By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed 20 Slam titles. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.

But 6 years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by British player Nicki Chan.

At 37, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record.

In the same vein as Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones, we are told the story of Carrie becoming the greatest tennis player of all time, from her childhood to her 20th Slam, until the moment she decides to come back.

Carrie Soto is a very complex character. To be fair, I didn't find her likeable at all. I foud her rude to other tennis players, almost insulting. But that's what I liked about her. She was far from being perfect. Just like other characters TJR created, she made her complex which is what made her seem so real.

I also really enjoyed the character of Javier, Carrie's father, and Bowe Huntley. They were both loveable characters who stood by Carrie's side no matter what. And that end was heartbreaking.

I usually don't watch tennis but I really like that this was the main theme of this book. I didn't know the technical vocabulary at first but I easily got used to it.

Full disclosure - I’m not a tennis fan so struggled to enjoy lots of this book because a lot of it is a play by play of tennis matches. I found these sections quite repetitive and boring. However, the parts in between the tennis matches were much more enjoyable - the relationship between Carrie and father and also with the other tennis players were interesting to read about. I hadn’t anticipated just how much tennis specific content there would be and it just wasn’t my thing.

An author I’ve not read before ( one of the few i’m sure) I have now realised Carrie is also in Malibu Rising ( on my list to read) this book focuses on tennis and a champions journey and then. comeback! I’m not a tennis fan but I did find this book interesting and it kept me wanting more.

If I realised just how much actual tennis was in this then I probably wouldn't have read it, but I did and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've read a few of Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels and it's in the same vein in that it has a female protagonist. Someone who is interesting and that you may not certainly like but want to know more of. She has engaging characters that keep me reading.

I know nothing about tennis but I got caught up in the excitement of the games. Definitely recommended, especially if you're a fan of the author.

TJR you've done it again. Much like other novels in her bibliography, Reid has created an enthralling novel which enraptured me in every single page. Each section was electric, and the way Reid wrote her descriptions had me falling in love with the most simple of phrases.

This book gave me a feeling, or 'a hum' as Soto would say, that made me never want to put it down. Laced between each paragraph was a genuine connection to the characters, making me feel all of their joy, all of their sorrow, all of their lust, and all of their loss. At the end, I was convinced that The Battleaxe was a real person, what with the intimate details that had been given throughout.

If I were to sum up this book in a few words it would be, fun, sporty, and addicting.

Carrie Soto, I will always remember the first time reading about you.

This book has made me question whether I need to start watching Wimbledon because wow, Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! A brilliant plot, a colourful host of characters, and an ending which is so satisfactory. Carrie Soto is Back is out on a months time - make sure to grab it when you can!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Wow! I devoured this book in a couple of sittings and I loved it. We first met Carrie Soto in Malibu Rising and I didn't know then that I needed her back story but I absolutely did.

Another ace from Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I am a massive Taylor Jenkins Reid fan so I was pretty confident I would love this book. And I did. There is a lot of tennis, and I don’t know much about tennis at all, but I was still absolutely gripped and rooting for Carrie. But of course the book isn’t just about tennis, it’s also about female ambition, likeability, and of course relationships. I loved Carrie’s father and their relationship is so brilliantly drawn. Like Carrie Soto, Taylor Jenkins Reid is at the top of her game.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC.

I screamed when I found out I was approved for this book. I was so excited to read it and this book didn't disappoint!

This book immerses the reader into the life of former Grand Slam champion Carrie Soto (yes, that Carrie from Malibu Rising) and takes us on her journey to tennis champion, retired player and her decision to come out of retirement to defend her records.

Although this book is my most anticipated read of the year, I was a bit skeptical about how much I would like Carrie as a main character after our introduction to her in Malibu Rising, but I quickly found myself loving her drive and determination to succeed.

I especially loved the relationship between Carrie and her father, Javier, and their building relationships with Bowe. I surprised myself by liking Nicki Chan, even though she was Carrie's main competition.

