Oh, hey, look at that. Five stars. I think no one is more surprised about that rating than me after slowly making my way through this over the past two and a half months. But really, I was only slow because I didn't expect to get this ARC so I was reading it in between other books when I had time. But more importantly, this is an e-book so my attention while reading it was like that of a fruit fly, because that's just how my brain deals with e-books. I am fairly certain if I'd had a hard copy of this, or if I'd been listening to the audiobook, I would have gotten through it in a couple of days. It's compulsively readable, and ridiculously well-paced, and even as you're compelled to read about what happens to Carrie and her comeback, you're also yelling at the page and telling her to get it together.

This is historical fiction, it pains me to say, that is set in 1995, a year which I remember, so how is that allowed to be historical fiction, please? And it does have very 90s vibes. Carrie Soto is 37 years old, and has been retired from professional tennis for over a decade. When Nikki Chan overtakes Carrie as the record-holder for most Grand Slam wins, Carrie becomes determined to make a comeback, and win back her record. Perhaps more importantly, to her at least, to prove to everyone that she is THE BEST.

About the first third of the book shows us Carrie's life before retirement, and the second two-thirds chronicles her striving to get back into shape, and win at least one more slam while her body can still handle it. If she does so, she will be the oldest (sigh) woman to do so. Carrie is . . . something else. She is fierce, determined, incredibly talented, dogged, and brusque. She is Difficult with a capital 'D'. The media dubbed her the Battle Axe her first go-round, but now they've just taken to calling her the Bitch. But all Carrie cares about is winning. Her father is her coach, and he is an excellent one. Their relationship is the center of the novel, and it was painful to see him realizing too late how Carrie's need to win has taken over her life.

At first, I wasn't super in love with this because Carrie was so difficult. I have so many lines highlighted where I'm constantly trying to talk back to this fictional character, and maybe pound some perspective into her head, but she is stubborn. Because of the difficultness and the stubbornness, when her character growth does come, it's extremely satisfying.

Also, I am just a sucker for a sports story. Can't pay attention to a real sports game to save my life, but you give me a a sports movie or book and I'm gonna be there for it, every time. It's not really a surprise that TJR did such a good job with this book, which speaks of heavy research, and deep character work. So when it came time to click the star-rating, I found I really couldn't give it any less than five stars, and now I have to have a my own copy when it comes out. I'm also very intrigued by the audiobook, which like Daisy Jones, is full cast.

Looks like TJR has another bestseller on her hands, as if there were any doubt. But I think it will be deserved.

I think I'm a bit obsessed with this author right now! This is the third book of hers I've read this year! TJR has a talent for creating strong characters and builds a plot that you can't put down! When we were first introduced to Carrie Soto in Malibu Rising we didn't much care for her, but that soon changes in this book. You start to understand what made Carrie who she is and you see her vulnerabilities as well as her strengths. The book has an exciting build in the world of tennis and you feel like you're in the stands at the edge of your seat. TJR served up an Ace with this one! (haha)

Evelyn Hugo. Daisy Jones. Nina Riva. And now meet Carrie Soto, another larger-than-life fictional character created by Taylor Jenkins-Reid.
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So many thoughts! Yes this is about tennis, but the easy-breezy writing style and the colorful cast of narrators make the subject matter fascinating and very exciting.
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I think Carrie Soto might be one of my favorite TJR characters? Her fierce strength and unwavering self-confidence was ahead of her time and was very refreshing! She was misunderstood by the press and fans, but never lost her drive to win.⁣
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“You act like you've dedicated your life to tennis. But you came back to win, not to play. That's why they're all pissed at you for returning. You've got no heart."⁣
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I chose to listen to the audiobook, which is narrated by the expressive and upbeat Stacy Gonzalez, along with an amazing cast including tennis legends Mary Carillo and Patrick McEnroe and the great Julia Whelan. ⁣

I felt the character of Carrie Soto more deeply via the audiobook experience. The narrator’s expressive voice gave life to Carrie through all her triumphs and heartbreaks. A trailblazing figure in the world of tennis but almost always emotionally unavailable.

“… sometimes I think being the very best is antithetical to being happy.”

Readers will be happy to know this is actually also a very refreshing romance. While I don’t need a happy ending, this one has it!!

✨ Review ✨ Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Carrie Soto, world tennis great, decides to make a comeback after watching a 1994 grand slam where Nikki Chan, new tennis great takes her record for most Grand Slam victories. Now, Carrie's 37, six years past her first retirement, and she starts trying to train back into Grand Slam shape with her father and long-time coach Javier.

