I sped through this one in a day. I couldn’t put it down! The story was engrossing and I loved the characters. I would definitely recommend this to friends.

It's been awhile since I've read this book but I know I really enjoyed it. I hope to be better about reading books when they are published and making sure to review them on netgalley when I finish them. Thank you for understanding.

I enjoyed this book somewhat but the characters are truly unlikeable and I struggled with that. Still, I would recommend

5/5 stars!! This has to be one of my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid books so far! You'll want to put this on your TBR!

TJR just does. Not. Miss. This book thrilled me, particularly as someone who has been following the sport of tennis since middle school. The gameplay scenes were just as gripping as if they were happening live in front of me. Not to mention the subtle shoutouts to other books in the TJR universe, which were *chef’s kiss* 10/10, no notes, can’t wait for her next one.

As someone who's loved every book I've read or listened to by TJR so far, I was so excited to receive this ARC! Now I'll be honest, before reading this book I wasn't too familiar with the sport of tennis, but the amount of detail was perfect for making sure I understood everything that was happening without reading like an instruction manual.
What I loved about this book:
-Carrie Soto. While she wasn't always the most likeable character, I really enjoyed how she was written as a strong, determined athlete. She was intense, and I don't think I've ever read a book with the main female character having that much intensity and drive, while still having character development through the story
-the relationships and interactions that Carrie has with everyone else in the book: her father, her love interest, the other tennis players..it was just so fascinating to get to know Carrie through her interactions with everyone else in her world
-I listened to the audiobook too, and the super talented Julia Whelan did an incredible job of narrating, capturing Carrie Soto's intensity and making all the tennis matches actually sound really exciting (to someone listening who's never actually watched a tennis match)

While this wasn't my favorite TJR novel, it was still a great read and I'd definitely recommend it to others!

What a captivating story this was! I was immersed from the very first page by the well created characters to the compelling story. It is a fiction story, but it felt so real. It felt like real tennis history brought to life. There is a lot of tennis in this book and I was okay with it because I enjoy the game. Even if you aren't into tennis, you will find the story easy to follow. This book is exciting, uplifting, inspirational, and shows that TJR is a master of her craft.

I usually love TJR books. There is something about her writing that draws me in. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that so much in this book. I frequently felt some of the writing was choppy. I did enjoy it, just not as much as past books. I do think tennis players will enjoy this one, though.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for my honest review. This book was exciting and entertaining. Carrie is character that at times is hard to like, but in the end you can't help but root her along on her journey. I felt the ending was cut a little short, but overall a great read. I have enjoyed other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and this one did not disappoint.

Loved this book. I don't even like tennis, but I loved reading about Soto's comeback to defend her record. Her dad and coach, Javiar, is Argentinian, and quite the tennis player himself. He ends up teaching tennis at Palm Tennis Club in LA though, and struggles when he becomes an early widow. I loved how strong Soto is--she doesn't care about smiling or being nice, and therefore gets The Bitch as a nickname. Her agent, a strong African-American woman named Gwen, is amazing. I also loved the coming of age romance with her on-again, off-again man, fellow tennis player Bowe.

Quotes:
"The book I brought is an unauthorized biography of Daisy Jones and the Six." Nice namedrop!

With Carrie Soto is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again. I have come to expect excellent writing skills, character development and a wonderful story from Taylor Jenkins Reid and fans of her books will not be disappointed.. Carrie Soto is Back has all of this plus as an added bonus it's also a sports book. That is., if you are a sports fan you will appreciate the book on a deeper level.

Ms. Reid through her excellent writing skills achieves a pace and a tension that keeps you locked in and rooting as if you were watching Carrie Soto's matches in person, on the edge of your seat rooting for her to win. This book tapped into the fan gene that makes you watch all the games, cry in defeats, throw a party when they win. And if you are the type who won't turn off the tv even in the wee hours because you must watch your team, then you will also stay up reading this book. And you will very much be cheering for Carrie to win, even though she is fictional!

If you aren't a sports fan, the book also wonderfully follows Ms. Reid's grand theme of her immediate past three novels: pulling back the veil of fame and answering the question what does it mean to be famous in American modern society? The books Malibu Rising, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six have all explored fame in other worlds: acting, music, modeling, but now we get the story of an aging female athlete trying to return for one more chance at victory.

