The Singles Game

The writing flows nicely. The story moves at a good pace. The characters are vibrant. The setting (the professional tennis circuit) is fun and fresh for this genre. What's not to like?! Given the Devil Wears Prada connection, I expected Charlie to become a bit more insufferable before finding herself again, but I didn't mind that she remained at least somewhat likable (it was actually more realistic that way). This was my first Weisberger book, and it won't be my last!

Couldn't put it down, amazingly funny and also insightful in terms of the life of a tennis player. Funny, glam, full of stories you were dying to read to the end. In my opinion, this was the best of Lauren Weisberger's books. I especially loved the part when she gives details from tennis matches, from tennis life, from the PR part of tennis. I never thought there is so much PR and marketing strategy when it comes to sports, I only thought about the performance part.

I liked reading this book about the women's tennis world. I learned and loved the main character. It has set me up for a better understanding of what players contend with on tour. Just in time for the US Open Tennis Tournament here in NYC.

There is nothing likable about the main character, Charlotte Silver. I thought she seemed a little sleazy. I got tired of reading about her hooking up with another player. She wasn't someone I cared about. In addition, I don't love tennis enough to read about every match she played, and where every ball went, and whether or not she double faulted, etc,etc. It got quite old and boring.
Actually, everything about the book was boring. I couldn't wait for it to end.

I picked up this book while browsing the Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver (one of the largest independent bookstores in the US) because I haven't read many sports-centric books and I loved the Devil Wears Prada duology. Lauren Weisberger has a gift for writing strong, but flawed female characters.

First off, I need to admit to a strong lack of tennis knowledge. I know what Wimbledon is, how a backhand works and the difference between Serena and Venus Williams. But all the match and sets descriptions lost me, so maybe this is a book for diehard tennis fans along with rom-com readers. The characters are all slowly fleshed out, as they pass in and out of Charlie's chaotic life, which makes a strange sort of sense by the middle of the book. I was quickly invested in her journey to the top since we're close to the same age, but I found a few flaws.

Yes, I consider myself a feminist. But I also enjoy a strong romantic story. My boyfriend even made fun of me for this assertion, but I really wanted a more definitive HEA. I won't spoil it, but I had to re-read the last few pages to make sure I was drawing the right conclusion. Of course, I DID enjoy that Charlie consistently put her career first, which many athletes do.

As a woman raised by a single (but not widowed) father, I nearly teared up reading the scenes between Charlie and Mr. Silver. Parents are rarely fully appreciated for all their sacrifices and hard work in raising kids. Also, as kids, we rarely see our parents as solo adults. Weisberger dealt with these conflicts very well, I must say.

This book is a quickly moving peek into the high-powered and high-class world of professional athletes. It's not always pretty, but it is always fascinating.

A lot happens in this Lauren Weisberger novel. It’s hard to sum it all up, but here’s what I’ve got:?

Charlie Silver is on the road to being one of the best tennis players in the world. When an injury threatens the future of her career, she decides to reevaluate her strategies. Through a multitude of new decisions that have to be made to further her career, Charlie embarks on a roller coaster of change.

I listened to this book on audio, and it was great. It was evident that Lauren Weisberger either researched the hell out of tennis, or knows the sport well. I commend her for that. Some parts dragged on a tad, but it happens. She produced well rounded characters as well as the relationships between Charlie and her family, coaches, female players, and lovers.

I rated this book a 3 out of 5 stars because it wasn’t my favorite of Lauren Weisberger’s novels. Fans of hers will love it though! I highly recommend listening on audiobook.

I have all five of Lauren Weisberger's previous books, so when I heard about The Singles Game, I knew I must read it. She has a way of making characters come alive and you can feel what they feel and see what they see and I couldn't wait to experience that again. Charlotte "Charlie" Silver is the quintessential good girl on the tennis circuit. Her image is squeaky clean and she knows that it has pigeonholed her. She hires a new coach, Todd Feltner, who begins to change everything about her. From her outward appearance to a new ruthless playing style, Charlie has to navigate a new world.

