Very much enjoyed, despite having little to no knowledge of, or interest in, tennis. Jenkins Reid has some range!

DNF @28%

Obviously this is a very late review—three months after publication—but Carrie Soto is Back just did not hit the way other TJR books do. It’s boring and impersonal and even the prose isn’t as beautiful as her other books, and this coming from someone who hasn’t necessarily loved all her other books. Admittedly, I’m in a slump right now, otherwise I’d try to power through in the hopes of reaching literally any moving content, but I just have no motivation to keep reading this currently.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Oh my gosh, TJR never fails to make an amazing plot with amazing characters. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Taylor Jenkins Reed can do no wrong and I think this one might be my new favorite of hers. Following Carrie Siri’s growth as a player and a person, especially in her relationship with her dad and her sense of identity, was magical.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a historical novel centred around sports. The story is exciting, and the characters are well-developed, making this one of my favourite books of the year. If you have enjoyed any of the author’s other books, this is definitely one to pick up.

Carrie Soto is such an interesting character. She isn’t the most likeable, but she has many strengths. Her passion for tennis and her ability to persevere to get what she wants is admirable, even though she is quite abrasive at times.

❀ EXCITING DRAMA

Even if you are not a fan of tennis, or sports for that matter, this book really gives a lot of detail about the game. As a reader, I was pulled right into the matches and the intense drama that unfolds. These aspects are really exciting, and I really loved the commentary on the politics of sport and some of its sexism, making for a thought-provoking read.

❀ FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP

There are many side characters in this story, as is the case in many of the author’s other works, and each is interesting and enjoyable to read about. Carrie’s relationship with her father in particular is so wonderful to read about, and the way tennis is such a huge part of it brings the book full circle.

❀ ONE TO WATCH FOR

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a book to try if you love the author, sports fiction, or stories that explore characters who are bold and determined. I recently listened to the audio version and was so thrilled to find out that Patrick McEnroe and Mary Carillo are among the narrators. It was so fun to hear their thoughts on the tennis matches in the book. This is definitely one to watch for.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another story told in a unique format, which may have been my favorite part of this book! When I heard it would have a full cast narration, I decided to listen to the audiobook instead. I loved getting to hear the radio interviews and such. It added another dimension to the book and really brought it to my life. On the other hand, the book was a little heavy on tennis for my tastes. As someone who is not into sports, Carrie became hard to relate to. TJR's writing is still unmatched, but this book just didn't work for me like her romance books usually do. However, fans of TJR's most recent works will enjoy this novel a lot!

Taylor Jenkins has done it again! Carrie Soto grips the reader right from the start and holds your attention as you follow Carrie's career and comeback.

Without a doubt, the best book I have read this year. I was heartbroken to get to the end because that meant the story was over. This type of writing can only come from the unmatched Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Carrie Soto was born to play tennis. The child of a tennis star, Carrie spends her days with her father learning the beautiful fundamentals of the game. Carrie does what no other man or woman has done for tennis, and sets herself apart as the greatest tennis player to ever live. Now, in retirement, but still loving the game, everything Carrie has achieved may be on the line. When Carries record is tied she makes the decision to come out of retirement and defend her record against someone who might just be as talented as she is. I loved Carrie’s relationship with her father. I empathized with Carrie and rooted for her. I will miss this book, and especially Carrie, and think it’s a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the gifted ARC.

I love tennis! I play and watch matches all summer long, so I was excited when I learned TJR’s next book centered around the game!

That said…I wasn’t a fan of the female MC. 😬

This was otherwise enjoyable. The beginning was a bit slow, but I found myself immersed in the story. In TJR’s typical fashion, there were tie-ins from other books and I loved that! I even found myself tearing up a couple times.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite from this author, but definitely a good read!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. When a world famous Carrie retires from tennis, she expects to remain the record holder. Her record is broken 6 years after she retires and she can't take it. She comes out of retirement to reclaim the record. She must do some things in order to reclaim her title but she is willing to do pretty much anything to be the best!

Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to spin a tale centered on a strong woman, and "Carrie Soto Is Back" delivers on its potential. The novel, focused on a retired tennis superstar who decides to attempt a comeback in her late 30s, is fun to read while at the same time exploring serious subjects such as the challenges of women in sports, racism and the death of a parent. Will Carrie pull off a Grand Slam win? Once the story gets going, that's almost beside the point. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this! It’s hard to pick a favorite between this and some of TJR others but this is at the top of my list! Carrie was flawed and relatable and I loved her journey! The audio was also amazing with all the voices!

