I enjoyed reading Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest novel, Carrie Soto Is Back. I attended her author talk at the Portland Book Festival earlier this month. I haven't read her previous books but have friends who enjoyed some. The book didn't immediately suck me in, and I'm not much for tennis. But Reid's work is very readable and smart. In the end I found it well-crafted and emotionally satisfying, exploring identity and belonging. I kept three quotes:
page 40: I hit the ball the same as I always did, but inside, I felt flushed and in possession of my first real secret. It was like opening the front door and letting fresh air into the house.
page 177: But of course there are no absolute morals or lessons. Only perspectives. One man's bitch is another woman's hero.
page 303: Gwen stands up and puts her hand on my shoulder. "Falling in love is really quite simple," she says. "You want to know the secret? It's the same thing we are all doing about life every single day." I look at her. "Forget there's an ending."
