This book doesn't measure up to the author's other books of late. Taylor Jenkins Reid has set the bar so high that this was bound to happen. It's still a good book; it just isn't great in my opinion. While modern sports figure books are always intriguing, there is far too much time spent on the father/daughter relationship. I especially loved all the detailed descriptions of the tennis matches, but I do wish the author had spent more time on Carrie's personal life outside of the father/daughter dynamic.

Carrie Soto - known as the "Battle Axe" or "The Bitch" - is the greatest player in tennis history. But her record is about to be shattered by Nicki Chan, and Carrie isn't ready to let that go. At thirty-seven and retired Carrie is ready to get back in the game to prove to the world she can do more than anyone else.

Training with her father and coach, Javier, from a very young age, Carrie has sacrificed everything to be the best. She doesn't make friends with other players - it just complicates things when she beats them - and she doesn't open herself to love, it only leads to heartbreak.

Told in then and now, Carrie's story unfolds as a tale of a woman's immense power, strength, dedication, family and love. As Carrie returns to tennis, it's the bonds of family and friends she may need to fight for the hardest to find herself.

This was another absolutely fantastic read from Taylor Jenkins Reid, and tied loosely to Malibu Rising with mention of Daisy Jones and the Six.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub. date 8/30/22

Carrie Soto is one of those characters I felt like I would hate in real life but the author wrote this in such a way that I’m still rooting for her during the whole novel. Not only in her tennis matches but in life. I enjoyed this book with little tennis background knowledge and I believe that someone with no tennis knowledge could enjoy it just as much. I only gave 4 stars because it wasn’t one of those books I found myself thinking about all day dying to see what’s next but it was a feel good read with great characters and life lessons

I was a bit skeptical going into this one based on the description… but TJR does it again! 4.5 ⭐️s

This author just has a knack for writing incredibly strong female characters. Carrie Soto is seemingly not an easy woman to love, but it is for that exact reason why I love her so much. She’s the b*tch of tennis… which of course just means that she largely acts a way that would be perfectly fine for a man but is of course not acceptable for a woman. She’s not humble, she doesn’t bite her tongue, and she’s uninterested in making friends. She has an unhealthy obsession with winning but learns and adopts a new perspective as the book progresses.

Her relationship with her father is lovely to read. It’s not perfect, but you can really feel the deep and respect there. Her father’s love just shines through.

The only negative for me was the overwhelming amount of tennis. I mean SO MUCH TENNIS. And I don’t hate tennis or anything… it’s just that I don’t care about tennis like at all 😂 so honestly there’s some parts I skimmed.

Great read. Great characters. Great ending. Highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to review this book!

This quickly became my favorite TJR book, and I'm sure other readers will agree with me! This novel surrounds Carrie Soto, a minor side character from Malibu Rising. She was known for being the mistress of Brandon, Nina Rivera's husband, but we get to take a deep dive into her life.

Carrie is a tennis player, and not just any tennis player. Her entire life goal has been to become the best tennis player in the world. Now that she is retired, she is devastated when a younger player ties her world record. Carrie is determined to make a comeback and destroy anyone in her path to taking her world record back, no matter what anyone else thinks. This book brings such courageous feminist energy throughout.

I will be recommending this to people regardless if they like tennis or not. This book fully immerses you into the world of tennis, and I guarantee you will walk away with a newfound appreciation for women's tennis, just like I did.

Carrie Soto is the the world's best tennis player - arguably of both males and female players, and she has the titles and trophies to back it. After retirement, she is still restless and misses the professional tennis circuit. On the day Nikki Chen beats her world record, Carrie decides to come out of retirement. Coached by her father, Javier, and supported by a past love, Bowe Huntley, Carrie works to once again prove to the world she is the best.

I do love Taylor Jenkins Reid, and am always eager for her newest. This story is a lot of tennis, and knowing nothing about the game, it was still very enjoyable and actually made me want to learn more about the game. Carrie is such an interesting character - the best adjective I can think of to describe her is "complicated." She is a driven, hard-working perfectionist, yet is vulnerable, terrified of losing and scared of relationships. I was sad when I was at the last page, but the ending was just right. You must grab this one as soon as you can!

