The B*tch is back and ready to defend her hard earned title 🎾

Carrie Soto is a tennis legend who has been unmatched for years. After five years in retirement, she decides to come out and defend her record. But will the new superstar Nicki Chan take over as the queen of tennis or will Soto be able to defend her standing once and for all?

While I am no lover of tennis, I am a lover of badass women who don't take shit from anyone and know their worth. Carrie Soto now has the record for my new favorite main character. I loved following her over the decades and seeing her character growth. She is not a woman who bends to what people want her to be, and I loved how this was explored in her character and the perception and coverage of her in the media. A main theme of this novel is how we tend to not like women who are not humble and demure about their hard work and deserved wins.

Reid writes some of the best parent/child relationships and Carrie's and Javier's relationship was no different. The ups, downs, heartbreaks, and tender moments were beautifully written. No parent is perfect no matter how hard they try to be, and their relationship felt raw and real. I loved how much Spanish was included in the novel, and how it was used in impactful ways.

I also loved the relationship Carrie ends up in. It is sweet, achingly realistic, and has some of my new favorite relationship moments. While it doesn't take up a lot of space in the novel, it is beautiful and gives a lot of hope.

Everything from the exploration of feminism and agism in sports, diversity, representation, second chance relationships, and social commentary were all wonderfully done. I highlighted so many moments of this book and cannot wait to read it again in the future. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this and the ending was one of the most satisfying I have ever read. If you loved Reid's pervious work, you are sure to fall in love with Carrie Soto as well.

I loved TJR but I dislike tennis. And this is definitely a book about tennis. The writing is great, and *considering* the fact that I actively do not enjoy tennis, it kept me engaged. I'm definitely glad I stuck it out. As with Daisy Jones and the Six and Evelyn Hugo it VERY much felt like I was reading about real past pop culture figures. I loved when the action would be broken up by small new articles or tv show transcripts and could absolutely picture this story in my head as a movie with those as the transition scenes. I really enjoyed the character development and interactions between the characters. So, I would definitely recommend this book, but you do need to be aware that it's ~95% tennis.

This is a story about Carrie Soto who holds the record for the most grand slam titles in tennis and in the beginning of the book she is 37 and there is another tennis player who is about who is on course to break her record and Carrie is a very determined very matter-of-fact, some may say offputting as she was known as the battle ax and she is at times arrogant she knows who she is and she has no intention of letting someone take her title so she decides in the opening scene of the story to come out of retirement and her father will be her coach. Her father was involved in her career and is involved in her come back and her attempt at a come back and you’ll have to read it to Ido you’ll have to read it to find out is he the type of father that falls along the lines of an Andre Agassi father or is he different but if you read Taylor Jenkins read you know her stories are not predictable her stories can be fast-paced and very layered and very detailed in as far as research that makes it page turning. There's so much to love in this story- action, suspense, drama, and a fierce woman front and center

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Groups/Ballatine Books for this Advanced Reader Copy, in exchange for my honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is fast becoming a favorite author of mine, so I was super excited to read this book. I can see that TJR’s books will be the automatic must reads for me.

Carrie Soto was the greatest women’s tennis player in the world in the 80’s but she is now in her 30’s and has suffered injuries. But her title record is on the line, and she makes the decision to come out of retirement. Carrie has a reputation as a “Battle Axe” and is not the most likeable character. But she is definitely focused.

TJR has an incredible way of recreating history and fully immersing you. This books is definitely a slow burn but I can say that I was really hooked. It offers a main character that you love to hate. It has the complicated familial relationship with her dad/coach. It has a long awaited love relationship with Bowe. And if you are a TJR fan, it has the always looked for mention of Mick Riva. I will say that having some knowledge of tennis does help but overall, I felt that this was a great story.

You are truly rooting for Carrie. And I will say that I will continue to seek out all of TJR’s new books.

I am a massive fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid and love that all her books are unique in their own way- this book blew me away! I do not play, watch, or know anything about tennis, but I could NOT PUT THIS DOWN! I flew through it in 2 nights (it killed me to put it down that first night!). You would swear the author is a tennis pro or a coach- the specifics from the tennis moves to the emotions. She nailed it! If you are looking for a fun and fast read that honestly has you guessing the entire way through- this is the book for you! It's not just tennis- it's about family, and friendship (or lack of) competition, pushing yourself and there is a little romance tucked in at the perfect amount. Don't miss this one! Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this overall story. but way too much tennis for me. Would be an amazing audio book. Love the relationship between carrie and her dad.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK ✨

*thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK. wow. I knew I liked TJR, but I definitely LOVE her now!

This book is ALL about tennis. So I’d suggest doing a little 5 minute briefing on tennis rules & terminology to prep for this book - trust me, it’s worth it. Thankfully, I came into this book knowing a decent amount about tennis to understand everything that was going on.

