Carrie Soto is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid 🎾 3.5/5

Carrie Soto is a tennis legend, known all over the world as “The Battleaxe”. Now 6 years after her retirement, Carrie Soto returns to the court to defend her records. Against all odds, can Carrie Soto win again?

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master of reinvention. My fourth book by her and each one is so different and yet, so similar all her once. With her uncanny ability to transport her reader within, Carrie Soto is back is another masterclass is deeply enriched storytelling.
Whilst tennis is absolutely not my thing I enjoyed the back and forth of this one, grappling with greatness, misogyny and reputation, Carrie Soto makes for a formidable protagonist.
One for your summer reading list! Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUk for my copy.

As I loved Malibu Rising I was really excited to read this book. I have to admit though that I was disappointed initially. There is a heavy emphasis on tennis and I felt the story was slow. As the book continued it did get better and I loved how the author explored the relationships Carrie had, especially with her father. The ending saved the book and although I enjoyed it, it wouldn't be my favourite.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again, another absolute knockout. TJR has an incredible way of writing complex characters and plot in such an easily readable way, I flew through this in two days. It's going to be the perfect summer read and I'm just sad I can't read it for the first time again!

I love tennis and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, so this has been a match made in heaven for me!

The prologue immediately had me hooked as we meet our leading lady Carrie Soto, as she is sat in the stands at the 1994 US Open, six years after her retirement, watching her 20 grand slam titles record be equalled by Nicki Chan. It leads her to make the monumental decision to come out of retirement to reclaim her record as the best player the world of tennis has ever seen.

I loved then being taken back in time and seeing Carrie’s tennis journey from when she was a child, beginning with her father coaching her, to how she progressed over the years with such ambition and a fierce reputation (often referred to in the sports media as ‘The Battle Axe”)! I loved seeing her career grow from strength to strength and seeing how far she was prepared to go to achieve her dreams, pushing her body to its extremes before her decision to retire.

We then pick up from where the prologue ended and get to see Carrie’s experiences during her one final year, with her father by her side as her coach once again, just like old times. I loved all of their interactions and it was cool when they were speaking in Spanish to each other. I was glad that Carrie swallowed her pride to train with Bowe Huntley too, who just like Carrie, was soon to be giving up the game he loved forever!

I really enjoyed seeing Carrie’s journey across the four grand slams in the 1995 tennis calendar. The descriptions were so beautifully detailed meaning I could really picture Carrie as she was training and playing in all of her matches on her quest to reclaim her title as the world’s greatest tennis player. There was so much heart and emotion in this book and Carrie’s competiveness, drive and ambition shone through!

I found reading this book to be a really immersive experience and I felt like I was learning about a real life tennis icon! I absolutely love how real Taylor Jenkins Reid’s characters always feel and how connected I am to them as I am reading. I really do forget they are fictional! Just like I felt after reading three of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s previous books (Daisy Jones and the Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising), I wanted to be able to look online to see what Carrie went on to do next! I loved the final chapter and thought it was a clever way to end the book!

I honestly cannot recommend Carrie Soto Is Back highly enough!

There is no question this will sell regardless… however this is nowhere near as strong as Daisy Jones and the six, nor Malibu Rising. For me, the character development s really lacking here and I felt all of the players in this one very one dimensional,
I stick with it though, the story itself was ok but predictable.
I really like this author normally, and hope this is just a rushed, hastily written novel and better to come in the future.

Once I started Carrie Soto is back…I could not put it down! It is an incredibly fast read with short, punchy sentences that mimic the tennis game it is often describing. Unlike Malibu Rising, the story is focused on the protagonist Carrie Soto and is told in first person narrative. It is all the stronger for it. The world sees Carrie Soto as a cold, unfeeling Battle Axe but she is anything but. She is driven and passionate and cares deeply for those close to her - she just finds it hard to show her emotions after years of being trained by her father to not show her opponent whether they are getting to her. I absolutely loved it!

Yet another triumph from Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I feel like I, myself, enjoyed this book as much as anyone who knows nothing whatsoever about tennis (and generally has little interest in the sports world) might, meaning it just fell short of a 5 star rating because it took me ages to get invested in the sport.
However, like any TJR read before, this excels in terms of writing, pacing and especially characters. I found myself immersed into the story in no time, and then was flying through it without a care in the world, wanting to devour the story. I think Carrie is for TJR what Emma was for Jane Austen - i.e.: the image of what many might view as an unlikeable character, yet that is what makes her so fascinating to follow. She is driven, she is ruthless, she is honest to a fault, and she cares little for the feelings of those around her. She is at the top of the world and, in many ways, it's only her own self that can take her down. I found her journey to be so addicting to follow, and I could not help but want to see that drive pay off (making me never want to see anyone humble or take her down a notch? that, in itself, is a triumph). I also found her character development from youth into a more self-assured yet vulnerable adulthood to be endearing in the most unexpected manner.
To make a long story short, we have no choice but to continue to stan ms. TJR, as she never misses.

As a tennis player myself, this book drew me in instantly. TJR's writing is like flowing down a river of sweet syrup - I'm flying forward through this book, and I'm locked into it completely! It's addictive. It provides the perfect escapism. I've been so glued to it, it's come everywhere with me.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my absolute favourite authors, and damn, she has done it again.

While ‘Carrie Soto is Back’ isn’t my favourite by Taylor Jenkins Reid (too hard to choose!), I still absolutely loved this book. It was so immensely powerful and as always, so well-written and amazingly paced.

I love sport, and I used to play tennis when I was younger, so this one has definitely been right up my speed. I love the fierce competitiveness, passion and ultimately, stubbornness of the main character. You need all of those to succeed in sport, especially after coming back after an injury (and here, also a retirement). It was very powerful to watch Carrie on her journey to prove something to the world (and ultimately, herself).

What I also loved about this title, were the little nods to the other titles by the author – especially both ‘Malibu Rising’ and ‘The Daisy Jones & The Six’, it interconnected the world between those stories, and I have enjoyed it a lot.

I was very excited to be able to request TJR new release! I am a huge fan of all the previous books & how TJR references characters from previous books in her new ones (& vice versa) We last saw Carrie in Malibu Rising, she was at the top of her game and had an affair with Nina Rivas husband…

Carrie Soto is a retired pro tennis player whose record is under threat by the talented Nicky Chan… Carries record is under threat so at 37 years old she comes out of retirement for one last season…

When she retired she was at the of her game, does she still have what it takes? Nicknamed the Battle Axe, Carrie is fierce, she is always focused and hasn’t time for niceties.

This book goes back to the late 70s and throughout the 80’s exploring Carries rise to fame and then we are in the present (90s) as she makes her come back.

Carrie herself grew on me and by the end, it wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about accepting who you are and when you are enough.

All previous books I have read have been hands down, 5 star reviews, this for me was just lacking something to keep me hooked. As with any TJR, it’s well written however I couldn’t really get into the tennis side of it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

Recommended for any TJR fans!

I’ve read all 8 of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other books (and loved them all) so when I got an advanced reader copy of her 2022 release, I lost my shit. It lived up to the hype I had built for it - I read it in one sitting and it had me fully immersed the whole time.

TJR has such an innate ability to quickly transport you into the worlds she creates - I never feel like I’m reading her books but more like watching it in my head, lol.

In this story, Carrie Soto is the #1 tennis player in the world, holding the record for highest number of female grand slam wins (and she was a tiny spinoff character from her most recent novel, Malibu Rising!). Her dad, Javier Soto, was also a professional player and coached her all her life. When she’s 37, she comes out of her 6-year retirement when a rising tennis star ties for her record, dethroning her title. Carrie and her dad begin training again to regain Carrie’s title.

To the public, Carrie is cutthroat, competitive, and only cares about winning, but the limited number of people she allows in closer knows that’s not entirely true. Her drive for being the best is really misunderstood by the public.

When I started this, I had little to no opinions/knowledge about tennis and now I’m a full-on tennis girlie, crying while reading these match scenes, thinking about starting lessons, and looking up tickets for Wimbledon this year. This book makes you want to find a passion and commit to excellence in it - It was really entertaining reading about a character like that.

I also love that TJR’s most recent books have all been in the same universe and how she expands on stories of minimal side characters. There’s a character in Carrie Soto that I’m hoping is the muse for her next one…

The amount of research that goes into these stories to bring them to life is remarkable. It stresses me out sometimes thinking about what would go into writing something like this. TJR is truly so talented and I loved this book. Comes out Aug 31st this year!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy and the chance to read this ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Soto is back, is another absolute banger from Taylor Jenkins Reid. A fast-paced and intense character study of an older athlete coming out of retirement to reclaim her grand slam record. I have a weird thing in that I find most sports boring in real life but then I’m captivated by fictional books about sports. In reality, I don’t like watching Wimbledon and if I have to, I only want to watch the Women’s match since they are only three sets long, quite frankly five sets is excessive. But I can never resist a book all about a competition/tournament and Reid infused this trope with her trademark character depth and tumultuous relationships. I love characters who are completely obsessed with their chosen field, and you get that from Carrie and her dad. Their love and passion for tennis bleeds through the page and even got me, a spots hater, to care about it too.

