Carrie Soto - the girl you love to hate…but hate that you love her! A feisty, dedicated, take no bull kinda girl who believes winning is everything and losing is not an option.

As a collegiate tennis player myself, I LOVED all the tennis in this book and can’t wait to share with my old teammates when this publishes! I loved the other characters in the book, especially the down-on-his-luck, Bowe Huntley, and the breaking-records Nikki Chan. I also loved the growth of Carrie Soto and how the ending came about…with a smile on her face.

TJR - you are an auto-buy author for me, one of my absolute favorites. And Carrie Soto Is Back is no different! Clay, grass, or hard court…you can ACE them all!

Thank you to @NetGalley for the early addition of #CarrieSotoIsBack

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I actually squealed when I saw that I was approved to read Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel "Carrie Soto Is Back."

TJR has been a favorite author of mine since I picked up "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and this new book does not disappoint.

Reid has the uncanny ability to write a character that is at times off-putting but irresistible. I could not get enough of Soto and her father, Javier. Their relationship pulled me in and the story took over from there. Carrie Soto is the kind of character you are deeply frustrated by but you soon learn to admire how hard she works to become the best. Also, a story set in the 90s? Perfection! I will absolutely still be buying this on audiobook when it comes out. I need to complete the collection, okay!

I cannot wait for everyone to read this when it comes out 8/30/2022!

First of all, thank you Random House and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy! I’m not going to lie, I screamed and then did a little happy dance when I saw this in my inbox, being stuck home sick with covid this ARC could not have come at a better time!!

I'm going to start off by saying that the 2004 Wimbledon movie staring Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany is one of my all time favorite movies and this book just gave off the same vibes!!!!

This book is GOOD. It's so freaking good. Its beautiful storytelling at its finest. The characters are amazing and each of their relationships with themselves and each other and growth throughout the book are pure perfection!!!! The Plot, fantastic!! The writing, is true TJR style!!

Carrie Soto has earned a spot right next to Evelyn, Daisy, Nina, Emma, Lauren, Elsie and Hannah
absolute 5 star read!!!! I already can't wait to read it again and to get my physical copy!!!

Taylor Jenkins Reid creates the best characters. You already know this if you read Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo, and she's done it again with Carrie Soto. I flew thorough this book and loved it. Just like her previous books, by the time you're done you'll think you actually watched Carrie play tennis. This is an easy, fun book to read, but has a good amount of drama built into it, as well. And, a little romance but not too much.

In addition to the characters, I particularly appreciated the pacing of the book. The tennis matches feel like you're there. The story moves quickly at the right times, and slows down at the right times, much like a good match. It's simply fun to read.

I'm giving Carrie Soto is Back 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounding down to 4. Not because it wasn't really good, but because I do feel like Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo, which both got 5 stars from me, went deeper into the character and story development. That said, I still highly recommend reading this book! Four stars.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has served up another ace with her highly-anticipated release, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK.

After dominating the women’s tennis scene from the late 70s to early 90s, juggernaut Carrie Soto steps away from the game to go out on top. 6 years later and no longer in her prime, Carrie comes out of retirement and back into the limelight to defend her world records at the age of 37.

While an undying love for tennis isn’t a prerequisite for the story, having the heart of a competitor may boost your investment in Carrie’s quest. Despite her callousness towards the media, her opponents, and even those closest to her, I couldn’t help but root for Carrie’s success on and off the court.

Carrie Soto is one of the most distinctive female characters I have read. Her hardened exterior and singular focus was the catalyst for her success, but life is lonely for her at the top. I loved that she eventually opened herself up to new experiences, even after she felt she had it all.

The story shines in its portrayal of a tender father-daughter relationship. Like my own father, Carrie’s father and coach played a prominent role in her success with his unfailing dedication and love.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK releases on August 30, right before the US Open. Pre-order this book to savor over Labor Day weekend.

RATING: 5/5
PUB DATE: August 30, 2022

A big thank you to Ballantine, Random House, and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!!! Carrie Soto is Back was a fast paced, deep dive into the amazing world of tennis in the 1970-1990s. This book made me feel like I wasn't just reading about tennis matches, but like I was right there WATCHING the matches happen in real life.

Carrie is by far my favorite character Taylor Jenkins Reid has written and her storyline, which I was so excited to see after reading Malibu Rising, was fierce! In Malibu Rising we are introduced to a hot-headed woman who you are meant to dislike. But in this book you can't NOT root for her. Her dedication, determination and insecurities were beautifully written and even the times she was a bit of an a** you couldn't help but laugh.

