You don't need to be a fan of tennis to love this book! There are a lot of detailed sections describing tennis matches, tennis practices, and tennis strategy, but Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a gifted writer that even a reader who knows nothing about tennis will enjoy all of the action. Carrie Soto, who is a champion tennis player coming out of retirement to defend her Grand Slam record, seems like an unlikeable character at first, but as the story continues and we learn of her past and her relationship with her father, we realize that she is a complex character who deserves to be rooted for - I loved everything about Carrie Soto. She is unapologetic about her talent and she ignores that naysayers who say that she is too old to make a comeback. I devoured this book in two days, and I think this will be a huge hit when it is published. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love tennis. I love watching the sport, its thrilling. So to be able to read a book about the greatest tennis player in the world and feel like you are at every match is truly a treat. Even for a reader that isnt into tennis - this book is a delight. Carrie is not likable. She is stubborn, rude, cocky but you still root for her. You root for her relationships, her game, her heartbreak. She is a special character and I loved everyone around her as well..

TJR wrote a really incredible book with this one and I am SO excited to recommend it to everyone.

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Let me start with this: there is a LOT of tennis in this book. As in, it’s like all tennis. Each section is formatted to follow a different tournament with most matches described in detail. I happen to love tennis and it’s written in such a way that I found it enthralling, but if you’re hoping for lots of romantic intrigue and deep plot, well, revise. It’s tennis.

There is also a lot of Spanish dialogue, which surprised me. Sometimes entire sentences in a particular dialect. I speak Spanish and thought it was great (and done correctly unlike certain books where the Spanish is amateur and eye-rolly), but I found myself thinking multiple times “man, if I didn’t speak Spanish this would be tough!”

Because of these reasons, this may not be a five star book for everyone. It was for me! I flew through it and was biting my nails the whole time to see if Carrie could make her comeback happen. I loved her flawed but growing character. I loved her “people”, especially Bowe and Javier, and loved the relationship she developed with the “villain” who’s not a villain, Nicki Chan.

The writing was strong and I enjoyed the multimedia aspect sprinkled throughout, with transcripts of TV shows and articles.

5 stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t even know where to begin with this one! For starters, thank you so much Netgalley and Random House for this ARC. This is one of the books that I’ve been looking forward to the most and I was so excited to be able to read it.

In Carrie Soto is Back we are reintroduced to the titular character, Carrie Soto. Carrie is a retired tennis star who decides to make her comeback when her record is challenged by a younger player, Nicki Chan.

If you don’t know anything about tennis then some parts of this book may be a little slow or boring. However, there is actually a lot of information, and you may learn something! 😁

Carrie Soto definitely fits right in with Evelyn, Daisy, and Nina. Taylor Jenkins Reid just keeps creating these amazing female characters and I can’t get enough of them!

This is probably my favorite book of the year so far and I can’t wait to reread it once it’s officially published! Great cover, great story, great characters! Make sure to check it out August 30th

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my absolute favorite authors and her new book Carrie Soto is Back does not disappoint! Carrie Soto comes out of retirement at the age of 37 to defend a title that has been hers for years - 20 Grand Slam wins. She has always said what's on her mind - she deserves this record and does not want anyone to take it away from her and she is not afraid to let people know it! With the help of her father who has coached her since she was basically a toddler and Bowe Huntley who is struggling to stay on the circuit she fights her way back to reclaim her former glory days. I love tennis but you don't have to be a tennis fan to like this book. The characters are written so well I was looking them up to see if they were real names in the tennis world. Just loved this book and hated to see it end!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Carrie Soto. What a character. With an introduction like that one she got in Malibu Rising, it’s hard not to brush her off as your typical narcissistic overachiever. But Carrie Soto is so much more than that. And I’m so glad TJR gave us this beautiful story.

While it may not be my favorite of TJR’s books, the fact that I was able to read it in four hours really speaks to how well the story is crafted. Centered around the tennis court, we find Carrie in the midst of a crisis: her record for most Grand Slam titles is in jeopardy when a new generation of tennis stars enter the scene. Carrie decides to come out of retirement at 39 years young and defend her record, causing an uproar in the tennis community.

