Carrie Soto is back on the tennis courts, coming out of retirement at age 37. Her Grand Slam record is in jeopardy, and she's determined to play one more year of all four major tournaments. Her nickname, "the Battle-Axe," isn't for nothing. She's an incredibly fierce, determined, and savage competitor.

Honestly, I would have LOVED to see Carrie Soto play in real life! I feel like she's the kind of player I would have loyally cheered for. I love this other universe TJR has created with her characters and we see a few cameos from past books, which is always fun! Her writing was addictive, keeping me up way too late some nights, and the audiobook is performed by a cast of characters!

While the tennis elements were heavy, one of my favorite pieces was the father/daughter relationship. It was refreshing that the romance plot took a backseat, although I enjoyed that part too! Carrie's Dad, Javier, coaches her on this comeback attempt and their bond through tennis is unbreakable. It made me think of my own family and tennis. My Grandparents taught me how to keep score, my Mom and I track all of our favorite players, and my Dad bought me my first racket in middle school, which I still use today. So thank you to TJR and Carrie Soto for bringing back all the fond memories!

Also, I have TJR and Carrie Soto to thank for getting me back out on the tennis court! I obviously had to find a court for the booksta picture and then went back to play the next day!

How timely the release for this is - with the US Open going on 🎾

This is ultimate late summer reading and I strongly recommend this one!!!!

The moment you start this one, you’re invested, seriously invested. At no point do any of these people strike you as fictional characters, created by the author. Reid’s writing is masterful in this one and the power of her words has woven a gorgeous story. I will go so far as to say that this is my second favorite novel of Reid’s; it’s up there in my top 5 best books read this year.

I simply cannot get over how completely and wholly a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel drags you under its spell. I went into this expecting to love Carrie, who we remember from Malibu Rising, and just knowing that Carrie was going to be a wonderfully complex character - and in case you were wondering, I did, and she was. I really don’t know how I could have loved this one more than I did. I’m already looking forward to rereading this by giving a listen to the full-cast audiobook, which I imagine is fantastic.

The relationships in CSIB are so real; the one between Carrie and her dad is written so beautifully (❤️Javier) and the slow burn between Carrie and Bowe is is gorgeous. There’s some nice character crossover as well.


*** I wound up pre-ordering this on audiobook because I loved it so much 😍

I have loved all of Taylor Jenkins Reids’ books (I have not read Daisy Jones and the Six…) and I particularly love how she has a bit player in one who becomes the star of the next. So well done! However, I did not love this one. Not because it wasn’t well written, but because I don’t like tennis, I don’t know tennis and the entire book was tennis!

Carrie Soto was the best tennis player in the world, until Nikki Chan comes in to take the title away from her six years post-retirement. What is she to do but come back and show the world that she still has it. But does she? Again, Reid brings a great cast of characters to the mix, many whom I am wondering when they will have their own novel. But it was the growth of Carrie that really drew me in. And the relationship between her and her father. Again, tennis, not my thing, but that does not mean that Reid cannot make you feel all the feels and draw you into a story that does not call to you.

thank you to the publishing company for the advanced reader copy they so generously provided!

i know it’s a bit silly that i just finished this book today. the day the book is finally released. however, this is the first time i haven’t read a taylor jenkins reid book in one sitting.

that’s not to say it was a terrible book and it wasn’t worth the read, there were parts of it that i loved with my entire being.

carrie soto is an individual you might never fully understand. i think taylor did a good job of portraying that. carrie is so unapologetically what people tell her she is, which can be classified as well… a bitch, the battle axe, achilles, etc. she will always be those things because a part of her believes she will never be allowed to be anything else.

however, i do wanna talk about taylor jenkins reid continuing to write stories about people of color. as a white individual myself i find it odd that she so comfortably inserts herself into these spaces and continues writing these novels. while i read the novel there was certain bits and pieces that definitely weren’t well written because they shouldn’t have been written by a white author. it made it hard to enjoy the book knowing that this is something she has done before and continues to do.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid so much! All of her books have been so fantastic. I think I’ve read most of them at this point. I went into this one completely blind because I honestly don’t even care. I see a new book by her and I know that I want to read it.

This one was cool because I happened to read this during the Western & Southern Open going on five minutes from me! We love going to the tennis matches but haven’t gone in a while since our kiddo is too young. Anyways, this one is completely wrapped around tennis. If you are not a fan of tennis or sports, it might be something that you don’t enjoy about this one. It’s okay but even though this is a huge influence it is not what this story is about.