But again, what really got me and had me crying once again during a Taylor Reid book were the complicated relationships. This is the first Reid book I’ve read that’s focused on a father-daughter relationship. Before this Reid’s fathers have either been neglectfully absent or downright abusive, but Carrie Soto’s dad is a gem. Javier Soto believes in Carrie's potential but doesn’t place her worth on how many trophies she gets. When she was a child Javier tells her that she is not playing against her opponent but against herself to play her best game of tennis. I loved that message, and the big loving presents he was in Carrie's life.

This is another great summer read from the master of fictional celebrity biographies that you will fly through. And hey maybe this will get me watching Wimbledon this year.

Taylor Jenkins Reid latest offering gives centre stage to a character we first encountered in Malibu Rising in this gripping portrayal of life and drama at the top levels of tennis. When the legendary Carrie Soto retired from her glittering career in tennis, she had won every accolade going, claiming a record breaking number of 20 grand slams. A few years later in 1994 at the American Open she sees the current tennis star, Nicki Chan, equal her grand slam record, and the fiercely ambitious Carrie at the age of 37 sets her sights on returning to her former career with every intention of being the successful Comeback Queen. However, her body is not what it used to be, although her dedication and passion for the game burns as strong as ever. As she embarks on this mission, it becomes clear that others do not rate her chances of success, the 'battleaxe' is not a popular figure in the game.

Those who do have any interest in tennis as a sport might find this a tough read, but I would like to say that it is the human aspects of the game, like what it takes to rise to the top, the rivalries and competitiveness, that dominate this narrative. The flawed Carrie's climb to the top of her profession did not come without sacrifices, a heavy price had to be paid. She is not the most likeable of characters, she is ruthless, driven, and willing to do whatever it takes to win, she has attitude to spare and does not care what anyone thinks of her. Having said all that, as we learn of her past, what made her who she is, her tenacity and resilience, her pivotal relationship with her coach and father, Xavier, her training with Bowe Huntley, Carrie becomes someone we want to root for through challenges that come with her return to tennis.

The author immerses the reader into the elite levels of tennis with her realistic and vivid descriptions of what it is like to be part of that world, I felt as if I was there on that court and engaged in all the drama and nailbiting tensions of the games. The way women in tennis are treated if they attribute their success to their hard work, talent and abilities, and who refuse to hide their ambitions is highlighted, yet these very qualities are openly accepted and celebrated when it comes to men. This is a wonderfully entertaining and riveting read, with complex characters, touching on issues of identity, father-daughter relationships, and love. I think this novel will appeal to many readers as well as existing fans Taylor Jenkins Reid. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Very enjoyable, although probably only for those who love tennis!

Carrie is a world class retired tennis player who comes out of retirement because she can't bear that her record is about to be beaten by someone else, even though she's been retired for 6 years.

The story is about her coming out of retirement to play the top tournaments and try to keep her record, so bear in mind that it is so full-on tennis that if you're not a fan I'd give it a miss, but if you do like tennis then it was surprisingly good. I initially felt it was too descriptive of all the practicing and tennis matches, but I really got into it as the story went on and although Carrie wasn't an easy character to like I was really rooting for her to win.

The other main characters of her father and her practice partner Bowe, softened the story slightly and gave it more depth, even the side character of Nicki Chan worked really well, as Carrie was hard work most of the time!

The ending was perfect for me, and even though I wanted Carrie to win, whether she did or didn't was immaterial by the end of the book. You just wanted her to accept who she was and be happy with her life, instead of constantly striving to be better all the time. She was certainly a very, very driven character. A very enjoyable book.

Taylor Jenkins Reid can do no wrong in my eyes. Every book of hers I have read is gripping, immersive, perfectly written and paced and with relatable, realistic characters. Carrie Soto Is Back is no exception.

Carrie is such a nuanced character - featuring briefly in the authors last book Malibu Rising and known in the tennis world as the "Battle-Axe", she is cold, ambitious, ruthless and will step on anyone to reach the top. However, the reader gets to see another side of her this time around. At first, I thought her cold demeanour would potentially spoil the book for me but as we get to know her, I ended up loving and rooting for her. Her father/coach Javier and love interest Bowe were also excellently written - supporting characters but nonetheless well developed and relatable with their own stories rather than just being there to further the plot.

The only downside for me is that I know little to nothing about tennis so the pages that focused purely on the matches didn't mean much to me and I ended up skim reading them as despite knowing little about the game, I was still rooting for Carrie and really wanted her to win!

Gripping, well paced, excellent characters and perfectly written, Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again and I can't wait to read her next book!

Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Hutchinson Heinemann and NetGalley for the ARC.

