*I received a copy for review.*
Typically, I do not like a redemption story. When a person is a villain in one book, I am not likely to read a book about them. If they are truly awful, I don't care if they get an HEA. In many cases, I'd rather picture them alone, destitute , and perhaps falling off a cliff. However, I forgot who Carrie was and I didn't figure it out until about 1/2 way through. I am glad I didn't remember.
This book is definitely one with an unlikeable character who is the villain in some one else's story. Carrie Soto was made to play tennis. Her father was a decent player and put a racket in her hand when she was three. She is dedicated and fierce and when she loses her mother, it becomes her whole like. Her father pours all of his love and determination into making her the best but he forgets that she needs to learn how to lose and how to keep her love for the sport. She takes the tennis world by storm but her directness makes her unpopular and she comes across harsh. This story is her journey to the top with all her mistakes and her walking away then trying to come back to keep her record in tact.
Carrie is not easy to know or like. She doesn't know what tact is and has no desire to play down her abilities or compliment people she beats. Either she's the best or she's not. And she cannot handle the not. She's complicated and her relationship choices are unhealthy and destructive.
It is not always an easy read but I loved getting inside this complicated, stubborn woman. I loved that parts of the text were in Spanish because I got to use my very rusty skills to translate and if I couldn't, I used the translator on my Kindle. I love a book that teaches me something.
This author has such a grasp of layered characters that are not always easy to understand. I loved this book even though I really didn't want to see this character in a new light.

I am a big fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid and when I saw she was writing another book, featuring Carrie Soto from Malibu Rising, I couldn't wait. I was so excited to begin and devoured the book in 2 days. I love Taylor's style of writing and really enjoyed that Carrie Soto isn't your average character. Carrie Soto is rough around the edges - she says what's on her mind without regard for others and doesn't mind being disliked. As you peel back the layers of Carrie in Carrie Soto is Back, you begin to understand why she's this way.

As the world's best tennis player, Carrie refuses anything but perfection and you can see the heart in her game throughout all the pages of Taylor's newest novel. I loved the relationship between Carrie and her father and loved even more that Carrie is a hispanic women. Reid weaved in some Spanish throughout her pages and I couldn't get enough.

This book was everything I would've hoped for. Even though I knew nothing about tennis, I was interested and followed along pretty easily. I can't wait to see what Taylor has next for us!

screaming crying throwing up
First of all, never would I have thought I would be receiving an ARC from one of my absolute favorite author’s books. So thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing—Ballantine, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for this wonderful opportunity to read this incredible book.
I started this, decided I wanted to take a nap, and then finished the book soon after I woke up from my nap. Taylor Jenkins Reid did such an incredible job on this book and I feel like the universe must love me enough to let me read this book. To say I am obsessed is an understatement. I ate this up and I loved it with all of my heart.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. I honestly cannot tell you an author who's writing I have ever loved more than hers. The way she describes all of the characters makes you feel like you truly know them. I love how realistic Carrie's character was throughout the whole book. Yes she was a bitch but when facing criticism like she was throughout the book, who could blame her? I just absolutely fell in love with Bowe. He was so kind and forgiving with Carrie. He truly understood her. This book made me feel every single emotion it possibly could have. I laughed, I cried, I got so angry I wanted to scream. Another 5 star book from TJR for me

Dust off your tennis rackets people - in the way that Queen's Gambit had us digging out our Chess boards - the hottest book of the summer is going to cause an upticking in tennis lessons.

When I saw Taylor Jenkins Reid had a new novel coming out this year, I was ELATED! I loved both "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and "Malibu's Rising" (YES I know I need to move Daisy up on my TBR list). I am not big a historical fiction reader but there is something about the way that TJR writes that transports me into the worlds she has created (It's just Mick Riva's world and we're all living in it --- IYKYK). She writes so beautifully and I can not put her stories down. So upon learning of her new book I did what anyone would do, I avoided learning anything beyond when it comes out.

I knew this book was about tennis - but that was all I knew. And honestly this book is ABOUT TENNIS. TBJ created a realistic tennis star. In fact a few times during the novel, I thought to myself "I should watch this match on youtube" until I rememebered Carrie Sota is not real. TBJ someone crafted such a likely character with totally unlikable qualities. It's a "coming of age" story - except our main character is an adult. We got heartbreak, persistance, suspence. It's my favorite TBJ novel (which is saying something) and most likely going to be one of my favorites of not only the summer but of the year.

