Release Date: August 30th 2022
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 369
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley and I bought a copy of this from my local Waterstones
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Synopsis
Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.
By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the ‘Battle-Axe’ anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.
In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback.
Review
The newest release from Evelyn Hugo author Taylor Jenkins Reid, the story follows retired tennis player Carrie Soto. After retiring six years ago, Carrie holds the world record for most grand slams. When she watches the 1994 US Open and sees Nicki Chan beat her record, she makes the decision to come out of retirement and try to reclaim her record. At thirty-seven everyone is ready to count her out but Carrie will do whatever it takes to succeed, even working with Bowe Huntley.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author I never thought would be for me. I predominantly read epic fantasy and I have never gravitated towards books like Carrie Soto. However, I read Daisy Jones and the Six when it was first released and could not put it down. I then read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising and thought they were both incredible. Going into Carrie Soto I had pretty high expectations and Taylor Jenkins Reid one hundred percent delivered. This book is a heart pounding, unforgettable story.
Reid has a gorgeous writing style and I loved the way she brought the sights and sounds of the tennis court to life. I really felt like I was there, watching Carrie battle for her record. The story is well paced and I was glued to the book till the very last page. This book also pulled me out of a pretty big reading slump when I was really struggling to find something to keep me hooked.
Where Reid particularly shines is with the captivating characters she creates. Carrie feels like a real person and I loved following her on this journey. I was fascinated by her relationships with her father and Bowe and the way they changed as the story progressed. Carrie Soto Is Back is an incredibly well crafted story and if you’re a fan of Reid’s other books, this is one you will not want to miss.
Creeping Beauty caught my eye as it was described as a subversive and feminist take on Sleeping Beauty. I love reimaginings of Sleeping Beauty so couldn’t wait to dive in. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me. The story follows Bitsy a plain princess and heir to the throne. Her parents want her to marry but are finding it difficult to find a suitable match. When Bitsy accidentally pricks her finger on a spinning wheel, she is transported to a world where beauty is the most important thing and people will do anything they can to make themselves beautiful. Will Bitsy be able to escape and return to her kingdom, and will she be the same person when she gets there?
The Phoenix King is the first in an all new sci-fi/fantasy trilogy from Aparna Verma. In a world where flames are magic, we follow three main characters. Elena is the heir to the throne but the powers she needs to hold the throne won’t come to her. Leo does not wish to give up his crown, he wants to ensure his legacy and will do anything he can to keep the power he needs. Yassen is an assassin who dreams of escaping his life and his reputation as a deadly assassin. To do this he must serve those he previously swore to kill.
Craig Russell’s The Devil’s Playground is a dark and enthralling tale that follows two timelines. In 1967 journalist Paul Conway is attempting to track down the only copy of The Devil’s Playground in existence – a silent film that was thought to be a cursed production with several tragic accidents and deaths linked to the film. Meanwhile, in 1927 Mary Rourke is a fixer for a Hollywood film studio – she does what she can to ensure the studio and its actors are never seen in a bad light. The studio is currently working on a film that is thought to be the most terrifying horror film ever made – The Devil’s Playground. When Mary discovers the body of the lead actress, she begins to wonder if there are any truths to the rumour that this is a cursed production.
I really enjoyed reading A. M. Shine’s The Watchers so I was incredibly intrigued to see what the author would write next. The Creeper follows two researchers – Ben and Chloe – who are invited to take part in a research trip by Dr Sparling. He sends them to a remote village in Ireland – a village that has no contact with the rest of the world. He asks them to gather their stories, find out their history and ask them what they know about the creeper. When the arrive the locals say very little and refuse to talk about the creeper. Then a little girl tells them the story – three times you see him and each night he comes closer. When Ben and Chloe are visited by a sinister figure watching them, they begin to realize the creeper might be more than just a legend. Will they be able to uncover the truth and save themselves from this monster?
The second installment in the Twin Crowns series, this story follows sisters Rose and Wren as they attempt to rule the kingdom of Eana. Despite only being on the throne for a short period of time, trouble is already brewing. There are those who are against witches being on the throne, and desperate to remove them. Their grandmother is also being held captive by King Alarik, and Wren will do anything to get her back. As the two sisters set out on separate quests, will they be able to survive long enough to rule their kingdom?
The Housekeepers is a compulsively readable tale that follows Mrs. King, a housekeeper who has recently been dismissed from the a wealthy home in Mayfair. Mrs King is much more than she seems and decides to recruit a team of women to help her enact the ultimate revenge: robbing the house of every single possession on the night of the house’s huge costume ball. But Mrs King has many secrets and her quest for revenge isn’t just about the money. Will the team be able to successfully pull off the heist?
Melinda Salisbury’s Her Dark Wings is a fresh and modern day look at the Persephone myth. We follow Corey, a young girl recently betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend. When her best friend unexpectedly dies, Corey sees something she shouldn’t and finds herself trapped in the underworld. Can Corey make it back to her family and will she be the same person when she does?
Camp Damascus is a dark and haunting horror story that follows a young woman named Rose, who has had a very Christian upbringing. She believes wholeheartedly in the tenets of the Church, living in a town that is famous for Camp Damascus, the “most effective” gay conversion camp ever. When Rose starts seeing strange things, she begins to realize that something more sinister might be going on at the church.
Girls of Little Hope is the dark and gripping tale of three friends who go missing in the woods. As police and the public begin to mount a search for girls, two of them – Donna and Rae – are found. When questioned about the whereabouts of their friend – Kat, the two girls say they can’t remember what happened to them. Plagued with questions, the missing girl’s mother decides to launch her own investigation to discover what happened to her daughter. Donna doesn’t remember what happened, but she’s determined to find out what happened to Kat. Returning the woods and the cave they entered, Donna uncovers a secret so much darker than she ever thought possible.
The Bibliophile Chronicles 