This book made me laugh, cry and cheer for Carrie and I will definitely buy a copy of the book once it's released.

taylor jenkins reid is one of those authors that truly can transport you to their book and their characters. i was completely immersed the whole time of reading and ate this book up.
jenkins reid does characters very very well and this was no exception; it hit me with all its raw emotion and we followed carrie’s desperation, determination and hope the whole time. not one character was simple and uncomplicated, there is consistently so much nuance to everyone in this book, everyone has depth.
i know absolutely nothing about tennis and i absolutely cannot play it but my eyes could not, leave the pages when soto was playing a match. taylor jenkins reid has us hoping and praying while holding our breath for carrie in every tennis match and even at times i thought i could predict the turn of events, i was utterly wrong.
the descriptions were also beautiful, its addictive and swallows you whole.
i think also this book is more meaningful than originally can be seen. carrie demonstrates the mountain of a journey that quite frankly any woman goes through when compared to men, women cannot get old, they cannot get weak and no matter what they do, they will be criticised, soto and chan embody this so for all her faults, i have so much adoration and respect for carrie for trying to prove her worth. i do not know if we are supposed to love carrie. but again i think this puts on a pedastool our expectations for women in the spotlight. she is criticised for knowing her greatness and vocalising this. i liked her. although there were points she was less likeable, she was gritty, hugely determined and subtly, full of love.
jenkins reid explores these portrayals and expectations, as always, incredibly incredibly well. the second half is the stronger part of this book and had me transfixed, reading it all in one go. the development of soto, her relationships with people in her life and the reaching of the premise of the book delivered exactly what i wanted and hit me with emotion.
i adore taylor jenkins reid and her work, carrie is no exception. here is another transfixing read that you cannot put down. i wept but also laughed the whole time and cannot wait for my physical copy in august to add to my bookshelf
thank you corner stone publishing and net galley for my arc!

Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid (myself included!) will definitely enjoy this new novel. I am not a tennis fan, or really a sports fan in general, but I still found myself gripped by the descriptions of matches. Carrie is prickly and will no doubt be described by some as “unlikable,” but I found her fascinating.

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

Once again Taylor Jenkins Reid has created a masterpiece. And once again she had me reaching for Google, absolutely convinced that she couldn’t possibly have dreamt up another completely believable person, and described her in such incredible detail, from her ridiculously vivid imagination!

This time TJR has moved into the field of sport, and Carrie Soto’s ambition to return to the height of tennis achievement some years after retiring from the sport. She is yet another classic TJR flawed character, at times similar in many ways to Daisy Jones, and the reader alternates between loving and hating her throughout the book. It is so well researched but equally not at all off putting for non-tennis or sports fans, and the characters are all such colourful people, each with their own interesting and poignant backstory. There are so many issues covered in an unobtrusive but genuine way - family relationships, race, sporting ambition and the growth of women’s sport are just some of the topics which are described in amazing and sympathetic detail.

Tiny criticisms of the abrupt ending and the Spanish dialogue with no translation, but I loved it and it is another 5 star read from one of my absolute favourite authors.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo', and so was excited for the chance to read TJR's newest novel. 'Malibu Rising' was an amazing book, in which Carrie Soto was introduced as an interesting character. 'Carrie Soto is Back' solidified that, and made for an amazing read.
I had no knowledge or interest in tennis at all prior to reading, and yet TJR had me completely invested in and understanding the game. The energy and crafting of these scenes was perfect, and made for an engrossing read.
The characters themselves were also really interesting, especially as Carrie is flawed, along with her relationships. I loved reading about each of them.
In true TJR fashion it had it's happy moments, and it's sad moments, and I was invested through them all, finishing the book in a day.
As usual this was a completely immersive, very well rounded book. I liked the ending, and am very much looking forward to Taylor Jenkins Reid's future work.

I devoured this in two sittings - it was so, so good. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing instantly brings you into the fold in a way I haven’t experienced with any other author I can remember. It doesn’t take any work ~getting into~ her books, you’re immediately with old friends (literally, in Carrie Soto’s case!) and people you understand intrinsically. I was on the edge of my seat for each of Carrie’s matches, holding my breath when she did and feeling the pain in her knee whenever she landed too heavily. I had such a brilliant time with this one, and if you’ve liked any of TJR’s previous work, you will too.

