TJR did not disappoint as always. A perfect ending but i still hope for a sequel.
the writing was impeccable and as someone who has never cared about tennis i was hooked.
read this in one sitting and honestly all i want is more

Taylor Jenkins Reid is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
Carrie Soto is back is based on a retired tennis superstar - Carrie - who is fighting to hold onto her world record when younger tennis champions are biting at her heels to supersede her.
Carrie - also known as 'The Bitch' doesn't have friends on the circuit - she is renowned for her acerbic manner, and her lack of filter but importantly - she is renowned for being the best female player in the world - except Chan is one title away from snatching it from her.
Reid's novel although based in the tennis world - is easy to understand (even if you don't know anything about tennis!)
Her characters are so richly described and the tennis matches are so vivid - you can actually picture them in your mind as if they are playing out on the screen in front of you.
Another novel that was devoured in a day - highly recommended!

Absolutely adored this book. It’s written perfectly, in the typical TJR style that we all know and love.

You can connect well with the characters. I especially loved our main protagonist Carrie- despite her flaws, it was beautiful to read about her character growth.

Not only is Carrie Soto back, so is Taylor Jenkins Reid, on top form with this dazzling tale of pushing your personal limits, and shooting for the stars, whatever the cost.
Carrie Soto, who we have met briefly in a previous TJR novel (think everyone loves the TJR universe and mentions!), is our stoic but generally misunderstood main character; she dominated world tennis in her heydey, wunderkind supreme, but with her overall record of wins about to be broken by a newer, younger tennis powerhouse, Carrie feels it might be time to come out of retirement.

What follows is a roller-coaster story of the highs and lows of professional sports, highlighting the major personal sacrifices that come with it, the misogyny women in sport face, and how hard it is to maintain real relationships when your whole life is geared to winning.

Carrie is fantastically written, a very flawed character but one we never lose empathy for; the development of her few relationships in life draw the reader in to her world, and her training and matches are often edge of the seat stuff, especially in later chapters. The tennis elements are so interesting, even to someone with a very rudimentary interest in the sport, like me, and Reid manages this aspect really well, keeping it accessible for those who need to be taught about it while (I assume!) keeping it interesting for those who already have a keen interest.

Overall, this novel is a brilliant follow on to her pretty stellar list of previous titles, and "Carrie Soto..." is absolutely up there with "Daisy Jones..." as my favourite story of hers.

Thanks to Netgally and the publishers for the ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

When I got approved for an ARC of Carrie Soto is back I literally screamed out loud. I absolutely love TJR's writing (auto-buy author for me) and despite not being enamored by Malibu Rising I really wanted to read her new book based on a side character from Malibu Rising.

When we first meet Carrie Soto in this book, it's as a retired world champion tennis player and enticed back onto the circuit when her record of the most women's titles ever is broken.

Her father Javier is her rock, coach and mentor - he taught her tennis and everything she knows and is there on her journey to relaunch her career

The book gives her back story from learning tennis with her father, her meteoric rise in tennis and their unique father-daughter relationship

Honestly, game, set and match to TJR - this book bowled me over, I absolutely loved it and may go so far as to say I preferred it to Evelyn Hugo and Diasy Jones - yes I've that much love. I honestly can't wait for my preorder now so I've a copy for my shelf and can reread it🎾

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @penguinbooksireland for my ARC in return for an honest review.

I was so excited for the new Taylor Jenkins Reid novel and this did not disappoint in the slightest. Carrie Soto was such an interesting character to follow and seeing her at all different ages helped explain why she behaved the way that she did. I liked how the relationships she had with various people were presented and how they changed as she changed. The writing was excellent and i could not put this down and just flew through this. It got me right in the heart on a couple of occasions with how well written the moments were.

This book was perfection. A mix of sport and drama. But also great growing of the main character. Maybe not so popular but a great sportive and I loved her stromg personality, devotion to the sport and her family, determination to comeback and be on the top again. I fly with her, I would love to have a little of what this character had inside. I adored everything. I have got also a kind of love story inside and I could not be more satisfied with the ending of this book.

Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone, Hutchinson Heinemann and thank you Libro.fm for audio copy. I can not wait to have a paper copy in my arms.

Special thanks to my buddy reader par eccelance Jennifer that waited for me to read it together.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a consistent and talented writer. She wrote about the 60s in Evelyn Hugo, the 70s with Daisy Jones, the crazy 80s in Malibu Rising, and now she completes the tetralogy with Carrie Soto Is Back, by giving us a fast-paced take on the 90s.

She perhaps chooses a very focused take on such a vibrant era, with Tennis being the book's protagonist. Just like Carrie Soto, TJR doesn't apologise for it, leaning entirely on the sport, and only giving us the tiniest glimpses of passing commentary on the era itself. It's not her best book, and of the others that came before it, Carrie Soto is probably the weakest link. Still, it's also a true testament to TJR's impressive power as a writer, because even so, it is still splendid, and absolutely a must-read.

One thing that she has sculpted to perfection is the way she writes female characters, so complete and real that you almost believe they truly exist. The same feeling I had with Carrie happened with Evelyn and Daisy - almost a need to Google them, and see more about their lives as if I could read real tabloids and newspaper articles about their life. Half expecting to see a photo of who they really are. The style that she writes fiction as nonfiction is such a trademark by now, and one that she keeps excelling at.

And what can I say about Carrie? Is that in her ruthlessness she is a bit of all of us. The unafraid part of us, the one that takes what she is owed with her head held high. May we all aspire to be more like her. Of course, she has her weaknesses, she is multifaceted and raw, but her journey is impressive, beautiful even.

So, do yourself a favour, and don't miss out on this one.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having been a huge fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books for years - in particular what I like to think of as the ‘Evelynverse’ - I was so excited to return to the world of these fake celebrities and their scandals that keeps me far more enthralled than any real-life drama. However, when Carrie Soto Is Back was first announced, I found myself not as excited to read about a sports star as I had been to read about an actress, a singer, or a famous family.

Not even ten pages into this book, I knew how wrong I had been to think that. From the very start, Carrie and her passion for tennis had me hooked, and I even felt the urge to watch a game of tennis, which was definitely due to TJR’s unique ability to have me wholly convinced that Carrie Soto really exists.

Carrie is a wonderful protagonist. She is a woman who knows her worth. She is arrogant and boastful because she has every right to be. She isn’t nice, she isn’t coy, she isn’t there to act surprised - she’s there to play tennis because she’s the best there is.
Carrie Soto is unapologetically herself, and you love her all the more for it.

Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed was how understated Carrie and Bowe’s romance was. Their relationship - though of great interest to the public because of their celebrity status - was not a source of melodrama to the narrative, but instead fits in well with Carrie’s overthinking and how her affinity to make things more complicated than they need to be. It really solidified the theme of when love is real, it is simple.

All in all, this book was a masterpiece. I laughed. I cried. I understood tennis jargon. Many readers - myself included - will finish this book taking a little bit of Carrie Soto with them.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is once again, another masterclass in writing fictional celebrity characters and making them feel real.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a true talent with her writing, she adds little easter eggs to link each of the books in her interconnected collection of celebrity stories. These remain tasteful, and would probably be skipped over by a reader who has not read other Taylor Jenkins Reid books.

Carrie Soto is Back, tells the story of one of the world's best women's tennis players in the 80s; Carrie Soto. I have personally never had an interest in tennis, but this book made everything feel true to life like I was a tennis fan watching these games and getting involved. I truly do not know how Taylor Jenkins Reid manages to make the environment so real, and the characters feel like true celebrities. The amount of research and detail that goes into these books must take a lifetime.

The four-star rating I am giving to this book is well deserved, if not slightly harsh of me for this incredible story. I get so hooked and sucked into the worlds that Taylor Jenkins Reid creates, and I am so glad to get the privilege to read this book before its release later this month.

