Latest novel by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid fails to shine

Latest novel by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid fails to shineSadly, Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest novel Carrie Soto is Back' falls short of the TJR greatness' her fans have become used to.

by Carmen Coetsee

18-01-2023 15:57

in Books

Carrie Soto is Back' is the latest novel from bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid. Image via Twitter @CHennighan

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the mind behind some of the past few years' bestselling books. Her novels include BookTok favourites like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and The Six and Malibu Rising.

--

Fans have eagerly been awaiting a new novel from her and luckily for us, the author recently released Carrie Soto is Back. Set in the 1970s to 1990s, Carrie Soto is Back transports readers into the world of tennis as we follow fictional tennis legend Carrie Soto.

Despite having Taylor Jenkins Reid's incredible writing and some compelling characters, this novel ultimately fails to shine in the same way her previous work has. The book has had some mixed reviews with some fans loving it and others just not getting it.

Fancy some more reviews, check out our BOOK PAGE

--

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK': STRUGGLES TO BUILD TENSION WITH FAST PACE SO excited to see a hardback of #CarrieSotoisBack in person!

Them end papers pic.twitter.com/JAeyaYBaV3

R is n O Shea (@roshea29) August 23, 2022

Let's be clear: this is still a good book and well worth the read. But with the standard Reid has set for herself with her previous work like Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones and The Six, this new book does not succeed in the same way.

Carrie Soto is Back is all about the wonderful game of tennis. Readers follow retired champion Carrie Soto as she comes out of retirement to reclaim her record. Fans of the sport will tell you how tense a match can be. I was hoping to see some of this tension in Reid's writing, but because the chapters were so short and the tennis games so quick, the tension just wasn't there.

The pacing of the novel lets the story down. There were just not enough words on the page to successfully build the tension needed to make this a great novel.

--

That being said, Reid came through with her characters. Carrie Soto is wonderfully complex and utterly realistic. The characters of her and her father somewhat redeem the story. Their relationship is beautifully portrayed and it will tug at your heartstrings.

Even though this is not Reid's best work, Carrie Soto is Back still makes for a good book and an enjoyable read.

SYNOPSIS: CARRIE SOTO IS BACK' Just inhaled this one so so good. Can't wait to get it on the shelves. Out 30th August. #carriesotoisback pic.twitter.com/8qB0zxKIhc

Truman Books (@TrumanBooks) July 15, 2022

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles.

She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two. 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 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. 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.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid. Image: Supplied/ Michael Buckner Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted.

According to her website, her books have been chosen by Reese's Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel Daisy Jones and The Six is currently being adapted by Hello Sunshine into a limited series for Amazon.

SOAPIE QUIZ: How well do you know Skeem Saam'? WIN R1 000 in cash! ENTER NOW!

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/books/taylor-jenkins-carrie-so...
	See more stories from thesouthafrican

Most recent headlines