I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Carrie Soto is such a strong protagonist and although you want to dislike her you just can't. I learned a lot about the professional tennis circuit and what it takes to stay on top. Taylor Jenkins Reid once again tells an incredible saga that is filled with heartbreak and pain as well as love and good things.

I was so psyched when I got this book sent to me from @prh and was also lucky enough to have an ALC! Taylor Jenkins Reid is an autobuy author for me. One thing I love is her ability to write about such different topics and it’s done so well.

You don’t have to like tennis to enjoy this book!

Synopsis:

All her life Carrie Sotto has done one thing, and it was tennis. She is a fierce player with brut determination and that has not made her popular. Carrie and her father, Javier, who is also her coach have sacrificed everything for the game. Her father was there by her side every step of the way, except for a brief period when she rejected his help. After retiring at 30 she decides at 37 she wants to come back and beat the new hot tennis player, Nicki Chan,who has just beaten her record.

Along the way, she falls for male tennis player Bowe Huntley. He also has something to prove before he’s done with tennis. Their banter is everything and you can’t help but root for them.

Carrie is really close to her father and they have a unique dynamic since it’s been just the two of them for most of her life.

My thoughts
At first I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to connect with this book because I’m not a tennis player. I have always wished I’d taken tennis camp more seriously so I would know more about the sport!
It was a lot of tennis, but it was so well done, in true Taylor Jenkin Reid’s style! I loved that the book focuses on female athletes that are not white! It shines a light on the different treatment between the races and sexes in sports. It's also kind of a sports romance with the woman as the focus! There are a lot of tender moments of father/daughter and friendship that Carrie experiences.

Read this if you enjoy:
Sports themed books (some romance)
Strong female character
Loved Daisy Jones and the Six
Are a tennis fan

YES! I love Taylor Jenkins Reid. She is so good at weaving a story. Even when the main character doesn't seem likable, you somehow end up being invested in the story and rooting for them anyways.

I am not a huge tennis fan, so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book or not. But, honestly while the story does center around tennis, it is way more than that. Themes of success, death, love and family are woven throughout. So, even if you don't like tennis I'd highly recommend the read.

I kept putting off reading this book. I heard over and over again about how much tennis there was in it, and I do not understand or enjoy tennis. I picked it up a few days ago, and wow. What an absolutely beautiful book this was. The story of the relationship between a father and daughter and being true to yourself and happy was amazing. I had goosebumps and tears, and Carrie Soto quickly became one of my favorite characters. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I requested this one on Netgalley simply because TJR is an auto-buy for me. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me. Carrie is solely focused on being the best of the best and obsessed with winning. I found her to be difficult to connect with and overall disliked her. There is a lot of Spanish in this book. Yes, some I could figure out based on what was going on in the story, but found myself skimming most of it because it was too much for me to stop and try to figure out what it meant.

I will point out how much I loved her Dad. No matter how awful she could be over desire to win, he was always there to support and train her.

TJR serves up another epic heroine. (See what I did there?)

It’s not lost on me that Carrie Soto is Back hit shelves just ahead of Serena Williams’s last US Open. #truegreatness #thegoat

Honestly, I’ve never really followed tennis. I do find exceptional athletes fascinating though. That drive. That commitment. That hustle.

And while Carrie Soto is, in fact, fictional, I’m not sure she could’ve felt any more real.

Best said by Elton John… the B!tch is back.

Carrie Soto wasn’t liked. She was elusive and self-absorbed and full of pride. Oh but she didn’t care about that. She only cared about being the best. And she was. But 7 years into retirement, there’s a new player who threatens to take that title away. Carrie can’t let that happen.

But the training for this comeback isn’t all physical. This time Carrie must come to terms with her inner self… Why is she so determined? What hold does “win at all costs” have on her?

This evolution of self is what catapults Carrie back into the limelight, and ultimately, cements her love of the sport anew. Excellence built on flaws.

And it was that adept character development and masterfully executed arc that was the true grand slam in this book.

Carrie Soto is a dynamic and powerful character that once again proves that Reid writes bold, brazen women like few others can.

As I often do, I partnered my e-arc with the audio. The majority of the audiobook is expertly narrated by Stacy Gonzalez. But where the audiobook really shines is in the sports commentary. Those sections, read by a cast, were *chef’s kiss* perfection. They made Carrie’s story feel even more real.

Many thanks to my partners @penguinrandomhouse @prhaudio @librofm for the #gifted copies of these.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This author is becoming one of my favorites. She really puts out quality work that makes you invested in her characters. Just an amazing story from cover to cover!

Loved this book of dad and daughter relationship. Carrie wants to go all the way and fights a real good fight. Her dad is an important coach who loves and gives her the advice and push she needs. Carrie has a very strong personality and it helps and hinders her at the same time. No big on being friendly she is known to others to be made of steel and in a way she is. She wants to show the world she is the best in tennis and she has to fight to get there and prove to the world and herself …she is the BEST!!!

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an advance readers copy in return for an honest review.