You can tell that Lauren Weisberger spent time researching the tennis circuit and I enjoyed the look into a sport I have never really cared about before. The writing was crisp and the banter between characters was fantastic. I will say that this is not Weisberger's strongest book, however it was still extremely enjoyable. The characters were very real as was the world the story took place in.

All in all, I liked The Singles Game. It was a fun read that managed to surprise me in the end. I particularity liked the chance to see someone become exactly who they want to be and then question if it was worth it.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

To be a tennis champion, you have to be inflexible. You have to be stubborn. You have to be arrogant. You have to be selfish and self-absorbed. Kind of tunnel vision almost.

----Chris Evert

Lauren Weisberger, the New York Times bestselling author, is back with a glamours yet entertaining contemporary story of a female pro tennis player in her new book, The Singles Game where the author weaves the journey of a tennis player who after undergoing a nasty injury in her life-changing Wimbledon Open, decides that she needs to get back to her game thereby hiring a brutal, no-nonsense and strict yet popular coach that not only changes her game but also alters her personal life.

Synopsis:

When Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Silver makes a pact with the devil, infamously brutal tennis coach Todd Feltner, she finds herself catapulted into a world of stylists, private parties and secret dates with Hollywood royalty.

Under Todd it’s no more good-girl attitude: he wants warrior princess Charlie all the way. After all, no-one ever won by being nice.

Celebrity mags and gossip blogs go wild for Charlie, chasing scandal as she jets around the globe. But as the warrior princess’s star rises, both on and off the court, it comes at a high price. Is the real Charlie Silver still inside?

Sweeping from Wimbledon to the Caribbean, from LA to mega yachts in the Med, The Singles Game is a brilliantly entertaining romp through a world where the stakes are high – and no-one plays by the rules.

Charlotte “Charlie” Silver, the tennis player, is best known for her good-girl image and for her girly fashion sense, but after suffering from a nasty Achilles heel injury, she decides that its time to make some changes in her life, if she wants to get to the top of her game. Enters coach, Todd Feltner, who is known for his toughness, strictness and roughness on his protégé, who happens to have the best plan to give Charlie a new image. Thus begins Charlie's new journey into the world of glamour, paparazzi, designer fashion labels, elite class parties, and a scandalous love affair with tennis champion Marco Vallejo, that leaves the media go crazy over her "warrior princess" image. And eventually Charlie earns her back her previous spot in the game, but it seems her personal life has started to go downhill, can she survive all the attention while keeping her life intact?

The author's story is high on glitz, media attention, fashion, parties, exotic destinations and lots of tennis. Although the story lacks from the author's trademark flair, yet its highly enjoyable book that will keep the readers amused all through out its course. The author's writing style is excellent with an equally funny and often sarcastic narrative that is high on hilarious anecdotes. The story is one hell of a fun filled roller coaster ride that has so much juicy drama which are really hard to ignore. The pacing is really fast as the main character treads her way from one high to another low to another embarrassing event to another glorifying moment.

The story line is mainly focused on tennis and it seems the author has managed to depict this game vividly and flawlessly into the book. The author has strikingly featured everything related to tennis from its techniques to its rules to its after-effects to its importance to its struggle to its tension, and I believe those who play tennis can easily relate to it. The scenes are penned by the author with utmost detailing thus letting the readers to get a clear glimpse into those scenes. The readers will not only be informed about a glittery yet struggling world of tennis but will also be laughing out loud most of the times about Charlie's humiliating yet funny moments.

The characters are drawn with realism thus making them believable in the eyes and the minds of the readers. The main character, Charlie, as well as the supporting cast of characters are extremely well-developed. In the beginning, Charlie will look like someone who is very polite and dedicated only towards her game, but gradually, she evolves into someone brave, confident and a bit reckless. But, overall, she is a sweet yet strong heroine who finally learns to call the shots of her own life rather than letting it get dictated by someone else. The readers will definitely form a bond with this authentic character.

There is lot of love drama all through out the story that are not penned so well as those moments or scenes lacked emotion, thus making it look dull into the eyes of the readers. But overall, this a fun read and to overcome gloominess, I believe this book happens to the best remedy as it will not only make the readers laugh but will also bring a cheer into their lives.

So, be you are a Weisberger fan or not, just pick a copy of this book now to be left beguiled by a light-hearted chick-lit drama.

