Chapter summaries Carrie Soto Is Back Taylor Jenkins Reid

Chapter 2 (1955–1965) Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 2 covers Javier Soto’s life from 1955 to 1965. After retiring from professional tennis in Argentina due to knee problems, Javier moves to Miami, where he works as a hitter at a tennis club. His reputation for dedication leads to a job at the Palm Tennis Club in Los Angeles. There he meets Alicia, a dance instructor. They marry, and when Alicia becomes pregnant, Javier predicts their child will be a great tennis player. Carrie is born, and from infancy she shows an intense fascination with the game. When Carrie is still very young, Alicia is killed in a traffic accident while walking to buy tomato paste. Javier sinks into grief but eventually clears out their bedroom. He and Carrie become a team: he works as a coach at the club, and after school he drills her relentlessly in fundamentals. He instills in her the vocabulary of scoring and strategy. By age eight, Carrie breaks his serve for the first time, a milestone they celebrate. The chapter ends with Javier removing a cherished photo of Alicia from under Carrie’s pillow, saying it is too heavy a weight for her to bear.

Key Events

  • Javier Soto moves to the United States from Buenos Aires in 1953 after knee problems end his tennis career.
  • He works as a hitter at a Miami tennis club, then becomes a sought-after instructor, eventually landing at the Palm Tennis Club in Los Angeles.
  • He meets Alicia, a dance instructor, on his first day. They date, and she teaches him the tango.
  • They elope within months. Alicia becomes pregnant, and Javier predicts the child will be a tennis prodigy.
  • Carrie is born. As a baby, she watches tennis from a high chair and cries if taken away.
  • When Carrie is a toddler, Javier puts a racket in her hand and she makes contact with the ball on her first swing.
  • Alicia is hit by a car while crossing the street to buy tomato paste and dies.
  • Javier grieves deeply, sleeping on the couch and keeping his wife’s belongings until he eventually clears out the bedroom.
  • Carrie begins formal daily tennis drills after school, learning scoring, form, and strategy.
  • At age eight, Carrie breaks her father’s serve for the first time, winning a set in practice.
  • That evening, Javier removes a photo of Alicia from under Carrie’s pillow, telling her it is too heavy a weight.

Character Development

  • Carrie Soto: Already shows a warrior’s temperament—competitive, annoyed when others dislike her winning, and devoted to the drills. She treasures a photo of her mother, using it as a comfort object.
  • Javier Soto (“Javier el Jaguar”): A widowed single father in a foreign country, he pours all his energy into coaching Carrie. He hides his tension and loneliness behind a disciplined training regimen. His love language is tennis: he calls Carrie “Achilles” and “Guerrerita” (little warrior).
  • Alicia Soto: Though she dies early, her personality shines through memory: she values kindness over greatness, teases Javier about his tunnel vision, and wants Carrie to be a queen, not just a warrior.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Destiny versus choice: Javier declares Carrie “destined” for tennis greatness, comparing her to Achilles. Alicia counters that she would rather Carrie be kind and happy, introducing the novel’s tension between ambition and humanity.
  • The weight of grief: The photo of Alicia symbolizes Carrie’s need to hold onto her mother. Javier’s decision to remove it reflects his belief that dwelling on loss weakens a competitor.
  • Perfectionism through repetition: The motto “De nuevo” (again) drives the chapter. Carrie learns that excellence is built by repeating fundamentals until they are flawless.
  • All-court player as metaphor: Javier’s strategic insistence on mastering both serve and return mirrors the balanced life Alicia wanted for him.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the foundational trauma and drive that shape Carrie’s entire career. Alicia’s death leaves an emotional void that Carrie fills with tennis. Javier’s coaching philosophy—relentless drilling, focus on fundamentals, and psychological toughness—will be the bedrock of her success. The irony that Javier removes the very comfort Carrie clings to foreshadows the sacrifices greatness demands.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Javier compare Carrie to Achilles, and what does this tell us about his vision for her?

    • Javier sees Carrie as legendary and predetermined for greatness, like the Greek hero. This reveals his belief that talent is destiny and that tennis is a heroic pursuit, not merely a sport.

  2. What is the significance of the “De nuevo” refrain in Carrie’s training?

    • “De nuevo” (again) reinforces the theme of endless repetition as the path to mastery. It shows Javier’s belief that perfecting small details through constant practice creates champions.

  3. How does the removal of the photo of Alicia affect Carrie emotionally, and what does it foreshadow?

    • The removal forces Carrie to let go of a tangible connection to her mother, deepening her sense of loss. It foreshadows future moments where her father will push her to suppress emotion for the sake of competitive focus.

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