GO PRE-ORDER THIS NOW!

This book was amazing. I’ll be honest, I was nervous in the beginning but after the first 20%, I could not put it down. I carried my kindle around with me reading bits and pieces when I had a chance. Carrie Soto Is Back was one of my most anticipated releases this year and it’s already one of my favorite books of 2022 and maybe ever.

TJR writes fully fleshed out characters that feel like real people. I love that every character is flawed and imperfect but still so lovable. I was rooting for Carrie (and honestly every character) the whole time. No one felt like just a side character, everyone had a purpose and a personality. I got so wrapped up in this book that I forgot I was reading and had to take a minute to come back to reality when I popped my head up. I was genuinely sad when it ended because I wasn’t ready for it to be over but I think the ending was perfect.

I felt every emotion while reading Carrie Soto. I’m not a tennis person but during the matches, I was glued to the page with my heart racing and leg bouncing. I cried, I got the chills, I laughed at Carrie’s brutal but relatable honesty, I got excited, and I felt each characters’ sorrow. I also loved the mention of TJR’s previous books.

I am HUGE Malibu Rising fan and didn’t think anything could top that book for me but I think Carrie takes the crown. She’s my new favorite and I think she’ll be yours too.

If you read any book this year, let it be this one. I already can’t wait to read it again.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC!

TJR has such a gift for storytelling, in that her books basically read like autobiographies of their protagonist, and this most recent entry in the Evelyn Hugo Cinematic Universe is no exception. I never thought I’d be so interested in a story about a tennis player but Reid made Soto such an interesting, dynamic character and the sports parts were riveting - I read this whole book in a day.
The only reason this one isn’t a glowing 5-star is because I do wish we spent a bit more time in Carrie’s teenage years as she is coming up. One of her biggest traits is that she is brash and strongwilled, unafraid to say what’s on her mind, which makes her very unlikeable as a celebrity - but we never really learn exactly why she is this way.

Wow, this is my favorite book of the year and my favorite book written by Taylor Jenkins Reid! It has been a while since I have so thoroughly enjoyed a book from start to finish like I did this one.

It's a story about a cocky tennis player who comes out of retirement to defend her title as the greatest tennis player in the world. It is filled with tennis matches and great characters and captivating storytelling. This book was unputdownable, and I could not stop reading until the story was finished. Then I was sad that it was over, because I just wanted to keep reading about this world and these characters.

I really liked the characters in this story. Even Carrie, who is an extremely unlikeable character. But Reid made me like her and root for her by the end! Javier and Bowe were the absolute best. The father/daughter relationship between Carrie and Javier was beautiful, and the relationship between Carrie and Bowe just constantly made me smile.

This story is all about tennis. I personally really like tennis, so I ate every bit of it up. I thought Reid did a great job of writing the tennis matches and building suspense and tension. I felt like I was always on the edge of my seat, just like watching a tennis match in real life. I will be curious to hear from readers who don't like tennis and see if they still enjoyed the story as much as I did.

But beyond the tennis, this story dives into so much more. As in previous books, Reid does a great job of exploring the cost of fame and success. Carrie is the greatest tennis player in the world, but what did it cost for her to get there? Was it worth it?

I also thought it was an interesting exploration of the differences between men and women in sports. Actions that men may be praised for are widely condemned when performed by women. This story dives into that double standard, and I thought the excerpts from sports commentators were spot on and provided a lot of food for thought on how we talk about and pass judgment on athletes, especially females.

But really, this book was just so much fun and a must read for everyone! It comes out on August 30, just in time for the US Open! I recommend getting your preorders and library holds placed now because it is sure to be popular.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so happy I was chosen to review an advanced copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest book. As expected, it was excellent! She is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite authors. Carrie Soto was a very minor character in MALIBU RISING (and it is not necessary to have read that book first) who gets the full main character treatment in CARRIE SOTO IS BACK. She's a complex character who doesn't always present her best self, but you still want to root for her. She has the arrested development that a lot of young athletes, actors, etc. face when they achieve success early on, but she finally matures and grows throughout the book and I was very satisfied with the ending. I don't know how this book will read for non-sports fans - it's A LOT of tennis - but I loved it!

