4.5/5 stars

The newest book from one of my favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid, focuses on tennis superstar Carrie Soto. After having retired years ago, Carrie is determined to come out of retirement to prevent another superstar, Nicki Chan, from taking her record of having the most slams. She agrees to start working again with her dad, who was her coach early in her career. Along the way, Carrie starts to remember what it is like to have fun and that winning isn't always everything.

This book starts out a little slow. The first little chunk of it is about Carrie's backstory and her career leading up to present day in the book. This part was not my favorite as it didn't have that magic that normally comes with Jenkins Reid's work. However, once you get past that and get to where Carrie is training in present day and is playing in the tournaments, it has that magic again! One of my favorite things about this author's books is the way she plays with form and that comes through in the later sections, with interviews, sports commentary, etc. I also like how she addresses the different gender expectations and criticism of athletes in sports. One of my favorite lines of a book ever was along the lines of exceptional women always having to wait for mediocre men. Just a gem! Overall, another great book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The end 20% was what increased the rating for me.
I enjoyed that TJR knew how to shorten the tennis matches enough that the reader didn't get bored but didn't miss out. It was enough for someone who doesn't watch tennis to follow and not have to be technical.
Carrie had flaws that made her life harder ana secluded and with letting her father help her change her tennis game she was also able to change her relationship game.

I didn’t think I could root so hard for such an unlikeable character. Taylor Jenkins Reid creates some kind of magic throughout the book with her writing and her character development. Would I want to be friends with Carrie Soto? Absolutely not. But I’d go out for ice cream sandwiches with her dad.

Thanks to netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Loved loved loved this book! TJR for sure does it again, complete with a knock out character who doesn’t let anyone stand in her way. Carrie is unlike any character I have met before-ruthless, cunning, and gives no f***s! It’s fun to watch her transform as her game and circumstances change throughout the novel. Though I no nothing about tennis AT ALL I enjoyed learning about it as Carrie played each match. 5 stars for sure!

This is a book about tennis, which I have never paid attention to, written by one of my favorite authors. I have to tell you, I waged war against myself before finally reading the book. A) Do I read it, knowing that I have absolutely no interest in tennis? Or B) do I potentially miss a great book by a great author? I am so glad that I read it. Yes, it’s about tennis, BUT it’s also about competition, love and how to let go and live life to its fullest. My emotions became tied to the character. The book engendered a sadness for her unwavering dedication to tennis, a life that could only be successful if you won and her insecurity about love. I read this book through in two sittings; it was that good. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publisher’s for the DRC at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book so much! I love TJR and loved this beyond my expectations. Even with the sports focus I was sucked into it immediately. A MUST READ this summer! Another strong complex woman navigating what she earns through talent vs deserves vs what she wants, and family and love and fame and all that other juicy stuff. So good!

If you’ve read Malibu Rising then you know what an impression Carrie Soto made at Nina Riva’s annual party. She made such a splashy entrance into the TJR Universe, where characters are connected throughout her books, that I was thrilled to learn she was getting her own book. I ended up listening to Carrie’s Malibu Rising chapters and scenes to get that context before going into this book and I recommend doing that. TJR is so good at seeding side characters and showing you both sides of the story in different books. Although Carrie’s POV of the party scene is just a small part of the story, you get a real sense of her personality and where she is coming from. But this book is more about Tennis and her career and because I’m such a huge tennis fan I absolutely loved it.

From the very first page, and even looking at how the chapter titles are organized by Grand Slam tournaments and matches, I was in SEVENTH HEAVEN. I have been watching tennis since the 80s (something I bonded with my Dad over) and know the game, all the players and tournaments and I understood the language inside and out. I don’t think this knowledge is required to read the book, but if you know tennis it makes it that much sweeter.

Carrie Soto is another fantastic TJR woman brought to life. She is the #1 player with the most grand slam wins, a bad ass that pundits refer to as The Battle Axe (aka the Bitch) which makes her mad, but it is the 80s and 90s and if you were a strong, fierce, ambitious woman that’s what you were called. She is 37 years old and decides to come out of retirement to defend her grand slams title against her younger rival Nicki Chan. Carrie is a bit prickly at times because she says what she’s thinking, doesn’t like bullshit and is ruthless about winning. She is driven and cares about being the best and does whatever it takes. I loved her relationship with her Dad Javier Soto, who is her coach and famous in his own right, and with Bowe Huntley another older tennis player (fashioned after McEnroe) who becomes her hitting partner. The Match play-by-plays are so suspenseful and visual that I could picture the shots and the scoreboard. And you are rooting for her the whole time.

