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.

I really enjoy his book !! When I started reading I didn’t know anything about tennis. Now I know enough to enjoy watching a match or two.
I found Carrie hard to like at times. She was definitely driven to greatness. This is a fantastic addition to TJR library I’m actually sorry to see it end !!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Holy crap I was immediately hooked! This book is absolutely amazing. It was my first ever TJR book and it did not disappoint! Can’t wait to add more of her books to my collection!

When Taylor Jenkins Reid comes out with a new novel - it's just a matter of when, not if.

"Carrie Soto Is Back" is told from the first person perspective of the titular character, a successful Gland Slam tennis player who's made a name for herself with her elegant and aggressive playing style, and her personality - earning herself the nicknames "The Battle Axe" and "The Bitch". We follow Carrie from her childhood and her introduction to tennis thanks to her father, Javier "the Jaguar", an esteemed tennis player himself, and her rise to fame as she takes on some of the best tennis players in the world in different tournaments and games. We get to see how relentless Carrie is against her competitors, but more importantly, how much harder she is on herself and her unwavering goal to be the best.

The bulk of the story happens after Carrie announces her retirement from tennis at 31 years of age, following an injury, but six years later, she becomes determined to hold her record for most Grand Slams upon seeing the rise of fellow player Nicki Chan. At the age of 37, she declares her return to professional tennis, with her father as her coach. While the story does cover her growth in tennis, the focal point is on Carrie's growth as a person - understanding her relationships with others, her love for her father, and most importantly, her own self worth and value.

I love how TJR is able to craft such complex, flawed, and realistic female protagonists (after reading "Daisy Jones and the Six", I spent several minutes trying to google the band, before realizing it was a complete work of fiction), and "Carrie Soto is Back" is no exception. It's a strong piece of work that highlights many of the underlying issues in the realm of women's vs. men's sports, gender inequality, and even racial discrimination. I was a little concerned going in that my lack of understanding of tennis might be an issue, but I was still able to grasp the weight of each match and set, and what Carrie's victories and losses meant for her.

Very much a recommended read for when it's published in August 2022!

TJR writes another amazing story that makes you question over and over if it’s fictional or not. I don’t know much about tennis, but the story was addicting and the characters intriguing. I didn’t love Carrie Soto for most of the book, but towards the end you can’t help but love her and what she’s trying to achieve. I highly recommend ‘Carrie Soto is Back’. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced read copy.

I absolutely loved the character of Carrie Soto!!! And learned much about the sport of tennis!!! Overall I loved the story and could not put the book down!!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!!

#carriesotoisback is a fun book about a high achieving star that leaves the world of tennis and fights her way back to the top after coming back. I was a little skeptical at first reading about tennis but by the second chapter I was hooked. I really like the writing style that #taylorjenkinsreid writes in. I was captured by the characters that she wrote about. Thank you to #netgalley and #randomhouse for giving me this opportunity to go on this swift tale.

Wow! This book has all the things you want in a read; heart, grit, passion and heartwarming relationships. Taylor Jenkins Reid gets you so connected to the characters that you feel like they are your best friends, your family. I found myself laughing, cheering, and crying all the way through!

Carrie Soto was the greatest tennis player of all time. When her record is threatened she decides to come out of retirement to keep it intact. Everyone thinks she can't do it, not at her age. This book shows the determination and the cost of chasing of a dream. Carrie has to examine her life and priorities on and off the tennis court.

This is book is different because it throws the reader into the life of tennis from the first chapter. I loved that we learned about Carrie's entire tennis career from the moment she first tracked a tennis ball. I knew almost nothing about tennis when I started, yet I could follow every match like I was sitting in the stands.

Carrie Soto is back is a heartwarming comeback story! A must read!

Wow. Another incredible book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Carrie Sotto, briefly mentioned in “Malibu arising” as the woman who had an affair with Nina Rivas’ husband, is a tennis player who has attained record-breaking success in her career. After a break of a few years, Carrie returns to tennis, with the book showing Carrie’s story in montages of her childhood and present day.

On the face of it, Carrie is unlikeable. She is selfish and unrelatable, flaunting her wins without thinking of others. However, through the narration, you learn about her vulnerabilities and insecurities, and begin to care for her, cheering for her to win. I particularly enjoyed seeing her relationship with her father/coach, and the complexities this duality created.

