5 Interesting Tennis Books Worth Reading – Getting lost in a book is one of my greatest pleasures – and of course tennis! So of course I read books about tennis. One thing I have noticed when I talk about tennis books is that most people have read the same three or four books about tennis.
Most of these books were written by big name pro tennis players and/or coaches. But there is so much more out there when it comes to tennis books. Here are five great tennis books that are worth reading – that may not have crossed your path, but are excellent reads for summer travel or sitting out by the lake in the evening.
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Carrie Soto is Back
Carrie Soto is Back
Carrie Soto Is Back – by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fictional story of a female tennis player on the professional tennis tour.
I really appreciated the themes of parent/child relationships that mix in with elite level sports and all that goes with it – how to navigate injuries, the aging process and dealing with intensity in competition.
Carrie Soto is complex. She is on a quest to embody “perfection” which we all know is impossible. The novel leans into her ruthlessness and casual cruelty, but this is part of Reid’s creative genius. Enjoying Carrie Soto as a character is not a foregone conclusion.
I found Carrie Soto is back to be an interesting read. I think it is a great book to read and discuss with tennis friends.
All In
All In
One of my favorite quotes from Billie Jean King is, “Pressure is a privilege.” Billie Jean King – All in – tells a story of talent mixed with struggle and understanding how to use obstacles as an opportunity to thrive.
I enjoyed listening to the stories from Billie Jean King’s growing up in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in the tennis world.
King is known for more than being one of the best tennis players of all time, she is also known as an athlete who battled for equality in the sports world.
For me, I found the strong activist messages in the book a bit much. But to each their own – I respect King as an amazing athlete and a player who brought a lot of positive changes to the sport of tennis.
I listened to this book on Audible and really enjoyed it.
Apples Never Fall
Apples Never Fall
‘Apples Never Fall” is a fictional thriller about a tennis family that lives in Australia.
This book explores family dynamics and domestic relationships between parents and children, siblings and husband and wife – all through the lens of tennis.
To be honest – I wish I would have read this book instead of listened to it on Audible. For me, the narrator’s voice is everything in an audio book – and lots of people really liked the heavy Australian accent of the narrator, but it didn’t work for me personally.
That said, I loved the dynamic characters and their relationships and the author’s way of using tennis as a vehicle to explore an intriguing storyline.
Love Game
Love Game
Who knew that sport themed romance books were a thing? I became aware of “hockey romance” books thanks to a cool bookstore in Brooklyn called, ‘The Ripped Bodice’ that boasts an entire section of Hockey Romance.
Gotta be honest – romance is not my normal go-to as far as genres go, but who could resist visiting a bookstore with a named The Ripped Bodice?
Since my first visit to The Ripped Bodice, I have also learned that there are soccer themed romance books! So my next question was, where are the tennis romance books?
And sure enough – within a few days of wondering about tennis romance novels, this book came across my path.
“Love Game” is scheduled to be released May 16, 2024 and I am currently in the middle of it. I reached out to Emma Rae, the author and she told me that currently there is not an audible option.
So far, I am finding “Love Game” to be a forced proximity sporting romance that has a lot of sizzle. Most of the other sports romance books that I have read have had quite a bit of spice, and this book is no different. I will finish up this book and review it further.
The Divine Miss Marble
The Divine Miss Marble
“The Divine Miss Marble” is one of the true treasures of tennis biographies. I listened to this book while I took a road trip to visit Indian Wells and watch the BNP Paribas Open.
Marbles is a California native that grew up in San Francisco. She was a regular guest at Hearst Castle and was a good friend of Carole Lonbard and Clark Gable.
The title claims that it is, “A Life of Tennis, Fame, and Mystery” and I certainly found that to be true. If you are a fan of tennis, and a fan of tennis history… this is the book for you.
Summary – 5 Interesting Tennis Books Worth Reading
Tennis and books, two of my favorite ways to spend time. These are 5 interesting Tennis books worth reading that I have been enjoying in 2024, and it is only April! Follow along for more information about tennis, tennis lifestyle and tennis fun!
If you have a favorite tennis book that didn’t make the list – DM me on Instagram. I love my tennis community and look forward to hearing from, and connecting with you!
Or – if you are an author of a tennis book and want me to read and review your book, DM me on Instagram. I love supporting new businesses and often promote startups as well as the big national brands, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Katri
About the Author
Katri is an avid club player and certified tennis junkie. Katri lives by the tennis mantra of, “Do whatever it takes to keep tennis fun. Sometimes it is playing more, sometimes it is buying a new tennis skirt.” Sportsmanship and fair play are utmost important and promotion of the game of tennis is paramount. Follow along for further tennis fun and friendship while keeping your head in the game.
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Tennis Yellow’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but this will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Privacy Policy and our Affiliate Link Policy for more information.
