Yet another Taylor Jenkins Reid book that is a complete corker. Her work is so readable, you can immerse yourself so easily in her writing. This Time joining the tennis World. You don't need to be a tennis fan to enjoy it at all, TJR can lure you in with a flick of her pen

Carrie Soto Is Back marks Taylor Jenkins Reid's final book in her 'famous four' series. While it stands as a standalone novel, if you have read Reid's previous books, you will definitely recognise Carrie Soto from Malibu Rising, along with mentions of characters from previous books, including Mick Riva and Daisy Jones.

Carrie Soto Is Back follows the story of Carrie Soto, a former retired tennis star who strives to reclaim her former glory on the court and reclaim her title. I wasn't expecting to love a book about tennis as much as I did, but I learnt more about the sport whilst also enjoying Reid's usual incorporation of emotional depth, a strong plot and complex relationships.

From Malibu Rising, I automatically despised Carrie Soto, so naturally I was incredibly intrigued when Taylor Jenkins Reid chose Carrie Soto as her protagonist for this novel. Truthfully, at the start of the book, Carrie Soto was arrogant, frustrating and lacked emotional depth, but she grew so much throughout the book that she became one of my favourite protagonists of all of Reid's books.

The parts that stood out in this book for me was the heart-warming portrayal of the father-daughter relationship between Carrie and Javier. Whilst most of Taylor Jenkins Reid's books incorporate romantic love, this book also incorporated familial love, and I adored the bond between the two. Furthermore, I adored Reid's incorporation of Spanish, adding a layer of authenticity and culture to the book, and enriched the reading experience for a Spanish speaker like myself.

I felt that Carrie Soto Is Back had a slightly different writing style (in a positive way!) and feel to the other books in the series, and I much preferred it to Malibu Rising (but it won't beat Seven Husbands or Daisy Jones for me!). If you're a fan of Reid's previous works or enjoy stories with strong character development, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Yet another great book by this author. It is written so well. I loved the character of Carrie. The author has created a wonderful world that feels real once again.
I loved the father daughter relationship in this book

I adored Carrie's brief appearance in Malibu Rising and I knew I could not wait for her book. I loved reading about a successful female athlete who is so proud of her success and is not there to be shamed.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors..I will literally read anything she writes. This books is ALL ABOUT tennis, which I know nothing about, but TJR made it interesting and super fun just like always. I loved the relationship Carrie had with her dad, and of course how passionate she was about tennis and being the very best.

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.