We follow Carrie Soto after she set new records and dominated the tennis world in the 80s. Now she is back to try and defend her records against younger players with a new style of tennis in a sport that seems resentful that she's back.

What a relief! After being underwhelmed by Malibu Rising, I'm happy to report that I really enjoy this one. While I felt that Malibu Rising lacked focus, a direction, and a plot, this one here brings all of these elements so beautifully in the form of its main character: Carrie Soto. I felt that since she has the focus and the drive, the book had it too. The character and the book seemed in sync, just like the best of TJR works. The story seemed snappy and hard when Carrie was like that, and it slowed down when Carrie was going through something that destroyed her. The evolution of the character is mirrored in the evolution of the story.

I really liked that we follow Carrie after her "best years" in the sport, when she's coming back but after getting a glimpse of what she was like during her beginning and the end of the first phase of her career. I liked her development so much; she grew as a person but it never felt too forced, she was still who she was by the end of the book and the small changes seemed authentic for what she went through. I really loved her relationship with her dad; there were heartbreaking moments in their lives but it just enriched the story.

And it's such a good sports book. There are all kinds of relationship and discussions that are within the pages. But in the core of it there is such a genuine love for the sport and for competition that I just really liked. It's predictable what's going to happen since the beginning at every turn. But honestely, I just didn't care that it was, I just liked following Carrie and everyone around her and the sport.

Once again, TJR managed to create characters so full of life and so real that I wanted to Google them and watch the matches and see how they were doing.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

I knew I’d love this book, because I love everything Taylor creates. But I never thought that I would love this book as much as I did. Carrie Soto is unforgettable, pure magic. I know close to nothing about tennis, but Carrie made me want to know more. She made me care.

I didn’t want this book to end. I loved every page, every second.

Carrie Soto is Back is the newest book by well loved author, Taylor Jenkins Reid and is also one of my most anticipated books of the year so thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who knows virtually nothing about tennis, reading a book that is 97 percent tennis didn’t sound too appealing to me. But I trust Taylor Jenkins Reid because she has made me love plenty of other things in the past. I am happy to say this is no exception. I guess I’m a tennis fan now because I feel like I was on the court while reading this book. Reid writes about tennis in a way that is very accessible to the average reader and makes the stakes of the game feel very real. So if the book being about tennis has you on the fence, I would still check this out.

Our main character is Carrie Soto, the best female tennis player in the world, who is coming out of retirement to try and keep her title. Reid is well known for writing somewhat unlikeable protagonists and a Carrie Soto is definitely at the top of that list. She is harsh and determined to be the best, no matter what the cost. I really loved reading about her and her dynamic with everyone else around her. Carrie Soto does make an appearance in Malibu Rising so this book continues the TJRiverse where all of her historical books seem to connect. There are references to Daisy Jones and the Six and Malibu Rising in this book that TJR fans will enjoy.

The standout character for me is Javier Soto, Carrie’s dad and trainer. The love and respect that he has for his daughter is so beautiful to see. It is nice to have a book where the parent is so present and excited for their child.

This book as a lot of tennis talk and tennis scenes. My only complaint is that I feel like it felt more like a sports movie at times when I was wanting more of the classic Taylor Jenkins Reid quotable lines about life. That being said, I am sure the audiobook for this will be phenomenal and I plan on listening to it when it becomes available.

I would say if you enjoyed Reid’s other books, you will like this one. Just go into it knowing that it is very sports heavy.

I love TJR, so when I was approved to read CARRIE SOTO IS BACK early from NetGalley I was ecstatic! I went into this book not expecting it to be a favorite, as I know nothing about tennis. I soon found that the story is way more than tennis! My favorite part of the book was the father-daughter relationship between Carrie & her father. The beginning 1/4 was a bit slow with backstory, but the last 3/4 made made for a book I just couldn’t put down. I just had to keep reading to see if Carrie Soto would take home the win. Highly recommend!

