This book was such a pleasant surprise. Taylor Jenkins Reid has the ability to make anything "un-put-down-able," including this novel. Carrie Soto's rise and fall and rise again was something to remember. The relationship between Carrie and her father was special and flawed and I was rooting for them as much as I was for any romantic relationship in the book. I am not well versed in the tennis world, but that didn't make this book any less beautiful.

Carrie Soto, tennis great is making a comeback after retiring for 5 years. Known as the Bitch now everyone thinks she can do it except her father and coach. Carrie initially starts out as an unlikeble
Person but as the story moves along you start to get where she’s coming from. Another really good book from this author who certainly can tell a good story.

I'll start this off by saying I literally will read anything TJR writes. But I will follow it up with this one wasn't one of my favorites by far. The vast majority of the book was spent with Carrie being a very clearly unlikable character, one-dimensional in her desire to win at all costs. Despite being in her 30's, she was immature, arrogant, petulant, and did not learn from her mistakes. The story started to get interesting when we learned she had some depth to her with her interactions with Bowe, or when she finally stopped treating her father poorly (now HE is someone I'd happily read a story about, but only if it was less tennis-centric than this one), or her friendship with her agent Gwen (another character I would've loved to have read more about than Carrie.) Heck, I even liked her when she actually showed a modicum of respect for her rival, Nicki. However the plot of this story was largely just Carrie gets back into playing a year of tennis due to being petty and wanting to get her record back. I was pleased she finally grew as a character, even if it came MUCH later than it ought to have. And I appreciated the end. But there was a chunk of time in the middle when I just didn't want to be reading this book anymore, and that's not how I like to read something by TJR. Again, will read anything she writes, and hopefully the next one will be less like this one and Malibu Rising, and more like Evelyn and Daisy which are all time favs.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️ 3.5 STARS ⭐️

Taylor Jenkins Reid once again delivers a story that in the end makes you ask ‘What do you mean they’re not real??’ Carrie Soto is another character to the TJR Hall of Fame taking the title of Most Unlikeable Character. For me, Carrie just missed the depth and character development Evelyn, Daisy and Nina had. Carrie’s story was mostly boring and was only entertaining when she played tennis. Basically if Carrie wasn’t nearly as petty, this book wouldn’t exist. She eventually does have a mindset switch but that isn’t until the last 30 pages. The whole book was just ‘Oh yeah we get it, she likes to win’ and ‘Yup, she’s a sore loser’. This book was by far my least favorite out of the main 4 TJR Novels and unfortunately, did not make the cut for the Taylor Jenkins Reid holy trinity.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another 5⭐️ read for me! This story is about a tennis pro, Carrie Soto, who decides to come out of retirement to challenge the new rising star who is threatening to beat Carrie’s Slam record. The author tells an exciting and emotional story which really brings the characters to life and makes you feel like you’re right there in the stadium watching the matches. My favorite character was Jave, Carrie’s Dad and tennis coach. Thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review

Wow. When I started this, I thought, "I don't know if even TJR can get me to care about tennis." SHE DID. Carrie Soto is so much more than an embarrassing anecdote in another character's life. We get to deep dive into the tennis champ. The drive, the attitude, talent, and heart. Loved this one.

I was super excited for this one because I love
TJR, but I struggled a little with it and almost
didn't finish. I've read every one of her books and
I love her so much, but kinda wanted this one to
show me a little more than just tennis. I went into
it blind so I had no idea what it was all about.
Carrie Soto is a badass, no doubt. Her training is
rigorous and she is a fierce competitor! The
storytelling is effortless and I definitely enjoyed
the supporting characters a lot. I also loved
Carrie's relationship with her father. TJR has a
way of making you feel immersed in the lives of
her characters and I felt that very much. It was
just too heavy on the tennis for me. I've seen tons
of five star reviews on it, so I would definitely still
check it out! Taylor Jenkins Reid is an amazing
writer and I will still read anything by her! I just
didn't "love-love.”

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

It was a beautiful weekend to hang out on the porch and read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book that will be released August 30. She’s the author of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising and Daisy Jones & the Six. This new one is good! Really good! I’m not a tennis player or spectator of the sport but I could not put this book down. The main character is tough to like in the beginning but I grew to appreciate her drive and desire to be the best tennis player in the world. I felt the tension in each match as if I were there watching it go down. This will be one of the top books I read for 2022. The character development was fantastic!

This book!!! I fell even more in love with Taylor Jenkins Reid! It was ALL about tennis, the game, the scoring, the practice, everything! I know nothing about tennis, or should I said I KNEW nothing about tennis. I learned a lot about the game, but TJR made it fun and entertaining even when giving simple facts. I laughed, a lot, and cried.. a lot.. and smiled up to the last word! This one struck me and will stick with me for awhile! I loved the relationship between Carrie and her father and how they grew together and changed so much! I could seriously go on about this book forever! I enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would, with it being so focused on tennis. When this comes out in August, I can’t wait to see it all over and people loving it!