This story is about the love between a father and a daughter. There are also a few other things thrown into the mix. Carrie is a tough cookie and has one goal in life- to be the BEST of all time, in tennis. Her dad, Javier, is the one who guided and coached her for most of her life. She has one goal focus and didn’t care about anything else. She was amazing and was not shy about letting you know it. She is known to be ruthless! She’s retired and then comes a moment she didn’t think would happen. A younger tennis player is about to smash her record and she can’t have that. She decides to jump back into tennis with her father by her side.

I loved that Taylor takes us back in time to get the full story. We get to see how Carrie became who she is today. There are many things that she sacrificed or went without to be the best. The cost might have been too high. The later part of the book was just beautiful. I was so engrossed and the relationship between Carrie and her father was so beautiful. Sometimes we get so focused that we don’t realize there are many other things in this life.

I love that a lot of Taylor’s books have some sort of connection. In this one, she even references Daisy Jones and the Six! As a fan, it was pretty cool. I only had one big issue with this book and it was the Spanish. Granted, I had a heads up going in but it was a bit rough. I speak Spanish and I know that we all have our slang and dialect for different areas. I was very surprised to see that there were no translations and figured they would be the most basic and easier phrases. I had to stop myself and look up some things and I know/understand the language. I feel like many will just skim past these moments and some of them are important!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. You do not have to love/like or even know about tennis to enjoy this story. It was such a quick read because I was sucked in from the start. The relationships are so well done and the emotion was running high. I highly recommend this one!

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an e-arc to review.

It’s release day!!!! Taylor Jenkins Reid has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I loved Seven Husbands and Daisy Jones and I was extremely excited for this newest book.
The premise of the book is that Carrie, a retired tennis star, comes out of retirement when her grand slam record is broken. I played tennis in high school and understand the rules, but you don’t have to love tennis to love this book.
TJT does an amazing job exploring the relationship between father and daughter. She also shows you the mental struggles that elite athletes can go through.
I adored this book and can’t wait to see what TJR writes next!!!!
Thank you #ballantinebooks and #randomhouse for an advanced copy of #carriesotoisback in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, you will enjoy Carrie Soto Is Back. It's a little different format than the companion books with a single point of view and timeline, a lot of tennis, and a little Spanish (without translation but there is context). I enjoyed it. TJR remains an auto-read author for me.

Carrie Soto worked hard to become a tennis champion and when her record is threatened by Nickie Chan, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and attempt to defend her titles. At 37, she knows the odds are against her. And the fact she was never particularly well liked is not in her favor either.

She retains her old nickname of the Battle Axe but acquires a new one, the B***h, as in the b***h is back. Carrie doesn’t care though. Or at least not much.

With her father and longtime coach, Javier, by her side, Carrie practices with Bowe, a male tennis player who is also attempting a comeback at age 40. The fact they once had a brief fling only makes things a bit more awkward.

As she faces unanticipated challenges, Carrie finds herself actually liking Nickie, and perhaps most unexpectedly, enjoying the game of tennis once again.

Very clever of the publicists to time the release of this book to the US Open. Unlike most of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, I did not immediately get drawn into this one, but it was definitely worth the wait. Carrie is not a likable character at first, but she will eventually win the reader over. Another fabulous read by Reid. #CarrieSotoIsBack #NetGalley

<b>In Reid's newest novel, Carrie Soto is unapologetically driven and determined. I loved the tennis focus, the fast pacing, and the father-daughter relationship that drives the story. This was the right book at the right time for me, and I loved it.</b>

Tough, talented Carrie Soto retired from tennis at the top of her game, as the best player in the world and the greatest of all time.

Her cutthroat desire to win didn't make her the most popular player in the world. But Carrie and her father, her longtime coach, sacrificed everything to get her to the top, setting records that have cemented her place in tennis history.

Now retired, Carrie is a spectator at the US Open when she sees her record challenged by a young upstart.

No one returns to tennis at age 37. But with her fierce determination, her (rusty) skills, and her desire to be the best, Carrie is the perfect person to defy the odds. Carrie Soto is back.

I didn't really connect with the story or characters of Taylor Jenkins Reid's <i>Malibu Rising,</i> but I loved realizing why the name Carrie Soto was familiar to me. You may remember Carrie Soto as a minor character in that book. She is painted as a villain there, and I loved digging into her personality and motivations here.