I don't want to give anything away about this book (HEY - I went into into blind - you can too) but I can NOT wait to discuss this book with others as they finish it. I will be hyping this book up all summer to anyone who will listen and then talking their ears off once they have finished.

A GIANT THANK YOU to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel. When I tell you a squeeled when I was approved to read this - I mean I am glad no one was around me when I opened that email.

Review Plan: review is up on goodreads and adding to my @christi_reads instagram tonight. (also cross posting to my personal account @christiha. Plan to do Amazon review in August. Will continue to talk about on instagram leading up to the release.

This was, without a doubt, my favorite book Taylor Jenkins Reid has ever written. And I absolutely did not expect it to be.

I went into it not wanting to like Carrie Soto. It would’ve been so easy to get sucked into the narrative that she is, quite frankly, a bitch. And yet, I couldn’t help but love her. Here is a woman who has dedicated her whole life to her sport, but is judged at every turn, and for what? Knowing she’s good at something she has proven time and again to be good at? Men can yell at the umpire, throw their racket in anger, have a full on tantrum and still be universally loved, but female athletes make one harsh comment and are forever branded as “the Battle Axe,” “The Beast,” and of course, a bitch.

And bitch though she may be, Carrie Soto is so much more. She’s strong and determined, relentlessly striving to do better than her best even when nobody but her coach-slash-father believes in her. As she rediscovers her love for tennis, she also learns to open her heart a little and let the people in who have been cheering her on through her whole career: Her agent, her new man, her rival, but especially her father.

Javier “el Jaguar” Soto is perhaps my favorite literary dad I’ve ever encountered. Though he and Carrie had their ups and downs through navigating the father-daughter-coach-player dynamic, it’s clear all along that nobody believes in her more than her dad does. He may love tennis, but he loves his daughter the most, and that is abundantly clear through the detailed notes he gave her on how to defeat every potential opponent. Javi reminded his daughter that her passion for tennis is so much more important than her obsession with winning, and while it took awhile for that idea to sink in, I believe Carrie understood it in the end.

I have about 400 more words written, but none of you are going to read all that, so I think I’ll end my review here:

At its core, “Carrie Soto Is Back” is a love story. It’s the love between a player and a game, a girl and her father, and a touch of the sweetest romance. I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I can’t wait to read it again in print so I can stain the pages with more tears (I promise they were mostly happy tears I’m just a very emotional person). I felt like I was standing right there on the court with Carrie through every single match, and I am so so proud of her. TJR, thank you for writing this unstoppable character; she’s one of the best.

Carrie Soto Is Back packs one helluva serve! Having practically zero interest in tennis, and only the most basic high school gym class knowledge about tennis, I went into this book a bit nervous that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. The amount of interest or knowledge you have for tennis does not matter when it comes to enjoying this book. ⁣
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I was as blown away by this book as if I was facing a volley smashed at me by Carrie herself. For not being a tennis fan, I was immediately hooked. This book was a front row seat at Wimbledon, a behind the scenes at the French Open, and a standing in center court at the US Open. ⁣
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The characters are so well formed, well developed, and multidimensional. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the book. The story is so vibrant and energetic that it hummed. And the writing! The writing is exquisite. The way that Tara Jenkins Reid selects and crafts her words and phrasing to create such vivid imagery is amazing. The book read like watching a movie; there is nothing flat about it. Athough I’m equipped with the bare basics of tennis, I was still able to picture everything so clearly. As I was reading, I wondered how Jenkins Reid would be able to make each tennis match interesting and she managed to do so beautifully. ⁣
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Tara Jenkins Reid has done it again with this riveting book that will have you turning pages as fast as Nicki Chan serves that tennis ball! You’ll be holding your breath as if you were watching the games play out from a seat in the stands at Wimbledon. If you’ve read other TJR books, expect a few Easter eggs to pop up throughout the book. Definitely add this book to your end of summer reading list. It’s the perfect book to wrap up your summer! ⁣
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Pub Date: August 30, 2022⁣
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Thank you to @Ballantine, @NetGalley, and @TaraJenkinsReid for the advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. ⁣
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#CarrieSotoIsBack #TaraJenkinsReid #BalantineBooks #NetGalley

Absolutely loved this! I am not a TJR super fan but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Carrie is a powerhouse - ambitious, ruthless, determined, and inspiring I loved the way the story unfolded, and it did remind me a bit of Daisy Jones. It was a completely linear timeline so no jumping back and forth. There are beautiful moments here about family, the cost of ambition, sexism, and letting yourself be vulnerable. I am a passing tennis fan that added to the experience for me.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is my favorite author and I'm so grateful to be given the advanced copy of this book. Readers were briefly introduced to Carrie Soto in Malibu Rising but TJR gives an incredible backstory of who Carrie Soto is and what she is capable of. In Carrie Soto Is Back, TJR tells story of heartbreak, loss, grief, new love, Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the advanced copy.

Is it terrible to say that this is just what I expected it to be? Because it was just what I expected it to be - quick to get in to, characters to root for (or against?), fast-paced and entertaining. Carrie Soto is a famous retired tennis player who returns to the game at the age of 37 to reclaim a record of hers that was broken. Lots of tennis talk that I loved even though I’m not super tennis-y.

I DIDN’T ASK YOU TO RIP MY HEART OUT ON A RANDOM TUESDAY NIGHT, TAYLOR JENKINS REID.

This book is everything. Taylor Jenkins Reid is the queen of writing strong, badass female characters that stay with you long after the last page. Carrie, Nicki, and Javier are characters you will never forget. Carrie Soto Is Back is a beautiful story about perseverance, love, and the power of being vulnerable. I loved every second of this story!

Thank you net galley for providing me with an ARC of this masterpiece.

Carrie Soto is Back is definitely one of my favorite books of 2022 (is it too early to say it is my absolute favorite?) I was literally sobbing when I finished it. TJR is my favorite author ever, she does an amazing job in creating this characters. I personally love tennis, so this was chef kiss.

This comes out in august, and I already pre-order it (ready to reread by then)

My favorite writer of contemporary fiction is back, and this time, she's bringing tennis phenom Carrie Soto along for the ride. I have to say, I was a bit surprised at the outset, as Carrie's world seems so far removed from what I would've expected from TJR. It bears little-to-no resemblance to her previous efforts, such as Daisy Jones, Evelyn Hugo, or One True Loves. Then again, that's exactly why Jenkins Reid is such a literary unicorn-- she can seemingly write anything, and refuses to pidgeon-hole herself or be defined firmly by any one genre or subject matter. It's actually difficult to attach any sort of 'branding' to her, which is why I just automatically read anything she writes. The only real through line is that she's putting out quality writing, with compelling and complex females navigating different environments. I suppose the closest relative in the TJR family of books would be Malibu Rising, which makes sense since this is set in the same world as that book and features some of the same characters. But that was a more sprawling ensemble piece, with big set pieces and a raucous party, whereas this is far more focused on the interior life of a perpetually 'difficult woman', as she navigates the world as an aging woman.

Don't like tennis? Don't worry. Sure, there's a lot of descriptions of the game, but Jenkins Reid masterfully uses it to create a complex, typically male-dominated world that thrives on youth and whiteness, and she also utilizes the four matches to amp up the stakes. I dare you to read this and not think, even once, 'maybe I should get tennis lessons'.

As usual, I loved this book b/c I love everything by this author. In this story, Carrie Soto is the most accomplished woman in tennis (although also the most prickly) when she retires. After a younger player ties her record, she stages a comeback.

When I get lucky enough to get an early copy from Taylor Jenkins Reid, I can't wait till publication time to read it. I have to read it now! This one comes out in August so pre-order away!

Carrie Soto was the top tennis player back in the day. She is going to make a comeback so her record of most Slams is not taken by someone else. She is in her late thirties (which is old in sports). She is training with her father Javier. He trained her from a little girl, always telling her that she was going to be the best tennis player ever. But then there is a time when she dumps him as her coach in her effort to be the best, the most important thing to her. Now she knows she needs him. It has always been the two of them against the world after her mother dies young.

Carrie is a hard nut to crack. She is unlikeable at times. She is not very nice to others. Carrie is labeled Battle Axe and the Bitch by everyone. I love her growth throughout the novel. Her relationship with Bowe is one you root for.

As much as she made me mad at times, I really warmed up to her as time goes on. You understand why she feels the way she does.

Another plus is the connection between Malibu Rising and this book and even a Daisy Jones mention. Love it!

I don't think you can ever go wrong with a book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I am always satisfied.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for and advance copy for review of this wonderful book.

The perfect book doesn’t exist… @tjenkinsreid writing this book

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for my #gifted eARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎾 genre: contemporary fiction
🖊 author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
📖 format: kindle
📚 read if you like: tennis, sports, bad*ss female protagonists

Thoughts:

I’m calling it now, Carrie Soto is Back is my favorite book of 2022 🎾

I do not have the words to describe how much I loved this novel and just how good it is. As soon as I finished the eARC, I preordered a physical copy, and I NEVER do that.

