I usually love TJR books. There is something about her writing that draws me in. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that so much in this book. I frequently felt some of the writing was choppy. I did enjoy it, just not as much as past books. I do think tennis players will enjoy this one, though.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for my honest review. This book was exciting and entertaining. Carrie is character that at times is hard to like, but in the end you can't help but root her along on her journey. I felt the ending was cut a little short, but overall a great read. I have enjoyed other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and this one did not disappoint.

Loved this book. I don't even like tennis, but I loved reading about Soto's comeback to defend her record. Her dad and coach, Javiar, is Argentinian, and quite the tennis player himself. He ends up teaching tennis at Palm Tennis Club in LA though, and struggles when he becomes an early widow. I loved how strong Soto is--she doesn't care about smiling or being nice, and therefore gets The Bitch as a nickname. Her agent, a strong African-American woman named Gwen, is amazing. I also loved the coming of age romance with her on-again, off-again man, fellow tennis player Bowe.

Quotes:
"The book I brought is an unauthorized biography of Daisy Jones and the Six." Nice namedrop!

With Carrie Soto is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again. I have come to expect excellent writing skills, character development and a wonderful story from Taylor Jenkins Reid and fans of her books will not be disappointed.. Carrie Soto is Back has all of this plus as an added bonus it's also a sports book. That is., if you are a sports fan you will appreciate the book on a deeper level.

Ms. Reid through her excellent writing skills achieves a pace and a tension that keeps you locked in and rooting as if you were watching Carrie Soto's matches in person, on the edge of your seat rooting for her to win. This book tapped into the fan gene that makes you watch all the games, cry in defeats, throw a party when they win. And if you are the type who won't turn off the tv even in the wee hours because you must watch your team, then you will also stay up reading this book. And you will very much be cheering for Carrie to win, even though she is fictional!

If you aren't a sports fan, the book also wonderfully follows Ms. Reid's grand theme of her immediate past three novels: pulling back the veil of fame and answering the question what does it mean to be famous in American modern society? The books Malibu Rising, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six have all explored fame in other worlds: acting, music, modeling, but now we get the story of an aging female athlete trying to return for one more chance at victory.

Behind Carrie's fame and achievements, she's paid a dear price. She's not had a chance for lasting romance, which may change if she takes the time to allow love in. Her past romances have been tabloid fodder and were over in a flash. She also only has one true friend, her sports agent, Gwen. Her father is her main coach, but there have been trainers also, but Carrie and her father are so close and it is wonderful to see how he supports and motivates her with just the right motivation or athletic training. We see her grueling workouts, especially as she has been out of tennis for a while and the toll that a lifetime of tennis has taken on her body. We also see her drive to succeed, her concentration, and her study of all her opponents, who are trying to get into her head. We also see the effects of an affair with a married man, a story arc begun in Malibu Rising and the effects of media spotlight maybe not getting everything right about her personal life or her character. At one point Carrie is unfairly labelled as a "mean girl" willing to do anything to win. These are all prices Carrie has paid for achieving her goal of being the No. 1 tennis player in the world.

Carrie Soto is Back is a book that stands on its own as a multi-layered book, but grouped with the others it connects with all our admiration of famous people and educates us on what it's like to be famous - a broader theme that Taylor Jenkins Reid is bravely exploring with this book and her other books. It is both a women's story and a sports book that readers of both will thoroughly enjoy. .

This author is hit or miss for me, but Carrie Soto was a hit! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Love this--as I love all Taylor Jenkins Reid, so no surprise. I read it again after I started watching real tennis as a fan and it held up. Bravo. Need more Carrie.

TJR has done it AGAIN! When we first met Carrie in Malibu Rising, she didn’t seem very likable. But somehow TJR did her magic and I found myself rooting for her! TJR always has great characters, great plot, and a twist that I've come to expect from her. Now, I want to go back and look for the connections from this book to the other ones. Forever a fan!