The Singles Game turned out to be ‘not half bad’. Even though I’ve watched The Devil Wears Prada at least a dozen times. This is actually the first book/work I’ve ever read by Lauren Weisberger. So I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Let’s just say it was a pleasant surprise. It wasn’t that great, but it kept me hooked. I have to admit, if Lauren got me interested in reading a book about sports, then she must be some sort of writing goddess. Her other ‘non-sporty’ books must be AMAZING! I might actually get a few more of her books just to test this theory out.

THE SINGLES GAME is the story of Charlotte “Charlie” Silver, a 25 yo tennis player who confronts the dilemma of changing her ways to fulfill her dream of winning Grand Slam titles. However, to be proud of accomplishing dreams and happiness has to do with how to achieve them too.

It’s easy reading, light on the angst, entertainment with all that can go wrong in professional tennis, injuries, drugs, and rock and roll.

It’s a predictable, feel-good story. The good girl - bad girl - good girl again.

ARC REVIEW

I consider myself a pretty big fan of Lauren Weisberger's novels. She's one of the rare writers who is an auto-buy for me, but after reading The Single's Game, I'm not so sure that is the case any longer. To be frank, I found the book to be boring. At first I thought maybe it was all of the tennis, but after some reflection when sports books are done well, I usually enjoy them. I think then that the issue lies with the main character. She seemed to be very two-dimensional and cliched. Honestly, the book may have been more entertaining had her father been the main character. The other issue I had with the book is that the Charlie didn't actually grow, she just went around in a circle. Where the novel ends is more or less the same place where we started. Overall, I'm sorry to say that this is the weakest of Weisberger's novels and as a result I may be more hesitant in picking up future titles.

Light and fluffy, this was a fun introduction to the world of tennis pros. The main character's actions didn't always make sense to me (how dense can one person be?) but it helped to think of her as emotionally stunted because of the way her whole life, since childhood has revolved around playing tennis professionally. With that vantage point, of course she's not going to be able to properly discern people's true motives or understand when people are hiding something from her. At least not until much later than most people. Once I framed her in that light, I was able to enjoy the ride. The tennis setting was unique and interesting and I'm glad Weisberger chose to center her story around it.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for "insight" into an alluring, out-of-reach world, Weisberger offers it in "The Singles Game." This book rarely slowed down for me, and I loved reading about the tennis world and Charlie's struggles and sacrifices to make it to the top. Yes, it is quite predictable but that rarely stops me when reading a well-told story. From the details of the competitive tennis circuit to the ups and downs of Charlie's life, the novel did not leave me lacking.

I certainly recommend "The Singles Game" for those searching for a light-hearted and entertaining read. And as a disclaimer, I know nothing about tennis so Weisberger could have totally skewed the tennis world, and I wouldn't know it.

As a huge fan of Lauren Weisberger's previous novels, I was looking forward to reading The Singles Game; while it was an entertaining read, I felt it lacked the spark and sizzle of novels like The Devil Wears Prada and Last Night at Chateau Marmont. I had some trouble relating to Charlie, even though I have a great love of sports (especially women's sports), and I think this certainly colored my experience of the novel.

Fans of Weisberger should definitely give this one a chance, but I did not enjoy it as much as her earlier work.

This book was interesting primarily because of its setting in the world of competitive tennis. The main character is a top ranked tennis player who has devoted her life to the sport. Seeing the hard work and sacrifices that she put in to get where she is was enlightening. It's also nice to see a book about a woman who is competitive and driven.

Aside from the setting, though, this book was pretty predictable. I can also see that some might find the main character unlikable.

This is a great book written by Lauren Weisberger. This is the first book I have read by this author, and it won’t be the last. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

I am basing this review only after reading the first chapter from the sample of this book here on the store. I am an avid tennis fan and I myself have played since the age of 7. I have competed on the junior level, but not as a professional. I have been around the sport enough to know a thing or two about it and in just the first chapter of this book there are two very glaring errors that a non-player or fan may not pick up on, but that bothered me enough to want to write about it.
1. K-Swiss does not make heavy tennis shoes! Theirs are some of the lightest made, and that is why I wear them!
2. Never, ever would male trainers attend to a female player on the WTA tour or at a Grand Slam.