MY FAVORITE BOOK SO FAR IN 2022!!! Everything about this book kept me reading at a furious pace! The characters, the action, the storyline and everything in between make this an excellent novel filled with heart! At times I found myself disliking Carrie but then rooting for her a few pages later! It was an incredible read & the father daughter storyline just tugged at my heart often.

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. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

4.3 ☆

This book hits you like a serve from Carrie Soto herself. Cause at the core of it all, it's all about love, which truly touches your heart. Her love for the sport, her love for her father and their bond. To truly find herself and her place in the world. And if that doesn't make you want to cry, then I don't know what else can.

Carrie's passion, her strengths and weaknesses are all presented. She's not her to be liked, but tell her side of the story, and how she grew even stronger from it all. To let go of fears and truly become what one was meant to be. Her intricate personality, as well as her complex relationship with everyone around her (especially her father) was what made me really love this book. The story seemed so real, as the characters had their flaws and details. And the ending made perfectly sense, which totally is a bonus.

Unfortunately, I fell into a reading slump after starting this book. If only I had read this at another time in my life, in a different mood, then it would have been a five-star-read to me. Maybe I'll pick it up again sometime? Either way, this book definitely deserves a chance. So if you're considering reading it, then this is your sign!

Overall, I'll say this book is so masterfully written. With different kinds of writing styles and formats to tell this story, which is the unique Reid style, I fell even more in love with all of the characters.

Over and out. -Nora<3

Wow. Just wow. Intense, emotional, exciting—my heart was pounding half the time I was reading this book. You get SO invested in Carrie: her personal life, her career, her relationships. [SPOILER] Although she didn’t win, the ending—becoming Chan’s coach—is perfect. And Carrie made peace with herself & her desire to win. This was a fantastic book.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's early work, when she seemed to be more on the quirky romance track (After I Do, Maybe in Another Life, etc.) I have been less enamored with her recent work, but hate to give up on an old favorite. This one wasn't my cup of tea, but I know many readers will love it!

Loved the set up of the chapters in TJR latest novel. A real recap of the game of tennis. Carrie Soto is a book sure to touch the inner woman in all of us. She is driven to do it all and prove herself worthy and capable of a comeback. The reader comes to realize she also has a strong team of people that surround her and give her the encouragement she needs. In addition they do not sugar coat the situation. Hard work and dedication look different as we get older. The story is told through her eyes. Carrie is a tennis icon who tries to make a return after leaving the sport. Javier her father and coach is dedicated to helping her achieve this one last goal to reclaim her record. Her life has been tennis at much cost. She is known as the battle ax. This term only goes to prove her passion and love for the sport. While seemingly ungracious and quite tenacious she’s unwilling to give up being the best. The male vs female stereotype is addressed. Carrie isn’t afraid to show her grit thus earning her this nickname. I might mention her character is in Malibu Rising another great novel by T J R. The book flows along at a quick pace and you will learn more about tennis than you thought. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC all opinions are my own. #CarrieSotoIsBack

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Carrie Soto is Back.

Retired tennis champion Carrie Soto decides to play another season when a younger player surpasses Carrie’s Grand Slam record. In her mid-thirties and having not played professionally in years, Carrie fears that she will not only lose her Grand Slam record, but also face ridicule for trying. Carrie must fight to get back into physical and mental shape, primarily battling her own pride. Carrie must not only be better than the other players, but exceed the player she was in her youth. The public loves a good comeback story, but Carrie was also a polarizing figure, a ruthless player dubbed “The Battle- Axe,” who never develop a warmth within the tennis community.

On her side, she has her father, Javier, who is both a demanding coach and loving parent. To aid in her training, Carrie practices with fellow player and former love interest, Bowe Huntly. Like Carrie, Bowe is an older tennis player who is struggling to remain on the circuit. Unlike Carrie, Bowe is a charismatic and likable player who has the love of the audience and commentators. As they improve their skills on the court, their early tension gives way to friendship and eventually romance.

I throughly enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back. I’ve read all of Reid’s recent books and this is my new favorite. Carrie Soto is a bad-ass who fights for what she wants and knows her value. She’s tough. She also very cold and private. She’s extremely guarded, making her a difficult person for many people to like. However, as this is a novel and we can dive into Carrie’s perspective, we get to see why she is so difficult. Carrie lost her mom at a young age, devastating their family and leaving Javier to focus on raising his daughter. Javier is a former tennis star and it is his great passion, one that he wanted to pass along to his daughter, who loves tennis, but also desperately wants to please her dad. As Carrie shows skill and promise towards a future in tennis, her world grows smaller, everything is about tennis and winning. Carrie does not develop normal social skills and doesn’t have a typical childhood.

Carrie’s comeback story is one of transformation. When she retires from tennis in her early thirties, she does not know who she is or how to move forward. Plunging back into tennis allows her to regain her bearings, but she also knows that it is not going to last forever, she is getting older and tennis is a young person’s sport. This last hurrah gives her time think about life beyond tennis and what that might mean for her. It’s a fantastic set up for a very satisfying character arc. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if Carrie regains her titles or fails, it only matters that Carrie can move on. I loved this story arc. The framing of the tennis matches keeps the story exciting, but the core is about personal growth.

