Carrie Soto is back, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Tennis prodigy Carrie Soto was coached by her father from infancy to be greatest tennis player of all time, fulfilling his own thwarted dreams. Had Carrie’s mother not been killed in a car accident she may have provided some balance to the lonely girl’s upbringing. Desperate for her Dad’s attention and approval, she threw herself single-mindedly into tennis, at the expense of friends, fun and any semblance of a normal life. Early in his daughter’s professional career, Javier realises that while grieving the loss of his wife he has created a monster. He tries to make up for it later on, supporting Carrie completely when she attempts a comeback, at the age of 37, to protect her legacy. Read creates a vividly credible picture of the professional tennis scene of the 70s, 80s and 90s, with an acute skewering of the sexist commentary typical of the era. Her fictional tennis stars are based on recognisable archetypes, rather than actual players, and are a lot of fun to spot. For all her faults, Carrie is endearingly honest and ultimately capable of both professional success and personal growth.