The think I like about Taylor Reid Jenkins books is that she has heroines that are far from mainstream, in this instance a tennis player past her glory days. That said, unlike Nina in Malibu Rising, Carrie isn’t a particularly likeable character (and not just because of what happened with Nina’s Husband!)

Can our queen TJR write another phenomenal book that lives up to the legends that are Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and Nina Riva? Hell yeah!

This book was impossible to put down and got me right in the feels. The characters jump right off the page and leave their indelible mark on you. I adored Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones but by the time I got round to Malibu Rising, I was tired of reading about yet another extraordinarily beautiful and universally adored sex icon.

Carrie, however, is such a breath of fresh air! She's not the easiest person to like but make no mistake — she's not here to be liked. She's here to win. She's unapologetically herself and doesn't mince words. But you will love her anyway.

The supporting cast was just as fantastic. Everyone was so well-developed and had terrific character arcs. I thought I was prepared to be emotionally wrecked but ended up crying anyway. Even though I couldn't get enough of the book and its larger-than-life characters, I loved the ending because it just felt so fitting and integral to the entire story.

I really enjoyed how the book explores timeless themes such as sexism, the impossible and double standards that women held up to, the pressures of fame and more. Also, the little nods to other TJR books had me squealing like the fangirl that I am. Eeeek!

Don't be put off by complaints about this book being sports-heavy. I have zero knowledge of tennis but relished every moment of this fast-paced and gripping novel. If anything, I found it all super exciting and fascinating! The writing was clear, descriptive and easy to understand without being too technical. I actually felt like I was right there in the stands watching and cheering for Carrie.

But that's what TJR does. She creates legendary and unforgettable icons that stay with you long after you turn the last page. And in Carrie Soto, we have a goddamn warrior. A freaking king. The greatest of Greeks. Watch out, world 🔥

Thank you very much for the privilege to read this book. Full review to follow here and on blog. I love all of TJRS books so much. So excited for the Daisy Jones & The Six series coming up. All of her books are a literary masterpiece. Her writing is poignant and different, she is truly ina league of her own, so excited to see how she takes on the sports world.

One of the best novels I've read this year, well-written with fleshed out characters; TJR's Carrie is driven, competitive, relatable, empowering.

Perfect for tennis lovers, but not for me. Far too much tennis and not enough off court action. As someone who isn't competitive at all, and isn't hugely into sport, this was all a bit lost on me.
Appreciate the link to Evelyn Hugo but not enough about this- felt was perhaps a wasted opportunity.

Carrie Soto is a Tennis Great; a sporting legend - seven years post retirement and yet nobody has beaten her record of 20 Grand Slams. Raised by her single father, who doubled up as a coach - her competitive instincts ring clear when she returns from retirement to prevent the sports newest star from beating her proudest achievement.

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This was unreal. Taylor is up there with the best for me, everything she writes has this distinctive, addictive quality to them - across all her books, with Carrie Soto being no exception, her writing is so engaging and vivid you are able to imagine every scene with such clarity. It as though you are simultaneously a spectator but also the character themselves.

I do not know much, nor do I really care much, about tennis, which made me worry about this book (compared to say, a 70s rock band or a Hollywood Starlet). But, fair play, the voice of Carrie and the portrayal of the competitive sporting world made me care about this book. From her relationships with the media, to the one with her father (whom she loves dearly, but their parent / coach boundary is one they perpetually struggle to establish), to those with her fellow tennis players (a romance comes to mind, which is just so incredibly written)… you live in this characters life and mindset for a whole book, and, hell, you really start to care about the results of those matches.

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I’m genuinely devastated that this is the last in the celebrity series which have formed some of my favourite books, but I’m so excited to see where Taylor explores next:

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of my most anticipated read of the year. It did not disappoint.

“But of course there are no absolute morals or lessons. Only perspectives. One man’s bitch is another woman’s hero”

Carrie Soto is a minor character in TJR’s 2021 novel, Malibu Rising: a vengeful ex-girlfriend who is shown to be fiery, to say the least. She’s perfect fodder for her own novel, and this book more than does her justice - dare I say it is the author’s best since Evelyn Hugo? I think I do.
Carrie is the world’s greatest tennis player - the first section of the novel is devoted to her meteoric rise through the ranks, with the next two-thirds dedicated to her comeback at the age of thirty-seven, prohibitively old for professional tennis, not that Carrie is letting that stop her.

