This book!!! I fell even more in love with Taylor Jenkins Reid! It was ALL about tennis, the game, the scoring, the practice, everything! I know nothing about tennis, or should I said I KNEW nothing about tennis. I learned a lot about the game, but TJR made it fun and entertaining even when giving simple facts. I laughed, a lot, and cried.. a lot.. and smiled up to the last word! This one struck me and will stick with me for awhile! I loved the relationship between Carrie and her father and how they grew together and changed so much! I could seriously go on about this book forever! I enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would, with it being so focused on tennis. When this comes out in August, I can’t wait to see it all over and people loving it!

So I have to start by saying that had I not already been fully immersed in the world Taylor Jenkins Reid has created with all these cross over characters, I probably would not have picked up this book. It is VERY heavy on the tennis, which normally I have no interest in. My basic tennis knowledge comes from playing hours upon hours of Mario Tennis on my Nintendo 64 back in the day, so it's very limited. I am so glad that I kept on reading though and pushing through what I initially thought was going to be a difficult read. Reid made me care about something I never thought I could, I am not a sports person at all. While the main plot is centered around the tournaments and Carrie's training, there is so much more to it. It has such a deep story about her relationship with father and their unconditional love for each other. Such a roller coaster of emotions by the end of the book, and I absolutely loved watching the evolution and growth of Carrie and she learned more about herself through her comeback. Even if like me you're not a fan of tennis, I highly recommend give this one a shot if you're a fan of Reid's books.

On Goodreads I didn’t give a star rating because I only got 30% of the way into the book before calling it quits. Evelyn Hugo is one of my top five books of all time, and I absolutely loved Daisy Jones, so it pains me to not be able to finish a book by the incredible TJR. But it’s just so much tennis. Training for tennis, thinking about tennis, playing tennis, and Carrie’s single-minded determination about tennis makes the humanity she does have feel inaccessible. Maybe I’ll come back to it after my employees and friends read it, but it might just not be the right book for me.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing - this is the third one that I have had the opportunity to read and it did not disappoint. Carrie Soto's whole life is tennis, because her father ingrained this her from the moment she could hold a racquet. She wins all the tournaments, as her dad coaches her until she doesn't win. She takes a break and comes back onto the circuit as an older player, with her dad and new coach with her all the way. Carrie has nothing else in her life, and she wants nothing else in her life but tennis. This is the story of how this kind of mindset leads to successes in some areas and great difficulties in others.

There's A LOT of tennis in this book, like 90% or so. The reader should be prepared for lot of "volleying'!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Carrie Soto is Back.

TJR has done it again! She writes in such a beautifully simple yet complex way that you will not want this book to end. She has created a character that a reader can struggle to like yet love all at once in Carrie Soto.

I admit I had not found a book by Reid that I really loved as much as the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six, and Malibu Rising, but they just didn't have the same emotional impact on me that Hugo did. But now, I think Carrie Soto may just be right up there near the top.

The book follows the return to the world of top-tier competitive women's tennis player Carrie Soto as she pushes herself to compete in a sport she retired from years before; set primarily in the 1990s, the book does provide a background biography of the character in the first 1/3 of the book, and then quickly shifts to Carrie's struggle with not only her body, her mind, and her character, but love, loss, and friendship. Reading about Carrie's determination, acceptance, and willingness to change while fighting for everything she believes she wants and deserves made me sad when the book was over because I simply wanted more.

I could not put this book down once I started it. I got frustrated, I laughed, I cried, and I cheered- a roller coaster of emotion that was worth the ride and then some. If you are a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid's work, or simply a fan of a good, complex read filled with characters you root for and root against all at once then this book is one you should not miss. I know I will be recommending it to all of my friends and reader coworkers. Seriously, go out and get this book!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eGalley of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this fabulous ARC.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She hit another one out of the park with this gem.

The book is about retired tennis player Carrie Soto and her mission not to let Nicky Chan break her grand slam record. I don't really like tennis and loved this book. This book is about perseverance, family, love, goals, and finding your inner peace. I cried and laughed. My favorite part was how Reid brings in characters from her other novels.

I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends.

Six years ago, Carrie Soto was the best female tennis player in the world — she’d also argue (and the stars would support it) best in the world overall, but no one is asking her. Unfortunately, Carrie and Javier, her dad/former coach, watch Nicki Chan match her record of 20 Grand Slam titles. The 37-year-old decides she’s going to come out of retirement to take on Chan and defend her title. With the help of Javier, and another tennis player way past his prime, Bowe Huntley, Carrie busts her ass to get back on top — never doubting for a second that she can.

I seriously know nothing about tennis. It’s always been a confusing sport to me and honestly? I didn’t really need to understand it. TJR has such a beautiful way of explaining things *just* the right amount to readers to make sure their not lost but also not drowning in details. Plus, you just GET carrie by the first quarter of the book. She’s such a consistent and wonderful character. I mean she’s a total beast and bad ass and WAY way cocky and is kind of oblivious to how rude she is but wow do you still just adore her.

