Carrie Soto was born to be a tennis star. She started training with her father to be the world's greatest tennis star when she was a child. Throughout her life, tennis was her only focus. She was persistent and ruthless, thus known as The Beast. After she earned her records and titles, she retired. Years later, when a 31 year old is close to taking Carrie's world record from her, she is makes a come back. She comes out of retirement to prevent Nikki Chan from snatching her title.

I am a huge TJR fan—I'll read anything she writes!—but I admit I wasn't sure about this one at first, not having any particular interest in tennis. It didn't take long before I was completely sucked in to the story of Carrie Soto's drive to succeed. This isn't just a riveting look at the price of building a life around one singular goal: It holds an unflinchingly honest mirror to the double standards to which we hold female figures in the public eye, the most unforgiving standards to which we hold ourselves, and the vulnerability behind even the toughest facades. By the last chapter, I wasn't just cheering for Carrie—I was sad to say goodbye. TJR's writing has an understated power that comes across as flawless; I can't wait to see what she tackles next.

Carrie Soto is a retired tennis phenom who decides to attempt a comeback at age 37 when her Grand Slam record is threatened. She is totally fierce and driven and if anyone can do it, she can. Carrie is an unforgettable character, not always likable, but definitely passionate in her love of tennis, and one can certainly respect her determination to succeed. This is a remarkable look at what it takes to achieve greatness in sport.

I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This book was so amazing to me. In spite of writing unlikeable characters, TJR manages to make us fall in love with them. Despite never liking or watching tennis in my entire life, I found myself on the edge of my seat during the games in this book. As you read those pages, you can't help but root for Carrie Soto in her tennis career as well as in her personal life and personal growth. TJR is so talented and never fails to amaze me will forever be one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto has spent her life becoming the best tennis player in the world. Even in retirement, she's held the record for the most Grand Slam wins... until Nicki Chan started closing in on her. So, Carrie decides to re-enter professional tennis to stay on top. I absolutely loved this book. I've been hearing reviews that this book isn't really about tennis- make no mistake, this book is totally about tennis. There is a lot of play by play and strategy and more. However, I do not care much about tennis and I still loved this book so much! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master storyteller- her characters leap off the page and honestly I started learning more about the history of tennis because of her, which is no mean feat. This will be in my top ten books of 2022 for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wanted something so badly you would do anything to get it? Well, Carrie Soto shows us how to get what we want-determination, practice, self-sacrifice, and very few friends. Carrie meets her father, retired tennis champ and tennis coach, after school, where she studies and observes the players. Devoting her life to be the best tennis player ever, she conquers all her goals before retirement, or so she thinks! As she watches the 1994 US Open, she sees her record about to be surpassed. This will never do for the lady known as “the Battle Axe”. At age 37, will she be able to train enough to secure her record, keep the man she loves, and find her real dreams? This is one exciting book!

I thought by getting ahead of the hype and being able to read prior to release would finally open my eyes to the joy and fans of TJR. Previous books have all just rated as a 3 because I go in with expectations way too high so they fall somewhat flat.

Carrie Soto is so incredibly tennis heavy that most of the time spent reading this is really just reading a play by play of her entire career of matches. Carrie really isn’t an enjoyable character, she’s self-absorbed and unaware to anyone else. Her father is mostly to blame for raising her to be “the best” but even he has a larger character growth throughout the book. Carrie’s character growth is reserved mostly for the last 20% of the book and even in that portion, she’s still questionable. If you know tennis and really enjoy it, this will probably be great for you as a reader. For the rest of us, it’s just a story of a woman who is so concerned with winning that she misses out on any other joy in life and relationships with people.

OMG I don’t even know where to start. This book packed a punch. Carrie is a tennis phenom, an elite player in a stratosphere all her one….her only issue is that she wants to be the best, nothing else matters, no matter the cost. She even comes out of retirement to make the world see, at 37, she is still at the top of her game. I will say that I NEVER realized how much it takes to become an elite tennis player. I learned so many things about stance, swing, needing to run and sprint, in order to build stamina for the court. The relationship between Carrie and her father was amazing. Coach and Father, father first and foremost. And how Carrie keeps Bowe at a distance for so many years until he is able to break down her walls and show her he’s here for the long run. Carrie was such a pessimist in my eyes, that winning wasn’t enough, and the author showed how damaging that can be to the psyche, that letting go is the only way to move forward. If I could have given this book 10 stars, I would have! Thanks Libro.fm and edelweiss for the arc

Another immersive, emotional and incredible book by Taylor Jenkins Reid! Carrie Soto is Back hooked me from the very beginning, even as someone who knows nothing about tennis, and I absolutely devoured it in less than a day - I couldn’t put it down!