I read this book at the perfect time and I don't think I've ever cried harder reading anything in my life. It was so good. It's so rare to see a MC as obsessed with her dad as I am with mine, and the whole comeback story definitely resonated. I also love how TJR's latest books are all woven together. After Malibu Rising, I didn't expect Carrie Soto to become my favorite character from this universe. This will probably be a book I read regularly when I need a motivational pep talk. Also, suddenly I need to take tennis lessons again.

Jenkins Reid has done it again. She has created another strong female character who goes through a life changing journey. Carrie Soto was born to be the best tennis player ever. Her father was El Jaguar, an amazing male tennis player, and her mother is a dancer. From an early age a tennis racket has been in her hand. By the time Carrie retires in her early thirties she has the most slam titles, 20, and the most Wimbledon wins. Five years later, Carrie's record is matched by Nicki Chan. At 37 Carrie has come out of retirement in order to make sure everyone knows she is the greatest tennis player ever.

This is a story of growth and how we can always come back from let downs. Like other Jenkins Reid books this one is another that you cannot put down. I highly recommend.

Book Review 🎾✨

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: Carrie is back from retirement to play again as a professional tennis player. She knows what she wants which doesn't always make her everyone's favorite. Follow along in her journey between now and the past to see how it ends.

Wow, I absolutely loved Carrie. 🤍 Dare I say that I loved her more than Evelyn 🤯
Carrie's authenticity was contagious. I loved the 90's background which made it so nostalgic. Carrie's love her for dad and how she comes to find love in the end had me speed reading to see how it ended. You do not need to be a sports fanatic to love this story. TJR did an amazing job of exploring women in sports and the pressures we feel such as how we behave at all times that males do not have to think about.

So, that being said please RUN to get this book now.

Seriously, go!!! 🏃‍♀️💨🛍️📚

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book 🤍

#netgalley #bookrecs #fivestars #tbr #readmore #womensfiction #booksta #bookstagrammer #fictionlover

I loved this book! Extremely well written and fast paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat… and I don’t even like tennis. I started this book yesterday and couldn’t put it down until it was finished. Excited to read more of TJR’s books.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballatine Books, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for an advance copy of Carrie Soto is back in exchange for an honest review. First off, I am a big TJR fan because of her great ability to tell an excellent story. This is another example of her great storytelling. I enjoyed reading this one but did get a little lost in all the tennis talk, With that being said, if you know anything about tennis (which I dont) or love tennis, this is the book for you. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up.

I found this book interesting at the start, lost interest for about two months, then found the ability to pick it back up again later when it was picked for my book club. Maybe I relate too closely with the competitiveness of Carrie Soto, maybe I just found it to be lacking in my expectations for a TJR.

I recommend this one for TJR fans but not many others. I wasn't as invested and didn't enjoy nearly as much as I had hoped.

This is my favorite book of the year. I couldn't put it down from page one. Carrie Soto is such a well drawn character whose development throughout the book is so compelling. The tennis scenes are dramatic and have just the right amount of detail, not bogging you down with needless back and forths. Taylor Jenkins Reid ladies and gentleman. Great novel.

I would argue that the better title for this book would have been “Carrie Soto is Dead,” and you’ll know why when you read the book.

It is quite difficult to say how frustrated I was with reading this book. The story follows Carrie Soto, an aggressive tennis player with a gargantuan ego. It isn’t without the capacity of support; however, it does get into your nerves how much her pride eats her up and turns into such a toxic personality.

The beauty of the story lies within its illumination of the effect of environment on who people becomes when they grow up. Javier Soto was a proud father, but what his confidence gave him was a personality he wasn’t expecting.

A fascinating show, it was intriguing to see the father and daughter relationship crumble as Mr. Soto soon realize that his daughter is becoming overly consumed by her complexity with winning. She became more than what he wanted — a winner and a brassy woman.

The journey towards the end of the story is quite predictable. Despite that, I did not lose my footing. My interest in finishing the story was ever so strong. Perhaps part of it was the placement of the tennis tournament — it was such a huge part of the story and an effective way to keep the readers engaged.

I am in love with how the story slowly transforms Carrie — showing a person’s capacity to change and allowing us light on the kindness in ones heart. It is difficult to see something in a bird’s eye view when your first instinctive reaction is to judge someone, but if you give room for breath and allow yourself to get to know people better, you’d see that there is more to someone than what you see.