I wish I could give this book a million stars. TJR is truly the only author who could make me care about tennis. She somehow managed to make the matches and tournaments suspenseful and adrenaline packed, when I literally don’t care about tennis at all. Carrie was the perfect protagonist. She was abrasive and impulsive and she didn’t take anyone’s shit. I absolutely loved all of the commentary about gendered sports and how difficult it is to be taken seriously as a female athlete. Carrie was held to a different set of standards than any of her male counterparts and even her other female counterparts and she really said “screw all of that, I’m going to do what I want.” I devoured this book in 24 hours. It was amazing from start to finish. TJR’s ability to create realistic and flawed characters is unmatched (hehe see what I did there). Absolutely incredible.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Taylor Jenkins Reid for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Being approved for this arc is probably the peak of my existence.

Carrie Soto got robbed, and so did the rest of us.

I will tell you one thing, Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to take your heart hostage and make you fall in love with a character that you didn’t even really want to care about at all. Because, tennis? Come on. I don’t even think tennis players care about tennis all that much. But TJR made me care. Like, deeply .

So deeply that I started researching actual tennis legends, and the rules of the game, so that I could feel even more immersed in Carrie’s world. And now I’m so far down tennis-related rabbit holes that I won’t be surprised if I get invited to play at the next Wimbledon myself.

Carrie Soto is the baddest of badasses, and how could you not fall in love with her and her sass and her ferocity. Enneagram 8s the world over will feel seen and known and understood. (not that they needed anybody’s validation. but still.) And Javier, that sweet, devoted father of hers. What a beautiful relationship they had. And Bowe, that wonderful man. What a catch.

Just a delightful, immersive world of characters and relationships to adore. Until TJR went and fucked us all right in the trophy case with that ending. And I’m so mad about it I could give this book no stars, but that wouldn’t be fair to sweet Javier who I loved so so much.

Here’s what gets me (spoilers ahead) : Carrie was supposed to come back and dominate. She said she could do it, she gave me hundreds of pages to make me believe she would do it, and then she didn’t do it. So basically instead of reading about a badass who lives up to her own hype, I was actually tricked into reading about (and caring about) a has-been with an ego problem. And yes, that’s enough for me to call a 5-star book a 2-star book. Change my mind.

Maybe someday I’ll cool down enough to add a few more stars, but I’m too mad right now.

——

A huge thank you to Taylor Jenkins Reid, Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Reid is a great author. However, this one didn't grab me like her other books. The writing style is great, the ot is well-developed and the characters come to life. I think I struggled because the setting revolves around tennis and a lot of it. Despite my book reservations,, I think many will enjoy her newest novel.

Carrie Soto may be back but Taylor Jenkins Reid never left.
Carrie carries the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. When somebody threatens to take her most coveted record she has to decide if she wants to fight for it again or not.
Carrie comes to understand herself and her motivations more as her story progresses.
This book is about tennis and a superstar athlete but it's also about so much more. It's about daughters and fathers, athletes and coaches, friends and foes, victory and defeat, love and heartbreak.
I really enjoyed this book. It was the kind of book that I devoured and when I finished it I wished I could start it over and read it again for the first time.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Random House Publishing for this chance to read an advanced copy.

5 Totally Authentic & Hits The Mark Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
This book had EVERYTHING. It was a work of art in how it presented a person who at first, was difficult to like, and in the end, you got exactly who she was and loved her dearly. I am a rookie when it comes to Taylor Jenkins Reid and the experience I had while reading this book ran the gamut of emotions for me. She made me cry and very few authors have the ability to touch me that way...so there you go seeing how incredible this book is.

Oh, there is so much more than those types of emotions...You get them all. Some will frustrate you, but most will encourage you to be the best you can be and give you a healthy perspective of life. It will show you what you can accomplish and what you need to hold on to.

And due to my interest in all sorts of documentaries, this totally felt authentic with how it presented Carrie's relationship with coaches, competing tennis players, the press, and how she perceived herself. Her relationship with her dad was presented realistically to me. They grew as she grew and when it finally was just right...it filled my heart.

So this was a deeply intense read for me, loved it, and think you will too.

Side Note:
There are so many documentaries regarding Tennis, Women, Diversity, etc. I have seen many and this book felt like it brought to life in my head everything I had thought about the sport and how it impacts those who play it at that elite level.

LOVING THIS, HARDCORE

is there anything that taylor jenkins reid cant do? t this point id read her grocery list and still be shocked at the ending 😂😂

Carrie Soto has made a marvelous comeback from being seen in a breakdown in Malibu Rising. Taylor Jenkins Reid paints yet another amazing portrait with Carrie Soto, one that I can tell will be a hit amongst tennis players and fans.

