I really enjoyed this one! I think it helps to be a tennis player/fan though! Being one myself, I was knowledgeable about the tennis game and world. Even if you are not big on tennis the storyline is good, although something was slightly lacking for me in the character of Carrie Soto. Overall 4 stars! I haven't read any other books about tennis, so for me this was unique. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

Holy fucking shitballs.

I...might love this one even better than Evelyn Hugo?!?! What? How?!

It's no surprise that Carrie Soto is Back is five stars. Okay, actually, there is some surprise. I did not enjoy Malibu Rising that much, and so stepped into my third TJR book with some trepidation. But one thing TJR can write is driven, ambitious women, and Carrie Soto is Driven. However, there has also been a lot of valid criticism on TJR, a whyte woman, writing a Latine main character, so it's something to consider before picking this one up. As a book on tennis from someone who grew up in a Tennis Family (I do not play, however), this was a great look at tennis of the 80s and early 90s, and the complicated nature of being a female athlete.

As the buzziest new book from TJR, Carrie Soto is fierce, strong, and absolutely determined to do what it takes to be the best. The story is fast-paced and exciting as we learn about Carrie's initial rise in the tennis world and her retirement. The amount of time and effort involved in this competitive world is mind-boggling and exhausting, just to read about. When she decides to make a comeback five years after retirement, everyone is skeptical. We follow Carrie for a whirlwind year of Grand Slams, as she gets back into shape, ready to defeat her record for the most Grand Slam wins. The media pieces interspersed throughout the book give the reader a glimpse into popular culture during the mid-90s and the attitude towards women in sports.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has the uncanny ability to infuse so much heart into her stories. Carrie, Bowe, her father, and even Carrie's opponents on the court seem like real people in the tennis world. Although you don't have to be a tennis fanatic to enjoy this book, it sure does add to the enjoyment factor. As a former tennis player and fan, I have not kept up with the tournaments in many years. But this book has reminded me of why I used to play and watch and reignited my passion for the game of tennis. This book is inspiring and empowering and masterfully done.

LOVE LOVE LOVE. I am a tennis fan now thanks to this book. Adam & I watched the US Open & I kept thinking back to reading this book and how exciting it was and how much I learned about tennis during the book. I didn’t think a sports book would be for me but something about TJR writing a sports book just works. Malibu Rising was not a fave of mine so I was a little nervous to read this but I am so glad I loved it. Back when I read Daisy Jones & Evelyn Hugo I flew through them and loved them both so it was nice reading another amazing historical fiction from TJR and absolutely loving it. Might be my favorite book of the year. I loved Carrie Soto, her grit & determination were admirable and even her IDGAF spicy attitude was fun. She had a GREAT character arc & I loved her growth. Cannot WAIT for the next TJR!

My review will be posted at Instagram.com/_rachreads on 9/16

On the one hand, I'm not at all surprised that I loved Carrie Soto is Back, because I really adore the way Taylor Jenkins Reid creates characters. On the other hand, I was really uncertain how I would feel about a book so focused around tennis because, while it's a sport that I played in high school, it's not a sport I really watch. But the audiobook was so immersive that I was literally cheering in the car at various points while reading this book. The trouble is, I really don't know how to articulate what makes her writing work for me in a way that I think will help other people be able to determine the same thing. So let me tell you some things about this book that are just true and you can decide if you think it could be for you:

- Carrie Soto is an Argentinian American woman raised and coached by her Argentinian tennis star father. Keep in mind that Carrie Soto is written by a white woman.
- There is Spanish in the audiobook that isn't translated for you into English.
- There are sports cast and news reports that are very well-produced in the audiobook.
- Carrie is a controversial figure. She feels very strongly that she is the greatest tennis player of all time and that she has earned that title through a lot of hard work. She's not the most social or friendly and therefore isn't always well liked.
- Nicki Chan is a British, who I am fairly certain is also Black and Chinese? Either way, she and Carrie have a fascinating relationship throughout this.
- The family dynamics between Carrie and Javier are intense and evolve over time and feel so... emotional.
- Carrie winds up hitting with a man from her past, Bowe Huntley, and the way Bowe's character evolves, even just from Carrie's perspective, was so engaging. I loved every second of page time he got.
- There is a lot of tennis. And not just tennis, but tennis strategy.

I guess, I would say that if you like sports movies, you should definitely give this one a shot. If you're a competitive person, this book could be for you. If you have just loved Taylor Jenkins Reid, definitely try this one. My overall ranking of her books puts this one just behind Daisy Jones, which is my favorite book of all time. And, of course, if you like tennis, I think you could really enjoy this one. If there are parallels to other tennis players throughout, I really don't recognize them, though I could be missing something, obviously. But regardless, as far as my enjoyment goes, I loved this one!