She’s done it again. Such a brilliant, immersive read. I’m not big on tennis, but I’m into Carrie Soto’s tennis- so much drama.
I loved the perspective TJR brought to how women are treated in sport compared to their male counterparts. Also I love a good Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones mention.
Highly recommend.

I always do a small happy dance when I’m accepted for a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel so I was thrilled to be accepted for this one.

And what a book! Loved every second of it. The author has a brilliant writing style which hooks you in from the start and makes it difficult to put down. I raced through this in two nights, it’s easy to read, has a good pace and plenty of drama and tension to keep you involved.

This time the plot focuses on the highly competitive world of women’s tennis. Carrie Soto stormed the circuit when she was younger, setting world records for the number of grand slams, until injury and age start to catch up with her and she retires from the sport. As she turns 37, a younger player matches her record and Carrie decides to launch her comeback.

This story tells of the ambition, drive and focus of someone who needs to win at all costs- breathtaking.

It explores her complex relationship with her father, who is also her coach and her other relationships.

It was a brilliant read, also loved the little nods to Daisy Jones and the Malibu Rising crew.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book despite the fact it is only about tennis. Games are described in great detail and it’s only towards the last third of the book that the heroine, Carrie starts to show signs of being human. From that point, her journey out of tennis and into the reality of not being a competitor made it the most interesting part of the book for me.

As a huge fan of the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this book was a must read! It had similar vibes, with Carrie taking centre stage, chasing ambition and ruthlessly going after what she wants, much like Evelyn. And as similar to the other book, I fell for it hook, line and sinker and I couldn’t stop reading it!

This book had a really addicting quality to it. I found myself so invested in following Carrie journey to the top, to becoming the greatest and then to her subsequent return to hold her title.

I honestly can’t believe how much this book held me. It captivated me. It completely owned me for the entirety that I was reading it. Putting it down was a wrench but every page was utterly brilliant and incredibly enjoyable. I found I was so entertained, it was like I had a prime seat, watching the tennis unfold in front of me. The writing was outstanding, the story was brilliant and wow was I absolutely on the edge of my seat.

This book could have had the possibility of being a boring one if you weren’t interested in tennis. But even if you hated the game, I think the book would still be an absolute winner for every reader. Carrie’s character is so wierdly endearing, even if she is an absolute battle axe and doesn’t mind who she steps on to get there. She’s such a refreshingly ambitious character and I loved watching her story in tennis.

I think this is going to be one of those books that stays with me. I’ll probably take a bit of this book around with me everywhere I go. Whether it’s Carries go get them attitude, her rising above the face of adversity or just learning to roll with the punches and get back on the game. I’ve just finished this book and already I want to read it again… wow and wow.

I've been going back and forth (much like the rallies in this book) over whether this is a 4 or 5 star read. I think I have rated most TJR books as 5 stars for the simple reason that she always delivers.

Regardless of the story, I always feel like I am not really reading her novels. I mean that in the sense I pick her books up and a few hours later I am 80% done and the afternoon has gone. It is a rare author that can do that for me and I could probably count them on one hand.

Here, we are introduced to Carrie Soto. She retired from tennis holding the world record for number of grand slams won and has to sit and watch as Nikki Chan equals her record. Carrie takes in that moment, and then decides to return to the court, seeking to take her record back.

Some have described Carrie as being unlikeable but I am not sure I would agree. I think we have a tendency to view people (particularly women) who are as driven and committed as Carrie is as being bitchy but we would not view men in the same way.

Don't get me wrong, she would not make a good diplomat but I probably wouldn't either.

Some other people have asked whether this is a book for sports fans and I don't think it is. Whilst the story is about a group of tennis players on the professional circuit, it is much deeper than that as you would expect with TJR.

The only thing preventing me from giving it a 5 star rating is some of the language was not quite in keeping with my understanding of tennis and some of the descriptions didn't make sense to me. In terms of language, the umpires constantly said "Game is Soto's" or "Set is Soto's" however umpires would generally say "Game Ms Soto" or "Game, and first set, Ms Soto" There were also descriptions of grand slam matches going to a tie break in the final set which I don't think would be the case in that time period. Finally, at one point towards the end of a match, a player is serving and Soto returns the serve with an overhead smash - it just isn't realistic or even physically possible for someone to serve in tennis and for the returner to return it overhead. The server would need to be 9ft tall. I understand that the use of tie breaks may be part of the story and a story telling device however I think more research could have been done around the game of tennis to make it more realistic.

Having said that, it was still a great novel and I was so pleased to be approved for the ARC so a massive thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Hutchinson Heinemann and Netgalley for providing this in exchange for an honest review.