I LOVED this book! I've always been a huge TJR fan and it was so amazing reading this book - I don't even really like tennis, but I was captivated by this book and the story of Carrie trying to take back her title. This book has love, loss, pushing your body to the breaking point in back. I love the writing so much and the storytelling is just so captivating. AND - for TJR fans, you'll love the nods to other characters and books throughout.

Thank you SO much NetGalley for the early look at this book - I absolutely LOVED it!!

Again, I just know I’m going to be in the minority on this one. But, I didn’t love it.

You don’t need to like or know anything about tennis to like this book. But, it sure would help. I was bored out of my skull for most of this book. The extremely detailed descriptions of every single practice and match were so tedious.

I loved Carrie and everything her character represented. I loved reading about her relationships with her father, Gwen, and Bowe, and how Carrie changed and grew over the years.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC for my review.

4.5 ✨
"You are perfect, even in your imperfection."

I hate Carrie Soto. I love Carrie Soto. And that's something that will never change. Carrie soto is such an intriguing character. I hated her but I loved her throughout the whole book. She's a bitch, like the media calls her. She's smart, passionate and doesn't care what it takes to win. I love her strength and how she never gave up. But at the same time she frustrated me, annoyed me and even made me want to punch her, and I love her for that as those are the best kind of characters. Taylor Jenkins Reid created a complex character, hard to love but not difficult to hate. She really did that. I related to Carrie in many ways, in some ways that made it difficult to hate her as I saw a piece of me in her. I'm also a bitch and I'm not mad about it. Thank you Carrie for making me realize that.


"Carrie Soto it back" is such a different book compared to the other books in the Mick Riva Universe. We get to see a good relationship between Carrie and her dad, Javier. Their relationship was amazing. It had it's flaws but that's made it more real. I felt such a strong love for how Javier perceived his daughter, it made me bawl my eyes out. Their relationship is definitely a huge part of the book, which I loved and appreciated so much. I also loved to see the Latinx representation. Seeing them speak spanglish made me feel so seen as that's the dynamic I have with my family lmao. I also loved seeing their connection with tennis. I didn't understand shit of what was going on during each match but they slayed as a team. So go them.


The love interest, Bowe Huntley, stole my fucking heart. Who wouldn't fall for a man like Bowe? I loved his relationship with Carrie but I LOVED his relationship with Javier. The bond they created was immaculate and it was so unexpected but I just loved every second of it. So I'm never gonna forgive tjr for what she did cuz that shit hurt like a motherfucker. Also, when Bowe learned those quotes in Spanish just for Carrie? LET ME TELL YOU I CRIED. That's something that me, a latina living in the US, appreciates so much and if someone does that for me I would simply die.


While I loved the book, the characters and the overall plot, I felt that something was missing. Like don't get me wrong, this was an amazing read, but it didn't make me feel like Daisy Jones and the six or like Malibu Rising, which are my all time favorite books. I think that it was honestly a Carrie problem. While I made it clear that I loved her, I hated her more than I loved her. She was just... Something. I understand her but i just couldn't pass her bitchy attitude to fucking everyone, like at the beginning it was cool to see someone who doesn't care about what others think of her and doesn't give a shit of what she says but at the end it finally made me get frustrated with her. Maybe it's a me problem or maybe it isn't. We shall never know.

*Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange of an honest review*

Where to start? I’ve read every TJR book and this was very much anticipated! While it isn’t by favorite, it’s certainly at the top! I found the beginning, which is Carrie’s backstory and rise to the top, to be a bit dull. I understand the necessity of it, but I was much more engaged once I got to the “now”. It’s fast-moving without too much detail or fluff I sometimes find. It held my interest and I was rooting for the unlikeable main character. She’s icy, unapologetic, and……a bitch to everyone. But she’s all Carrie. I loved the relationship with her dad, loved the slow burn romance, and the personal growth. I enjoyed reading the tennis prose and thought the newspaper commentary added a lot to the story. I did not predict the ending, nor did I try to. I just really enjoyed reading this one and was along for the ride!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved this book - I just couldn't stop reading once I started. That didn't surprise me, since I've really enjoyed all Reid's other books, but this one definitely didn't let me down!

Carrie is a 37 year old retired tennis star, holding all sorts of records, including the most Grand Slam wins. When another player beats that record, Carrie decides to go back and play again, to try to regain her record. Her father, her former coach, works with her to get her back in shape, and she also begins working with Bowe, a fading male tennis player, since she needs someone to play against - and he's also trying to salvage the rest of his career.

That's the basic story, but there's so much more to it. The relationship between Carrie and her father, and how that has shaped her personality. Her deep belief that she must always be perfect, must always be the best. How her life has no real joy or pleasure - just the constant belief that she must win. And, essentially, what's the cost of greatness, and is it worth it to focus your entire being on greatness in a sport, or, really, anything else?

