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theespressoedition's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While I can't say this is my favorite book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, it did land itself at the same level (or possibly above) Malibu Rising for me! It was filled with all of the family emotion, great quotes, strong characters, and depth that I wanted - without the intense levels of drama that I've found in her previous novels. Very enjoyable.
I'm really glad that I chose to listen to the audiobook. Similar to Daisy Jones & The Six, it had a full cast of narrators that made the story even more immersive. I felt like I was living in it rather than just reading about it. I proceeded to listen to the entire story in one day, which made me have some strange tennis dreams…
Speaking of tennis, if you're a lover of the sport and you have a lot of knowledge about it, you'll really enjoy this book. When it came to my personal experience, I felt like a lot of the most intense moments were lost on me because I don't have a clue how the game works. However, despite my lack of insight, I still enjoyed the tennis-centered scenes and the emotions that came from the different characters allowed me to understand what was happening - possibly almost as much as someone who actually gets the terms.
The serious lack of romance was super surprising to me. This is something that was fundamental in almost every other TJR book I've read so far. In Carrie Soto, there was very little focus on that. It existed, but never in graphic ways and it certainly wasn't a primary plot point. Carrie's relationship with her father was defiitely the top theme for the majority of the book. That, and her rivalries.
It was interesting to see how Carrie changed throughout the book. I wouldn't necessarily say there was grand character development or growth, but she did become different people throughout each part of the story and I found a lot of what she went through to be very relatable. I enjoyed "seeing inside her mind" so to speak.
I definitely recommend this one! You don't need to read Malibu Rising to understand it, but I enjoyed the little nods to parts of that story (along with the mention of reading a Daisy Jones & The Six biography at one point). Having all four of the latest TJR books set in the same world is really fun!
I'm really glad that I chose to listen to the audiobook. Similar to Daisy Jones & The Six, it had a full cast of narrators that made the story even more immersive. I felt like I was living in it rather than just reading about it. I proceeded to listen to the entire story in one day, which made me have some strange tennis dreams…
Speaking of tennis, if you're a lover of the sport and you have a lot of knowledge about it, you'll really enjoy this book. When it came to my personal experience, I felt like a lot of the most intense moments were lost on me because I don't have a clue how the game works. However, despite my lack of insight, I still enjoyed the tennis-centered scenes and the emotions that came from the different characters allowed me to understand what was happening - possibly almost as much as someone who actually gets the terms.
The serious lack of romance was super surprising to me. This is something that was fundamental in almost every other TJR book I've read so far. In Carrie Soto, there was very little focus on that. It existed, but never in graphic ways and it certainly wasn't a primary plot point. Carrie's relationship with her father was defiitely the top theme for the majority of the book. That, and her rivalries.
It was interesting to see how Carrie changed throughout the book. I wouldn't necessarily say there was grand character development or growth, but she did become different people throughout each part of the story and I found a lot of what she went through to be very relatable. I enjoyed "seeing inside her mind" so to speak.
I definitely recommend this one! You don't need to read Malibu Rising to understand it, but I enjoyed the little nods to parts of that story (along with the mention of reading a Daisy Jones & The Six biography at one point). Having all four of the latest TJR books set in the same world is really fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity and Misogyny
vicktorea's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
it was good but it wasn’t all that
i liked this, but it wasn’t my fav TJR.
Carrie Soto was unlikeable at times but I didn’t hate her; however, I found myself conflicted, at times. between wanting to root for her or thump her. I also found her growth throughout the novel a bit sudden, it didn’t feel gradual.
While I liked the themes (father/daughter relationships, women [esp WOC] in sports [& any industry] having to work so much harder while men get presided for mediocrity and the bare minimum, being “the best” at something not necessarily being the most important thing), the overall plot and appreciated what TJR was aiming to do with this story, it felt predictable. I could just tell exactly what was going to happen and it was missing that signature TJR “twist”.
I’ll also say that I find it really weird how often TJR writes Latinx main characters when she’s not Latinx. While I appreciate her drawing attention to minorities, I think these stories should be told by own-voices authors.
Overall, I did like this but i think TJR has better books. I listened to the audio for this via Audible and liked the narration (although I didn’t always find it believable for Carrie’s character but it was still enjoyable) and thought the production was great!
I also received an e-ARC from the Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review - thank you to both!
i liked this, but it wasn’t my fav TJR.
Carrie Soto was unlikeable at times but I didn’t hate her; however, I found myself conflicted, at times. between wanting to root for her or thump her. I also found her growth throughout the novel a bit sudden, it didn’t feel gradual.
While I liked the themes (father/daughter relationships, women [esp WOC] in sports [& any industry] having to work so much harder while men get presided for mediocrity and the bare minimum, being “the best” at something not necessarily being the most important thing), the overall plot and appreciated what TJR was aiming to do with this story, it felt predictable. I could just tell exactly what was going to happen and it was missing that signature TJR “twist”.
