Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with a smash hit. Carrie Soto is a character you want to hate, but can't help cheering for. As a former tennis player, I really got into this book and could not put this down.

Carrie has been playing tennis for as long as she can hold a racket and holds multiple records, until she doesn't. Nicki Chan is the new champ, thus her biggest rival.

At age 37 Carrie is looking for the ultimate comeback to regain her title. What Carrie forgets, she is not 17 anymore and her body does not function as it once did. Carrie's dad is her biggest cheerleader, but also her coach which does not come easy for either one of them. Carrie has not made many friends on the circuit which makes it difficult to train. Carrie's agent eventually sways her to work with another washed up player, Bowe to get her back on track.

The book alternates between the past and present matches. TJR sucked me in right away with this one and I could not wait to see where it went and how it ended. This is definitely a summer hit for Reid,

The only thing I struggled with was when they spoke Spanish, but that did not take away from the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I always look forward to Taylor Jenkins Reid books, but this one I could not get into. I found the main character extremely unlikable, and there was just way too much tennis talk that I didn't understand. A major miss, but would still read her next one.

Sometimes I read a book and I think it was written specifically for me. This is one of those books. Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of writing that feels effortless to read and the characters are so well developed and authentic that you feel you've known them your whole life. Plus, on a personal note, I have a close and complex relationship with my own dad and I love sports. So, it is no surprise that this one is now a new favorite of mine.

It read like a love letter for fathers and their daughters. I loved the depiction of her relationship with her dad, Javier, and how it shaped her into the determined and tough as nails woman she was.

There is a lot of tennis in this book: play-by-plays, rules, strategy and technique. I ate it all up, happily. I could feel the rising tension during her matches and was on the edge of my seat. I had to stop my eyes from jumping down the page to find out who won!

Carrie is an incredible protagonist. She is not exactly lovable but her character growth was inspired. I understood her and was rooting for her completely.

Thank you @netgalley , @tjenkinsreid and @randomhouse for an opportunity to read an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

This book was okay, but I didn't love it like I did TJR's last three books. I wish there was more character development and less descriptions about each time someone hit a tennis ball.

I loved this book. I'm not really surprised at loving it because Reid is an engaging, powerful writer who seems to take characters, no matter their interests, and bring them to life off of the pages.

I've never been a tennis fan, but this book made me want to be one. The only other book that has engaged me this thoroughly in the realm of sports is Richard Wagamese's "Indian Horse."

Like Reid's other books, this one features strong storytelling, powerful, flawed characters, heart-racing tension and mystery, and so much more.

I am a big fan of everything Taylor Jenkins Reid had written so I may've had a predisposition to enjoy this novel. But still... perfection. I loved every second of it, which is saying something since the author skillfully made Carrie quite unlikable. I think the character of Bowe said it best when he referred to Carrie and her father as "Bulls in a china shop." Even while I cringed often at what Carrie said or did, I rooted for her. I wanted her to have a happily ever after so badly. I enjoyed the evolution and growth she experienced from beginning to end. And, I look forward to the Carrie Soto Easter Egg that Taylor will likely put into her next novel!

oommggggg. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors and she hit this one out of the park! (Or in this case, over the net? 🤣) TJR’s newest novel is about Carrie Soto, tennis legend, who has decided to come out of retirement after a torn ACL surgery and 5 years out of tennis, to defend her title as the Greatest Tennis Player of all Time. Y’all, I don’t even care about tennis (no offense it’s just not for me) and TJR made me pay attention to matches in the book and in real life! Not only that, but she takes a character who is hard to like and makes the reader love her. It was FABULOUS. I especially loved the Easter eggs to Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising. TJR proves once again to be a master of her craft and a genius with words. This book is an adult read, but I could definitely see it in high school libraries! Be sure to preorder!

This is a story about an athlete at the top of her game, who lives and breathes tennis to the point that she has very little else in her lives - no real friends, no great love. She sees competition everywhere. Even after she retires from tennis she cannot let her record stand; at 37 she has to come back for more.

This story is VERY heavy on the tennis. We almost understand more about the game than we do about the woman, at least for the first half of the book. But in true TJR fashion, she lays a lot of foundation for some deep character development and emotion. Can she make us feel connected to Carrie Soto? Can she make us care about this cold hearted tennis star? You'll have to read to find out!

Man oh Man, the excitement that I had when I got my hands on this book was like no other. Taylor Jenkins Reid comes back with a new novel surrounding Carrie Soto, the girl you love to hate and still find yourself rooting for her. She made her first appearance in Malibu Rising and has come back with a story of her own.

The story starts with Carrie Soto a retired tennis legend, known as the greatest of all time and carrying the record for the most grand slam titles won. As Carrie watches her record being broken by the new up and coming tennis star Nicki Chan, she decides she needs to come out of retirement and defend her record. Carrie looks to her side where her dad, Javier Soto, former tennis champion and coach smiles in agreement for the ultimate comeback. Carrie Soto aka the "battle axe" is back at the age of thirty seven, making her the oldest female tennis player competing. In order to beat the best, she finds herself training with an old fling, Bowe Huntley, from her past. Similar to Carrie he's one of the oldest male tennis players still in the game and feels the need to prove himself. The two come together with the help of her dad and develop their skills to a level they haven't reached before. This is Carrie's last season and she has everything to prove and is willing to give it her all to get there.