My review will also be posted on my Instagram feed, StoryGraph & on my goodreads!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has written a stunner. Oh, there's nothing like a fantastic sports novel. What can I say that hasn't already been said? There's so much here--the demands on precocious athletes, the differences in how outspoken male athletes and women athletes are treated, and an industry that is ready to push you out as quickly as they propped you up.

The tennis match scenes are impeccable; I'm not much of a tennis fan (I'll watch the occasional Wimbledon match), but I know how intense and dramatic they can be. Jenkins Reid captures that intensity with perfection.

Read this--it'll be *the* book of the summer.

Many thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow. I know we all probably hated Carrie in Malibu Rising but I loved her in this. She stands up there with Daisy, Evelyn, and Nina as a memorable MC. This one was unlike any of TJR’s other books plot wise but it had her same beautiful writing and character development.

I honestly wasn’t sure about all the tennis talk bc I’m not really a sports person 🙃 but it was actually so interesting and fun The tennis matches kept me on the edge of my seat. And her and her dad made my heart absolutely melt. Just know going in there is A LOT of tennis strategy.

Carrie is unlikeable but somehow I was rooting for her from the beginning. She’s unapologetically confident and aggressive and it was kind of inspiring. And to the tennis community that makes her a b*tch. Yes she could be brash and rude and maybe took it to her far. But it felt amazing to see a woman be like “I know I’m good and I won’t make myself smaller to make you more comfortable”. This is a poignant commentary on how women are portrayed in the media and what being a successful woman athlete looks like.

Carrie leans to come to terms for failure and learning from her mistakes. Honestly, I really related to this book as a struggling perfectionist. I hate to be wrong or make mistakes and it’s something I’m working on because it prevents me from doing thing at times. I definitely felt that Carrie mirrored me in that way but to an extreme. She felt that she was not enough if she wasn’t No. 1 in the world.

If you love anything about tennis, this book is for you. If you don’t, their might be some parts of the book that might not interest you. Though who doesn’t love a comeback story. Carrie Soto, who is 37, is a retired tennis player. She has set many records. Nicki Chan is about to surpass Carrie’s record. Carrie with the help of her father decides to come out of retirement to maintain her record. The story goes between the past and present. I enjoyed the book very much especially since I like tennis and follow it. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine.This is my own opinion.

Carrie Soto Is Back, and I, for one, am extremely grateful for that! I acquired unending joy and pleasure by reading this book and getting to know these characters. Carrie, her father, Bowe, and all the additional cast are perfectly penned and enthusiastically given life. Being a tennis enthusiast and avid reader, this book has it all for me. My one negative inkling of a thought would have to be, however, that people who are not as passionate about tennis as I am may find the first half of the book a bit tedious, as it reads as a play-by-play of Carrie's many matches. After the halfway point, the story really takes off, becoming a triumphant masterpiece of finding oneself, validation, growth, family bonds and love--all perfectly woven into a come-back story that will draw the reader in and leave them as breathless as if they had just played a 3-set match at Arthur Ashe stadium. I find myself becoming more of a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan with each book she writes. I cannot wait to see what's next, but until then, I am truly grateful for this amazing book.

You don't need to be a fan of tennis to love this book! There are a lot of detailed sections describing tennis matches, tennis practices, and tennis strategy, but Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a gifted writer that even a reader who knows nothing about tennis will enjoy all of the action. Carrie Soto, who is a champion tennis player coming out of retirement to defend her Grand Slam record, seems like an unlikeable character at first, but as the story continues and we learn of her past and her relationship with her father, we realize that she is a complex character who deserves to be rooted for - I loved everything about Carrie Soto. She is unapologetic about her talent and she ignores that naysayers who say that she is too old to make a comeback. I devoured this book in two days, and I think this will be a huge hit when it is published. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love tennis. I love watching the sport, its thrilling. So to be able to read a book about the greatest tennis player in the world and feel like you are at every match is truly a treat. Even for a reader that isnt into tennis - this book is a delight. Carrie is not likable. She is stubborn, rude, cocky but you still root for her. You root for her relationships, her game, her heartbreak. She is a special character and I loved everyone around her as well..