I really liked this one! I was pulled in and couldn't put it down. I really needed to see how it ended! On the surface, this is the tale of Carrie Soto, a 37 year old retired tennis legend. She's known for her sheer determination which allowed her to shatter every tennis record, for women and men alike! But she's also known for her abrasive personality and therefore, was never well liked by the sportscasters, other players and public. When her twenty Grand Slam title is threatened by younger Nicki Chan, the new tennis phenom, Carrie decides to come out of retirement to defend her title as the greatest tennis player to ever play. In order to do so, Carrie must push her body and her mind to the limits. Will she end up just embarrassing herself as so many other athletes who try to come out of retirement or who try to play beyond what their injured bodies will allow?
But there is so much more to this story! I was on that court with Carrie, looking at her opponents with balls coming at me. But you don't have to know or even like tennis to relate! Reid takes you inside Carrie's head and all her thoughts and fears. You will feel her relationship with her father, also coach, and see his growth as a coach and father even after all these years. Their love isn't perfect but its beautiful. And throw in the fact that the only other player of any caliber that will hit with Carrie is male tennis player, Bowe Huntley, and their history is complicated!
A coming of age book for characters in their 30's? You can't help but to love Carrie and Bowe despite all their flaws, maybe even more so because of them.
Thank you very much NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for providing me with this ARC.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is at her best writing complex and flawed characters. Carrie Soto certainly fits the bill. Carrie is 37 when we meet her, a retired tennis player whose win record is at risk of being broken by Nicki Chan, a 30 year old player from London. Carrie is determined to make a comeback and to show the tennis world she still has what it takes on the court.

I am a big sports fan and a fan of tennis. I also don’t mind reading about sports as the setting or backdrop in books. I don’t think you need to be a tennis fan to enjoy this book, but it might help. I found the writing pulled me in and Carrie, as a character was so compelling that I had no trouble getting immersed in her world and rooting for her.

There’s clear commentary here about ambition, about what it takes to be an elite athlete, about sexism in sports and the expectations of the public who consume it. The father/daughter /coach/athlete relationship impacted me most, however. There is deep love in this story and even if tennis isn’t your thing, I dare you not to be moved by this aspect of the storyline.

I tried to savor this book; I really did but Jenkins-Reid’s pacing made it almost impossible. This is so easily bingeable. I didn’t want to put it down.

Carrie Soto is a force! While not always lovable, she is undeniably one of the most well thought out characters I have encountered. Taylor Jenkins Reid makes us feel everything as if we are reading this from inside Carrie’s body/brain. What a fantastic pulse-bounding, page turner!

This book right here deserves ALL THE STARS!!!!

Carrie Soto, a minor character in Malibu Rising, is back! (See what I did there?) The story started out very reminiscent of Malibu Rising, the historic California setting, but them takes off on it's own. I love Carrie Soto, her single minded determination, her gumption, her need to win. She is a force of nature that I just couldn't get enough of. I have never felt like I related more to a character in my life....no spoilers here.

I loved Daisy Jones, I loved Malibu Rising, but Carrie Soto is Back has taken the cake!!! When I'm having a bad day and not feeling like a strong, independent woman, I am going to be channeling Carrie Soto.

GAH! This book got me in all of my feels. Can we please get a sequel?!?!?

A special thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for providing me with an ARC.

I loved Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Malibu Rising, so I couldn’t wait to read Carrie Soto Is Back. I really enjoyed it, read it in 3 days, and didn’t want to put it down. Carrie Soto’s character was introduced in Malibu Rising as the woman who had an affair with Nina Riva’s husband. Carrie is a world-class professional tennis player who set the women’s record by winning 20 Grand Slam tournaments. She’s strong, independent, and ultra-competitive. When younger powerhouse player Nicki Chan ties her record, Carrie decides to come out of her six-year retirement and make a comeback to recapture her record. Carrie’s father Javier has coached her since she was a little girl. Carrie’s mom died in a car accident when she was young and their father-daughter bond is very strong. I loved getting to know and understand Carrie and all her strengths and faults. All of the characters are beautifully written - each with his or her own complexities and nuances. I definitely recommend this book. It will be published in August and will be a perfect beach read. Thanks to #netgalley #ballantinebooks and #taylorjenkinsreid for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BIGGEST of thanks to @netgalley, @penguinrandomhouse, and Ballantine for the digital arc of Carrie Soto!

Think about how it feels to watch athletes at the absolute top of their craft. Think about the Williams sisters or Simone Biles… magic, right?! That’s how it felt reading Carrie Soto Is Back.

I was anxious and on the edge of my seat watching her comeback season unfold. It felt like I was a spectator in the stands watching one of the greatest tennis players of all time defending her record.

