Wow, TJR has done it again. I won’t lie, when I first heard this book was about tennis, I was disappointed. Tennis is just not my vibe. I pushed past that because, hello, Taylor Jenkins Reid. I am so glad I did. I didn’t put this book down once. Read it from cover to cover. It is about so much more than tennis. This is without a doubt the best book I have read in 2022 and I’m already eagerly awaiting whatever TJR graces us with next.

You are perfect even in your imperfection …

Carrie Soto has been groomed since birth to be the best Tennis player of all time. Her father beside her every step of the way, through every obstacle he was there. Once in the lime light of the tennis world Carrie takes her career into her own hands. After retiring from the sport Carrie decides it is time for one more tour on the tennis circuit. However, Carrie quickly sees the competition and the competitors are not the same as they once were.

Let me say I absolutely adore Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her books leave you with such wonderment. Unfortunately, Carrie Soto did not provide that for me. This was definitely all about tennis, which may work if you are a tennis fan. I needed more glitz, glam, love, passion instead i just got tennis and more tennis.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review the advanced copy. All opinions are my own

THE BITCH IS BACK!!!

Carrie Soto is Back follows (you guessed it) Carrie Soto, one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, as she attempts to resurrect her career when another player breaks her longstanding record. Coming out of retirement five years after leaving the court for good means having to rebuild not just her career but her relationship with those surrounding it, including her father, once her coach, and Bowe Huntley, another tennis player with whom she once shared a fling.

At surface level, this book is about Carrie’s career and her relationship with tennis. But at its heart, Carrie Soto is the story of a woman who has fought tooth and nail to get to where she is, only to be asked to smile wider so people will like her; who cannot rage at referees or reporters for fear of being called “emotional” or “nonsensical”, while her male counterparts can do the same and be viewed as dedicated to their craft; whose life has been wholly and completely devoted to the sport that she loves. The media’s views play a large part in portraying this. The book is filled with excerpts and transcripts of reporters and Op-Eds, each with their own opinion on Carrie’s hopeful comeback, and they are part of what makes her journey so compelling. Seeing the blatant sexism and cruelty of the media towards a woman who has only ever been talented stings the reader as much as it does Carrie. It serves to illustrate the gender disparity of the sports world—players and commentators alike—and draw a connection to the present day, where these same problems continue to persist. Fictional male reporters constantly invalidate and talk over their single female counterpart, calling Carrie a bitch on national television and implying she can’t play her game; until much later, Carrie herself lacks sponsors because they think she isn’t “kind” or “agreeable” enough. Even when Carrie isn’t around, we see female voices routinely silenced or told to be sweeter. It’s a constant reminder of how uneven the playing field is regardless of whether or not the game is actually being played. The idea that a woman has to not only be good at playing the game but also at suppressing her true personality for reporters’ sake is both realistic and gut-wrenching, and Jenkins Reid writes it unflinchingly, never once shying from the ugly truth.

Even further, I felt Jenkins Reid did a great job of recognizing how being a woman of color even further affects that dynamic. Nicki Chan, the player that broke Carrie’s world record and incentivized her to return to the sport, deals with constant racism because of her Asian heritage, while her white counterparts don’t. The world doesn’t give her as much attention as Carrie, even when she is just as good a player, largely because of her ethnicity. Even as she beats Carrie’s record, no one considers her on the same level. She has to fight twice as hard to earn a fraction of the attention Carrie gets upon her return—even if that attention isn’t necessarily good. I felt that this was incredibly important to the story, as Carrie spends a good portion of the book seeing herself as less-talked-about than Nicki, solely because Nicki beat her; however, this isn’t the truth. Nicki has been beating record after record for years, yet little focus was given to it, her accomplishments invalidated in the face of Carrie’s retirement. People argued that she didn’t actually earn those wins because Carrie was gone; that Nicki was only winning because of the absence of another player. The scene of her telling this to Carrie could have been written poorly. There were ample ways it could become insensitive if treated without the care the topic deserves. In the end, however much Carrie changed as a result of the conversation, I felt that Nicki’s experiences weren’t used as a plot device; rather, they shone a spotlight on a character that readers had viewed as somewhat of a villain until that point. Nicki and Carrie’s relationship was so entertaining, and I loved how they liked each other but still prioritized winning. Even with the ending, I was so happy with who won, because I felt it could have been either of them and I would have been vindicated. By the end of the book, you realize there’s no villain, just two women fighting to stand at the top of the pyramid.

