I was overwhelmed with excitement when I received this ARC. However, it was not an enjoyable read for me because it was too tennis heavy ( stats, play by play descriptions with multiple players, etc,) IMO, there was so little character development that I found myself not truly invested in the outcome . I wanted to be be happy that Carrie Soto Is Back, however, I just didn't care.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Every summer, I look forward to reading Taylor Jenkins Reid's newest book and for the last several years she has not disappointed me. Her character-driven sweeping novels never fail to pull me in and keep me reading. I read Carrie Soto is Back in less than 24 hours -switching back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook, but favoring the audio and its excellent cast of narrators.

Carrie Soto was the greatest tennis player of all time. Driven and single-mindedly focused on winning at all costs. Five years into her retirement, when a new upstart threatens to break Carrie's records, Carrie comes out of retirement. Once again working with her father as her coach, she finds herself training for a different game of tennis than she played earlier in her career.

I went into this book knowing nothing about tennis, but it didn't matter. The book is certainly heavy on tennis - narrating matches, using all the jargon, etc. - but it wasn't hard to follow. Carrie, like most of TJR's heroines, is complicated. She's brash and crass, not out to make friends at any point in the book. Her strongest and deepest relationship is with her father, and their interactions were certainly a highlight of the book. As mentioned, the audiobook is a fantastic listen. It's narrated by a cast of characters, with Stacey Gonzalez narrating Carrie and the majority of the book. Her accent for Carrie's father is perfecto.

Content warnings: heart attacks, sports injuries

Thanks to Ballantine for the ebook and PRHA for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

TJR is one of my all time favorite authors and Carrie Soto was one of my most anticipated reads this year, so I was beyond thrilled to get the opportunity to read an ARC!! Unsurprisingly, I absolutely loved this book!

Carrie Soto is definitely one of my all time favorite female characters. She may even top Daisy Jones and Evelyn for me. I loved how unapologetic she was. Yes, she was blunt and never felt bad for being rude, but there's something refreshing about a woman not putting up with the slightest bit of crap from anybody and speaking her mind. I can see how that wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it.

I don't think I have ever sat down and watched a full game of tennis in my life, yet I was riveted during every tennis game scene. TJR did a great job keeping the reader engaged and I was constantly on the edge of my seat despite not knowing anything about the sport before reading this book.

The only reason I couldn't give it a full 5 stars is for a very minor thing, which was the Spanish dialogue between Carrie and her father. It added a lot to their characters and relationship, but there wasn't always a translation or enough context clues to know what they were saying for me. It helped reading it on Kindle because I could translate most things, but sometimes I just ended up skimming over it.

Otherwise, I would HIGHLY recommend this book! TJR is so good at developing real characters. I was so invested in Carrie's story, that I felt both her triumphs and sorrows deeply. I binged this in 2 days because I needed to see where Carrie's story was going to go and I love how it ended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

You might think that you dislike Carrie Soto, but you do not. You might think that you will not root for her, but you will. You might think you don't care whether Carrie wins, but you do, you start to care.

We open on a young Carrie, a girl who has lost her mother, a girl who's father was a tennis champion back in Argentina and is now an incredible tennis coach. Carrie is a phenom whose hard work and practice rises to meet her talent. Carrie is a girl to whom the word 'love' means, literally nothing. When her father tells her that love actually just means zero - she believes they are one and the same.

This is how Carrie plows through her opponents on the women's professional tennis circuit, literally kicking ass and taking names - and she doesn't care. She doesn't care about the press calling her a Battle Axe, about the fact that she has no friends on the circuit - or in life. She doesn't even care much that one of her lovers is married - to Mickey Riva's daughter, Nina - a shout-out to fans of Malibu Rising.

While Malibu Rising ended in the 80's, we forge into the mid-90's with Carrie. Another player, Nicki Chan, has taken the most Grand Slam titles. With her father by her side, Carrie comes out of retirement to reclaim her record.

We are told about Carrie's history with the sport, with her family, and with men but most of the book focuses on just on one year, 1995. In that year, Carrie grows so much and with every swing, her heart expands - and so does the reader's love for her.

