TJR is an auto-buy author for me because everything she writes is gold!

Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint! This was a perfect example of why I love TJR. She gave us a strong female lead with amazing character growth. I have seen so many people say Carrie has become their new favorite TJR girl and when we already have Evelyn, Daisy, and Nina I did not see how that was possible. Well, I can say Carrie definitely stole my heart! She was brave, unapologetic, strong, and at her core extremely vulnerable. Watching her change throughout the story was my absolute favorite part.

I also loved her relationship with her dad. Javier reminded me so much of my grandpa and had me tearing up so many times because of how much he loved Carrie. His want for her to succeed, but also to find happiness was so pure and special.

The romance in this book was definitely not the main theme, but even that was done so well. Bowe was the sweetest and had me swooning.

Of course, in true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion she had me crying the whole last 40 minutes of this book (sorry to the guy next to me on the plane). She just has a way of getting us all in our feels.

Lastly, I can't not review this book without discussing tennis. Have I ever played tennis? No. Do I know anything about tennis? No. Have I ever had any want to watch tennis? No. Do I now want to learn everything about it and follow it on tv? YES! How TJR made me completely interested in something that I have never cared about, I do not know. But, it speaks to her writing that so much of this book was centered around a very specific topic and she still made it interesting and easy to follow.

I can't wait to see where Jenkins Reid takes us next!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve never played tennis 🎾 in my life, but I feel like I could beat everyone after reading this book 😂.
Carrie is BRUTAL! But man, she has that rare passion and grit that is so inspirational.

At first, this book was a little slow going, but once you get sucked into Soto’s world you can’t put it down. TJR has a way of making you feel every emotion right there with Carrie in this book. I was transported on the court with her—I saw every hit, every miss, every spin, I was there for it all.

Now that’s brilliant writing 👏🏻

Carrie Soto is Back
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook /Audiobook
Date Published: 8/30/22
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Ballantine Books / Random House Audio
Narrators: Full Cast
GR: 4.44

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the greatest player the world has ever seen. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach. Javier - a former champion himself - has trained her since the age of two. At 37 years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley.

My Thoughts: I decided to purchase the audiobook for this review and so glad that I did. The story is narrated by Carrie Soto, from her perspective. This is reminiscent to the Serena Williams story. I cannot stand tennis but I LOVED this book! Sadly, it is my first TJR book, but will NOT be my last. This is just a beautiful story of a women athlete navigating a predominantly male sport and becoming the greatest player ever until she retires and then comes back for one more circuit at the age of 37, which was unheard of. The characters were well flushed out, well developed, had depth, connection, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, thought provoking, endearing, intriguing, engaging, and absolutely beautiful. I can see this being a top book for this year. I would highly recommend purchasing, favoring the audio over the book. The narrators were top notch, really brought Carrie Soto to life, you felt like you were there with her in her journey to greatness.

Carrie Soto was the best player in women's tennis. Known for her cold attitude and incredible talent, she is known as "The Battle Axe". She has retired but something draws her out of retirement to prove she is still the best player in history. Coached by her dad, Javier, she takes on new challenges and players. Everyone is surprised by her return and what they really want to know is if Carrie Soto is really back.

I enjoyed this book. I am not a big tennis fan but I could appreciate the sport in the writing. I loved the connection between Carrie and her father. I did enjoy the romantic parts, but also the friendships she discovers. I was not a big fan of her attitude and how it never really changed. I do understand that was a part of her personality but I don't get along with people like that so I just wasn't impressed. I would have liked to know more about her family life and relationships outside of tennis as well, but I wonder if she even had one. Overall I truly did enjoy this book, while it wasnt my favorite of TJRs writings, she still proves she is an excellent writer. My main criticisms were from an opinion stand point. Overall I would rate this one a 3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am definitely not a tennis fan. I mean I don't hate it but I don't watch it either. Serena is a rock star but it's just not my sport. Only Taylor Jenkins Reid could get me so engrossed in a book about a sport I'm not interested in.
And I was indeed interested. From the beginning I had to know what happened. I adored Carrie. Thank you for giving us a flawed female character that I love not in spite of, but because of all those imperfections. I could laugh at Carrie and empathize with her too. It's so nice to see female characters that aren't just cardboard cutouts.
Javier was also brilliant and I only wish he were a real person. I loved the team he and Carrie made. A brilliant father, a wonderful man.
I was invested in this story from the beginning to the end and that is something TJR always excels at. She pulls you into her stories and this was no exception.
A truly enjoyable read. I need another TJR book asap!
Thank you to Random House Publishing / Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfectly coinciding with the US Open - Carrie Soto is back had the perfect amount of details about tennis and the struggles of being a female athlete.

