Okay, wow. Carrie Soto Is Back hit me right in the 40-year-old feelings. I did not expect to relate so hard to a fictional tennis legend, but here we are.
Tennis legend Carrie comes out of retirement for “one final season” to reclaim her record and remind the world who she is. And honestly? That idea—getting one more shot, refusing to let the best part of life feel behind you… I feel that. There’s something so relatable about not wanting to fade into the background while the younger, shinier people take over. Add in the sting of watching them make it look easy? Ouch.
Taylor Jenkins Reid sneaks in these phrases that stick in my brain forever. Like “fresh knees.” I cackle. I never even thought about my joints until last year...
Relationships shine in this book - both the dad and the love story. Believable moments, all around.
So the big question - do I understand tennis now? Barely. But I didn’t care. This book is so good, so I’ll read 300 more pages about love and serves and volleys.
This book is about what it feels like to fight for one last shot at greatness—and it’s a story that makes you cheer, cry, and laugh at aging joints.