Though I didn’t particularly love this one by TJR, it’s admittedly one of her best works. Maybe after Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones, but honestly? Before Nina Riva for me. I liked Carrie enough to respect her, but if given the chance, I would avoid her at all costs. You don’t get a nickname like “Battle Axe” from doing nothing.

One thing TJR always tends to write seamlessly is strong-ass women. I love how effortless this sort of style comes from her and I would love to see more of these historic fiction novels about strong women, but I also know that this is probably her last one in the genre.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones, but it felt like I needed to read this one. The style was amazing, but for me, it was just so heavy on tennis and the sort, but that’s okay. I won’t dock it more than a half star for that because that would be unfair. I went into this novel KNOWING it was about tennis and I don’t have any affiliation with the sport nor do I care much to understand it. That’s on me, not the author.

Carrie Soto was meant to be this character people were supposed to hate, especially in media. I love how much this was centered around mass media and entertainment and how much Carrie did not give any fucks. She was true to who she was and wanted to be and I can’t shy away from that.

This book tells you the story of a prolific tennis player that dragged herself up from nothing. Her dad was this amazingly supportive character and I wish I could see more of him.

This was a very well-written novel. I was just bored throughout most of it because of how much revolved around tennis and that’s no way anyone’s fault.

You can preorder Carrie Soto Is Back from your local bookseller or get it on release day on August 30, 2022.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Random House Publishing / Ballantine for sending me this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Parts of this book I didn’t care about at all. But by the end of it, I was ready to watch a game of tennis.

I swear TJR’s writing is getting better and better. This was exceptional. That plottwist towards the end, THAT ending !!!! Omg the character growth, the father daughter relationship !!!!!!! The TEARS I SHED WHILE READING THIS OMG.

this was queens gambit in a book (well the tennis version)


Thank you NetGalley for sharing this ARC with me in exchange of my honest opinions.

It's hard to imagine how a book can be at once very predictable (with some exceptions), but also extremely perfect. TJR, as always, tells an impressive story through the use of great characters and a bit of mixed media (first person with a smattering of newspaper clips or TV interviews). It's a story of ambition (and specifically female ambition). The main character is deeply relatable, but also completely foreign but since you are in her head, you understand her deeply.
This book sucked me in, and I couldn't put it down until I stopped, even though the story doesn't hide where it's going to go. It's just that good that TJR doesn't have to rely on surprise to get you anywhere. It just tells a beautiful story that you want to read on a long afternoon and not lift up your head until the evening.
It hit every beat and it soared. What a fantastic book.

I'm a huge fan of TJR, but this book may be my favorite or all of her work! This book was beautifully crafted to bring even newbies to tennis to the table and to root for characters at their biggest moments. I loved the grit, the heart, and the rawness of this book - it was the type of book you didn't want to put down. TJR knows how to write a female heroine that you root for despite their flaws, and Carrie Soto was no exception.

I'll be posting my full review on https://www.instagram.com/ladies.getting.lit/ the week of publishing!

I, like many others, get very excited when Taylor Jenkins Reid has a new book out. Luckily, this book does not disappoint. We have met Carrie Soto before, but in this book we really get to know her, experiencing her childhood, rise to tennis stardom, and difficult personal relationships. I so loved getting in her head and understanding her as a character. This one is definitely worth checking out.

The most important thing to report here is I did indeed cry, I did smile with unadulterated joy, and I absolutely enjoyed every moment of reading this book. Am I certain that I liked this book more than Malibu Rising? No. But there was something about "Carrie Soto Is Back" that spoke to me on a completely different, and necessary level. The kind of story that followed someone who only ever wanted to win, and did, and yet their biggest victory wasn't the win. It was learning to let go, and love, and be at peace with what they have done with their lives, and what they can still do moving forward.

The relationship between Carrie and her father, between Carrie and Bowe, between Carrie and Gwen, not to mention Carrie and her competitors and the media, it not only showed the difficulties of successful women in sports, but of women in general. The easiness in which one is described as a bitch. The harshness of trying to find a partner who can actively understand you, and want to be with you, no questions asked. And more than those other things, the unique relationship between a father and his daughter, and the complications that come with wanting success and happiness, and knowing that one is not necessary for the other.

I was never worried for a moment that I wouldn't love this book, but it does feel like some kind of victory that I came out on the other side loving every moment. Even when I cried, even when I wanted to shake Carrie over her relationship with Bowe, it felt earned. The journey was traveled, and it hurt, and at the end something important was gained.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest novel, Carrie Soto Is Back, in advance. This is seriously one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is simple, well-written, and fast-paced the entire time. I could not put it down until I was done! Cannot wait to see the series spun off of this one.

If you enjoy feel-good novels, underdog protagonists, tennis, and second chances, I highly recommend this for your end of summer read!