“One of the great injustices of this rigged world we live in is that women are considered to be depleting with age and men are somehow deepening.”

Like all of TJR’s books, this story examines how women are oppressed, dismissed, objectified and diminished, and how they find agency within a patriarchal world. How being fierce and ambitious makes a woman a Bitch and makes men uncomfortable. On top of that, this book is about an epic come back and overcoming personal injuries and struggles. The character growth Carrie goes through is beautiful to read. I did get teary towards the end and I won’t say why, but how the story wraps up is very satisfying.

I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Daisy Jones & the Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising. It’s another excellent book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She writes some of the best women characters I’ve ever read and she has become an auto-buy author for me.

••••••••

I was delighted to receive this ARC. Thanks so much to NetGalley & Random House Publishing!!

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again! I loved Carrie Soto, I think its one of my favorite characters. I am fascinated by the tennis world so I loved this book, I am curious to see what others that don't love the sport like I do think about it. The writing is amazing, I felt like I was watching a tennis match when reading it. Loved it so much!

4.5 rounded up

Thank you SO much to Randomhouse and Netgalley for the gifted arc and earc. This was probably my most anticipated read of the year (TJR is my favorite author) and it didn’t disappoint!

Carrie Soto is unlikeable but you can’t help but root for her. I personally related to her a lot, especially about perfectionism.

Some of what I liked:
🎾 Diverse characters
🎾 Dad and daughter story
🎾 Carrie’s rise to fame
🎾 Learned so much about tennis
🎾 Easter eggs to other TJR books
🎾 Transcripts and articles
🎾 Nikki Chan- so fun and unique (also really liked Gwen and Bowe)
🎾 Pop culture references

What I didn’t like as much:
🎾 Predicted some of the plot points (I’m used to some kind of TJR twist)
🎾 Didn’t really like the very end and would have liked a little more

This book deals with sexism in sports- Carrie is extremely competitive and is known as the battle axe along with other offensive names. It also highlighted the difference in how male and female athletes are treated along with how age is perceived in sports. Like TJR’s other recent books, another theme was the price fame.

Personally, I love sports, so although I know nothing about tennis, I really liked learning a lot through this book. But like others have said, it is a LOT of tennis similar to how EVELYN focuses on Hollywood, MALIBU on surfing, DAISY on music. So if you despise tennis, you probably won’t like it.

I was so invested in Carrie’s comeback and the story got me all in my feels 🥹 TJR is an amazing storyteller and really has a way with immersing you inside a story. I have so many notes in my phone of quotes I absolutely loved from this (but since this is an arc, I’m not posting any.) I definitely recommend pre-ordering this!

Thank you NetGalley, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of Carrie Soto Is Back. This is my personal review.
This book had me so filled with every emotion I could possibly have while reading a book. Carrie Soto was a true force to be reckoned with in every aspect of her life. From being a daughter- to vicious tennis player – friend to some in the only way she knew how and also to being a romantic partner. As I read this amazing book, I saw the many layers there were to Carrie Soto.
Before starting this book tennis for me was just a so-so sport but after reading it and actually holding my breath as I was reading the words and description of the tennis matches, I think I am a fan of tennis now. The writing was so superb giving me play by play action.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy of the book. Of all the books in the TJR universe, Carrie Soto is back was the most surprising choice. In that novel, it only took a chapter to dislike Carrie Soto and view her as a villain. However, in Carrie Soto is back, TJR does an outstanding job of, not only making Soto likable but, somehow manages to have the reader rooting for her even in the villains situation presented in her other novel.

My new favorite book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This woman is pure magic! From all my favorite books, she's responsible for at least four.

I fell in love with Carrie instantly. Every woman over 30 can definitely relate to this feeling of "I'm getting older and I still need to prove myself. I can't lose everything I've dedicated my whole life to." And that's even more accurate when it comes to sports, since their records and reputations matter so much. One day you're a goddess, the next you're forgotten because you're old and someone is better than you. But then, what? What comes next? Who are you when you can't do what you love the most anymore?

Once again, the author shows how difficult it is to be a woman under the public eye. I LOVE how Carrie, Evelyn, Daisy and Nina are so apart from each other but still share the same feelings.