TJR is my queen and I will read any and every single thing that she wants to write. So with that said, I was ecstatic when I got an ARC of this (thank you netgalley).

"Carrie Soto Is Back" follows the story of prolific tennis star, Carrie Soto, who at the time of her retirement was considered the best in the world. Now, at age 37, Carrie is determined to make a comeback, reclaiming her title from the latest star, Nicki Chan.

If you don't have any interest in the sport of tennis then this book probably won't be your favorite. It is extremely tennis heavy, but in true TJR fashion, she knows how to write a character driven story. She did a phenomenal job at describing the world of a professional athlete, what it takes to rise to the top, the sacrifices, the rivalries and competitiveness. Carrie is probably one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever read. She is ruthless, driven, and willing to do whatever she needs to do to win. Sometimes I actually winced at how mean she could be. But throughout, she does soften and mature. We learn of her childhood, her complex relationship with her coach & father and the relationship that forms between she and her training companion, Bowe Huntley.

While reading this, I truly felt immersed into the world of elite tennis. I felt as if I was in the stands, nervous for Carrie and how the match would turn out. I also appreciated how TJR wrote the experience of a female athlete in the 90s. This was a beautiful story of perseverance, vulnerability and love.

By the end of the first couple of chapters, I was convinced that I could be a world class tennis player lol. I absolutely ADORED this book!! Carrie was such a believable character and was written so well - I could FEEL her triumphs, passion and disappointments. Carrie Soto is Back is one of those books, that you binge in one reading because it IS so pleasurable and exciting. I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley. I can't wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid has up for us next!!!

Carrie is the best tennis player in the world. Until she isn’t and she walks away from the sport. But, after five years, she’s back.

Taylor Jenkins Reid bring characters to life unlike any other author I’ve ever read. Carrie Soto is Back is no exception. I was thrilled when I received an e-ARC of Carrie Soto is Back to read and review—thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this opportunity!

I loved everything about this story: the writing, the characters, the growth, the emotions, the fact that was based around a sport. All of it. But most of all, I loved Carrie. She’s self-aware and bold and fierce. She’s strong and capable and cold and scared. She’s the Battle Axe and I enjoyed every second of her story.

I especially loved her vulnerability. I knew it was there from the beginning—Carrie is a relatively honest narrator about her personal shortcomings, if not her tennis ones—but when she started to show her loved ones her fragility… that’s when I truly fell in love with her story.

The articles inserted in between chapters about the events of the book were a brilliant want to show how the public felt about the comeback, how the matches unfolded, and they REALLY highlighted the disparity between women and men, especially in sports.

Oh my GOD, the interview with Gloria Jones re: Carrrie Soto not acting poised and gracious enough made me see red. Not only is that exactly what Carrie has been telling us, but they would never say that about a man.

I found myself not knowing what resolution I wanted, which puzzled me. I almost always know what I want out of a book: the good guy to win or the love interest to get the main character. Pretty standard stuff But, this time, I wasn’t sure. Did I want Carrie to win those Slams? Or did I want her to continue losing, but win in another way? The resolution that Taylor Jenkins Reid came up with was perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Carrie Soto is Back is a perfect 5/5 for me. I laughed, I got mad, I cried, I cringed, I winced. I wanted to shake Carrie and then I wanted to hug her. I will forever try to channel her fierceness into my every day life, especially when it comes to accolades. Carrie believes she was not given anything, but she EARNED it, and she’s right. I plan to adopt the Soto mindset in that regard. Along with recommending this book to every reader I know, I’ll be recommending Carrie fierceness to every woman I know.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I'm not a huge tennis fan, but can follow along and will watch it occasionally. There is a lot of tennis in this book. There are enough other things happening to make it an enjoyable read, but I admit to spacing out a few times while reading it when it got down to the nitty gritty of the tennis drills and training routines. The main character was not initially very likable to me, but she did grow on me enough that I was really rooting for her by the last few chapters. I enjoyed her relationships with Bowe and Nicki, but what really makes the book is Carrie's relationship with her father. I love a good comeback story, but the most relatable part of the book for me was the father-daughter relationship and how it wasn't always perfect, but always worth the effort. Whether you are a tennis fan or not, this one is worth the read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for providing me with an advanced reader's copy.

Carrie Soto is not what I expected. I’ll admit I know nothing about tennis, but I LOVE anything written by Taylor Jenkins Reid and knew that she’d hit it out of the park. The story is about perseverance. The story is about fierce determination at all costs. The story is about family. The story is about the love of the game. It is reminiscent of Daisy Jones and Malibu Rising, all at once. I was absolutely enthralled by the story of Carrie Soto and her years in the game. The character development is like nothing that I’ve read, An absolute must read. The highs and lows will cause you to feel all of the emotions and possibly inspire you to buy a tennis racket. 5 stars.