When I picked up this ARC and read the note from the editor that though she loves all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s protagonists, Carrie is her favorite, I thought there was no way she could eclipse Daisy, Nina, and Evelyn for me. But then I read Carrie Soto is Back and maybe just maybe might agree. I have to start by saying that I love the way TJR writes and I love her female protagonists, and this latest installment was no different.

Reading this book while watching Serena Williams play her final match seemed like the most insane coincidence of art imitating life, but also made this story so much more realistic. Carrie Soto’s drive and determination have made her a fierce competitor on the court. But off the court, her attitude has alienated her from almost everyone except for her father, Javier, who trains her. She is no doubt the GOAT and has sacrificed everything for her record of greatness. Six years after she retires with 20 Grand Slam titles under her belt, she watches her record broken by Nicki Chan.

Faced with losing the only thing she has ever worked for, Carrie comes out of retirement for one last year in an effort to reclaim her title. There is so much I loved about this book as a tennis fan, but the characters in this book really make it. Carrie is nicknamed “the Battle-Axe” and is no media darling, but her grit is something you can’t help but respect. Her team of Javier, her agent and her hitting partner were all integral parts of the story and I was invested in each and every one of them.

I can’t say enough good things about this book, but I’ll leave it to say TJR has nailed it again. I’ll go ahead and start counting down for her next release. Thank you to Random House – Ballantine and Netgally for providing me with this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid and the way she introduces a character in one book and totally expands on them in another'. I hated Carrie Soto until I understood her. Carrie Soto is Back is not just the story of a tennis comeback but it is mainly a story about a father’s and daughter’s love for one another and the game….and how one never really depended on the other. I loved this book so much, i had a hard time putting it down. I can’t wait wait for another character development from this book…maybe we will learn more about Nicki?

One of the things I love most about Taylor Jenkins Reid is that her books are all very different. They’re not formulaic or predictable. And they’re all so very good. Carrie Soto Is Back is just as amazing as the author’s previous work. I’m already excited for her next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t even like tennis and I absolutely loved this book. What an interesting character….I couldn’t put Carrie’s story down. She was messy and infuriating and just an absolutely compelling character to read about. This is a book I can see using a lot for reader’s advisory.

I  just love TJR writing but I cannot get into the tennis bit. Personally, tennis is just not my sport.  I enjoyed the personal growth for Carrie and the father- daughter relationship throughout the book. I didnt have a problem with this part but there was alot of phrases/parts that are in Spanish (not translated). This would make it difficult for other readers who dont know the language.


Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ebook for an honest review

I will be listening to Own Voices reviewers on this one and will not be reviewing Carrie Soto Is Back. I was really looking forward to this title.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another phenomenal book! It is easy to see why Ms. Reid is such a popular author. Plus, this book could not have been published at a more perfect moment with all that is currently happening at the Us Open!

As always, Taylor is a master at meaningful character development. Carrie and Javier share such a beautiful father daughter relationship that you do not always see play out the in the sports world - especially when dad is also the coach! Another component about these two was how dynamic and suave Javier was while Carrie was not always the most likable character. However, the brilliant positioning of Carrie as the underdog still made the reader want to cheer for her despite her attitude toward her opponents and the general public.

Overall, a wonderfully heartwarming story about family, ambition, and life lessons. Too often as a reader you brace yourself for the "twist", but this was a great read throughout without that expectation. There are however plenty of chapters that will leave you edge of your seat, speedily turning pages in anticipation during Carrie's matches.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and a great afternoon with Carrie Soto and Taylor Jenkins Reid!

We first met her in <i>Malibu Rising</i>, however briefly, and now Carrie Soto is back! The meat of this book takes place several years after the events of <i>MR</i>, as Soto comes out of retirement to defend her record against the tennis world's new queen. As she is now ancient by pro-tennis standards (she's 37), Carrie's now the underdog is a field that she once dominated.

In spite of TJR's valiant efforts, I still do not understand tennis. Like, at all. That said, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. It's not my favorite in the Mick Riva Universe, but it's a fun journey that packs an emotional punch, on par with all of this author's previous works. I adored Carrie's relationship with her father and coach, Javier. It's really the heart of the entire piece, and yes, it makes all the confusing tennis stuff worth reading.

As always, I'm grateful to NetGalley for the ARC and look forward to more TJR.