I wanted to like this book, I really did! I am a huge fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. But it was just too.much.tennis.
Having said that, for some who like me have no interest in tennis, if you stick with it you'll find a strong character in Carrie Those who do not have any interest in tennis might like what it takes to rise to the top, the rivalries and competitiveness, that dominate this narrative. Carrie's rise to the top is not without its challenges, and indeed she not the likeable with a nick name of the 'battle axe'. She is ruthless, driven, and willing to do whatever it takes to win, she has attitude to spare and does not care what anyone thinks of her. Her relationships with her dad and Bowe are well drawn. Recommended for public libraries.

I was thrilled and very fortunate to have read such a creative and empowering book. Ms. Reid’s meticulous attention to the historical details recreated a trip back in time as we followed Carrie from a young girl holding her first racket, to the champion that she became. I learned so much about the world of tennis and I could never have imagined all the training that was necessary to get to the top!

If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be: energetic. The energy that Carrie had as she grew into a star and the renewed energy she has now as she comes out of retirement to show the world that she still had it. When her father made her run five miles on the beach to build up her endurance, I was right behind her with a water bottle, cheering her on. The energy required to complete the many tasks her father gave her. She worked on her serve, her stance and more importantly, her mind game. Carrie had to free her mind of the past, her competition and concentrate on winning at all costs. It was easier said than done and I rooted for Carrie at every match, with every serve and with every game that she won. I became Carrie’s biggest fan and I desperately wanted her to win it all. I was at the edge of my seat as she traveled the world, playing women much younger than herself. Carrie’s drive and enthusiasm was intoxicating and even though her life would go on if she didn’t achieve her goal, she certainly proved that anything is possible.

She’s not an Evelyn, Daisy or Nina- but she is that part of each of us, that pushes to be the best & meet an expectation that we only put on ourselves - break free! Carrie was so fun to get to know and to see her story. I loved this book and put it right up there with Evelyn Hugo & all the other gems TJR creates!

Taylor Jenkins Reed does it again, and this time she's back with a bounce! A tennis bounce that is... This book may be one of her best ever. With a complicated character like Carrie Soto, it is certainly a challenge to create a well rounded character. But, you are guaranteed to love Carrie and be inspired by her strength and confidence at the end.

Out August 30, 2022 [Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 5/5 stars

Carrie Soto, once the greatest women’s tennis player in the world, returns to the sport after a five-year hiatus determined to reclaim her record for most Grand Slam titles.

I know these will be fighting words, but this is the best TJR novel, and Carrie Soto is the best TJR heroine. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and Nina Riva, and all of their respective books. But Carrie Soto has instantly found such an important place in my heart for so many reasons—she’s brilliant, funny, feisty, infuriating, determined, strong, and deeply deeply relatable. I’ve never played tennis (I’m not even confident I could hit a tennis ball, at all, in any context) but so much of Carrie’s journey resonated with me anyway, because it is so deeply and intrinsically human.

I rarely cry at books, even the deeply sad ones, but I was on the verge of openly sobbing *several* times while reading this one, which is the mark of a truly special book in my world. While Carrie and the various supporting characters are the definite highlight, the plot is also fantastic and gripping, and I absolutely loved the various themes woven throughout. And, I’m also a sucker for a sports story, so I was totally enthralled by all the tennis (and, yes, there is a lot of tennis).

I could go on, probably for essays’ worth of words, but honestly no words can do this book justice anyway. In the end, all I can say is do yourself a favor and read CARRIE SOTO IS BACK as soon as you possibly can.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: sports dramas; characters that jump off the page; recent-history historical fiction.

CW: Death of a loved one; misogyny/sexism.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has created the perfect villain with Carrie Soto. She is competitive, driven, and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Even though Carrie is often abrasive and rude to those around her for the sake of trying to reach her goals, it was still so easy to root for her.

TJR is probably the only person on earth who could make me care about a book about tennis. And this book is overwhelmingly about tennis - if you don't enjoy books about sports, I can see it being hard to get into the story. There are also a lot of really great themes throughout the story as well that I think a lot of people can relate to, even if you don't enjoy tennis. Carrie Soto is Back has a slow burning love story (although it's not a romance book), strong women, a great father/daughter relationship, and a lot of character growth.
I loved the mixed media format of the book - the interviews and articles throughout the story made it so interesting and I liked seeing Carrie's comeback through the eyes of other people.

My biggest complaint with the story is that there is a lot of Spanish in the story, and TJR doesn't provide any translations or context for what is said. Having to pause so often to look up what was being said really took away from the reading experience and my enjoyment of the story.

This isn't a sequel to Malibu Rising so you don't have to read it first, but they are interconnected and I do think it makes the reading experience more enjoyable. I also loved the Daisy Jones callback here if you've read that one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Radom House Publishing (Ballantine), and Taylor Jenkins Reid for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!