There are times when I finish a book and just don’t really know what to say in the review besides: wow and beautiful and please read.

TJR is a master of stories and words and perfectly created characters that feel so so real it feels impossible that they don’t exist. Impossible that I can’t google them and see them out there, part of history.

I’ve never cared for tennis, have no clue how the game is played or what the rules are but Carrie Soto is Back shoved me into the world of tennis and made me feel like I belonged.

The character development! The relationships! The full circle moments! The sly mentions of other characters in the TJR universe!

I just cannot say much else beyond my goodness what a joy and pleasure it is to read the stories so beautifully and thoughtfully crafted by TJR. What an honor.

An absolutely amazing story that speaks to the power of determination and perseverance. I love Carrie Soto she is an incredible character. Not often do you read about women who are unapologetic about their talent and their gifts, who defy expectations that society has placed on them, and who are brave enough to be themselves when everyone is telling them they should be something else. We need more women like Carrie whoe are bold and beautiful and fierce. I really love this book and it was an absolute delight to read about her journey.

Carrie Soto is Back might be my favorite of TJR's yet. I absolutely loved everything about it, starting with Carrie. She is one of my favorite characters that TJR (or any other author) has written, and I absolutely loved this story about her growth as a person.

I loved seeing Carrie's relationship with her dad, it was heart breaking at times but so great to see. All of the other characters in this book were equally as great: Bowe, Gwen, and Ali, and of course, Nicki Chan.

The rivalry between Nicki and Carrie was enough to keep me on the edge of my seat and motivated me to read this as fast as I could. The story sucked me in from the very beginning and I was immediately invested in the outcome for Carrie and everyone else.

Love, love, LOVE this book. 100% recommend

A book about tennis that is as propulsively written as a thriller. I stayed up until 3 in the morning to finish it because I cared about the characters and their relationships (to each other and the game) so much. Carrie Soto is a complex and prickly heroine who is determined to preserve her legacy on the tennis court; she is even more compelling as a person who (eventually and not without a fight) allows herself to be fully and vulnerably human. The descriptions of the courts and the arenas made each tournament seem so real. I also appreciated the way Reid depicted the athletic body both at its peak and in its fragility. The ending was very satisfying to me - it felt well earned and so hopeful.

Carrie Soto is Back (𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂) — 4 ⭐️

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 30th

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Carrie Soto, a renown tennis player, decides to come out of retirement to defend her world record. Will she embarrass herself and her legacy, or will she be able to succeed after being out of practice for so long?

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of writing books that seem like real-life. How does she make her fictional stories seem like historical literature?! Plus, I adore how she ties in characters from each of her books.

While I admired Carrie’s drive and ambition, it was hard for me to relate to her. Plus, even though I knew this, I wasn’t prepared for the ENTIRE book being about tennis. While it was interesting, it was hard for me to focus sometimes, especially since there was only minor romance aspects of the story.

Overall, it was good read though. I’ll forever be a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan and will read everything she publishes!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
👩‍🏫 Ambitious MC
💪 Strong Characters + Development
💕 Romance (Not Main Focus)
🥾 Adventurous
🤩 Addicting Read

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
🎾 Tennis is your life
🏅 You would do anything to hold your sports record
👨‍👦You have a close relationship with your dad
🏆 You are more competitive than your peers
📻 Listening to sports radio is one of your hobbies

𝐓𝐖: parental death, grief

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books, for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a huge TJR fan. I’ve loved everything she’s written. This one gave me pause though…I’m not a sports fan! But I was surprised as this was another great read. So much thought and detail went into the writing. Loved the little references to characters in previous books. Carrie’s relationship with her father was my favorite part of the book. And even though Carrie could be difficult to root for…she won me over in the end.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I read Malibu Rising, so I recognized the name “Carrie Soto” instantly as she was a memorable character from that book. I couldn’t remember her profession off the top, but I remember her link to Nina Riva, and was looking forward to reading this book about her.

Carrie Soto is a tennis CHAMPION(all caps) who, after retiring at the top, decides to return to the game years later once her record is in jeopardy of being shattered by another player. As the title suggests, this story follows her journey to defend her titles.

I’m not a fan of tennis or most sports for that matter and this book is heavy, heavy, tennis. I appreciated that a quick overview of how tennis works was worked into the story in the beginning, but it quickly went over my head. This definitely skewed my view as committing so much “self” to a sport is a foreign concept to me…but that’s just my non-athletic self talking. Outside of that, Carrie is a complex character who is also very human. While not completely likable, you have to respect her grind and her unapologetic way of setting out to achieve what she wanted. I would probably not be her friend(she has no time), but would definitely admire and be in awe of her. Carrie is kind of a brat, but I found her relationship with her father endearing and felt that was the best part of the book.

An insightful read if you’re interested in learning the life of a successful female athlete.