TJR did it again and I expected nothing less. “Carrie Soto Is Back” is such an amazing story of both the mental and physical tolls playing a professional sport can take on you, along with the sexism of sports commentary. It also has a beautiful father-daughter relationship that is complex and endearing through and through. There is a romantic element for those wondering but it’s most definitely not the main focus of Carrie’s story (which I love). You don’t need to read “Malibu Rising” to understand pretty much anything in this book— it’s definitely a standalone. I flew through this book and felt like I was on the edge of my seat watching a real match play out on my TV.

Carrie Soto is a difficult character to get right— she’s brash, abrasive, cold, and cutthroat— yet TJR nails her perfectly. I grew to love Carrie very quickly and came to laugh at her quick insults and brutally honest statements. Carrie’s father, Javier, is an amazing character who brought me to tears many times. There are more characters of which I love and I’m sure you will too.

Overall, this isn’t my favorite of the big 3 TJR books, but it’s still amazing nonetheless. I cannot wait for the next book TJR writes and I’m sure I’ll love it too. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely loved! Posting review a bit late due to some personal circumstances, but absolutely thrilled to have been granted this ARC. Carrie Soto and her cast of fellow characters come alive off the page!

Taylor Jenkins Reid can make moments come to life like no other. Her characters feel so real that I honestly forget I'm reading fiction when I pick up her novels. Carrie Soto is no exception. This book is a masterpiece of people, places and time. Even though I didn't find many of the characters likable, I was still completely invested in their story. The use of secondary characters is something Taylor Jenkins Reid does so well. The layers of emotion in this book are profound. There were many times I didn't know what I wanted to happen in the story, but I knew I felt all the things every step of the way.

As a lifelong tennis player, I so appreciated the flawless research put into getting that aspect of the book right consistently. Even though the tennis is a critical part of the book, I feel like I can recommend this book to someone who had no knowledge about tennis and they can still appreciate it.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors, and Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint! As a middle aged woman, I enjoy reading fiction featuring my own demographic and dealing with some of the personal and social issues facing women as we leave our 20s and seemingly become less relevant.

Carrie Soto is Back is a great addition to the Taylor Jenkins Reid universe. Carrie is a smart, funny, relatable character. The romantic relationship felt a little rushed, but loved her relationship with her dad.

TJR has done it again with another great read! Carrie was such a great story. I didn’t find myself overloaded by tennis talk. It flowed well within the story. Highly recommend!

I love pretty much anything that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes and this was no exception! I love the world she's built upon since Evelyn Hugo.

TJR is one of my favorite authors. Her character building is unmatched. I didn’t love this story as much as I have some of her other books, but it was still really really good. I think I would have had that special connection with it if I was passionate about tennis!

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 best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven 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 the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. 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. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

Rate : 5 out of 5
Thoughts : What could I say more. It's TJR work so there's no doubt that it'll a 5 stars read.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Another five-star book from Taylor Jenkins Reid. Carrie Soto is a force to be reckoned with and made me want to get back into tennis. I loved the story arc and the struggles that she faced. Reid did a fantastic job creating a character that was both tough to love, but you had to root for.

Oh my gosh, Taylor Jenkins Reid did NOT disappoint. Great characters, great plot, and a twist that I've come to expect from her. Now, I want to go back and look for the connections from this book to the other ones. It's a shame it took me such a long time to get around to it, but I am glad that I did.

In Carrie Soto, Taylor Jenkins Reid has crafted a fierce and fallible female main character who can go toe to toe with Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo. Carrie is a retired tennis player training to make a comeback and maintain her record of most career grand slam titles. While the logistics of the actual tennis matches may veer into niche knowledge territory, the vibe and tone of each match is universally relatable - just like Carrie’s determination and drive.

DNF- unfortunately could not get into this story and had to set aside. This didn’t feel like other TJR stories (based off what I read) and just assumed it is not for me.