Carrie Soto is the greatest tennis player in the world. She sacrificed everything, including her personal life, to reach the top with her father Javier, who is also her coach. However, Carrie's record of twenty slams is now being threatened by a rising star, Nicki Chan. Carrie and Javier make the decision for her to shock the world and come out of retirement at the age of 37, and the Battle Axe gears up for one last fight. What follows is a rollercoaster of a journey for a woman who is unapologetically talented and unashamedly herself, as she struggles to determine what she truly needs to be happy.

At this point, Taylor Jenkins Reid could write an IKEA instructional manual and I would absolutely love it. Carrie Soto is Back tells a sorely needed story of a woman who refuses to tone down her talent and pride in herself to make other people feel better. The novel explores how when women are successful, society only celebrates them if they are modest about it. The story also beautifully explores themes about searching for self-fulfillment, and the impossible vulnerability of opening yourself up to love. I loved how we got to see Carrie's growth over the course of the novel, and the romance element was wonderfully written. Fans of TJR's historical fiction novels will not be disappointed by this latest addition to her universe.

In fact, Carrie Soto might be one of my favorites. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I posted a 5-star review on Goodreads and Amazon. I read an advanced copy of this through NetGalley and it is FANTASTIC. Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again! Fast-paced, great character development, and the ending I didn’t know I needed.

One of my favorite reads of the year and my all time favorite from TJR! My five star reviews are always the hardest to write - 5 stars is a feeling more than anything to me - but I will try my best.

This is one of those books that felt like it was written personally for me. The plot revolving around tennis, Carrie's relationship with her father, her complicated feelings about winning, etc. were all themes that resonated so strongly with me. Carrie Soto is the perfect protagonist - someone intriguing that you want to root for, yet flawed in a way we can all relate to. TJR is fantastic at writing strong, realistic women to lead her books. You want to cheer for Carrie, you want to shake some sense into her, you want to give her a hug... I felt all the emotions during this book. TJR also explores some deeper themes about legacy, family, women in sports and one's purpose in life.

Naturally, this book is extremely heavy on tennis. There is enough explanation for readers that the terminology won't be confusing but it might be too much for readers who hate sports/tennis.

if BOOK LOVERS is the bookstagram ‘it book’ for the first half of summer, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK will be it for the second half. TJR does it again (of course). brief synopsis: Carrie Soto was one of the best tennis players in the world in the 1980s. in the early 1990s, with her beloved father Javier coaching her, she decides to return at age 37. takes place over course of one tennis year: Australia, France, England, and USA.
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the book moves quickly, and it’s all tennis. tennis is more than a backdrop. tennis scenes are exquisitely written. TJR must be a real fan. while the tennis keeps the pages turning, I love the book for its broader themes. the moral of the story is that the point of victory is enjoying it while you’re doing it, appreciating and loving your craft. Carrie Soto learns to live in the moment. I felt deeply satisfied by the ending, which wasn’t cliche. content warning for parental death.

I absolutely LOVED "Carrie Soto is Back" despite knowing nothing about tennis. This book is so much more than tennis. It's about the bond between a father and a daughter, it's about allowing your cold heart to thaw and letting someone else in, and it's about going for what you want, even if the majority of people don't believe in you.

There wasn't a single main character that I didn't like in this book. They were all well-developed and crucial in Carrie's journey. But, most of all, I loved watching Carrie grow. At the end of the book, Carrie and I are the same age, so I felt very connected to her. In your late 30s, it's almost like you're at the point where you navigate the first half of your life, make adjustments, and decide what you want from the rest.

"Carrie Soto is Back" is a beautiful addition to TJR's literary works like "Malibu Rising" and "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo." I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

This is my first TJR book and now I need to go read the whole back catalogue. This book was DELICIOUS - fiery, full of ambition, and centered by a woman who is unafraid to be proud of her strength. I loved it!

Oh, Taylor Jenkins Reid. I love your books. You create characters that stay with me long after I finish the story. Daisy Jones and the Six is one of my favorites.
So when I got an ARC of Carrie Soto, I pushed it to the top of the stack. So glad I did!
I love tennis and I love when authors put cameos in their books. Carrie Soto originated in Malibu Rising. She is the woman who has an affair with Nina Riva's husband. Carrie Soto has won 20 grand slams and was known as the best woman’s tennis player in the world at the height of her career. But now she is a retired 37 year old trying to make a comeback. She is cold, ruthless and her “unlikableness” makes her character so very “likeable.” You find yourself rooting for her and falling in love with her coach (her father) and her love interest, Bowe. The character development is fantastic. Well worth your time. This is a good one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

YESSS! I screamed when I received an advanced copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book that is set to be published and released on August 30, 2022. I am a sucker for anything that TJR puts out, so when I found out her latest work is all about tennis, I was dying to get my hands on a copy!!!! And the hype I built up for this book DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This is easily my favorite read of 2022 so far and everyone should run to their local bookstore on August 30th and purchase this masterpiece.