Thanks to PRH International for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto Is Back got me. She's a jerk who won't take crap from anyone. I didn't want to put it down. The writing and pacing were so good that I was constantly anticipating what would happen next. Carrie was my favorite character. I probably loved her like her father did: from the sidelines, hoping that things would go her way, unsure how to cope if they didn't. She's a complicated character who is also very endearing. I enjoyed seeing Carrie change after meeting Bowe Huntley. Carrie's relationship with her father was raw, emotional, and beautiful. The father-daughter story, too, touched a raw nerve. This story is filled with so much love. After finishing this book, I had an emotional hangover.

I enjoyed every page of this book. I'm not a big tennis fan, but I liked Carrie and this book. The addition of the side romance was also very sweet, and I appreciated how TJR included discussions about misogyny in sports as well as Carrie and Nicki's struggles. I like how the book concludes with a heartwarming scene. It's breathtaking. If you've enjoyed TJR's previous novels, you'll love this one.

TJR is an auto-buy author for me because everything she writes is gold!

Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint! This was a perfect example of why I love TJR. She gave us a strong female lead with amazing character growth. I have seen so many people say Carrie has become their new favorite TJR girl and when we already have Evelyn, Daisy, and Nina I did not see how that was possible. Well, I can say Carrie definitely stole my heart! She was brave, unapologetic, strong, and at her core extremely vulnerable. Watching her change throughout the story was my absolute favorite part.

I also loved her relationship with her dad. Javier reminded me so much of my grandpa and had me tearing up so many times because of how much he loved Carrie. His want for her to succeed, but also to find happiness was so pure and special.

The romance in this book was definitely not the main theme, but even that was done so well. Bowe was the sweetest and had me swooning.

Of course, in true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion she had me crying the whole last 40 minutes of this book (sorry to the guy next to me on the plane). She just has a way of getting us all in our feels.

Lastly, I can't not review this book without discussing tennis. Have I ever played tennis? No. Do I know anything about tennis? No. Have I ever had any want to watch tennis? No. Do I now want to learn everything about it and follow it on tv? YES! How TJR made me completely interested in something that I have never cared about, I do not know. But, it speaks to her writing that so much of this book was centered around a very specific topic and she still made it interesting and easy to follow.

I can't wait to see where Jenkins Reid takes us next!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve never played tennis 🎾 in my life, but I feel like I could beat everyone after reading this book 😂.
Carrie is BRUTAL! But man, she has that rare passion and grit that is so inspirational.

At first, this book was a little slow going, but once you get sucked into Soto’s world you can’t put it down. TJR has a way of making you feel every emotion right there with Carrie in this book. I was transported on the court with her—I saw every hit, every miss, every spin, I was there for it all.

Now that’s brilliant writing 👏🏻

Carrie Soto is Back
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook /Audiobook
Date Published: 8/30/22
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Ballantine Books / Random House Audio
Narrators: Full Cast
GR: 4.44

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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 greatest player the world has ever seen. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach. Javier - a former champion himself - has trained her since the age of two. At 37 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 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.

My Thoughts: I decided to purchase the audiobook for this review and so glad that I did. The story is narrated by Carrie Soto, from her perspective. This is reminiscent to the Serena Williams story. I cannot stand tennis but I LOVED this book! Sadly, it is my first TJR book, but will NOT be my last. This is just a beautiful story of a women athlete navigating a predominantly male sport and becoming the greatest player ever until she retires and then comes back for one more circuit at the age of 37, which was unheard of. The characters were well flushed out, well developed, had depth, connection, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, thought provoking, endearing, intriguing, engaging, and absolutely beautiful. I can see this being a top book for this year. I would highly recommend purchasing, favoring the audio over the book. The narrators were top notch, really brought Carrie Soto to life, you felt like you were there with her in her journey to greatness.

Carrie Soto was the best player in women's tennis. Known for her cold attitude and incredible talent, she is known as "The Battle Axe". She has retired but something draws her out of retirement to prove she is still the best player in history. Coached by her dad, Javier, she takes on new challenges and players. Everyone is surprised by her return and what they really want to know is if Carrie Soto is really back.

I enjoyed this book. I am not a big tennis fan but I could appreciate the sport in the writing. I loved the connection between Carrie and her father. I did enjoy the romantic parts, but also the friendships she discovers. I was not a big fan of her attitude and how it never really changed. I do understand that was a part of her personality but I don't get along with people like that so I just wasn't impressed. I would have liked to know more about her family life and relationships outside of tennis as well, but I wonder if she even had one. Overall I truly did enjoy this book, while it wasnt my favorite of TJRs writings, she still proves she is an excellent writer. My main criticisms were from an opinion stand point. Overall I would rate this one a 3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am definitely not a tennis fan. I mean I don't hate it but I don't watch it either. Serena is a rock star but it's just not my sport. Only Taylor Jenkins Reid could get me so engrossed in a book about a sport I'm not interested in.
And I was indeed interested. From the beginning I had to know what happened. I adored Carrie. Thank you for giving us a flawed female character that I love not in spite of, but because of all those imperfections. I could laugh at Carrie and empathize with her too. It's so nice to see female characters that aren't just cardboard cutouts.
Javier was also brilliant and I only wish he were a real person. I loved the team he and Carrie made. A brilliant father, a wonderful man.
I was invested in this story from the beginning to the end and that is something TJR always excels at. She pulls you into her stories and this was no exception.
A truly enjoyable read. I need another TJR book asap!
Thank you to Random House Publishing / Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfectly coinciding with the US Open - Carrie Soto is back had the perfect amount of details about tennis and the struggles of being a female athlete.

