3.5 stars

This book has left me with conflicted feelings. While Carrie Soto is one of Taylor Jenkins Reid's most memorable characters, I just don't think this novel is her strongest work. Still a lot to appreciate though even if she didn't serve up an ace. (Yeah, I know what I did there. Come on, it's a book about tennis, I had to!)

When Carrie Soto retired she was the best tennis player the world had ever seen having won twenty Grand Slam titles. At age 37 and out of the sport for a number of years, she has a strong desire to make a comeback after watching Nicki Chan tie her record. Won't be easy jumping back into the world of professional tennis, but she'll have the help of her coach, aka her father, and the will to win.

Because Carrie lives, eats and breathes tennis all day long, the story revolves around practice and matches. I grew up playing the sport so my interest level was high. If you don't like tennis or understand that competitive drive, I honestly don't know if this is the book for you. Carrie is a fascinating character but again, there's a lot of tennis. TJR is a thoughtful writer and brings good things to the table but unfortunately it gets overshadowed by the tennis.

I binge read this book so I did like it but it didn't leave me with an emotional impact like some of the author's other books.

Have you read this incredible book yet? It’s definitely worth ALL the hype it’s been receiving. I’m not sure how TJR managed to make me fall in love with a book about tennis, but here we are. She is the queen of writing strong female leads and Carrie Soto is no exception. I loved Evelyn, Daisy, Nina and now I can add Carrie Soto to the list. I never expected that I would get a chance to read this early, so thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the gifted copy!

At the height of her career, Carrie Soto was the best tennis player in the world. When a new, younger player, Nicki Chan, beats Carrie’s Grand Slam record, she decides to come out of retirement at age 37 to prove once and for all that she will always be the best. While the story mostly focuses on Carrie’s attempt at a comeback, it also dives into her past to show how she got to where she is.

Carrie’s a difficult person to like, and that’s exactly what I like about her. She puts up with no crap, is completely no-nonsense and is often described as cold. Her determination to win and fiercely competitive spirit is inspiring, even if it doesn’t make her any friends in the tennis world. She sacrificed a lot of relationships in order to be the best, and the fact that she is treated differently than her male counterparts for it is glaringly obvious. It’s also a theme that runs throughout TJR’s other character-centric works, as well.

The story is fast paced, quietly funny and full of competitive spirit. I love Carrie’s father, Javier, and their father/daughter relationship is the heart and soul of the story. Carrie’s interactions with her father, Nicki Chan and Bowe were all highlights for me. It wouldn't be TJR without a bit of romance, and you know that was my favorite part.

I continue to be blown away by the amount of effort that TJR puts into the accuracy of her historical novels. I love her writing style and the way she makes me fall in love with her characters over and over again. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, what are you waiting for? Carrie Soto Is Back is available today.

Carrie Soto Is Back is one of my favorite books of 2022. Carrie Soto is my favorite TJR character to date. We briefly met Carrie Soto in TJR’s 2021 book Malibu Rising. She is a tennis phenom who has set seemingly unbeatable stats in her sport. She retires at the peak of her career only to regret the decision a few years later when rising star Nicki Chan inches closer to breaking Soto’s records. She makes a decision to come out of retirement and attempt to hold on to her reign as the GOAT. Soto is honestly a very cold, unlikeable character for much of the book but TJR digs into her core and exposes her vulnerabilities, leaving the reader cheering for her in the end.
Reader be warned…there is A LOT of tennis narrative in this book. Too much for some probably, but I found it fascinating to read. Professional tennis demands precision, split second decision making, understanding the physics of the game-how hard to hit and where to aim the ball on different types of courts, and of course mastering the intense psychological piece of the game. The tennis heavy narrative was crucial to understanding what it takes to be a champion at this level. Highly recommend! Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Anyone who knows me knows I love TJR. I have read and enjoyed all of her books, with some of them being my favorite books of all time. And while I loved Carrie Soto, there was one big reason why this book got 4 instead of 5 stars.

Carrie Soto is Latina, while TJR is white. There has been a lot of justified criticism about this, and I encourage everyone to listen to @tomesandtextiles reel on this. It was a totally unnecessary plot point, and nothing about the story would have changed if Carrie was white - which is a problem. These stories absolutely deserve to be told, but from Latinx (and other BIPOC) authors. White authors should not be checking the box for publishers for inclusion and diversity in books.

