Astounding!
Upon losing her mom quite suddenly at a young age Carrie Soto and her father make training her into being a tennis superstar their life’s work. They put absolutely everything into it knowing they will be successful.
In order to be the best she has to be trained by the best and her father is absolutely that.
Taylor Jenkins Reid reels you into Carrie Soto’s world of tennis. You immediately become involved and invested in her and her father’s relationship and everything it encompasses.
You absolutely fall in the love with the world created here and want Carrie to win absolutely everything.

I really, really wanted to love this book, but it fell flat for me. TJR is a master writer, and I will happily read every book she ever writes. But I was bored during so much of this book. I knew it would be focused on tennis, but I guess I expected more than that. It felt repetitive and rehashed the same issues over and over with little to no resolution.

As a competitive athlete (and perfectionist), I could definitely relate to Carrie in many aspects, but I didn’t feel like she grew or changed until very suddenly in the last 5-10% of the book. It was just so abrupt and didn’t seem genuine.

Carrie Soto is Back
And boy is she ever! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at bringing you into her world and holding you captive for the duration of her vivid storytelling. Fans of Malibu Rising will find several familiar characters in CSIB that have crossed from one book to another, Carrie herself being one of them. Brash, unlikeable, hard-hitting Carrie Soto is a force to be reckoned with and finds herself coming out of retirement from tennis when her world record is about to be broken. Carrie is a fighter and survivor and even referred to as “the bitch” who cannot give up and will defend her title at all costs. Now 37, she is the oldest woman to ever try to win an open, and seeks out the help of her father to train her to once again be the best.
The beginning of the novel has quite a bit of dialogue between Carrie and her father in untranslated Spanish. As a reader I chose not to attempt to translate, but just decipher what I could from their conversations. Some readers may find this annoying or want to translate, but I felt like if the story couldn’t move without me pausing to translate, then it wouldn’t be good storytelling. This is also during a point where the book is developing and setting the pace for Carrie’s story, telling her past history. As she rises to fame I found that the novel picked up quite a bit and the second half or “Comeback” had me reading compulsively to find out what would happen next. Unfortunately being known for being a “bitch” and The Battle Axe™️ makes finding training partners difficult—Carrie has always been a bit of a loner, not caring what is said in the media about her and not playing nice with other female tennis players. When her agent suggests flailing tennis pro Bowe Huntley (whom Carrie previously had a one night stand), she balks at the idea, but may not have much of a choice given her lack of willing partners. This is where the narrative bloomed for me. Carrie is supposed to be the hardened, competitive, unlikeable character, but she is really very vulnerable and just puts up walls and defenses so that she doesn’t get her heart broken. A few key characters are able to breach Carrie’s wall: her father, Javier, Bowe, and her agent, Gwen. Instead of disliking Carrie I wanted to root for her, cheer her on in spite of herself, and hope that against all odds she might succeed in winning back her title and believe that she is someone who could be loved.
Bowe Huntley may be my favorite hero that Jenkins Reid has ever written. He is unexpected and imperfect, but perfect and patient with Carrie. He exudes what love is and should look like without being sappy or mushy. Later in the book when Carrie is struggling, Bowe is present and there for her, keeping her together when she can’t even request help for herself. He doesn’t push, he just is, and is confident in himself and what he wants. But my favorite relationship may be between Javier and Bowe. It is not often that you read about men having a friendship and theirs is a beautiful example.
Carrie Soto is Back is about more than tennis; it’s about family, learning to let others in, finding a way back to yourself, and fighting for your life like it’s the only chance you’ve got. Tennis definitely does not play a back seat, in fact I found myself getting into it as I began to learn terms and scoring points. TJReid makes you want to pick up a ball and go try it yourself just to see if you can feel a little bit of what Carrie feels for the sport. I would suggest this book to anyone who has ever had an axe to grind, who wants to feel more than what they are, and who believes in all things of hope. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Penguin Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have once again fallen in love with a TJR character. This time, her name is Carrie Soto, and she is a uniquely talented, dominating, competitive, brutal tennis player who displays arrogance on and off the court, causing the media to give her the nickname "the Battle Axe" (or, when they think they're in private but are actually on a hot mic, "The Bitch.") Sounds like a person you would love to hate, right? Wrong. In Taylor Jenkins Reid's capable hands, we fall in love with Carrie, who, while on her lifelong streak of showing no mercy or vulnerability, falls in love with not only the game of tennis but also a male tennis player who might be almost her equal in abrasive personality if not in skill (think John McEnroe).

More importantly than the romance, though, Carrie has decided to make a comeback into the professional tennis world, after going out on a high note with a reputation and list of endorsements unequaled by almost any other female player.... ALMOST. Because now in 1995 we meet the equally fierce and talented Nikki Chan on the women's tennis scene, breaking barriers and records for women of color the same way Carrie did back in the 70s. Carrie of course can't resist the chance for one last series of tournaments to determine once and for all who is truly the best women's tennis player of all time.