The premise of the novel lets you know who this woman is - hard-headed, ambitious, and obsessed with success. She is extremely spiky - you’ll cringe at some of the things she says - but TJR is a master of interiority and so we get to know Carrie on a deeper level than her opponents. She is all of the above and more, and most tellingly, she loves hard - her dad, especially, her only living family - and is obsessed with perfection in her field. Which she’s achieved - but is it enough?
Carrie Soto Is Back is a sports novel that’s also an excellent journey of self-discovery. Carrie’s Grand Slam record is under threat and so is her entire sense of self - she is bound up completely not just in tennis, but in winning, and it’s this that drives her, much to the annoyance/worry of her loved ones. TJR spins out Carrie’s journey over the course of the novel in a way that feels totally natural and, as always with TJR, it feels wrong that this woman is fictional.
Another element of this book that I loved is TJR’s picking at sexism and double standards for women - both generally and in sport. Carrie has always played aggressively and acted coldly towards her peers, earning her the title “The Battle Axe” - how very 1990s. TJR plays on these regressive standards and highlights how difficult it was for women to succeed in the eyes of the media at this time - doubly so for women of colour, as one illuminating conversation in the novel shows.
The emotional story beats of this novel, though maybe slightly predictable in some places, are nonetheless deeply affecting, and when the novel reaches the point we’ve aimed for this whole time, it’s genuinely thrilling. Taylor Jenkins Reid truly is one of the most exciting writers of our time, and Carrie Soto gets five thrilling stars from me.

Words cannot fully express how much this book captured my heart and soul! An absolute masterpiece from one of my favourite authors. Contemporary fiction is not a genre I tend to read, which is a testament to how fantastic TJR truly is.

I loved the pro tennis setting. I am a massive sports fan, and whilst I don't follow professional tennis I loved the atmosphere of the competitions and the training regimes. I was rooting the whole way through for Carrie, feeling her euphoria when she won and her devastation when she lost. She's such an interesting and complex character, but I easily fell in love.

This is such an impressive novel about a woman's ambition and determination to succeed. Carrie was denoted the "Battle Axe" throughout her career for coming across as ruthless and unfriendly. There are a lot of horrible comments made about her by people who feel they have a right to an opinion on her. No matter how successful she has been, how many records she has broken, there are still those that do not consider it enough. If Carrie had been a man her attitude would be applauded as ambition, not criticised.

The relationship between Carrie and her father really tugs at the heartstrings. They have their problems, as all father daughter pairings do, made all the more intense due to the high pressure life Carrie has lead, but at the end of the day they love each other unconditionally and it is beautifully to read.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another highly anticipated book, and it’s guaranteed to be another massive hit with her fans!

Carrie Soto has shattered every record and won twenty Slam titles. But six years after her retirement, she’s sitting in the stands at the US open watching her record being taken by the British player, Nicki Chan. At 37 years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and train with her father to reclaim her record. The Battle Axe is back!

We met Carrie briefly in Malibu Rising, and in this book, Reid has created a love letter from Carrie to the world of tennis. If you are a fan of the sport, this book will have you absolutely captivated as we deep-dive into the sport and get to grips with all the technical training and the experiences of playing tennis in great detail.

Carrie, like many of the characters in Reid’s books, is flawed. She’s a fierce person, closed off emotionally, doesn’t have any friends, refuses to be friendly with any of the other female players on the circuit and is brutally honest with no filter. She’s competitive and comes across as arrogant. She often makes the wrong choices but is completely dedicated to tennis at the expense of friendships and love.

This book is about a woman’s ambition to excel at her sport; to be seen as the number one player in the world and that her age is not a factor. One of the really interesting aspects for me in this book is how ambitious women are perceived by the media and the idolisation of the young, white players over those from different ethnicities, something that is still an issue today in many areas.

Her relationship with her father is beautiful to read. They may not always agree with each other’s advice, but their love for each other and the sport and their bond is so strong. The development of Carrie’s relationship with Bowe is a definite slow-burn but heartwarming to read.

If the reader doesn’t know much about tennis, I think it might not be as enjoyable a read as was the case for Malibu Rising or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Tennis fans will thoroughly enjoy this book.

There’s definitely an adrenaline rush when we step onto the court with Carrie. She’s a force to be reckoned with on the court- her confidence, her grit and determination to remain the greatest female tennis player the world has ever seen is awe-inspiring.

Is it my favourite book by Reid? No, but it is an enjoyable read nonetheless. 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc. Carrie Soto Is Back will be released on August 30th.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Great characters, great rivalry, great read!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again.

I highlighted so much of this book, I literally couldn’t put it down. TJR always writes incredible story lines, with amazing characters and I was so happy to see the villain of Malibu Rising return.