Throughout the novel, TJR gets the reader hyped with her description of the game and the dedication to the sport. She has great character development that helps you to understand why Carrie is the way she is and highlights the softer sides of her as she faces challenges on her journey. This book had me hooked and I found myself getting lost in the story. Overall 4/5 stars and would recommend to anyone that fell in love with her previous stories following Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones, and Nina Riva....For those that loved those characters keep your eyes open for some characters that make a guest appearance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for selecting me to read this book.

Even though Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my all time favorite authors, I was pretty hesitant about this book because I’m usually not a big fan of anything sports related. But if anyone could convert me it’s for sure going to be Ms Taylor.

Carrie Soto is an incredible tennis player and is completely unashamed of her talents. I love that she is blunt in honest about her own skills and abilities. She is so determined to win and be the best and it’s so refreshing reading about a strong competitive female character.. especially one in her late 30s! I was rooting for her the whole time.

I really loved how Carrie’s relationship with her father/coach, Bowe (training partner), and fellow competitors shifted as the story went on. I also thought the Transcripts added a lot of depth to the story.

Also it wouldn’t be a Taylor Jenkins Reid book without a little Mick Riva. 😌

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of sports and/or “unlikeable” female characters, this is the book for you!!

If you don’t know, I’m a huge lover of TJR’s writing style. I’ve read Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones, and Malibu Rising by her and thoroughly enjoyed all of them! Out of all of them though, I’d probably place Carrie Soto at the bottom of the chart, just because I didn’t really feel connected to the story or characters. For me, it’s definitely not as memorable as TJR’s other books and I didn’t form an attachment to the characters as much as I usually do to the ones in her novels. However, I fully believe it’s just because I am not a sports person and not for any other reason. I never played sports growing up and competitions have never been a big deal to me, which is kind of the whole point of the story and probably why I wasn’t very interested throughout.

But, I do find Carrie Soto such an interesting character and I really enjoyed seeing how she changed and adapted over the course of the book (and also how she stayed the strong, determined woman with a no-fucks-given attitude we love her for). I especially enjoyed the ending, that was probably the part that I connected with the most and brought a lot of emotion out for me (I actually cried a little). Also her and Bowe- adorable. They’re absolutely perfect together and I love their relationship dynamic so so much!

I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid books and this one doesn't disappoint. Carrie Soto, a retired tennis player, decides to give it one last go after her record gets shattered by a younger player. I know absolutely nothing about tennis, I've never played, never really watched it on TV so I was worried this would be heavy on tennis. It is but Taylor Jenkins Reid writes in a way that both explains the game and you can visualize this character and world. Loved it.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5! I absolutely devoured this story about Carrie Soto. It was extremely addicting and so easy to read. I love how fierce and determined carrie was and didn’t care what anyone else thought about her. Also if you are a tennis player this is a MUST READ. This is def going in my top 3 fav TJR reads alongside One True Loves and Daisy Jones.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint for a single page!

As a huge Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, and having read all of her previous titles, I was thrilled to receive this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for my honest review. I have devoured every TJR book and loved each of her heroines, their stories, and each dose of TJR's heartfelt, lovely writing. Carrie Soto, TJR's latest heroine, is no exception. In fact, I'll remember her as one of my favorite, if not my favorite, characters in TJR"s world.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK chronicles the story of Carrie Soto, tennis star, who appeared briefly in TJR's most recent novel, MALIBU RISING. I loved the opportunity to hear Soto's side of the story and dive more deeply into her world. CARRIE SOTO IS BACK is a love story to tennis, to father-daughter bonds, to comebacks and perseverance, and to women who rebel against society's limited definitions for them. I loved Carrie, her father, her game play. As a tennis player and fan myself, I found this aspect of the novel especially enjoyable - and while I would highly recommend this for other fans of tennis, I do think non-fans could still be swept away by TJR's writing and the world she creates for Carrie.

I highly recommend this novel, which has heart and soul, tennis and love and redemption and loss. I will certainly read it again and remember Carrie, and her story, for a long time.

This book was amazing! It was well written, fast-paced, and an incredible journey. I enjoyed reading about Carrie’s life, how she became such a force in the tennis world, and her acceptance of how there are things one simply cannot control by the end. The character development was slow but realistic. The writing made it seem/feel like I was there watching these tennis matches in the seats. The supporting characters are also superb. I highly recommend this book.


Thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC for an unbiased review!

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a worthy follow-up to 2021’s Malibu Rising, though fans of the glitz and glamor seen in Reid’s Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones, and Evelyn Hugo might not take this story of a woman’s quest to reclaim her former glory on the tennis court. This reads for a audience with other interests, but still readers will enjoy the story and narrator.