Taylor Jenkins Reid knocked it out of the park with Carrie Soto is Back.
This is a comeback story about a tennis champion. Carrie Soto decides to come out of retirement when her record of most Slams won is in jeopardy. She is a polarizing figure in the sport due to her abrasive and aloof personality, never letting anyone except her father get close.
I didn’t think I could love any TJR character as much as Evelyn Hugo, but Carrie Soto may have won my heart. Her relationship with her father is so beautiful and I loved watching her open up to the other people in her life.
TJR has redeemed herself with this book, and I cannot wait to see who we get to meet next!

When I received notice that I was going to get to read Taylor Jenkin Reid’s newest book before its release date I was ecstatic! I had set time aside, cancelled plans and was ready to become one with my couch, but life had other plans. My niece and nephew had been at our house for a week and were supposed to go home in 2 days, and then I would have all my evenings available to devour this book! I made plans, I was ready and then my sister called me to tell me that she had covid and asked that we keep the kiddos until she tested negative. Thirteen days! That’s how long it took for me for her to test negative or stop showing symptoms and come pick up my exhausting yet loveable niece and nephew.

When they left, I needed a few days to recoup from having the kids and doing so much with them it made me utterly confused about people who have like twins or triplets don’t just drop dead from exhaustion. Anyways, after I was able to recover and return to my regular schedule, which included normal amounts of trips to the market and a lot less laundry, was I able to to sit in complete silence and enjoy the wonderful world of Carrie Soto is Back.

As I began to read, I was confused about why I was cheering for such a cold hardted unlikeable character. But as the hard shell that Carrie Soto showed the world began to soften so did my heart for her. I don’t know when it was that I began actually rooting for her, hoping that even though she seemed to be cold it all came from a place of insecurities, something that as a reader we can all relate to a certain extent. Well, relatable in the sense that I was called a great tennis player 1 time in 6th grade but have insecurities without the public judging my every move. Somewhere between matches won and lost, and lessons with her father, we fall in love with not just Carrie and her need to succeed, but with all the parts that come when someone tries to live up to something that once was and wondering if at some point enough is enough.

I loved this book because it portrayed Carrie for exactly who she was, a ruthless competitor, but also very flawed and insecure. And who doesn’t love seeing the main character grow? So, if you love tennis, or the underdog, or just a damn well written book, this one is for you!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of those authors that I don’t even need to read a blurb, I’m adding her newest book to the top of my pile as soon as it is announced. Carrie Soto is Back was a great addition to the “Hollywood” Land that exists in Taylor’s books. Carrie was mentioned briefly in Malibu Rising, and if you don’t blink, Daisy Jones is mentioned in this story. This book is very heavy with Tennis matches, but there is so much more to it too. Carrie has such character development from start to finish, and you can’t help but smile at the end.

This book was absolutely amazing. Honestly it’s probably my favorite TJR book so far. There was truly not a single thing I didn’t love about this book, and it’s no surprise I finished this in less than 24 hours because I was deeply hooked that I couldn’t put it down.

Carrie Soto is the fictional embodiment of my own internal monologue. She’s a tough, sarcastic bitch with a take-no-shit attitude and I love her for it. I loved that we got to see her entire career unfold before we really dove into her comeback - that gave me every single detail I could’ve wanted from this story. Not to mention I loved Carrie’s relationship with her Dad and her agent Gwen, but also her whatever-it-is with Bowe. It was just perfect. I also think I might be a tennis fan now? I don’t know. It’s possible. 😂🎾

I truly wish this book was longer because I wasn’t ready for it to be over. It was a real and raw and I just couldn’t get enough. A HUGE thank you goes out to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy of this book. Carrie Soto is Back drops August 30 and you NEED to put it on your TBRs!

This book was wonderful. The author really made feel as if I was the tennis star. I love the author's style of writing. Thank you net galley for letting me review this book in advance.

I so love the idea of characters crossing each other's paths in the different novels that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes and love how she uses each of her books to tell a character's full story. I immediately wanted to know Carrie Soto's full story after being introduced to her in Malibu Rising. There is a lot of tennis in this book but you don't need to be a tennis fan to appreciate the fierce and competitive nature of Carrie Soto or the suspense that the game of tennis naturally is when worthy opponents face each other. There is a lot to sort through when the main character sets her mind on a comeback years after she retires as a legend. Her inability to lose which made her the legend that she was for so long also kept her from relating to people. She has few friends, she's terrible at romantic relationships, and she's not even nice to her fans. Her father who is also her tennis coach is the only one she is close to but even that has its limitations. But you still can't help but cheer for her, especially when her final challenge is more about finding her true self and what she's made of than about the game of tennis. Lots of people can relate to an all or nothing way of living. So many characters to appreciate. My favorite line: "We live in a world where exceptional women are forced to wait around for mediocre men." Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for granting me an advance copy.