One caveat, a reader may want to have a least a passing interest in tennis as there are many, many match descriptions. To this reader, that just added to the tension and fast pace of the book.

Does Carrie take back her record? In the end, does it matter? After every match, we start at the beginning, love-love. But this time, the word means everything.

I'll confess, I'm a huge TJR fan but was a little less excited to jump into this latest novel thinking it was a tennis story - a fictional GOAT returning to reclaim her world record after a 6 year retirement. It helped that this fictional GOAT is the same Carrie Soto that we first met in Malibu Rising - the unapologetic nasty "other woman" who wrecked Nina Rivas' marriage. So - is this a sports story? A little, sure - but the writing pulls in even those of us who are not huge tennis spectators in the real world. Once again, TJR has create a female lead who is both larger than life and yet as vulnerable as the rest of us. Carrie Soto is at once someone you want to hate but cannot - you feel her personal struggles and triumphs and root her on to the next challenge - both on and off the court. Sure, Carrie breaks rules but more importantly, she breaks the mold for a female champion athlete in her time- giving a virtual middle finger to the idea that female champions in the 80s and 90s had to show athletic prowess but be a lady about it. Those little details help the reader truly see how far women have come in the world of sports. And yet- while I write this Serena Williams has just appeared in a spectacular gown on the cover of Vanity Fair - announcing her "evolution away from tennis" because she doesn't like the word "retirement." Is this art imitating life or a spectacularly timely coincidence? You'll have to read the book and make up your own mind. Greatly appreciate the advanced copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for my honest review. Highly recommend!

When I tell you I fell absolutely in love with CARRIE SOTO IS BACK by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I even surprised myself.

First things first, as much as I loved this story I can tell there were way too many problematic decisions that were made. TJR should not have written a Latinx character at all. I understand that TJR has spoken on it before, that all she wants to do is give voice to a marginalized community but this is not the way to do it. I’ve seen many reviews that say that TJR’s use of Spanish throughout (with little to no translation) took them out of the story but that wasn’t the case for me. TJR is still encroaching on a space which she does not belong to. Also, the erasure or very minimal mention of the inherent racism in tennis (or any sport, for that matter) is not a good look.

Other than the pivotal thought that Carrie Soto could’ve definitely been a white woman and still have the same impact - the story was beautiful.

TJR has a way with words and the way she wove Carrie’s story was incredible. I was so thoroughly invested in her tennis career, her relationship with her dad, and her “romantic” relationship. CARRIE SOTO IS BACK was an absolute pleasure to read and it officially is my second favorite TJR book.

Thank you so much to Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an e-ARC and Libro.fm for the ALC!

I was incredibly excited to learn more about the infamous Carrie Soto and once again TJR didn't disappoint. This book felt more like Carrie Soto was writing her autobiography than a typical novel style which I both loved and hated. I wish there was more about her relationship with Brandon Randall since that's how she's presented to us in Malibu Rising. I love the side characters in this book especially her father and Bowe. I knew next to nothing about tennis going into this book so it was interesting learning so much about the sport too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TJR has done it again! #CarrieSotoIsBack follows tennis star Carrie as she re-enters the tennis tournament world at 37 years old to fight to keep her record as best player in the world. This book has it all - family love, a lil romance and most importantly COMPETITION. We loved getting to know Carrie and to understand how the seemingly heartless “battle axe” operate. We were nail biting through this book and felt so much care for each character. Add it to your TBR, you won’t regret it!

WHAT WE LOVED
+ father daughter bond
+ character development
+ wholesome love

READ IF YOU LIKED
+ Malibu Rising
+ Daisy Jones & The Six
+ Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

My queen Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again and just in time for the US Open to begin. I might be slightly biased because I love tennis and watching tennis, but “Carrie Soto is Back” was simply incredible. This book captured the feeling of winning and losing perfectly. TJR has a way of making strong, unforgettable female heroines. She is able to make historical fiction novels so detailed that you feel like you are there with the characters. All of TJR’s female characters are flawed, but strong enough to overcome their adversity and that is why we love them so much.

