Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master of creating wonderful and bold female characters! This is another masterpiece. In this novel we follow a retired all-star tennis player, Carrie Soto, as she chooses to come out of retirement and try to keep her records from being beaten by a younger tennis star. Soto’s father, also a tennis star in his time, coaches her comeback. As much as this story is about tennis, it is also a beautiful glimpse at a father and daughter relationship. This is a well crafted book and I would recommend it to anyone.

This is a serious contender for my new fave TJR!! Like everyone else, I found Carrie Soto to be unlikeable in Malibu Rising, but as soon as I heard there would be a title only about her, I knew it would be genius. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title!

Carrie Soto is Back follows famous tennis player, Carrie, and her coach/father as she makes an unprecedented comeback from retirement in her late 30s. Yes, Carrie is blunt, with dry humor, sarcasm and sees herself on the highest of pedestals, but I grew to love her for these things. She has no time for pleasantries and tells it like it is, which was refreshing and comical at times. I adored the father-daughter relationship in the book, it brought me to tears. I found myself rooting for “The Battle Axe” and her return to sports as she fights ageism and sexism in sports.

I’m shocked by some of the criticisms about the Spanish phrases in the book. If you know even a little bit of Spanish, you’ll understand the few phrases exchanged between Javier and his daughter. For lengthier phrases, TJR gives an explanation in English. If you do not know any Spanish, I recommend you to read this on an eReader so you can easily translate Spanish phrases. Additionally, TJR did a good job at simplifying tennis terms and situations, but if you do not really like sports, this one might not be for you.

There were things I loved about this book and there were things I hated. I will admit that a lot of it revolves around tennis. I'm Not much of a sports girl so those parts seem to drag. And I will say that about 85% of this book they are talking/playing/thinking about tennis. But it gets to be a lot. However, if you can make it pass the first 80 percent of the book, the ending is perfect

“There can be no pacts between men and lions. I will make you pay in full for the grief you have caused me” - Achilles to Hector

So, Carrie Soto is the new name in the TJR universe and many other characters from other books make little mentions in this one. The intro to this ARC mentions the relationship between these characters and their fame and relationship with the spotlight. Carrie Soto is different from Daisy, Evelyn, and Nina because she just couldn’t care less about the fame. She cares about the game and is a winner and refuses to accept less than perfection from herself.

I have no interest whatsoever in tennis so I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy this book. Tennis is a huge part of this book, yes, but not as big as the relationships within, the treatment and view of women athletes, the fight within ourselves to be better everyday than we were yesterday. The father/daughter story in this one is the root of the book. Javier “Jaguar” Soto is one of my favorite TJR characters yet. I enjoyed every trip and every match and I felt like the ending was everything it needed to be. Another winner from TJR. Another beautiful story with humor, sadness, and grit. I loved Carrie Soto and I’m so sad the story is over. Just like her other characters, Carrie will stay with me and I know I’ll think about her long after I finish this review. I might even watch some tennis now.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a great writer. If you have not read her books, you are so lucky to have the opportunity to visit The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six for the first time. Go now to the store!

Carrie Soto is back is no exception. I hate tennis, I hate sports, and I loved this portrait of the years of a tennis prodigy growing up and fighting for her record.

This book was enthralling and captivating. I will read every word Reid writes.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an auto-buy author for me. I love every single novel I have read by her and this one was no exception!!! We were introduced to Carrie Soto last year in Malibu Rising and now, she gets her own story. I absolutely loved this book!!!

Carrie Soto was the number one women's tennis champion when she retired on top. When her record is threatened, she comes out of retirement, determined to hold on to her place in tennis history. She enlists the help of her former coach, her father, and together they work to bring her back to the top of the record books. This was a really great story and I could not put it down. I loved the character development and how Carrie had to use her mind to win against her younger, stronger opponents. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint! Most definitely, Carrie Soto is Back!

As usual, Taylor Jenkins Reid can do no wrong. This book is a masterclass in making me care about something that I have never been interested in before: tennis. I still do not understand how scoring works or necessarily want to watch it, but Jenkins Reid made the sport and the politics of it compelling throughout.