I'll say straight off the bat that I could care less about tennis, I've seen the game a few times on TV and while I get the excitement, it's not my thing. However, ultimately the game is a stand in for any type of a passion that a person dedicates their whole being to. Carrie Soto is mentioned briefly in the author's prior novel that I also really enjoyed so in a way it was entertaining to see this tiny thread going back. But this book and its main character is an entirely independent and fee standing story which I enjoyed very much despite all the tennis talk :) Whether you like Carrie Soto, that's up to you, but I found the story interesting, well developed and fully engaging,

As always, TJR’s writing is unmatched. She creates characters that are so specific and I love the timeline of this one. I don’t know much about tennis, but I’m kind of obsessed now and this book captured my attention the entire time. I honestly loved Carrie as a main character - her relationship with her dad, with success, with her place in history really made this book for me. Highly recommend.

I am a huge fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved Daisy Jones, and I loved Evelyn Hugo even more. But Carrie Soto? Ugh.

We met Carrie in Malibu Rising when she broke up Nina Riva's marriage. Now she's back with her own book, and I wish she'd remained a bit character in someone else's life.

The book follows the career of a young tennis phenom who comes out of retirement to defend her record as holder of most Grand Slam titles. TJR excels at writing about the interior lives of famous people, and I was looking forward to Carrie getting the Evelyn Hugo treatment -- learning about how different her real life is from the tabloids, learning about her as a person and not a collection of sports stats. But that didn't happen, and I can't decide if it's because Carrie is a dull character, or if sports characters are just inherently less interesting than movie stars or rock stars. But whatever the reason, Carrie's life bored me to tears.

To begin with, Carrie is a 37-year-old brat. Self-centered, immature, and with no discernible personality beyond a devotion to tennis. It's hard to write about someone's interior life when they don't have one. Carrie lost her mom at a young age and is close to her dad, but that's all the background we get. Every other thought in her head seems to be about tennis, and just as a person like that would be dull company, a character like that is dull company, too. It's like talking to that sports-obsessed boyfriend you had in high school -- "OMG can we PLEASE talk about something else?!" Carrie is obsessed with winning, to the point that she thinks anything and anyone else is worthless, including the people who love her. Carrie throws temper tantrums, pouts, gives people the silent treatment -- all things my toddler did back in the day. I lost patience with her by about the 20% mark. What kind of person COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT for the express purpose of keeping someone else from holding a record? A record that, I might add, is going to fall the following year if not this one anyway. What's she going to do? Keep playing til she's 50 in an effort to be the best? There's just nothing about the story that makes sense.

This book is all tennis, all the time. Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones lived in their unique worlds, too, but they were written as PEOPLE, so I was able to find common ground with them, even when their life experience differed drastically from mine. In Carrie's case, there is no common ground. I'm not a tennis fan, but even if I was, I doubt I'd care about every nuance of every stroke. At first I thought Reid was giving us a tennis primer so we could follow along better throughout the book, but that level of detail NEVER. LETS. UP. I honestly could not possibly care less about Carrie's serve beyond the point that it affects her story. But there's so much tennis detail here that there IS no story.

Carrie's love interest doesn't have much personality either, but to the extent that he does, it's hard to understand what he sees in Carrie (see also: selfish, immature brat). She treats him -- and her father -- like dirt while claiming to love them both. TJR is so talented, and I know she's capable of making a character like Carrie sympathetic. Why she didn't in this case is completely beyond me.

I would have given up on this book before the halfway point, except that I'd been given an eARC by the publisher and Netgalley, and I don't think it's fair to review a book I haven't finished. The only thing the end of the book showed me was that I wish the story had been about Nicki Chan, Carrie's nemesis, who turns out to be a much more interesting character than Carrie. Give me a book about Nicki, with less tennis detail and more heart, and I'll read it.

This won't stop me from reading TJR's next offering, whatever that is. But this one is a serious miss. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to get a sneak peek.

Synopsis:
Carrie Soto is the best tennis player in the world, winning twenty grand slams before she retires. Carrie, coached by her father Javier, is unlike other players. She doesn’t make friends in the locker room and doesn’t buy into how the media wants her to act. She deserves her titles, and she’s not afraid to say it.

Six years after her retirement, Carrie’s record is about to be threatened by a new player, Nicki Chan. Carrie is thirty-seven, and doesn’t have the stamina she used to. Despite her age, she decides to come out of retirement to defend her record with her father once again by her side. Carrie decides to play 4 more slams, and must beat Nicki if she’s going to remain the best tennis player in history. Carrie Soto is back, and determined to break a new record.

Thoughts:
This story was exactly what I hoped for. I found this one to be different from other TJR books because there are less characters, so you get to know Carrie, Javier, and Bowe so well. But you still get the subtle mentions of other characters like Daisy Jones and Nina Rivas. I love that all these characters’ stories are intertwined somehow and I hope there’s more books where they are all connected. As expected, the writing is unmatched. TJR is such a talented storyteller and you get so invested in her characters’ lives. Although tennis was a huge plot point, I didn’t find that you needed to know a ton about it to follow. It helps to know the basic rules and how to keep score going into it, but still not necessary. I played college tennis, which made me love this story even more