Serena Williams

Joan Mora’s narration is the secret weapon here. She doesn’t just read Serena Williams’ story—she *performs* it, modulating her voice to match the tension of a fifth-set tiebreak or the hollow exhaustion after a brutal loss. Her delivery of Serena’s inner monologue, especially during moments of crushing self-doubt, lands with the weight of a confession. The pacing is another standout. Marzorati structures the audiobook like a tennis match itself, with long rallies of background detail (sponsorship negotiations, training regimens) punctuated by the sharp, stinging exchanges of on-court drama. That said, the sheer volume of minor supporting players—agents, rivals, family members—can occasionally blur together, making it hard to track who’s who without a scorecard. But the biggest critique? The book’s focus on Serena’s twilight years sometimes sacrifices the broader context of her career. A deeper dive into her early years or a sharper analysis of her cultural impact would’ve elevated it from a compelling sports doc to a defining portrait of a legend. Still, Moran’s narration and Marzorati’s unvarnished reporting make this a must-listen for anyone who’s ever rooted for an underdog—or secretly feared becoming one.