I have no idea how TJR crafts such complex, lovable, relatable characters that keep you rooting for them even when they’re clearly being unreasonable (read: Carrie). Carrie is raised by her father, who is determined to make her the greatest tennis player of all time. And with Carrie’s tenacity, she refuses to fail. The fact that we first find Carrie in the middle of an affair setting clothes on fire is already amazing. What’s even better is that Brandon Randall is a footnote in her story; Carrie simply has no room for distractions in the form of small, unfaithful men. And I really love that for her. It’s also really refreshing to read about a woman who is constantly seeking to prove herself, yet she is unfazed by the unkind names she’s called or the bad reputation she gets for the classic “not smiling enough” or “not modest enough.” Carrie is the best. Period. And she will never fail to remind you that she is, which is what kinda makes her the best. What you see is what you get. The best part of the book for me was definitely her relationship with her father and their unbreakable bond through tennis. A fast-paced journey about coming to terms with your own shortcomings and realizing that at the end of the day, it’s just tennis.

Carrie Soto is Back hits shelves on August 30, and you certainly don’t want to miss it!

I tried writing a review for this book when I finished it and literally couldn't put my thoughts into words. I still can't find the words to describe this book. All I can say is I absolutely loved it. Taylor Jenkins Reid will continue to make me care about fake characters like they are real. She truly is such a talented writer. I think this might be my second favorite book by her. It's hard to say though but I did love the father daughter relationship in this book. I can't wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid does next.

This book ripped my heart out and then put it back together. What a WONDERFUL story, truly. As someone who grew up in sports for her whole life — soccer being a main bonding point for my dad and I — this book really hit hard. There were points in the story where I saw direct parallels to my childhood in competitive athletics and related immensely to Carrie (specifically the difficulties of having your dad as your coach and the frequent tensions it can create in your relationship). This book also carefully revealed the intricacies of being a woman within the world of athletics, as well as exposed the different standards that women are often held to in comparison to men. I honestly loved this book so much and it just might be my favorite of hers.

Carrie Soto is Back feels like a departure from TJR's past hits that boasted a wide cast of characters, with complex and sprawling family dramas. "Carrie Soto" is fairly straightforward in its plot, with 4-5 significant characters throughout. About a decade after Carrie's retirement as an esteemed tennis player, she decides she wants back in the game. A ruthless, aggressive, and decisively unlikeable player, she elbows her way through various championships eager to prove that she is still the greatest player of all time. Along the way, she brings her publicist Gwen, her coach and father Javier, and her practice mate and love interest Bowe, Reid proves once against that she is a master writer of dialogue and banter. I really liked the clarity and simplicity of the plot: I finished this in just a few days and felt it was a perfect, light summer read. Some parts of the story are quickly tied up (maybe a bit too conveniently) but that is easily forgivable, and makes me wonder if we can expect a sequel at some point in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy of Carrie Soto is back. It goes without saying that the book is well-written, because Taylor Jenkins Reid can even write a sports-themed book and I will read it because I love how she puts words down on paper. Even if you don’t know much about tennis, you will love this book and probably learn some things about tennis too. The characters were so vivid they leapt off the page. Carrie is not a pleasant character, but I was rooting for her the whole book, and she was someone I loved to hate. Her relationship with Javier was realistic and touching and Javier was my favorite character. The way he and Carrie would strategize about how to beat each opponent really brought the matches to life. If you’re looking for a fast engaging read, buy this book!

WOW. Taylor Jenkins Reid has absolutely outdone herself with Carrie Soto is Back. Easily one of the best books I've read in awhile and while I love Evelyn Hugo, I think Carrie Soto might be my favorite TJR character.
Carrie Soto is a retired tennis champion when she watches Nicki Chan tie her world record. At that moment, she turns to her father and former coach, Javier, and decides to get back in the game and try to win her record back. The book then goes through Carrie's previous career before bringing us back to present day and taking us through a year of brutal training and matches. Along the way, Carrie starts practicing with Bowe Howling, a 40 year old on the men's circuit in his last year of the sport whom Javier starts essentially coaching as well.
The characters are phenomenal. Its written in a way that you really feel as if you know these people. And even though I'm not a tennis fan (or much of a sports fan really), I found myself so invested in the outcomes. Honestly, it was riveting.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, NetGalley and the author for this ARC.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back! As a fan of her books, this one did not disappoint! Although, I wished the ending was different... I could appreciate how she choose to end this one especially after reading the year later chapter. I am now interested in watching Tennis, something I never thought I would say. It was enthralling! 5 stars!

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing me an advance copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Carrie Soto Is Back, in exchange for an honest review.

I have adored TJR’s writing ever since discovering #MaybeInAnotherLife in 2015. In the spirit of Javier Soto, #CarrieSotoIsBack is a beautifully, simplistic tale of redemption involving a retired world-class tennis player and her epic return to become the greatest tennis champion in history. The story is written in first person from the perspective of the protagonist, Carrie Soto, and it is set primarily throughout the 80s and 90s. Thus, the reader also receives a heady dose of nostalgia.