This book has so many great elements - a powerful MC who doesn’t give a f*** what anyone else thinks of her, an AMAZING father-daughter relationship, personal growth, a tiny bit of romance, themes of struggles women face in the sports world, etc.

I flew through this book! You don’t have to read Malibu Rising before this book, but I’d definitely recommend it as you’d appreciate the story more 😉 Be ready for lots of smiles, tears, & rooting for Carrie!

Also, the ending was *chef's kiss* 👩🏼‍🍳 💋

an easy 5 star rating & probably my favorite book of the year 🫶🏻 I already know I’m going to want to re-read this book!

Read if you like:
- historical fiction 🌍
- tennis 🎾
- dad + daughter story 👨‍👧
- slow building love story 🔥
- an unlikeable MC who you still want to root for 👏🏼
- pop culture & little snippets of other TJR characters 🎸
- diverse characters
- personal growth 🌱

I am blown away and at once, not surprised. Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to write realistic, unconventionally lovable characters and their bonds like no other. I was cheering for Carrie Soto the entire ride and the ending was satisfying in its entirety. These characters develop in very subtle ways, and they are imperfect, they are flawed, which somehow adds to their charm even further. This is a story about how passion can get lost in ambition, and what can happen when you find that passion again. It's beautifully written, tugging at all the right heart strings, and always knows just where to hit you and how to bring you back up again. Reid gets better with each book, and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with. A new favorite from her for sure.

Review also available on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4557384263?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

“ When I decided to play professional tennis, I apparently signed a contract to let people talk shit about me for the rest of my life.”

Carrie Soto world famous tennis player nicknamed Battle Axe, the woman we all love to hate is making a comeback at age 37
For her whole life tennis has been her whole world. She shattered world records, now she returns to hold into those records.
No one is harder on her than herself, winning is everything to her, she has to be the best, hold the most titles, be the strongest, faster, and she must destroy all her competitors.

Let me say I know nothing about tennis, but that didn’t stop me from diving right in and devouring this book, because as anybody knows TJR can make you emotionally invested in anything she writes and this book is no exception!

Note to TJR , I would love a book about Gwen!

thank you random house for the ARC 🫡

this is, hands down, the best book TJR has written. for me, this dethrones 7 husbands and i didn’t even think that was possible.

carrie soto is a powerhouse, her grit and tenacity had me enthralled from page 1. the pacing of the story is INCREDIBLY well done. the last 10% of the book, my heart was pounding hard in my chest. i was enraptured.

and i know other reviews have already mentioned this but it’s worth repeating: TJR wrote a book about TENNIS and it is fucking AMAZING.

when i first read the synopsis for this book, i will admit i wasn’t too excited to read it. but now i’m sitting here, adding it to my shelf of favorite books of all fucking time. incredible.

Once again Taylor Jenkins Reid delivers. Such a great book! I loved the strong women characters, and even though I am not a tennis fan, I felt myself tearing through the pages to read about each match in detail. Carrie Soto is a great character and I’d love a sequel!

Phenomenal, but there was never a doubt in my mind about this book. Taylor does no wrong. Another 5 star novel, no questions ask. I will continue to recommend every TJR book to everyone I know.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LOVED this new one from Taylor Jenkins Reid. The characters she creates are always so strong and Carrie Soto definitely fit that mold.

Carrie Soto is a retired tennis player. But when a younger talented tennis star ties her old record, Carrie comes out of retirement and works her butt off to recreate the athleticism she once had.

Carrie says (and does) what she wants; regardless of what the media (or her fans) think of her. I found her attitude incredibly refreshing, since everyone seems to care so much about what everyone else thinks these days.

I devoured this book. I was bummed when it ended; I could have read another 10 chapters. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for the ARC for my honest review.

This was such a fun read!!

Growing up all Carrie wanted to be was the world’s best tennis player just like her dad tells her. Through her dad’s close relationship and coaching she does just that. We see Carrie’s journey through all parts of her life but especially when she comes out of retirement to defend her champion title. In classic Reid writing this is told through timelines, interviews, and narrative.

Before this I couldn’t care less about tennis but this gave it heart!!

RATING: 5/5 STARS

Taylor Jenkins Reid has knocked it out of the park (or court) with this one! This is my favorite book of hers to date. I was instantly hooked and finished it in less than a day.

Five reasons I loved this book:

1. CARRIE is one of the most nuanced and intriguing heroines I’ve read. She is unapologetic, bold, fierce, and dedicated to her craft. But she’s also insecure, noncommittal to relationships, and hard on herself. I loved her growth and trajectory throughout the story. I rooted for her so much and felt her triumphs and downfalls deeply.

2. CARRIE AND HER DAD were the absolute stars of this book. His unconditional love and support for her along with his tough and honest coaching struck such a beautiful balance. I loved their conversations in Spanish and their unbreakable bond over tennis. Such a beautifully written father-daughter duo.