Apart from that, I really loved Carrie Soto is Back. I’m always here for a strong, ambitious, “IDGAF” main character. I loved seeing her growth throughout the book, and I was surprised how much I was enthralled by the tennis plot. There were amazing side characters like her father Javier, her rival Nicki Chan, and fellow tennis player Bowe. As always, TJR’s writing was emotive and immersive, and I finished this book in less than a day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid just continues to win at being a remarkable storyteller. Such deep character development AND with a plot that keeps you compulsively turning the pages. Pick this book up if you love any of the following: a sports comeback, father /daughter relationships, strong “unlikeable” heroines, 90s pop culture references.

Recipe inspired by Carries daily intake of almonds and blueberry smoothies — obviously she would never indulge in these scones, but we aren’t all keeping up a strict tennis regimen!

Blueberry Almond Scones

1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup almond flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp cold butter, cubed
1 cup cream
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 blueberry jam
1/4 sliced almonds

Add flours, sugar, baking powder, salt to a bowl and combine. Add cubed butter and cut into dry mixture until the mixture is dry and crumbly. Add cream and blueberries and mix with a spoon until just combined. Turn out dough on a floured surface and work dough lightly into a disk. Spread jam on top and then fold the dough in half and press down again. Add sliced almonds and fold. Top with almonds and sprinkle sugar to add an extra crunch. Cut into triangles and bake at 450° for 12 minutes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this!

I’ve really enjoyed TJR’s books in the past, especially Daisy Jones & the Six, so I was thrilled to see she had a new one coming out. Carrie was a fantastic main character, likable in how little she tried to be likable, and by the end I was rooting hard for her to win. The ending was absolutely perfect. I feel like maybe I don’t know tennis well enough to appreciate some of the points of it, but overall I enjoyed the read!

Carrie Soto was considered the Greatest of All Time in the game of women's tennis until an injury forced her into retirement. Now, five years later, Carrie's legacy is on the line. Only one slam win away from losing her title to Nicki Chan, Carrie decides to put herself back in the game despite the odds against her. It will either be the biggest comeback or the biggest failure.

I did not read Malibu Rising in which Carrie Soto first appears to readers. But when I read the synopsis for this book, something drew me in. I think it's the whole underdog story. Because even though Carrie is great and an absolute legend in the game, she's coming back with the odds heavily stacked against her in this situation. Pretty much everyone counts her out except her father Javier who also happens to be her coach. It's the fact that so many people are against her that makes me want to see her reclaim her glory. I'm always a fan when people can shut down the naysayers.

The thing is, Taylor Jenkins Reid has really written a polarizing figure in Carrie Soto. She's unapologetically sure of herself and her capabilities which goes against a societal notion that people, mainly women, need to be humble, gracious, and demure. They definitely shouldn't brag about their accomplishments, know their own worth, or tell it like it is. But Carrie knows her worth and is not afraid to talk about how good she is at the game. It also makes the stakes that much higher because of the weight that loss would put on her shoulders if she fails.

Despite Carrie's brashness and her penchant for being unabashedly upfront - often to the point of alienating herself from others - I wanted her to succeed. Because ultimately within this confidence that she carries is also this significant vulnerability in not knowing who she is without tennis. The story is propelled forward not only with the intensity of the outcome of each match but also in Carrie's journey. Who will she be at the end of this? What happens if she wins is equally as important as what happens if she loses because either way she needs to move towards another path in her life.

The story is all the more poignant as we watch in real time another legend begin her road to retirement. I know that as I'm watching the news Carrie's story has stayed in my mind.

Carrie Soto is back on the tennis courts, coming out of retirement at age 37. Her Grand Slam record is in jeopardy, and she's determined to play one more year of all four major tournaments. Her nickname, "the Battle-Axe," isn't for nothing. She's an incredibly fierce, determined, and savage competitor.

Honestly, I would have LOVED to see Carrie Soto play in real life! I feel like she's the kind of player I would have loyally cheered for. I love this other universe TJR has created with her characters and we see a few cameos from past books, which is always fun! Her writing was addictive, keeping me up way too late some nights, and the audiobook is performed by a cast of characters!

While the tennis elements were heavy, one of my favorite pieces was the father/daughter relationship. It was refreshing that the romance plot took a backseat, although I enjoyed that part too! Carrie's Dad, Javier, coaches her on this comeback attempt and their bond through tennis is unbreakable. It made me think of my own family and tennis. My Grandparents taught me how to keep score, my Mom and I track all of our favorite players, and my Dad bought me my first racket in middle school, which I still use today. So thank you to TJR and Carrie Soto for bringing back all the fond memories!

Also, I have TJR and Carrie Soto to thank for getting me back out on the tennis court! I obviously had to find a court for the booksta picture and then went back to play the next day!