The book goes back to her childhood, so we can see why she is where she is now.
And during the current portion of the book, we see her finally growing, trying to open up to other people, just a little bit, but enough that we can see growth and change, and cheer for her.

And, don't hesitate to read this just because you don't know (or care) anything about tennis. There's enough explanation here to tell you all you need to know, and allow you to focus on and enjoy the story and the wonderful characters.

Definitely a 5 star read!

TJR does it again with Carrie Soto Is Back! I love sports, so this book was everything to follow Carrie and her father (coach) through the ups and downs of her tennis come back. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes glimpses the reader had because there is so much going on the TV screen does not share. I was rooting for Carrie, her father (Javier), and Bowe the whole time. I also enjoyed the easter eggs from Taylor's other books.

I heard the audiobook is incredible with the entire cast, so hopefully, I'll be listening to this book again before publication day!

"Do not let what anyone says about you determine how you feel about yourself."

When I read the first part of the book, where it details Carrie's history of playing tennis, I struggled to keep my focus on the story. However when Taylor Jenkins Reid transitions to Carrie's current life, this story really took off. Everyone loves a comeback and "Carrie Soto is Back" gives us just that. Her fierceness on and off the court is a sight to behold as she battles her way back to being number 1. The relationship between Carrie and her dad is really the centerpiece of this story, as we explore what it means to truly devote yourself to something and the impact it has on others. Another great read by TJR. This would make a great movie!

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

TJR doesn't miss. I don't think this book will need much help selling, but it's another outstanding historical-romance-literary-women's-fiction blender. I would recommend readers read Malibu Rising first, since you'll get a little intro to the Carrie Soto character in there. No doubt this will be a bestseller.

Wow wow wow. I’ve been pretty excited for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s newest, Carrie Soto is Back for sone time now. Was thrilled to get an advanced copy so late in the game but I devoured it. Some of you may remember Carrie Soto as a minor player in last summers Malibu Rising but this book is all about the American tennis star. When Carrie Soto retires in 1987 she is the most decorated female tennis player ever to have played. 20 Grand Slams to her name. As Nicki Chan edges closer to tying her record 7 years later, Soto decides she must come out of retirement, coached by her beloved father, and defend her record. If you love tennis, get excited because this one was fun. I couldn’t put it down. It doesn’t release until August 30 but do yourself and favor and pre-order today. SO good!!!

I knew I would love this book, just from the description, I used to watch tennis all the time in the 80”s and 90’s, and Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint. I think you will love this book even if you don’t know that much about tennis. I read it in just a few days, definitely a page turner. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This was my first book by this author, and it may also be my last. I don't really understand, based on what I read here, what the national obsession with Jenkins Reid is. I thought this was okay - sometimes fun, sometimes boring, sometimes thrilling, sometimes dull. I found Carrie frustratingly one-note and unlikable. I completely understood the themes and very-much appreciated the themes, but I found their presentation mostly ham-fisted.

I am so grateful to have been given this ARC from NetGalley. I have enjoyed all of Reid’s books and this one was no exception. I did not want to stop reading it. As Carrie Soto reflects on her past as the best tennis player in the world, another tennis star surpasses her. Soto will not settle as someone else becomes the best and begins to train with her father to beat her. The relationship between Carrie and her dad, Javier, is so precious. It left me in tears. I loved seeing how Carrie comes out of retirement to take on a new world of tennis. 5 stars- must read!

This book is an incredible and heartwarming novel about a fierce and unstoppable tennis player, Carrie Soto. Carrie Soto decided to come out of retirement and make a come back in the tennis world at age 37. The book focuses on her comeback, her relationship with her father, and the pressures of being a famous tennis player.

Taylor Jenkins Reid made me think that Carrie was a real-life tennis player, so therefore she is a literacy genius where she creates well-developed characters that comes alive across the pages. Taylor presented Carrie as a ruthless and invincible player with some vulnerability. She has a tough interior and is afraid to let anyone in. It shows that there is a lot of pressure being a famous player, especially as a woman. It was also easy to immerse into the story and feel for Carrie, Nicki, and Javier. Taylor captures the Intense passion they all have for the game. This book is by far my favorite book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Random House Publishing for my copy of the book.

Taylor Jenkins Reid scores with another riveting story about a ruthless tennis player struggling to be the best in the world. Carrie Soto is Back is gritty, suspenseful, and heart-warming, one of Jenkins-Reid’s best novels yet.

Jenkins-Reid gives us front-row seats to Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and other tennis tournaments as we watch Carrie make a comeback at thirty-seven, competing with women much younger and stronger. The reader is on edge from the moment she steps onto the tennis court, feeling her pain, striving for perfection for the ultimate prize to win.