In <i>Carrie Soto Is Back,</i> we see Carrie fleshed out as a gloriously unapologetic competitor, an emotionally closed off romantic partner, a dedicated daughter, and a woman driven by a grinding commitment to brutally hard work and to being the best.

It's the 1990s, and Carrie is facing what in tennis is considered a geriatric age--as well as all the negative prejudice and pessimistic assumptions that commentators and the general public pile upon her because of her age and her manner. Her loyal father is in for the ride. And her dedicated manager Gwen is an inspiring, strong, independent woman who believes in any goal Carrie herself believes in, however unlikely others may consider it.

I love playing tennis and watching tennis, and I was 100 percent in for Reid's accounts of Soto's training, strategy, coaching, and match details. I'll be curious to hear if others without this particular interest are as engaged with this prominent element of the book the way I was. I suspect that as with Daisy Jones and the Six and its page time spent on the music world, bandmate negotiations, and creativity, Reid's ability to bring an unfamiliar world to life--in this case, the sporting and tennis world--will play well.

More than anything, the heart of this book is the poignant father-daughter relationship between Carrie and Javier. Carrie and her father love each other, but sharing their intense tennis goals and communicating primarily through and about tennis has led to some conflicts and some stress for many years. In the course of the story, each of them considers their approaches to life and what they have learned from each other on and off the court, and I loved this aspect of the book.

Carrie is back, but she's also considering her life beyond tennis for the first time, and this leads her to open up emotionally somewhat--with significant struggles; TJR doesn't make this growth too easy--and inspires her to consider those around her who may mean more to her than she's ever realized.

I was curious about the way Reid would craft the ending of this one, and I was satisfied with the character growth, the trajectory she sets up, and also with how in the end, nothing felt too easy.

I flew through this story--it was solidly a "right book at the right time" situation for me, and I also love that the book's release coincides with the start of the US Open. I loved this one.

I received a prepublication edition of this book courtesy of Ballantine Books and NetGalley.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is also the author of <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/"><i>The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,</a></i> <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-malibu-rising-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/"><i>Malibu Rising,</a></i> and <i>Daisy Jones and the Six,</i> a book I included in the Greedy Reading List <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/six-rockin-stories-about-bands-and-music/">Six Rockin' Stories about Bands and Music.</a>

Taylor Jenkins Reid hit it out of the court with this one. I've never really played or watched tennis before but I flew through this book that was very much about tennis. I loved the interspersed broadcasts and news stories much like the style of Daisy Jones and the Six. The story is unique and very well done. While Carrie isn't a very lovable character, you are still rooting for her through every game. She is unapologetically herself. I loved her dad, Javier and their storyline together. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced readers copy of this book. All views are my own.

I liked this book a lot! I loved the father daughter relationship it portrayed. Unfortunately it lost a star for me because it was a lot of tennis and I feel like the plot was lacking because of that. Overall, I would still recommend the book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Let me preface this review by stating that I have NOT read Daisy Jones nor Malibu Rising. I tried to listen to Evelyn Hugo and gave up out of boredom, although perhaps I might have been more successful if I had just read it (audiobooks can be tricky). So, basically, Carrie Soto is my first actual TJR book. I really wanted to read the book because I played tennis, as well as dating a collegiate tennis player during my first two years of college. I liked the comeback angle and I loved that it was primarily set in the 90s, pre-social media. [Incidentally I wonder how social media might have changed Carrie’s comeback run? A thought.]

This book was AMAZING. If this is a typical TJR book then I guess I’ve been missing out. I was blown away. Not the typical book I spend every waking minute glued to, but there you go: I was squeezing it in on my breaks, at the gym, while making dinner, while the kids took their showers. Every spare second, I was diving back in to Carrie Soto.

You can read the blurb. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel here. Suffice to say: Carrie, after bowing out of her career at its apex back in the 80s, makes her comeback to defend her grand slam recordholder title against up-and-coming Nicki Chan. The trajectory of her comeback isn’t exactly shocking, plotwise, but somehow every minute of it was absolutely riveting. Carrie’s monumental effort to get her 37-year old body back into championship shape was devastating: her determination, her drive, her dogged refusal to accept anything less than perfection. The author depicted the mental toughness of an elite athlete perfectly, to my mind. There was so MUCH to unpack: Carrie’s fraught (at times) relationship with her father/coach, her unwillingness to change her personality to suit commentators and fellow players, her struggle against casual sexism and chauvinism (those chapter-heading interviews with sports casters were INFURIATING!), her unending pursuit of tennis perfection, the research on other players and physical and mental games, wow. Just, wow. I LOVE tennis and this took it to a whole new level, but I think that the author made it accessible enough for anyone to appreciate. This isn’t the typical sort of book I fall all over rhapsodizing about, but first time for everything I suppose. It was AMAZING and everyone should read it. Absolutely amazing.