As a competitive person and a former athlete (ice skating in my case - I know nothing about tennis), I adored Carrie's drive, determination, brutal competitive vibe, and quest to be the best at a sport she absolutely loves. In Carrie Soto, TJR shows us not a "battle axe" but a character with a love and passion for her sport, an adoration for her father (who is her coach and strongest cheerleader), and an unexpected possible romance that might ultimately open up Carrie's vulnerable side for the first time in her life.

Don't worry about the subject matter of this book if it doesn't particularly interest you from the premise. It doesn't matter if you know anything about tennis, or if you even care at all about tennis -- the book exists in its own lovely and colorful universe, and as with all TJR books, the author shows you all you need to know about the sport and you see it as Carrie sees it. This book is about the characters, and they're all beautifully drawn and heartfelt. Another totally rewarding, emotionally full, and touching reading experience by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who writes female characters better than almost anyone else in the popular fiction world these days. Can't wait to meet my next new fantasy best friend in whatever book TJR is writing next.

Thanks to the author, Random House, and NetGalley for this wonderful book, which I loved and which will definitely make my Best of 2022 List.

I have never not liked a TJR but I just didn’t vibe with this one. Maybe I will read it again at another time 🥲

I just love how Taylor Jenkins Reid can make you feel like you are living next door to her characters, and that's exactly what reading Carrie Soto is Back did! And, while I didn't love Carrie Soto, I very much appreciate an author who can make me feel definite emotions about fictional characters. This was a wonderful view into the world of elite tennis and if I didn't know better, I'd tell you I actually watched the tennis matches in person. Real and authentic character building like only Taylor Jenkins Reid can do. Loved it!

Let’s start here: I don’t like tennis. At all. That is why I set this book aside three times just a few pages in — I just really didn’t think I could get past the tennis. 

But then I remembered how much I loved Evelyn Hugo after waiting years to actually crack it open because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get past the Old Hollywood element. 
 
So I decided to give it another try, and I’m so happy I did.  I don’t like tennis — at all — and yet I found myself flipping the pages so eager to find out what would happen next.  Will she or won’t she?  What’s going to happen here?
 
Let me also just say that Carrie’s character development is impeccable.  Does anybody really like Carrie?  I didn’t like Carrie at all.  So why was I rooting for her? 
 
Good writing.  That’s why we root for Carrie. 
 
I also felt that Carrie’s father was masterfully portrayed.  The passion and grief that shaped and drove Javier — and the lessons he learned and imparted — were profound. 

It’s all about the beautiful fundamentals, my friends (IYKYK).  And this book has it in spades!
 
My thanks to Ballantine Books @randomhouse and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book before its publication date.

The beauty of this book is that as I sit here typing up my review I am still overflowing with more emotions than the trojan horse held soldiers. While Carrie Soto is Back was on my list since its announcement, I have to say I tried to slow down as I read it. I knew that as I reached closer and closer to those final pages, that final match, not only would a chapter close for Carrie but one for me as well. Although she is my senior she still held some immaturity. She thought that pushing everyone and everything away would protect her, but there will always be something out of your control, and this book showcases her journey towards acceptance. I loved her comeback story because it truly was inspiring. Here she is going against all expectations and not really factoring in the long-term consequences. Almost everyone counted her out before she was ever really in, but it didn't matter. It is her journey, not theirs, so she must be okay with herself, not the version people project onto her. It is beautiful to watch someone as strong as her become stronger as she is finally able to better her mental game and gain a sense of family from people other than her father. I love her, but I think it's because as a reader, I get to know all sides of her. I get to know the events that shaped her and the people who encourage and influenced her. I get to spend all this time with her unlike those she pushed away. Most of all I cheered for her, I screamed for her, I cried for her. As someone who has never watched a tennis match, I found myself quite literally on the edge of my seat, using my fingers to block out the bottom of the page, to keep myself from seeing who got the point. I found myself trying to live those moments through her and with her, whether she won or lost, hoping she would be okay with the results. Hoping I would be okay with the results, and together we grew. I knew, just like she did, that once the moment came the outcome would not change. No matter the outcome of those matches, I would have to accept it just as she would, but the journey was so beautiful, so fulfilling, that I understood we would be okay. It was just the end of the game, the end of a chapter, the end of a book, the end of this universe. I have not only been thankful for every moment but will carry them with me, so for that thank you.

TJR never fails. Every book is a hit, no matter what. I loved this one so much. Her writing, her characters, her pacing. It's all amazing.

5/5 ⭐

Obviously anything written by TJR is an auto-read for me so I jumped all over Carrie Soto is Back as soon as I got it. It is the story of Carrie, a professional tennis player, fighting for a comeback at age 37 - battling an aging body and critics of the antics of her younger self. Is it a sports book? Absolutely. There are play by plays and so many technical tennis terms. Does it still read like a gripping novel with the classic TJR deep, well developed heroines? Also yes. To say that I was sucked in is an understatement. Carrie Soto is portrayed with all of her flaws and shortcomings but her determination, feistiness and commitment are so inspirational. Setting aside the appearance by the most hated modern day character, Mick Riva, I absolutely loved the drama, the excitement, the stress, the strength, the drive and love that this book embodied.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the gifted electronic copy.

