Thank you to NetGalley for approving this ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Coming out of retirement, Carrie Soto is back. She is fierce and ready to battle for her title, her legacy, and her honor.

I do not want to go into much details in my review because I believe it is best if you start reading this masterpiece completely cold.

Carrie Soto Is Back is the first book I have read by the lovely Taylor Jenkins Reid and I completely understand her fanbase now.

Carrie has such a vicious, cutthroat nature that while I did not see much of myself detailed in her, I was rooting for her. When the media called her "The Battle Axe" or "The Bitch," I was thrilled along with her for her comeback. I wanted her to grow into the person she was meant to be.

Most of Carrie's personal issues come from the inability to communicate her emotional needs. When she attempts to do so and they are not met, she creates a barricade around her heart - not letting in even the most precious relationships she has cultivated along the way.

Carrie Soto Is Back is a beautifully crafted journey (that made me wish I knew more about tennis) about grief and sorrow - for one's lover, for one's parent, for one's self. It demonstrates to find joy in a rather anguished world.

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc. I literally screamed when I got approved for this.

Similar to the title character's career, this book is perfect from start to finish. I have read every installment in Taylor Jenkins Reid's historical fiction universe, and I can't help but marvel at how she gets better with every book. Carrie Soto is Back is an excellent follow up to Malibu Rising- zeroing in on a character we all kind of hated and making us love her!! Carrie is such a wonderful protagonist to follow- her flaws make her even better considering how she addresses them over the course of the story. Carrie is seemingly unbreakable and fearless- like so many female athletes out there- but this novel gives us insight into what goes on inside the mind of such a person. Carrie is charismatic, ruthless, and awe-inspiring to read about.

This book is such a career highlight and Taylor Jenkins Reid if you are reading this PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU write more sports fiction. The tournament scenes are so intense and exciting!! Reid's writing is quick and thorough, I really felt like I was watching matches! Reid does an excellent job at describing actions and movements making a sports-heavy book more accessible to people like me who don't know anything about tennis. CSIB is a perfect balance of emotions good and bad. This book is truly unforgettable.

Overall, Carrie Soto is Back is a stunner of a novel. I will never shut up about this book- and I really hope that this isn't the last we hear about Carrie!

This review will appear on my blog The Aiya Times and my instagram page of the same name soon!!

Another excellent book from Taylor Jenkins Reid. I just need to go get all of her books and read them. I'm not sports fan of any kind, but this could make you one. Makes Me wish I was a little like Carrie Soto. She has so much grit and passion for the sport.

Thank you so much to #Netgalley for the arc. I love everything Taylor Jenkins Reid BUT this one was not my favorite by her. It was still a story that kept me interested, but it might have been my lack of tennis knowledge that did me in.
The idea though was really good. A retired tennis star, decides to come out of retirement to defend her title.
I had mixed feelings though about Carrie at least at first. I did not like her. Not one bit in the beginning in the book. I originally thought she was spoiled and bratty! However, by the end, I did grow to respect her and respect what she was doing.
The relationship with her father, that was my favorite aspect of the book. I loved how he supported her and then also realized where he may have gone wrong with her. The book was a little slower pace than her other books and I think the tennis parts just lost me. Usually with her books, I'm able to picture the scenery, but this one I struggled with a little bit.
Still good for any fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid

WOW, Carrie Soto might be one of my favorite characters yet. She’s passionate, stubborn, and I never wanted this book to end. I could have kept reading this story for hundreds more pages.

****
The book starts out with us learning about Soto’s career. We learn she’s a hardcore player that really only cares about tennis and her father Javier Soto (an ex pro (amazing) tennis player). He teaches his daughter not only the game of tennis but everything to be the best of the best.


We fast forward:

Soto comes out of retirement from a bad knee injury. She trains and wants her record back from Nikki Chan. She’s determined but through her training, she learns more this time around.