4.4 stars, rounded down to 4.*

I just loved this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid might be the most readable author of our time. Her books aren't overly complicated and the writing isn't going to set off a surge of literature classes attempting to capture her unique style. Nonetheless, she just writes in a way that keeps me invested and never want to put a book down.

Carrie Soto is Back is the story of 1970s-1990s fictional tennis superstar Carrie Soto. It details her rise to glory, her beautiful relationships with her father, with the game of tennis and eventually with a love interest. I cannot pretend to be a great tennis player, but I play enough to respect the details in the story and more than anything Taylor Jenkins Reid captures the emotions and passion of the protagonist.

One of my favorite "fun" books of 2022.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Carrie Soto is a tennis legend! In 1994, when she comes out of retirement to keep her title of most grand slam wins, Carrie has so many struggles to overcome.

Carrie is unapologetically outspoken about her Tennis abilities and some people do not like that about her. Carrie has this icy facade, but underneath she is lonely, sensitive, and insecure.

This is a book about Carrie's journey and how she got to the 1994 Tennis Season while also showing a woman's relationship with her father. I loved the father-daughter relationship in this book. Javier was truly the icon of the book.

The little crossovers were cute in this, hearing about Mick Riva, Carrie's Cameo in Malibu Rising, and Carrie reading A Daisy Jones and the Six Biography. Those things made me smile.

I am not a tennis fan, not that I hate it, but I just don't watch it. That was not a problem with this book full of tennis explanations and plot points. I found it interesting and easy to understand. I felt like I was there, with Carrie, watching and waiting to see if she would win.

TJR is a fantastic writer and always finds a way for me to fall in love with characters who I thought I would hate because of all of their flaws.

Thank You to NetGalley and Random House Publishing / Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy in exchange my honest opinions.

5 Stars

Although I enjoyed this book, the characters did not feel as vital and alive as they did in Malibu or Evelyn. Reading this book during Serena's run at the US Open was a nice treat. The descriptions of the matches could easily been boring or rote, but they are energizing and vivid.

TJR doesn't need my review on top of the thousands already, but.... this was SO GOOD.

honestly, i really don't have much more to add - this is a great book. loved the writing. loved the story. loved carrie. loved all the characters. i cried. i laughed. i don't know anything about tennis and i don't really care, either. but this, gah. really really enjoyed it. they'll make this into a movie, right?! they have to.
you shouldn't compare books by the same author, but i liked this much more than malibu rising. i didn't dislike MR, just didn't love it. loved this one.

what a helpful review, i know :)

3.5 Stars.

I enjoyed reading this book, and despite Carrie's many flaws, I like her as well.

Carrie Soto, who you may remember from Malibu Rising, was the best tennis player in the world in the late 80's. After 6 years of retirement, she's back on the court to defend her record. There is no need to read Malibu Rising to enjoy this book.

Most of the book is very engaging. I liked that the actually tennis matches were kept short and sweet. The book focuses on Carrie's almost destructive drive to win as well as Carrie's relationship with her tennis coach father.

Overall I think this book could have benefitted more of an outside view of Carrie. If this book had been written in a similar manner as Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones, we would have gotten a wider perspective of Carrie. There is a bit of this in the book, such as tennis commentary and articles, but I found this insufficient. Also, Carrie's life before her comeback is dealt with briefly. I would have liked the author go into more detail about this time, particularly the events in Malibu Rising and her retirement years.

“Show them that the Bitch, the Battle Axe--whatever they want to call you--it doesn’t matter. They cannot stop you. And they don’t get to decide what your name is. Carrie Soto is back.”

Reading this at the same time as the U.S. Open was really interesting, as some of the quotes the media were saying about Serena Williams sounded exactly like the media quotes about Carrie Soto in the book. You can definitely see the inspiration for Carrie Soto, for better or worse.

Overall, I did enjoy reading about the triumphs of a late-30s tennis star hoping to prove that she isn’t a has-been. And while I don’t know TOO much about tennis, it was fun to have such an inside look at the tennis circuit and the prep necessary to be the best.

This is my least favorite TJR, though. Mostly because all we know about Carrie was how obsessed she is with tennis and winning. She loves her dad, too. But that’s it. No other interests or insights. If she’s so single-minded and socially awkward…maybe dig a little deeper on why that is instead of leaving things unsaid? And that doesn’t even touch on the fact that Carrie is a Latina woman, and her experiences dealing with that in a mostly white sport are only mentioned a handful of times.

I will say that Bowe was a great love interest. Always love when a guy isn’t fazed when a woman is a total asshole to him constantly, lol (I felt bad for the poor guy.) Glad that Carrie softened a bit at the end and realized there was more to life than just tennis.