Well, I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but here it goes...

TJR has a beautiful writing style so this book is beautifully written. However, it was very predictable. I was waiting for a big surprise or reveal or something, and it never happened. Yes, I love how it was written but the story itself was three stars from me.

I enjoy tennis but this book is filled with pages and pages of rules and play by play. I don't mind unlikeable characters but Carrie is brutal. Less Carrie, more supporting characters would've been a more enjoyable read. One extra star because the last 1/3 of the book we finally get a story and I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

5 Huge Stars!

I simply adored everything about this book. As a former player and avid tennis fan, I was naturally drawn to the story of Carrie's tennis career. It was a love affair in and of itself. But this book is so much more than that. It's the story of a woman who finds herself in the most untraditional of ways. It takes her a while, but it's worth the journey. Her relationship with her father is both painful to watch at times while also being beautiful. And the push and pull between her and Bowie....well that gives a whole new meaning to letting self doubt creep in and get between you and something you want..

Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a force as a storyteller and she truly shines with this novel. Carrie Soto plays the other woman in Malibu Rising. She's not exactly someone you want to get to know. And honestly, she's a tough and thorny character through a great deal of this book. But as you learn why she's that way and what really makes her tick, you come to understand and embrace her. For TJR to be able to make me even want to like Carrie is a feat. I was quite impressed.

With Serena Williams recent announcement that she'll retire from the sport of tennis soon, this book felt timely. Not only did it focus on Carrie's tennis career and how she impacted the fictional world of tennis in the book, it also discussed the impact of other fictional female tennis players and the affect they were having on amping up the sport of women's tennis. Maybe it was just me and my love for the sport, but the book and its discussion of female athletes and their influence on tennis, whether fictional or not, felt impactful.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

4.5
I have made no secret that I love reading TJR books. I think she is a very gifted writer and she expertly crafts us a story. We read about her characters, but they live, eat and breathe within those pages and become part of our circle for the time that we are with them. Sometimes the TJR effect will last even longer and they linger on your mind.

This was all true for Carrie Soto for me. While she is portrayed as a very unlikeable woman, I didn't necessary dislike her. And even if I did dislike her just a little, I loved her story. The only thing I didn't love about this book was the occasional dialogue in Spanish. I didn't even try to guess what it was saying and found it distracting.

I also hear chatter about too much tennis - well, it is a book about a tennis player that was a champion and she is orchestrating her comeback. So yes, there is a lot of tennis. But I do think that this aspect is done so well that even someone that knows absolutely nothing about tennis will enjoy Carrie's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an early release copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Carrie Soto is Back will be available on 8/30/22.

TJR can do no wrong. I loved the sports aspect as well as the thoughtful and in-depth character development. TJR has a knack for explaining who her characters are so well that we feel like we know them. Loved this and will be promoting next week for publication.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid and this book was another great story told in a unique way. I would have liked to have had a little more character development and learned more about their lives in order to love them even more, and had a little less descriptive tennis match scenes, but overall I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it for fans of Reid.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the advance copy.

I loved this book! Taylor Jenkins Reid has such a special style of writing that transports you to the characters world and it's hard to believe her books are fiction. I really enjoyed that there were also reference to her other novels in this book.

Carrie Soto's comeback story and backstory is really well written. I loved the other characters in the book and tore through this novel. I highly suggest this book!

Everything I know about tennis...I learned from Carrie Soto.

Absolutely loved this book so much! It reminded me why I fell in love with Daisy Jones. TJR has the most captivating writing style. She keeps historical fiction fresh and hip. She creates characters you can't get enough of. I love how she weaves small nods to her other books/characters into the narrative. Yes, I'm looking at you Nina Riva.

I knew nothing about tennis and still binged this over a road trip. One of my favorite reads of the summer!

The audio is also such a treat! Fantastic narration by a full cast.

Pub Date: August 30, 2022

I have read several books by this author including Daisy Jones and the six (loved it) and Malibu Rising. This book was a departure and not comparable to her previous work. It was boring and I felt nothing for the characters. I get the tennis link (David Foster Wallace had mastered this) but felt like I’d heard this story before. I’d give it one star and that’s generous. Utterly disappointing.

Carrie Soto is Back kept me entranced for the whole 2 days it took me to read it. I am not an athlete and I barely watch tennis. But the concept of a person who will accept nothing but perfection from themself is not foreign. Carrie is not a beloved sports star- her nicknames are Battle Axe and The Bitch- but you still want her to win. Her father, Javier, is supremely focused on tennis but still adorable. I’m short, Taylor Jenkins Reid writes characters that I want to know more about. I especially love the dialogue Carrie has with different people. This was a book I did not want to end.