Jenkins Reid is known for going for unconventional writing methods with her books, partricularly in the Mick Riva Universe, and Carrie Soto is no different. I was underwhelmed by Malibu Rising because it lacked that unique writing style for me. Carrie Soto, on the other hand, delivers in this arena. The snippets of interviews and articles as well as the new addition of sports commentators helping to tell the story made this book so fun to read, and I even found myself rooting for the fictional side characters involved in them. Gloria Jones, one of the commentators, rarely gets a full sentence in without her male colleagues shutting her down; however, by the end of the book, she’s begun to take charge, in part inspired by Carrie’s own return to the sport and a world that considers her fickle and unlikable. I loved these little details because they added so much to the story, even if just for a moment. It’s one thing for the reader to hear Carrie thinking about what everyone is saying about her; it’s another to be able to see it. Aspects of the main character like her prickly personality and cutthroat winning strategies are further emphasised by the discourse going on in the sports world published in articles and Op-Eds. I missed Jenkins Reid’s writing so much, and this book had it in abundance.

Carrie’s relationship with the two second biggest characters—her father, Javier Soto, and her ex-fling, Bowe Huntley—also added to this book’s charm. The dysfunctionality of her childhood and how that has affected Carrie in the present hits really hard, especially when those effects begin to set in later. The issues between Carrie and Javi are so real and raw, and the development of their relationship throughout the book is part of what makes it so emotionally strong. Their father-daughter bond is at the book’s emotional center, and it’s impossible for the reader not to root for them along the way. I also loved her relationship with Bowe; the chemistry between them is so palpable and the way Bowe loves her so much is just so… AAAACK I love them. I’m a sucker for the guy just being a simp for his hot gf and this book really gave that to the max. BoweCarrie (?) just ended all other couples. Slayed. 10/10. The ending felt so right and I loved the way everything wrapped up, even if certain parts of it destroyed me inside and left me crying on the floor. Taylor Jenkins Reid has mastered the art of hitting her readers right where it hurts and this book might have done it the most. Just,,, beyond.

I have so much more to say but my thoughts are losing coherency and anyways, it’s mostly just rambling about how much I love this book. Everything—the writing, the characters, the message, the rivalries… It was all done so well and I can’t wait to read it again. I’m already planning it in my head LMFAO. Readers will fall in love with this book and if you’re like me, the sport it covers (even though I’ve never really been interested in tennis???). Carrie Soto will steal your heart and all of your self-esteem and you’ll thank her for it. This book took all my expectations and ground them to dust. Taylor Jenkins Reid continues to outdo herself, and the only downside to Carrie Soto is Back is that it eventually ends. All that's left for me to do now is cry over Carrie and Bowe because you guys don't understand they are THE couple I love them SO MUCH. THE ONLY COUPLE TO EVER. Goddamn superior <3333

I loved Taylor Jenkins Reed’s previous books. I enjoyed this one but do not feel it rose to the level of the others. She did a great job exploring the relationships between the characters. I would have liked more of that and less repetitive details about tennis. Being said, I’m glad I read it and am still a fan.

I was ecstatic to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest work, Carrie Soto is Back. It met all my expectations.

Carrie Soto, who made a brief appearance in Malibu Rising, is featured in this latest book. Carrie is a retired professional tennis player who sees one of her records broken in person. With the help of her father, who is also her coach, and mens player who is nearing the end of his career, she attempts a comeback in the Grand Slam tournaments.