So I have to start by saying that had I not already been fully immersed in the world Taylor Jenkins Reid has created with all these cross over characters, I probably would not have picked up this book. It is VERY heavy on the tennis, which normally I have no interest in. My basic tennis knowledge comes from playing hours upon hours of Mario Tennis on my Nintendo 64 back in the day, so it's very limited. I am so glad that I kept on reading though and pushing through what I initially thought was going to be a difficult read. Reid made me care about something I never thought I could, I am not a sports person at all. While the main plot is centered around the tournaments and Carrie's training, there is so much more to it. It has such a deep story about her relationship with father and their unconditional love for each other. Such a roller coaster of emotions by the end of the book, and I absolutely loved watching the evolution and growth of Carrie and she learned more about herself through her comeback. Even if like me you're not a fan of tennis, I highly recommend give this one a shot if you're a fan of Reid's books.

On Goodreads I didn’t give a star rating because I only got 30% of the way into the book before calling it quits. Evelyn Hugo is one of my top five books of all time, and I absolutely loved Daisy Jones, so it pains me to not be able to finish a book by the incredible TJR. But it’s just so much tennis. Training for tennis, thinking about tennis, playing tennis, and Carrie’s single-minded determination about tennis makes the humanity she does have feel inaccessible. Maybe I’ll come back to it after my employees and friends read it, but it might just not be the right book for me.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing - this is the third one that I have had the opportunity to read and it did not disappoint. Carrie Soto's whole life is tennis, because her father ingrained this her from the moment she could hold a racquet. She wins all the tournaments, as her dad coaches her until she doesn't win. She takes a break and comes back onto the circuit as an older player, with her dad and new coach with her all the way. Carrie has nothing else in her life, and she wants nothing else in her life but tennis. This is the story of how this kind of mindset leads to successes in some areas and great difficulties in others.

There's A LOT of tennis in this book, like 90% or so. The reader should be prepared for lot of "volleying'!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Carrie Soto is Back.

TJR has done it again! She writes in such a beautifully simple yet complex way that you will not want this book to end. She has created a character that a reader can struggle to like yet love all at once in Carrie Soto.

I admit I had not found a book by Reid that I really loved as much as the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six, and Malibu Rising, but they just didn't have the same emotional impact on me that Hugo did. But now, I think Carrie Soto may just be right up there near the top.

The book follows the return to the world of top-tier competitive women's tennis player Carrie Soto as she pushes herself to compete in a sport she retired from years before; set primarily in the 1990s, the book does provide a background biography of the character in the first 1/3 of the book, and then quickly shifts to Carrie's struggle with not only her body, her mind, and her character, but love, loss, and friendship. Reading about Carrie's determination, acceptance, and willingness to change while fighting for everything she believes she wants and deserves made me sad when the book was over because I simply wanted more.

I could not put this book down once I started it. I got frustrated, I laughed, I cried, and I cheered- a roller coaster of emotion that was worth the ride and then some. If you are a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid's work, or simply a fan of a good, complex read filled with characters you root for and root against all at once then this book is one you should not miss. I know I will be recommending it to all of my friends and reader coworkers. Seriously, go out and get this book!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eGalley of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this fabulous ARC.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She hit another one out of the park with this gem.

The book is about retired tennis player Carrie Soto and her mission not to let Nicky Chan break her grand slam record. I don't really like tennis and loved this book. This book is about perseverance, family, love, goals, and finding your inner peace. I cried and laughed. My favorite part was how Reid brings in characters from her other novels.

I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends.

Six years ago, Carrie Soto was the best female tennis player in the world — she’d also argue (and the stars would support it) best in the world overall, but no one is asking her. Unfortunately, Carrie and Javier, her dad/former coach, watch Nicki Chan match her record of 20 Grand Slam titles. The 37-year-old decides she’s going to come out of retirement to take on Chan and defend her title. With the help of Javier, and another tennis player way past his prime, Bowe Huntley, Carrie busts her ass to get back on top — never doubting for a second that she can.

I seriously know nothing about tennis. It’s always been a confusing sport to me and honestly? I didn’t really need to understand it. TJR has such a beautiful way of explaining things *just* the right amount to readers to make sure their not lost but also not drowning in details. Plus, you just GET carrie by the first quarter of the book. She’s such a consistent and wonderful character. I mean she’s a total beast and bad ass and WAY way cocky and is kind of oblivious to how rude she is but wow do you still just adore her.

TJR is my queen and I will read any and every single thing that she wants to write. So with that said, I was ecstatic when I got an ARC of this (thank you netgalley).