Absolutely phenomenal. Well paced, well written, exhilarating to read. Carrie Soto might be my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid character - it was incredibly powerful to read the story of such an unapologetically ambitious female protagonist. Heartbreaking and nerve-wracking in equal measure, it is a love letter to the 'battle-axes', the ones who despite their flaws dare to shoot for the stars and realise their dreams. A must read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn’t think I needed a whole book about Carrie Soto. How wrong was I. We’re introduced to Carrie in Malibu Rising and she’s not written for us to like her. If you’re expecting to like her in Carrie Soto is Back, well, you’ll be disappointed. At least at the start. But she grows on you.

You’re not revisiting the world of Malibu Rising to see what everyone is getting up to and what’s happened since That Night. You’re visiting Carrie’s world, an era of rising and falling. Triumph and challenges. Romance? A little. Heartbreak? Some. I think what I loved most about this book, aside from it’s Taylor Jenkins Reid and I love her writing style, is that it has a little of most things.

You don’t have to have read Malibu Rising, you don’t need to be in love with Tennis, you just need to love books and reading and a story and this will be perfect for you.

I apparently now really care about tennis thanks to this book. I was in awe at Carrie Soto's sheer determination to prove herself. At times I did find her an unlikeable character but by the end I absolutely loved her.

This was really well written and had me crying, smiling and laughing.
Another winner from Taylor Jenkins Reid

this year it seems I have become quite the TJR fan !! I enjoyed this one nearly as much as I enjoyed ‘malibu rising’.

in TJR’s classic, witty and sharp prose, she masters a story equal parts hearty comedy and equal parts passionate, heart-gutting, gripped-at-the-end-of-your-seat sports story. the book certainly lives up to TJR’s great reputation and I liked that there was some romance, but it was very much side-lined, and Carrie’s story takes the centre stage (or court, haha !). it was SO REFRESHING to read about a woman in serious sport, it is definitely a story that is rare and hardly ever done well. the themes of feminism and what women go through at the top of serious sport were very well done. and so relevant and so accurate.

one thing in particular I liked more about this TJR, and I think she has got better at this in her most recent books, is that her characters and writing feels much more developed and mature. especially the side characters, they are less props and more real people.

I really enjoyed this, it was an easy read, quick page turner and full of heart, love, sport, and humour. I can’t wait for this book to come out because so many people will love it!

At the age of 37, Carrie Soto has been retired from professional tennis for six years. She departed as the greatest player of all time, with a plethora of slams and records under her belt. When Nicki Chan matches her record of 20 slams, ‘The Battle Axe’ decides to come out of retirement in an attempt to take back her record.

I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. Initially I kept thinking, “this is very tennis heavy” and it is: there’s technical stuff and jargon and having never been interested in tennis, I began to wonder if I would enjoy this book at all. How wrong I was. It’s about tennis, yes, but there’s so much more. It’s about her childhood with a former tennis player father who pushed her to be the greatest player the world has ever seen, losing her mother at a young age, keeping her heart closed off to love and friendship to avoid being hurt, and so much more.

I never would have expected a book about tennis to make me cry but the tears flowed for at least the last 10% of this book. I was at break point: the highs of winning, the lows of losing and everything in between. In Carrie Soto, TJR has created yet another flawed but formidable heroine. I think this one could surpass Evelyn Hugo as my new favourite TJR.

Thank you so much Penguin and Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of Carrie Soto Is Back.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an icon, a legend, a queen.

She has done it again with Carrie Soto Is Back. I devoured this book within a day because I was just so addicted to the way it was written. I don't know a lot about tennis but I know my parents were obsessed with this era of tennis players. They were the biggest stars. And their attitudes, good or bad were everywhere.

I also love how we dissected how women are treated in the media in regards to their male counterparts. And also the age limit we put on women.

Although I didn't love it as much as Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo, I would put it in the same category as Malibu Rising.

And of course, we get our Mick Riva cameo...