Cover Image: Carrie Soto Is Back

Carrie Soto Is Back

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Member Reviews

Taylor Jenkins Reid has cemented her place on my (short) list of favorite authors. I love that minor characters recur in her novels, and in Carrie Soto, Ms. Jenkins Reid has taken a character from Malibu Rising and told her story in the most remarkable fashion.

Carrie Soto is Back tells the story of Carrie Soto, who in Malibu Rising is Nina Riva's tennis player soon-to-be ex-husband's mistress, revealing Carrie's vulnerabilities, hopes and dreams and in the process bringing the reader into the world of professional tennis. When Carrie determines to stage a comeback and to reclaim her title as the greatest player and Grand Slam record holder, no one believes that at 37 years old and 5 years away from the game she will have the slightest chance.

The growth in Carrie's character, from a pretty self-absorbed, laser-focused and unsympathetic pro athlete into a self-aware woman who loves all aspects of the game and has opened her heart to humanity is a fascinating thrill-ride. I loved the play by play of the tennis matches, and the commentary by sports reporters which was interspersed throughout. I read the book through in one sitting, putting it down only because I needed to sleep!

The only critique is that readers may want to have a Spanish dictionary handy, as Carrie's coach/father frequently speaks Spanish to her, and the translation is not clear within the English text (although it is fairly easy to get the gist of his statements). I am also fairly familiar with the game of tennis, and thus found the fame descriptions easy to follow--it may be more difficult for someone not familiar with the game though it will not be problematic if they understand wins and losses.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Taylor Jenkins Reid for the opportunity to read an ARC of Carrie Soto Is Back. The opinions in this review are my own.

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This book is such an enjoyable read. Truly a pleasure. I know virtually nothing about tennis but it didn’t matter. I think the set up and structure of the book is terrific and paces the story really well. The book also makes some subtle but strong points about being a woman and how women athletes are perceived. Carrie is a great character and while she may be seen as prickly and arrogant she’s simply focused and extremely talented. I was rooting for her all the way. The story’s outcome feels both unpredictable and inevitable. And the cover image is awesome!

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I'm so sad....but I cannot bring myself to finish this. This book is so boring and WAY to descriptive about tennis. Also, why did TJR not include any descriptions of the Spanish used throughout the book? I speak Spanish so I could understand what was being said, but I would guess that other non-Spanish speaking readers might struggle with this. Carrie is also just a terrible human being and a completely one-dimensional character. Her dialogue and focus got so annoying. And finally, the dialogue throughout the book in general was just not good. Lack of contractions and completely unrealistic conversations. I'm so disappointed TJR!!!

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Carrie Soto is back, and thus - the TJR-verse has expanded. Fans of TJR will love the nods to her previous works which she does (and has done) so masterfully.

Carrie Soto wants to come out of retirement to reclaim her title as the best in tennis. Knowing absolutely nothing about the sport myself, what I appreciated was the care and time taken to explain just enough where I didn’t feel lost, but not too much where I felt like I was reading a how-to manual. That being said - at the core of this book, as with ALL of TJR’s books - are the characters you fall in love with from the moment they’re introduced and the attention to detail she puts into crafting their relationships with one another (regardless of what book they’re in).

Carrie is a force to be reckoned with - and you can’t help but root for her. You want to see her succeed. You want to see her win. You want to see her get the guy. You want to see her have the comebeack she’s been boasting about. But will she?

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Carrie Soto is my favorite of the women TJR has introduced us to. Unapologetic, competitive, and strong FMCs make it better for women in the wild.

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I FINISHED THIS LAST NIGHT AND.. IT
WASN'T MY FAVORITE TJR. IT'S A LOT OF
TENNIS. BUT THE FATHER/DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP ASPECT WAS REALLY WELL FLESHED OUT AND I DEFINITELY HIGHLIGHTED A FEW LINES THAT PUNCHED ME IN THE GUT. ALSO ENJOY THIS WHOLE HOLLYWOOD UNIVERSE THAT TJR IS BUILDING. SOME OF THE CONVERSATION FELT VERY STILTED TO ME AND MAYBE THAT'S JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT USED TO A CHARACTER LIKE CARRIE. SOME OF THE LARGER THEMES ALSO FELT
RUSHED.

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Another fabulous book from Taylor Jenkins Reid. So descriptive of life as a world class tennis athlete. I was completely sucked in. Carrie Soto was a minor character in Malibu Rising and I loved how she took that character and brought her to life.