The plot is speedy and there are no wasted plotlines or chapters. You move quickly through Carrie's early years and the year she spends working through her comeback tour. I appreciate Jenkins Reid's choice of this since so many other books are dragging out irrelevant storylines or padding page counts with descriptions lately. There's just enough emotion outside of Carrie's competitiveness to keep the book interesting, including her relationship with her father and Bowe.

I'm not sure if this will ping all the same emotions and be as much a must-read as some of Taylor Jenkins Reid's other books but I still breezed through it in a few hours and enjoyed yet another one of her strong characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TJR does not disappoint with her writing! The style and storytelling are what made this book great. I will say it is a rare moment that I do not give TJR 5 stars, and this is one of them. Carrie is not what I would call a likeable character, which I love because of the way TJR tells her story. For me, I struggled with the constant tennis match breakdowns. However, TJR fully immerses you into the world and feelings of a top tier tennis player and tells a fabulous story.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is becoming one of my favorite authors and her latest one Carrie Soto is Back is no different. I love the father/daughter relationship and as a person who watches tennis I loved that the story revolves around that. If you loved Daisy johns or Evelyn Hugo you will absolutely love Carrie Soto. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of one of my favorite reads so far. Highly recommend,

What a fun follow up to Malibu Rising! Carrie Soto first appeared as a small character who was having an affair with a fellow professional tennis player who was married to one of the main characters in Malibu Rising. I had found her intriguing and love how Taylor Jenkins Reid fleshed out her story. In the book, Carrie Soto, with her father as coach, is making a comeback to regain her record of winning the most Grand Slam tournaments. Nikki Chan has matched her old record, so Carrie puts together a program to play each of the slams in the upcoming season. The book follows her quest and the relationships she develops along the way, especially with herself and her approach to tennis and life.

Carrie is a vibrant and strong character. She is ambitious without being strident, though some in the tennis world say she's too single minded and mean to opponents. I like that she's allowed to be ambitious without becoming a stereotype, and that the book explores her whole personality. She's not necessarily a likable character, but you definitely root for her. There's a romance that is interesting and has depth. Reid explores what it's like to dedicate your life to something, and the exclusions that involves.

I am a big tennis fan, so I was able to immerse myself in the scenes where Carrie is playing a match. Non-tennis fans may not follow all the terms and style of the matches, tournaments., and season. But I think the book goes beyond the game to become a great character study about a strong woman deciding where her life's pursuit fits into her overall perspective. A well-written and stellar outing for Taylor Jenkins Reid. On par or better than Daisy Jones and the Six.

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: Five stars.

This is my favorite TJR novel. Easily. And I knew this in the first few chapters.

It's difficult to compare this to the drama and glamour of Evelyn Hugo, but there is something about Carrie Soto's unapologetic nature with which I felt such a strong kinship. This novel is for the overachieving, competitive, perfectionistic, prideful, and brutally honest girlies who have ever felt misunderstood by the world. They called Carrie "The Bitch" and "The Battle Axe" for all these traits, but her flawed nature was what made me feel so seen and connected to her as a character. The writing is phenomenal – it made me feel like I was right there in the stands watching every match unfold. I grew up watching and loving sports, and I'm amazed at how effortlessly TJR translated the action of a sport onto the page. This reading experience felt exactly like the awe-inducing experience of watching LeBron James play MVP-caliber basketball at 37 years old. Seeing Carrie defy ageist and sexist norms is a long, but rewarding journey. Her highs and lows are palpable. I absolutely loved seeing Carrie evolve both as an athlete and a person throughout her comeback season. And beneath the sports storyline is an incredibly sweet journey of a father and daughter learning how to understand each other through the years. There is a bit of romance in this novel, but it was the relationship between Carrie and Javier, her father and coach, that had me in tears at the end.

