I think how much people enjoy Carrie Soto is Back might depend on how much they enjoy... training montages? Like, the bits in the movie where a person runs up and down the stairs 20 times interspersed with boxing scenes, or tries that dance lift and falls over and over, so you can get a sense of how hard they've worked to get where they are by the end. And there's snappy music and it's cut together well and there's a familiar structure and rhythm to it, so sometimes you can tune out the individual steps. Anyway, Carrie Soto felt like if a training montage had character development. Your mileage on that is almost certainly going to vary. Thus, three different short reviews. 

You love training montages: I'm right here in this category. I fcuking love a training montage. Sometimes when I get bored, I go on YouTube and watch hype videos for football matches that are just cuts of various players scoring goals cut to dramatic music. And I really enjoyed this book. It follows Carrie Soto through her career as a young tennis player - one of the greatest of all time, her eventual retirement due to injury, and her dramatic return in her late 30s with the help of her father (also her coach) and a former champion men's tennis player (also her love interest). I absolutely love reading about sports, particularly women in sports, especially particularly "difficult" female sports stars. I enjoyed Carrie SO much as a character. She is incredibly cocky, and skillful, and SO unbelievably driven that she really sometimes can't see past the end of her own combative personality to consider other competitors as human beings. I really enjoyed reading about what it took for her to be successful at two very different points in her life, and even though I have ZERO interest in tennis, I fell right into the rhythms of a sports narrative, and felt right at home. I don't think this book was anything earth-shattering, but I was entertained all the way through. 

You have zero feelings about training montages: Look, there is a LOT of tennis in this book. A lot of tennis strategy, a large number of tennis matches, and quite a bit of discussion of the training that goes into preparing for them. But there is, to be fair, other stuff going on in this book, if you don't mind finding it via lots of descriptions of training runs on the beach and battles against ball machines. I thought that this book offered a brilliant portrait of the competitive psyche, and the way it intersects with gender, and how that gets interpreted in sports media. (There's a recurring bit with transcripts of a 1990s sports talk show where the one woman on the panel gets treated so exactly the way that women with Sports Opinions often get treated by men... it was subtle but immensely recognizable). Carrie's relationship with her father also lends some weight to the story, and watching them discover - sometimes together, sometimes separately - what success and happiness mean to them was really interesting. If you don't mind sportsy stuff providing the scaffolding for your character development, or if the treatment of female athletes in the 1990s sports media is of interest, or if you're intrigued by the tension between having ambition for yourself and having it for someone you love, this book might still work for you. 

You hate training montages: you are probably also going to hate this book. 

Anyway, that's my two cents. I enjoyed it, but I just don't *quite* think it had enough of a plot arc or character depth to carry through readers who don't come into it already interested in the sports angle.

As a long time Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, I was SO excited to read this and Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint! It was so refreshing to read about an unapologetic, badass, successful woman. As a former tennis player, I was impressed with the level of detail in this book, giving such vivid and description scenes. I zoomed through this book, it was such a page-turner and I didn't want to put it down. I think this just might be my new favorite book by Reid and I will definitely be picking up a copy once it comes out and will recommend it to my friends! Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy!!

Carrie Soto is Back has heart, suspense, and everything in between. Taylor Jenkins Reid has an uncanny ability to make readers feel invested in her characters right from the beginning, and Carrie Soto is no exception. Lovers of Reid’s books will enjoy references to beloved (or hated!) characters of past stories, woven seamlessly into the fabric Soto’s. Hardcore fans of tennis will enjoy the references and technical detail, while others will learn a thing or two.

(Goodreads)

I have a HARSH review of TJRs last book, Malibu Rising. I am not sure that I can say I liked this one better, though there were parts that I liked. Do you remember as a kid there were chapter book series about sports teams and there would be a lot of game drama and then a little bit what was happening to the characters outside of sports? That’s what’s happening here. About 80% of this book is play by plays of tennis matches. I’ve never in my life watched or played tennis. So it was basically a foreign language.The good news is, I could skim those pages so this was a super fast read!
What this book did well was Carrie’s relationships with her father (loved these parts, didn’t love that they were almost entirely in Spanish), her love interest, and her main rival. Carrie was pretty one dimensional and unlikable herself, but I think the change in her throughout the book was satisfying.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication Date: 08/30/2022
Date Read: 06/29/2022 - 07/01/2022
Format: ebook (NetGalley)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction (historical? It starts in the 70s and ends in the 90s)
Series: very lightly connected to her last three books. The Mick Riva-verse if you will. It is a standalone though.
CW: death, misogyny, injury
Rating (❤️/👍/🤷‍♀️:👎/❌): 👍
Spice: N/A not a romance
Would I Recommend?: Yes

This book is really heavy on sports. 90% of it is playing and practicing or talking about tennis. The other 10% is family and relationships stuff. I liked Carrie’s story and her as a character overall. I liked this more than Malibu Rising but less than Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo. If you care, Mick Riva is mentioned briefly (she dates his daughters husband briefly). Just a comment. Daisy Jones and the Six (documentary on TV) is also mentioned. I’m a TJR fan for sure, I will read any of her new releases.

