TJR doesn't miss. I don't think this book will need much help selling, but it's another outstanding historical-romance-literary-women's-fiction blender. I would recommend readers read Malibu Rising first, since you'll get a little intro to the Carrie Soto character in there. No doubt this will be a bestseller.

Wow wow wow. I’ve been pretty excited for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s newest, Carrie Soto is Back for sone time now. Was thrilled to get an advanced copy so late in the game but I devoured it. Some of you may remember Carrie Soto as a minor player in last summers Malibu Rising but this book is all about the American tennis star. When Carrie Soto retires in 1987 she is the most decorated female tennis player ever to have played. 20 Grand Slams to her name. As Nicki Chan edges closer to tying her record 7 years later, Soto decides she must come out of retirement, coached by her beloved father, and defend her record. If you love tennis, get excited because this one was fun. I couldn’t put it down. It doesn’t release until August 30 but do yourself and favor and pre-order today. SO good!!!

I knew I would love this book, just from the description, I used to watch tennis all the time in the 80”s and 90’s, and Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint. I think you will love this book even if you don’t know that much about tennis. I read it in just a few days, definitely a page turner. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This was my first book by this author, and it may also be my last. I don't really understand, based on what I read here, what the national obsession with Jenkins Reid is. I thought this was okay - sometimes fun, sometimes boring, sometimes thrilling, sometimes dull. I found Carrie frustratingly one-note and unlikable. I completely understood the themes and very-much appreciated the themes, but I found their presentation mostly ham-fisted.

I am so grateful to have been given this ARC from NetGalley. I have enjoyed all of Reid’s books and this one was no exception. I did not want to stop reading it. As Carrie Soto reflects on her past as the best tennis player in the world, another tennis star surpasses her. Soto will not settle as someone else becomes the best and begins to train with her father to beat her. The relationship between Carrie and her dad, Javier, is so precious. It left me in tears. I loved seeing how Carrie comes out of retirement to take on a new world of tennis. 5 stars- must read!

This book is an incredible and heartwarming novel about a fierce and unstoppable tennis player, Carrie Soto. Carrie Soto decided to come out of retirement and make a come back in the tennis world at age 37. The book focuses on her comeback, her relationship with her father, and the pressures of being a famous tennis player.

Taylor Jenkins Reid made me think that Carrie was a real-life tennis player, so therefore she is a literacy genius where she creates well-developed characters that comes alive across the pages. Taylor presented Carrie as a ruthless and invincible player with some vulnerability. She has a tough interior and is afraid to let anyone in. It shows that there is a lot of pressure being a famous player, especially as a woman. It was also easy to immerse into the story and feel for Carrie, Nicki, and Javier. Taylor captures the Intense passion they all have for the game. This book is by far my favorite book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Random House Publishing for my copy of the book.

Taylor Jenkins Reid scores with another riveting story about a ruthless tennis player struggling to be the best in the world. Carrie Soto is Back is gritty, suspenseful, and heart-warming, one of Jenkins-Reid’s best novels yet.

Jenkins-Reid gives us front-row seats to Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and other tennis tournaments as we watch Carrie make a comeback at thirty-seven, competing with women much younger and stronger. The reader is on edge from the moment she steps onto the tennis court, feeling her pain, striving for perfection for the ultimate prize to win.

Carrie is a difficult and unlikeable character, but she softens with maturity as she realizes there is more to life than winning. I thoroughly enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back, and I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read and review it. #NetGalley #Carrie Soto is Back #womensfiction

I absolutely loved this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid is incredible and the way that Carrie Soto's character was insufferable and lovable at the same time is such a weird thing to describe but I suppose that is the easiest way to describe it. I think I could've lived without the super intense detail of the tennis matches themselves but other than that, it was great.

Carrie Soto is a character driven story unlike anything else Taylor Jenkins Reid has written in the past. I loved Evelyn Hugo, I liked Daisy Jones and I simply adored Nina Rivas. I literally dropped everything when I received the ARC of this book. I was simply thrilled. Carrie is strong, empowered, lonely and icy. She is portrayed as a cold, ruthless winner and she is. But she' s also unlikeable, for me. I found Carrie to be my least favorite character from the brilliant mind of TJR.
The prose is written beautifully as always. TJR's world draws you in and fills you up. In this particular novel, I just couldn't get past all the TENNIS. Yes, she's a tennis star and yes she's a badass but I wanted to read a feminist drama, not a tennis instruction manual. I liked the examination of the father/daughter dynamic as well as the coach/athlete relationship. This story fell flat for me, I am not a big tennis fan and the tennis bored me.
I give it 2.5 stars rounded up for fantastic writing style.