One would think an author like Ms. Weisberger would do a bit of research...That said, I still plan to read the entire book and I will update my review when completed.

I know very little about tennis and absolutely nothing about the professional tennis circuit. So I found this aspect of the book very interesting. These players lead very different lives and I had no idea that they were such celebrities. This author is good at cracking these celebrity milieus. Her most popular book is on her look inside the fashion industry on "The Devil Wears Prada." This is her strength.

The lead character is a 25 year old female tennis star, Charlie, who ranks about 23 worldwide and wants to move to the top. Part of moving to the top is rebranding herself (with Nike and Swarovski help) which I found fascinating.

The author is weaker on rendering romance, which is the other interest in this book. Charlie has one with another star tennis player, Marco. He is ego personified. Then she dates an A List movie star (this one really goes over the top). Her final romance is the one that works but it hardly has a prominent position in the book. We may have needed a lot less Marco than we got.

It was an entertaining read, a good one to cart to the pool or the beach.

I really enjoyed this book by Lauren Weisberger, and I thought it was well written in a different context than her other books. With a sporty undertone, we still got the same woman likes man, other woman is also in on it story line as is with Wisberger's novels, but this one captured my attention and I was really entertained. If you are looking for something light-hearted, you should definitely pick this one up!

Ugh, I was really looking forward to reading this and am so bummed that it was such a boring read. I learned everything I will ever need to know about the tennis circuit. There wasn't much of a story and not much depth to the characters. After I finished reading the last page, I was so annoyed that I wasted my time and money on this total snooze of a book!

Laura Weisberger’s The Singles Game was a decent and entertaining summer read. It’s very similar to The Devil Wears Prada however set in the world of women’s professional tennis. Following the tour around the world to international and domestic locales, run-ins with actors, rock stars & other professional athletes and getting inside the head of a tour player are all aspects of the story.

Charlie Silver is the twenty-something that temporary loses her moral compass to overcome a career threatening injury and climb up the rankings under the tutelage of a demanding bully of a coach, changes her looks and is mesmerized by her new world while trying to reach her career aspirations. Only to come around when she realizes she doesn’t need to give up herself to be successful. If that sounds similar to Prada that’s because it is.

The story doesn’t move as slow as a match on the clay courts of the Paris Open because there are some interesting spins on characters, glamour of celebrities, locations and fashion to keep a reader engaged. It also doesn’t flow as quickly as Wimbledon’s grass courts either because it gets a bit bogged down in repetitive facts about the game or what it’s like to be on tour and main characters that are predictable and too similar to those in The Devil Wears Prada.

The behind the scenes antics going on the professional tennis tour will either be fascinating if you’re not familiar with the tour/professional sports in general or seem a little dated if you are. Dated because most of the issues surrounding Charlie and being a professional tennis player sound more like things that happened in the late 1980s rather than reflecting current issues.

There’s no mention of international gamblers paying big money to players to throw matches or that the sport is corrupt. Nor are their mentions of eating disorders, performance enhancing drug usage and since the main character is a female player you’d think that the fact that women tennis players make far less than the men and of officials making sexist comments publicly would have come up and made the story more contemporary.

It’s a solid read for non-tennis fans, anyone that’s looking for some light beach reading and Prada fans that want a new spin on a favorite read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Contemporary tennis novel. Good drama, good buildup. If optioned for a movie it would be a great opportunity for retiring (or suspended) tennis players in breakout acting roles. Or for a college athlete looking to diversify. In fact, the whole story could be cast with current and former tennis circuit players. That would be way more fun to watch than actors. This whole story has a bit of a ripped from the headlines feel, but that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy reading it.

Charlotte (Charlie) Silver is a professional tennis player on the rise who dreams of winning a Grand Slam. After a disastrous game at Wimbledon, she decides to hire a new coach, Todd Feltner, a living legend in the tennis world even though his methods are borderline abusive. Thus begin a rigorous training, a strict diet and an image makeover. Soon, Charlie ranks among the best in the world, goes to exciting parties, and starts dating a sexy Spanish player. Everything seems to be going according to plan, but will Charlie be able to achieve her dream? And at what price?

