Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.

OMG TJR has done it again. This was FANTASTIC. As good as Evelyn, and better than Daisy and Malibu.
I’m not even into tennis and I was on the edge of my seat reading about all the training and each match. I cheered for Carrie’s victories and felt the sting of her defeats. And the discussions around the emotions women are allowed to show and how they are allowed to BE in comparison to the men were just so spot on. Plus Carrie’s conversations with Nicki were so insightful.
The real heart of the novel is the relationship between Carrie and her dad. They go through so much together, and I absolutely cried at points.
This book is an absolute triumph and I highly recommend it.

TJR does it again! I absolutely adored this book. It definitely played into my love of competitive sports and provided a real-life glimpse into the psyche of a top-level athlete tennis player, who is embarking on an unlikely comeback attempt from retirement at the age of 37.

Carrie Soto was a completely well-drawn character - flawed yet completely likable with a competitive spirit that you can’t help but root for throughout the novel. The tension of the matches was almost palpable and I oftentimes found myself afraid to read a line ahead for fear of spoiling who won that particular match!

I also deeply loved the relationship between Carrie and Javier - her father / coach - and it gave me all the feels. 5 huge stars for this one!

5 stars !!!!!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book! I’m so thankful to have gotten the chance to read this masterpiece.

This book is probably my favorite read of the year thus far. Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again and created a character full of flaws that you can’t help but love — I admire her stubbornness and her strength and growth as if it were my own. You don’t need to know anything about tennis to fall in love with this world and the journey Carrie takes, seeing it all unfold from the very beginning. I felt so connected to her character in a way I haven’t with a character before, in awe of her ability to speak her mind without concern, knowing and reminding everyone that she is in fact, the very best. However, at her core, she is devastatingly human. Her growth throughout the novel kept me so engaged with every word I was reading & had me so invested in every thought, step, & move she made. Taylor Jenkins Reid has created a character so full of life that you wish she was real so you could watch her greatness unfold in front of you.

I see in Carrie so many things I long to be, so many things I know other people may long to be as well, and I think that is what makes her such a breathtaking character — she is just the perfect demonstration of what it’s like to be human. To love and to lose, and to keep growing into yourself, feeling enough confidence in yourself that you’re able to keep going in the face of everything that is trying to hold you down.

Carrie Soto, I adore every facet of your being! You are my best girl forever <3 Thank you for existing and showing the world that there are so many things we can be great at (and it’s okay to admit we’re great at them).

P.S: this book WILL have you wanting to learn about women’s tennis (I have looked at tickets for the US Open more than I care to admit) it’s just a part of the journey!!!! embrace it!!!!

Wow! Just wow! Taylor Jenkins Reid has an unparalleled ability to write captivating and incredible stories. I adore the TJR universe with all the Easter eggs of her past books. Carrie Soto Is Back, is like no other book I’ve ever had pleasure of reading. I laughed, I cried, I learned more about tennis than I ever have before. I’m not even a tennis aficionado and yet I wanted to get out of my seat and cheer these players on. I am in complete awe of Reid’s writing and feel so lucky have been granted this advanced arc from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine. When this book is release run to the bookstore to get a copy, you don’t want to miss the beauty of a Carrie Soto slice.

Carrie Soto, the greatest player in Women's Tennis in the 70's and 80's and then retires after a knee injury. She was coached by her dad, a tennis player and coach with his own fame. As they watch the new hot tennis player, Nicki Chan, play and will soon beat Carrie's record, Carrie makes a decision that she wants back in the game with her dad by her side coaching her. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes the best characters - unbelievable characters that can do what no one else can that also have so much to learn. Carrie, Javier (her father), Bowe (a friend from the top of men's tennis) and a variety of tennis competitors become so real, as if you were following the athletes in today's tennis. A rich, inspiring, and realistic look into very competitive sports that require not only intense training, practice and good coaching, but sports psychology that is really the key to winning any sport, or any game! This was a page turner that even non tennis fans will love! My thanks to NetGalley for the copy of the e-book. I was thrilled for the chance to read this one early!!!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with THE book of the summer. Watch out world, Carrie Soto is back!

Carrie is a retired tennis player with the top record of grand slam wins. That is, until Nikki Chan ties it right in front of Carrie's eyes. Never the person to back down from a challenge, Soto is ready to play the best tennis of her career. A challenge no woman has yet to conquer at her age. Sportscasters may have their doubts, tennis players may have their questions but watch out world: Carrie Soto is back and ready to win some championships.

This may be Reid's best book yet, as she shines the spotlight on Carrie. Readers may remember hearing Soto's name in Malibu Rising but they are not ready for the true superstar. Told throughout the year of Soto's return, Reid shines with tennis jargon, match playback and sportscaster commentary. As a player myself, I envisioned McEnroe and Fernandez broadcasting during the snippets here and there. This book was my everything and I know others will enjoy it as well.

Thank you Penguin Random House- Ballentine for my arc in exchange for my honest review. Carrie Soto is Back publishes August 30.

