Reid is so popular on Bookstagram that she has her own acronym. Any new book of hers will have BUZZ, guaranteed. With CARRIE SOTO IS BACK, TJR lives up to her hype. Kirkus calls it “A compulsively readable look at female ambition.”

Carrie is past her “prime” as an athlete, having retired from tennis six years before. When an upstart athlete threatens to beat her record number of Slam wins, she claws her way back to her previous greatness to try to beat the younger rival.

Like Evelyn Hugo, Carrie isn’t likable. She’s driven and competitive to the point of rudeness. She’ll step on your hand if it gets her one rung higher on the ladder of success. She hates other players, has no friends, and distrusts any extended olive branch. But she’s compelling as a character. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I loved the evolution of Carrie. It’s a painful process at the age of 37. To gain context and realize that the view from your own eyes was skewed is a jagged little pill to swallow. But to channel it into CHANGE, isn’t that goal of all good humans? To watch prickly Carrie open up to people and be vulnerable was powerful.

SOTO is a fast-paced read that I kept reaching for - reading long past when I planned to stop. The ending was so good that I walked around with a goofy grin for the rest of the day.

If you know tennis, you’ll love how much the sport is part of the story. If you don’t know tennis, you will still be pulled along. Either way, you’ll enjoy the ride.

Thanks, NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Taylor Jenkins Reid, for the opportunity to read a Digital Review Copy of CARRIE SOTO IS BACK.

I felt like this started out slow, but something just clicked at one point and I was riveted. It was fast paced and often read like a tennis match.
The telling is very different than other TJR books and really many other books. The book is truly based on the tennis playing and less on who Carrie Soto actually is. But over the course of the book, she comes alive as she evolves as a person and a player.
The book is also incredibly poignant right now as Serena Williams steps away from tennis. She is a real life version of Carrie… someone who we want to root for as we all age and wonder what might have been of not for…

Well, she's done it again. If you remember, we discussed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on the podcast; this is the same author. She is great at story telling. I am definitely recommending this one.

Carolina Soto is a professional tennis player trained by her father who was a great tennis player himself. Carrie retires young after knee injuries, but decides to return to the game of tennis to at least play the four Slams. You go through the trials and tribulations of a star recapturing titles and retraining her body for endurance and a winning title. There is love, competition, sadness and triumph in this novel.

Whether you're a tennis fan or not, it's an easy to follow and read through to follow Carrie's life story. There is some Spanish in the book, but it is mostly intuitive. This is a five-star book for me. It comes out on 8/30/2022, so preorder now!!

#CarrieSotoIsBack #NetGalley

4.5 ⭐️ after seeing all of the hype surrounding this book, I was stoked to finally read it. Honestly, it took a lot of patience to wait and read it closer to its publication date because TJR is easily one of my favorite authors. I will admit that this was not my favorite by her, but there are a lot of aspects that I enjoyed about this book.

What I Loved:
-Carrie's determination, perseverance, and resilience. This was such a strong portrayal of an ambitious, driven female-athlete. Even non-athletes can connect to her hunger.
-Carrie's journey of personal growth- she starts off as an unlikable, ruthless character whose hunger for winning is all-consuming
-The "underdog" elements of the story-a formerly retired female athlete who is (gasp) in her late 30s returning to take on the younger talent
-The father/daughter coach/player dynamics between Carrie and Javier
-Her relationship with Bowe- the ways in which they help each other both professionally and personally
-The interspersed sports commentary (this was especially good on the audio!)
-TJR's descriptive writing and talent- yes, it is a lot of tennis but it felt completely experiential
-The last few sentences of the chapter

Why It Isn't 5 Stars:
-The beginning was a little slow
-The hype set the bar really high
-A lot of tennis... I mean, a LOT. Generally this was a pro toward the book (see above), but at times I wanted a bit of relief.

Thank you to Ballantine, PRH Audio & Netgalley for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes extraordinary women and Carrie Soto takes us into professional tennis. With the “retirement” of Serena Williams being announced just days ago I felt the timing for reading this book was perfect because where many will argue that Williams is the GOAT, Carrie Soto was that in fiction. But everyone loves a comeback, an encore, the final tour and Carrie Soto is aiming to comeback from her retirement to win again and show that she was and is the greatest tennis player.

As a fan of tennis I really enjoyed it. Just like in other TJR books, the characters are memorable, the story captivating, and the writing style unique.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for picking me to read an ARC of #CarrieSotoIsBack.

@tjenkinsreid
#netgalley
#randomhouse
#ballantinebooks
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#mybookishlife

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I really enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid. She is an excellent storyteller and even reading her acknowledgments makes me think I’d like to just go have a coffee with her.

Carrie Soto is a complicated character. But in a classic plot, you will see many sides to Carrie. If you’re like me, you’ll hate some sides and love others.

As much as I enjoyed this book, some of the tennis was just too technical. There were extended passages that were just uninteresting to me. I think Carrie could’ve been told with less tennis jargon. That said, I’m glad I pushed through, because ultimately, I did enjoy Carrie’s journey. And Gwen… please let your next book be about Gwen, Taylor!!

Carrie Soto is Back
Taylor Jenkins Reid
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I haven’t read one TJR that I didn’t like. This conclusion to the character though…was absolutely perfect. I know nothing about Tennis but I was invested in every match. In every challenge. And in Carrie most of all. Her direction, determination and passion is something we all strive to possess, I think. Can I have ALL the female champion stories now, please?

I love the varying techniques she uses to tell her stories. In this case it was Sportscasters and transcripts mixed in with standard dialogue. It’s so wonderfully vivid and lifelike; making it easy for the reader to imagine and connect with more authentically. It was such a brilliant writing choice. Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I am 100% buying a hard copy when it’s released. Don’t sleep on this one!

Taylor does it again! Although not my favorite I devoured this book. Her character development and plot are always spot on!

Another 5 star read from TJR! This book was such a fun ride from start to finish. A great summer/beach/poolside read! Just another example as to why she is an automatic buy author for me.

What can I say other than Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again!

I devoured this book in two days - full on obsessed with Carrie and this story. We were introduced to Carrie in Malibu Rising where she played a small, but I would argue, pivotal role in that story. She was definitely one of those characters that I found intriguing and it was so interesting to get to dive fully into her story.

There's a quote from Taylor in the Editor's Letter that talks about the famous women she writes about and their relationship with the camera: "Evelyn manipulates it. Daisy is broken by it. Nina wants to hide from it. And Carrie...well she couldn't care less about it."

I have read all of TJR's books and I think she continues to do a tremendous job exploring women's stories and, in her more recent books, with the fascination and obsession with celebrity. She also takes us behind the curtain and I love that exploration of the misperception that what appears to be going on doesn't mirror the reality of the character's lives. I also really enjoy the discussion around how these women are expected to act a certain way or fit a certain mold and how each struggles with doing what they want vs. what's "expected" of them.

I've found it so interesting to see the intersection of her last four books (Evelyn, Daisy, Malibu and Carrie) as she explores how the world views women, their struggles and successes, their drive and their unapologetic desire to go after what they want. I find so much inspiration in these stories while also finding connection to their pain and joy and heartbreak and triumph. I appreciate the imperfection in these characters and that they make mistakes and live with the consequences and continue to start over every day.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I feverishly marked it up as this was filled with powerful lines, inspiring words and passages I will for sure be revisiting. Having the chance to read this before the 8/30 pub day made my whole year.

I think this will be a hit with TJR fans and also a great way to be introduced to her writing. Highly recommend.

✨Book Review✨

Book: Carrie Soto is Back
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical/ Literary Fiction
Pub Date: 8/30/22

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸:

🎾 The intensity of the tennis matches made me feel like I was right there at Wimbledon! The narrators were on point!!
🎾The father/daughter relationship between Javier and Carrie and crossover to coach/athlete was spectacular. I loved how Javier allowed Carrie to make her own decisions but stayed true to who he was and what he believed. His love for Carrie never faltered no matter what came between them. His passion for the game shined so bright.
🎾A strong female character who had tenacity and heart, who persevered when no one believed in her, and who had the mental game and will to succeed against all odds.
🎾Reminded me of an ESPN special on a sports icon that gives you a better understanding of what’s underneath the tough exterior of athletes, brings you to tears, and makes you a fan.
🎾Although I was turned off by Carrie’s character I have to give props to TJR’s writing style to make you appreciate Carrie for what she was. Think Denzel in Training Day….
For me I loathed Carrie, but I think that’s what TJR wanted us to feel when reading this.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of this gem!

• the audio was amazing
• I loved the sports announcers. They made the story come alive
• I loved the competitive tennis aspect. It was really eye-opening
• the relationship between Carrie and her father was written so well
• I had to listen to the ending twice. I was so sad it was over!!!!
• the mention of Daisy Jones and the Six had me 🤯

TJR has done it again!

This was a really enjoyable read! There was great character development and the main character really grew on me as the book went on. I liked learning about tennis and the author clearly did her research about the game. I worried that the plot would be too predictable but it was not and I was very happy with the ending. Overall I would recommend as a nice easy read fly through.

Carrie Soto is the BEST character TJR has ever written! You're either gonna love her or hate her. There is no in between. But one thing is for sure, she is that bitch!

Carrie Soto Is Back is a love story between Carrie and her true love- tennis. I've never been so immersed in a book about sports before but this one really took my breath away. Carrie is ambitious, arrogant, competitive, and a perfectionist. She doesn't want to be the best, she wants to be the greatest. And indeed she became the greatest tennis player of all time.

I personally love the father/daughter relationship that was shown in the book. I related to some of it so much I had to stop reading for a bit to cry lmao. The part where Javier told Carrie that he doesn't care if she loses; he only cares if she gets hurt in the process of reaching her goal. That if she's hurt, he does too. Man, that got me *crying in the club right now*

I love Carrie's determination to win and fight for her title. I related to her so much in this aspect. One of the conflicts in the story is the discrimination when it comes to age. No matter how good you are when you are deemed by the society as "too old", you should just sit back and knit sweaters. Carrie stood through it all and popped off.

The addition of Bowe and Gwen is the cherry on top. I love how supportive and patient they are to Carrie. Bowe, especially, who faces the same conflict as Carrie.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master storyteller. All her characters are unforgettable but Carrie takes the spot for me!

Many many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 in exchange for my honest review. Carrie Soto Is Back will be out on August 30, 2022. You wouldn't want to miss this!

Does TJR write anything LESS than extraordinary? I don't think so. Carrie Soto was so unique, but it had that beloved writing style that pulls you in and makes you part of the story. It's another book that reads as though it could be based on a true story - because TJR can do storytelling THAT good. I absolutely adored this one <3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of Carrie Soto Is Back!

To put it simply, this book was wonderful. I had been in a bit of a reading slump, but this book was hard to put down. I went into this story without much knowledge of what it was about, and I did my best to not compare it to other Taylor Jenkins Reid books (of which I've given mixed reviews). I did worry that with the heavy sports/tennis theme that I wouldn't enjoy it, but Taylor drew me into the story so much that I was more than happy to read about tennis matches. There was a beautiful balance between typical story telling and sports matches. Not once did I think, "Please stop showing me tennis." I loved it.

I was rooting for all of the characters, and I loved how Carrie tied into the wider Taylor Jenkins Reid world. I laughed, I cried, I smiled when Carrie won a match, and I yelled when she lost. Taylor created a story that was entirely based around a sport, but the sport still wasn't the main character. The relationships, the rivalry, the determination, the character development. What a powerful book about finding meaning and celebration in your life.

It is my top read of the year so far, and I can't wait for other people to read it!

If there's one thing you need to know about me, it's that I will read whatever new entry TJR makes to her fake celebrity cinematic universe. As a lifelong fan of sports I knew I'd enjoy this, but DAMN. Carrie Soto is a character I felt instantly connected to, I was so invested in her journey from the first few chapters, to the point where her return, her FICTIONAL return, was making me TEAR UP not even a quarter into the book!!! An absolutely epic heartwarming inspiring beautiful story, it has easily become one of my favorites of the year. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early e-copy and making me feel important.

TJR is a automatic read author for me!

Carrie Soto is driven by her competitive spirit to be perfect and number #1 in the sport of women's tennis. Her drive dictates all aspect of life, every breath and every thought. Carrie is incredibly unlikable as she treats every person as a stepping stone to achieve her dream. She's harsh and relentless on and off the court too.

This novel serves up Carrie's life from a young tennis prodigy through a comeback in her late thirties. Her game has always stayed inside the baseline until faults have her seeing what it means to live outside the lines. The easter eggs from other books - WOW!

This is an absolute ACE, especially the audiobook!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the advance reader copy of this novel.

🎾🎾Carrie Soto is Back🎾🎾

✍️: Taylor Jenkins Reid
✨:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨synopsis✨
This is all learned in the first chapter so no spoilers! This book is about Carrie Soto, the worlds greatest tennis player. 5 years after she retires, someone is threatening to beat her record, so she comes out of retirement to reclaim her title as the best.

✨my thoughts✨
Carrie Soto!!! What a character! This book was unbelievable. It’s HEAVY on the sports and tennis and I don’t like sports and know nothing about tennis and I still devoured this book is less than 24 hours. Carrie is an unrelenting, ambitious, arrogant person and I absolutely loved her. How did TJR get us to love such an unloveable character?! I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened, I loved Carrie and I loved her dad, I loved the excitement I felt during each match, I truly felt the game was real and I was rooting for Carrie at each match! This is definitely my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book by far!!

RUN to go pre-order this book!! Out 8/30!! Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC of one of my favorite books this year!

What is your favorite sport to read about or watch?!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back! After feeling a bit iffy about her last novel, I was curious how this would work out for me. Suffice to say, Carrie Soto and tennis are in.