Carrie is a difficult and unlikeable character, but she softens with maturity as she realizes there is more to life than winning. I thoroughly enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back, and I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read and review it. #NetGalley #Carrie Soto is Back #womensfiction

I absolutely loved this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid is incredible and the way that Carrie Soto's character was insufferable and lovable at the same time is such a weird thing to describe but I suppose that is the easiest way to describe it. I think I could've lived without the super intense detail of the tennis matches themselves but other than that, it was great.

Carrie Soto is a character driven story unlike anything else Taylor Jenkins Reid has written in the past. I loved Evelyn Hugo, I liked Daisy Jones and I simply adored Nina Rivas. I literally dropped everything when I received the ARC of this book. I was simply thrilled. Carrie is strong, empowered, lonely and icy. She is portrayed as a cold, ruthless winner and she is. But she' s also unlikeable, for me. I found Carrie to be my least favorite character from the brilliant mind of TJR.
The prose is written beautifully as always. TJR's world draws you in and fills you up. In this particular novel, I just couldn't get past all the TENNIS. Yes, she's a tennis star and yes she's a badass but I wanted to read a feminist drama, not a tennis instruction manual. I liked the examination of the father/daughter dynamic as well as the coach/athlete relationship. This story fell flat for me, I am not a big tennis fan and the tennis bored me.
I give it 2.5 stars rounded up for fantastic writing style.

I like and understand tennis fairly well, so I wonder if Carrie Soto Is Back will be as compelling to those who are not familiar with the sport - there is a LOT of tennis action in this book. In 1995 Carrie Soto has long retired from pro tennis, but when Nicki Chan threatens to break her record of most Grand Slam titles won, Carrie rallies her coach/father Javier to come out of retirement at the unheard of age of 37 to keep her record intact. Along the way, we meet those very few Carrie has allowed into her life, her agent Gwen and assistant Ali, her father of course, and despite Carrie’s best attempts to avoid, after a one-night stand gone nowhere years prior, Bowe Huntley crosses her path again, attempting his own comeback at 39.
Carrie has purposely avoided most human relationships after losing her mother at a young age, and how can one annihilate in the tennis court with such things as emotional connections getting in the way? Her journey to do the same to Nicki Chan is no exception… unless this time it is..
It’s always fun to see how TJR calls back her other novels - Daisy Jones a fleeting reference, and anyone who’s read Malibu Rising knows Carrie’s connection to Nina Riva…
A quick-moving escapist read, in true TJR form!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with a new page turner with Carrie Soto is Back. We follow Carrie, a star tennis player, who was first introduced briefly in Malibu Rising, throughout her tennis career and comeback. The book begins as Carrie, multiple years into retirement, and her father/former coach Javi observe Niki Chan, a powerhouse tennis player tie Carrie's grand slam wins record. Carrie, the ultimate competitor cannot stand the idea of her record being tied or eclipsed, devotes herself to a comeback- she will enter all 4 grand slams, in hopes of holding the sole grand slam win record again.

This book is VERY focused on the game of tennis, so readers need to temper their expectations. Unlike Reid's other books that have a bit more of a wide-ranging plot, Soto is very much a sports novel- and it follows the arch of a good comeback movie or book (I could very much see this adapted). Because tennis techniques are described and match after match are highlighted, one needs to be willing to get into the tennis weeds. Carrie's drive to succeed is the main focus and the plot doesn't stray far from that. Her character is not very nuanced. On top of Carrie's tennis journey, there is a potential love story- a former brief flame Bowe Hunter, a former tennis player known for his aggressive play and antics on and off the court is paired up with her as a hitting partner. He too begins his own comeback story.

This book is from the view of Carrie- one gets in her head, but there is little in the way of additional characters that we spend time with. Her relationship with her father is lovely, but we don't get much about Bowe's take on the action, her agent has a bit part, and we learn a small amount about her competitors. Her childhood and rise in the tennis world as well as her comeback are there, but her retirement years in between are completely missing. Her comeback is based in the mid-1990's, so I appreciated those cultural references that were a nice throwback.

I imagine fans of Reid's previous work will also enjoy Carrie Soto.

Thank you to Ballantine Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

This book took me some time to get into. I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing style and that is what powered me on in the beginning. The book was just as faced paced as Carrie herself. About 70% of the way through it, I could not put it down. I was so interested in Carrie and Bowe and Javier and everyone involved, I just needed to know what happened. I won't lie I even got a little teary eyed at the end which isn't something I thought would happen.
I was going to rate this book a 4 stars because I just wasn't as into it as I wanted it to be. But I got 3/4's in a I just couldn't stop thinking about the characters. I loved the character development and how everything just seemed to feel poignantly okay. That feeling is what brought my rating to 5 stars. Reid is a fabulous writer and I love how clues are set throughout the book and just how everything feels so effortless.
I would definitely recommend this book.