I do not play or enjoy watching tennis, but I do love a good comeback story. In Carrie Soto is Back, the eponymous tennis player is staging a comeback to defend her record number of Slams. No one is exactly looking for "the Battleax" to make her return five years after she retired from the sport: while athletic, graceful, and talented, Carrie is also prickly, remote, and blunt--not a beloved player.

She begins training once again with her father, Javier (her original coach that she'd fired when he expressed uncertainty about her chances of defeating a top-seeded player) and another aging player, Bowe. The novel follows Carrie over the course of four tournaments, examining what winning actually entails...and what she might gain from losing.

I did find it challenging to follow the actually games themselves--I don't care about matches and sets and games. (Honestly, I had a hard time keeping track of the order, even though the author kindly worked in a way to explain tennis to non-fans.) This is the downside of trying to explain a visual sport with words, especially to someone expected to imagine the scene with little outside reference. I wanted more of the stuff happening off the court.

The challenge there: Carrie was not super enjoyable for much of the novel. And I don't mean that she wasn't likeable, because unlikeable characters can be enjoyable. I just could not connect with her for a long time--as if I was outside of the same walls she'd erected for everyone else, and that there was not much of difference between her "Battleax" persona and her off-court self. I found myself more attracted to all the side characters: Bowe, Javier, Grace (her agent), and Nicki Chan (her rival).

Still, there are some truly affecting moments, and by the end, I really was rooting for Carrie even though I didn't care whether or not she won or lost. I was hoping for her to evolve into the best version of herself, which seems like it was the point of her journey, and was glad when she reached a satisfying end.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 --

The latest installment of the Taylor Jenkins Reid universe is here and Carrie Soto is as unapologetic as I assumed she would be. This book is full and I mean FULL of tennis, but not necessarily in a bad way. More like in the way that King Richard movie was also full of tennis. So, if reading about tennis matches and clay courts versus grass courts in the midst of a story about family and love and personal identity is going to throw you off, you might want to skip it. However, TJR does do a pretty wonderful job at making the technical stuff of tennis accessible and easy to understand to non-tennis players.

I loved how TJR developed Carrie. She was flawed and didn't care that she was unlikeable, which I felt made her more likeable to the audience in a way. I liked her relationship with her dad and think TJR did a great job exploring the dynamics of a father/daughter relationship that was so rooted in the sport and in success (and all of the miscommunication that can come with that).

I found myself flashing back to the days where my mom was a tennis girlie herself and we were constantly watching tennis together, especially as she describe the different opens and courts. I felt like I was picturing tennis players I had grown up watching as she described Carrie's different opponents, which made the book a more fun experience.

I am also glad I read this one on my Kindle to give me the translation help, because there is a bit of Spanish without translation between Carrie and her father. I loved the representation of who they were but needed the translation to help myself out a bit!

If you're reading this one for a romantic storyline, I dare say you'll be disappointed. It's obvious that's not Carrie's focus. I do think that the romantic storyline helps along Carrie's arc and growth in a way that felt very natural to the character and not like a robotic story formula.

All in all, this one's not my favorite and I don't think I'd even say it disturbed my personal ranking of TJR books. It's a good read, yes, and it's worth throwing it on your to-read lists.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Compulsively readable in the authors signature voice. Readers might notice that the heroine is from the book, Malibu Rising (however, you need not to have read it to follow this story). Soto is an "unlikeable" heroine in the patriarchal sports world. The author does a great job with character development and readers will root for Carrie Soto. If you any bit of a tennis fan, you will enjoy this story even more.

Okay so I know I’m not the only one but I just can’t get enough of Taylors books! Her books are hand down ones I keep and do not lend out and read multiple times there that good! This book is incredible almost up in my top two for her honestly so if you can or even have the slightest chance get your hands on this book like NOW!

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes an outstanding book about the tennis world. It helps you understand the complexities of the life of a high profile tennis player. It tackles love, loss, self-reflection, ageism, and how people especially women are viewed in the tennis world.

This author know how to get you attached to the characters, and want only the best for them. Absolutely, love this book and the ending was great!!!!

The only negative in the book was the Spanish which wasn’t translated into English. I know I have missed some of those conversations

Thanks Netgallery for the advance copy.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid



READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: Stories about Sports, History, and Romance

Who doesn’t love Taylor Jenkins Reid‘s incredible books? Fans will be thrilled that Carrie Soto Is Back will be out soon, August 30th to be exact. In this novel, she has created a strong heroine Carrie who is a tennis star, completely focused on winning at all costs. Even if you don’t like sports (me!) you will like this book and root for Carrie.