(I guess I’ll have to read the rest of TJR’s books now, or at the very least, give Evelyn Hugo another go.) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only Taylor Jenkins Reid could get me to read a tennis book in one sitting.

Since she was a girl, Carrie knew she would be the best tennis player in the world. She has the most Grand Slam titles and is truly a force to be reckoned with - until a knee injury forces her into retirement. Five years later and Nicki Chan is the hot new tennis star with something to prove and Carrie’s record to smash. This is Carrie’s comeback story.

Carrie Soto is Back is a tennis book, but so much more than that. At the center of the story is Carrie’s relationship with her father. For most of her life it’s just been the two of them and I loved their relationship dynamic. Carrie is ruthless - her tennis moniker is The Battle Axe and she’s known for finding her opponents weaknesses and tearing them down. If you’ve also read Malibu Rising our first introduction to her is as the other woman. This is not a likable main character and yet I couldn’t help myself from getting invested. I was rooting for her even though I didn’t like her.

Even if you’re not a tennis fan (I’m casual at best) I would recommend this if you’re looking for a quick read with a side of drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy.

One of my favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid, is back and in top form. I Love-Love her newest book, Carrie Soto Is Back about a tennis star making a comeback after being retired for five years. In true TJR fashion, this character is mentioned in a previous novel, Malibu Rising, when Carrie has a brief affair with Nina Riva’s husband. It is not necessary to read any of the previous novels, but it is always fun to see the tie-ins.

This book is a character study about the mindset of a professional athlete. Even though Carrie was immensely unpopular personally, her greatness is undeniable. She is called “The Battle Ax” as well as another unfavorable “B” name. She is arrogant and unfriendly. Even so, I couldn’t help but root for her.

At the age of 37, when her record for the number of Grand Slam titles is broken, she decides to make a comeback. She asks her charming father, Javier, who was her childhood coach, to help her achieve this goal. Their father-daughter relationship is the highlight of the story.

4.5-stars. I would have given it 5-stars, but I was annoyed by the numerous conversations between Carrie and Javier in Spanish that were not translated. This novel is being published today, August 30, 2022. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY TO CARRIE SOTO IS BACK!!

TJR does it yet again! Everything that comes from her is beautifully and strategically done. This is an amazing story of winning, losing, love, grit, sacrifice, determination and grief. Carrie Soto might now be one of my top 3 character in the TJR universe for her wit, humor and like-ability. Which I know some people will disagree with but if you've never been around serious or pro athletes you won't understand the intensity. I will say that I'm not well versed in Tennis as a sport so I'm unable to determine if the writing is accurate on the actual game but if it's not she sure fooled me.

I know that TJR has gotten a lot of flack about this not being own voices but I truly think that she did the culture justice and there was nothing that felt contrived or exploited. I highlighted so many great references from her other books and really suggest reading in publication order as they really do tie nicely in with each other.

As far as characters go, I felt like everyone was pretty well flushed out and Bowe and Javier were fantastic secondary male leads. I routed for everyone the whole time and felt so wildly immersed in the world of Soto. If there is one thing that TJR does flawlessly it making you forget that you're reading.

My one bone to pick was that last line.... MAAM WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO US?!?!?!

Major Kudos to Reid on another fantastic novel!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid serves up her newest story at center court. Carrie Soto Is Back is a touching tale of life and drama set against a backdrop of championship tennis. The legendary Carrie Soto, at the age of 37, sets a goal of returning to her former career and winning it all.
This book will captivate tennis fans, but even for those with little background in the sport, there is a parallel story that dominates the narrative. Carrie is a strong character, and in her climb to top of her field, she is cold, callous, and calculating. Yet as the story progressed, I found myself drawn to her, finding respect for her determination and her tenacity. The author places us right there on the court, the only place where Carrie makes sense to herself. The writing is quick-paced, and the reader is engaged in every match, pressing full court, panting, and wiping sweat from our brows.
This is an entertaining book with complex and flawed characters. My favorite part of the book is the relationship between Carrie and her coach/father, Argentinian-born Javier Soto. Some of their dialogue is in Spanish, so keep a Spanish-English dictionary handy. The author develops issues of personal identity, family relationships, struggles with competitors, and blossoming love. This is a winner!

