5 bajillion million stars!

I don't know what I did to get this ARC but thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for fulfilling my best dreams. Carrie Soto follows a (familiar if you've read Malibu Rising) tennis star as she decides to come out of retirement in order to defend her Grand Slams record.

Carrie is unlikeable, frustrating, and stubborn at times, but in my opinion that's what makes her such a great main character. I found myself simultaneously rooting for her, while also wanting to smack some sense into her. In addition, I thought this book had a really great supporting cast, and even when I thought I knew where it was going I really didn't. This is my fourth TJR book (funnily enough I think I read all of her historical fiction novels in publication order?) and with a fourth five star, she has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors. I don't watch tennis, but I was so invested in Carrie and her journey as both a player and a person that I devoured this book in 3 hours. The matches felt so real and my anxiety was at a "Your team is in the finals of March Madness" level because I had to know what was going to happen.

I laughed, I cried, and I really can NOT wait for everyone else to read this in August. I'm now going to devour all of her romance/contemporary fiction books because I need more TJR in my life.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine Books for providing me with an early copy of this book to read and give an honest review.
If you have not read Taylor Jenkins Reid, may I suggest you start with this book? Really, truly, I'm not kidding. Go read this book! Of all the books I have read by her, this one is by far my favorite! Wow, just, wow! Her writing only gets better with time! I'm not even a tennis fan, I really don't understand the scoring or why they play so many matches? sets? games? But it didn't even matter because it wasn't about the tennis It was about what the character learned over her tennis career. I could not put it down and read it in one day.
My thought is this book is somewhat reminiscent of Serena Williams. Though I do not know tennis well, I do know she is a force with which to be reckoned as the most decorated and influential woman's tennis player. So I imagine Reid had her in mind when she created the character of Carolina Soto.
I loved how Reid gave us the background of this world famous women's tennis player. Showed us how she grew up, how she crawled her way to the top, how she influenced others in her field.
Soto is tough as nails, closed hearted, and ruthless. She earned her title of The Battle Axe.
But her journey from retirement back to trying to place herself on top changed her. Showed her things in life she needed to learn, we all need to learn.
I loved every character in this book. Javiar, her father, who wanted what was best for her while also wanting her to read her full potential, Bowe, who you don't want to like but then he somehow crawls into your heart. Gail!!!! The mother/sister Soto never got to have. And Chen, Soto's rival who doesn't care how cocky she is because she knows she deserves to be. There's not one character in this book who doesn't help shape Soto, who doesn't help show Soto parts of life she has missed somewhere along the way.
One of my favorite parts in the book is when Reid actually references one of her very own books, Daisy Jones and the Six (also phenomenal and highly recommended). I actually took a picture and posted it on my IG because I just could not resist sharing that with the world!
I cannot say enough about how this book: made my heart race, had me laughing, had me crying. I was a mess, but a good mess.
If you read only one book in 2022, let it be this one. Let yourself into the world of Reid's writing because I promise you you will not regret it! I cannot wait to see what Reid comes up with next.

I'm not exactly sure how to feel about this book. On the one hand, it was extremely well written and well researched. The character development of Carrie Soto ended up being great, and the most of the side characters were loveable and complex.
On the other hand, it felt like it was only about tennis. I got really tired of reading about strokes and sets and aces and matches; I wanted more side story or back story or something. It was all well written and was interesting, but overall kind of boring because it felt was about the same thing the whole way through. Carrie Soto's entire life was dedicated to tennis though, so I suppose it was fitting to her story.
I also felt that Carrie Soto was not a likeable protagonist for 80% the book; when I had about 20% left, I finally started to warm up to her.
Overall, this is a great book, I just don't think it was for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the free eARC!

Reid writes another beautiful story that has you invested from the very beginning. She knows how to write a fierce woman like no other and Carrie is fierce then some. There were times i wasn’t sure to love or hate Carrie and her attitude, but I couldn’t help but admire her. The character development, complex relationships and the heart in this one was so well done. This is another win for me in the TJR category and I’m so grateful to have been able to read this one early.

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!