Jenkins-Reid has an incredible ability to create characters that are complicated, and fascinating, with rich development that shows their journey and leaves you feeling like you know the person. Reading her books is always bittersweet. The enjoyment of reading a book that allows you to meet new characters but then the feelings of sadness as you mourn the book once it is finished. This is no different.

Recommended for fans of Jenkins-Reid’s other books, this has Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo vibes, while still being completely unique.

Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again! This was a beautifully written book about a woman and her extreme goals and her trials reaching them in a tennis career. I cared deeply about the 3-4 main characters and I definitely cried near the end. I am giving this book 4.5 / 5 stars. While I did really enjoy this book, I felt like it was a little predictable and knew where it was going. Another thing of note is that as someone who does not speak Spanish, there were certain passages that I couldn’t read due to not knowing the language. I really would have loved a translation page. Due to me reading off of a kindle, I am unsure if there is one provided or not. Since I was not in cell phone service and couldn’t google the words, I had to guess on what was being said. I hope the final book has a page that translates the sayings and words overall. My advice is to go into it knowing it is very tennis heavy and if you’re unfamiliar with tennis to try to understand the scoring and rules of tennis the best you can. Definitely not a necessity, but it will further enhance your reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the early copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brief Summary:
When retired record-setting tennis legend, Carrie Soto, sees her record lost to a new phenom she decides to return to tennis with one goal in mind - take back her record and prove once again that she is the best.

I have read Daisy Jones and The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Malibu Rising and absolutely enjoyed them all. I assumed nothing less would come from Carrie Soto is Back as well and I was not disappointed.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master story-teller and it’s hard not to get invested in the story to see how it unfolds. I love that she writes about powerful women in their own respect.

Review/Thoughts:
I devoured Carrie Soto is Back in one day. Focused, intense, dismissive, at times downright rude, Carrie has many layers. In a way, I found her unapologetic style motivating. She goes after what she wants in tennis. Always looking to be better than the day before - she was born to become a grand slam record breaker. I loved how quickly I was committed to learning about Carrie and seeing her story unfold. Sprinkle that with a cast of additional flawed likable characters and that was just the icing on the cake.

I will point out a couple of tidbits that might impact your experience, but for me it added to the authenticity and had a positive impact.
- You will find the setting of this novel is heavily spent on the tennis courts, so expect sports related verbiage.
- There are times throughout the novel where a different language is spoken and a translation is not necessarily provided.

Trigger Warning: Death/Grief

I was over the moon when I saw that my request to view Carrie Soto Is Back from NetGalley was approved by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

Thank you so much NetGalley & Random House - Ballentine Books for an advanced reading copy.
#CarrieSotoIsBack #NetGalley #RandomHouse #BallantineBooks #TaylorJenkinsReid #FeverReader

Carrie Soto truly is an icon and I’ve been thinking about this book constantly since finishing it a few weeks ago… Somehow 2022 has been the year of tennis and I am not mad about it. Taylor Jenkins Reid is an iconic author of our time for her ability to write historical fiction novels that are so realistic you find yourself googling the characters to see if they are real.

Carrie Soto is a retired tennis superstar who isn’t pleased when her Grand Slam record is threatened by a new up and coming player. She takes herself out of retirement with her father Javier as her coach to prove she’s still got it what it takes to win it all in one final season. It’s inspiring, heartfelt, and truly was an eye-opening book for me about what it takes to be an athlete at that level. (Plus has really served as motivation to work on my tennis game!)

This book talks a lot about the strategy of tennis, but even if you aren’t the biggest fan of the sport, there are so many other good themes about family, the power of persistence, and the expectations of women in the spotlight. It reminded me of the Taylor Swift’s song The Man in that way.

Pre-order immediately and get ready for August 30th! Thank you to @randomhouse for the ARC copy, all opinions are my own!

Readit ng this book is like watching a tennis match (or any sporting event) the knot in the stomach, the sweaty hands, the tapping feet--and it is a book!! I wish I could have read it in a hard copy, then I could have read the ending and not been on the edge of my seat (and ignoring things I should have been doing) until the end. It may not have been my perfect ending, but it is the right ending for this story.

This book destroyed me in the best way possible. I adored reading about Carrie from her perspective, as well as Javier, Bowe and Nicki. This was the perfect next installation into the Evelyn/Daisy/Malibu universe, as it fit perfectly but was was also unique. Thanks to the author, publish and NetGalley for access to the ARC.

Absolutely loved. Loved loved loved. This is like Friday Night Lights but with tennis - I think it's my favorite TJR book ever. The tension, the dialogue, the life lessons. Just fabulous. I'm going to be thinking about Carrie, Bowe, Javier and Nicki for a long time to come.

