Until this book I’ve not been a big fan of tennis. Well now I want to watch it more. Carrie Soto is a bad b!tch and I absolutely loved her. This book was fun and I couldn’t read it fast enough.
I honestly think I’d read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s grocery list if given the opportunity! She just can do no wrong in my eyes

5 stars

Taylor Jenkins Reid (TJR) is writing a new book? This goes to the immediate top of my list. It's historical fiction about...a tennis player? Oh-kay, maybe this won't be my favorite, but it'll probably still be great. I WAS WRONG. I WAS SO WRONG. This is not only easily my favorite TJR yet; it's now one of my top books of the year.

Carrie Soto definitely is back, as the title promises, but you know what else is back? The kind of novel that is making me physically feel every moment. I feel like I've played my own series of tournaments after the breath holding, stomach clenching, and yes, moments of uncharacteristic weeping so violent that my two pit bulls came to live their best nanny dog lives to make sure I was going to recover from this book-induced breakdown.

I've yet to meet a TJR book I don't really like (and in most cases love), but there is something extra about Carrie. She is so deeply flawed (like my former favorite, Daisy...FIGHT ME! She is everything), but she has the most compelling personal journey and riveting relationships. At 37, Carrie is also dealing with something that I think many TJR fans are encountering (or will soon or have recently), which is that middle moment of the career/life/understanding of the self. Carrie's is just really public (though all of the very best parts of it - the ones I'm certain will stay with me for a long time - happen privately). Though the point of this character is her exceptionality, TJR makes her utterly relatable, and that is a feat of its own.

Come to this book regardless of your feelings about its subject matter. TJR uses the tennis backdrop as a way to create intensity and finely tuned pacing on every page. Carrie is intentionally so unlikeable, but it is impossible not to root for her. The relationship between Carrie and her father will tear up anyone with even a Soto slice of a soul. I wanted to hate the romantic subplot, and I even got super behind that. And I'll leave this vague because I like to live spoiler-free, but the culminating connections in this novel - the way three central pairings with Carrie evolve - just masterful.

In the last quarter of the novel, Carrie considers in a relatively innocuous moment, "We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men." It's easy to dip into that 'things were tough for women in this period' headspace, but what's way more chilling is to know that TJR is talking to us and lamenting with us in the now. Carrie's physical power, the way she's questioned based on gender-specific and sex-specific kookiness, and how she (and the women around her) consistently roll anyway fed my soul at a time when I think we ALL need it.

I had cautiously high expectations for this book, but it absolutely rocked my world: not just my Kindle but my actual entire outlook. TJR, despite her clear Faustian bargain where the trade was to keep mentioning Mick in exchange for writing consecutive blockbusters, somehow has put out what for me is easily the winner of her enviable career so far. I can't recommend this highly enough.

“The B***** is Back!” We first met Carrie Soto in “Malibu Rising” when she steals Nina Riva’s husband/tennis star, Brandon Randall. And wow, what a scene she made at the annual Riva party in Malibu. In “Carrie Soto is Back,” we learn all about Carrie and how she came to be the infamous “Battle Axe,” her beginnings as a child tennis prodigy and being coached by her father.  The story is a timeline of her rise to fame, temporary retirement, and her return to tennis in order to retain her title of ‘Most Singles Slam Titles.’ Even with Carrie's obnoxious personality, she does have people in her corner. Javier, her father/coach, Gwen her agent, and a love interest that understands her maybe better than she understands herself. I came to sympathize with Carrie and root for her in every comeback match. And I appreciated how the book touched on sexism, racism, and ageism. Carrie is one tough character, almost like a female John McEnroe. There is ALOT of tennis in this book, I kept having to remind myself ‘point, set, match’ to remember the progress of the game. Taylor Jenkins Reid has definitely ‘aced’ it with “Carrie Soto is Back,” now time to wait another year for her next novel. Maybe “The Nikki Chan Story”?

Here is a lot of tennis in here but the author really shines when she writes human emotion. The dialogue snaps and grief is expressed poignantly yet raw. I don't play or watch tennis and I enjoyed the characters and their story very much.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Carrie Soto is Back is an engaging read that sucks you into the world of tennis. With Reid's other books, I've felt really attached to the character and what happens to her. With this book, I was more obsessed with the world of tennis. I can see how some people would be annoyed by all the tennis-centric language/details, but I thought it was fine. I will admit that I did not love this book as much as I loved One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, Forever Interrupted, Daisy Jones and the Six, or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but I did enjoy this one much more than Malibu Rising. I already know this book will be a huge hit when it comes out, but I will be recommending some of TJR's other books ahead of this one (unless the person I am recommending it to is a tennis fan).