Carrie Soto is fierce, ambitious and has tunnel vision with winning being her one true love. She’s not a friendly or warm character- in fact she is cold and ruthless in her pursuit of her dream and at times I really did not like her. I’m still not sure I do. But taken all together, this is a story about recognizing one’s limits and finding what truly matters in life and TJR is so good at putting that into words!

Thank you to NetGalley for approving this ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Coming out of retirement, Carrie Soto is back. She is fierce and ready to battle for her title, her legacy, and her honor.

I do not want to go into much details in my review because I believe it is best if you start reading this masterpiece completely cold.

Carrie Soto Is Back is the first book I have read by the lovely Taylor Jenkins Reid and I completely understand her fanbase now.

Carrie has such a vicious, cutthroat nature that while I did not see much of myself detailed in her, I was rooting for her. When the media called her "The Battle Axe" or "The Bitch," I was thrilled along with her for her comeback. I wanted her to grow into the person she was meant to be.

Most of Carrie's personal issues come from the inability to communicate her emotional needs. When she attempts to do so and they are not met, she creates a barricade around her heart - not letting in even the most precious relationships she has cultivated along the way.

Carrie Soto Is Back is a beautifully crafted journey (that made me wish I knew more about tennis) about grief and sorrow - for one's lover, for one's parent, for one's self. It demonstrates to find joy in a rather anguished world.

Another excellent book from Taylor Jenkins Reid. I just need to go get all of her books and read them. I'm not sports fan of any kind, but this could make you one. Makes Me wish I was a little like Carrie Soto. She has so much grit and passion for the sport.

Thank you so much to #Netgalley for the arc. I love everything Taylor Jenkins Reid BUT this one was not my favorite by her. It was still a story that kept me interested, but it might have been my lack of tennis knowledge that did me in.
The idea though was really good. A retired tennis star, decides to come out of retirement to defend her title.
I had mixed feelings though about Carrie at least at first. I did not like her. Not one bit in the beginning in the book. I originally thought she was spoiled and bratty! However, by the end, I did grow to respect her and respect what she was doing.
The relationship with her father, that was my favorite aspect of the book. I loved how he supported her and then also realized where he may have gone wrong with her. The book was a little slower pace than her other books and I think the tennis parts just lost me. Usually with her books, I'm able to picture the scenery, but this one I struggled with a little bit.
Still good for any fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid

WOW, Carrie Soto might be one of my favorite characters yet. She’s passionate, stubborn, and I never wanted this book to end. I could have kept reading this story for hundreds more pages.

****
The book starts out with us learning about Soto’s career. We learn she’s a hardcore player that really only cares about tennis and her father Javier Soto (an ex pro (amazing) tennis player). He teaches his daughter not only the game of tennis but everything to be the best of the best.


We fast forward:

Soto comes out of retirement from a bad knee injury. She trains and wants her record back from Nikki Chan. She’s determined but through her training, she learns more this time around.

This book has everything Jenkins knows how to do so so well. I already can’t wait to read her future books. 5/5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A compelling, believable portrait of drive and ambition. Carrie is a retired tennis great who sees her achievements in the verge of being overshadowed. The book neatly covers a lifetime of competition and the sacrifices and single-mindedness needed to attain tithe goal of greatness.

The book zips along winningly, with its greatest surprise the way in which author Reid brings a series of tennis matches to life. You could imagine a version of this book that would be a litany of “and then this happened” descriptions, but each match has its own personality and conveys the internal thinking of Carrie.

The book dovetails references to Reid’s last couple of books without carrying thr weight of furthering a universe.

A fun, entertaining visit into the mind of a ruthless competitor.

TJR has done it again! This book follows Carrie Soto, a retired professional tennis player, as she decides to make a comeback in order to protect her record of most Slam titles. Carrie is hard around the edges and doesn't let a lot of people in, but I really loved the way that she progressed throughout the story. I liked getting to know Carrie and her father, and I loved the story about winning and what it means.