If I had to pick a single reason why I will read anything Taylor Jenkins writes is simply this: Every single story feels so real, I feel the compulsion to run to google and make SURE its not non-fiction.

Per the usual, I went into Carrie Soto blind. When I started reading it was soooo full of tennis I did a little eye roll. But by the end of the first few pages, I was hooked. As someone whose only experience with tennis is using some ancient rackets and whacking balls at my brother on the farmhouse grass, I can unabashedly say I knew NOTHING about tennis coming into this book. I was sucked in my all the terms and the beautiful way TJR broke up this book into commentator at tennis games, Carrie’s first-person view, writings from her dad, news articles etc. It truly makes this book come alive.

Another thing that I love about how TJR writes is that even when the characters aren’t that likable, you end up loving them anyways. I’ve seen lots of reviews about Carrie's dad being so wonderful etc. But I didn’t feel that way in the beginning. I felt like the was using his child for his gain, his love of the game, and not giving much love as a father in the process. But he grew on me and their relationship was a true highlight of this book. Carrie is also not very loveable (I mean, can we blame her?) but I was rooting her on the whole entire book. How could you not?

Overall I literally recommend to EVERYONE. This is a must-read by TJR and I’m just blown away constantly by her talent

If an author really wants the reader to get to know a character, they offer the opinions of others as a way to assess what a character is like. With Carrie Soto is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid allows for the pundits, the commentators, the journalists to offer insights on Carrie Soto. The most decorated women's tennis professional during the seventies and eighties, Carrie's record is challenged by a new generation, so she comes out of retirement in the nineties to make one more go at the global tennis titles on the circuit.
Nicknamed The Battle Axe, Carrie is a woman who is fierce and dedicated, guarded because she knows the pain of loss. But now that there is more to lose, is putting herself out there to regain her title the right thing to do when the press is brutal, her body is war torn, and the game has changed?

TJR shows us Carrie in a 360 view. We see her as a full person and want her to succeed. This woman will become a role model, a spirit guide, a lesson in perseverance - the books is expertly written and sure to be a grand slam.

TJR is back with her fourth addition to her Mick Riva universe. In Carrie Soto we are introduced to the titles name sack Carrie a tennis icon who has been retired for six years. However, when a new tennis beauty comes close to breaking Carrie’s record, she makes the decision to step in the court again for one final season.

Reid takes the reader on a journey as usual with her books and I can honestly say that it left me conflicted. Carrie herself is both compelling and irritating. She is one the most unlikeable characters I have ever read in a TJR book (Mick Riva being the most). She’s got a horrible attitude, she is a sore loser and has an ego out of this world but even with all that you can’t help but root for her as the novel progresses. I credit this to Reid’s incredibly writing ability.

The insight into the relationship with her dad Javier really warmed my heart as you get to see them deal with and grow together after losing her mom. Her relationship with Bowe also warmed my heart because he was just so patient with her. This book was also an insightful look at women in sports as you get to see how the media portrayed Carrie and most of the things she had to deal with being a women in a sports arena.

Taylor Jenkins Reid once again dazzles the reader with Carrie Soto is Back but I think character development and character relationships are were this book really comes into its own and Watching Carrie deal with and overcome her personal struggles and discover new things about herself was a joy to read.

The only criticism I may have is the pacing. This book is a tad slower paced in the beginning as Reid introduces the reader to the world and characters and there is a fair bit of Spanish dialogue with no translation which can be frustrating to anyone reading anywhere else but on Kindle which translates for you quite easily.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine, for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Whenever I start reading a Taylor Jenkins Reid book, I know that no matter what lies ahead, I can be sure of one thing: it will be a unique experience. Her latest release tells the story of a character who is already a little familiar to anyone who has read "Malibu Rising," as she made a small appearance there.

Carrie Soto is one of the most audacious and objective women I have ever seen. When she gets into her head that she will conquer something, she gives her sweat, blood, and tears to do it. In addition to the countless typical tennis expressions, the book is filled with literally every match Carrie has ever participated in, and it got tiresome about halfway through.

A romance eventually happens, even if it's not the focus, but the most interesting relationship in the book is hers with her father. They are two connected minds who have an immense love for each other, even in the moments they don't show it openly.

You can't help but be curious about where the story is going and if Carrie will achieve her goal, but I found it all too repetitive. I kept waiting for her to open up to other people, to find something else to love and put her intense feelings there, but her goal is unique until the end.