Carrie Soto is one of the best tennis players the world has seen and holds the title for the most Grand Slam titles…until Nikki Chan arrives on the scene and threatens Carrie’s tennis legacy. As a fierce and determined player, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and try and reclaim the title that was once hers. Mix in a little light romance with a fellow retired tennis player, Bowe Huntley, and add a dash of drama to Carrie’s life and this book has everything. Carrie is a formidable opponent and has historically not been popular with fans and the media due to her brash personality, but Carrie won over my heart, as did every other single character in this book!!!!

I do feel like I need to point out the obvious that I may be very biased in my review of this book since I am an avid tennis player and find myself on the court at least three times a week. So reading A LOT about tennis was interesting and exciting to me, but not sure how my non-tennis friends would feel? Also want to note my one criticism of the book was the intermittent use of Spanish between Carrie and her father/coach Javier. The translation of the phrases was sporadic and many times if none was given I just glanced over those sentences without even trying to figure out was was said.

I found this book fast paced and exciting and I did not want it to end. However, I really loved the ending and would highly recommend this book!!!

Y'all, no one writes character-driven books like Taylor Jenkins Reid. This one is quite different from the first four of her novels that I've read, and that speaks to just what a brilliant author she is. This book focuses on retired tennis star Carrie Soto in the nineties. There is a new star in tennis, and Carrie just isn't ready to let her records go just yet, so she decides to mount a comeback. It's a little weird to read about a woman who is around your age being "old" and coming out of retirement, AND I also could relate with the feeling of trying to figure out where you fit into the world as you grow and age. Again, this author is masterful at writing compelling characters to create stories that just sweep you away, and Carrie (or the "Battle Ax" as she's been known) is so, so much that. I was thrilled to get this one early because I literally could not wait to get my eyes on this story. This is another must-read by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this August 2022 release.

I have Reader Friends who don’t like a book if the Protagonists is not a likable character. Carrie Soto, a 37 year old retired World Class Tennis Player, is not a likable character. In fact, the press refer to her as “the Battle-Ax”! Yet it would be very hard not to enjoy this uplifting story. Carrie’s Father, Javier, himself a retired tennis pro, has coached Carrie since she was 2. He is definitely among my favorite fictional Dads. It’s also easy to root for Hunter Bose, Carrie’s Friend, Practice Partner, questionable romantic interest. And Carrie’s Manager/Friend, Gwen, is a supportive, loyal friend who teaches Carrie how to be the same. So, see, there are plenty of likable characters in this delightful story of grit, determination and unconditional love between a Father and Daughter. Taylor Jenkins Reid has once again given us an engrossing, moving novel. Thanks for the opportunity of an early read in exchange for an honest review.
#CarrieSotoisBack. #NetGalley

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

There is a lot of tennis here, with a good story woven in between the matches. I liked the parts about Carrie and her relationships, but I found myself skimming through the tennis parts after awhile. 3.5 rounded up.

I love everything Taylor Jenkins Reid has written and Carrie Soto Is Back is no exception! Definitely add this one to your summer reading list!

I loved this book and I’m not a huge tennis fan. It moves quickly and builds suspense. The characters are vivid and consistent in their development. The relationships among them are well-developed and I was happy for all of them. Carrie is not always the most likable character, but her intensity, dedication to her sport, and love and respect for her father/coach redeems her.

Taylor Jenkins Reid made me fall in love with fiction so I was more than eager and excited to get my hands on her upcoming release, Carrie Soto is Back. If you read Malibu Rising, you may briefly remember Carrie, but reading that book isn’t a perquisite for delving into this one. At the time that Carrie Soto hangs up her racket and retires, she’s considered the best tennis player in the world with 20 Grand Slam titles under her belt. 5 years later Nicki Chan comes along and swipes that title right out from underneath her. At the age of 37 she decides to come out of retirement at an attempt to win the title back under the leadership and coaching of her father, a long time tennis player, Javier Soto. Fighting for a championship at 37 isn’t easy, especially considering that the game and players having only improved since her departure year’s prior.

I would say everyone loves a comeback story, but unfortunately, I didn’t love this one. While I enjoy a good competition and sports novel, our protagonist came across as entitled, unfriendly, and exhibited poor sportsmanship making her unlikable all the way around with very few, if any, redeemable qualities. Therefore, I didn’t find myself rooting for her and supporting her comeback story. Aside from this, there was a lot of gameplay, too much in my opinion. I really didn’t enjoy the narration and play by play of match after match, even for someone who enjoys the sport of tennis. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed the last half of the book much more than the first, and I liked the ending. My expectations were high and this one fell a bit short for me.

We follow Carrie Soto after she set new records and dominated the tennis world in the 80s. Now she is back to try and defend her records against younger players with a new style of tennis in a sport that seems resentful that she's back.

What a relief! After being underwhelmed by Malibu Rising, I'm happy to report that I really enjoy this one. While I felt that Malibu Rising lacked focus, a direction, and a plot, this one here brings all of these elements so beautifully in the form of its main character: Carrie Soto. I felt that since she has the focus and the drive, the book had it too. The character and the book seemed in sync, just like the best of TJR works. The story seemed snappy and hard when Carrie was like that, and it slowed down when Carrie was going through something that destroyed her. The evolution of the character is mirrored in the evolution of the story.