The Singles Game is a riveting behind-the-scenes look at the world of women’s tennis. While Charlie’s lifestyle seems glamorous on the outside, the reality is competition can sometimes bring out the worst in players, and training at this level is grueling work. Charlie is an interesting and complex character who it is easy to root for. However, the author sometimes jumps ahead in time and only mentions some events I would have liked to know more about, especially near the end of the novel. On the whole though, this was an entertaining and fun book to read.

The Singles Game was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Please go to my blog, Cecile Sune - Bookobsessed, if you would like to read more reviews or discover fun facts about books and authors.

I enjoyed the look at professional women's tennis through Charlie, a mid twenties player; the book shows that professional players really don't have much life outside tennis - it's practice, working out, travel and tournaments. Charlie, in trying to win a Grand Slam, has her wins and her mistakes as she finds her way. The book was a good light read.

The author, Lauren Weisberger does for the tennis industry what she did for the high fashion industry in The Devil Wears Prada. Her novel is an excellent story of the ups and downs of the pro tennis circuit. Very well-written captivating novel.

Having always been a fan of Lauren Weisberger’s work I knew I had to grab a copy of this one! And boy, I was NOT disappointed. The author has a way of weaving a funny yet real and relatable story that will keep readers entertained for hours. Readers can expect some drama of course, but everything plays out exactly as it should in the end. Overall, this is an entertaining read with a bit of romance and a lot of tennis. This is so unique to me as I haven’t read anything like this in AGES which made me love it even more. Fans of the author will definitely want to pick up Weisberger’s newest book. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. She still has the same amazing flair and her storytelling is wonderful!

This book kept my attention but mostly because I wanted to experience the joy of the main character winning and finding true love. Too much of the parts you wanted to read were told I retrospect with no detail while some of the negative aspects got entire chapters. I would have preferred more of Charlie falling in love and winning a Grand Slam and then seeing where her life went. Coaching maybe?

California and goyim. Aside from those two minor changes, this book is just a weak reprise of Lauren Weisberger’s previous works. Twentysomething, upper middle-class, “good” girl with an impressive skillset gains access to upper-class society where success requires her to adopt the loose morals and ethics of the social elites.

Thirty pages into this book I knew how the entire story would progress. There were no surprises or plot twists, and the ending was entirely predictable.

This is not to say the book was entirely unenjoyable. By itself it would have a decent read – not great, just decent – and I did learn a lot about the word of professional tennis. Readers who are not familiar with Mrs. Weisberger’s other books might enjoy this one, but I still cannot recommend it. The excitement and intrigue found in her previous books along with the sympathetic and well drawn-out characters are lacking here. This book is a poor account from an author I like and respect. I know she can do better, and I eagerly await her next offering.

Wonderful, really puts you in the “modern day” thoughts of dating in the age of social media. I am a 44 year old divorced woman and I thought it might be too “young” for me, but it was a great read and recommended!

Fun, light, and beach-reading-worthy, this book is entertaining, and all the more fun if you have some understanding of women's tennis leagues and competition. The narrative falls off a bit at the end, but still holds the reader's attention from start to finish. It's chick lit.

Nothing will ever top 'The Devil Wears Prada' *but* Lauren Weisberger brings the much missed writing style and vibe in 'The Singles Game'. A great beach read, this fast paced, pop-culture-insta-celebrity-athelte-designer mash up balances heart, drive, vapidity and drama. What I liked? The writing. The engaging, flowing and funny style reads deliciously well. This is a quick, summer weekend read studded with torrid one nighters, plush robes, champagne and private jets. Will the characters stay with me? Probably not but Charlie Silver was a very relatable character. The author's passion for tennis comes through without being overwhelming, I actually very much enjoyed the research and enthusiasm. If you missed the author's voice, you will enjoy this new release.

Loved reading this. I loved The Devil Wears Prada, so I was hoping this book would be equally engaging and riveting, and it was.

Lauren Weisberger made the world of tennis so realistic, and I respect how she was able to dive into it and describe it in such a vivid way.

