Reading, or listening to, the Taylor Jenkins Reid book “Daisy Jones and the Six” was one of my favorite reads of 2020; I still herald it whenever someone is looking for an audiobook, or a book, to completely fall into. Reid has the ability to write fiction so realistically that you forget that what you are reading isn’t the most engaging memoir of all time, but fiction. That was true about Daisy Jones and it’s true about this book.
In Carrie Soto, Reid has rewritten history and Carrie Soto is the world’s preeminent women’s tennis champion, holding the record for the most Grand Slam wins. She’s been retired for five years but her legacy is now in danger as another champion is on the heels of her record. Carrie must decide if she can let enough be enough, or if she’s going to go back out there to show that she is and remains the best tennis player in the world.
Carrie is an interesting character to try to root for because she is terribly unlikeable in the sense that she isn’t warm or caring or any of the things we are supposed to want out of a female. She is unapologetic, focused, competitive, and has little patience for other people. And why shouldn’t she be? She has worked her entire life to be great at something, and she is and that’s all that matters.
As a person who regularly follows exactly zero sporting events (other than the Olympics), I found this deep dive into the world of athletic excellence to be truly fascinating. We get an understanding of the talent, dedication, and sacrifice it takes for an elite athlete to be at the top of their game. Also, Reid uses fun devices in her books to show other POVs and in this one, though Carrie is the main character and narrator, we get transcripts of sports shows to show how Carrie is portrayed in the media. Spoiler: not great! Because a woman who is strong, successful, and not humble isn’t what the world likes to see. We like our women with a bit more apology than Carrie ever gives because she gives zero.
I am truly delighted that this is only the second of Reid’s books I have read, so I still have more of her characters to meet for the first time.