Whilst nothing will knock The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo off of the pedestal as my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid book, this definitely gave it a run for its' money. I truly cannot wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid does next with these interconnected characters and stories, and you bet I'll be the first there to beg for a copy!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Carrie Soto is Back - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Malibu Rising - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Daisy Jones and the Six - ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the honour of being able to read this book pre-release.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with yet another moving and exhilarating story set in the world of fame. This time we follow Carrie Soto, a competitive, ambitious and decorated tennis player, come out of retirement to snatch back her world record. I'll admit, even as a massive Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, I was definitely hesitant to start reading this as someone with an aversion to sport, however Jenkins Reid instantly flipped this reluctance from the first page. The author manages to highlight Carrie's many flaws whilst still making her a lovable character that readers can't help but side with, watching her development throughout the book. Alongside her father and coach, Javier, the book is filled with a range of characters with depth and intricate roles. Not only does Jenkins Reid explore the world of tennis, creating nail-biting, jaw-clenching match scenes filled with suspense and tension, but she also delves deep into the complexity of family relationships and the toll competitive sports can have on players.

Yet another Taylor Jenkins Reid book which surpasses expectations for tennis lovers and non-lovers alike!

Tennis isn’t my favourite sport, but I enjoy watching it from time to time. Especially when you have a legend like Serena Williams on the court. And in light of her news this book is very apt.

Carrie is just as much of a legend as Williams. I enjoyed reading about her comeback. I did struggle a bit with the Spanish lines from time to time. I’m not fluent by any means, I have a very basic understanding of that language and it’s much better when it’s spoken. So yes, that was a wee bit difficult sometimes to understand. I do love these interactions between Carrie and her dad. He might even be the highlight of this book for me.

I’ve previously only read Reid’s Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. That book was so hyped and I just didn’t get that, I like this book better, I think. Even if you don’t like tennis, this is a fun read.

I've only read Malibu Rising before this and I think the writing in this was better. The concept was so interesting especially on the back of Serena Williams' news. I loved the inclusion of the reports scattered throughout the book and felt myself really warming to Carrie. Her dad was the best part of the book though and I loved their Spanish moments. An easy read and especially fun if you enjoy tennis.

I already loved TJR and after reading this book I love her even more... who knew I could enjoy a book about tennis? I really wasn't expecting to like this so much, but I did. TJR's writing is so engaging, I love its simplicity and straightforwardness.

That said, this is a deceivingly deep book. Yes, it is told from the point of view of a tennis player and there is a lot of talks about strategy, games, and so on, so at first it only feels like a nice story of a come back to defend a record. But the further you go the more it touches so many important issues, including family relationships, self-esteem problems, ageism, love, friendship...

All I have to do now is decide if Daisy Jones and The Six (which is very cleverly mentioned in this book - so swift!) is still my favourite...

Thank you so much NetGallery and Cornerstone for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure if this would live up to the extremely high expectations I had set for Taylor's new book. It took a little while to get fully into the story, but once I did I was sold. I was rooting for Carrie and living vicariously through her career. Time and again I am baffled by how TJR takes a mundane topic like tennis (which would never appeal to me in any circumstance, mind you) and spin it into a tale that has me wanting to keep reading. This was absolutely amazing.

Ah, the TJR obsession has truly been refuelled once again, and I could not be happier. Who would have thought I could get so into tennis?!