This book has it all, romance gone wrong, romance gone right, heartache, victory, defeat, villains and heroes. Really great read.

As a fan from the start, Lauren Weisberger has turned out another fun beach read. Anyone who's a fan of tennis will appreciate the behind the scenes details of what it takes to make it on the Elite level. Charlie is a likable character, whose story develops in a quick and entertaining way. The Singles Game is a perfect beach/vacation read. Light, quick, and entertaining. I've given it 4 out of 5 stars because while the book was enjoyable the ending came to wrap quicker than an Grand Slam winner's serve.

At first glance tennis phenom Charlie's life seems like pure glamour, and aspects of it are (the parties, the yachts, the 5-star hotels), but we soon learn that in many ways, she's just like any other ambitious 20-something year old woman trying to find her way. Like Andy, the protagonist in The Devil Wears Prada, Charlie's character is both relatable and aspirational - while it's obvious that she's a good person at heart, she struggles to maintain her moral compass after getting seduced by the trappings of "success". Initially, with a new obnoxious, maniacal coach behind her she seems solely focused on winning a grand slam - a goal she is willing to pursue at any cost. Over the next few hundred pages, Weisberger peels back the curtain on the professional tennis tour - a world filled with big egos, lithe legs, and monk-like discipline. And we are provided a glimpse into the more mundane aspects of life on the road - living out of a suitcase, missing birthdays and weddings, and training every day of the week. Along the way, Charlie makes some missteps, both on and off the court, but ultimately rediscovers who she is and what she wants. Something we can all relate to. Add to that some juicy romance, haute couture, and exotic travel and you have the perfect beach read.

Expected something more interesting. There is too much tennis and not enough life in this book. Gave up because of the sports overload which I honestly did not expect. Not ready to follow all instances of a game through ten pages then a bit of a book then more tennis.

I enjoyed the first few chapters, but after awhile it was clear that the plot was not going anywhere. I can't stand a main character who is so clueless, and makes the most absurd mistakes after being portrayed as being "so dedicated and driven." It just doesn't make sense to me.

As a fan from the start, Lauren Weisberger has turned out another fun beach read. Anyone who's a fan of tennis will appreciate the behind the scenes details of what it takes to make it on the Elite level. Charlie is a likable character, whose story develops in a quick and entertaining way. The Singles Game is a perfect beach/vacation read. Light, quick, and entertaining. I've given it 4 out of 5 stars because while the book was enjoyable the ending came to wrap quicker than an Grand Slam winner's serve.

At first glance tennis phenom Charlie's life seems like pure glamour, and aspects of it are (the parties, the yachts, the 5-star hotels), but we soon learn that in many ways, she's just like any other ambitious 20-something year old woman trying to find her way. Like Andy, the protagonist in The Devil Wears Prada, Charlie's character is both relatable and aspirational - while it's obvious that she's a good person at heart, she struggles to maintain her moral compass after getting seduced by the trappings of "success". Initially, with a new obnoxious, maniacal coach behind her she seems solely focused on winning a grand slam - a goal she is willing to pursue at any cost. Over the next few hundred pages, Weisberger peels back the curtain on the professional tennis tour - a world filled with big egos, lithe legs, and monk-like discipline. And we are provided a glimpse into the more mundane aspects of life on the road - living out of a suitcase, missing birthdays and weddings, and training every day of the week. Along the way, Charlie makes some missteps, both on and off the court, but ultimately rediscovers who she is and what she wants. Something we can all relate to. Add to that some juicy romance, haute couture, and exotic travel and you have the perfect beach read.

Expected something more interesting. There is too much tennis and not enough life in this book. Gave up because of the sports overload which I honestly did not expect. Not ready to follow all instances of a game through ten pages then a bit of a book then more tennis.

I enjoyed the first few chapters, but after awhile it was clear that the plot was not going anywhere. I can't stand a main character who is so clueless, and makes the most absurd mistakes after being portrayed as being "so dedicated and driven." It just doesn't make sense to me.

This book is a quick, fun read, especially for the reader who is an athlete. It is written in a way that you experience, and thru Charlie's eyes, a firsthand glimpse of what the upheavals and joys of the life of an athlete on tour. Bravo !! A must read