Pros: I sacrificed sleep to finish this book in one day, which I think is a sign of a great read! I have read all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, and I think Carrie Soto rivals Daisy Jones as my favorite of her books. I was immediately invested in former tennis star Carrie Soto’s comeback story even though I do not know the ins and outs of tennis—she was an easy character to cheer for. Just like how Daisy Jones and the Six felt like a real band who should have albums to listen to, Carrie Soto feels like she should be in the tennis record books. I also enjoyed putting my Spanish minor to work when reading Carrie Soto’s conversations with her father. Their relationship was one of my favorite things about the book.

Cons: The only con is that I don’t have another Taylor Jenkins Reid book to look forward to until her next book is announced. I wonder if her next book will feature a minor character from this book.

4+ stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Balantine Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I did not super love Malibu Rising, but I really connected with Carrie's story. Might be difficult for some readers who don't know anything about tennis, but Carrie is an incredibly strong character that most women will appreciate.

Another great one for Taylor Jenkins Reid! I immensely enjoyed Carrie, her journey, and the cast of characters.

I’m not sure if this is because I went in with dipped expectations, but Carrie Soto is Back blew me away. I would go as far to say that this is Jenkins Reid’s best in the whole cycle and I think it’s an achievement in craft and technique.

Carrie Soto is Back is about the professional comeback of Carrie Soto, an Argentinian American tennis player who smashed records throughout her entire career. Now at the age of 37, she has returned to the sport to defend her title against the up and coming Nicki Chan.

After finishing this book, I realized that this was everything I was hoping Malibu Rising would be. It had the childhood/parent relationship that I had been craving from this entire series, and it was fully explored here. While Carrie Soto’s father, Javier, isn’t famous in the same way that Mick Riva is, their dynamic was center stage the entire novel. Their struggle to balance their father and daughter relationship alongside their coach and competitive side is beautiful, heartbreaking, and satisfying in a multitude of ways.

Full review here: https://discoverypear.substack.com/p/bow-down-queen-carrie-soto-is-here

TAYLOR JENKINS REID IS BACKKK🙌🏻🙌🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for granting my wish for an advanced copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2022!

Carrie Soto. From the outside she takes what she wants, doesn’t care what people think, doesn’t need friends, and all that matters to her is being the best tennis player the world has seen.
Fast forward 7 years, and Carrie can’t just let her record pass by.
This story follows Soto through the different Open Tournaments and her journey of accepting herself and her emotions.
This book draws you in to each of the characters. Having a coming of (older) age story, a slow-burning love story, a father-daughter strong relationship, and true love of the game of tennis is at the heart of this book.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. Buy the book in August!!!!

Absolutely amazing. Possibly my favorite thing she has ever written, which is really saying something since her back catalogue is perfection. Reid is already on my “auto purchase” list for the library and I know our patrons will devour this.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a phenomenal writer. She knows people, and she can let you into the heads of so many diverse characters - she has proved that with her previous books and their ensemble casts. Carrie is fascinating; so powerful and determined; and I loved watching her character develop throughout the story. What I didn’t love was that this book was SO. MUCH. TENNIS. I get that Carrie plays tennis, and it’s her life, and it matters to her; but I don’t care about tennis, I don’t really want to learn all the rules, and I really want a book about relationships. So for me the story was kind of happening in between the tennis, and I got frustrated and put the book down few times because I didn’t want to read about tennis techniques anymore. This could totally be a case if wrong time for me, because I’ve read other books that dive deep into random topics, or it could be that I have a block about sports, so please read this book! But be sure to check out any of Reid’s previous novels if you feel the same way I did and haven’t read them, because they are amazing…. and there’s almost no tennis.

Book Review 📚

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I PRAYED for @netgalley to bless me with this ARC and they delivered. 🙌🙌 When I received the email that I was gifted a copy I immediately screamed with excitement, no lie. ♡
I've met with Daisy, Evelyn, Nina and now Carrie. Let me say that I loved Daisy. Everything about her story, her music and the whole vibe. It was definitely up my alley. Carrie, the goat of tennis, (which I no almost nothing about btw) is a bad bitch. I absolutely, loved everything about Carrie. This book was phenomenal. 👏👏 Taylor Jenkins Reid you did it again. Everything is strategically placed. Written beautifully like always. An absolute remarkable writer. @tjenkinsreid
You.need.this.book. 👏👏

Publication Date- August 30th 2022


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