So I was worried I wasn’t going to enjoy this as much as TJR other books, but she really delivered. As a tennis player it is so nice to read about tennis. And yes I would have a basic knowledge of tennis before going into this because it’s tennis centered.
If you’re looking for a romance, be aware that is a side plot and this book focuses more on the other relationships Carrie has with her father, her rival and her coach. This was page turning and a nice palette cleanser for an avid romance reader

I was worried I was going to dislike Carrie based on her previous appearance in MR , while she’s not my favorite I do have a soft spot for her.
The ending also didn’t disappoint!

Wow. I can't believe I am giving 5 stars to a book about tennis, a sport, keep in mind, I know very little about, but here we are. 😅

I devoured this book. I couldn't get enough of it. I was already going in on a high after finally watching the movie, King Richard, this weekend (which was also amazing and if you haven't watched yet you should!). That definitely helped give me a good foundation for the sport. But in true TJR fashion, she hooked and reeled me in as well and describes the terminology, point system, etc. well enough to where you don't have difficulty following along either.

This book was adrenaline pumping, heart racing, edge of your seat intense. And the theme reminded me of Daisy Jones. I loved the crossovers with Malibu Rising and Daisy. You don't have to read either to read this book, but they are fun little Easter eggs thrown in there for the people who have.

There's some tearjerker moments and a slow romance, but this book never once felt like a chore to pick up. It flows and reads so quickly and easily I flew through it and now I wish it wasn't over. TJR is always a fabulous writer. Even when her books are a miss for me (Malibu, Evelyn), I still can respect the art of her writing and always get excited every time I pick one of her books up. She can make you picture what you are reading so easily with her wonderful descriptions and makes you feel the emotions of the characters so deeply.
I loved Carrie Soto. I hope we can go back to her world again soon!


**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

I've loved every Taylor Jenkins Reid book I've read and Carrie Soto is Back is right up there with the rest. Carrie is a retired tennis player, quite possibly the goat (greatest of all time). When current champion, Nicki Chan, ties her record, Carrie comes out of retirement. With her beloved dad as her coach, Carrie is going to play one more challenging season. Full of great tennis action (and you do'n't have to love tennis) and complicated deep characters, this book will pull you right in and have you reading late into the night.

I know very little about tennis so I was a bit dubious about if I'd enjoy this book but to my surprise I really enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back, much more so than it's somewhat prequel Malibu Rising.

This book follows Carrie through her attempt to reclaim her position as The Best tennis player and it's such a lovely book and journey. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get lost in a world for a bit!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Not my favorite book by Reid, but definitely one that fans of hers will be putting on hold at the library and buying when it hits the sale date. I would love to check out the audio version of this in the future to see if it hits differently as her past books I did by ear.

Please TJR we need more!!! I feel very lucky to have been chosen to receive an arc to this novel. It was on my wishlist and I can’t wait to get a physical copy when it comes out

Goodness to gracious, TJR! I truly thought nothing could captivate me like like Evelyn, and then Daisy and then the Rivas - but here we are with another smash-hit (tennis pun intended) based off of a singular line from Malibu Rising!

I could not take my eyes off of this book - Carrie’s voice felt so similar and strong to all of TJR’s leading protagonists, and the news clippings and press interviews sprinkled throughout were iconic TJR world-building!

I know nothing about tennis beyond the GameBoy Color Mario Tennis, and I legitimately felt myself powering through the match scenes like a battle scene in a fantasy novel - I truly was on the edge of my seat!

Well done, TJR! Well done, indeed!

Carrie Soto Is Back
Taylor Jenkins Reid

This novel is set to release on August 30, 2022.

Carrie Soto is not a new character for those who have read Reid’s previous work. And while she wouldn’t of been my top choice for leading lady staring in her own novel I am overtaken with her tenacity and drive. The bits we previously know about her is just the tip of the iceberg.

Reid created a sports packed journey of revival. I enjoyed the father- daughter dynamics, the low key romance and the artful play by plays. But let me warn you if don’t know anything beyond tennis ball, racquet and net then you are about to take a head first nose down into tennis. And I did not realize how much training even those who didn’t push as hard as Soto did, time and life revolved around the sport.

As always Reid left tears in my eyes pain in my heart. She displayed the process of failing, of working to hard and success in a way that play of each other so well.