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It pains me to give a lack-luster review to a TJ Reid novel, but I really struggled with "Carrie Soto is Back", sigh... I enjoyed so many of TJR's works, and adored both "Evelyn" & "Malibu", so thought I would love yet another chapter in the M. Riva world, but sadly, I really, really struggled to get through this one, putting it aside for days at a time. I think primarily it was the over-whelming details of tennis, tennis, tennis - I really didn't need that much to enjoy the story - I got a lot out of that tennis movie about the Williams sisters without being bored to tears. And Carrie herself is just so very unlikeable that I found it hard to root for her at all. I also struggled with the Spanish convos & I even have a passing understanding of it. Of course, the writing itself is technically really good, even if it wasn't my taste, TJR is great about her characterizations & the 90's setting also appealed to me, along with the call-backs to previous works. I am still down for Ms. Reid's next! My sincere thanks to the publisher & Net Galley for the complimentary DRC, the exchange of which did not affect my review (obviously).

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Carrie Soto watched her talented, widowed father coach tennis from the side of the court until she was old enough to hold a racket. Training daily, a champion was born. Ignoring the media that called her “the battle axe”, Carrie rose to the top and shattered records on her way before retiring from the sport. When Nicki Chan threatens to overtake her record of most Grand Slam titles, Carrie decides to come out of retirement at the age of 37 to break her own record.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again with this masterfully written book. I fell in love with each of the characters and was devastated when it ended, laughing, crying, and smiling along the entire way. This is a must read of 2022 and will have you signing up for tennis lessons and watching Wimbledon for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.

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I’ve read and loved all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books and Carrie Soto is Back blew me away! TJR writes beautifully flawed, strong female characters! You want to forgive their weaknesses, cheer their successes and mourn their losses. Carrie Soto is such a wonderful role, I can’t wait to see who plays her in the movie! This is a perfect summertime read! You can feel the sunshine, smell the asphalt, clay or grass, and hear the thwack of the racket and the thump of the ball. And for Pete’s sake, Julia Whelan must be one of the narrators for the audible version! Now I must go and read this awesome book again! I wish I could give it more stars!

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Carrie Soto is Back tells the comeback story of retired tennis champion and Malibu Rising cameo character Carrie Soto. Faced with giving up her hard-earned Grand Slam records, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and defend her titles with her dad by her side as Coach. Regardless of the level of your own dedication to tennis, you’ll be on the edge of your seat for every match, inspired by Carrie’s sheer determination. There’s a little bit of a love story, too, and if I had any criticism of this book it’s that I wish Carrie’s romantic relationship was explored even more! But like any Taylor Jenkins Reid book, I couldn’t put this one down! Carrie Soto is Back will be a great addition to your summer bookshelf.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of Carrie Soto is Back in exchange for an honest review.

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Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again! Yet another book by this author that I couldn't put down. I knew very little about tennis starting this book, but I came away with a new understanding of the game. The main character, Carrie, is very driven to make a comeback in the sport of tennis, often to the detriment of other aspects in her life. Does the name Carrie Soto sound familiar to you? Think "Malibu Rising".... Read this book, you won't be disappointed!

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I came into this book fairly blind, but happy to receive an ARC as Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my auto read authors.

This book follows the career and comeback of Carrie Soto, one of the greatest tennis players in the world. I was completely immersed in the story and invested in what happened to Carrie.

Carrie was not always a likeable character, but she was always true to herself and determined to achieve her goals.

I found this book extremely satisfying. It dealt with issues such as accomplishment, aging, love, and purpose. I think this will be a highlight of this year’s reading. Highly recommend.

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Carrie Soto is my new favorite TJR heroine! I truly care nothing about tennis, but this book immersed me in that world and made me love it. It helps that Carrie is a woman of a certain age… ahem, my age, and still gets out there and kicks ass. Of all the TJR books (and I love them all), this is the one I’m dying to see brought to life on the big screen. I want to watch Carrie dominate IRL. And hey, we’d still get a small glimpse of a few of our Malibu Rising faves.

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Taylor Jenkins Reid (TJR) knocked it out of the park, again. That's the wrong sports metaphor so I suppose the equivalent for this novel would be...she hit a grand slam? Either way, it's a great read. For fans of Reid who have read Malibu Rising, the name Carrie Soto might be familiar. Soto makes an appearance in Malibu Rising briefly as the woman who had an affair with the main character, Nina Rivas's, husband. in this brief appearance, Soto was the albeit brief villain in Nina's story which makes her an unlikely choice for leading lady in her won novel. But Reid has done it and she has done it well. And by the end I guarantee any reader will has respect for fictional Carrie Soto, and the women she represents.