3. CARRIE AND BOWE creep up on you. He is such an endearing character. It’s not often you see an amazingly supportive secondary male lead. Although Bowe is talented, Carrie is the true legendary tennis phenomenon and he doesn’t shy away from that.

4. TENNIS is at its finest in this book. I’m no expert at the sport but TJR describes it so well that I could visualize each game and the excitement. Tennis is brought to life here, not only its fast pace and technicalities, but also its beauty, grace, and intricacies.

5. THE ENDING is perfect. Absolutely uplifting and poignant.

1 like

What does TJR do best? Characters. Three dimensional, fully living breathing you have to double check to make sure they aren’t real people kind of characters. Carrie Soto is Back is no exception. Carrie is not a likable character. On the surface, she is arrogant, harsh, focused, demanding, and cut throat. But that won’t turn you off from wanting to see her succeed. From wanting to watch her relationships evolve with her father, Bowe, Nikki. . .I loved them ALL. She evolves with them but always stays true to herself at the same time. It’s gorgeous character development, and I could not put the book down watching every single relationship move forward.

What else made this a book I couldn’t put down? Believe it or not. . .the tennis. Do I know a thing about tennis? No. Have I ever watched a tennis game? No. But after a bit, I was INVESTED. I want to see how each match went down. It’s been a while since the world absolutely melted away while I was reading and I was there on the court with Carrie. It was book magic. So if you’re reading and you’re like. . . .this is A LOT of tennis theory. . . Hang in there. It will all come together.

This is now my 3rd favorite book I’ve read so far this year, and it’s my 2nd favorite TJR behind Evelyn Hugo. I laughed, I cried, I was surprised, I was riveted, I got goosebumps, I cheered, I highlighted passage after passage, and I sighed upon finishing it and said, “That was an excellent book.”

Thank you to @netgalley @tjenkinsreid and @randomhouse for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to my older daughter for letting me borrow her backyard tennis racket.

4.5 rounded up to 5. It is not Summer without a new book from Taylor Jenkins Reid and Carrie Soto is Back does not disappoint! I like tennis and was ready to read about something new. If you haven’t played in awhile, don’t worry, Jenkins Reid cleverly brings you up to speed on scoring in the first few chapters as Carrie learns to play tennis as a child under the tutelage of her tennis pro father Javier.

This is a fast paced book about a former champion deciding to make a comeback to defend her record. It is also about family, relationships, love and change. Carrie is strong and determined and doesn’t really care about who she takes down along the way. She is not apologetic about who she is but as we learn more about her comeback, slowly her priorities change.

I enjoyed traveling with Carrie to all the big tennis tournaments-the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and getting immersed in that world. I loved reading about her matches and couldn’t put the book down as I cheered her on. My only criticism is the Spanish dialog from her father which had no translation but I quickly learned to ignore it (google translate was minimal help).
Thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for providing the ARC.

Carrie Sotto is Back 🎾 🇫🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🗽
Author : @tjenkinsreid
Page Count : 384
Pub Date : 🔜 August 30th, 2022
@randomhouse


Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again. This Novel was such a breath of fresh air. I initially was worried if it would keep my interest because tennis isn’t something I’m particularly passionate about it but it was the furthest from that. This novel empowered me. It reminded me of many “matches” in my own life. Recognizing your strengths as well as your weaknesses and being okay with both of them. I loved the development of the relationship between Carrie & Javier. A relationship that really was strictly business turned into such a soft place for Carrie to land. I’m not surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for you all to have the opportunity to devour it.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I read this so fast. I have read every single TJR novel, so it's very hard for me not to compare them. This is a sports novel about a tennis player in the 90s who comes out of retirement to try to keep her old record. Carrie isn't well liked. She's coached by her father, she isn't nice to fans, and she doesn't care what people think about her personality... but she's the best. I don't think you have to like tennis to enjoy this, but I did get very similar vibes to the Serena/Venus Williams movie and this was no where near as emotional as that. If you have read Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising, I think you'll enjoy this. I wish we got more of a feel of the 90s and better character development of Bowe. I do think this is a very very honest way that women feel in sports and Carrie is a badass

I don't like tennis. I don't play tennis and I don't enjoy watching tennis. So, why would I want to read a book about tennis? Because Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote it and everything she writes is a masterpiece. Carrie Soto, who appears briefly in "Malibu Rising" is front and center in this story. She has retired from tennis as a superstar of the sport but can't stand the idea of newer players breaking her records, so she decides to come out of retirement to improve on her already impressive record. Along with her father and coach, Javier Soto, who is an incredible character in his own right, she trains and claws her way back into the game. Along the way, she develops personal relationships and discovers who she really is, with and without tennis. A stellar read, even if you don't like tennis.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.