Was this Reid’s greatest novel to date, that’s a hard no. When I said sports packed I meant it. I do think it’s a bit over beating and the Carrie almost comes of as one dimensional. It was difficult to get past all the tennis talk, especially for someone who knows little to nothing about it.

I did however enjoy TJR masterful skill of incorporating multi media. The sport casters commentaries and news article worked well to giving us an outside view of those viewing Soto’s rise, fall, rise and so on.

This is by far my least favorite of Reid’s work. But that is because it didn’t feel character or plot driven. It felt sports driven.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.

Carrie Soto is back! Perhaps one of the most disliked characters in her previous books, Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with a fresh look on this character. Carrie, a retired tennis star, has her records threatened by another tennis player, so decides to come out of retirement to regain her place in history, this book feels like a redemption book in a lot of ways. We see a growth in this character that was needed. Reid takes a character that nobody liked and showed us the “why” behind her, ahem, nickname. Then she took the character and made us like her.

I’ve had many patrons say they didn’t like “Malibu” and are hesitant to read “Carrie”, but pleas, go ahead. This one feels more real, more intimate, and frankly a cleaner, read. I do love how she weaves older books into her story and it’s fun to find the Easter eggs. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Maybe not a ton of book club fodder, but nonetheless I would recommend it to my patrons.
4 solid stars.

Carrie Soto is bound and determined not to let her tennis record be beaten, so she decides to come out of retirement. Despite holding the world record in tennis, Carrie is not well liked in the tennis world. She is determined to get what she wants, no matter who she has to step on to get it. This is why she is nicknamed the Battle Axe or some people simply refer to her as the B word. No one denies that she played a beautiful game of tennis in her day, but no one believes that after 5 years in retirement she can win any of the Grand Slam events.

Another great book from Taylor Jenkins Reid, with a few quick nods to past characters. I don't even like tennis, but this book kept me on the edge of my seat.

Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again. Definitely didn’t want to put this book down or have the story end. Great read!

Carrie Soto is the undisputed queen of women’s tennis. Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will remember Carrie from “Malibu Rising” as Brandon Randall’s girlfriend. Brandon is little more than a footnote now, because this story is all about Carrie. We get to know Carrie long before she met Brandon and before she became a tennis sensation. Better yet, we get know Carrie after Brandon, when he’s so far in the past, he isn’t even a speck in the rearview mirror. We see her win a record 20 Slam titles before she retires, only to burst back onto the scene when that title is threatened. Carrie Soto is BACK.

Now, you may be thinking “a book about tennis?” Yeah, I was skeptical too, but that TJR magic grabbed me in the very first chapter and I was hooked. This book is about so much more than tennis. It’s about ambition, determination, and redemption. It’s about love, relationships, and what really matters. Carrie and her relentless drive are incredibly compelling even though Carrie is incredibly unlikeable throughout much of the book. Her character development and arc are so outstanding that I couldn’t help but root for her even when I struggled to like her. The male characters are fully fleshed out, no flat or stereotypical men here, with Carrie’s dad and coach Javier hands-down my favorite character. The love and complexity of the father-daughter relationship is so beautifully drawn – so. many. feels! I laughed, I cried, I loved this book!

TJR is at the top of her game, and “Carrie Soto is Back” just may be her best yet! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I know nothing about tennis, and normally would really have zero interest in a book about the sport, but Taylor Jenkins Reid can get me to read just about anything (and enjoy it too).
I LOVED Carrie Soto is Back. While it clearly had a romantic element to it, it was much more than that. It was about her relationship to the game, and the game's relationship to Carrie's life outside of it. The realism in her learning how to find joy (and herself) in more than just a win was fantastic.

TJR is back with a hit 👏🏻. This just might be my new favorite by her, and absolutely will be one of my top reads for the year!

Carrie Soto had grit, tension, heart, determination, tenacity, and is easily to me her strongest female protagonist to date.

I don’t care about sports, but the way TJR had me on the edge of my seat caring about tennis was truly unmatched.

This book is so much more than just tennis though, it is about a girl who would do anything to be the best no matter what and the sacrifices made to do so.

This one swept me away and took me by surprise and made me feel all the things (even maybe had me almost shedding some tears 🥹).

Run to go get this book next month!

I would like to thank Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Soto is a unwelcome and tough character introduced to us in TJR Malibu Rising. She returns in Is Back to give us her story. And it’s quite a story.

Carrie Soto is the best women’s (or overall) tennis player of all time. She retired with the most Championships in women’s tennis, but now her record for most wins is about to be broken and Carrie, who learned tennis from her father, aren’t ready to lose that record. Together they work to get Carrie back into shape to compete again against players who are younger, faster, stronger, and just as determined as Carrie.

The story follows Carrie from her youth all through her career. Known as the Battle Axe or Bitch, for her coldness towards other players and the media, Carrie struggles to come to terms with the fact that maybe she is not the best player anymore, but does that take away from what she did for the sport, for female athletes?

The romance is sweet, despite Carrie’s obtuseness. Bowe is a great character and I’m so happy we got to see the softness he brought out of Carrie and the fire she lite for him.

A few notes that some will see as great and other may see as, hmmm. Carrie’s father, who plays a large role not only in Carrie’s life but this book speaks Spanish to her often and no translation was provided so for anyone who doesn’t read Spanish be prepared with an app. Also, Javier (her father) is another great character. The other thing is, there’s a lot of tennis in the book and as someone who knows little about tennis, at times I was confused. That said, I still highly enjoyed Carrie’s story and I learned about tennis and a little Spanish along the way.

Carrie will not be loved or understood by everyone, and that’s okay. For me, at times I struggled with liking her and just shaking my head, but I enjoyed the story tremendously. Carrie’s growth. The way her relationships change throughout the story, is what made it for me.

Carrie Soto is Back follows Carrie Soto, a 37-year old tennis player who decides to come out of retirement to reclaim her record. When young tennis star Nicki Chan equals her grand slam record, Carrie sets her sights on becoming the comeback queen. While her body isn’t what it used to be, her passion and determination is just as strong — if not stronger. At the time of her retirement, Carrie was unequivocally the best tennis player the world has seen. Carrie Soto is many things; she’s driven, she’s determined, she’s been called “The Bitch” and “The Battle-Axe” by many, and she’s not necessarily well-liked. All of this comes at a cost, however — for all of her medals and records comes a huge sacrifice. Coached by her father, Javier, since she was two years old, Carrie teams up with him, as well as the oldest tennis player on the circuit, Bowe Huntley.

In classic Taylor Jenkins Reid style, Carrie Soto, her father, Javier, and Bowe Huntley, feel so real. All of them are deeply flawed, but magnificently complex characters. Carrie, who, at thirty seven, really only has two relationships in her life: tennis, and the relationship with her coach (and father), Javier. Every aspect of her life revolves around tennis, and every time a commentator, or a reporter, would doubt her abilities, Carrie would bounce right back to prove them wrong. Carrie Soto is Back is for anyone who has ever been told no, and said “watch me”. As much as Carrie Soto is Back is a story about Carrie’s strength, and her reclaiming her title, it’s also about her learning to let people in, and that life isn’t just about one thing: winning. Over the years, Carrie’s relationship with tennis has been less about the actual sport, and more about the accolades. Reading about her reclaiming not just her titles, but her love for the sport, and her collaboration with her father, was really what cemented this book for me.

I absolutely adored Javier, and his character arc. For Carrie’s entire childhood, he saw her potential; calling her Achilles and training her to be the very best. It isn’t until much later, that he realizes the impact of his words, and how his unwavering belief in his daughter could’ve been misconstrued. Carrie’s comeback is about her winning, but it’s also about him having another chance to work with his daughter, to support her and show her how much he loves her. Carrie Soto is a story about Carrie’s love for tennis, but it’s also a story about a father’s love for his daughter.

Another character that had my entire heart was Bowe, who is one of the oldest players in the tennis circuit. He’s just clinging on, waiting for retirement, and also trying to have one last hoorah. His story with Carrie was just so sweet, and I loved the slow burn.

Reading Carrie Soto Is Back, I felt like I was transported into the 80s and 90s, and that I was right there at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the US Open, cheering Carrie on. In a way, I felt like Carrie’s father — watching from the sidelines, anxiously hoping that things would work out in her favor. I was utterly desperate for Carrie to win, to get back on her feet each time and to truly be happy.