The dialogue between the characters and the descriptions of the tennis matches keep the story moving along at a quick pace. This is one of those books to set aside an afternoon to binge read! It's hard to put down. There is a lot of tennis in this book, but you do not have to be a tennis player or fan to appreciate the story.

TJR is clearly one of those authors that I can pick up anything she writes and I know I will love it.

Highly recommend!

I just loved this so much. Completely different than any book she’s written before. I really love witnessing the evolution of TJR’s writing. I’m a huge fan of her backlist but the characters she’s created with Daisy Jones, Evelyn Hugo, and Carrie Soto really show what a masterful storyteller she is. While Malibu Rising was arguably not my favorite,it really laid the groundwork for this book to be so great. Nothing surprised me with this one but the themes of perseverance, growth, the strength in opening your heart to others, and acceptance of one’s self was beautiful to read about. The ending was perfect and Carrie’s entire character development was both well done and incredibly satisfying. The relationships between literally every single character filled my heart with such joy and I would DIE for Bowe. My fave TJR man so far. But don’t get it twisted, this book is much, much more than a romance.

I played competitive sports for 12 years and also speak Spanish, so I’m curious how the masses will feel about this one. It is really heavy on Tennis (which should be obvious but maybe not for some) and there is a lot of Spanish dialogue between Carrie and her dad that doesn’t really provide context for people who don’t speak the language.

Cant wait for everyone to get to know and love Carrie Soto because she 👏 is 👏 back 👏.

WOW! I loved this, Carrie Soto is hands down my favorite TJR female. I can’t explain why this book felt so special compared to her others but it was.

In true TJR fashion she sucks you into the story where the people you are reading about feel real. You can feel their triumphs and defeats like they are your own.

Carrie Soto is a dynamic character, she is tremendously written.

TJR is a true master of her craft and I can’t sing enough praises about CARRIE SOTO IS BACK!

TJR is a master at crafting flawed characters that you root for and love through all their struggles.

Carrie Soto is no exception. I will say at the 20 percent mark of this book, I thought this was going to be my first TJR book I wasn’t going to love. It was A LOT of tennis. And the whole book is extremely heavy on tennis. But the first part especially was heavy on the terminology and ensuring the readers understand the game. It was necessary. BUT once I got through that I couldn’t put the book down.

Carrie Soto knows one thing in life. And that’s tennis. She’s broken all sorts of records. But six years into retirement someone else starts breaking her records. So at 37-years-old she comes back to reclaim what is her - as the oldest women in tennis.

Carrie is utterly herself. She doesn’t care what others think. She doesn’t fall in love. She does what she wants. And I love her for it.

Put this on your fall reading list. You won’t regret it.

I think I actually squealed when I read the email approving me to read an advanced copy of this book!! TJR has become an absolute favorite and must-read author for me. Her novels are so beautifully written, portraying each woman's story with words that cut through my heart and melt my insides like butter. And she does it again with her latest work, Carrie Soto Is Back. This book was truly sensational and I could have read it in one sitting if I had the time! As a woman and a former athlete, this book resonated with me on a level that evoked a plethora of emotions...some I haven't felt in a very long time. Evelyn Hugo was always my favorite, but I think that Carrie Soto now shares the crown.

Carrie Soto was born and raised into the world of tennis, as her father was a professional player from Argentina who reigned during his time. Carrie fell in love with the game at a very young age and was coached by her dad to become the greatest player of all time. And that's exactly what she becomes, until she injures her knee to the severity of needing surgery and has to end her career. Five years later, Nicki Chan has just tied Carrie's record and Carrie does not like this. So, she decides to come out of retirement to defend her title.

This book is definitely about tennis, but don't let that discourage you from reading! It is so much more than that!! This is the story of a complex woman who had no friends because she devoted all of her time to being the best player in the world. She didn't know how to interact with other people, so she came across as being cutthroat. She was fierce and competitive, hated for her accomplishments. Yet, she feared rejection and didn't know how to deal with failure. She was at the top of the world, but all alone. She was her own worst enemy. I've seen in other reviews that Carrie is an unlikeable character, but I absolutely loved her and all of her flaws. I loved all of the mental turmoil, pressures and growth that Carrie faces and overcomes during her journey. She truly personifies the definition of a warrior.