Behind Carrie's fame and achievements, she's paid a dear price. She's not had a chance for lasting romance, which may change if she takes the time to allow love in. Her past romances have been tabloid fodder and were over in a flash. She also only has one true friend, her sports agent, Gwen. Her father is her main coach, but there have been trainers also, but Carrie and her father are so close and it is wonderful to see how he supports and motivates her with just the right motivation or athletic training. We see her grueling workouts, especially as she has been out of tennis for a while and the toll that a lifetime of tennis has taken on her body. We also see her drive to succeed, her concentration, and her study of all her opponents, who are trying to get into her head. We also see the effects of an affair with a married man, a story arc begun in Malibu Rising and the effects of media spotlight maybe not getting everything right about her personal life or her character. At one point Carrie is unfairly labelled as a "mean girl" willing to do anything to win. These are all prices Carrie has paid for achieving her goal of being the No. 1 tennis player in the world.

Carrie Soto is Back is a book that stands on its own as a multi-layered book, but grouped with the others it connects with all our admiration of famous people and educates us on what it's like to be famous - a broader theme that Taylor Jenkins Reid is bravely exploring with this book and her other books. It is both a women's story and a sports book that readers of both will thoroughly enjoy. .

This author is hit or miss for me, but Carrie Soto was a hit! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Love this--as I love all Taylor Jenkins Reid, so no surprise. I read it again after I started watching real tennis as a fan and it held up. Bravo. Need more Carrie.

TJR has done it AGAIN! When we first met Carrie in Malibu Rising, she didn’t seem very likable. But somehow TJR did her magic and I found myself rooting for her! TJR always has great characters, great plot, and a twist that I've come to expect from her. Now, I want to go back and look for the connections from this book to the other ones. Forever a fan!

TJR did it again and I expected nothing less. “Carrie Soto Is Back” is such an amazing story of both the mental and physical tolls playing a professional sport can take on you, along with the sexism of sports commentary. It also has a beautiful father-daughter relationship that is complex and endearing through and through. There is a romantic element for those wondering but it’s most definitely not the main focus of Carrie’s story (which I love). You don’t need to read “Malibu Rising” to understand pretty much anything in this book— it’s definitely a standalone. I flew through this book and felt like I was on the edge of my seat watching a real match play out on my TV.

Carrie Soto is a difficult character to get right— she’s brash, abrasive, cold, and cutthroat— yet TJR nails her perfectly. I grew to love Carrie very quickly and came to laugh at her quick insults and brutally honest statements. Carrie’s father, Javier, is an amazing character who brought me to tears many times. There are more characters of which I love and I’m sure you will too.

Overall, this isn’t my favorite of the big 3 TJR books, but it’s still amazing nonetheless. I cannot wait for the next book TJR writes and I’m sure I’ll love it too. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely loved! Posting review a bit late due to some personal circumstances, but absolutely thrilled to have been granted this ARC. Carrie Soto and her cast of fellow characters come alive off the page!

Taylor Jenkins Reid can make moments come to life like no other. Her characters feel so real that I honestly forget I'm reading fiction when I pick up her novels. Carrie Soto is no exception. This book is a masterpiece of people, places and time. Even though I didn't find many of the characters likable, I was still completely invested in their story. The use of secondary characters is something Taylor Jenkins Reid does so well. The layers of emotion in this book are profound. There were many times I didn't know what I wanted to happen in the story, but I knew I felt all the things every step of the way.

As a lifelong tennis player, I so appreciated the flawless research put into getting that aspect of the book right consistently. Even though the tennis is a critical part of the book, I feel like I can recommend this book to someone who had no knowledge about tennis and they can still appreciate it.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors, and Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint! As a middle aged woman, I enjoy reading fiction featuring my own demographic and dealing with some of the personal and social issues facing women as we leave our 20s and seemingly become less relevant.

Carrie Soto is Back is a great addition to the Taylor Jenkins Reid universe. Carrie is a smart, funny, relatable character. The romantic relationship felt a little rushed, but loved her relationship with her dad.

TJR has done it again with another great read! Carrie was such a great story. I didn’t find myself overloaded by tennis talk. It flowed well within the story. Highly recommend!