple, which keeps the story strong. Her phrasing is often simply stated and stark, which I felt was more emotional, than if she had written flowery prose. It fit the tone. 

In many ways, After I Do reminds me of my favorite musical, Robert Jason Brown's The Last Five Years. It's not just that the two relate with the theme of a marriage falling apart, but that they both feel honest and real. The both have heartwarming and gut-wrenching moments. They both have rounded characters.  

I really liked Lauren's family. It's impossible to read this story and not fall in love with them. Is it possible to be adopted by a fictional family?

I was left a tad dissatisfied with the ending. It wrapped up too easily and too completely. I think that I would have wanted the same ending, but to have it drawn out a little and not so easily resolved. 

Overall, I felt this was a carefully rendered story of a relationship that felt true to life. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, especially if you've been through a rocky relationship or divorce. Mostly, I enjoyed Reid's writing style and I look forward to reading more of her stories.