TJR books are such a delight, Evelyn Hugo is still very high on my bookshelf.
This book takes a different vein covering the life of a professional tennis player, and the journey of her comeback.
I’m giving this 5 stars due to it’s ability to grab you make you not put it down.
Many times I thought I would just read a couple pages and ended up reading 50. The characters crackle and I almost hope they make a movie just to see who they would cast in the roles.
I do have two small criticisms - the main character and her father speak Spanish to each other quite often. These conversations are not translated. My Spanish is very weak so I had to stop and look up the translations which was a pain. Also this book gets kind of technical about Tennis. I used to play so I could follow most of the descriptions. But if you have never played the game I think some definitions of the plays the are calling would be useful.
Despite these two flaws the story will pull you in and not let go, so read this book when you can.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has quickly become an auto-buy for me. I can count on her for impeccable writing, intense, character driven storylines and a window into worlds I know nothing about. “Carrie Soto is Back” is no exception. Although this book focuses heavily on tennis, you don’t need to know anything about the game to enjoy it.

I was surprised that the author decided to re-visit Carrie, out of all the characters that popped up in Malibu Rising. However, having read this story, I get it. Initially, she seems very one-note, but she is actually interesting and layered. It was entertaining to watch her change from an unlikeable and unapologetic superstar into something more.

As other reviewers have pointed out, there is A LOT of tennis here. I’d say the first 50% is tennis terms, strategy and play-by-play. However, it fits with the character-driven storyline because Carrie is 100% tennis for the first half of the book.

Again, I appreciate this glimpse of a world that I will never inhabit. That is why I read!

Many thanks to Random House – Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I heard TJR had a new book coming out and it was about a retired tennis star looking for a comeback, I was immediately on board. I will read anything she writes at this point and, while not a huge sports fan, I adore sports redemption story movies (I have seen The Replacements more times than I am proud of). However, despite being in to the concept of this novel, I had mixed feelings on the execution. I did ultimately like it very much, but I apologize in advance for this conflicted review because that’s how I felt reading it.

Reading Carrie Soto felt like reading several different books to me, so I am going to review it as such. The first 25-ish percent, I was bored out of my mind. It was entirely exposition and felt like reading a dull sports biography. It lacked any of the charm I come to expect from a TJR novel and, if I didn’t like her so much, may have caused me to DNF the book.

The story really took off in the next 25 percent. I think TJR did a great job of narrating the action of the tennis matches in a way that made you feel like you were watching it. I had palpable anxiety for Carrie and couldn’t help but root for her, despite the fact that I didn’t have a good handle on the character. And that is the downside of this section - Carrie is clearly a badass, but mostly one-note. I did enjoy that she is unlikable and unapologetic, and she reminded me a bit of Evelyn in that way. However, at this point, the reader doesn’t know much about her, which is a shame, though it also illustrates how talented TJR is because you still want her to succeed. While I was more into this section of the novel, I still wasn’t that invested.

All that being said, when you get to the second half of the novel, it blossoms. I LOVED the second half of this book. Carrie really opened up as a character; the side characters came into their own; the relationships became more complex; the stakes felt higher. It was a delightful and poignant story about what success means and the idea of legacy. And like any good TJR book, there were parts I full on sobbed reading, both happy and sad tears. The second half of this book was amazing and I wish the entire book read like this.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC

DNF 80%

This is probably a case of it being me as opposed to the book. I don't love tennis and this was REALLY about tennis.

After reading Malibu Rising, and seeing this as a Netgalley ARC knowing the Carrie Soto character, I was really interested in finding out why Carrie was so angry all the time. Well, after getting to 80% I understand she is just a mean person. No tragic incident happened to make her that way. She's just horrible.

What I didn't like about the story was it was mostly about tennis. How to play tennis, how to get good at tennis, how to be the best at tennis and every chapter detailed every match Carrie played. This got really boring to me. There was no real drama or plot that this author usually adds to the story. I decided to stop reading when I no longer cared about her or Bowe. I didn't want to wait for her to wake up and suddenly become a good person at the end.