I like and understand tennis fairly well, so I wonder if Carrie Soto Is Back will be as compelling to those who are not familiar with the sport - there is a LOT of tennis action in this book. In 1995 Carrie Soto has long retired from pro tennis, but when Nicki Chan threatens to break her record of most Grand Slam titles won, Carrie rallies her coach/father Javier to come out of retirement at the unheard of age of 37 to keep her record intact. Along the way, we meet those very few Carrie has allowed into her life, her agent Gwen and assistant Ali, her father of course, and despite Carrie’s best attempts to avoid, after a one-night stand gone nowhere years prior, Bowe Huntley crosses her path again, attempting his own comeback at 39.
Carrie has purposely avoided most human relationships after losing her mother at a young age, and how can one annihilate in the tennis court with such things as emotional connections getting in the way? Her journey to do the same to Nicki Chan is no exception… unless this time it is..
It’s always fun to see how TJR calls back her other novels - Daisy Jones a fleeting reference, and anyone who’s read Malibu Rising knows Carrie’s connection to Nina Riva…
A quick-moving escapist read, in true TJR form!

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

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with a new page turner with Carrie Soto is Back. We follow Carrie, a star tennis player, who was first introduced briefly in Malibu Rising, throughout her tennis career and comeback. The book begins as Carrie, multiple years into retirement, and her father/former coach Javi observe Niki Chan, a powerhouse tennis player tie Carrie's grand slam wins record. Carrie, the ultimate competitor cannot stand the idea of her record being tied or eclipsed, devotes herself to a comeback- she will enter all 4 grand slams, in hopes of holding the sole grand slam win record again.

This book is VERY focused on the game of tennis, so readers need to temper their expectations. Unlike Reid's other books that have a bit more of a wide-ranging plot, Soto is very much a sports novel- and it follows the arch of a good comeback movie or book (I could very much see this adapted). Because tennis techniques are described and match after match are highlighted, one needs to be willing to get into the tennis weeds. Carrie's drive to succeed is the main focus and the plot doesn't stray far from that. Her character is not very nuanced. On top of Carrie's tennis journey, there is a potential love story- a former brief flame Bowe Hunter, a former tennis player known for his aggressive play and antics on and off the court is paired up with her as a hitting partner. He too begins his own comeback story.

This book is from the view of Carrie- one gets in her head, but there is little in the way of additional characters that we spend time with. Her relationship with her father is lovely, but we don't get much about Bowe's take on the action, her agent has a bit part, and we learn a small amount about her competitors. Her childhood and rise in the tennis world as well as her comeback are there, but her retirement years in between are completely missing. Her comeback is based in the mid-1990's, so I appreciated those cultural references that were a nice throwback.

I imagine fans of Reid's previous work will also enjoy Carrie Soto.

Thank you to Ballantine Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

This book took me some time to get into. I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing style and that is what powered me on in the beginning. The book was just as faced paced as Carrie herself. About 70% of the way through it, I could not put it down. I was so interested in Carrie and Bowe and Javier and everyone involved, I just needed to know what happened. I won't lie I even got a little teary eyed at the end which isn't something I thought would happen.
I was going to rate this book a 4 stars because I just wasn't as into it as I wanted it to be. But I got 3/4's in a I just couldn't stop thinking about the characters. I loved the character development and how everything just seemed to feel poignantly okay. That feeling is what brought my rating to 5 stars. Reid is a fabulous writer and I love how clues are set throughout the book and just how everything feels so effortless.
I would definitely recommend this book.

Taylor Jenkins Reid's books are addicting. I couldn't put this book about a 1980's tennis sensation staging a comeback after being retired for several years down. The best testament I can give to this book is that I was completely disinterested in tennis before reading this book and now that I've read it, I can't wait to follow and watch the US Open.