All of the main characters in this book were well rounded and interesting - I especially loved Carrie's development with Nicki Chan. Bowe was also interesting, although I felt as though there were a lot of characters to keep track of that didn't have much depth to them, which made it really hard to differentiate between them. But overall, TJR continues to prove herself to be a master of characters.

I think my main complaint about this book is that it lacked a bit of emotional depth that I was hoping for. Maybe that's because I don't know tennis very well and I'm not an avid tennis fan (although the tennis parts of this book were well explained in a way that it all made sense to me, without it feeling like the book was holding my hand). I did like the exploration of winning, and it's definitely a great read!

I'm just going to come right out with it. This book was awful. The writing is bad. The editing is worse. There is no character development and the story is flat. Reading this book was a struggle and a disappointment after her other books. I would give it no stars if I could.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has become one of my favorite go to authors...I will read anything she writes. Carrie Soto is Back was another great book where you feel like you are living the characters life. I don't know much about the ins and outs of tennis but she writes it so you feel like you are actually part of the game and on the edge of your seat to see what happens. If you like any of TJRs previous books I definitely recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy!

Taylor Jenkins Reid delivers another masterpiece. Her writing style is so unique and refreshing that I know anything she writes will take me on a wonderful adventure. The way that every tennis match was described made me feel like I was actually watching a game. At one point I was holding my breath tensing up waiting to see who would get the point. AMAZING! I loved Carrie and her fierce attitude. She was not going to have anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t do. This book is a must read for 2022!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a book about tennis, winning, personal growth and a father-daughter relationship. But most of all, it's really about tennis. I play tennis, I love tennis, so I enjoyed this book. If you aren't into tennis, then the constant tennis talk could pose a problem for some readers. The book really reads like a memoir and reminded me of Andre Agassi's, "Open." But, in typical TJR fashion, it is compulsively readable.

3.5 stars because while I really enjoyed this book, it lacked the deep emotional connection that I would have liked to feel. It said all the right things, but it didn't give all the feels.

Oof this one hit me right in the feels. The notes I have in my copy start pretty quickly with Carrie's father and mother talking over their baby. And I just said "I love how parents discuss babies with aspirations and grandeur while the babies just eat their hands".

Carrie Soto is a goddess among tennis players and she busted her ass to get there. In the usual Taylor Jenkins Reid way, it reads like watching a good movie, nothing overstaying its welcome. Each memory paced well and placed thoughtfully. I am still straight up astounded I read a book with a tennis theme in a day. There's a true bit of magic.

The commentary about fiery women being called names by the media was dead on the money. The men in the competition, I've run track, I remember those dudes. I wanted to throw a shot put right at them.

It's an absolute nail biter to read the comeback kid do her victory lap and I can't wait for everyone to read it.

"But that is far from the point. It is her right to have fun, to keep playing. To not help with dinner."
-Taylor Jenkins Reid, Carrie Soto is Back

Also, it lowkey sold me an imaginary pair of Adidas.

Carrie Soto is Back is on sale August 30th. Preorder your copy at your local bookseller!

My copy was sent by Ballantine and Netgalley, and didn't influence my review in any way

Full review to come later!

I never thought I’d care anything about a “sports-based book” but this really captured my attention!! I did feel like the “authentic touches” to date the book took me out of the story more than it helped (Aka mentions of princess Diana, Other celebrity events etc). But otherwise I was just really engrossed in Carries story and wanted the best for her the whole time!

I eagerly picked this up, having loved all of Reid’s previous books, and it did not disappoint! Carrie Soto was the world’s best tennis player, but Nicki Chan is poised to take her title. Soto comes out of retirement with the help of her coach/father. I’m not a tennis player, but I found myself itching to see how she performed in each match. Her character development is flawless. Great read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Carrie is an icon who loves fiercely, plays hard, and has a reputation as a bitch. But this story makes you love her fierce determination, large capacity to love, her unyielding competitive nature, and her need to be the best. It is a story of determination and refusal to settle for anything less than self perfection. It is also about love. Love for family, love for the game of tennis, romantic love, and self love. .Carrie is strong and confident and Is simultaneously admired and hated by tennis fans around the world.
I could not put this book down and wound up rooting hard for Carrie! The writing is fluid and characters are well defined and real! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fabulous writer and it am a fan. I will read anything she writes with pleasure!