This book has everything Jenkins knows how to do so so well. I already can’t wait to read her future books. 5/5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A compelling, believable portrait of drive and ambition. Carrie is a retired tennis great who sees her achievements in the verge of being overshadowed. The book neatly covers a lifetime of competition and the sacrifices and single-mindedness needed to attain tithe goal of greatness.

The book zips along winningly, with its greatest surprise the way in which author Reid brings a series of tennis matches to life. You could imagine a version of this book that would be a litany of “and then this happened” descriptions, but each match has its own personality and conveys the internal thinking of Carrie.

The book dovetails references to Reid’s last couple of books without carrying thr weight of furthering a universe.

A fun, entertaining visit into the mind of a ruthless competitor.

TJR has done it again! This book follows Carrie Soto, a retired professional tennis player, as she decides to make a comeback in order to protect her record of most Slam titles. Carrie is hard around the edges and doesn't let a lot of people in, but I really loved the way that she progressed throughout the story. I liked getting to know Carrie and her father, and I loved the story about winning and what it means.

All of the main characters in this book were well rounded and interesting - I especially loved Carrie's development with Nicki Chan. Bowe was also interesting, although I felt as though there were a lot of characters to keep track of that didn't have much depth to them, which made it really hard to differentiate between them. But overall, TJR continues to prove herself to be a master of characters.

I think my main complaint about this book is that it lacked a bit of emotional depth that I was hoping for. Maybe that's because I don't know tennis very well and I'm not an avid tennis fan (although the tennis parts of this book were well explained in a way that it all made sense to me, without it feeling like the book was holding my hand). I did like the exploration of winning, and it's definitely a great read!

I'm just going to come right out with it. This book was awful. The writing is bad. The editing is worse. There is no character development and the story is flat. Reading this book was a struggle and a disappointment after her other books. I would give it no stars if I could.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has become one of my favorite go to authors...I will read anything she writes. Carrie Soto is Back was another great book where you feel like you are living the characters life. I don't know much about the ins and outs of tennis but she writes it so you feel like you are actually part of the game and on the edge of your seat to see what happens. If you like any of TJRs previous books I definitely recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy!

Taylor Jenkins Reid delivers another masterpiece. Her writing style is so unique and refreshing that I know anything she writes will take me on a wonderful adventure. The way that every tennis match was described made me feel like I was actually watching a game. At one point I was holding my breath tensing up waiting to see who would get the point. AMAZING! I loved Carrie and her fierce attitude. She was not going to have anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t do. This book is a must read for 2022!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a book about tennis, winning, personal growth and a father-daughter relationship. But most of all, it's really about tennis. I play tennis, I love tennis, so I enjoyed this book. If you aren't into tennis, then the constant tennis talk could pose a problem for some readers. The book really reads like a memoir and reminded me of Andre Agassi's, "Open." But, in typical TJR fashion, it is compulsively readable.

3.5 stars because while I really enjoyed this book, it lacked the deep emotional connection that I would have liked to feel. It said all the right things, but it didn't give all the feels.

Oof this one hit me right in the feels. The notes I have in my copy start pretty quickly with Carrie's father and mother talking over their baby. And I just said "I love how parents discuss babies with aspirations and grandeur while the babies just eat their hands".

Carrie Soto is a goddess among tennis players and she busted her ass to get there. In the usual Taylor Jenkins Reid way, it reads like watching a good movie, nothing overstaying its welcome. Each memory paced well and placed thoughtfully. I am still straight up astounded I read a book with a tennis theme in a day. There's a true bit of magic.

The commentary about fiery women being called names by the media was dead on the money. The men in the competition, I've run track, I remember those dudes. I wanted to throw a shot put right at them.

It's an absolute nail biter to read the comeback kid do her victory lap and I can't wait for everyone to read it.

"But that is far from the point. It is her right to have fun, to keep playing. To not help with dinner."
-Taylor Jenkins Reid, Carrie Soto is Back

Also, it lowkey sold me an imaginary pair of Adidas.

Carrie Soto is Back is on sale August 30th. Preorder your copy at your local bookseller!