I was intrigued to get to know who Carrie was after the bits we saw of her in Malibu Rising. She’s brash, ruthless, and unapologetic and quite frankly, pretty unlikable. That’s part of what makes this book so good was getting to see what goes on in her head from the very beginning of her career, to her retirement, and to her defending her title. We get to see her grapple with what legacy means to her and how far she will push herself to be one of greats. I loved watching how being coached by her father impacted their relationship.

Carrie joins Daisy, Evelyn, and Nina in the ranks of @tjenkinsreid’s phenomenal characters. I certainly wasn’t a Carrie fan during Malibu Rising but now? I certainly am.

5 years after retiring from professional tennis, Carrie Soto sees her record of most Slam Championships on the brink of being broken and decides to make a comeback to try to maintain it.

I didn’t know much about tennis before starting this book, and I’m not entirely sure I do now but I think the fact that I found myself thinking “maybe I’ll watch some on tv sometime” at one point goes to show how captivating TJR’s stories are. I’ll be honest that I’m pretty sure I hated Carrie for the first half (or more) of this book, but that’s probably the point. She’s so focused on winning and can’t seem to see the bigger picture, and that makes it frustrating at times. It also meant that I could not put this down though, because I had to know if she was ever going to be able to focus on anything other than just being the greatest of all time.

Everyone loves TJR so I doubt I have to tell you to look out for this one in the fall. I’m sure this one will be at the top of many TBR piles when it’s released.

All of the thanks to Penguin Random House for giving me this ACR. This one will be getting added to my bookshelf when it’s released for sure.

I found this book to be unputdownable. At first, when I saw TJR was coming out with a book about a tennis player, I was feeling just a bit ‘meh’. Wasn’t super excited, as I’m not interested in tennis, or really sports in general. WELP, leave it to TJR to make you interested in something! She wrote this in such a way that the pacing and plot is incredible, the relationships and characters are beautifully flawed, and in such a way that you just cannot put the book down, even if it’s time for dinner. I love TJR for her writing of these beautifully flawed characters. I found myself relating to Carrie’s competitive side and her need to win, as if that’s the only reason to play in the first place, and the foil of her father who was along for the ride and the teaching moments, with winning as the cherry on top. The father/daughter relationship was unmatched, “I laugh, and he pulls me back to him. ‘Te amo, Cielo. Being your father is the best thing that has ever happened to me. My Achilles. Greatest of the Greeks.” I loved that this story spanned decades, and you could really see how much Carrie Soto develops as a character, becomes more aware of her faults, and becomes more accepting of her ‘failures’. I love that you can see her grow into enjoying tennis again, as opposed to only being there to win, “My father winks at me. ‘Feeling secure, even knowing you are not the best.” The love story was such a slow build, and Bowe is so sweet taking care of Carrie’s dad. Finally, I love how the little moments differed when Carrie was younger and more abrasive with people she didn’t know, and became just slightly more pleasant with bystanders and fans, while still staying true to her rough exterior nature. I love what Carrie learned from Nicki, and that she ended up coaching her the following year, stepping into the role her dad was in for her. Ugh I want more!

Carrie Soto, yes, that Carrie Soto, the villain from Malibu Rising is back. I have to be honest, when I heard what TJR’s new book was going to be about, I had my doubts. “She’s using the character I literally couldn’t care less about and making an entire book about her?” - an actual text message I sent my book friend. But I was sooooooo wrong to doubt TJR. She took a character that probably no one liked and made her likable. She made me route for her and she made me route for her growth. She made her a person, a deeply flawed person, but her story is so touching and heartwarming. I did have to google a TON of tennis terms and I read this book, but I still immensely enjoyed it.

Well. Taylor Jenkins Ried has done it again. In the world of Malibu RIsing and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hug0… Carrie Sotto is Back is my favorite so far of my Taylor Jenkins Reid books that I have read.
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Carrie Sotto is back is about a tennis player who was once the greatest tennis player of all time, who comes out of retirement to defend her title. She is good at being the best, and only has one thing on her mind, winning. After the backstory to how she got where she is, this book takes us through her journey through a tennis season, as she plays in four tournaments in hopes to win the grand slam.
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This book brought me so much joy, because there was so much growth. Growth for Carrie, her father, Javier, and even the sports commentators. You can see the whole vibe shift over time. Once I was hooked, I could not put this book down. I loved every second of it. The only complaint I had was there was some Spanish, which was awesome, but never a translation. Even with that complaint, I am giving this book five star