I thought this book was exciting, fast paced, and everything I needed form a book about tennis. Even if you know nothing about tennis, this book explains everything in simple terms where you will become a fan of the sport by reading it.

I loved Carrie and her father’s relationship throughout the whole book. You are able to see how proud he is of Carrie regardless if she wins or loses. I also liked the addition of Bowe Huntley and his relationship with Carrie. He was able to crack her hard shell while understanding her more than anyone.

TJR simply can’t write a bad book and I have been obsessed with every one I have read. She is seriously such a talented author who is able to transport the reader into every story she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Soto is a tennis legend who comes back from retirement for one last season to try to win one more title and reclaim her record.

I knew going in that there was going to be a whole lot of tennis in this book (duh) and was a little leery about it getting boring, but for the most part - despite not knowing much about tennis - I stayed super engaged with the story and understood what was happening (and felt free to skim a bit when the game descriptions felt too long). Carrie was a perfect unlikable female protagonist — she’s complex and rude and emotionally messy and intense AF, and I found myself loving her more and more as the story progressed. Her determination to win was all-encompassing and brutal to experience, and I really enjoyed this book.

🎾🎾📚📚⭐ARC BOOK REVIEW ⭐📚📚🎾🎾

#superthankful🙏🏻 to @netgalley @randomhouse for my digital arc and Margaret at @booksamillion for my physical arc of #carriesotoisback this book will be released 8/30 ..link in bio to my Good Reads !

One book a year hits all the boxes for me, just one that surpasses all others .If @tjenkinsreid doesnt write another book,.this book will one day considered a classic. If you read one book in the month of August make it this one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

" One of the great injustices of this rigged world we live in is that women are considered to be depleting with age and men are somehow deepening."
The boxes this checks for me:
🎾Carrie Soto is the best female protagonist I have read this year.
✔ Carrie Soto is courageous..driven and an inspiration to every girl daring to dream to be the best in anything. I will recommend this book to any high school English teacher for their classrooms.
✔ The relationship between her father/coach Javier is the most endearing I have ever read: from the time she could hold a racket he called her his Achilles..he told her she would be the greatest tennis player in the history of the sport .. this book took you through her life : the good, the agonizing., the devistating and getting back up again . This relationship was the closest I have ever read between a father and daughter. It really hit home for me, because I only wanted my father to be proud of my achievements, Carrie lived her life to live up to her fathers dream for her. It became all she was .
My father was a high school coach, and he always encouraged me to try sports., but Javier did more than that, He trained her with running on the beach , on different style courts because playing on clay is hugely different than grass or asphalt. The endurance she had to have to run 5 miles in the brutal sun on sand.. you felt every step every bead of sweat. To be able to hit a serve at 120 miles an hour is pure brutal stength. I played tennis one summer in Florida..one brutal hot summer . Every joint in your body is on fire..and it was conveyed through this book.
✔sports commentators and other players viewed her as a warrior on the court. In the last game Nikki Chan says to her :
" Do you remember what Achilles said to Hector after Hector killed Patroclus?
He said" There can be no pacts between men and lions. I will make you pay in full for the grief you have caused me" but..then Nikki says.." Playing you this year..beating these records ( Carrie's world records) with you Carrie Soto , against (THE) Carrie Soto - it's a dream come true".because Nikki growing up wanted to be Carrie Soto..wanted to own the court like she did
✔ The tennis scenes you were there ....i could feel the roar of the crowd feel the heat and the sweat and how emotionally and physically exhausted a tennis match makes you.
✔The relationship between her and Bowe was decades in the making : the trust the friendship to train together , and Bowe being there for her in the hardest moments of her life
✔ Diversity and LGTBQ representation what it meant for Carrie being Latina and Nikki Chan being Chinese lesbian. I cried through the last chapters 😭 every emotion was rung from me reading this .

Bravo @tjenkinsreid this is your best work.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. What an absolutely stunning novel. This is now my favorite TJR. Love her!