My copy was sent by Ballantine and Netgalley, and didn't influence my review in any way

Full review to come later!

I never thought I’d care anything about a “sports-based book” but this really captured my attention!! I did feel like the “authentic touches” to date the book took me out of the story more than it helped (Aka mentions of princess Diana, Other celebrity events etc). But otherwise I was just really engrossed in Carries story and wanted the best for her the whole time!

I eagerly picked this up, having loved all of Reid’s previous books, and it did not disappoint! Carrie Soto was the world’s best tennis player, but Nicki Chan is poised to take her title. Soto comes out of retirement with the help of her coach/father. I’m not a tennis player, but I found myself itching to see how she performed in each match. Her character development is flawless. Great read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Carrie is an icon who loves fiercely, plays hard, and has a reputation as a bitch. But this story makes you love her fierce determination, large capacity to love, her unyielding competitive nature, and her need to be the best. It is a story of determination and refusal to settle for anything less than self perfection. It is also about love. Love for family, love for the game of tennis, romantic love, and self love. .Carrie is strong and confident and Is simultaneously admired and hated by tennis fans around the world.
I could not put this book down and wound up rooting hard for Carrie! The writing is fluid and characters are well defined and real! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fabulous writer and it am a fan. I will read anything she writes with pleasure!

This book was unputdownable! All the Stars.

The Author never fails to write an unputdownable book. I think this could be the best yet!!!

Carrie Soto is Back by @tjenkinsreid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If it’s by Taylor Jenkins Reid, it’s an automatic read for me. I was beyond excited when the @netgalley approval email came through for this arc!! Put this book on your TBR for its August 30th release date.
The book title should be “Carrie Soto is a BAMF” because she’s a really bad a$$ character and I loved how much grit she had for the love of tennis and how she just lived her best life.
The book follows Carrie’s professional tennis career and goal at becoming the best tennis player. Set predominantly in the 90’s, Carrie’s coming of age story revolves around her sheer determination and steadfast support from her Dad (and coach) to propel her to that spot.
Admittedly, I don’t know much about tennis, but you don’t necessarily have to as the scores and strategy are simply spelled out. The book chronicles Carrie’s return to pro tennis after another pro tennis player is tempting to steal her record of most Slams. The obstacles she overcomes both mentally and physically are the crux of the storyline and it was really compelling to read about her journey. 🎾
I recommend this book for all TJR fans and it’s not to kids for the summer!

❓What are your rankings for TJR’s books?
Mine are: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, One True Loves, Carrie Soto is Back, Malibu Rising

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #netgalley #carriesotoisback #taylorjenkinsreid

In true TJR fashion, I am gutted by fictional characters who don't exist and events that never happened. And, somehow, she got me to give a shit about tennis. How. Stunningly simple prose, rippling with tension practically the entire time ... reading this was watching like watching the ball rally over the net, back and forth, and being completely unable to blink.

Carrie Soto is my favorite kind of character to read about - the kind that lives in a gray space between hating them for their arrogance, hypocrisy, and general unkindness, and caring about them so much that you love them despite and because of these flaws. Carrie Soto is one thing on the outside but on the inside is something else completely.

I know nothing about tennis really , but now I feel as if I do. Make no mistake, this is a book that focuses on tennis, and what it means to compete in a sport at the highest level. In other words, not the kind of book that I would typically be drawn to. But this is Taylor Jenkins Reid, and by now I know that I’m in good hands when I pick up one of her books. I already can’t wait for whatever comes next from her. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In true TJR fashion, she had me hooked from the very first page! Definitely a different read for me! I’ve never been a tennis fan, but it was written so well that I never felt lost or confused.

Carrie was such a unique character, so focused on her career and being the best, which caused her to lacked in other aspects of her life and I really felt for her character with that. I loved how Carrie & her fathers relationship was showcased, And don’t even get me started on Bowe, he was my favorite & I needed more of him! 🫶🏼😍
Overall loved this story and the characters!

Thank you NetGalley, Taylor Jenkins Reid & Random House for the ARC!