Carrie Soto is Back is perfect for tennis fanatics. The main character, Carrie, though not the most likeable, is certainly driven to succeed. I found it very interesting to see the ways in which someone can enjoy a book even when they find it difficult to gel with the protagonist. I'm personally not a tennis fan, and perhaps I underestimated how much this book would revolve around the technicalities of the sport, but I did enjoy watching Carrie as she comes out of retirement to reclaim her record.
I enjoyed how TJR explored the idea of a successful and driven woman being labelled 'unlikeable' - what is it about these qualities that deter us from these women, why do we demand softness from our female characters? Carrie's ability to use others' injuries to her advantage and the absolute and cold need to succeed are enough to make us wary of her, but it is impossible not to admire her drive and deep determination. Yearning for success in a male dominated world is not to be taken lightly, and Carrie's blood flowed with this one purpose; success.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. However I didn't particularly care for the amount of tennis that took place.

Even though I am not a tennis fan I really enjoyed Carries story. She was a major tennis star, retired and then came back to defend her record from a young ambitious player. The story gives a great insight into the mind of a champion, how their relationships work and how they see themselves in the world.
Taylor Jenkins Reid doesn't ever disappoint and this book is no different. I loved this.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for granting me an advance copy

TJR has done it again. As a lover of tennis I was so excited she'd written a book with Carrie being a (retired/coming out of retirement) tennis player and I just loved this book! Defo recommend. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the eARC

I know next to nothing about Tennis and I still loved this book! Carrie is a wonderful character and you can see some of Evelyn in her and the desire to be the best of the best. While an easy read it’s an emotional roller coaster from the start and you are gunning for Soto right from the start!

It is a powerful story about the love between a father and daughter. I enjoyed this despite not being a sports fan (I did worry I wouldn't because I don't have much tennis knowledge).

Compared to some of TJRs other historical fictions like Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones I felt this was quite rushed. The earlier years of Soto's life seemed to not get much time such as her 20s. Things were mentioned but not explored.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

This book was reviewed as part of my Mini Book Reviews for August on my YouTube channel, which can be found here. https://youtu.be/1RhFoAQCyHI

This book will also feature in my upcoming Favourite Reads on 2023 video

This was a delight to read, from start to finish. When Taylor Jenkins Reid first announced that Carrie Soto would be the heroine of her next book, I was almost not interested but I'm so glad I gave her a chance. Her headstrong character and her pure dedication to her sport was unbelievable to read about. I couldn't recommend this enough.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide me review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

"Carrie Soto is Back" is a delightful book that had me completely engrossed from the first page to the very last. This compelling story captivated my heart with its intriguing plot and engaging characters, but what truly stood out for me was the beautiful depiction of the father and daughter relationship at its core.

The bond between Carrie and her father is portrayed with such authenticity and tenderness that it tugged at my heartstrings throughout the entire novel. Their love, support, and the way they navigated life's challenges together were heartwarming and relatable. It's a testament to the author's skill in crafting well-rounded, emotionally resonant characters. I found myself cheering for them and sharing in their joys and sorrows, making the book a truly immersive experience.

I first read this author with seven husbands and my second dip into her writing was with this title and she sure didn't disappoint! This was a fun engaging read and I even learned about tennis!

3.5* rounded down

Carrie Soto is Back focuses on former tennis player Carrie Soto (previously seen at Nina Riva’s party in Malibu Rising) and her bid to return to tennis in order to regain her title as World Number One.

As is often the case with TJR books, Carrie feels like a real person and I enjoyed following her through this journey. She was a difficult character to get behind at times (she lives up to the Battleaxe moniker) but that made her more interesting and more realistic and ultimately I was rooting for her. I really enjoyed seeing her relationships with her father, Bowe and Nicki progress throughout the story too. For me though, I felt like there was too much tennis. Although it was explained in a straightforward way and I understood it, tennis really was front and centre in this book (understandably) but the level of detail became a bit boring for me and made the book feel overlong.

I am unsure why TJR felt that the story of a second-generation Latinx immigrant needed to be told by someone who has not experienced this and would not be able to truly understand how this affected Carrie or her father. Although Carrie was abrasive and called a bitch by the media, this is viewed as ‘just’ being sexist when in reality her and her (Asian) rival were regularly referred to negatively.

Overall I am glad I read this and as ever enjoyed TJR’s writing, but sadly it wasn’t my favourite and it certainly had flaws.

CW: death of a parent

Originally a very minor side character in Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto takes centre stage in this novel as she comes out of retirement to take back her title as the worlds number one female tennis player.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid so much, but to be honest I had very little idea what this book was about before I started reading it. Carrie Soto was once number one, smashing records left, right, and centre. But now Nicki Chan is creeping up behind her to take her crown and Carrie’s not having it. I know next to nothing about tennis, but this book has taught me a lot about the game. Not in an overwhelming way, and I imagine not in a patronising way if you do know a lot about it; but just the right amount of explanation to make it accessible to all. There is a LOT of tennis technicalities in here, from foot work, backhands, and mentality, but it was so interesting to read about.