With every book that she writes in this world, Taylor Jenkins Reid manages to pull me right back in. Every story has a way of feeling so real, and I find myself fully invested within a matter of pages. And Carrie Soto is absolutely no exception. As with TJR's other books, Carrie Soto Is Back pulls no punches when it comes to excellent female characters facing a world that serves only to put their white male counterparts on a pedestal. The absolute feminine rage that filled my soul while reading this was truly an experience like no other. The characters in this book are so good and so interesting to read, obviously Carrie in particular. She's a difficult person to understand and it's hard to watch her continue to make the wrong choices, but she's also very easy to sympathise with and I found myself wanting her to win throughout the entire book. The romance aspect of the book also really managed to get me which I wasn't entirely expecting? I found it to be super endearing and again I just found myself wanting them to be together the entire time. There are some really sweet moments that definitely tugged on my heartstrings and I'm not at all ashamed. Not only for the romantic aspect, but also the father-daughter dynamic we see between Carrie and her dad. I love a good family dynamic and this was such a good one. Again some incredibly sweet moments, but also some tough moments that again just feel so real and raw to read. Another thing to mention is how utterly surprised I am that I managed to get so invested in a sports story!! If you know me at all, you will know I do not have an athletic bone in my body, but I was HOOKED on this book. I found myself binging it so easily and got so much more engrossed in the matches than I anticipated. So I guess I'm a tennis fan now, is that how this works?

All in all, I'm so glad to be holding another wonderful TJR book in my hands right now and I will never not be excited to see this world grow. The little callbacks to other characters from previous books always get me excited and I'll be eagerly awaiting whatever is next in store.

Whilst I enjoyed Carrie Soto is back I didn’t love it which really disappointed me. I know other really rated it, so maybe this one was just not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy.

Following on from her previous novels, Taylor Jenkins Reid continues to explore the pressures of fame, this time from the perspective of a top tennis star.

Carrie is an unusual character, who cares about one thing only: winning. This comes at the expense of everything else in her life, and the classic perfectionism of high achievers was evident in her from an early age as she struggled to deal with failure. I found her very cold at first and I felt quite detached from her for most of the book - perhaps for this reason I didn’t enjoy this as much as TJR’s other works. However, Carrie definitely goes on a journey throughout the story and without saying too much, I enjoyed her gradual realisation that maybe tennis isn’t the only important thing in life.

At the heart of the story is Carrie’s very complex relationship with her father and coach. I loved how it evolved through its highs and its lows, with faults on both sides, but is ultimately rooted in deep (though flawed) love. I enjoyed her other unusual relationships - especially with Bowe and Nicki - and also thought the end was very fitting and a natural progression for Carrie.

It was also an interesting insight into the world of tennis. I would have preferred more character interactions over all the blow-by-blow accounts of the matches, although I could visualise every moment of these, despite not being a tennis person at all! I enjoyed the allusions to gender disparity in tennis - how the women’s game is still seen as inferior, and how female stars are subject to so much harsher criticism by the media.

Overall, this was a fun and entertaining beach read, but for me, the characters didn’t jump off the page. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Soto is Back

American tennis star Carrie Soto is one of the best players the world has ever seen, holding the world record for the most grand slam titles. She cemented this place in sporting history under the coaching of her father, Javier, but while her natural talent can’t be ignored she isn’t exactly her nation’s sweetheart, and pundits refer to her as ‘The Battle Axe’ due to her relentless drive to be the best, her lack of emotion on court and her calculated game play.

When Carrie is forced to retire at the height of her game after getting a knee injury you’d think that would be it, but she isn’t one to bow out before her time. 6 years later, with a young upstart poised to break her grand slam title record, 37 year old Carrie declares war, promising to make her comeback, against all odds, and win another grand slam title.

Can she defy expectations and prove to everyone that she is still the greatest tennis player that ever lived?

Firstly, only TJR could get me to read a book about sports (even if I do like tennis!) but Carrie Soto Is Back is more than just an underdog sports story. It’s a story of love, family, redemption and the pitfalls of fame, and I truly loved it. I loved the prickly Carrie in particular, and seeing her soften and thaw as the book went on. Like we have come to expect, there were various little references to other TJR characters, the plot was fast paced and exciting and I bawled my eyes out at the final 20 minutes or so!

Lastly, I finished this book in one afternoon which I think sums up my feelings on it. Carrie Soto Is Back is another TJR classic that you won’t want to miss!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an e-arc of this book.