I really liked that we follow Carrie after her "best years" in the sport, when she's coming back but after getting a glimpse of what she was like during her beginning and the end of the first phase of her career. I liked her development so much; she grew as a person but it never felt too forced, she was still who she was by the end of the book and the small changes seemed authentic for what she went through. I really loved her relationship with her dad; there were heartbreaking moments in their lives but it just enriched the story.

And it's such a good sports book. There are all kinds of relationship and discussions that are within the pages. But in the core of it there is such a genuine love for the sport and for competition that I just really liked. It's predictable what's going to happen since the beginning at every turn. But honestely, I just didn't care that it was, I just liked following Carrie and everyone around her and the sport.

Once again, TJR managed to create characters so full of life and so real that I wanted to Google them and watch the matches and see how they were doing.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

I knew I’d love this book, because I love everything Taylor creates. But I never thought that I would love this book as much as I did. Carrie Soto is unforgettable, pure magic. I know close to nothing about tennis, but Carrie made me want to know more. She made me care.

I didn’t want this book to end. I loved every page, every second.

Carrie Soto is Back is the newest book by well loved author, Taylor Jenkins Reid and is also one of my most anticipated books of the year so thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who knows virtually nothing about tennis, reading a book that is 97 percent tennis didn’t sound too appealing to me. But I trust Taylor Jenkins Reid because she has made me love plenty of other things in the past. I am happy to say this is no exception. I guess I’m a tennis fan now because I feel like I was on the court while reading this book. Reid writes about tennis in a way that is very accessible to the average reader and makes the stakes of the game feel very real. So if the book being about tennis has you on the fence, I would still check this out.

Our main character is Carrie Soto, the best female tennis player in the world, who is coming out of retirement to try and keep her title. Reid is well known for writing somewhat unlikeable protagonists and a Carrie Soto is definitely at the top of that list. She is harsh and determined to be the best, no matter what the cost. I really loved reading about her and her dynamic with everyone else around her. Carrie Soto does make an appearance in Malibu Rising so this book continues the TJRiverse where all of her historical books seem to connect. There are references to Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising in this book that TJR fans will enjoy.

The standout character for me is Javier Soto, Carrie’s dad and trainer. The love and respect that he has for his daughter is so beautiful to see. It is nice to have a book where the parent is so present and excited for their child.

This book as a lot of tennis talk and tennis scenes. My only complaint is that I feel like it felt more like a sports movie at times when I was wanting more of the classic Taylor Jenkins Reid quotable lines about life. That being said, I am sure the audiobook for this will be phenomenal and I plan on listening to it when it becomes available.

I would say if you enjoyed Reid’s other books, you will like this one. Just go into it knowing that it is very sports heavy.

I love TJR, so when I was approved to read CARRIE SOTO IS BACK early from NetGalley I was ecstatic! I went into this book not expecting it to be a favorite, as I know nothing about tennis. I soon found that the story is way more than tennis! My favorite part of the book was the father-daughter relationship between Carrie & her father. The beginning 1/4 was a bit slow with backstory, but the last 3/4 made made for a book I just couldn’t put down. I just had to keep reading to see if Carrie Soto would take home the win. Highly recommend!

My review will also be posted on my Instagram feed, StoryGraph & on my goodreads!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has written a stunner. Oh, there's nothing like a fantastic sports novel. What can I say that hasn't already been said? There's so much here--the demands on precocious athletes, the differences in how outspoken male athletes and women athletes are treated, and an industry that is ready to push you out as quickly as they propped you up.

The tennis match scenes are impeccable; I'm not much of a tennis fan (I'll watch the occasional Wimbledon match), but I know how intense and dramatic they can be. Jenkins Reid captures that intensity with perfection.

Read this--it'll be *the* book of the summer.

Many thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow. I know we all probably hated Carrie in Malibu Rising but I loved her in this. She stands up there with Daisy, Evelyn, and Nina as a memorable MC. This one was unlike any of TJR’s other books plot wise but it had her same beautiful writing and character development.

I honestly wasn’t sure about all the tennis talk bc I’m not really a sports person 🙃 but it was actually so interesting and fun The tennis matches kept me on the edge of my seat. And her and her dad made my heart absolutely melt. Just know going in there is A LOT of tennis strategy.

Carrie is unlikeable but somehow I was rooting for her from the beginning. She’s unapologetically confident and aggressive and it was kind of inspiring. And to the tennis community that makes her a b*tch. Yes she could be brash and rude and maybe took it to her far. But it felt amazing to see a woman be like “I know I’m good and I won’t make myself smaller to make you more comfortable”. This is a poignant commentary on how women are portrayed in the media and what being a successful woman athlete looks like.

Carrie leans to come to terms for failure and learning from her mistakes. Honestly, I really related to this book as a struggling perfectionist. I hate to be wrong or make mistakes and it’s something I’m working on because it prevents me from doing thing at times. I definitely felt that Carrie mirrored me in that way but to an extreme. She felt that she was not enough if she wasn’t No. 1 in the world.