Carrie Soto is EVERYTHING. Years after an injury forces the tennis star into early retirement at the peak of success, she decides to get back into the game to defend her record for most Grand Slam wins from newcomer Nicki Chan. Yes, Carrie is flawed and has her shortcomings, but she's powerful, determined, witty (like laugh-out-loud funny) and doesn't take "no" for an answer. I love a character with a hard outer shell who you're still rooting for because you feel like you really know them. As someone who grew up playing tennis and recently took it back up, this was especially fun to read. On the flip side, I'm not sure how you'd feel about this book if you know nothing about tennis and the rules and scoring because the book was heavy on details of every play. By the time I was two thirds through I was in so deep that I looked up the tennis channel so I could watch it in the background—and lucked out catching a match on a clay court as Carrie was taking the clay courts at The French Open. I was so invested in Carrie's comeback that I couldn't put this book down until I knew everything that happened. Taylor Jenkins Reid fans will love Carrie Soto Is Back. It's an ace! (TJR fans will also love the fun callbacks to Daisy Jones and The Six and Malibu Rising!)

No surprise that Carrie Soto is Back is another hit from Taylor Jenkins Reid. A fantastic story of human emotion and relationships. I love how this novel spanned her whole life and really focused on her love of the game and changing feelings. Can’t recommend this book enough!

There are some authors that are automatic reads for me and Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of them. I love the way she loosely connects her books and her writing style in general. Carrie Soto is back is about tennis legend Carrie Soto who decides to come out of retirement after her record is threatened. There was a lot of tennis in it so it you aren’t a fan that could be a bit off putting but the story line of Carrie and her father and Carries growth as a person was so wonderful to see. I can’t wait to see what TJR has in store next.

This book was everything I needed and more than I hoped for. Carrie Soto is a fascinating historical fiction especially since the main part of the book is set in the mid 90’s so I ate up every cultural reference with pure delight. It is a story of self discovery with a heavy dose of feminism and how women who don’t behave the way society expects of them are viewed. I will be honest that I was not excited about reading this as I hate the cover and have no interest in any sports, let alone tennis. While I enjoy TJR’s writing, I cannot guarantee that I will love everything she writes. This book consumed me in the best way possible. There is a solid love story and excellent characters. I adored Javier Soto in particular.

For those wanting comparisons to Evelyn Hugo, Daisy, and Malibu: I would say this and Evelyn are tied for my favorite books by this author though their mood and tone is different. Malibu was too light for me. This is going to be one of my top books of the year.

It is so quotable! I need a paperback or hardcover copy, preferably from the UK which has a cover I prefer.

I suppose it’s ‘fitting’ that Taylor Jenkins Reid would write a novel about a professional competitive athletic …
She already gave us a movie star and a rock star — so why not a tennis star?/!

I could think of a ‘hesitant’ risk consideration for taking on ‘the tennis world’ ….it’s a saturated topic— in both fiction and non-fiction books…
but,
on the other hand, I’m guessing that the majority of TJR readers are ‘not’ die-hard tennis players or fans of the sport —
— so this story might be rather interesting to tennis novice readers (coming from being a TJR fan)…..
Lots to take in for non-sport newbies:
….exploring the
characteristics of being a highly driven competitor—
…..mental control, statistics, training, personal life, behavior personalities,
obsessions, obstacles, prima donna manifestations, the drama on and off the court, the motivations, defeats, winning strategies, maturity, retirement, comebacks, dimensions of perfections, scandals, celebrity status, prodigy appellation, visceral aspects of a tennis match, and everything centered the culture of the professional tennis world……
but -
…..for those who have spent hours -years -on the court—weekends spent watching the Italian, French, Australian U.S. Opens, and Wimbledon tennis matches, and -
have also read a slew of tennis theme books:
….autobiography’s biographies, memoirs, and fiction stories that cover the good, the bad, the ugly, the passion, the rules, techniques, the sports jargon, the love, the hate, the artistry, clout, and expertise of the game…..
well,
……then this book might be a tad boring, dull, tedious, with nothing ‘new’ to enthrall —
As in ‘been here before’.