TJR tells a fast paced story of why Carrie might be rough around the edges and leads into her comeback into tennis after being retired for several years. As she has done with Malibu and Seven Husbands, she gives the reader a glimpse into the glitz of the rich and famous and the double edge sword that fame can be. Filled with lots of tennis action, a little romance, and a touching father daughter relationship, and a lot of girl power, TJR reminds the reader that the world just works differently for woman. The rough exterior is only part of who Carrie Soto is. Her comeback is not just about her tennis career, of course.

Would recommend widely to anyone who has enjoyed Reid's previous hits as well as readers interested in sports, biopics, or family relationships. Reid intersperses narrative with fun newspaper article clippings and newscaster scripting to immerse the reader in the time and energy of the plot. She explains Carrie, as she does her other main characters, in a way that lets the reader feel like they are getting to know her as you would any other friend.

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Carrie Soto Is Back is the latest book from author Taylor Jenkins Reid and it is scheduled for publication on Aug 30th - so mark your calendar’s, purchase your preorder, or get on your library wait list now! Reid is a thoughtful storyteller consistently crafting novels that are more consumed rather than read. Her ability to create interesting characters within a compelling story while maintaining a tempo that speeds the reader to a satisfying ending is very refreshing. The little ‘Easter eggs’ she sprinkles throughout connecting the reader to her previous books feels like a special treat too!
Carrie Soto is one of the best tennis players (or is she the best) in the history of women’s tennis. At 37 and retired, she sees her record of winning 20 Grand Slam titles fall to Nicki Chan, a much younger (and maybe better) tennis champ. Carrie decides to come out of retirement to recapture her title as ‘The Greatest Women’s Tennis Player’ - no easy feat for someone her age. Carrie isn’t very likable on or off the court and is known in the press as ‘the Bitch’ or ‘ the Battle Axe’, titles she doesn’t love but doesn’t dispute either. Carries greatest asset really is her father , Javier - a formidable coach and exacting father. Their relationship is the tie that binds this story into something worth reading. Can she actually do it - win another Grand Slam at 37? She’s confident she can but even her father has concerns. Javier’s love for Carrie and tennis is epic and this knowledge and coaching brings Carrie to the match point of her life. Carrie has some life lessons to learn she missed along the way to the top her first time around and that just adds another layer of interest to this story. This story is like a great tennis volley - you can’t look away!!

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Ballantine, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

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A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy to review, all opinions are my own.

Let me preface this by saying I know nothing about tennis. Never played, don’t watch it, nothing. Yet TJR made me feel like it was me playing this game! I was rooting for Carrie and her dad in this book! The tension I felt throughout, wow! I loved every page and couldn’t read it fast enough!!! This is my favorite book so far this year! 5 stars!!!

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TJR is an automatic read for me. I love all of her work and this was no exception. Carrie Soto was a complicated character and it took me a while to connect with her, but once so did I was hooked. I wasn’t sure a tennis story would be enough to keep my interest but I could not put the book down and finished it in less than 30 hours. I loved the focus on relationships and grief. I loved how it explores the ways we all deal with disappointment and expectations. At the end, I found myself holding my breath and cheering at matches. TJR made me feel like I was sitting in the bleachers watching match point over and over.

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I fully almost CRIED when I got the email notification that I was accepted to read an advanced copy of this book. This is easily TJR's best work. I didn't love Carrie in Malibu Rising, but I easily and quickly rooted for her. Carrie was flawed, tough, and just lovable as the main character. Reid does a phenomenal job of writing characters that you can see a bit of yourself in and stick with you for a long time. I didn't want the story to end, but I just had to know what happened. Even though my tennis knowledge is just the bare minimum, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time rooting for the characters. I loved the relationship between Javier and Carrie as father and daughter and as coach and student. I also loved the addition of transcripts of the News and commentators' perspectives of Carrie and her career to juxtapose who Carrie is and who the world thinks she is. I almost don't know what to do now that I've finished this book because all I want to do is pick it up and reread it.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I hate technical books. It’s a fault of mine. Unless it’s something I love, I do not want to know the ins and outs. But. Only Taylor Jenkins Reid can get me to care about tennis and all the technicalities. Only TJR could get me to happily read an entire book about a tennis player.

TJR is so incredibly skilled at creating these characters that you fall in love with, that will stay in your heart for a long time. I still think of Evelyn, Daisy Jones, Nina, and now Carrie. Sometimes I hold those books and leaf through them, just to peak back into this universe. I hope that TJR continues to build on it.

I truly loved this book. I can’t wait to buy a physical copy and hug it to my chest.

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