I always anxiously await a new book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her characters have such depth and are intriguing. I loved the characters and plot in Carrie Soto is Back and zipped right through the book. It would have made a difference in a positive way if I were a tennis enthusiast. Each match was described in detail, play by play, and to me was a little tedious. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Carrie Soto and look forward to reading Taylor Jenkins Reid's next book.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 8/30/22
Genre: fiction with sports, romance, and coming of age themes
In one sentence: Carrie Soto was the best player tennis had ever seen, but when a young Nicki Chan beats her record of major tournament wins, she comes out of retirement to reclaim her crown.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is at her best when she's writing complex women like Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones, and now Carrie Soto. The story starts with Carrie's journey to teen tennis star, her close relationship with her father and coach, and her singleminded desire to be the best - at any cost. In the hands of another author, this story could seem stereotypical, but Jenkins Reid makes Carrie's desires and frustrations feel completely real. I loved getting a front-row seat to this ambitious women's rise and subsequent comeback. Does her comeback succeed? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out.

I won't say much more plot-wise for fear of spoilers, but I'm sure TJR fans will love this one just as I did. Carrie Soto is the ultimate complex strong female protagonist. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Outstanding! Strong tennis knowledge and storyline with great character development. Love when there is love, laughter, family, loss, perseverance and unexpected ending. TJR did a fantastic job with this one and I would see this character returning in other stories!

Carrie Soto, Carrie Soto, CARRIE SOTO - this is the name of the tennis player everyone will soon be talking about! Okay, yes she is 100% fictional, I know this... but then why am I mourning the end of this book and character like she's a real player I'm sad not to see play anymore at the end of the season?

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again folks! She is the absolute MASTER in creating characters that feel real and like they are a true part of your life! I was rooting for Carrie like she was my best friend throughout the entire book and it was pure magic! ✨

I don't know a whole lot about tennis, so I cannot comment on the accuracies of the tennis game specifics, but in my humble less than average tennis knowledge opinion, I thought TJR did a phenomenal job telling the incredible story of Carrie Soto with just the right amount of tennis talk to both be enjoyable, but still authentic to the game.

What else did I love:
🎾 Carrie is a tough as nails competitor who knows what she wants and won't stop until she gets it! And not to mention her comeback to tennis when she is 37!! As someone in that same age bracket, I found this so inspiring. It is never too late to start again or to start something new!
🎾 Carrie's relationship with her dad was so heart warming. I loved their closeness and the way he was hard on her, but at the time still so gentle. The ultimate girl dad and amazing coach! ❤️
🎾 Bowe!! Oh man I don't want to give anything away about him, but he was just the absolute perfect addition to this story.

This book truly got inside my heart and I honestly shed tears of joy, sadness and even frustration (for Carrie) while reading. 😭 Carrie Soto is Back will be out next month on August 30th!! You're going to need to get yourself a copy as soon as you possibly can!! I think everyone is going to love this latest TJR masterpiece!
I am beyond thankful to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the advanced e-copy - it was 100% pure love with this one!! 💗

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to discover that she has a new book coming out! "Carrie Soto Is Back" centers around one woman as she seeks to become the undisputed champion of the tennis world. Carrie grows up with her widowed father, Javier, as he trains her to become a tennis great. Her whole life revolves around tennis, and she's unable to handle it when she doesn't win every time. This made her quite unlikable, but it did give me a good look into the psyche of a professional athlete.

I really enjoyed the sweet father/daughter relationship between Carrie and Javier. I also enjoyed the romance between Carrie and Bowe, although I wish we had seen more of it. Overall, this wasn't my favorite of Reid's books but it was fairly enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I think TJR has established that she can tell a pretty epic story. A lot of her books center around strong women, their lives, loves, and pitfalls. Carrie Soto is no exception to that rule. The tl;dr version of this review could easily be boiled down to: Are you interested in reading about someone’s tennis career or not?