I really enjoy his book !! When I started reading I didn’t know anything about tennis. Now I know enough to enjoy watching a match or two.
I found Carrie hard to like at times. She was definitely driven to greatness. This is a fantastic addition to TJR library I’m actually sorry to see it end !!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Holy crap I was immediately hooked! This book is absolutely amazing. It was my first ever TJR book and it did not disappoint! Can’t wait to add more of her books to my collection!

When Taylor Jenkins Reid comes out with a new novel - it's just a matter of when, not if.

"Carrie Soto Is Back" is told from the first person perspective of the titular character, a successful Gland Slam tennis player who's made a name for herself with her elegant and aggressive playing style, and her personality - earning herself the nicknames "The Battle Axe" and "The Bitch". We follow Carrie from her childhood and her introduction to tennis thanks to her father, Javier "the Jaguar", an esteemed tennis player himself, and her rise to fame as she takes on some of the best tennis players in the world in different tournaments and games. We get to see how relentless Carrie is against her competitors, but more importantly, how much harder she is on herself and her unwavering goal to be the best.

The bulk of the story happens after Carrie announces her retirement from tennis at 31 years of age, following an injury, but six years later, she becomes determined to hold her record for most Grand Slams upon seeing the rise of fellow player Nicki Chan. At the age of 37, she declares her return to professional tennis, with her father as her coach. While the story does cover her growth in tennis, the focal point is on Carrie's growth as a person - understanding her relationships with others, her love for her father, and most importantly, her own self worth and value.

I love how TJR is able to craft such complex, flawed, and realistic female protagonists (after reading "Daisy Jones and the Six", I spent several minutes trying to google the band, before realizing it was a complete work of fiction), and "Carrie Soto is Back" is no exception. It's a strong piece of work that highlights many of the underlying issues in the realm of women's vs. men's sports, gender inequality, and even racial discrimination. I was a little concerned going in that my lack of understanding of tennis might be an issue, but I was still able to grasp the weight of each match and set, and what Carrie's victories and losses meant for her.

Very much a recommended read for when it's published in August 2022!

TJR writes another amazing story that makes you question over and over if it’s fictional or not. I don’t know much about tennis, but the story was addicting and the characters intriguing. I didn’t love Carrie Soto for most of the book, but towards the end you can’t help but love her and what she’s trying to achieve. I highly recommend ‘Carrie Soto is Back’. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced read copy.

I absolutely loved the character of Carrie Soto!!! And learned much about the sport of tennis!!! Overall I loved the story and could not put the book down!!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!!

#carriesotoisback is a fun book about a high achieving star that leaves the world of tennis and fights her way back to the top after coming back. I was a little skeptical at first reading about tennis but by the second chapter I was hooked. I really like the writing style that #taylorjenkinsreid writes in. I was captured by the characters that she wrote about. Thank you to #netgalley and #randomhouse for giving me this opportunity to go on this swift tale.

Wow! This book has all the things you want in a read; heart, grit, passion and heartwarming relationships. Taylor Jenkins Reid gets you so connected to the characters that you feel like they are your best friends, your family. I found myself laughing, cheering, and crying all the way through!

Carrie Soto was the greatest tennis player of all time. When her record is threatened she decides to come out of retirement to keep it intact. Everyone thinks she can't do it, not at her age. This book shows the determination and the cost of chasing of a dream. Carrie has to examine her life and priorities on and off the tennis court.

This is book is different because it throws the reader into the life of tennis from the first chapter. I loved that we learned about Carrie's entire tennis career from the moment she first tracked a tennis ball. I knew almost nothing about tennis when I started, yet I could follow every match like I was sitting in the stands.

Carrie Soto is back is a heartwarming comeback story! A must read!

Wow. Another incredible book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Carrie Sotto, briefly mentioned in “Malibu arising” as the woman who had an affair with Nina Rivas’ husband, is a tennis player who has attained record-breaking success in her career. After a break of a few years, Carrie returns to tennis, with the book showing Carrie’s story in montages of her childhood and present day.

On the face of it, Carrie is unlikeable. She is selfish and unrelatable, flaunting her wins without thinking of others. However, through the narration, you learn about her vulnerabilities and insecurities, and begin to care for her, cheering for her to win. I particularly enjoyed seeing her relationship with her father/coach, and the complexities this duality created.

Jenkins-Reid has an incredible ability to create characters that are complicated, and fascinating, with rich development that shows their journey and leaves you feeling like you know the person. Reading her books is always bittersweet. The enjoyment of reading a book that allows you to meet new characters but then the feelings of sadness as you mourn the book once it is finished. This is no different.

Recommended for fans of Jenkins-Reid’s other books, this has Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo vibes, while still being completely unique.