A few other tennis-theme books I found more gripping - entertaining- and
insightful we’re:
“Open” by Andre Agassi, (my very favorite)
“All In” by Billie Jean King
“The Tennis Partner” by Abraham Verghese
“The Trophy Child” by Paula Daly
“Rafa Nadal”, Arthur Ash, James Blake, Nastase, Conners, Monroe, Stephanie Graf,
Books on the topic by David Forest Wallace, and ‘everything’ ongoing about famous Serena Williams, etc.

So….in reading ‘Carrie Soto is Back”….I teeter-tottered between being mildly interested and a little amused.

There is a story….
along with the mechanics of tennis being very much a part of this novel……
….Serves got bigger-(better angles), grand slams improved, runs got faster, jumps improved, balls in the air were taken out faster, and ‘unreturnable’ balls ‘were’ returned!
Be clear:
THIS BOOK ‘is’ ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE WORLD OF TENNIS!!!

If you’ve read as many books about tennis, as I have, played in college, taught the sport as a physical education teacher, are quite familiar with the sport & culture….
this novel may not be the book you’ll swoon over — yet ….it can be enjoyable ‘enough’.

….We KNOW players chat with their components —
….We KNOW …. there is jealousy, spitefulness, worries about ranking, aging-out, highs and lows,
….We KNOW about the optimistic words from coaches (and Daddy)….
“You keep going. You fight for what you want”.
….We KNOW about the tours, sweltering sessions, muscle memory, exhaustion, and frustration, and focus….
….We KNOW about tantrums on the court…..(embarrassing moments)….
….We KNOW about the endorsement deals, ruthless mean cover magazines headlines,
…..”CARRIE SOTO: LONELY AT THE TOP”
or
…..”WHO COULD LOVE A BATTLE AXE?”,
paparazzi and dangers of tabloids gossip, people in the stand who expressed hatred, > and the internal psychology it took to rise above the negative press.
We also KNOW the excitement—when a stadium is going wild….
And….
We KNOW …. which component to TAKE DOWN….to defend one’s record.
Carrie Soto, known as “the Battle Axe”, came out of retirement in 1994 at the age of 37.
Her plan was to take down Nicki Chan, (30), who had been a leading figure in women’s tennis since 1989. She held a record for 20 slam titles. Chan was often called ’The Beast”….
So….
…..That’s the game: Soto vs. Chan……
well, and everything in between…
Let the games begin….

So….
this wasn’t my favorite TJR book …..not my ‘least’ favorite though, either….
I’ve read all of Taylor’s books ( as many readers have also)…
But ….my favorite ‘part’ of this story was the ending!
It has heart and great wisdom!!

3.5 rating….
…..rating up to a low 4 stars …..as this ‘is’ a heartwarming novel for the right reader-in the right mood.

To those who know -too much-about the topic of tennis —my suggestion is to simply allow your inner voice to ‘be’.

One last share — what I ‘do’ love about this book….
…..is the inner feelings I picked up from Taylor Jenkins Reid, (herself)….. I ‘felt’ *her* passion for the character of ‘Carrie Soto’.

My love for Taylor still remains…
I don’t expect to like each of her books equally….
That’s alright with me!!!

If you've read Malibu Rising, you're familiar with Carrie Soto. If you haven't met her before, you're about to fall head over heels for this absolutely flawed and determined woman.

The book starts a few years after her retirement with Carrie and her father, Javi, watching the 1994 US Open. A new player seems to be working hard to surpass Carrie's record and she's not about sit back while her legacy slips away. Carrie decides to come out of retirement to remind everyone why she's the best in the game.

Now, Carrie isn't the type to bat her lashes and act demurely. She's brutally honest and direct, which is why the media calls her The Bitch. But what exactly is a bitch in the eyes of society? Is it really that awful if a woman is proud of her accomplishments, if she isn't afraid to stand up for herself? Is a woman a bitch just because she refuses to laugh off misogyny? This isn't to say that Carrie is perfect. She can be unnecessarily rude at times and has bouts of anger fueled by insecurity. But at the end of the day, she goes through some serious development while still staying true to herself.

The highlight of this book for me was her relationship with her father. Javi used to be a tennis player and decided to coach his daughter as soon as she was able to walk basically. While he's caring and understanding, he also made many mistakes when it came to Carrie's upbringing. It was beautiful to see how their relationship mended and how he always believed in her.

The only downside of this book for me was the length because I'm not a huge fan of longer books, and the matches felt eternal at times, but overall it's a personal preference and one that I felt didn't affect the flow of the book.