Recommended for fans of:
📖 TJR's storytelling style
🎾 Tennis, sports strategy, & competition
🌱 Personal growth & self-acceptance

PLOT––
Carrie Soto isn’t just great at tennis; she’s the greatest of.all.time. And she has all the records to prove it. Trained by her father who is a former champion himself, Carrie blitzes through the tennis ranks capturing every title along the way. By the time she retires, Carrie is indisputably the best but also faces a lot of public backlash for her lack of humility and fiercely competitive playing style. Not that she cares.

But Carrie doesn’t get to enjoy her retirement long. Six years after, she finds herself watching the stunning Nicki Chan make a run for her Grand Slam record. Never one to be beaten, this prompts Carrie to come out of retirement for one more run at reclaiming her title under the tutelage of her father, just like the old days. It won’t be easy though with the media not forgetting or forgiving “The Battle Axe” persona she’s built, a distraction from her past, and Carrie’s own body slowing her down. But not of that has ever stopped her before.

CHARACTERS––
I personally wasn’t as much of a fan of Carrie as I was of Evelyn Hugo, for example. I have to commend TJR for creating complex, flawed characters though. Her characters feel real and multidimensional. Yes, Carrie can come across a bit cold, especially in the beginning of the book, but as with other TJR books you start to understand the characters more and more as the story progresses.

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW––
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I was hoping that the tennis aspect would be more of a backdrop than a focal point of the story. In Evelyn Hugo, for example, you get a good picture of Evelyn’s Hollywood movie career background. You learn about her rise to fame and things that happen throughout her career. Still, the focal point of the story was more centered around Evelyn’s personal life, her relationships, and the Hollywood starlet part was sort of seamlessly weaved into that.

Be forewarned that Carrie Soto is not this way. The first 25% of the book is almost all just her career leading up to retirement. Various competitions she attends, opponents her and her father strategize against to beat, the particulars of specific tennis plays, a glimpse into her attitude in the public spotlight… and that’s about it. We’re talking roughly 100 pages of tennis competitions that all start blending together and feeling pretty repetitive.

The next 75% picks up a fair amount. We start getting a lot more from the story, seeing Carrie’s support system, including her relationship with her father, a friendship and a budding romance. While there’s still a ton of tennis action, as is to be expected, there’s also a lot of heartfelt writing that I’ve come to expect from TJR. I found myself still wanting to skim some of the tennis play talk, but it does get a lot better.

Another thing that may or may not affect you is the fact that Carrie’s father speaks in Spanish quite frequently. If you know Spanish or enough Spanish to get by, this may not be of concern to you at all. But just know that TJR does not translate this Spanish at all. If pausing your reading to google Spanish sentences doesn’t bother you, great! If that sounds like something that would take you out of the story or bother you, there’s your warning.

Overall, I think TJR tells a good story of perfection and self-acceptance. This isn’t one of my favorites of hers, but I think if you have interest in sports or competition you’ll find the first fourth of the book more palatable.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Anyone watching Wimbledon today?!

I was SO excited to get my hands on an early reader’s copy of @tjenkinsreid ‘s newest book *Carrie Soto Is Back* just before our trip to Europe this summer. I read it on one (very long) flight, and - as expected - l loved it… What Evelyn Hugo is to Hollywood, Daisy Jones is to rock & roll, and the Rivas are to surfing — Carrie Soto is to tennis. 🎾 And I don’t even really care about tennis, but TJR just KNOWS how to make a story, a character, a passion come alive in her books. Don’t get me wrong, I learned A LOT about tennis from this book - but more about the cost of pursuing s dream, the love between a father and a daughter, and the beauty of second chances - in sports, and in life.

Out at the end of August, *Carrie Soto Is Back* is a definite Grand Slam! 😉

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

#samandscoutreads #bookstagram #summerreading #carriesotoisback #netgalley #netgalleyreads

This book is so fast paced that it made me flip pages faster than a tennis ball serve. I absolutely adored this book set in 1995 women’s professional tennis.

Carrie Soto is a professional Hispanic tennis player who has retired at the peak of her career having set numerous tennis records. When her record is tied 5 years later she decides to train for a comeback.

I loved Carrie’s unapologetic nature of wanting to not only win but crush her opponents. She has the heart of an athlete and is motivated by winning. I don’t have a problem with that because this is what drives her to be the best the world has ever seen. However, it comes with some personal costs with emotional struggles in her personal life.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House, and especially Taylor Jenkins Reid for another outstanding exciting book. The opinions shared are truly my own.