How timely the release for this is - with the US Open going on 🎾

This is ultimate late summer reading and I strongly recommend this one!!!!

The moment you start this one, you’re invested, seriously invested. At no point do any of these people strike you as fictional characters, created by the author. Reid’s writing is masterful in this one and the power of her words has woven a gorgeous story. I will go so far as to say that this is my second favorite novel of Reid’s; it’s up there in my top 5 best books read this year.

I simply cannot get over how completely and wholly a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel drags you under its spell. I went into this expecting to love Carrie, who we remember from Malibu Rising, and just knowing that Carrie was going to be a wonderfully complex character - and in case you were wondering, I did, and she was. I really don’t know how I could have loved this one more than I did. I’m already looking forward to rereading this by giving a listen to the full-cast audiobook, which I imagine is fantastic.

The relationships in CSIB are so real; the one between Carrie and her dad is written so beautifully (❤️Javier) and the slow burn between Carrie and Bowe is is gorgeous. There’s some nice character crossover as well.


*** I wound up pre-ordering this on audiobook because I loved it so much 😍

I have loved all of Taylor Jenkins Reids’ books (I have not read Daisy Jones and the Six…) and I particularly love how she has a bit player in one who becomes the star of the next. So well done! However, I did not love this one. Not because it wasn’t well written, but because I don’t like tennis, I don’t know tennis and the entire book was tennis!

Carrie Soto was the best tennis player in the world, until Nikki Chan comes in to take the title away from her six years post-retirement. What is she to do but come back and show the world that she still has it. But does she? Again, Reid brings a great cast of characters to the mix, many whom I am wondering when they will have their own novel. But it was the growth of Carrie that really drew me in. And the relationship between her and her father. Again, tennis, not my thing, but that does not mean that Reid cannot make you feel all the feels and draw you into a story that does not call to you.

thank you to the publishing company for the advanced reader copy they so generously provided!

i know it’s a bit silly that i just finished this book today. the day the book is finally released. however, this is the first time i haven’t read a taylor jenkins reid book in one sitting.

that’s not to say it was a terrible book and it wasn’t worth the read, there were parts of it that i loved with my entire being.

carrie soto is an individual you might never fully understand. i think taylor did a good job of portraying that. carrie is so unapologetically what people tell her she is, which can be classified as well… a bitch, the battle axe, achilles, etc. she will always be those things because a part of her believes she will never be allowed to be anything else.

however, i do wanna talk about taylor jenkins reid continuing to write stories about people of color. as a white individual myself i find it odd that she so comfortably inserts herself into these spaces and continues writing these novels. while i read the novel there was certain bits and pieces that definitely weren’t well written because they shouldn’t have been written by a white author. it made it hard to enjoy the book knowing that this is something she has done before and continues to do.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid so much! All of her books have been so fantastic. I think I’ve read most of them at this point. I went into this one completely blind because I honestly don’t even care. I see a new book by her and I know that I want to read it.

This one was cool because I happened to read this during the Western & Southern Open going on five minutes from me! We love going to the tennis matches but haven’t gone in a while since our kiddo is too young. Anyways, this one is completely wrapped around tennis. If you are not a fan of tennis or sports, it might be something that you don’t enjoy about this one. It’s okay but even though this is a huge influence it is not what this story is about.

This story is about the love between a father and a daughter. There are also a few other things thrown into the mix. Carrie is a tough cookie and has one goal in life- to be the BEST of all time, in tennis. Her dad, Javier, is the one who guided and coached her for most of her life. She has one goal focus and didn’t care about anything else. She was amazing and was not shy about letting you know it. She is known to be ruthless! She’s retired and then comes a moment she didn’t think would happen. A younger tennis player is about to smash her record and she can’t have that. She decides to jump back into tennis with her father by her side.

I loved that Taylor takes us back in time to get the full story. We get to see how Carrie became who she is today. There are many things that she sacrificed or went without to be the best. The cost might have been too high. The later part of the book was just beautiful. I was so engrossed and the relationship between Carrie and her father was so beautiful. Sometimes we get so focused that we don’t realize there are many other things in this life.

I love that a lot of Taylor’s books have some sort of connection. In this one, she even references Daisy Jones and the Six! As a fan, it was pretty cool. I only had one big issue with this book and it was the Spanish. Granted, I had a heads up going in but it was a bit rough. I speak Spanish and I know that we all have our slang and dialect for different areas. I was very surprised to see that there were no translations and figured they would be the most basic and easier phrases. I had to stop myself and look up some things and I know/understand the language. I feel like many will just skim past these moments and some of them are important!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. You do not have to love/like or even know about tennis to enjoy this story. It was such a quick read because I was sucked in from the start. The relationships are so well done and the emotion was running high. I highly recommend this one!