"Carrie Soto Is Back" follows the story of prolific tennis star, Carrie Soto, who at the time of her retirement was considered the best in the world. Now, at age 37, Carrie is determined to make a comeback, reclaiming her title from the latest star, Nicki Chan.

If you don't have any interest in the sport of tennis then this book probably won't be your favorite. It is extremely tennis heavy, but in true TJR fashion, she knows how to write a character driven story. She did a phenomenal job at describing the world of a professional athlete, what it takes to rise to the top, the sacrifices, the rivalries and competitiveness. Carrie is probably one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever read. She is ruthless, driven, and willing to do whatever she needs to do to win. Sometimes I actually winced at how mean she could be. But throughout, she does soften and mature. We learn of her childhood, her complex relationship with her coach & father and the relationship that forms between she and her training companion, Bowe Huntley.

While reading this, I truly felt immersed into the world of elite tennis. I felt as if I was in the stands, nervous for Carrie and how the match would turn out. I also appreciated how TJR wrote the experience of a female athlete in the 90s. This was a beautiful story of perseverance, vulnerability and love.

By the end of the first couple of chapters, I was convinced that I could be a world class tennis player lol. I absolutely ADORED this book!! Carrie was such a believable character and was written so well - I could FEEL her triumphs, passion and disappointments. Carrie Soto is Back is one of those books, that you binge in one reading because it IS so pleasurable and exciting. I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley. I can't wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid has up for us next!!!

Carrie is the best tennis player in the world. Until she isn’t and she walks away from the sport. But, after five years, she’s back.

Taylor Jenkins Reid bring characters to life unlike any other author I’ve ever read. Carrie Soto is Back is no exception. I was thrilled when I received an e-ARC of Carrie Soto is Back to read and review—thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this opportunity!

I loved everything about this story: the writing, the characters, the growth, the emotions, the fact that was based around a sport. All of it. But most of all, I loved Carrie. She’s self-aware and bold and fierce. She’s strong and capable and cold and scared. She’s the Battle Axe and I enjoyed every second of her story.

I especially loved her vulnerability. I knew it was there from the beginning—Carrie is a relatively honest narrator about her personal shortcomings, if not her tennis ones—but when she started to show her loved ones her fragility… that’s when I truly fell in love with her story.

The articles inserted in between chapters about the events of the book were a brilliant want to show how the public felt about the comeback, how the matches unfolded, and they REALLY highlighted the disparity between women and men, especially in sports.

Oh my GOD, the interview with Gloria Jones re: Carrrie Soto not acting poised and gracious enough made me see red. Not only is that exactly what Carrie has been telling us, but they would never say that about a man.

I found myself not knowing what resolution I wanted, which puzzled me. I almost always know what I want out of a book: the good guy to win or the love interest to get the main character. Pretty standard stuff But, this time, I wasn’t sure. Did I want Carrie to win those Slams? Or did I want her to continue losing, but win in another way? The resolution that Taylor Jenkins Reid came up with was perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Carrie Soto is Back is a perfect 5/5 for me. I laughed, I got mad, I cried, I cringed, I winced. I wanted to shake Carrie and then I wanted to hug her. I will forever try to channel her fierceness into my every day life, especially when it comes to accolades. Carrie believes she was not given anything, but she EARNED it, and she’s right. I plan to adopt the Soto mindset in that regard. Along with recommending this book to every reader I know, I’ll be recommending Carrie fierceness to every woman I know.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I'm not a huge tennis fan, but can follow along and will watch it occasionally. There is a lot of tennis in this book. There are enough other things happening to make it an enjoyable read, but I admit to spacing out a few times while reading it when it got down to the nitty gritty of the tennis drills and training routines. The main character was not initially very likable to me, but she did grow on me enough that I was really rooting for her by the last few chapters. I enjoyed her relationships with Bowe and Nicki, but what really makes the book is Carrie's relationship with her father. I love a good comeback story, but the most relatable part of the book for me was the father-daughter relationship and how it wasn't always perfect, but always worth the effort. Whether you are a tennis fan or not, this one is worth the read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for providing me with an advanced reader's copy.

Carrie Soto is not what I expected. I’ll admit I know nothing about tennis, but I LOVE anything written by Taylor Jenkins Reid and knew that she’d hit it out of the park. The story is about perseverance. The story is about fierce determination at all costs. The story is about family. The story is about the love of the game. It is reminiscent of Daisy Jones and Malibu Rising, all at once. I was absolutely enthralled by the story of Carrie Soto and her years in the game. The character development is like nothing that I’ve read, An absolute must read. The highs and lows will cause you to feel all of the emotions and possibly inspire you to buy a tennis racket. 5 stars.