I happen to love and play tennis, but you do not need to have love for the game to enjoy this novel. Despite her brash and cynical attitude towards the world, Carrie is a symbol of hope for anyone who has strived for a dream and was met with devasting obstacles. TJR makes it easy for even those of us who are not pro-athletes or celebrities to identify with feeling, of failure and letting yourself or others down. The novel also touches on themes of womankind, race, the media, grief, self-realization, and familial love.

The strangest and somehow most endearing part of the reading experience is how awful and immature Carrie’s attitude is towards everything, including a lack of grace and sportsmanship in winning, and yet, the reader still incredulously cares for Carrie by the end. That is the hallmark of a truly unforgettable character. As if this is not enough, the rest of the supporting cast is just as loveable if not more so; I can already envision the developing screenplay. I also felt that some of the random tennis pros peppered throughout were fictional versions based on real tennis greats due to the shared parallels.

Some other amazing portions worth mentioning include the nod to Daisy Jones and the Six (in the vein of Stephen King worldbuilding), the sports announcers who reminded me of the movie, Best in Show, the relationship between Carrie and her father, any conversations between Carrie and Nicki, and of course, Bowe. TJR has truly outdone herself this time.

Wow, guys. This book was truly phenomenal. Every book I have read by TJR I have liked just a littttttle bit more than the previous one. She just keeps getting better.
 
Prior to reading this, I knew next to nothing about tennis, but I’ve always been into sports. As a former athlete, everything described about the competition, the pressure, and the need to win – it was very relatable. I closed this book a tennis fan.
 
I was soooo invested in Carrie’s career and especially her comeback which is funny because Carrie was generally unlikable for most of the book, but that’s what made her character arc so enjoyable. Throughout most of the story she was cocky. I mean she was the best in the world, but she definitely needed to be humbled. Through guidance from her father/coach, Javier and men’s pro tennis player and “friend,” Bowe - she got there.
 
The last few chapters were so bittersweet. I loved that I actually didn’t know how her final tournament would end. And I loved the way that it did end.
 
This book was pure genius. The fact that TJR can suck a reader into a sport, or topic in general, that meant nothing to them prior is a testament to how amazing she truly is. It publishes on August 30th, and I’m telling you now that you need to preorder it.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is BACK and expanding the world of Malibu Rising with a beautiful exploration of elite tennis player and record breaker Carrie Soto. I found myself on the edge of my seat even though I'm not a tennis fan myself. My only complaint is that it was over too soon!!

Going into this book, I didn’t know much about Tennis and how the sport works but through this book, I loved it. TJR wrote another incredible book with great female leads. I will forever read anything and everything she writes.

I was hesitant to read this book because I don’t like sports books, but I trust TJR! I can no longer say I don’t like sports books. I loved this book. I think I liked it better than Daisy Jones of Malibu. I thought I would want to skip pst the play by plays because I would find them boring, but it was all I could do not to skip just to find out what happens in each match. Packing my bags for Indian wells now……

Slightly predictable plot, but Carrie was a great character to keep in my company for a short while. This is likely to sell very well.

TJR does it again with another incredible story about an incredible woman. This is my third TJR book and she never lets me down.

Carrie Soto is a successful tennis player who comes out of retirement to defend and maintain her record. This is the story of a hard-headed, driven woman who will stop at nothing to accomplish her goals.

This is also to the story of beautiful personal growth, and Carrie’s journey to loving and appreciating what she has in the moment. Carrie’s character is hard to love, and she pushes people away every chance she gets, but she realizes that maybe loving and being loved isn’t as scary and hard as she thought.

I loved this book and devoured it in just over 2 days. I can’t wait for this to release so I can add it to my shelf.

I’m so happy that we have another TJR novel adding to this amazing universe she has created. Carrie Soto Is Back is a powerhouse of a book and Carrie as a character is one you root for from beginning to end. She is incredibly flawed like Evelyn and Daisy and doesn’t apologize for it which I love. Her relationships with those closest to her, Bowe, her father, and Gwen all support Carrie’s character arc throughout the novel and the development Carrie goes through is the best thing about this book.

As soon as I picked this book up it was hard for me to put down. Reid’s writing is something I can grasp so easily and I can disappear into whatever world or character she writes about and I always love the reading experience I have with her stories. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is because there was so. much. tennis. and that was totally okay. That’s what Carrie’s life revolves around. As someone who doesn’t watch or play tennis I definitely learned a lot by reading this book. It just became very repetitive at times but when you write a book about a world renowned tennis star, there is no way around that.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC! I cannot wait to see what TJR does next and I really hope this universe of unapologetic, strong, and complex female characters doesn’t end here. Her books are magic and I will always read anything she writes.