I felt the courts, the wind, the clay through this book. I felt the losses, the grief, the anger and frustration and pain. I also felt the victory. Not only was a routing for her, but I became Carrie while reading this book, and it sent shivers down my spine.

Now where are my pair of neon pink Break Points and a matching headband because if I wasn’t a Carrie Soto fan in the last book, you best believe that I am now.

Thank you to the Penguin Random House UK and to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As much a beach read as Taylor Jenkins Reid's other books, I devoured this in one sunny sitting. I was not expecting the plot to be completely driven by the tennis storyline (I assumed there would be more of the glamorous world we see in Malibu Rising) but found myself enjoying it all the same. I honestly don't think another author could entice me to read such a sports focused book! My one criticism would be that the lack of side characters and interactions outside of Carrie & her father or Carrie & Bowe made the whole world of the novel feel a bit smaller and slightly lacking in depth. The cast of characters in Malibu Rising help to form your opinion of the main protagonists, whereas here it feels like a slightly more shallow insight into Carrie.

Carrie Soto was born to be a tennis star. Her whole life revolves around the game, training and most importantly, winning. So it's only natural that she should come out of retirement when a new, young tennis player threatens to beat her record.

I am not interested in any kind of sport. I am literally bored to death if I am ever forced to watch a sports match, which is why I was sceptical about the tennis centric book. But Taylor Jenkins Reid had me on the edge of my seat and I was rooting for Carrie during the matches.

Carrie herself is a very interesting character. She comes across as aloof, unsympathetic and only focused on her victory. When she wins, her opponents have to listen to harsh comments. But behind that is an insecure person with worries and fears of her own. Carrie goes through a really good character development. But anyone who has ever read a book by TJR knows that characters are her absolute strength.

The secondary characters are also well fleshed out, given their own time and history. Especially her father, who was once a tennis pro. He is her coach, best friend and supporter, not only in tennis but in life. He just wants Carrie to be happy and tries to achieve that with every decision. I won't go into detail, but at one point I even had tears in my eyes while reading. No one has to miss some romance in the story either.

It is safe to say that I give the book 5 stars and will continue to devour every book by TJR.

I vouched for every single character in this book because they felt so real to me, imperfect and unlikeable at times but always so human! I liked that Carrie’s career was always front and centre of the story and her romantic life took more of a backseat. It felt very empowering to read.

Exciting, engaging, adrenaline pumping, entertaining, heart throbbing novels.
I really love this book

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s newest upcoming novel ‘Carrie Soto Is Back’ is a love letter to the sport world, ambition, as well as our parents and the influence they have on us as we grow.

Taylor writes of ambition, raising the question of how far is someone willing to go to prove their greatness, and what will they sacrifice in the process? Can one find joy in their own knowledge of their talent, or must the whole world know it for it to be true?

Carrie Soto, like many of Reid’s other lead characters, is not a perfect heroine. She is flawed, and makes wrong choices, which is always a refreshing aspect to Reid’s books. Other notable characters in this book are Javier and Bowe, both very likeable characters who just want to best for Carrie. The love between Carrie and her Father, Jav, is the backbone of this story, and it’s what helps the book go from a great story, to an amazing one.

Like many of Reid’s other novels, this book is connected to others books of hers, most notably ‘Malibu Rising’, however ‘Carrie Soto is Back’ stands on its own two feet as an individual novel, without needing to read the rest. This book is unlike the rest of Reid’s ‘famous characters’ universe, as there is no mystery looming, there is no waiting for the next shoe to drop, it is what it is: a story of a woman who loves to play tennis, and the world around her.

I’d also like to mention that, as someone who had no clue of the rules of tennis, it is explained greatly in this book, and made it very enjoyable to read.

‘Carrie Soto Is Back’ stands out from the rest of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels, and is a must read, whenever, wherever you are.

I'll admit, I requested this book because I wanted to read it and not necessarily thinking about books I might recommend to my students. But actually, I think I would feel comfortable recommending it - it's nice to have an option to discuss that's a little more emotionally adult in emotional terms but still "safe" (I'm never going to feel comfortable discussing or recommending books with explicit sex to my students, for example).

Carrie Soto is up there with Evelyn Hugo for me. I've enjoyed all the books set in this universe, but this is the first one since Evelyn that I've truly loved. Like the previous books, there are brief nods and mentions of characters we've met before, but the book absolutely stands on its own with no need to have read them.

I'm a fan of tennis so I was excited about this one, although I've heard from other readers who knew nothing about the game that they could also follow along with the tennis just fine. Every time I was sure I knew where the story was going, I was surprised once again, and I did genuinely tear up a few times.

