A grand slam title that should be in everyone’s beach bag this summer, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK doesn’t make me want to pick up a racket as much as it makes me want to hug my dad. The relationship between Carrie and her father, and the evolution of Carrie as a tennis player, were the highlights of this well-written and engrossing novel. And, as a bonus, I finally understand tennis scoring.

Ahhhh TJR is back for me. After a disappointing (for me, at least) Malibu Rising - we revisit an important character from that novel…and no, it’s not Mick Riva.

It’s tennis phenom Carrie Soto, who you might remember as the other woman in Nina Riva’s troubled marriage.

This book is fierce and daring, following Carrie’s comeback to tennis 🎾 greatness at the ripe age of 37 and after 5 years of retirement. Why? Because another player is on the verge of taking her title as the winningest woman in tennis history.

This is a story of comebacks. It’s a story of choosing happiness. It’s a story of being unapologetic as a woman and learning to see yourself through others eyes. And about loving yourself and letting others love you too.

Carrie Soto is a winner in my book.

taylor jenkins reid NEVER misses. i completely adored this book and i loved this conclusion to her historical fiction books. taylor jenkins reid remains to be my favorite author. this book was perfect and i loved every second of it, i never thought i'd get this invested in fictional tennis but i did for her. the story, the characters, their relationships, and everything else made this book perfect. i adore carrier soto and i bet other people will too.

First of all, a HUGE thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this early, I was actually shocked that I got approved!

I wasn't the biggest fan of Malibu Rising, So I was nervous starting Carrie Soto is Back and thankfully I thought this book was one of the best books i've read in 2022. Here's why:
- The detail in this book is spot on without sounding too technical. People who don’t play tennis will be comfortable reading this and not miss any points in the story.
- There is so much Life and energy in the description of each tournament.
-This in an incredibly powerful novel about female ambition, about resilience and determination, and clawing your way to the top.
- Great Father and Daughter story
- Great writing from Taylor Jenkins Reid. I will have to go back and read Malibu rising, because we were first introduced in that book.

Honestly this was an absolutely beautiful and layered story that I think I would have loved more if I related more strongly to the main character. Carrie Soto is an internationally renowned athlete with a string of records from her career in women’s tennis. When her record for most Slams is threatened by a younger tennis phenom she decides to come out of retirement to defend it.
At it’s heart this the story of a woman who is so incredibly driven to be the best that she doesn’t know herself when she isn’t winning. The conflict is brilliantly rendered and Carrie’s personal development is compelling but something was just missing for me to really give this 4 or 5 stars. I didn’t quite understand the MC’s single-mindedness and how stubborn she was about so many things that didn’t seem to really matter that much.
I did absolutely love the relationship between her and her father who is also her coach. His dedication to her is so touching because he cares about her dreams but he also just wants her to be happy.
I also liked the romance aspect as her reluctance to open her heart is something I could identify with and I appreciated her love interest’s persistence to win her over.
I did feel like there was a side character with her own family drama that felt a little shoehorned in and wished that more time had been given to develop that part of the story.
Overall I think this was a wonderful addition to the Evelyn Hugo universe of books by TJR and will eagerly await the next one!

Let me preface this review by saying I don't know anything about tennis and have never watched. But wow, Reid wrote a book deep in the middle of the tennis world and made me obsessed!

I honestly wasn't looking too forward to a book about Carrie Soto after the glimpses of her I saw in Malibu Rising. But I very easily can say Carrie is my new favorite protagonist of Reid's. I absolutely loved this book, start to finish!

Reid wrote this story in such a way that the tennis was very approachable, and I was super invested in every aspect of the book. However, the novel is about so much more than just tennis. I love Carrie the entire book, even when I didn't like her. And I really enjoyed seeing her relationships with other characters grow and evolve. I was routing for Carrie the entire time! I will 100% be purchasing this book to read again!

Another ace for Taylor Jenkins Reid! This was an incredible book about the power of self and the fact that you are never too old to reach for your dreams. First of all, I do have to say that I love tennis. I played in high school and college. Unfortunately I have not played in years. After reading this book I just want to get back on the court and hit some balls. This book made it all so real that I actually felt like I was on the court with Carrie.