Carrie Soto is Back feels like a character study about what it means to preserve a legacy, the importance of cultivating relationships and the struggles being faced by women in sports. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master storyteller and I truly love every single books of her that I've read.

This is the fourth book but Taylor Jenkins Reid that I have read and the fourth one that I have rated 5 stars. Her writing is incredible. I had no idea what this one was about but I wanted to read it anyway. I have zero interest in tennis and this story made me want to watch a match. It was that good. The characters are so detailed that you feel like you know them and you root for them.

The plotting was excellent and I enjoyed the story very much. I thought that the entire thing was wrapped up well at the end. So good. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a treasure.

this book has left me speechless, it was amazing. tjr’s characters are all very complex and flawed, but it doesn’t stop them from finding their way into the hearts of the readers. it is no different for carrie soto. in carrie soto is back, we follow carrie on her journey to becoming the greatest tennis player of all time and all the challenges she faces. carrie’s character as a whole develops immensely throughout the book and we see her become the best of herself. carrie is a beautiful and inspiring woman who shows that you can do anything you set your mind to.

lastly, javier and bowe. both men who encouraged carrie over and over again and pushed her further. without javier, carrie wouldn’t have been the player she was, and without bowe, she wouldn’t have let herself love without fear.

like tshoeh, carrie soto is back has easily become another favorite.

thank you netgalley and random house publishing - ballentine for this arc.

📚 Book Review📚

What a great book 🥹 No wonder Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again🥹

Thank you Netgalley for approving my request and sending me the digital advanced readers copy. This book is coming out on August 30,2022( the best birthday gift I can receive as 8 august is my birthday 🥳)

I had goosebumps while reading this book and had to keep my breath in before reading the next chapters as some of the part was so breathtakingly tense.The chapters were short which made it a fast paced read. I didn’t expect the book would end in such a graceful way. But I wished there were more 😭 why it ended 🙂

This book is definitely different than her other books where the story revolves around a legendary tennis athlete Carrie Soto, who comes back to play tennis and reclaim her titles after 5 long years. She had to take a break because of her health and now she is all ready to prove the world that the power and grace she held before is still there. She is still not past her time. But to prove that and reclaim her titles she has to play against Nicki Chan, the best tennis player world has ever seen after Carrie Soto. But was it possible for Carrie Soto to reclaim her old title against Nicki Chan?

This was the question kept me hooked to the book from the beginning till the end. I loved each and every bit of it. Loved the way the author described tennis game through the lenses of her characters. I also loved the characters build up. I loved the relationship between Carrie and her father Javier Soto(who was also his coach). Other side characters like Bowe, Nicki, and Gwen won my heart because of the way they supported, respected, and cared for Carrie. At some point it was an emotional read too. I loved everything about this book. I am so glad that I got a chance to read this book. Would definitely recommend this book and without any doubt it’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

If you told me that one of my favorite books of the year would be about tennis, I wouldn’t believe you. It’s true though!
Carrie Soto is Back is another 5+star read by Taylor Jenkins Reid! She’s done it again. She’s created a story that holds you captive from beginning to end, and while I was completely satisfied with the ending- I wanted more. Carrie is such a strong, competent female and I adored her. Her story has all you could hope for.
I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Carrie Soto was at the top of her game until an injury brought her down. Unable to sit in the stands as she watches her records be broken, she’s back and competing in professional tennis. This book and the character of Carrie round out The author’s other historical fiction novels quite nicely. They all show how fame and the media treat females, and who is more disrespected and disregarded in the mainstream than the female athlete? I couldn’t help but think of the many times Serena Williams isn’t discussed as one of the greatest athletes of all time simply because she’s a woman.
.
The writing is similar to the author’s others - straightforward and propulsive. Fans of TJR won’t be let down with her newest, a classic story of finding oneself amidst the expectations of others. Nothing revolutionary but a fun read nonetheless.
.
Thank you to @netgalley and Ballantine books for the early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. This one is out 8/30!

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again. After having met Carrie Soto briefly in Malibu Rising, she comes back with vengeance in "Carrie Soto is Back" (no pun intended!) Jenkins Reid brings us into the competitive, and lucrative, world of professional tennis, which is something I never thought I would be dying to read about. As with her past three novels in the same universe, Jenkins Reid focuses on a "flawed" yet entirely realistic woman who has to answer to society's perception of her. In the case of Carrie Soto it is the male-dominated sports, particularly the commentators and pundits that seems to only root for her failure.