The characters are as well rounded and flawed as ever - Carrie herself is by no means perfect, but I couldn't help but root for her anyway. And I dare you not to love her father, Javier.

An easy 5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hutchinson Heinemann, for providing me with a copy of this book. It was a privilege to read it early and be taken on this extraordinary journey. Now, on to the review ...

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again!

Carrie Soto is Back an exploration of the career and life of tennis legend Carrie Soto. Throughout the duration of the novel, we are privy to her successes, failures, complex domestic beginnings and at the end of the story, her future.

Carrie is a vibrant, highly determined woman who has been coached by her father nearly all her life. Her resolve and ruthless attitude were instilled in her through his teachings. I found her character gripping; she is a good person who is closed off emotionally from others and has a hard time losing. This causes her to be dismissive or even hurtful of those around her. This dichotomy frustrated me while simultaneously making me root that much harder for her success.

The novel was explored in two timelines: Carrie's past and present. Starting with the exploration of her childhood and her relationship with her father was so skilfully explored that it felt true-to-life. The present showed Carrie returning to the court to win back her title while exploring her emotional maturation.

The aspects that I enjoyed most:
1. The exploration of how women are perceived in sport. This can be seen in the articles and interviews presented throughout the book. It was a subtle but powerful way to show the disparity in the treatment of women and men.
2. The tennis games, as they were described in short, snappy sentences making the excerpts feel unpredictable and exciting.
3. The romantic relationship between Carrie and Bowe as it didn't feel forced but allowed Carrie's character to develop without diminishing her strength and independence.
4. I was unsure how this novel would finish, but the ending and epilogue were the perfect conclusions.

In closing, read this book! You will not be disappointed!

(I wonder, will we ever get to see more about the relationship between Carrie and Nicki Chan?).

I can't express how privileged I feel to be able to read this book already. I don't know what kind of crack TJR laces her books with, but every one so far has been an immediate 5 star; this one included. Carrie Soto is back explores the career and life of tennis legend Carrie Soto, of whom we got a preview of in Malibu Rising. Here, she's a character that's absolutely electric. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Her childhood and early career is written with such vibrancy; I actually found I loved her father, especially later in the book. Their family, her and her dad, felt real. The sport itself, tennis, was described with passion and each tennis match we saw felt unpredictable. The author gave you just enough to root for Carrie, without letting you believe she would win. While the present timeline follows Carrie as she's trying to win back her title, we also see her coming to terms with her life. Her comeback is her trying to prove something, to others and herself, and to see her learn more about herself, accept her shortcomings and learn to love tennis again, was beautiful.

This book to me, overarchingly, felt the most real. The references to different time periods--the OJ Simpson verdict, Princess Diana at Wemberly--made me feel like I was reading about real people. I'm still in awe of the way that TJR can insert her characters into the world like they lived there are along, like Carrie Soto really was a tennis legend. The characters, Bowe, Javier and Carrie especially, but also Nicki Chan, felt like real people to me.

The romance in this book has to be one of my favourite things about it. It was written so naturally, and yet added to the development of her tennis success story. Nicki Chan's character has to be up there as a favourite in this book too; her determination, the 'new' style of tennis she's ushering in and her guilelessness made her a wonderfully vibrant character.

The epilogue holds a special place in my heart. I was worried about the ending of the book; whether Carrie would win back her title and whether it would feel like a realistic achievement, but I was amazed at the way TJR handled it. The ending was perfect, and then the epilogue came and it surprised me, and yet made so much sense. I hope we see some of these characters pop up in later books, because they truly mean the world to me.

Thank you again to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this wonderful book!

I think I loved this as much as ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’. It is absolutely unputtadownable, and that is saying something for a reader who knows about as much about tennis as a walrus. I know (in theory only!) a lot more now. First, the cover. That is a magnificent cover. Second, the title. That is a perfect in-your-face title. Third, Carrie, her dad, her old sweet flame, her equally ambitious competitors, and even that ageing creep Mick Riva, who keeps appearing in Taylor Jenkins Read’s novels… all perfectly pitched. Carrie, unlikeable in so many ways, rather like those (mainly male) tennis stars even I watch having tantrums in the Australian Open, is equally a lonely, vulnerable and yet tough soul we’re rooting for on every page of her story. Like every reader of this novel, I was absolutely shouting Carrie Soto is Back! by the end…and an end that could have gone two ways… The one we got was, of course, just right. Thank you indeed to NetGalley and Ballentine for the advance digital review copy, and thank you Taylor Jenkins Reid. Keep them coming!