I read most of this book over the course of a few hours. It hooks you from the beginning and keeps you turning pages until the end.

I think this book shines in its characters and their development and I love good characters. The book moves quickly through the timeline but I didn’t feel rushed, the pacing was perfect for me.

What really shines is our main character and all of the people around her. She’s tough, she speaks her mind, but she has a soft soul and ultimately wants what we all want, to be cared for.

I laughed, I cried but I should expect nothing less from TJR at this point.

Carrie Soto was born to be a tennis star. She started training with her father to be the world's greatest tennis star when she was a child. Throughout her life, tennis was her only focus. She was persistent and ruthless, thus known as The Beast. After she earned her records and titles, she retired. Years later, when a 31 year old is close to taking Carrie's world record from her, she is makes a come back. She comes out of retirement to prevent Nikki Chan from snatching her title.

I am a huge TJR fan—I'll read anything she writes!—but I admit I wasn't sure about this one at first, not having any particular interest in tennis. It didn't take long before I was completely sucked in to the story of Carrie Soto's drive to succeed. This isn't just a riveting look at the price of building a life around one singular goal: It holds an unflinchingly honest mirror to the double standards to which we hold female figures in the public eye, the most unforgiving standards to which we hold ourselves, and the vulnerability behind even the toughest facades. By the last chapter, I wasn't just cheering for Carrie—I was sad to say goodbye. TJR's writing has an understated power that comes across as flawless; I can't wait to see what she tackles next.

Carrie Soto is a retired tennis phenom who decides to attempt a comeback at age 37 when her Grand Slam record is threatened. She is totally fierce and driven and if anyone can do it, she can. Carrie is an unforgettable character, not always likable, but definitely passionate in her love of tennis, and one can certainly respect her determination to succeed. This is a remarkable look at what it takes to achieve greatness in sport.

I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This book was so amazing to me. In spite of writing unlikeable characters, TJR manages to make us fall in love with them. Despite never liking or watching tennis in my entire life, I found myself on the edge of my seat during the games in this book. As you read those pages, you can't help but root for Carrie Soto in her tennis career as well as in her personal life and personal growth. TJR is so talented and never fails to amaze me will forever be one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto has spent her life becoming the best tennis player in the world. Even in retirement, she's held the record for the most Grand Slam wins... until Nicki Chan started closing in on her. So, Carrie decides to re-enter professional tennis to stay on top. I absolutely loved this book. I've been hearing reviews that this book isn't really about tennis- make no mistake, this book is totally about tennis. There is a lot of play by play and strategy and more. However, I do not care much about tennis and I still loved this book so much! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master storyteller- her characters leap off the page and honestly I started learning more about the history of tennis because of her, which is no mean feat. This will be in my top ten books of 2022 for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wanted something so badly you would do anything to get it? Well, Carrie Soto shows us how to get what we want-determination, practice, self-sacrifice, and very few friends. Carrie meets her father, retired tennis champ and tennis coach, after school, where she studies and observes the players. Devoting her life to be the best tennis player ever, she conquers all her goals before retirement, or so she thinks! As she watches the 1994 US Open, she sees her record about to be surpassed. This will never do for the lady known as “the Battle Axe”. At age 37, will she be able to train enough to secure her record, keep the man she loves, and find her real dreams? This is one exciting book!

I thought by getting ahead of the hype and being able to read prior to release would finally open my eyes to the joy and fans of TJR. Previous books have all just rated as a 3 because I go in with expectations way too high so they fall somewhat flat.

Carrie Soto is so incredibly tennis heavy that most of the time spent reading this is really just reading a play by play of her entire career of matches. Carrie really isn’t an enjoyable character, she’s self-absorbed and unaware to anyone else. Her father is mostly to blame for raising her to be “the best” but even he has a larger character growth throughout the book. Carrie’s character growth is reserved mostly for the last 20% of the book and even in that portion, she’s still questionable. If you know tennis and really enjoy it, this will probably be great for you as a reader. For the rest of us, it’s just a story of a woman who is so concerned with winning that she misses out on any other joy in life and relationships with people.