Carrie Soto used to hold the world record for the most Grand Slam titles. She decides to come out of retirement when her record is broken. She is 37 and she agrees to have her father coach her. However Carrie has a reputation as the battle axe which is a euphemism for something else. She also has a losing record with love. An old flame agrees to help hit with her so that he can get better with tennis as well. Carrie has to dig deep to see if she has what it takes to reclaim her record.

One of the things about this book that drew me to it besides tennis was that Carrie Soto was not a typical main character. She honestly, was not very likeable at first. I did need a little warm up with this book but once I was drawn in and couldn't stop reading. Definitely a winning read!!

Thank you for this advanced arc from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in return for an honest review.

The sign of a great book is when you are completely lost in the book and feel like you are in their universe. I lived in Carrie Soto’s universe and didn’t want to leave. What an amazing ride and one of Taylor Jenkin Reid’s best books. 5 stars and I highly recommend everyone read this book. Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I feel very sad that this is now the second book that I have not finished written by Reid. I really adored all of her earlier works, but this one and Malibu Rising just didn't captivate me. I did not find the characters to be likeable or compelling. Furthermore, I am not a fan of tennis, so much of the tennis jargon was lost on me. Perhaps if you love and understand tennis or sports, then this would be the book for you. It was not for me.

“You are perfect even in your imperfection.”
Wow what a journey with this book….I know nothing about tennis and was a little skeptical but honestly I could not put this one down and when I had to, I could not stop thinking about it. This author has a way of sucking you into these characters lives and rooting for them. Great journey of self love and reflection, being enough of oneself, realizing accomplishments, being ok just being, finding real love as well as the love of family and unlikely friends who have are backs and push us to be better. “Nothing will ever diminish what you did and have done.” Don’t miss out on this journey with these characters…it will be worth your while.

Thank you so much to Random House for sending me an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.


wow, this book left me speechless. I have read everything from the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to Malibu Rising but Carrie Soto is Back is the only book to make me cry. I related to Carrie on such a personal level that I had to walk away from this at times and come back to it but it was extremely worth it. This story is so beautiful, and the perfect come back story. i can’t reccomend this enough and I’m super grateful to have been given the chance to read it early.

I adore TJR and will read anything she writes. Malibu Rising was one of my favorite books oof 2021 and The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo is in my top 10 of all time. I was excited as soon as I heard about Carrie Soto and couldn't wait to read it and wanted to love it.

Maybe I just don''t care enough about tennis. I learned a few interesting facts about play on grass vs, clay, but so much of this book is page after page of tennis matches, swings and sets, the baseline. I've never really gotten into watching tennis so this was virtually meaningless and not all that interesting.

Carrie isn't terribly likable, but she is a fierce and strong woman. Her character only starts too develop in the final third of the novel, until then I felt we didn't know her, understand her, or even have a reason to root for her. Ironically her opponent, Nikki Chan seems so much more interesting and worthy of her own novel.

I still wanted to devout it, but wasn't left with the satisfaction and thought provoking feeling as I have with other TJR books.

*Release Date - 8/30/2022*. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

Carrie Soto is Back quickly became my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book to date! Carrie is a retired tennis player who is watching her records come dangerously close to falling, and she decides to stage a come back. This story takes us along her tennis journey and gives us glimpses into what makes Carrie tick. If you enjoy tennis, this book is for you. If you enjoy a story about digging deep to find out what is truly important, this book is for you. If you enjoy competition, this book is for you. If you enjoy stories bout father/daughter relationships, this book is for you.
If you enjoy stories about going for your dreams even if the whole world thinks it is impossible, this book is for you! In short, this book is for you!

Taylor Jenkins Reid knocked it out of the park with this one!! The suspense level equaled or maybe even surpassed the level of Evelyn Hugo. Carrie is such a dynamic character, and the other characters were really fleshed out well too. The relationship between Carrie and her father was so heartfelt and wonderful. There were so many wonderful deep thoughtful moments in the book about life and realizing what's important to you. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be purchasing it for my library and recommending it to my students and teachers.

I had high expectations for Carrie Soto is Back and it DELIVERED. I am forever in awe of how Taylor Jenkins Reid can make her characters come to life. I am always desperate to look up interviews of our protagonists, forgetting they aren't real.