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 best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to everyone. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven 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 the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. 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. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

Out on August 30

Only an author as talented as Taylor Jenkins Reid could make me - someone with zero interest in tennis - become so captivated with a novel that’s driving force is tennis. Tell me why I was reading the descriptions of these tennis matches almost as if they were the plot twist moments of a thriller? I literally had to place my hand over portions of the page to keep myself from skipping ahead because I was so anxious to see the outcome of each match.

Carrie Soto is Back is a fantastic book about love, loss, and ambition. Carrie is possibly the least likable of TJR’s quartet of famous women, but I think she might now be my favorite. Watching Carrie’s evolution - from her early years of tennis into retirement, then her comeback - was honestly beautiful. The relationship she has with her father legitimately brought me to tears a few times. I am still in shock that this book tricked me into caring this much about tennis!

I don’t know what it is about a Taylor Jenkins Reid book that makes them so all-consuming. I read this in less than 24 hours; I could not stop thinking about Carrie and the weight of her comeback. She was so human and flawed, presented in a way that made her oddly relatable despite how frustrating she could be. TJR is a master at crafting interesting, complex characters who make a home in your heart & stay there.

Brava! If you were worried that TJR couldn’t do it again, set your worries aside; this is another slam dunk (or whatever the appropriate tennis term is.)

Thank you so much to the published for a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review. A full review will also be shared on my Instagram account (@bookish.901) on August 1st.

If Taylor Jenkins Reid writes it, I will read it. Carrie Soto is Back is emotional and gripping and inspirational and everything we have all come to love about TJR's work.

I'll admit that I was nervous about Carrie Soto when this book was first announced because, Malibu Rising, but I knew TJR wouldn't do me wrong and she did not disappoint.

When her record is threatened, Soto decides to pick a racket back up for the first time in years. Working with her father, she hits the court to prepare to beat women decades younger than her at some of the biggest games in Tennis.

Carrie Soto is abrasive and ambitious and not the type of woman anyone wants to support. Her crass attitude and the way she doesn't shy away from acknowledging her success makes people uncomfortable but quite frankly, she doesn't care one bit. This is one of my favorite things about the heroines written by Jenkins Reid, they are never easy to like and for that reason, I like them so much more. Evelyn, Nina, Daisy and Carrie are all realistic in a way that most fictional leading ladies are not. They have passions and ambitions that are so intense, you can't help but forget they aren't real.

If you are on the fence about reading Carrie Soto because of Malibu Rising, because sports books aren't your thing, or for any other reasons, trust me when I tell you that you need to read this book anyway. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto is Back, the last book of the Women In Fame series, went above and beyond my every expectation. Where do I even begin?! As always, Taylor Jenkins Reid left me speechless. She will never cease to amaze me.

As my most anticipated read of the year, I can proudly say that this last installment rocked my world from top to bottom, inside and out. I will absolutely be making this book my entire personality for as long as possible. It was everything I hoped it would be while simultaneously being the opposite of everything I expected. Carrie Soto is Back is unlike anything TJR has ever written in the best way possible. I usually avoid books that revolve around athletes, finding the writing to be overly monotonous, but let me just say, Taylor Jenkins Reid captivated me with her intensive knowledge of tennis. She clearly did her (VERY thorough) research and her exceptional writing is proof. The passion, intensity, and page-turning energy immersed me into a world of growing chants, where I was the spectator, holding my breath as I watched Carrie become the legend she was always destined to be.

Our story begins with Carrie’s childhood rise to fame, followed by the injury that led to her retirement, and climaxing with her return to the sport she so dearly loves. The pacing was perfect for such a broad timeline.

Don't even get me started on all of the ICONIC lines in this story! I would expect nothing less from TJR. There are some lines I just want to tattoo on my very soul. Life-changing to say the least.

One of my favorite aspects of TJR’s writing is the intricate details behind her flawed characters. Carrie Soto is an independent, fierce, and determined female protagonist. It’s so refreshing to read about a woman that is unapologetically herself. She will be brutally honest and spare no expense to protect your feelings. There are so many layers to her character that are nothing less than intriguing and her character development is seamless. You don’t think too much about it until you get to the end of the novel and reminisce over where you began. While Carrie’s personality may seem abrasive to some readers, I found that her most “unlikeable” traits were the ones that made me respect her the most. She challenges the stereotypes placed not only on her as an athlete, but as a woman as well. Carrie Soto decides who Carrie Soto wants to be, that much is clear. I was rooting for her from beginning to end. I loved watching Carrie evolve as a player almost as much as I did seeing her grow as a person, proving that there’s always room for improvement, even for the best. She was a character I never predicted I’d resonate with, but the overwhelming pressure of being true to yourself while challenging your comfort zone is a feeling I myself am closely acquainted with. Carrie is a perfectionist, and while it may be her greatest strength, it is also her greatest weakness.