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an e-arc to review.

It’s release day!!!! Taylor Jenkins Reid has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I loved Seven Husbands and Daisy Jones and I was extremely excited for this newest book.
The premise of the book is that Carrie, a retired tennis star, comes out of retirement when her grand slam record is broken. I played tennis in high school and understand the rules, but you don’t have to love tennis to love this book.
TJT does an amazing job exploring the relationship between father and daughter. She also shows you the mental struggles that elite athletes can go through.
I adored this book and can’t wait to see what TJR writes next!!!!
Thank you #ballantinebooks and #randomhouse for an advanced copy of #carriesotoisback in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, you will enjoy Carrie Soto Is Back. It's a little different format than the companion books with a single point of view and timeline, a lot of tennis, and a little Spanish (without translation but there is context). I enjoyed it. TJR remains an auto-read author for me.

Carrie Soto worked hard to become a tennis champion and when her record is threatened by Nickie Chan, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and attempt to defend her titles. At 37, she knows the odds are against her. And the fact she was never particularly well liked is not in her favor either.

She retains her old nickname of the Battle Axe but acquires a new one, the B***h, as in the b***h is back. Carrie doesn’t care though. Or at least not much.

With her father and longtime coach, Javier, by her side, Carrie practices with Bowe, a male tennis player who is also attempting a comeback at age 40. The fact they once had a brief fling only makes things a bit more awkward.

As she faces unanticipated challenges, Carrie finds herself actually liking Nickie, and perhaps most unexpectedly, enjoying the game of tennis once again.

Very clever of the publicists to time the release of this book to the US Open. Unlike most of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, I did not immediately get drawn into this one, but it was definitely worth the wait. Carrie is not a likable character at first, but she will eventually win the reader over. Another fabulous read by Reid. #CarrieSotoIsBack #NetGalley

<b>In Reid's newest novel, Carrie Soto is unapologetically driven and determined. I loved the tennis focus, the fast pacing, and the father-daughter relationship that drives the story. This was the right book at the right time for me, and I loved it.</b>

Tough, talented Carrie Soto retired from tennis at the top of her game, as the best player in the world and the greatest of all time.

Her cutthroat desire to win didn't make her the most popular player in the world. But Carrie and her father, her longtime coach, sacrificed everything to get her to the top, setting records that have cemented her place in tennis history.

Now retired, Carrie is a spectator at the US Open when she sees her record challenged by a young upstart.

No one returns to tennis at age 37. But with her fierce determination, her (rusty) skills, and her desire to be the best, Carrie is the perfect person to defy the odds. Carrie Soto is back.

I didn't really connect with the story or characters of Taylor Jenkins Reid's <i>Malibu Rising,</i> but I loved realizing why the name Carrie Soto was familiar to me. You may remember Carrie Soto as a minor character in that book. She is painted as a villain there, and I loved digging into her personality and motivations here.

In <i>Carrie Soto Is Back,</i> we see Carrie fleshed out as a gloriously unapologetic competitor, an emotionally closed off romantic partner, a dedicated daughter, and a woman driven by a grinding commitment to brutally hard work and to being the best.

It's the 1990s, and Carrie is facing what in tennis is considered a geriatric age--as well as all the negative prejudice and pessimistic assumptions that commentators and the general public pile upon her because of her age and her manner. Her loyal father is in for the ride. And her dedicated manager Gwen is an inspiring, strong, independent woman who believes in any goal Carrie herself believes in, however unlikely others may consider it.

I love playing tennis and watching tennis, and I was 100 percent in for Reid's accounts of Soto's training, strategy, coaching, and match details. I'll be curious to hear if others without this particular interest are as engaged with this prominent element of the book the way I was. I suspect that as with Daisy Jones and the Six and its page time spent on the music world, bandmate negotiations, and creativity, Reid's ability to bring an unfamiliar world to life--in this case, the sporting and tennis world--will play well.

More than anything, the heart of this book is the poignant father-daughter relationship between Carrie and Javier. Carrie and her father love each other, but sharing their intense tennis goals and communicating primarily through and about tennis has led to some conflicts and some stress for many years. In the course of the story, each of them considers their approaches to life and what they have learned from each other on and off the court, and I loved this aspect of the book.