Carrie Soto is the best tennis player in the world. She’s fierce, determined, and a bit b*tchy. She doesn’t care what other people think; all she wants to do is win, and she does. She and her father and coach, Javier, have given everything up to make sure she shatters all the records she sets her mind too.

But a few years into her retirement, Nicki Chan is set to break Carrie’s record and win the most Grand Slams. Determined to take back her title, Carrie and her father come out of retirement with the goal of winning one more Grand Slam.

TJR is brilliant. This book moves quickly, but does a phenomenal job of showing how Carrie grows throughout the novel. Carrie Soto is Back is a character driven novel, and while, Carrie, at times isn’t the most likable character, I dare you to not cheer for her.

If I could be jumping up and down rooting for her from the stands, I would. TJR writing is so spot on that I actually felt like I was watching Carrie play.

Through Carrie’s story, we see how male and female athletes are treated differently and how that affects how they are seen.

I feel in love with all the characters of this book and so wish that it never ended.

The ending was a bit predictable and I guessed it at around 80% into the book, but it was so perfect. It really brought Carrie full circle.

Honestly, this is such an amazing story, and I can’t wait for Carrie Soto is Back to be released in August. Definitely make sure you preordered a copy of this one!

Trained by her father, Javier, since age two, Carrie Soto rose to be the world's greatest female tennis player, setting every possible record. Carrie's single-mindedness to be the best female tennis player to the exclusion of everything else has left her with little else in her life upon her retirement at 31.

Six years later after watching her Grand Slam record of 20 wins beaten, Carrie decides to attempt a comeback with her father once again coaching her. Included in her story is Bowe Huntley who she once came close to giving her heart and is also on the comeback path adding romance to the story.

A key element as a reader is the thoughtful way Taylor Jenkins Reid explains the differences in the types of tennis surfaces and how it impacts play for the casual tennis fan. Once again, Taylor Jenkins Reid does masterful work telling the story of a protagonist in a world that most readers see only during major events. Thank you #NetGalley!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy of Carrie Soto is back!
Carrie Soto retired from women’s tennis as the holder of the most slam titles. To say that she was great would be an understatement; she was the best, and she knew it. At 37, Carrie relaxes with her endorsement deals and investments that set her up for like. And just like that, her slam record is tied and Carrie knows she must make the choice to return to the game she loves, but the road to being the best is not always easy.
Once again, Taylor Jenkins Reid transports the reader to a different era flawlessly. I loved the structure of this book as it took us through Carrie’s tournaments, past and present. Overall, this book is a solid read, albeit a bit too heavy on the tennis side.

"Carrie Soto Is Back" and yes she is! Carrie Soto is a world champion tennis player, who's records just got beat by a newbie, so it's time for her and her father-coach to step back in the ring even though they're "old" and "out of the game". Carrie isn't shy, she's boastful and brassy and fabulous. Carrie is a no bullshit kind of girl and I adored her relationship with her father.

It is so hard not to compare "Carrie Soto" to her other books so....is it my favorite of the Mick Riva Universe collection?? No, but I did really enjoy it. (& yes, that's what we're calling it!)

To be honest, the first 25% of the book was slow-going and I was nervous I wouldn't get attached but it was important to set the stage and background for the rest of the story. From there it was a page-turner that I couldn't put down, as expected from TJR.

The 90's tennis vibes were fun but I do wish there was MORE of it - the story really could've been moved to be set in any time period and not felt out of place and I REALLY just wanted to be immersed in the 90's preppy tennis world.

Overall, another TJR book I enjoyed, but not my all-time favorite. Carrie was a fun character that showed a lot of growth and the supporting characters were really interesting as well! The ending wasn't quite what I wanted but that's ok. Definitely the perfect beach read for the summer and I will be adding it to my collection! I sat down and read it in one sitting.

Pub Date 30 Aug 2022 |Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a must read for me.

I went into this book not knowing much about tennis, but I devoured Carrie Soto is Back.

The relationship dynamics are so beautifully written - with her father, her agent, how you see her respond to the competitors on and off the court, they really made the book. I felt Carrie’s character was so well developed, her flaws are exposed in a way that makes you want to root for her.

When you read a work of fiction that seems so authentic and real you want to do an internet search about the characters, that is when you know you have been transported into the world the author has created. TJR does such a fantastic job of weaving in sports journalism coverage - loved that addition.

Highly recommend this book! The hype with this one will be justified.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.