Another aspect that took away from the story was her conversations with her father. This was mostly in Spanish with no interpretation from the author. For those non-bilingual people out there, like myself, you either have to Google translate or just skip it and hope it wasn't some kind of sage life changing advice. Her father was the only character that got me as far as I did in this book.

I guess if you read Malibu Rising and really love tennis this would be for you. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Couldn't put this one down! I'm not a tennis fan and was a bit hesitant when I saw that was the focus of this novel, but I was hooked from page one. Much like Fredrik Backman's Beartown, you don't need to be a fan of the sport to find this one addicting. I enjoyed Malibu Rising and adored Daisy Jones and the Six, but Carrie Soto is Back is my new favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. Carrie is tough as nails on herself and everyone around her, but you can't help but love her and route for her.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Carrie Soto is the world's best tennis player...until a young tennis star steals her record. Carrie Soto will not stand for this, and after 7 years of retirement, announces that she is returning to the tennis game. During her time playing, Carrie didn't make many friends. Her job was to win...and win she did, sometimes showing no mercy. Her return is unwelcome, but she does not care. With her dad as her coach, can Carrie retake her record?

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again! She writes characters that you want to know more about and be in their lives. Carrie Soto's story is engaging and endearing, you'll be cheering for her and won't want her story to end.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK

I have found very few novels with a tennis theme and none that I haver enjoyed as much as this one. For me it was a page-turner and I liked every aspect of it. The plot moved quickly and was unlike any other. The characters were all well drawn, realistic, fully developed and not perfect people, although most of them grew over time. The setting moved seamlessly from one tennis territory to another, from the earthy lawns at Wimbledon to the steamy Australian Open, to Roland Garos’ red clay courts in France, to the US Open at Flushing Meadows. As difficult as it is to grasp and hold a reader’s attention while describing a tennis game in words, author Taylor Jenkins Reid does a superb job of leaving one breathless in anticipation, following point by point.

Set in the 80s, Carolina (Carrie) Soto begins as an addicted and driven tennis player, a child prodigy of her father’s manufacture. As a Single parent Javier Soto invests all his love and knowledge of tennis in his only child. A talented player himself, sidelined and retired by physical problems, he coaches her and guides her career along with her loyal agent.

Carrie becomes rather single-minded, a tough player whose Battle Axe and Bitch personality tend to overlap into her personal life, as competitive tennis is all she knows. Having developed a hard shell to protect her emotions she manages to drive most people away from her and most give up trying to be her friend.

The novel begins with an athletically older Carrie watching a tennis match with her father, deciding to make a comeback in order to preserve her “Best in the World” reputation for holding the record for the most slams. Her strongest opponent, Nikki Chan becomes her nemesis as Carrie returns to tennis life as a “has been” with no current ranking and a lot of negative media opinions.

Carries has a lot to learn and much of it has little to do with tennis, although it affects the kind of person and eventually the kind of player she becomes. In some situations her father almost seems to recognize that he may have created some kind of flat personality in his daughter, a woman totally lacking emotion, as he has groomed her for perfection, his “Achilles - the greatest warrior”. However, he seems to have forgotten that even Achilles had a vulnerability and even a dedicated player must find some joy in the game.

I recommend this book strongly, especially to a tennis fan.

This book was supplied by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC! I absolutely adore Taylor Jenkins Reid and boy did she execute this book. I think Carrie Soto might be my absolute favorite. She’s fierce as hell and she doesn’t back down. I can relate to her as a former athlete myself. I loved this book more than I can begin to describe. Easy 5 stars from me!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start by saying I went into this book completely blind, as I enjoy being surprised with the topic. I really, really had a fun time following Carrie through the different stages of her life and career in tennis! The writing was phenomenal (which I already knew it would be from Taylor Jenkins Reid) and the story sucked me in and held my attention through the last page. It was definitely a 4.5 stars read for me. The only reason it didn’t quite hit the 5 stars mark was I kept waiting for something huge to happen, and that just wasn’t what this story was going for, which is absolutely fine, I just felt the majority of the drama was tennis related. Overall it was an amazing story about what is takes to be the best and acceptance of yourself and others. Would highly recommend if you’ve enjoyed her previous books!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is brilliant at creating a character that the reader immediately connects with. First with Evelyn Hugo, the Daisy Jones and Carrie Soto is no different. Carrie Soto follows the tennis career of Soto, which she reignites when someone is going to beat her record. The storytelling and character development of this book was top notch. I had to knock a star off because it was SO. MUCH. TENNIS! Reid clearly did her research for this book, but I know nothing about tennis and it overtook the book. I wanted more between Bowe and Carrie. They had a great friendship and eventually more. But overall it was wonderful and I will read anything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes.