Carrie is back, but she's also considering her life beyond tennis for the first time, and this leads her to open up emotionally somewhat--with significant struggles; TJR doesn't make this growth too easy--and inspires her to consider those around her who may mean more to her than she's ever realized.

I was curious about the way Reid would craft the ending of this one, and I was satisfied with the character growth, the trajectory she sets up, and also with how in the end, nothing felt too easy.

I flew through this story--it was solidly a "right book at the right time" situation for me, and I also love that the book's release coincides with the start of the US Open. I loved this one.

I received a prepublication edition of this book courtesy of Ballantine Books and NetGalley.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is also the author of <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/"><i>The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,</a></i> <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-malibu-rising-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/"><i>Malibu Rising,</a></i> and <i>Daisy Jones and the Six,</i> a book I included in the Greedy Reading List <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/six-rockin-stories-about-bands-and-music/">Six Rockin' Stories about Bands and Music.</a>

Taylor Jenkins Reid hit it out of the court with this one. I've never really played or watched tennis before but I flew through this book that was very much about tennis. I loved the interspersed broadcasts and news stories much like the style of Daisy Jones and the Six. The story is unique and very well done. While Carrie isn't a very lovable character, you are still rooting for her through every game. She is unapologetically herself. I loved her dad, Javier and their storyline together. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced readers copy of this book. All views are my own.

I liked this book a lot! I loved the father daughter relationship it portrayed. Unfortunately it lost a star for me because it was a lot of tennis and I feel like the plot was lacking because of that. Overall, I would still recommend the book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Let me preface this review by stating that I have NOT read Daisy Jones nor Malibu Rising. I tried to listen to Evelyn Hugo and gave up out of boredom, although perhaps I might have been more successful if I had just read it (audiobooks can be tricky). So, basically, Carrie Soto is my first actual TJR book. I really wanted to read the book because I played tennis, as well as dating a collegiate tennis player during my first two years of college. I liked the comeback angle and I loved that it was primarily set in the 90s, pre-social media. [Incidentally I wonder how social media might have changed Carrie’s comeback run? A thought.]

This book was AMAZING. If this is a typical TJR book then I guess I’ve been missing out. I was blown away. Not the typical book I spend every waking minute glued to, but there you go: I was squeezing it in on my breaks, at the gym, while making dinner, while the kids took their showers. Every spare second, I was diving back in to Carrie Soto.

You can read the blurb. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel here. Suffice to say: Carrie, after bowing out of her career at its apex back in the 80s, makes her comeback to defend her grand slam recordholder title against up-and-coming Nicki Chan. The trajectory of her comeback isn’t exactly shocking, plotwise, but somehow every minute of it was absolutely riveting. Carrie’s monumental effort to get her 37-year old body back into championship shape was devastating: her determination, her drive, her dogged refusal to accept anything less than perfection. The author depicted the mental toughness of an elite athlete perfectly, to my mind. There was so MUCH to unpack: Carrie’s fraught (at times) relationship with her father/coach, her unwillingness to change her personality to suit commentators and fellow players, her struggle against casual sexism and chauvinism (those chapter-heading interviews with sports casters were INFURIATING!), her unending pursuit of tennis perfection, the research on other players and physical and mental games, wow. Just, wow. I LOVE tennis and this took it to a whole new level, but I think that the author made it accessible enough for anyone to appreciate. This isn’t the typical sort of book I fall all over rhapsodizing about, but first time for everything I suppose. It was AMAZING and everyone should read it. Absolutely amazing.

(I guess I’ll have to read the rest of TJR’s books now, or at the very least, give Evelyn Hugo another go.) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only Taylor Jenkins Reid could get me to read a tennis book in one sitting.

Since she was a girl, Carrie knew she would be the best tennis player in the world. She has the most Grand Slam titles and is truly a force to be reckoned with - until a knee injury forces her into retirement. Five years later and Nicki Chan is the hot new tennis star with something to prove and Carrie’s record to smash. This is Carrie’s comeback story.

Carrie Soto is Back is a tennis book, but so much more than that. At the center of the story is Carrie’s relationship with her father. For most of her life it’s just been the two of them and I loved their relationship dynamic. Carrie is ruthless - her tennis moniker is The Battle Axe and she’s known for finding her opponents weaknesses and tearing them down. If you’ve also read Malibu Rising our first introduction to her is as the other woman. This is not a likable main character and yet I couldn’t help myself from getting invested. I was rooting for her even though I didn’t like her.

Even if you’re not a tennis fan (I’m casual at best) I would recommend this if you’re looking for a quick read with a side of drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy.