I have recently started reading books by Taylor Jenkins Reid and have enjoyed every one of them. Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint. For fans of tennis, this book is a great window into the pro tennis world. For those readers who don’t follow tennis, I believe you will still enjoy this book. I loved all the characters, especially Carrie Soto. Even though she was a bit rough around the edges, her character was believable. Looking forward to another Taylor Jenkins Reid book.

carrie soto is back is the immersive comeback story that follows the raveered and infamous tennis player, carrie soto, who wants to show the world what she's got for one last season. with the help of her father, xavier and fellow tennis player, bowe hutely, she goes to take back her title from up and coming star, nicki chan.

now, i haven't read malibu rising (yet) and from what i understand, it is where this character is introduced initially. however i got what i needed to get about carrie so let's get into it.

this book isn't a tennis book. i mean, it IS a tennis book. it's about a tennis player and there is so much tennis, but in my mind, it's so much more than that. it's an authentic interpretation of how it's like to be in the spotlight. it's showing the behind-the-scenes with every angle touched and inhanced. it was very enlightening on the real struggles female athletes in general have to succumb to by not only male elitests, but the fans of their sport as well. i really really liked this book. it was a tell all that exposes carrie soto in all ways, good and bad. it was a tiny bit pretentious at times, but at the end of the day, it gave feel good drama. it was incredibly honest and raw and i left the netgallery app a changed person.

if taylor jenkins reid is going to do ONE thing, it's devouring. she will chomp. she will eat. thank you so much to netgalley and random publishing for allowing me to read this one early :-)

I was beyond thrilled to be approved for an ARC of this much anticipated release. I've been pretty vocal about my love for Taylor Jenkins Reid and have been continually impressed by her ability to create authentic, deeply researched characters and time periods, bringing storylines to life to the point where you forget this is a work of fiction. Flawed and fierce Carrie Soto was no exception.

Tennis legend Carrie Soto has defined her worth by the accolades she's collected on the court. Coached by her father (and former tennis star) Javi since she was a little girl, Carrie became a driven, dominating force and paved the way for younger generations of female tennis players. When Nick Chan threatens to take the top spot for most Grand Slam titles, Carrie comes out of retirement focused on defending her record, which for Carrie is synonymous with her honor and reputation. Now back in the spotlight, Carrie feels the familiar media criticism regarding her "cold" approach. She doesn't make friends with other players, doesn't show humility and gratitude after a win, and according to commentators, is a bitch who is difficult to root for.

I'll be honest, I never thought I'd read a novel so dedicated toward tennis, and for the first half of the book I had some doubts about the connection I was making with Soto. She’s so complicated that I wasn't even sure I was rooting for her. I now realize that my initial reaction to Carrie is exactly as TJR wants it. She’s frustrating and polarizing. Tennis is all that defines her, so of course we are going to learn every little painstaking detail of the game as if we are right there with Carrie, yelling at the refs, at the edge of our seats in the stands.

I read the second 1/2 of the novel in one obsessive sitting. I loved the supporting characters - Javi, Bowe, Gwen and even Nicki. I loved Carrie’s growth. I loved the ending of this novel so very much.

I can’t wait to see what TJR does next.

This new Taylor Jenkins Reid book did not disappoint.

Grit. Determination. Complicated relationships. Coming to terms with what’s important in life. To you.

Loved it! The most perfect read to start summer vacation.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the digital ARC.

#taylorjenkinsreid #carriesotoisback

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. CARRIE SOTO IS BACK is a remarkable story about failure and success, and the triumphs and consequences of being the best. Like all of Reid's female characters, Carrie Soto is well-rounded, flawed, and relatable. As a woman in the sports industry, I can say that Reid nails what it's like to have to navigate such an unwelcome, male-dominated field where it seems that everyone is rooting for you to fail. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, as if I was really at Carrie's matches. A must-read!

★ ★ ★ ★
Oh TJR…I love you so much! This book is so enjoyable, but sadly does not even come close to Evelyn Hugo for me. I think it will be near impossible for me to not compare of book of hers to Evelyn, but with that being said this was REALLY good!!! 4 stars (comparing Evelyn at at 5) This book is more character driven than plot driven which I don’t normally care for, but the way TJR took Carrie Soto from someone I absolutely hated to someone I adored is truly magical! To see Carrie in all stages of her life and in her career was so enjoyable; from relationships to game play, TJR knows how to write incredible characters. As someone who has also lost her mother, the relationship between Carrie and her dad was so incredibly special to read, it gave me all the feels! I will say that this book is all about tennis, tennis and more tennis so if you don’t care at all about that - beware! BUT, I think TJR was able to make me fall in love with all her characters enough that I didn’t mind that it was all about tennis?! I don’t think this will go down as her best work but it really didn’t disappoint! TJR is an auto-buy author for me and while this wasn’t my favorite it was still incredibly enjoyable!! Thank you SO MUCH to the queen herself Taylor Jenkins Reid, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC! I feel like I have truly peaked in my bookstagram “career” receiving this in advance 😍

Another great book from Taylor Jenkins Reid. I wouldn't typically pick up a time period book on women's tennis but I trusted her storytelling abilities. It was definitely worth the read even if this is outside your comfort zone.

First off, I'm going to say...I will read anything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes, but this one had me a little worried. I know NOTHING about tennis, absolutely nothing other than what I can do on Wii Sports against my 7 year old. It didn't matter with this book. I learned the game just as Carrie did with her dad as her coach. I laughed at how arrogant Carrie is, I cried multiple times as the human who Carrie is, came out of her shell. I loved this book. Not just because of the mention of Nina Rivera or the quick nod to Daisy Jones and the Six. I fell in love with Carrie, her drive, her tenacity and her humility.

One line that stuck with me was when her dad said to her, "my heart hurts when you hurt, because you are my heart." Thanks TJR for opening the water works over here.

Such a great novel that I hope EVERYONE reads!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC for an unbiased review.

I certainly was not expecting this type of book from Taylor Jenkins Reid - kudos to her for always doing something unexpected and researching it thoroughly. I'm not interested at all in tennis - but like the series on Netflix "The Queen's Gambit" - I was instantly drawn in from the beginning. I only give it 4 stars because there was a lot of Spanish in the book and Reid never really translated the words - it was somewhat distracting. Otherwise another great book by Reid.

Carrie Soto is Back is a thrilling, fast-paced novel full of heart (though Carrie would never admit it). Carrie is one of the greatest tennis players of all time (or the greatest, depending on who you ask). She retired after an injury six years ago and decides to make a comeback as the current crop of tennis stars, Nicki Chan in particular, are getting close to beating her record of 20 Grand Slam titles. Carrie reenlists her father, Javier, as her coach and together they prepare to dominate women’s tennis once again. But can Carrie play as well as she once did?

Carrie is ruthlessly ambitious, driven, lacking in social graces, not particularly likable or interested in being liked - I loved her. Taylor Jenkins Reid lovingly crafted a complex, vulnerable character that you want to see succeed. I was captivated by Carrie’s determination and the writing - I felt like I was actually witnessing a tense tennis match while reading some of the chapters. On top of enjoying Carrie’s reemergence, readers get to witness Carrie’s sweet relationship with her father and coach, Javier. Then there is also her relationship with Bowe Huntley, who is helping her train. They form a tentative friendship that may grow into something more if Carrie allows. Though not a main focus of the story, the novel highlights the unequal treatment of women and men in the media and how many more expectations and “standards” there are for women to meet. Smile. Play nice. Be grateful. Don’t be vocal about how much winning means to you, etc.

This was wonderful and a true joy to read. You won’t want to put it down once you start reading. I recommend it to everyone. Whether you are interested in tennis or not, Carrie Soto is sure to win you over.

Thank you very much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ARC via NetGalley.

I have never been so interested in tennis, a sport for that matter or an unlikable character in my life! This story was incredible honestly but I’m not shocked because of who the author is. You follow Carrie through her life with her father and feel as though you know them both. I cried, more than once. Smiled to myself more times than I’d like to admit. And towards the end really rooted for her even though she was quite unbearable in the beginning. The character development was great and the authors made sure you understood the sport and knew what was happening in the games, sets, and matches. I also really enjoyed that Javier spoke Spanish to her and there wasn’t translation after, I know that may bother some people but I liked the challenge of brushing up on my Spanish. Overall I would recommend this to literally anyone!

There are simply no words to describe the magic of this book. TJR has the ability to transport you into these worlds she creates that feel SO REAL. I haven't stepped foot on a tennis court since I was a little kid in camp, yet I could literally feel the ground beneath my feet and could hear the sound of tennis balls hitting the court as I read this. As I've had to do with every TJR book I've read, I finished the book and quickly googled to make sure Carrie Soto wasn't actually a real tennis player.

Short synopsis: Carrie Soto is the greatest tennis player of all time. Not a hyperbole. She has the most records of any player and has worked her whole life to be the greatest at this game. Enter Nicki Chan -a younger player about to take Carrie's record away. Carrie ends her retirement to re-enter the competition to fight to keep her title as the greatest player of all time. The book is laid out in different sections as Carrie trains and competes in different matches, interspersed with transcripts from sports shows and newspaper articles about her comeback.

This book was a beautiful story of personal growth and learning that the only person you need to prove anything to is yourself. There are many lessons in this book, some more obvious than others, but each of them just as important. Carrie Soto is a perfect example to us all that there is always time to open our hearts and change our perspectives in life.

I was apprehensive about reading this book when I discovered it was about a sport. I’m one of the most anti sport people. I can’t stand them. I’ve loved everything that TJR has written but I still dragged my feet. Finally I decided I just had to try it. I’m so glad that I did because I just stayed up way past my bedtime so I could finish. There was no way I could try to sleep before finding out how Carrie Soto is Back would end.

My dad played tennis and was always disappointed that none of his kids played. I also just got a new house with a tennis court right next to it. This isn’t some sign that tennis has been missing from my life and I can make my dad proud, is it? Yeah, I don’t think so. Sorry, dad!