After the glimpse of Carrie Soto that we get in Malibu Rising, I didn’t know what to expect from her story but this was so different than I anticipated. Carrie Soto is a tennis legend, so of course this is a sports story, however it’s so much more than that. Carrie decides to come out of retirement years later to defend her Grand Slam world record and this story takes us through the ups and downs of training with her father/coach, Javier, the Grand Slam matches themselves, and most importantly, Carrie’s growth and realizations about herself and the game of tennis.

Carrie’s strength and determination are second to none but now that she’s 37, retired, and working to get back in the game, she’s realizing that being the best may not be everything she always imagined. Winning has been everything she’s ever known and been striving for all these years and her journey to reclaim her record forces her to rediscover her love for the game, accept the love and support of the people around her and recalibrate her expectations and priorities.

The characters in this story were incredible. Carrie is portrayed as a bitch by the media and the players around her, but she’s so much more than that - the “Battle Axe” goes a long way in figuring out what’s truly important and opening up. Javier was easily my favorite character with his unwavering love for Carrie, tennis and eventually Bowe - he was here for Carrie every step of the way, loving and supporting her all along. And Bowe is the kindest, sweetest, most patient man alive who understood Carrie on a different level and wore his heart on his sleeve through everything.

There’s just something special about TJR’s storytelling style - it’s all-consuming and immersive in a way that I can’t get enough of. I know nothing about professional tennis, but by the end of this book I was on the edge of my seat during both Carrie and Bowe’s matches. I was rooting for them, crying along with them and so happy to see where things ended up for both of them. Everything I’ve read by TJR is special in its own way, but Carrie Soto just hit different and made me love Carrie and the journey she went through so much.

As always, I’ll be (im)patiently waiting to see what world, story and characters TJR introduces us to next!

I have come to a realization...

TJR can do no wrong. I absolutely devoured Carrie Soto and the amazing story she lives.

Generally, I shy away from sports-drama fiction. There are so many great, inspiring true-life stories that I almost feel like fictionalized stories are a cop-out.

Not so Carrie Soto. While the sport and play of the book is phenomenal... action-packed, technical and crisp... the real story comes from where it should: Carrie's personality, relationships and character growth. She is written with such warmth and empathy that, even though you can guess where the book is headed, you feel compelled to stick it out with her... almost like you are rooting her on in the pages.

This is a solid 5 🌟 from me, and a ringing endorsement for her backlog. Well done Taylor... I'm looking forward to whatever is next!

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I loved Carrie! I felt this book was a departure from other Taylor Jenkins Reid books but I liked the sports angle. I don't know anything about tennis but the book encapsulated the hard work and determination that all pro athletes must have, as well as the tough realization that when you are no longer on top, the sports world lets you go quickly. Carrie was a complex character-- I liked her gruff exterior, the relationship with her dad, the rivalry with Chan and the course of Bowe and Carrie throughout the novel. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I rooted for her, even when she seemed like she could use a little modesty! Ha!

Wow, just wow! Even though I am a huge Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, I was skeptical that I would love a book about an unpopular tennis star. Was I ever wrong! I was glued to my Kindle.

The characters are flawed and fantastic. Carrie Soto is a driven tennis player, hyper focused on winning at all costs. She gives off a tough as nails, standoffish vibe. She is called the "Battle Axe" and "B***h" by sportscasters. Yet no person is quite that simple or one-dimensional and Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at creating a character. Carrie's journey is one about self-discovery and evolution. Her relationship with her father, Javier, was one of the best father-daughter relationships I have ever read. What an incredible man! And Bowe Huntley? Love him!

This book is about tennis and those who follow the sport will absolutely appreciate all the details. But it is far more than a tennis book. It's about finding your path in life and evolving as a person. I loved everything about this book - the characters, the plot, the 1990's setting, and the tennis competition. I could not put this book down. Tennis fan or not - read this book!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! The characters were fun to get to know, and you really felt like you were at a tennis match! So fun!

I did enjoy the book however i was really frustrated by the fact that the spanish in this book had incorrect grammar. All it takes is one person who is fluent in spanish to be able to fix these mistakes and I found it hard to get past that.

I so wanted to love this book, as I’ve loved so many of TJR’s prior to this. I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and I’m not a huge tennis fan, so all of the sports scenes just didn’t do it for me. The plot fell flat and I found myself drudging through it. I suppose if you’re a tennis fan, this may do it for you, but it didn’t for me.

Carrie Soto is the surprise perfectly wrapped present under the Christmas Tree that you never thought you'd actually get.

First of all, the writing style itself of TJR is phenomenal. Alternating between press reviews vs. Carrie's POV was very well done.

I used to play tennis and that was part of the book's appeal for me, but even if you don't, I think you would enjoy it because it's about so much more than the sport. It is the cheerleader for any dream, goal, or aspiration you've ever had.

You are immediately drawn to the character, and despite TJR outwardly listing her flaws, I still found myself rooting for her from start to finish.

In a way, I felt like her journey to ultimately finding happiness paralleled mine as an enneagram 7 and also as a pharmacist with very specific and difficult to achieve professional goals.

I think most people can relate to Soto, and honestly this book is as golden as its cover.

If you've seen Ted Lasso, I felt like Javier, her dad and coach, reminded me a little bit of him, and she has a little bit of Tart and a little bit of Kent in her. That's not to say she needs to be compared to anyone, it's only a comparison because I absolutely loved this book and love that show.

Pre-order your copies now!

Trigger warning: loss of a parent.

When Carrie Soto retired from tennis six years ago, she was the best player the world had ever seen, shattering every record imaginable. Now a hotshot new tennis star is threatening to break Carrie’s legacy. At 37, Carrie attempts to come back for one more epic season to defend her title, even if defying all the odds means she has to train with a man from her past.

If you’ve read Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto is that tennis player, but you don’t need to read Malibu Rising to enjoy the book. I love that Reid gives crossovers hinting at her other books in such a way that it’s fun for fans, but doesn’t preclude you from reading the book independently.

I absolutely loved Carrie Soto is Back. I started it half an hour before my bedtime and literally did not put it down until I had finished it. Taylor Jenkins Reid shines with her brilliant writing and complex characters. Highly and enthusiastically recommend.

I loved this book so much. I love the way TJR can write unlikeable characters and still make us fall in love with them. I have never liked or watched tennis in my entire life but somehow this book had me on the edge of my seat during the games, it felt like I was right there.
Carrie Soto grew so much in those pages and you just can't help but root for her not only in her tennis career but also in her personal life and personal growth.
TJK will forever be an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to keep reading her work.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Soto is the world's greatest tennis player. Among her many achievements, she holds the record for the most Slam titles won. That is until Nicki Chan ties her record, five years after Carrie has retired from the sport. Carrie decides to come out of retirement for one last season to prove once again to the world who she is and why she's known as the Battle-Axe. Carrie Soto is back.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of writing her stories and characters to where you instantly believe they are real people, with such compelling narratives you almost want them to be real. Carrie Soto is a ruthless athlete on and off the court and I instantly fell in love with her "who cares" attitude and just pure talent. With a toxic desire to constantly win, it was so interesting to see how Carrie grew throughout the book both as an athlete and as a person.

If you've ever cried watching a sports game, or if you enjoy watching athletes excel at a craft they've honed for their entire life, you have to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Taylor Jenkins Reid novel and as an avid tennis fan (read: obsessive) - I was a little iffy about having this be the first novel by her that I picked up but I knew I HAD to read it. A sincere thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC!

Carrie Soto (nicknamed The Battle Axe) was the most dominant tennis player on the WTA in all aspects of the game but most notably for the record of most Grand Slam titles by any tennis player. After an injury setback and her inability to continue to compete at a high level, Carrie retires from tennis at the age of 32 confident that she has cemented herself as the best tennis player of all time with an unbeatable record...that is until Nicki Chan comes along. With Nicki hot on the heels of overtaking Carrie's record, Carrie and her father, Javier (her first tennis coach), decide to come out of retirement and take back the record that she believes is rightfully hers.

Carrie is an incredibly strong female lead that is powerful, driven, cocky, unlikeable, and likable all wrapped into one. I was indifferent to Carrie's success in the beginning as I found her pretty unlikeable. With that being said, sexism in sport is also an underlying theme as Jenkins Reid points out how men and women with similar attitudes are regarded differently. Throughout the book, as you start to understand Carrie's childhood, family, and mindset - you form a soft spot for her. Javier and Carrie’s relationship was also one of my absolute favorites. Every exchange with them made me smile. No matter what was being said, you could always feel the strong love and bond between them. By the end of the novel, you'll find yourself not only sympathizing with Carrie but also screaming, "LET'S DO THIS, BATTLE AXE!"

Let's talk about the tennis. As a tennis fan, I found it easy to follow along with the tennis play. Albeit necessary for the story, I could see a non-tennis fan seeing the match play as a little long-winded. However, although it's easier to follow along if you already know the game - Jenkins Reid does a great job of giving you an overview of the game and scoring for even non-tennis fans to follow. If nothing else, glazing over the tennis "terms" and just following the scoring will still allow readers to understand and stay immersed in the story.

Props to Jenkins Reid for this leap - for taking a chance on a fiction novel focused around the sport and for her thorough research. It was nice to see actual happenings in the tennis world threaded throughout the story and it was fun to link similarities between the characters in the book with real-life professional players.

A story of growth, family, sport, and letting go - a great read for tennis and non-tennis fans alike.