I don’t even like tennis!! Don’t let that keep you from reading Carrie Soto is back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’m not a tennis fan but while reading this book, I actually wanted to watch the matches.

Carrie Soto is Back is about so much more than tennis. Carrie is retired but her record is about to be broken so she comes out of retirement to try to keep that from happening. It’s been six years since she’s been on the court so she basically has to start from scratch for training and she’s six years older so her body is not the same as it was at her best. That doesn’t stop Carrie from trying. She’s a determined and fierce and she’s going to leave everything out on the court.

This book is not about tennis…it’s about relationships. Carrie’s dad, Javier, is her coach. Bowe Huntley is another tennis star with something to prove so he starts training with Carrie; but could it turn into more? We get to see how Carrie came up in the ranks through her early career and how she climbs back to try to gain her former glory.

I absolutely loved this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid is an auto-buy author for me…I love her characters. I love her storytelling. I love that she can take something you know nothing about, like tennis, and immerse you in that world like you’ve been a fan all along.

Can’t wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid comes up with next!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Just finished this ARC of Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse)

If you like Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing and/or like tennis- I highly recommend checking out this book.

For me, I love how TJR switches up her writing format and introduces transcripts from sports announcers in this one. I found this book to be a light and easy read for me.

That being said, I have to admit it wasn't my favorite of TJRs. The character development and buildup was kind kind of schmeh for me and there were times where I was a bit bored with the plot. I think The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo may have spoiled things for me in that regard.

Mick Riva does get a shout in this and I laughed at that part. I also did have to try not to cry at the gym during another part in the book. There is some untranslated Spanish in the book so have Google translate ready if you're Spanish is a little rusty.

Overall- fun and light read. TJR is still one of my author's to keep an eye out for.

“We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men.”

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Another amazing story about another powerhouse woman. I loved Carrie, though at the beginning I kinda loved to hate her. She was brash and unapologetic about her abilities. Characteristics that we’re taught women shouldn’t be.

I could feel the thrum of excitement and anticipation as the story progresses. As Carrie begins her comeback and plays at the various tournaments.

I also loved how this book centers on how women are viewed in sports. Carrie is called all sorts of names. She is expected to be a champion but also be approachable and humble. They don’t like seeing her acknowledging her success so bluntly.

Of course I loved the small love story between Carrie and Bowe. It was sweet to see her open herself up to someone who could love her and support her.

And her father. There is not much I can say, but I man I love him and their relationship.

Basically this was an excellent book. I could go on and on. But you should just read it yourself.

Carrie Soto has not made many friends on or off the tennis court. Her father/coach has groomed her from birth to become the best tennis player in the world. When her record is challenged, she makes the decision to come out of retirement to defend her title. She’s back!
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I had to sit with my thoughts for a minute after finishing this book. It’s about tennis. A lot of tennis. I’m not a big follower of tennis. And yet, I think I loved it. I am a TJR superfan. She is an auto-buy author for me. I had to figure out if I loved the book or if I just loved her writing - the answer is both. Carrie Soto is an absolute bad ass. She is tough and competitive and apologizes to no one. The writing is so good and the character development so strong, I could not put this book down. I am so excited to attend an (in person!) author talk in September at Warwicks to hear TJR share some insight into writing this story.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the MASTER at creating strong female leads. I loved that Carrie showed the themes that female athletes are still critiqued for today.

Heavy on the tennis themes, but I enjoyed it.

I finished reading this book in almost two days and was on the edge of my seat the entire time because the storytelling is so engaging and addictive. Jenkins Reid is skilled at skillfully weaving together a gripping narrative, the challenges of celebrity, and the additional challenges of women.

Even though I've never been interested in tennis, I found myself emotionally invested in Carrie and the girls she was competing against as well as being captivated by the matches.

I think it might be time to admit TJR is not for me. I loved Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones, but Malibu Rising was just okay and I could not get myself to finish Carrie Soto.

A lot of reviewers have said it you don't need to enjoy tennis to enjoy this book, and I completely disagree. It's literally all about tennis, and if like me you have zero interest, there isn't enough else going on to pull you in.

I'm sure with TJR's huge success over the past few years that this book will do fine.