Will Carrie approach her second chance tennis career differently? Will she come back as good as before? Will the "Battle Axe" find friendship or humility as she plays again?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: (recent) historical fiction 1980s/1990s; sports fiction; women's fiction; m/f romance
Pub Date: August 30, 2022

This book has a little bit of everything - 80s and 90s nostalgia, romance, and a lot of sports fun. It really spoke to my tomboy childhood heart where I revered badass female athletes like Soto. I loved that we saw her carve a path in sports, and that it wasn't a path that required her to suck it up and be kind to everyone.

I don't think the narrative of this story was necessarily super innovative or surprising, but I did really enjoy watching Carrie's growth throughout the story, as well as with her relationships with her father and other characters. I think this is actually really different than other TJR books I've read -- it's less edgy and complex. It didn't blow my mind like Evelyn Hugo did, but I did really enjoy the audiobook, and how it incorporated newscasting. I think it might have benefitted by bringing in Bowe (her hitting partner) 's perspective, to deepen the story, but overall this was a fun read!

I also think this was SUPER different than Malibu Rising, and honestly liking that is no marker for whether you'd like this! There's more sports and less partying, and more of a linear backstory than in MR.

Read this if you like:
⭕️ women empowered in sports stories
⭕️ 80s/90s nostalgia

Thanks to Ballantine Books and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

The Bitch is back!

Carrie Soto, "the Battle Axe", infamous, merciless, an unbeatable champion. Just shy of 30 she's the greatest tennis player of all time, achieving everything she's ever worked for, lived for. Soon her career is cut short due to injuries and ego. Now, five years and one surgery later, she can't stand to watch her records taken from her by up-and-comer Nikki Chan so at age 37 she's donning her tennis whites and heading to the court, ready to compete again and defend her legacy - Carrie Soto is back!

Many reviewers have talked about how they find Carrie hard to like and THAT'S THE POINT! Carrie isn't there to be liked, she's there to win. She excels at her sport and she knows it and wants to be judged on her skill, how she plays, not who she is. Self-assured, no nonsense women are rarely adored by the world at large. And the kind of single minded determination Carrie has can be isolating - it's lonely at the top. Carrie has worked hard for her achievements, but she's also sacrificed a lot to get where she is; Carries comeback ends up being about more than just tennis.

If you can't already tell I really enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back. Carrie Soto is certainly in the running for my favorite TJR character. I love unapologetic women. In a world which has very distinct ideas and expectations for how women should look, think, and act I love a woman who goes her own way.

I was somewhat skeptical when I knew the story was going to be tennis focused - I'm not much for the sportsball - but I already know I'm safe in TJR's skilled hands. I appreciate a story which can make me care about topics I have no interest in and before the end of Carrie's journey I was googling plenty about 80s/90s tennis, including a deep dive into the history of clay tennis courts.

The sport aspect actually created an exciting element and I loved the father-daughter relationship between Carrie and her dad/trainer Javier (though the choice to include so much Spanish language was somewhat puzzling to me), Bowe is a total hunk, and I, of course, loved seeing the way Carrie's story intersects with others in the TJR world and I'm dying to know whether anyone from Carrie Soto will be the next TJR star!

This is my favorite TJR book to date. Carrie Soto comes back from retirement to defend her title in tennis and boy does this book keep you on the edge of your seat! I truly loved the whole thing start to finish. All the characters were likable even the ones that you thought you wouldn’t like. TJR never fails you!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Okay….this is a good one!! If you loved THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, or MALIBU RISING, then I highly recommend you give this one a go. I loved it. I'm not into tennis, but this story was definitely good enough to have me flying through it. I loved Evelyn Hugo and now this is another fave of mine from TJR!

After a knee injury, Carrie is back and on a mission to be a tennis champion. Her father is her coach, and I loved the relationship she had with him. She is one strong female character and I enjoyed reading about her past and her drive to be an amazing tennis star. Definitely such a good book guys.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again. This book is phenomenal! After getting a glimpse of Carrie Soto in Reid's other book, "Malibu Rising", I was super excited to take a deep dive into Carrie's character and it did not disappoint! I adore the way Taylor Jenkins Reid can write larger-than-life female main characters who are also very relatable. I love how Reid's books can always pull deep emotions out of me. Her stories are truly one of a kind.

✨Carries had retired from tennis due to a knee injury, but she returns when her records threaten to be broken.

💥TJR is one of my favorite authors and for good reason: she takes a topic I thought would be fairly boring and makes it a fast paced intense story. The characters are real and almost unlikeable, but then you start to root for them. And as usual, there is a touch of those heartbreaking moments. Don't let the topic deter you!

My face at the end: 🥰

🍪 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to @netgalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this ahead of publication.

💯 For more details on the books we read, be sure to follow me on TikTok (@zaineylaney). I will give you a list of reasons to read! Or listen to our podcast, Elated Geek, wherever you subscribe.

With just a racket in her little toddler hand Carrie Soto was born to be a tennis star. Her father aids her in success every step of the way. She dominates the tennis world in the 70s - 80s. Being the bad-bitch she is, everyone hates her for it. Inside, Carrie is sensitive and insecure. She believes that if she lets anyone into her heart, they will abandon her and never return. Her fear is heartbreak.

Her father, Javier Soto, is known as "Javier el Jaguar" and works as a tennis instructor at a fancy tennis club. Carrie visits the tennis club and begins training with her father to be a beast at the sport.

Carrie becomes ice cold as she progresses. The media called her "Battle Axe" striving to win every match. She eventually gets frustrated and fires her father to score another coach to reach her goals.

Fast forward to 1994, Carrie is 37, and her close companions are Javier and her agent, Gwen. That is not all folks, Nikki Chan, a competitive player depletes Carrie's tennis records. Nikki dominates the tennis world, and Carrie refuses to let that happen! She comes up with the idea to return to tennis and regain her crown! To be the best that tennis has ever seen.

In order for Carrieto reach her goals, she needs to train and work with an old lover and tennis champion, Bowe Huntley. Bowe wants to fix his reputation after struggling to be sober, getting over a divorce, and having many championship losses.

At this age, Carrie realizes that being a champion is subjective. She can allow herself to open up and have a change of goals.


I enjoyed this book very much, I love how Taylor Jenkins Reid comes up with heroines that touch your heart. Carrie Soto's life journey has made me open up to appreciate the people around you that help you to aspire to your goals. Especially Javier, who has trained Carrie hard to get where she wanted to be. Bowe, for being patient and caring towards her during her ups and downs.

I had not known much about tennis before reading this novel. The book constructed a great explanation of the sport. Many of the tennis events in the book made me feel as if I were present. I already miss these characters! TJR writes everything so vividly as if you were seated in the stands watching these matches. Once again, a masterpiece of a novel!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for allowing me early access to review this novel!

I put off reading this until just this week...I started it Thursday afternoon and could not put it down - I had to finish it! This is now my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book! The description of the tennis tournaments, Carrie's drive to win was so artfully descriptive that I felt like I was in the stands, at the event. Aside from the sports topic, I understood the mental aspect of striving to be the best at something.

Full disclosure - I am an avid sports fan and I really didn't care for Carrie while reading Malibu Rising. This book does touch on her past, but it's really focused on the drive to regain her title after retiring and what it takes to make that happen. So many of our sports stars are doing the same thing - retiring and then un-retiring so I thought the topic was timely.

I can understand where some people will find Carrie not very likable but she does have redeeming qualities.. She isn't trying to make friends during her career. But - in the end, I was rooting for Carrie and she will go on to be one of my favorite characters ever...Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Taylor Jenkins Reid for a fabulous story. I will be recommending it on all my social media platforms.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I could not put this book down! I played tennis in my younger years and I was hooked from page one. This book talks about challenges, aging, love, relations, and preserving to get what you want! Carrie fights to keep her title in a nail biting, back breaking uphill battle of brains and bronze but along the way begins to really digest what her life is at the age of 37.

Another hit from Taylor Jenkins Reid to solidify her as a auto-read author for me! Carrie Soto was introduced in Malibu Rising but shines in her own comeback in this novel.

Written in true Reid form, this book is extremely readable, with strong family and friendship relationships. I enjoyed the father/daughter dynamic and the depiction of a dedicated athlete.

I am not big into tennis but was attached enough to the plot and characters to feel every serve, volley and point as if I were.

If you are an athlete, a tennis fan or a TJR fan, pick this one up when it comes out on August 30!

Thank you #netgalley & #randomhouse for the ARC!

She had done it, folks@ This, by far, is my favorite TJR book to date. 5 stars!! If you have read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising then you MUST pickup Carrie Soto is Back.

Carrie Soto is the greatest female tennis player of all time, until her record of winning 20 slams is threatened. Carrie decides to come out of retirement at the age of 37 to defend her title. She fights her way back and surprises almost everyone. Even at 37 Carrie has a lot to learn about herself, and the sport of tennis. This book has it all; the highest highs and the lowest lows. Go out and get a copy when it is released 08/30/22, you will not be dissapointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for an honest review - all thoughts are my own. I last saw Carrie in Malibu Rising and I am glad to see her get her own story. I love all the tennis in this book as I am an avid fan and player. Loved this book and Carries world.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of “Carrie Soto is Back.” I really love the voice and style of books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Since I have read Malibu Rising, I was inclined to not like Carrie due to her role in that book, however I must say within the first few chapters my opinion of her did a 180° turn. I loved the relationship between Carrie and her dad Javi. His unconditional love for his daughter while being her coach reminded me of my own dad. I also loved how Carrie was unapologetic for expressing her opinions without sugarcoating them. She went against the notion that women have to speak eloquently while in public and believed that we don’t have to smile to make someone else feel better. I thought the media transcripts also worked well. Having played tennis for enjoyment since I was a teen and having watched a lot of the majors over the years, I was easily able to connect with the plot and Carrie. I would love to see her come up in a future book!