A huge thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy; it was truly an honor to read, as TJR is one of my very favorites.

Carrie Soto may be one of the fiercest tennis players of all time, but she is far from one of the most loved. Powerful, dedication, and focused, Carrie will take nothing less than “greatest of all time” as her title. Years after an injury driven-retirement, 37-year-old Carrie declares that it is time to defend her role as #1, as Nicki Chan, the younger, “new Carrie Soto” breaks her Grand Slam record. By her side is her father, coach, and former tennis icon himself, Javier Soto. The two are ready to sweat, bleed, and breathe tennis to get Carrie back on top. But they can’t do it alone. So in steps Bowe Huntley: injured tennis star, hothead, alcoholic, and former love interest of Carrie’s. Bowe takes his place across the court from her in hopes of helping her not only train her body, but also her stubborn mind, as she prepares her takedown.

Will we ever tire of the fictional world TJR has created? The detail she goes into to create these characters, their lives, and their passions is mesmerizing. I adore the nods to her other characters - Mick Riva, Nina, Daisy Jones, and Evelyn Hugo are all lightly featured in this story. The in-depth look at tennis is beautiful; you understand the drive Carrie has, the power she holds in the racket, the ferocity in which fuels her to win. She is such a beautifully developed character: harsh, brash, and almost wicked in the beginning, transforming into a lovable character you can’t help but be proud of. Javi and Bowe are such enjoyable oppositions to her, both on and off the tennis court. Taylor Jenkins Reid has us living and breathing these character and this dimension, so much so that you almost start to believe they actually could be real stars among us.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again, she has become one of my favorite authors. Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint.

Tennis fans Carrie has risen to the occasion, in this book Carrie has lost loved ones, love and tennis matches. She holds the record for the most slams of any female tennis athlete, she comes out of retirement to defend her record. Will Carrie succeed? Will she find love? If you want the answer to these questions read this book.

I think it's safe to say I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing at this point. When I first heard that she was doing a stand alone novel on Carrie Soto, I was a bit miffed. She was definitely an intriguing character from Malibu Rising, but not one I felt I needed to know more. Apparently I was dead wrong, because this book grabbed my attention from the beginning.

As a former athlete albeit definitely not anywhere near the level of Carrie, it felt both familiar and fascinating to get inside her mind and mindset during games. I loved that she wasn't a likable character (especially as a woman where it is practically demanded) but you still felt compassion for her throughout the book and I became a fan by the end. One of the best things the book exposes is how beautiful her relationship is with her father, but also fraught with tension due to him coaching her. It also sheds light on how imbalanced her personality is due to both losing her mother at such an early age, as well as being single-minded in her pursuit of greatness.

This book is a must read, especially for athletes both active and former. If you've ever loved a sport and spent extensive time training for it, I think it will speak to you. This is also from someone who has tried tennis as a child and knows basically nothing about it. I expected to be overwhelmed with tennis verbiage but I felt like I could still follow along easily AND enjoy. Jenkins Reid keeps it taut right up to the end and now all I ask is that Carrie Soto Is Back, again and again... otherwise I'll miss her. I read this book via an ARC.

Do you ever get nervous before starting a new book written by a favorite author? I do. I had CARRIE SOTO IS BACK waiting for me but I was apprehensive. What if it was a let down? Well-  I worried for nothing because it was a game-set-MATCH! 

WHAT I LOVED:
 *Timeline- a dual timeline told over the course of Carrie's early life/career and her comeback.
 *Propulsive narrative drive that had me unable to put it down. I needed to know how every serve would be returned and how every match ended. 
* Cinematic- as I was reading I could visualize the story so vividly in my mind. 
* I know the basics of tennis, but I am not a huge sportsball fan.. However, that in no way diminished my enjoyment of the story.
* Carrie Soto- whew. She is fierce, fiery, and flawed. Her character arc had me gripped. I found myself yelling at her one page and rooting for her the next.
*Unapologetically feminist-foward in regards to women in sports. 
* The relationship between Carrie and Javier - her father and coach. was so believable and emotional. 
* Standout secondary characters. 
* It was written so well that I nearly forgot that these were fictional characters/events. 
* Spanish- There is a fair bit of  conversational Spanish. I found myself leaning on my translation feature quite a bit.

Since she was a child Carrie Soto had one goal and that was to be a tennis superstar. The novel begins with Carrie and her father watching a tennis star about to break Carrie’s long-standing tennis record so she decides to come out of retirement to stop that from happening.
As a lover of all Taylor Jenkins Reid novels I’m disappointed to say this one did not grab me, and I never grew to care for Carrie. This did not stop me from enjoying the book, only to say I’m already looking forward to a next one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Any time TJR comes out with a new one it is always a MUST READ. Fans are going to love Carrie Soto as much as they love her other strong female leads. It was definitely not your typical love story either which I loved. The anticipation at each of Soto's matches was unbearable. LOVED every second of this book. And of course, loved the mention of some of TJR's past characters in this one. I already can't wait for her next.