I highly recommend this book and hope that you all love it as much as I did!! Carrie Soto is an unforgettable story that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you to TJR, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC in exchange for my hones opinion.

Carrie Soto IS BACK!!! I’ve read a few TJR books and I really wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but WOW…I am blown away! I read it all in one sitting. I loved the heart, and determination, and character development throughout the book. I’m not what you would call a tennis fan but I found myself rooting for Carrie, Bowe, and even Chan more than I care to admit. I truly was lost in this wonderful world of pro tennis and competition, the highs and lows of winning and losing. This book make me feel so many emotions and I didn’t want it to end. Beautifully done! This book is SO much more than the description.

“Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And
if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her
since the age of two. But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named
Nicki Chan. At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record.”

***Thank you to netgalley and RHPG Ballantine for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.***

Carrie Soto Is Back, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's books and was ecstatic to receive an ARC from the publisher. I devoured this book in about 30 hours (so excited that I had a plane ride which meant built-in time to dive in). I liked Carrie Soto is Back about as much as I enjoyed Daisy Jones & the Six but not nearly as much as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugu or Malibu Rising (which were both 5 stars).

Carrie Soto is not likable. . . she is emotionally stunted and unable to give or receive care or friendship. She just wants to win at tennis. And it took me the first half of the book for me to even care about her or if she won or lost. She is mean and spoiled - quitting when she didn't think she could win anymore and coming back because she couldn't stand that someone beat the record she was most proud of.

There is a line between being strong and being mean and often strong women are portrayed as "not nice." But in this case, Carrie repeatedly is needlessly rude and heartless and it hurts people who cared about her and kept those who could have respected her from doing so. All of Carrie's self-worth comes from winning.

By about halfway through the book though, I did start caring about her - I wanted her to be better - not at tennis but as a human being. Not only for her sake, but for the sake of her father and others who poured so much of themselves out with so little response from Carrie. And I was not disappointed. TJR masterfully develops Carrie through the relationships with those around her who see something more in her.

There is a lot of tennis in this book which I didn't care for. Though it did give me an appreciation for the sport, the stamina required, the focus, and the commitment needed. And certainly, you get an insight into a sport that doesn't encourage teamwork and by its nature encourages alienation from your opponents.

I can understand and respect the athletes we've seen recently who step back in order to practice physical and mental self-care. And I appreciate that the author touches on the beauty standards, racial inequity, and gender double standards that come with the sport and in general society.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an incredible storyteller and writer and with Carrie Soto, she accomplishes a grand slam!
Thank you Random House/Ballantine for the ARC
#CarrieSotoIsBack #NetGalley

First, thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC.

This was my first time reading a Taylor Jenkins Reid book and oh, WOW. I will be going back and reading all of her other books promptly.

For this book, I cannot truly articulate how much I enjoyed it so soon after finishing it. I laughed. I cried. I had a range of emotions that spanned love and irritation for the character. I enjoyed this so much that putting it down was unacceptable. Holy crap, read this book.

Thanks to Random House for the ARC copy of Carrie Soto is Back by one of my favorite authors Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’m a huge fan of Jenkins Reid and count as my favorites Daisy Jones and the Six, Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising. Carrie Soto is Back is another hard to put down outing by Jenkins Reid and you don’t have to be a tennis fan to become totally engrossed in Carrie’s story. Beyond tennis it’s a story of performing at your peak; recognizing talent to help you succeed; and on a par with talent, emotional intelligence and openness are necessary components of a successful life. Shades of Serena, Maria and Steffi are all recognized in Soto’s character. When young powerhouse player Nikki Chan is on the verge of breaking Soto’s record, she comes out of retirement at age 37 to win one more slam and keep her record. Despite her immense talent and record breaking career Soto is not a popular player. When her father and coach dies Soto receives masses of flowers and food but no visitors and telling her boyfriend Bowie she loves him is almost impossible. She also has trouble finding anyone willing to hit with her. Winning is everything and Soto cannot handle the prospect of losing. This road leads her to focus less on the joy of her natural rhythm; her beautifully perfect tennis; and her instinctive knowledge of the court and her opponent’s game. Written off by the tennis community she plays the Australian, French, Wimbledon and finally the U.S. Open. Her journey is a page turner. And as with all Jenkins Reid books the reader will bask in the stories of strong women who often struggle while achieving their own measure of success. No spoilers here you’ll have to read Carrie Soto is Back to see if she succeeds.

4.5 stars! Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again - another fierce and unapologetic leading woman in Carrie Soto! I so enjoy the style of TJRs’s writing - it is fast paced and exciting, always hard to put down!!

Carrie Soto is the world’s greatest tennis player. Coached by her retired tennis pro father, Javier; Carrie has lived and breathed tennis since she could walk. Called the ‘Battle Axe’ for her cold-hearted nature, she believes she is the best and shows no mercy along the way. By the time she retires, she has the longest streak rated #1 and the most Grand Slams in history. Until 6 years later when Nicki Chan comes along and ties her record for the most Grand Slams. So at 37, Carrie decides she has no other choice but to stage her return to try to take her title back.

With her father coaching her and an unexpected ally by her side, can she defeat Nicki to take her record back?

I appreciated the growth of her character during her comeback run and seeing her finally find the joy in tennis again, instead of it only being about winning. Also loved the mended relationship between her and her father.

Thanks to #NetGalley, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books, for the e-ARC of #CarrieSotoIsBack in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto is the best tennis player in the world, and holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles won. She has sacrificed everything for tennis. The only thing she cares about is winning. She has no friends or relationships. So, when a younger player breaks her record, Carrie decides she must come out of retirement, at age 37, to take it back. With her famous tennis coach father at her side, Carrie begins her improbable quest to win one more Grand Slam.
On the upside, this was a VERY fast read. However, I do think it will appeal to a narrower audience than any of Jenkins-Reid’s other books. It gets into the minute details of tennis– how to hit certain shots and how to move around the court. Most chapters are titled with the names of the various tournaments, and often have detailed descriptions of the match. I have to think the author was or is a serious tennis player. To truly LOVE this book, I think you have to be either a tennis fanatic or an uncommonly gifted person ( in sports or otherwise) that can understand and relate to Carrie’s single mindedness.
Of course, Carrie does eventually learn that there is more to life than tennis, but it takes a lot of matches to get there.

3.5 stars

Carrie Soto is a mess. Other reviews praise her for being a "strong female character" and how it's so great that she's "unapologetic." I love strong women in fiction, I enjoy unlikeable characters (Deborah Vance on Hacks is a horrible human being, and I love her so much), but Carrie is neither strong nor is she really a character. I can't even say I hate her because she never seemed to exist as a person in my mind. She's literally just a tennis machine. She trains, she plays, she trains some more, she plays, she has sex, she trains. There's a scene where she claims to respect the women who came before her ("The shoulders she's standing on") and yet the entire premise of the book is about Carrie coming out of retirement for the SOLE PURPOSE of stopping another woman from getting her record. Other women (other people, really) are just obstacles in her path to getting what she wants. She doesn't give a shit about anyone or anything except being the best. If she just didn't want this particular person to achieve her record, that might be different.

In addition to that, so much of the book reads like an outline of a much longer story. It's like Reid couldn't decide between doing a flashback or a full linear retelling, so she split the difference. "She's a newcomer, oh she's starting to win, oh her dad is on Carson, she's becoming famous, this is her reputation, her dad wrote a book." I felt like I was on a speed-run of two decades to get to the main story, which then most devolves into just a revolving door of tennis matches against cardboard cutouts.