Did Taylor Jenkins Reid just turn me into a tennis fan?? Carrie Soto is Back follows a tennis superstar who comes out of retirement at 37 to defend her grand slam record. I have never watched a minute of tennis in my life and was still completely engrossed in Carrie’s story.

Carrie is a fierce competitor who finds out how lonely it is at the top when owns her talent instead of acting surprised by it. TJR peels back the layers on women’s sports as we see Carrie get pulled apart by the media because she doesn’t smile and isn’t fake nice to the world.

I loved her the father/daughter relationship dynamics as we see him in his parental role but also as her coach. I also loved the side characters and relationships she builds along the was as she slowly learned it’s okay to let people in.

I’m probably biased because I love everything TJR writes, but I highly recommend picking this up. I alternated between the ebook and audiobook and loved both formats — the audio has a full cast to alternate voices of different players and sportscasters which was a great element.

Thank you PRH Audio and Ballantine Books for my advance copies in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto is a former tennis superstar, and at age 37 decides to make comeback to prove that she is still a winner. Her father Javier coaches her, putting her through rigorous training daily, and enlisting a former flame of her to be her hitting partner. The novel cycles through the 4 major tennis tournaments of the year- the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

This is a page-turner and although Soto is portrayed as a humorless, driven woman, we root for her success. Tennis players and tennis fans will especially appreciate the detail given to training regimens, game plans, and the specifics of individual matches.

There are fewer complicated relationships fraught with intrigue than previous novels by Reid. This one is focused on the tennis and the grit and determination required to be the best.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

"Most assholes don’t have comebacks.”

4.5 stars

Carrie Soto Is Back is a novel about family, love, tennis, and the price of fame.

The novel opens in 1994 when former tennis star Carrie Soto witnesses seeing her record o 20 Grand Slam titles shattered. She comes out of retirement at age 37 and makes an arduous journey back to the court to prove that she is the best female tennis player in the world. Going back to her childhood, the reader also learns how she became known as the Battle Axe, a.k.a., The Bitch.

As much as this novel is about tennis, it is also about Carrie’s relationship with her father, Javier. Their dynamic is the heart and soul of this novel.

Carrie Soto Is Back is, in a way, a character study. The reader sees Carrie transform into a star but also lose her fame. Very slowly, her tough veneer slips away, and it is apparent that Carrie is much more vulnerable than she seems. She is not the most likable character, but TJR made me love Carrie.

The novel moves a little slowly in the beginning and covers a lot of tennis, but the slow pacing picks up as Carrie’s career takes off.

This was my first book by TJR, and I didn’t know what to expect going in. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, nor did I expect to cry as much as I did. This book hit me emotionally, and I came to love Carrie, Javier, Bowe, and Gwen. I already miss them.

I finally get the hype about TJR!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto is Back is unlike anything TJR has written before. I appreciated the strong female lead and I know it was the whole point that she was kind of a b*tch, but she was *almost* too unlikeable for me. 😒 I liked the portrayal of the father/coach/daughter relationship and as always I appreciated that TJR can really transport readers into whatever world she has written about. That being said though, this was too much tennis for me. 😩 I enjoy sports and was an athlete growing up, but the amount of tennis really took away from this story for me. I wanted more character development and for the romance to feel more real which I think could have happened if we didn’t hear so many details about every tennis match. I liked the growth of Carrie throughout this novel, how the loneliness at the top of the sports world was written, and feminist issues addressed throughout. The writing was good, as usual, but since it took until about the 60% mark for me to feel invested and I just didn’t love Carrie as a character, this one falls in the 3.5-4 star range for me.