TJR does such an amazing job of writing strong minded, kick ass women. We’ve seen it in every book she has written. Women who break rules and defy reason. I think that is why I couldn’t put it down despite all the sport talk. I immediately loved how hardcore Carrie was on and off the court.

My favorite aspect of the book was the relationship between Carrie and her father, Javier. It broke my heart when they would argue and not speak. But I think that is how real relationships can be.

One of the reasons I don’t like sports is because the games give me too much anxiety. This is a fictional character and I was sweating over her matches!! I would try to peek ahead to see the outcome but you can’t do that. You miss the amazing details of how Carrie played. Major props to TJR for making a game where a ball gets hit back and forth become something beautiful.

Loved the message of going for what you want, with no shame or guilt, no matter your age, race, or gender. Though the book does mention several times that often in history exceptional women are overshadowed by mediocre men.

This book doesn’t just show us how Carrie is a rockstar. Yes the book is about Carrie Soto. But it’s also about the legacies of the other players. Bowe. Nikki. Javier. Also her agent, Gwen.

I love that the book is about coming back and being proud but it also begs the questions-why can’t someone else share in the victory? And I do think Carrie begins to understand what her dad was constantly telling her.

Wonderful to see the progression of Carrie as she makes her return. From being solely about winning to being about enjoying the game. Making friends. Letting people in.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this wonderful book. I have written this review voluntarily.

I would like to thank Random House- Ballantine and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. Carrie Soto is Back, is another well written book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. We first met the character of Carrie, briefly, in Malibu Rising. Now we get to learn all about her and her world of tennis. The book takes place primarily in the mid 90's. Carrie had been a star tennis player, winning Grand slams for a record 20 grand slam titles. She was coached by her father, a former tennis player, and had little time for friends, or romance. Now she is retired. The new star on the horizon is about to tie , and possibly break , her record. Carrie wants to come back and take what she feels is hers! It is a fascinating story, about a woman who is super focused on one part of her life, to the detriment of everything else. Even in retirement, Carrie is not interested in romance, or even friends. Her life was tennis and now, well she is not sure what it is.She has a complicated relationship with her father, who was also her coach for many years. There is also a male player, Bowe Huntley, who has also retired, and is now attempting a comeback. Bowe, a former fling, now wants to be a friend and train with her. The book takes us through Carrie's comeback year, Grand Slam by Grand Slam. It is fun, it is sad, it is a good book. I really enjoyed it.

When was the last time you *really* wanted something? How hard would you push yourself to get it?

Carrie Soto was a tennis star. Years later, when Nicki Chan threatens her record, Carrie has to decide if she wants to fight for the top... again.

But this book isn’t only about tennis. It’s about a relationship between a father and a daughter, between a coach and a student. There’s the athlete trying to make time and head space for romance. I loved the relationship between Javier and Bowe.

Good news! You don’t need to know or love tennis to enjoy this book. I don’t and I finished this book in one day. The writing is that good and the characters are that rich.

How do you not root for the underdog?

Well done, TJR, now fuck right off and write another. 😉😘

Thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine Books for this advanced reader’s eCopy to review. I might have squealed when I opened my email.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60437824

This book was amazing! It was well written, fast paced and the characters were real people, warts and all. I enjoyed learning how Carrie became such a force in women’s tennis, but the second part, when she returned to that world, was simply incredible. Although I am not a big tennis fan, I really enjoyed the tennis aspect of this book. It seemed true to life and the descriptions of the matches were riveting. During Carrie’s comeback, when I was forced to put the book down, I kept thinking about her next match and couldn’t wait to get back to the story.

There was more to this book than just a comeback story, though. There was also the story of a father and a daughter and the story of a woman finding her true self. All of these stories together add up to a book that can’t be missed.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

I love how different each of Reid’s books are. I’m not a huge tennis fan but really enjoyed this book. Thanks so much for this ARC.

Taylor's done it again. Carrie is right beside Evelyn for my favorite of the TJR main characters. The depth to Carrie's story arc and character weren't surprising coming from TJR, but I was surprised at how much I truly loved everything about Carrie and the time I spent in her world. Getting to see so many years of her life really gives you the opportunity to connect to her story and her love of tennis, and I just felt this connection with her story that is often missing in newer books.

More in depth comments to come closer to pub date, but this is a must read! I got the book and finished it the next day.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of Carrie Soto Is Back. This book was such a treat to read, I couldn’t put it down! I don’t know the first thing about tennis but that didn’t stop me from completely devouring this book in order to find out Carrie’s story. I wanted to hate her but found myself loving her more and more. TJK, you have outdone yourself again! I will definitely be recommending this book to all.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has long been a favorite author of mine. I always know to have a large pack of tissues handy when I read her books. Who else could make me care enough about tennis to repeatedly tear up?

Carrie Soto is Back might be my favorite of TJR’s novels so far. Carrie is one of the most unlikable characters you will ever encounter, and you’ll still root for her. The relationship between her and her coach father, Javier, was perfection. As well as her relationship with Bowe. 5 stars for this poignant, unforgettable novel.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Publication Date: 30 Aug 2022

#CarrieSotoIsBack #NetGalley #taylorjenkinsreid