Let me just say, Taylor Jenkins Reid is my favorite author for MANY reasons, but the trait of her writing I find most inspiring is her fearlessness toward addressing the problems women are faced with every day. Racism, ageism, sexism, the list goes on. She is the voice of a generation at large and I believe I speak for us all when I say thank you. Thank you for writing us women as we are, in all of our pure and raw state of being.

The bond between Carrie and Javier, her father, warmed my heart and had me in a puddle of tears by the end of the novel. I was pleased that at least one of the women in fame grew up with such a loving father. Their dynamic was poignant and tense at times, but isn’t that parenting? Making mistakes and learning from them? The ultimate father-daughter duo, there’s not a doubt in my mind that Javier is Carrie’s biggest supporter. That being said, I’m not sure I can forgive TJR for August 1995…

The dynamic between Bowe and Carrie was nothing short of brilliant. I am weak for Bowe Huntley. The man was learning Spanish for her for crying out loud! A man that has a bond with your father is a man you want to keep. Their love was a simple love that I cherished. He lived for Carrie when grief consumed her to the point that all she could do was exist.

I am a romance girlie through and through, but I genuinely appreciate that TJR didn’t force the romantic aspects to drive the plot. The love between Bowe and Carrie was long-awaited but true to the nature of their characters.

I went into this novel thinking Carrie’s affair with Brandon was going to be a core plot point, but I’m relieved that it wasn’t. She is Carrie Soto, not an extension of whomever she chooses to date. Girl power all the way!

I will sing the praises of Taylor Jenkins Reid and the beauty of her writing until my last breath. I appreciate that TJR is true to her roots and doesn’t shy away from the subtle nods to her previous writings. Time and time again, she delivers five-star reads. I wish I could keep this book all to myself, but at the same time, I cannot wait for the world to meet Carrie Soto. After all, it’s Taylor Jenkins Reid’s world, we’re just living in it.

Thank you to Ballantine Books (Random House Publishing Group) for providing me with this ARC via Netgalley.

Carrie Soto is Back reads very much like a tennis match. As in great sportscasting, it gives you the facts with some commentary in between. That isn’t a bad thing in this case because it means there’s no wasted space, no filler. Something’s happening at all times. It also makes this book much more clinical than TJR’s other books & sometimes the story gets lost in the tennis play-by-play. The book is dialogue heavy & every conversation is its own kind of tennis match with two characters volleying back & forth for control at a lightning pace.

This novel is going to get so much hype because it's TJR, so you probably don't need anyone to convince you to give it a chance. But just incase it wasn't on your radar or you were on the fence - please allow me to be the one to tell you to read this novel.

I loved this book so much. The determination Carrie shows in trying to come back after so many years, and the journey she takes along the way to learn more about the heart had me in an absolute puddle of tears by the end of the book. The other characters we meet along the way are so lovable. I was initially worried about the premise of the novel being tennis because I didn't really know anything about it, but the novel gives you everything you need and more to understand. I'm even excited to start catching some of the slams on tv IRL when they come around!

✨ARC Review✨

“You are perfect, even in your imperfection.”

“And it stuns me silent, for a moment: just how vast the gap is between who I am and how people see me.”

Carrie had landed herself title of greatest tennis player back in 1987, and she retired. Her record was uprooted by Nicki Chan in 1994, and Carrie watched it all unfold before her eyes. In an effort to reclaim her title, and in a sense herself, she goes back on the court with the help of her father. This was a beautiful story about comeback, valuing yourself, your worth, your greatness, and the costs that come with. More importantly was the messages about love and loss. There is such richness from adding in Carrie’s father, and her previous love interest Bowe, and it makes the story unforgettable.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of writing unforgettable stories about strong female characters. I still think about Evelyn Hugo long after I flipped the last page. It was one of my favorite books last year. This year, Carrie Soto is added to the list. This book was pulling all sorts of emotions from me, and it will stick with me long after finishing.

What’s On The Pages:
-tennis
-a bad a$$ female character with fierce determination
-nicknames: “the battle axe” & “the bitch”
-a father who coached and always believed
-a female agent who never gave up on her
-a fitting anthem to motivate: Elton John’s “The Bitch Is Back”
-love and loss, grief and happiness

⚠️CW/TW: death of a parent

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC! Carrie Soto Is Back is out August 30th!

I didn't think that I was going to enjoy this as much as I did. I am not a huge fan of tennis but do enjoy Taylor Jenkin Reid's books. And this one was shockingly good.

Carrie Soto was regarded as the best women's tennis player of all time. After a knee injury she decides to retire, after all what more does she have to prove? That is until Nicki Chan arrives on the scene. And before you know it, Nicki has tied Carrie for most Grand Slam wins. And that just can't be. So, at 37, she comes out of retirement. There is no love lost between her and the other players. And with her father as her coach, and Bowe Huntley, a former lover, also trying to come back and show that age doesn't matter, this is a wild ride and one i would highly recommend.