I also love Carrie Soto. Not always likeable, she shows how the media and public opinion is determined by how often a woman smiles, and how it’s suddenly okay to call someone a bitch in national television. It explores women aging and been deemed ‘too old’ compared to older men doing the same thing. It explores how Latin women, Black women, and Asian women all face different hurdles, but this definitely could have been explored more.

I think this is a great novel that focuses on a determined and fierce main character, and I kind of want to go and watch some tennis now? A great read, highly recommend!

Fabulous as always, Taylor Jenkins Reid characterisation is like no other. Taylor Jenkins Reid consistently delivers exciting books with vibrant characters. Her storytelling prowess shines through in every page, immersing readers in captivating narratives. Whether it's romance, drama, or any other genre, Reid's ability to create relatable and multifaceted characters adds depth to her stories. Her writing keeps you engaged from start to finish, making each book a memorable journey. If you're seeking a thrilling reading experience with characters that come to life, Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author you don't want to miss.

The newest release from Evelyn Hugo author Taylor Jenkins Reid, the story follows retired tennis player Carrie Soto. After retiring six years ago, Carrie holds the world record for most grand slams. When she watches the 1994 US Open and sees Nicki Chan beat her record, she makes the decision to come out of retirement and try to reclaim her record. At thirty-seven everyone is ready to count her out but Carrie will do whatever it takes to succeed, even working with Bowe Huntley.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author I never thought would be for me. I predominantly read epic fantasy and I have never gravitated towards books like Carrie Soto. However, I read Daisy Jones and the Six when it was first released and could not put it down. I then read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising and thought they were both incredible. Going into Carrie Soto I had pretty high expectations and Taylor Jenkins Reid one hundred percent delivered. This book is a heart pounding, unforgettable story.

Reid has a gorgeous writing style and I loved the way she brought the sights and sounds of the tennis court to life. I really felt like I was there, watching Carrie battle for her record. The story is well paced and I was glued to the book till the very last page. This book also pulled me out of a pretty big reading slump when I was really struggling to find something to keep me hooked.

Where Reid particularly shines is with the captivating characters she creates. Carrie feels like a real person and I loved following her on this journey. I was fascinated by her relationships with her father and Bowe and the way they changed as the story progressed. Carrie Soto Is Back is an incredibly well crafted story and if you’re a fan of Reid’s other books, this is one you will not want to miss.

I have been listening to this the best part of the day.

Wanting to get to this for the longest time. I own this book along with book 1. Trouble is, my netgalley books come first and I’ve discovered I can reserve some books I own on my local library app so that’s what I did with this one!

This was so good.

In my hey day I loved playing tennis, whether I was any good at it remains untold! But I loved the game. Too old now and infirm.

The fighting spirit and ambition from Carrie Soto and her dad got get to the top.

Now she’s coming back.

She was headstrong, arrogant and I’d say, not the best person I’d like to hang out with however, she was focused I’ll give her that, but a bit of a arrogant self important so and so.

To win….there was nothing else she would accept.
SHE was better than everyone.

Now though she’s that much older making a comeback.

I loved her father right behind her ambition but did he help make her attitude?

I cried a tear towards the end. You’ll need to read it (if you’ve not already) to understand why.

There is a love interest rekindling too which made for excellent reading.

I’m so glad I finally got to this.

Coming off of the back of the monumental success Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo has received, the newest book following a public female figure from Jenkins-Reid was very highly anticipated for me, and this finally felt like the perfect time to read it as summer comes to an end. The match-playing sequences in this are unlike any sort of situation I have come across in a book before, but Jenkins-Reid writes these action plots with the same high level of quality as the rest of her prose, which I find so impressive. I loved the father-daughter dynamic, and seeing Carrie's circle slowly expand. This was honestly such an enjoyable reading experience for me, as all of her other books have been - the writing doesn't feel dumbed down at all but is hugely palatable and has this addictive quality to them that allows me to fly through them.

While this wasn’t my favourite of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s work, I always love to immerse myself in her brilliant characters. This book did let me down on that front!

I absolutely gobbled this book by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I know nothing about tennis yet found the story line fascinating and the relationship between Carrie and her father introduced a human element to Carrie's harsh personality which made her so much more relatable - I loved this book!

Waw! Simply waw

I have a love for tennis and I've always been a fan of this sport, and seeing this being the center piece of the next book of TJR, I had to read it and it certainly did ot disappoint

Carrie is a strong character, she’s arrogant and not very likeable, but you know what? Carrie's love for tennis shines on every page, and she gradually won me over with her persistence and dedication it also helped that under that tough exterior, a more vulnerable side to her personality emerges. I actually ended up liking her so much I desperately wanted her to succeed against the odds. Her close, but sometimes volatile, relationship with her father, Javier Soto, is such a central part of the book.

The pace, the grace, the strong force, believing in your dream even if no one else think its possible, that's the energy I want to see and be surrounded by. A quick read, with lots of hot paces which, let me tell you, I was there for!

The perfect summer read I wish I could read again! Highly recommend
Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy