the setup…
Carrie Soto is back! When she retired five years ago at the age of thirty-two, she held the record for winning the most grand slam tournaments. Now the current tennis wunderkind, Nicki Chan, has tied her record, the one that has defined her legacy. And Carrie wants it back after having sacrificed everything to gain it. That means coming out of retirement, returning to the brutal training discipline and competing with a younger and talented crop of new players and winning one more.
the heart of the story…
To understand Carrie’s decision, it is important to know who she was during her heyday. I found it instructive and she clearly earned her reputation and “Battle Axe” moniker. I struggled initially because she not only was unlikable to tennis fans but to me as a reader. Her father, Javier, raised her alone following her mother’s death when she was very young and he was her coach for most of her career. But somewhere along her journey my feelings about her shifted as I did come to understand her drive, the obstacles she faced and how she’d been hard wired. She reminded me so much of the young Martina Navratilova who was so unpopular for years even though she was an outstanding champion. Carrie also grew emotionally as she grappled with her own physical limitations and maturation. It was subtle and gradual, making me feel what she was experiencing and respect her as an athlete.
the narration…
My goodness, the audio version is a work of art with a full cast narration and dramatic effects. I knew this going in but was unprepared for the outstanding production. If you have the option, select the audiobook.
the bottom line…
The story timeline is from the late 1980’s through the mid 1990’s when the environment for women’s sports lacked enlightenment. I appreciated the wide range of issues that entailed, which were incorporated into all of Carrie’s layers. She’s one of the most complex fictional characters I’ve encountered and that just made this a more intellectual experience. I like tennis and am not a diehard fan but loved all the tournament play-by-play. There’s no need to worry about that aspect. Just immerse yourself in those moments and feel what Carrie felt. As I neared the end, I was unclear about what outcome I wanted for her, which surprised me. That’s just great character development and storytelling.
Book Info
- Release Date: August 30, 2022
- Narrators: Stacy Gonzalez, Mary Carillo, Patrick McEnroe, Rob Simmelkjaer, Brendan Wayne, Max Meyers, Reynaldo Piniella, Vidish Athavale, Tom Bromhead, Heath Miller, Julia Whelan & Sara Arrington
- Audio Length: 10 hours, 30 minutes
- Publisher: Random House Audio
Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm
(Thanks to Libro.fm and Random House Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Blue Mood Café 
Wonderful review Jo! I’m listening to this at the moment and I have exactly the same conflicts about her as you did! 😂 btw I much prefer the US cover with all that gold. It’s stunning!
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Thank you, Nicki💜 Isn’t the audio something special? I hope you get to the same place with Carrie that I did.
I normally prefer the UK covers but this time the difference is remarkable. This cover fits the character.
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Great timing for this book with the US Open now!
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Carol, I was thinking the same thing as I was listening to it! Though she and Serena Williams couldn’t be more different, them both playing at an older age was an interesting contrast.
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I see this book everywhere at the moment. Not being particularly interested in tennis, I wondered if this book would be boring, but most people (not just tennis fans) seem to have enjoyed it. The audio-version sounds good!
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I’m a fan of the author and even I was worried about the central topic. But typical of her, the story is one more focused on the themes of the human condition with tennis being the backdrop. I like tennis but rarely watch it these days so I was so pleased that it didn’t interfere with my enjoyment.
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This sounds like a very moving story. I enjoy tennis and I think it would be fascinating to look at the player beyond the sport. And, I love that the audio version is so amazing. Excellent review, Jo!
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Thank you, Tessa💜 You’re gonna love this then! And, I know you don’t do a lot of audio but this is the one.
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Excellent review! I haven’t read this author but plan to at some point.
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Thanks, Anne💜 Oh, you’ve got to make this author a priority. She’s that good.
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I’m glad you enjoyed your time with Carrie Soto! It sounds like the audio enhances the experience considerably. Fab review! xx
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Thanks, Yvo💜 I realize I placed my comment about the Spanish on the wrong post. It was meant for this one😏
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Haha figures that I didn’t even realize. xD
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Great review, Jonetta. 😀 Seems like a heart-touching story.
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Thanks, Debjani💜 It was extremely emotional.
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I have loved how four of Reid’s books have interconnected. Of the most recent ones, Daisy Jones & The SIx and Malibu Rising were my favorites.
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I didn’t catch on to that at first and now have to backtrack to read one I missed. I loved Daisy & Malibu, too.
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It took me awhile to catch on- it wasn’t until Malibu Rising when I thought the dad reminded me of the Sinatra-esque husband of Evelyn Hugo and then I put it all together!
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