I absolutely loved Carrie Soto. This is one of TJR’s best books yet and I’m so grateful I was able to read it. Soto is witty and brash and I loved everything about her. I think she might’ve meant to be less likable but she was great. I loved her father and Bowe, all three with strong characterization. I was invested in the story and a sport I knew little about. Highly recommend!

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again with Carrie Soto is Back! It does feature a LOT of tennis, so if you like tennis or at least know the very basics, you'll probably enjoy this book. I thought it was so well done, I even cried while reading. I loved the character development throughout the story. SO GOOD! Would highly highly recommend.

TW: death/grief

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Taylor Jenkins Reid and NetGalley for providing an early copy to review!

Does anyone else cry every time they watch an Olympic event? Or is it just me? This book gave me that same feeling of complete AWE. There is something so uplifting about witnessing the resilience and tenacity of humans through sport,

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to everyone. I love Carrie’s character - she is deeply flawed but you can’t help but feel for her and root for her with every fiber of your being, Her growth was perfect. The romance and the relationship with her dad were both developed so beautifully and I loved the supporting characters. I love how this book reminds us to find the joy in the hard work and made me think deeply about how we define ourselves.

This is my fifth TJR and I’ve disliked (daisy jones), liked (one true loves), really liked (Malibu rising), and loved (Evelyn Hugo) the four books I’ve read previously, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Another LOVE.

Easy 5/5 stars!!!

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again with this riveting come back story for the ages that keeps readers glued to the pages and on the edge of their seats. Carrie Soto, a character we briefly met and disliked in Malibu Rising, is retired from tennis after a stunning career where she shattered records and held the record-breaking number of 20 grand slams. She is now watching rising star, Nicki Chan on the cusp of usurping her record and surpass her for most grant slams. Tennis has been Carrie’s life since the age of three when her father, Javier former tennis star himself and coach, took her under his wing and their quest for success began. Carrie is a fierce competitor and nothing and no one will stand in her way. She doesn’t care to be liked or charming and has no time or patience for friendships or personal relationships. Her focus is solely on success and victory. Faced with losing her record is too much for Carrie to bear and she decides to come out of retirement at the age of 37, which is considered ancient in a fierce sport dominated by young, agile athletes who have since upped the standards since Carrie has left the game. Will she succeed and be able to hold onto her record or will she succumb to the pressures and challenges faced a decade later in a sport dominated by athletes ten years younger and being disliked by the public.

While this novel is heavily centered around the sport of tennis, the author does a fantastic job of presenting the human aspects of the game by her focus on the challenges and perseverance needed to win, the complications associated with fame and the challenges of being an older athlete and woman in the sports world. The author did an excellent job with developing the cast of characters and most notably Carrie. Carrie is tough, abrasive and only cares about winning at any expense. She does not have friends and is willing to do anything to rise to the top, including fire her father, her long-term coach. She is known as the “battle axe” in the tennis world and for good reason. Yet, as the novel continues the reader learns of her past and what shaped the person she is, her dedication and resilience and her relationships with other characters, mainly her father, her hitting partner, Bowe Huntley, and her agent Gwen, making her likeable and someone the reader wants to succeed and root for in her quest to maintain her tennis record. I particularly loved the depiction of the relationship between Carrie and her father. The love, respect and support are demonstrated throughout the novel and touches the readers hearts. The author did a wonderful job of developing Carrie throughout the novel, her mannerisms, ways of thinking and ultimate understanding of her success, career, and legacy.

At its core, the novel focuses on themes of hard work, perseverance, strength, courage, flaws, imperfections, and grace. The author does an excellent job of showcasing all the emotions that go into success. Greatness encompasses so much more than physical strength and dominance. Rather, the author reminds us that it is the grace, determination, and deep understanding of oneself that is the true measure of one’s success.

This novel was well-researched and current with themes of modern-day sports as they relate to ageism and gender discrepancies. The author gave an accurate depiction of what it is like for elite athletes in a competitive sport, both on the rise to success and in the aftermath. You often read about the trials and challenges of athletes on the way up, but this novel gives an interesting perspective of what happens to athletes as they age and are past the prime of their careers and the challenges faced in watching younger athletes take their places. It gives new perspective to why athletes hold on as they do to careers past their prime. The author also highlighted the gender gap and discrepancies, particularly how women and men are treated in sports.