The connection between Javier and Carrie is beautiful and emotional. I felt this was the true heart of the story, as we get to see how Carrie’s views of her relationship with Javier change with time and perspective. She is so consumed with tennis that she does not see that her father is always proud of her. When Carrie can resolve some of the conflicts she has had with her father and her childhood, she is allowed a sense of peace. It’s lovely.

I also liked the theme of not allowing age to stop you from chasing dreams. Both Carrie and Bowe are counted-out as potential tournament threats and they know that they might not be as quick as younger players, but they also know that they have muscle memory and skills that they can use to be competitive. The themes with Carrie and Bowe are two-fold: don’t let age stop you, but also know that your whole life is not defined by a single accomplishment. There is so much more to every person. This really resonated with me.

Carrie Soto is Back is a fabulous read! You do not need to know much about tennis to enjoy it, as it is well explained. Also, you do not need to have read Reid’s previous books, although Carrie does make an appearance in her previous novel, Malibu Rising. Reid always drops in mentions of characters from her other works, more as an Easter egg for fans. It’s a fun touch.

I am not dickering about 4.5 vs 5 stars. Go read this book!

Once again, I read and wonder "Is Carrie Soto real? Who is TJR shadowing: Capriati, Williams? Is Bowe John McEnroe? Who cares - amazing character depth where I wondered if I was ever going to dislike the title character through the whole book. It is the ego and arrogance of fame that is explored here. It is the attitude that one always needs to prove something to someone else. It is the parent/coach vs child relationship which are difficult to navigate on both sides. (I wish I learned more about Javier but alas he is a background character here).

A great step back into 80s / 90s and thanks for adding Princess Di to Wimbledon!

This book makes me want to be a tennis fan.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This was the easiest review yet.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has hit it out of the park again. In Carrie Soto is Back, Carrie comes out of retirement from tennis to try to get her title back. After 20 Grand Slam wins, she sees her title being stripped away by a younger competitor, Nikki Chan. At that moment, she makes the decision, at age 37, to get back her title of “Greatest Tennis Player” the world has ever seen. Her philosophy: “I have always known there is no mountain you cannot climb, one step at a time”.
Carrie Soto is a force to reckon with. She is a dynamo on the tennis court. She is abrasive, smart, strong, dedicated, and focused. To her, failure is not an option. Her father, Javier Soto, whom she is extremely close to, is her coach. He had been a former tennis player himself and now coaches Carrie day and night. Carrie begins to train very aggressively for upcoming tournaments. This is her life. She has no time for friendships or long-term relationships with men.
The story is told as Carrie faces each tournament- The Australian Open, The French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. You learn about her training for each match and her strategy to overcome each individual player she is up against.
While I have an understanding of tennis, I did acquire a great deal more knowledge of the game.
While you want to hate Carrie for her personality flaws, you end up cheering her on in each match. The close relationship with her father is very touching throughout the story. You hope that they can both find peace in the determination to reach her goal.
I love the references that Reid puts in connecting her other novels with this one. The only thing I didn’t like was the amount of Spanish spoken between Carrie and Javier. You can determine some of the meaning through context clues, but I would have preferred if some reference was in the appendix.
Highly recommend this book for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.

This read was a solid ace! Perfect speed, just enough spin to keep you anticipating and a bounce that leaves you reaching - just not quite far enough. I love tennis. I love watching the Grand Slams. I just loved this book and am consistently amazed at how Taylor Jenkins Reid crafts characters (movie stars, surfers, musicians, tennis players) in a way that the reader is consumed within the world the character lives in.

I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books and this is my honest review

Taylor Jenkins Reid is pretty much an auto-read author for me ever since I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo which is one of my favorite books published in the last five years!! I didn't love this one as much as Evelyn Hugo or even Daisy Jones and the Six but I definitely still enjoyed it. This book gets pretty technical with tennis terminology and game strategy which is not really in my very non-athletic wheelhouse, but you don't have to be a tennis pro by any means to enjoy this book. All of the strategy and game descriptions really just helps to immerse you into Carrie's life even further, as she truly really eats, sleeps and breathes tennis and all of the tennis talk helps pull you into her world. While Carrie was not always fully a likable character you really do grow to admire her dedication to her sport, ambition, and love for her father Javier. There are a few moments you want to whack her in the head with a tennis racket when it comes to her romantic pursuits, but I always think that's a sign of a good book - where the story and characters draw you in so much that you really care about what will happen next and who will make it in the end. Jenkins Reid is great at writing strong female leads, and this book did not disappoint with any of the characters and plot points along the way!

I enjoyed this story as a whole and was invested in Carrie’s growth throughout the book. There was a lot of tennis. Lots and lots and lots of tennis. But how the practices and matches were written flowed well and the sport became a character.

This is not one of my favorite books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It felt like reading a tennis textbook. The characters were not very likeable since they were so competitive. I know that that is part of the sport of tennis but it is also supposed to be a work of fiction. I feel there should have been more to the story than the facts of tennis. I like learning about different things from books but I felt this had no balance to it.