Yet another perfect serve by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Well-crafted and passionate, Carrie Soto is Back is the story of a fierce tennis star returning to reclaim her Grand Slam record. It is told through a multimedia format that includes sportscasters, news excerpts and other forms of commentary, which I found very intriguing to read (especially in instances when the perspectives didn’t align). TJR is a master at suspense and keeping her storytelling fast-paced and thrilling. Every match of Carrie Soto’s was electrifying to read about.

Carrie herself is a compelling heroine, both driven and consumed by her sport. Throughout the novel you can’t help but root for her, even though she is flawed and painful to read about at times. Her constant need for perfection is something that draws the audience in and keeps them on their toes, but it is also crazily accurate to emotions I’ve felt in my life. Carrie struggles with her losses, her self-esteem, and her ability to trust, all while the public perceives her as arrogant and cold. Her vulnerabilities and complexities shine through this book. She, Javier, Bowe, and Gwen are characters that will never leave my heart. Carrie Soto is the TJR character I’ve been waiting for.

Thank you so much Random House and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

TAYLOR JENKINS REID HAS DONE IT AGAIN, FOLKS. There’s nothing I love more than picking out the threads of the TJR universe in her new works - and you won’t be disappointed. I adored everything about Carrie Soto - and you will too.

Another grand slam from TJR. Loved it from the first page - especially as a tennis player. Carrie is a deeply human character with flaws and unlikable traits who we cheer for and find likable all the same. I appreciate the marketing strategy of releasing this right around US Open time. ;-)

Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again. She made me love a character that I didn't think I'd even like. Carrie Soto is Back was a fantastic read that I didn't want to end. What a strong and empowering character TJR has created with Carrie Soto. Carrie was the number one female tennis player and then went into retirement. Five years later, her records are about to be broken so here she comes, more fierce than ever, to conquer yet again. I loved reading about her growth as a woman and an athlete. And I loved her relationship with her tennis coach who just so happens to be her father. I was over the moon when I received an ARC of this book and was not disappointed at all. A definite 5 star read for me.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers (and TJR) for the e-ARC of Carrie Soto is Back in exchange for my review.

Really enjoyed this one! For fans of books with strong and nuanced heroines. Also a really lovely story about a father daughter bond and a semi-untraditional family life.

I’ve decided that Taylor Jenkins Reid could write a phone book and I would buy it, read it, and love it. Her style of writing, her sense of place and time, and her flawed but relatable characters are all catnip for me.

Carrie Soto Is Back has all of the above and even more. My favorite relationship in this book is Carrie’s relationship with her father, Javier. I related so much to them, and the love they have for each other made my eyes tear up several times. Carrie is flawed, but you want to root for her as if you’re actually watching her compete in one of the Grand Slams. This is my favorite TJR book to date, and even though I have this digital ARC, I will definitely buy a physical copy to keep.

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

Name of Book: Carrie Soto is Back
Author: Taylor Reid Jenkins
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine
Genre: Sports, Chick Lit
Pub Date: August 30, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars!

This is TRJ book #8 for me and I am a fan!
"Daisy Jones & the Six"] is at the top of my ‘like’ list followed by "Forever, Interrupted", "Maybe in Another Life", and "One True Love".
Love that the characters keep popping up in other TJR novels! 😋

In this story we have thirty-seven year old Carrie Soto retired tennis star who is bored with watching up & coming female tennis players. She makes the decision that she needs to come out of retirement and reclaim her title.
Her father coached her ever since she was a little girl and although she may not move as fast as she once did she believes her father can help fulfil her dream once again!

Hmm not the wow read I was expecting.
Carrie is so nasty ~ I had a really hard time cheering for her. I know I am in the minority as readers love her.
(I truly believe in the importance of good sportsmanship and the lifelong value sports can
bring. Carrie seems to keep missing her Dad’s teaching on that!)
BTW: I love her dad!
I did like the ending.

As always I enjoyed reading the author’s notes!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form. Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 30, 2022.

I love everything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes but this one might just be her best yet. I don't even care about tennis, but this story made me completely invested in Carrie's journey. Highly recommended for all fans of strong female characters and moving father/daughter stories.