I love the way the novel is narrated and the inclusion of clips from sports commentators as to the matches and news in the sports world. The detailed description of the court, shots, angles, strategies and even weather conditions made one feel like they were sitting in the stands attending one of the major grand slams. The scenes vividly unfolded as I continued reading along with Carrie on her journey allowing me to accompany her to Australia, Spain, London and finally back to Flushing, Queens for the grand finale of a well-played comeback.
I immediately got excited when I saw a new novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid and this novel did not disappoint. It is captivating, highly entertaining, and enjoyable. Don’t be surprised if you want to pick up a tennis racket by the end of this novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK (2022)
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Ballantine Books/Random House, 384 pages.
★★★★

1994: Thirty-six-year-old Carolina “Carrie” Soto and her father Javier are in the stands of the U.S. Open and Nicki Chan is about to tie Carrie’s lifetime record of 20 Grand Slam titles. (That’s the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open for non-tennis fans.) Carrie is not happy.

Taylor Jenkins Reid then rewinds the clock in Carrie Soto is Back. Javier, nicknamed el Jaguar, was a tennis hero in his native Argentina but a bad knee forced him to retire in 1953. He soon immigrated to Miami, where he was a hitter—a training partner akin to a boxing sparring opponent¬—before moving to Los Angeles to become a club pro and coach. He met Alicia, a dancer, and Carrie came along a few years later. Carrie was a toddler when a car struck and killed her mother. Carrie and Javier developed such a close bond that they finish each other’s thoughts– in Spanish and in English. That’s easier when all either thinks about is tennis.

Reid’s 1955-65 part of the book is its weakest. If you’ve seen King Richard and change a few details—no mother, no siblings, and coffee-skinned Argentines instead of African Americans—it’s similar enough to be called derivative: a child star by age 9, a father promising his daughter she’ll be the greatest ever, jealousy from older players she defeats, and so on. By the time Carrie turns pro at 16, everyone knows not to underestimate the short, dark, stocky girl. All she needs is refinement, which comes when another temporarily supplants Javier as her coach. Soon Carrie is collecting Grand Slams as if they are playground matches against beginners.

Reid’s latest novel probes what it takes to become a champion and it’s more than just hitting a lot—and I mean a lot –of tennis balls. There is diet, running ten miles on sand, drills, quitting school and working with a tutor, and mental preparation. Carrie excels at all of it, but especially the latter. Javy is all she has; the press dubs Carrie “Battle Axe” and few would disagree. Carrie would rather rip the heart out of an opponent than befriend her or agree to an injury timeout. She’s # 1 and intends to stay there.

It doesn’t work that way. As anyone who watches sports knows, the pros are a young person’s game. Knee surgery forces Carrie to put down her racket at the wizened age of 31. Carrie’s African-American agent Gwen has worked angles that leave Carrie set financially for life, but “Achilles”—Javy’s nickname for his daughter—finds it impossible to sit on the sidelines and cheer for others.

The heart of the book is Carrie’s comeback in 1995. Her only nod to age is that she’s only interested in protecting her Grand Slam record and automatically qualifies for them. Few commentators believe she’s a threat at age 37. Consider that as great as Serena Williams is, she won her last Grand Slam at age 36. Carrie must compete against players stronger, faster, and with different skills than she.

Carrie’s training requires a hitter and she’s flabbergasted when her father suggests tennis vet Bowe(n) Huntley, a brief fling from her past with a reputation for a John McEnroe-like temper. If that name sounds familiar, in Reid’s Malibu Rising he was married to Nina Rivera; sleeping with Carrie led Niva to divorce Bowe. Carrie doesn’t want any part of him, but what papa thinks is what happens.

Carrie’s obsession with clawing her way back is so relentless that one male broadcaster is caught calling her a “bitch” on a hot mic, an offense that would today get him canned. Nothing is as easy at 37 as it was at 27. Nicki really annoys Carrie because she’s so bloody nice, even when telling Carrie she intends to destroy her. Each Grand Slam match is like a mini Hoosiers playlet. Will Carrie win? Learn anything about herself? Discover things she’s missed? Lose things she takes for granted? Take a seat at center court and find out.

Carrie Soto is Back is thrilling despite being both predictable and self-reverential. (At another juncture a character is reading Reid’s Daisy and the Six.) This book will be on the shelves in time for the 2022 U.S. Open. It’s a perfect choice to read in between matches. My head tells me not to bet on 40-year-old Serena Williams.

Rob Weir

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It will be posted on off-centerviews as the publication date nears.