Book review: Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Australian Open is in full swing and it is the ideal time to read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Carrie Soto is Back.

The book is about a passionate, successful and temperamental tennis star and exposes the world of professional tennis.

I’ve really enjoyed reading Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books and this one is no exception. It is fast paced and descriptive, taking the reader inside the world that is so opaque to the general tennis-lover.

Having attended the Australian Open since I was a child, when my mum used to pack an esky and we’d sit in the arena all day, and now taking my own children, I’m fascinated by the world the players inhabit.

Carrie Soto seems to be inspired by firey players of the past – John McEnroe springs to mind. It reveals the passion and competitiveness that drive players, and the dog-eat-dog nature of the competition.

While reading this book, I was torn between cheering for Carrie and hoping she would triumph, and being irritated by her selfishness and impetuousness. It made me think about the strength it must take players, who by nature must be incredibly competitive, to maintain their composure when they are losing a game.

This is especially noticeable when they shake hands at the end of a match, regardless of how devastated they might be at their loss. This reality was brought to life last night when Coco Gauff was defeated, and waited until she was off court – and believed that she was not being filmed or seen – to smash her racquet on the ground.  While the footage was controversial in its exposure of a private moment, it also showed the strength of the player to contain herself until after leaving the court.

If you’re interested in tennis, this is definitely one to read, although I’m not sure how interesting it would be for people who have no experience watching or playing the sport.

For me, it was a perfect backgrounder on the imagined lives of the tennis players I’m watching this week.