TJR has such and ingenious way of writing iconic characters. This book centers around tennis superstar Carrie Soto and her journey to becoming a tennis champion, retiring and coming back to reclaim her title. I am not a fan of tennis but I could not put this book down. A large part of this book is about tennis, strategy and a lot o tennis jargon that went over my head. But the heart of this story is Carrie’s unwavering pursuit to be the best and her relationship with her coach/father. Throw in a sprinkle of romance and this is another great read by TJR.

Taylor Jenkins Reid knocks it out of the park again! A really special read, truly one of her best books. Loved that the book was set in the competitive world of women’s tennis. Carrie was a great main character, I loved seeing her grow. This book was a pleasure to read.

Thoughts: I didn’t think it was possible to like a Taylor Jenkins Reid book more than The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or even Daisy Jones and the Six. After reading a few mixed reviews, I went into Carrie Soto is Back a little nervous that it would fall flat. I could not have been more mistaken. A gorgeous and memorable story about love and perseverance, I think it may have taken the title of favorite TJR book and top contender for favorite book of 2022. What I wouldn’t give to be able to go back and read this book again for the first time.

My favorite thing about Reid’s books is the way she connects the characters to each and every story. Did we hear Mick Riva’s name mentioned? Of course. Was Daisy Jones’ referenced, you know it. In fact, Carrie Soto is a character we have met before in Malibu Rising. This technique she uses, combined with the historical fiction elements, help to make her characters and books feel incredibly real.

While I loved the added element of romance in this book, it is by no means the star of the show. That title is reserved for Carrie’s incredible comeback story, as well as the father/daughter relationship that’s explored in both past and present timelines. The love Carrie’s father has for her and the ways in which he tries to instill in her a sense of being good enough just as she is, was by far my favorite part of this story. The Spanish woven throughout their conversations was so much fun to read (even if I did need to translate with the help of google or my kindle translator).

And yes, this book does have a lot of tennis. I mean a lot. Yet, even as someone who doesn’t like to watch tennis, Reid’s descriptive language as she describes these nail bitting matches left me on the edge of my seat the entire time. If all tennis matches were this engaging, I would be watching 24/7.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed this book, but it took me some time to get into because there is so much description about the game of tennis, which is just not my thing. Carrie and Bowe were great characters, as were Javier and Gwen. I was hooked by the end and would love to hear more about Carrie and Nikki and Bowe.

TJR has done it again! Carrie Soto is total bitch! She's born to be tennis star! Her eyes are always on the ball! Only thing she wants is to be the
best, the one, becoming invincible, crushing her opponents in expense winning more enemies and people's hate! She's crude! She's husband stealer! But under that ice queen facade, she's lonely, she's sensitive, she's insecure. She secretly thinks people will abandon her as soon as they notice that sensitive part of her just like the men she's had one night stands and never heard them back. Her father Javi was a great tennis player called as "Jaguar" immigrated to the USA from Argentina,finding his love of his
life. Since she was a little girl, Carrie keeps visiting her father at the tennis courts where he coaches the people for tournaments till she becomes of her most important student to be trained to be beast who destroys her opponents!

Carrie becomes callous, relentless, an ice queen, an battle- axe, focusing on winning. She even fires her own her father to become the winner, working with another coach helps her
dreams come true! And in 1994, she's 37, she's single, her only friends and confidantes are her father Javi and her agent Gwen. Her records are about to taken away by a brutal, competitive, 31
years old brilliant tennis player Nicki Chan. Carrie cannot let that happen! Without being the best tennis player who can she be! Nobody! She doesn't have any love interest and any
aim in life makes her excited. She has to return back ! She has to get back what belongs to her! She has to be the best of the best again!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Although I am not very knowledgable about tennis, and there was a lot of tennis in the book, I loved Carrie Soto's return to the tennis world, her relationship with her father, and the connections to some of TJR's previous books!

Such a fun read!