TJR wrote a really incredible book with this one and I am SO excited to recommend it to everyone.

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Let me start with this: there is a LOT of tennis in this book. As in, it’s like all tennis. Each section is formatted to follow a different tournament with most matches described in detail. I happen to love tennis and it’s written in such a way that I found it enthralling, but if you’re hoping for lots of romantic intrigue and deep plot, well, revise. It’s tennis.

There is also a lot of Spanish dialogue, which surprised me. Sometimes entire sentences in a particular dialect. I speak Spanish and thought it was great (and done correctly unlike certain books where the Spanish is amateur and eye-rolly), but I found myself thinking multiple times “man, if I didn’t speak Spanish this would be tough!”

Because of these reasons, this may not be a five star book for everyone. It was for me! I flew through it and was biting my nails the whole time to see if Carrie could make her comeback happen. I loved her flawed but growing character. I loved her “people”, especially Bowe and Javier, and loved the relationship she developed with the “villain” who’s not a villain, Nicki Chan.

The writing was strong and I enjoyed the multimedia aspect sprinkled throughout, with transcripts of TV shows and articles.

5 stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t even know where to begin with this one! For starters, thank you so much Netgalley and Random House for this ARC. This is one of the books that I’ve been looking forward to the most and I was so excited to be able to read it.

In Carrie Soto is Back we are reintroduced to the titular character, Carrie Soto. Carrie is a retired tennis star who decides to make her comeback when her record is challenged by a younger player, Nicki Chan.

If you don’t know anything about tennis then some parts of this book may be a little slow or boring. However, there is actually a lot of information, and you may learn something! 😁

Carrie Soto definitely fits right in with Evelyn, Daisy, and Nina. Taylor Jenkins Reid just keeps creating these amazing female characters and I can’t get enough of them!

This is probably my favorite book of the year so far and I can’t wait to reread it once it’s officially published! Great cover, great story, great characters! Make sure to check it out August 30th

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my absolute favorite authors and her new book Carrie Soto is Back does not disappoint! Carrie Soto comes out of retirement at the age of 37 to defend a title that has been hers for years - 20 Grand Slam wins. She has always said what's on her mind - she deserves this record and does not want anyone to take it away from her and she is not afraid to let people know it! With the help of her father who has coached her since she was basically a toddler and Bowe Huntley who is struggling to stay on the circuit she fights her way back to reclaim her former glory days. I love tennis but you don't have to be a tennis fan to like this book. The characters are written so well I was looking them up to see if they were real names in the tennis world. Just loved this book and hated to see it end!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Carrie Soto. What a character. With an introduction like that one she got in Malibu Rising, it’s hard not to brush her off as your typical narcissistic overachiever. But Carrie Soto is so much more than that. And I’m so glad TJR gave us this beautiful story.

While it may not be my favorite of TJR’s books, the fact that I was able to read it in four hours really speaks to how well the story is crafted. Centered around the tennis court, we find Carrie in the midst of a crisis: her record for most Grand Slam titles is in jeopardy when a new generation of tennis stars enter the scene. Carrie decides to come out of retirement at 39 years young and defend her record, causing an uproar in the tennis community.

I have no idea how TJR crafts such complex, lovable, relatable characters that keep you rooting for them even when they’re clearly being unreasonable (read: Carrie). Carrie is raised by her father, who is determined to make her the greatest tennis player of all time. And with Carrie’s tenacity, she refuses to fail. The fact that we first find Carrie in the middle of an affair setting clothes on fire is already amazing. What’s even better is that Brandon Randall is a footnote in her story; Carrie simply has no room for distractions in the form of small, unfaithful men. And I really love that for her. It’s also really refreshing to read about a woman who is constantly seeking to prove herself, yet she is unfazed by the unkind names she’s called or the bad reputation she gets for the classic “not smiling enough” or “not modest enough.” Carrie is the best. Period. And she will never fail to remind you that she is, which is what kinda makes her the best. What you see is what you get. The best part of the book for me was definitely her relationship with her father and their unbreakable bond through tennis. A fast-paced journey about coming to terms with your own shortcomings and realizing that at the end of the day, it’s just tennis.