Carrie Soto starts quick in the present timeline. It sets up what you are getting into beautifully. She is wanting to come out of retirement to stop an up and comer from surpassing her records. From that short opening, you go back in time to her youth all the way forward to the present time. I absolutely devoured that bit. That is where I feel Reid really excels. That takes you to the third of the book and we are continuing from the timeline in the beginning. Can Carrie Soto defend her status?

I learned a lot about the tennis world, having never seen the sport. Now I am desperate to see some matches. Watch me start a whole new hobby!

If you loved Daisy, Evelyn, and Nina, then you will love Carrie. Easy 5 stars. I can't wait for Reid's next novel.

(Full review will be posted to retailers and socials closer to publication date.)

Wow oh wow oh wow! This seemingly simple novel about woman’s tennis got me on so many levels. Fathers & daughters. The double standard in expectations of powerful women. Chasing immortality in a world constantly changing.

The book follows Carrie Soto as she comes out of retirement to try to claim back her title. This story was perfection. I laughed, I cried, I cheered. Reid writes in a mesmerizing way that the story plays across your eyes as you find yourself thinking just one more chapter. Easily Reid’s best book to date.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House for the advanced copy.

My favorite thing about Taylor Jenkins Reid's books is how they completely make the reader feel as if they are present in the setting every step of the way. Carrie Soto is Back does not disappoint in this regard! I felt as if I was courtside during tennis matches, taken back to the hotels after the matches, and then home with Carrie and her father. Another blockbuster novel by TJR!

This book is all about tennis. I don’t really care much about tennis, so why would I read a book all about tennis? I found myself struggling early because Carrie Soto is not only back, she’s a selfish, unlovable bitch. In fact her nickname is The BattleAxe. While I’m starting to like her father who is also her coach, I can’t get into the book because it’s all about tennis. Then I realized that somehow I’m rooting for The BattleAxe and I haven’t gotten out of the chair for four hours. Damn you, Taylor Jenkins Reid for being so talented.

And it isn’t all about tennis. Just like Carrie, there is a lot more going on. Carrie comes out of retirement at 37 to play the majors when her record for most major wins is tied by Nicki Chan. Her father is the best character, by far. He’s called, the Jaguar, for the way he played back in the day. His direction and singular love of Carrie are fantastic. While the snippets of Spanish between them was distracting at first, I began to find them endearing and symbolic of the intimacy between father and daughter. I felt like I was ease-dropping on their relationship.

Then there is aging player Bowe Huntley. He’s struggling to stay on the tour and slowly works his way into Carrie’s life. They’ve known each other forever - even had a fling once long ago. As he comes in the scene, The facade Carrie has hidden behind begins to crack just a little.

As I said, when you hit the halfway point of the book, it is nearly impossible to put down. You follow her from Australia to France, England, and New York as she tries to do the impossible. And you cheer for her despite her arrogance (or maybe because of it) and laugh out loud at her awkward social interactions. This is where she comes alive and learns about how life can blossom after years of setting her personal life aside in pursuit of tennis.

Reid is a master. To me, what sets her apart is her ability to tell stories in unique ways. She also builds such real and diverse characters. At some points in the book, you can actually feel the steam coming off the court and hear the volleys. She’s that good. After a rocky start, this book exceeded my expectations.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing / Ballantine for an advanced copy.

4.5/5 stars!

TJR never disappoints! There's just something so special about her writing and the characters she brings to life that keeps my eyes glued to the page and me wanting more. I never thought I would find a book centered around tennis so interesting but alas its TJR so I should've known I would adore this! I loved Soto's character. She is proud, sharp, stubborn, you cant help but root for her. I loved Soto's relationship with her father, the connection she had to the game, her character development and the romance sublot. I felt the tennis matches and her come back training was fun and exciting and was delivered beautifully. Taylor Jenkins Reid is unstoppable. I would read anything she writes, ANYTHING. This was a quick read and I for sure recommend this!

I care very little about tennis but I was hooked on this book (which, btw, taught me a LOT about tennis) from start to finish. TJR does it again with her empathetic characters and complex relationships.