I'm embarrassed to admit this is my first TJR read. I think I was worried with all they hype that I would end up being disappointed. Fortunately, this was fantastic read and you can now count me as a TJR fan!

Carrie Soto Is Back is written in such a fast pace that you are carried to the end without realizing that the book will actually have an ending. Loved the pacing, loved the timeline, and loved the honest way that a parent/child relationship is portrayed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

I’m a huge Taylor Jenkins Reid fan. Her stories and characters epitomize all that is California Cool. Carrie Soto Is Back is a tennis lover’s dream. The first part of the book is heavy on the game of tennis and all that goes in to the making of a superstar. Carrie is on a quest to be the greatest champion ever and then she stages a comeback after retiring. Carrie is a great character and the book is entertaining, but I didn’t enjoy her as much as Evelyn or Daisy (my all-time favorite TJR character). It’s a fun summer read and as always, I’ll be eagerly awaiting to see what TJR writes next.

3.5 stars rounded up…

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow! I could not put this book down! I legitimately could not care less about sports but I do love me a good sports movie, and apparently a sports novel. TJR has made me look at tennis in a whole new way. I honestly never knew or considered that there was strategy involved in the game. This was just such a great comeback story, but even more than that a great story about love—all the forms of love. There was not a single major character in this book that I didn’t love. If it isn’t made into a movie, it will be a damn shame. I loved all the 80s and 90s references, and especially the nod to Daisy Jones and the Six. I think that one is still my favorite in this universe TJR has created, but I am feeling a strong pull to re-read it to be sure. Overall, this was the perfect summer read! It comes out at the end of the month, so be sure pre-order it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity.

Taylor Jenkins Reid really is something else. She's never written a bad book (IMO) - even the one I didn't LOVE was still a four-star read... and I'm even thinking of rereading via audio to see if my opinion changes!

This book was fascinating. I wasn't totally excited from reading the premise - a tennis player? Not interested really. I completely forgot that she was a very small side character in another book of TJR's too. It took me a long time before I realized all of the Mick Riva connections between her newer stories. He sucks but what a fun tie-in between everything. Her historical fiction books have been so lovely lately!

Carrie Soto is a badass tennis pro. She's broken all the records and had a great career until she slowed down and retired after some bad matches and a downward spiral (ability-wise). She and her father are sitting at the tennis match when Nikki Chan, the newest phenom, breaks Carrie's record (I had to double check this because none of the tennis information stuck in my brain)... and Carrie promptly unretires to win it back. She's 37 years old and has been retired for 5+ years but feels like she needs to get it back.

The story centers around her comeback, with a good section at the beginning going through her early career pre-retirement, as she competes in all of the major Opens. It was fascinating and felt SO true to live when TJR included commentary and snippets from Tennis broadcasters or news articles about her return. Carrie had a reputation for being a bit of a bitch during her reign and people did not let her forget it. The "Battle-Axe" was back and taking no prisoners. Everyone judged her about something and doubted her ability to do it.

Carrie was an interesting character though - she was fierce as hell. She was also very closed off emotionally for a lot of reasons. She could be harsh and brutal, even to those she loved (like her father - who was also her coach). Sometimes I did think it was a little too much, like she needed more socialization at an early age to help her learn how to communicate with people (lol). She just didn't care and I kind of loved it. She started training with an old flame Bowe Huntley because he was the only one interested in working with her and/or not afraid of her. He's at the very end of his career and wanted to make one last splash/tournament run, and he believes training with Carrie is the way to do it. They could relate to each other in some ways and she had to get used to being a normal human around him. You can imagine what happens from there and I really loved how Bowe interacted with Carrie's dad.

I would say that my 4.5 star rating is mostly based on two factors. This didn't come away on fully equal footing to some of my favorites by her. It just didn't give me the vibes of an all-time favorite. Also, there's a LOOOOT of technical tennis stuff happening in this one. I appreciate that it was fully necessary to go through all of the vocab words, so to speak, to keep it authentic and TJR either knows a lot about tennis and/or did a ton of research... but it was a bit skimmable at times. Some matches I just breezed through to see the very end result. 

All in all, this was another major winner by TJR for me. There were quite a few predictable moments but not really in a bad way. It had all the feels too.