When I picked up this ARC and read the note from the editor that though she loves all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s protagonists, Carrie is her favorite, I thought there was no way she could eclipse Daisy, Nina, and Evelyn for me. But then I read Carrie Soto is Back and maybe just maybe might agree. I have to start by saying that I love the way TJR writes and I love her female protagonists, and this latest installment was no different.

Reading this book while watching Serena Williams play her final match seemed like the most insane coincidence of art imitating life, but also made this story so much more realistic. Carrie Soto’s drive and determination have made her a fierce competitor on the court. But off the court, her attitude has alienated her from almost everyone except for her father, Javier, who trains her. She is no doubt the GOAT and has sacrificed everything for her record of greatness. Six years after she retires with 20 Grand Slam titles under her belt, she watches her record broken by Nicki Chan.

Faced with losing the only thing she has ever worked for, Carrie comes out of retirement for one last year in an effort to reclaim her title. There is so much I loved about this book as a tennis fan, but the characters in this book really make it. Carrie is nicknamed “the Battle-Axe” and is no media darling, but her grit is something you can’t help but respect. Her team of Javier, her agent and her hitting partner were all integral parts of the story and I was invested in each and every one of them.

I can’t say enough good things about this book, but I’ll leave it to say TJR has nailed it again. I’ll go ahead and start counting down for her next release. Thank you to Random House – Ballantine and Netgally for providing me with this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid and the way she introduces a character in one book and totally expands on them in another'. I hated Carrie Soto until I understood her. Carrie Soto is Back is not just the story of a tennis comeback but it is mainly a story about a father’s and daughter’s love for one another and the game….and how one never really depended on the other. I loved this book so much, i had a hard time putting it down. I can’t wait wait for another character development from this book…maybe we will learn more about Nicki?

One of the things I love most about Taylor Jenkins Reid is that her books are all very different. They’re not formulaic or predictable. And they’re all so very good. Carrie Soto Is Back is just as amazing as the author’s previous work. I’m already excited for her next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t even like tennis and I absolutely loved this book. What an interesting character….I couldn’t put Carrie’s story down. She was messy and infuriating and just an absolutely compelling character to read about. This is a book I can see using a lot for reader’s advisory.

I  just love TJR writing but I cannot get into the tennis bit. Personally, tennis is just not my sport.  I enjoyed the personal growth for Carrie and the father- daughter relationship throughout the book. I didnt have a problem with this part but there was alot of phrases/parts that are in Spanish (not translated). This would make it difficult for other readers who dont know the language.


Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ebook for an honest review

I will be listening to Own Voices reviewers on this one and will not be reviewing Carrie Soto Is Back. I was really looking forward to this title.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another phenomenal book! It is easy to see why Ms. Reid is such a popular author. Plus, this book could not have been published at a more perfect moment with all that is currently happening at the Us Open!

As always, Taylor is a master at meaningful character development. Carrie and Javier share such a beautiful father daughter relationship that you do not always see play out the in the sports world - especially when dad is also the coach! Another component about these two was how dynamic and suave Javier was while Carrie was not always the most likable character. However, the brilliant positioning of Carrie as the underdog still made the reader want to cheer for her despite her attitude toward her opponents and the general public.

Overall, a wonderfully heartwarming story about family, ambition, and life lessons. Too often as a reader you brace yourself for the "twist", but this was a great read throughout without that expectation. There are however plenty of chapters that will leave you edge of your seat, speedily turning pages in anticipation during Carrie's matches.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and a great afternoon with Carrie Soto and Taylor Jenkins Reid!

We first met her in <i>Malibu Rising</i>, however briefly, and now Carrie Soto is back! The meat of this book takes place several years after the events of <i>MR</i>, as Soto comes out of retirement to defend her record against the tennis world's new queen. As she is now ancient by pro-tennis standards (she's 37), Carrie's now the underdog is a field that she once dominated.

In spite of TJR's valiant efforts, I still do not understand tennis. Like, at all. That said, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. It's not my favorite in the Mick Riva Universe, but it's a fun journey that packs an emotional punch, on par with all of this author's previous works. I adored Carrie's relationship with her father and coach, Javier. It's really the heart of the entire piece, and yes, it makes all the confusing tennis stuff worth reading.

As always, I'm grateful to NetGalley for the ARC and look forward to more TJR.