The beauty of this book lies in the relationship between Carrie and her father, Javier, who also is her tennis coach. As the reader get to to witness decades of their relationship and get to feel the strain of their dual coach-parent relationship takes on them. While this may be billed as a book about a tennis superstar, it is more a book about. the relationship between a child and their parent.

My only qualm with Carrie Soto is Back is that there was almost too much tennis - down to the vivid descriptions of the various courts and types of shots (serve, volley, groundstroke, I learned it all.) At times, it dominated the story and had me racing to finish a chapter just so I could get away from the technicalities tennis for a brief moment. Weighing Carrie Soto against the other greats by Jenkins Reid (e.g. Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones), I couldn't justify giving this story a five-star because it wasn't entirely there for me. I wanted more of the relationship between Carrie and Bowe or even Carrie and Nicki in exchange for less tennis matches or practice.

Ultimately, Carrie Soto is Back was probably one of my favorite summer reads because it glued me to the pages and made me wanting for more. In typical Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, I found myself getting emotional over various sections (trying to avoid spoilers but if you read the book, you just know what I am talking about), and by the end of the story I felt Carrie Soto's growth as a person, which is the best kind of closure you can get from any book.

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

Taylor Jenkins Reid never disappoints. The fourth installment in a universe of TJR’s creation, Carrie Soto is Back is tense, inspiring, emotional, and actually made me care about sports for the 24 hours that it took me to inhale this novel.

Carrie Soto, a 37-year-old tennis world champion, finds herself in a position where her record is being shattered, and she decides to come out of retirement for one last season in order to reclaim her title. As a fan of her previous novels, it was exciting to see characters from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Malibu Rising make brief appearances in this story. TJR writes with such brilliance, keeping my eyes glued to each and every page. I was completely unable to put this book down.

As is customary with TJR’s novels, Carrie Soto contains elements of romance, determination, lavish lifestyle, and family affairs. Her storytelling techniques are nearly unmatched in contemporary literature.

My only criticism and the reason for this novel not quite reaching a five star rating is the fact that I was hoping for a little more of Carrie and little less of the narration of the tennis matches that she competes in. However, even these segments were wonderfully written and completely enthralling.

As I have said for every other novel from TJR that I have read thus far, I am entirely impressed and am looking forward to future masterpieces from her.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for this advance reader copy.

4.5/5 Stars

WOW! Just....WOW! TJR does it again! 5 STARS all the way!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I must admit, I have only read Daisy Jones & The Six by TJR. However, I do own Malibu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo which I will now devour after reading Carrie Soto is Back! I could not put this book down until I was forced to (I had to go to work). Once I got home, my family lost me to the end of this book.

Carrie Soto is the daughter of a professional tennis star, The Jaguar. He raises her to be a Tennis phenom from the age of 2. She spends her childhood at tennis clubs with him and he begins training her to be the greatest tennis player of all time. It is her life's goal to be the very best. She is so determined and has tunnel vision for nothing but tennis. The tunnel vision is so impressive, yet also her downfall. Winning becomes everything to her. So much so that she misses out on so many other important aspects of life. She is hardcore and hell-bent on being #1. After she retires, another star begins to rise and threatens to overtake her #1 spot. Carrie can't handle the idea that anyone else could ever be better than she was/is, so she proceeds to come out of retirement and try to be the oldest woman to ever win a Grand Slam. During her training the 2nd time around, she pushes her body to it's limits, but also learns a few life lessons along the way.

The way TJR writes and describes so many details about the sport of tennis, you just feel like you're there...sitting on the side of the court, watching and engaging with all of your senses. I was overwhelmed and on the edge of my seat constantly. Thank you for another great one, TJR!

A couple of my favorite quotes... (there were SO MANY good ones to choose from)

"We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men."

""Falling in love is really quite simple," she says. "You want to know the secret? It's the same thing we are all doing about life every single day." I look to her. "Forget there's an ending.""

SO. GOOD.

I cannot WAIT to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. I highly recommend you do the same!!!!!

Have I said it yet? 5 STARS!!!!!!!!!

LOVED this book so much!! Carrie's journey to trying to take back her title as the best tennis player in the world with the most slams is just....I devoured this book and was so captivated by the competition and writing. Carrie was the greatest tennis player in the 80s, but now years later, a new player has matched her world record. So Carrie decides to come out of retirement to defend her reign. I absolutely loved the writing in this - TJR has readers hooked into the game - you literally feel like you are watching the match with them. SO good. Thank you so much, NetGalley for the early look at the book!