Carrie Soto is Back hits shelves on August 30, and you certainly don’t want to miss it!

I tried writing a review for this book when I finished it and literally couldn't put my thoughts into words. I still can't find the words to describe this book. All I can say is I absolutely loved it. Taylor Jenkins Reid will continue to make me care about fake characters like they are real. She truly is such a talented writer. I think this might be my second favorite book by her. It's hard to say though but I did love the father daughter relationship in this book. I can't wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid does next.

This book ripped my heart out and then put it back together. What a WONDERFUL story, truly. As someone who grew up in sports for her whole life — soccer being a main bonding point for my dad and I — this book really hit hard. There were points in the story where I saw direct parallels to my childhood in competitive athletics and related immensely to Carrie (specifically the difficulties of having your dad as your coach and the frequent tensions it can create in your relationship). This book also carefully revealed the intricacies of being a woman within the world of athletics, as well as exposed the different standards that women are often held to in comparison to men. I honestly loved this book so much and it just might be my favorite of hers.

Carrie Soto is Back feels like a departure from TJR's past hits that boasted a wide cast of characters, with complex and sprawling family dramas. "Carrie Soto" is fairly straightforward in its plot, with 4-5 significant characters throughout. About a decade after Carrie's retirement as an esteemed tennis player, she decides she wants back in the game. A ruthless, aggressive, and decisively unlikeable player, she elbows her way through various championships eager to prove that she is still the greatest player of all time. Along the way, she brings her publicist Gwen, her coach and father Javier, and her practice mate and love interest Bowe, Reid proves once against that she is a master writer of dialogue and banter. I really liked the clarity and simplicity of the plot: I finished this in just a few days and felt it was a perfect, light summer read. Some parts of the story are quickly tied up (maybe a bit too conveniently) but that is easily forgivable, and makes me wonder if we can expect a sequel at some point in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy of Carrie Soto is back. It goes without saying that the book is well-written, because Taylor Jenkins Reid can even write a sports-themed book and I will read it because I love how she puts words down on paper. Even if you don’t know much about tennis, you will love this book and probably learn some things about tennis too. The characters were so vivid they leapt off the page. Carrie is not a pleasant character, but I was rooting for her the whole book, and she was someone I loved to hate. Her relationship with Javier was realistic and touching and Javier was my favorite character. The way he and Carrie would strategize about how to beat each opponent really brought the matches to life. If you’re looking for a fast engaging read, buy this book!

WOW. Taylor Jenkins Reid has absolutely outdone herself with Carrie Soto is Back. Easily one of the best books I've read in awhile and while I love Evelyn Hugo, I think Carrie Soto might be my favorite TJR character.
Carrie Soto is a retired tennis champion when she watches Nicki Chan tie her world record. At that moment, she turns to her father and former coach, Javier, and decides to get back in the game and try to win her record back. The book then goes through Carrie's previous career before bringing us back to present day and taking us through a year of brutal training and matches. Along the way, Carrie starts practicing with Bowe Howling, a 40 year old on the men's circuit in his last year of the sport whom Javier starts essentially coaching as well.
The characters are phenomenal. Its written in a way that you really feel as if you know these people. And even though I'm not a tennis fan (or much of a sports fan really), I found myself so invested in the outcomes. Honestly, it was riveting.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, NetGalley and the author for this ARC.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back! As a fan of her books, this one did not disappoint! Although, I wished the ending was different... I could appreciate how she choose to end this one especially after reading the year later chapter. I am now interested in watching Tennis, something I never thought I would say. It was enthralling! 5 stars!