I really like Taylor Jenkins Reid. If it had been any other writer, this would have been a DNF way before the halfway mark, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt because I thought maybe there was redemption or a reckoning on the way. Daisy Jones and the Six is one of my favorite books, and I'll still show up for whatever she writes next. But this is a massive misfire that should be avoided unless you want to read a lot of clinical and dry tennis facts wrapped around one of the worst-drawn characters I've seen from a major writer.

Carrie wasn’t the most likeable character, but I think she had to be written that way. I really liked Javier, and the growth of Bowe.

So. Much. Tennis. Lol. It pains me … I mean *pains* me to give a TJR book less than a 4 or 5 star review but admittedly I wanted to love this book a lot more than I did. While I grew to love Carrie throughout the book (because let’s be honest we need more confident women characters that refuse to be humble and timid) I just felt like it was lacking the heart and soul of other TJR books. Sure it had a moral to the story but I was still left feeling like …. Ok? So what? It certainly didn’t leave me with a book hangover like her others have and I felt like some of it was a slog to get through.

There was a lot and I mean A LOT of tennis. If you are a fan of the game, you might love this book, but I found myself an expert on a sport I still don’t care enough about lol. All in all, I think this book will be polarizing among readers and I’m excited to see where people shake out come pub day.

Also, I’m calling it now, the next book in the TJR-verse will be about Gwen, Carrie’s badass agent and I can’t wait to read about her!

REVIEW: Carrie Soto is Back (pub date: Aug 30)

first of all, thank you Random House and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy! I’m not going to lie, I screamed and then did a little happy dance when I saw this in my inbox - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of my all time favorite books, and I love Taylor Jenkins Reid.

y’all… this book is GOOD. the characters? amazing. the plot? fantastic. the writing? unreal. there are so many good quotes in this book - I think I highlighted something at least every other page.

I’m still working my way through TJR’s backlist, but without a doubt, Carrie is one of my all time favorite characters. she is unapologetically herself. she wants something and she goes after it. she is an absolute BAD ASS.

the Sotos might be one of my favorite father/daughter duos I’ve read, ever. without getting too into details - Javier Soto’s friendship with one of the other big characters had me laughing, constantly.

I’m not a big “sports in books” person - but I did grow up playing sports, and even though I know absolutely nothing about tennis, you could feel the adrenaline through the pages of this book. I could not put it down.

I also think this book touches on really relevant topics to the world today - how women are treated, especially as professional athletes, compared to men. one quote stuck with me - “some men’s childhoods are permitted to last forever, but women are so often reminded that there is work to be done.” Reid really pulled back the curtain and let us see directly into the life of a professional female athlete - what the press says, what the fans say, etc.

also - I absolutely cried. like a baby.

if you loved Evelyn Hugo and Nina Riva, I think you’re going to freak out over Carrie Soto. absolute five star read.

Instagram post will be posted today, 5/21/2022 on @whatcheyreads. I will add a link when I post it!

This book is a master class in character development. I should hate Carrie. She’s written to be highly unlikable, but despite that, I was on the edge of my seat rooting for her. She may have taken over as my favorite of TJR’s protagonists.

I’ll start by saying I appreciated how unlike previous novels, this book is told in a linear format. We needed to follow the evolution of Carrie in order to empathize with her. While I did love the Rivas, the Soto family dynamic is so effortless, the banter so casual, I wanted more of Javier (and we already got a lot of him!). The surrounding characters also were wonderful in this and I feel everyone served an important purpose in Carrie’s journey. A lot of the boom left me wondering how Carrie would be handling current times; so many of the comments and unfeministic bullshit she deals with would never fly today, I’d love to see how she adapts or how her story resonates in a current world. That being said, I think the ending of the story left it in a perfect way. The story feels resolved (if only a *little* unsatisfying, but that’s just me trying to be spoiler free).

I loved Malibu Rising, but I somehow love this more. TJR continues to up the game and I just can’t wait for what’s next. Thanks (a big huge thanks) to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.