It doesn’t get any better with Taylor Jenkins Reid! As I had expected, her new novel was one word: AMAZING. The story of Carrie Soto was unique, interesting, unputdownable- and the writing itself was sheer perfection. Taylor Jenkins Reid is simply the best writer out there. It just doesn’t get any better. Carrie Soto was a character and book that will leave a will leave a stamp on the reader’s heart for years to come. I simply adore anything written by Reid. Her newest novel was yet another masterpiece. I loved literally everything about this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC. I absolutely recommend this book to everyone.

For some reason, every time Taylor Jenkins Reid releases a new book, I doubt her. Even though I’ve read every single book she’s ever written and they’ve all been 5 stars, I always think “okay, THIS is going to be the one that breaks the streak.” I especially felt that way toward Carrie Soto, because I could not care less about tennis AND because I didn’t particularly like Carrie in Malibu Rising. However, like all of TJR’s others, Carrie Soto is Back did not disappoint and it certainly didn’t break the 5 star streak. It was phenomenal and I couldn’t put it down. It is very tennis heavy, but TJR’s writing is so spectacular that even non-tennis fans will fall in love. Carrie Soto is such an amazing and complex character. She isn’t likable, but she’s very lovable ❤️ She will go down as one of my all time favorite female MCs. This book gets 5 stars from me! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this one!! Taylor Jenkins Reid has not disappointed yet! Carrie Soto is Back had a slower pace than other books I've read recently, yet I was still invested and interested to know what happened throughout the book. After Malibu Rising, I wasn't Carrie's biggest fan, but this book helped me understand her so much better and I now love her and how unapologetic she is about winning. I also loved the father-daughter bond she had and I may have cried a few times. Also, I want to add that I don't know much about tennis, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book at all.

Pretty disappointed with this one. There's nothing wrong with this book, it's a fast/fine read, but knowing what Taylor Jenkins Reid is capable of makes this all the more of a bummer. The character development I've grown to expect from her just isn't present and unless you are a tennis fan I suspect you too will find this story incredibly repetitive and honestly kind of boring. So. Much. Tennis. I'm still a huge TJR fan and will continue to pick up anything she writes.. this one just missed the mark for me.

Author of Seven Husbands, Daisy Jones & Malibu Rising has another one coming out this year, Carrie Soto is Back! Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy!! I was so excited to get my hands on this book, I didn’t even read the summary. I’m not usually drawn to sports books & I know nothing about tennis, but it absolutely didn’t matter. I loved this book & loved reading it way more than I expected. I flew through it & couldn’t put it down. I was rooting for Carrie in more ways than one & my heart was racing through her matches! Very well-written. I was gasping & laughing out loud throughout the entire book. It was a great read. I can’t say enough positive things about it. If you’ve read her other books, you’ll appreciate the Daisy Jones & Malibu Rising references. Keep an eye out for this one. It’s great! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men.”

Y’all I don’t even know where to start with the greatness that is Carrie Soto is Back. Let me preface this with I’m a huge fan of Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo. Malibu Rising was not my favorite because I just could not connect with Nina Riva. So I was a little nervous to read Carrie Soto having little knowledge of tennis but let me tell you that does not matter.

Carrie Soto is a tennis star raised/coached by her legendary father and tennis great Javier Soto. After numerous wins she ultimately retires. When Nikki Chan threatens her Slam record she decides to come out of retirement. With her Dad coaching her she plans to work her way up and beat Chan.

There are so many themes in this book that tugged at my heart strings: father daughter bonds, second chance romance, women’s equality, imposter syndrome to name a few. TJR’s writing is just flawless in connecting you to these characters. There is such a great mix of plot/character driven story here. I cannot recommend this book enough especially if you need a good cry. My only dilemma now is figuring out where Carrie fits in with Daisy and Evelyn.

This book moves pretty quickly... if you like Tennis, you might love it. If you know nothing about tennis, you might love it. If you have read Ms. Reid before, you might just love it. A good read but a little slow moving and predictable at times. Thanks for the opportunity to read.

Taylor jenkins reid, you can do no wrong!!!

Another amazing story by TJR. She is one of my favorite authors and i have read all her books. They somehow get better with each one- how does she do it? Unlike authors who write the same rom com or thriller over and over, Its amazing that each story by TJR couldnt be more different than the last. She keeps it original each time.

The one will give you all of the feels. You will even need a tissue as you celebrate carries highs and feel her lows (cant say more- wont give any spoilers). Yes this book is all about tennis but it is so much more. Its a story about family, resilience, growth, love, determination and self acceptance. By the time the story was over, i didnt want to say goodbye to carrie. TJR did a great job closing the story but you become so attached to her that you never want it to end. And as a fan of TJR, you will enjoy the daisy jones and malibu rising references.

Bravo TJR- cant wait to read the next one.

THANK YOU to net galley and the publisher for the advanced copy.