I’ll also say that I find it really weird how often TJR writes Latinx main characters when she’s not Latinx. While I appreciate her drawing attention to minorities, I think these stories should be told by own-voices authors.
Overall, I did like this but i think TJR has better books. I listened to the audio for this via Audible and liked the narration (although I didn’t always find it believable for Carrie’s character but it was still enjoyable) and thought the production was great!
I also received an e-ARC from the Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review - thank you to both!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
jazhandz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism and Medical content
emmelinelc's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Racism and Lesbophobia
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow I really enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back! I was a little wary after reading Malibu Rising last year, I didn’t love it and felt the book was too long for such little plot. TJR really impressed me with this one though, like Carrie Soto, she has a come back. I love sports and a come back story, I love when someone is underestimated (even once their greatness has been proven) and they journey to come out on top again. I think this book was compelling. I especially loved Carrie for being who she was regardless of what everyone else thought. Special shout out to Bowe who turned out to be a real babe. I highly recommend this read!
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Cancer
kat_impossible's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*I was provided with an eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!*
CW: misogyny, sexism, ageism, loss of a loved one, mention of racism, alcoholism and injuries
Carrie Soto Is Back is my new favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book. Honestly, this came as a complete surprise to me, but I was riveted from start to finish. I just couldn't put it down. I never realized how much Spanish I actually understood or how much information I retained from watching tennis a lot when I was a kid, but this book was an utter delight - although I think it will work for people without any knowledge about the sport just as well.
Carrie Soto doesn't start out as the most likable person, especially if you might harbor some resentment from Malibu Rising still, but she is a force to be reckoned with. She made tennis her entire life and when she decides to return from retirement, she is faced with relentless ageism, misogyny, sexism and just straight hostility. She never played the sport to make friends, she played it to be great and it swiftly became clear to me that there was no way I wouldn't root for her to succeed once more.
Told from a first person POV for the most part, sprinkled with transcripts of news articles or sports commentators, you don't just get to see the Carrie Soto the world thought they knew, but also the lonely and vulnerable person behind the tough facade. TJR just has a gift of creating very flawed characters, which you end up falling in love with regardless. They learn from their mistakes, they grow and you want nothing more for them than to get what they truly need.
Told from a first person POV for the most part, sprinkled with transcripts of news articles or sports commentators, you don't just get to see the Carrie Soto the world thought they knew, but also the lonely and vulnerable person behind the tough facade. TJR just has a gift of creating very flawed characters, which you end up falling in love with regardless. They learn from their mistakes, they grow and you want nothing more for them than to get what they truly need.
While the story spans over decades, it never felt rushed or difficult to follow. We get training montages and certain scenes that make us understand what an incredible tennis player Carrie is, but I think most people will show up for the relationships she manages to cultivate over the course of the novel. Carrie has enemies and frenemies, but ultimately a very limited amount of people who really matter in her life. She was blessed with a wonderful love interest, but more importantly, there is a beautiful exploration of a father-daughter-relationship in Carrie Soto Is Back. Javier Soto is a legend in his own right and they weren't always on the best terms, he sometimes messed up as a father, but he was there when it counted. Those two really were the heart of the story.
I don't think this review does justice to just how invested I was in Carrie Soto's life and success, which doesn't necessarily look like what you would expect it to. My heart was thundering in my chest at every game she played. I was worried for her mental and physical health, while I also believed that she could do anything she set her mind to. I wanted her to open her heart to love, yet never relent to the people who told her she needed to be softer, kinder or more gracious. I wanted her to prove the entire world wrong and she. did. not. disappoint. I'm so grateful to have been on this journey with her.
Fazit: 5/5 stars! Fantastic and riveting!
P.S.: Yes, there are references to the likes of Daisy Jones and the Rivas. I just love the interconnectedness of these books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Out August 30, 2022 [Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 5/5 stars
Carrie Soto, once the greatest women’s tennis player in the world, returns to the sport after a five-year hiatus determined to reclaim her record for most Grand Slam titles.
I know these will be fighting words, but this is the best TJR novel, and Carrie Soto is the best TJR heroine. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and Nina Riva, and all of their respective books. But Carrie Soto has instantly found such an important place in my heart for so many reasons—she’s brilliant, funny, feisty, infuriating, determined, strong, and deeply deeply relatable. I’ve never played tennis (I’m not even confident I could hit a tennis ball, at all, in any context) but so much of Carrie’s journey resonated with me anyway, because it is so deeply and intrinsically human.
I rarely cry at books, even the deeply sad ones, but I was on the verge of openly sobbing *several* times while reading this one, which is the mark of a truly special book in my world. While Carrie and the various supporting characters are the definite highlight, the plot is also fantastic and gripping, and I absolutely loved the various themes woven throughout. And, I’m also a sucker for a sports story, so I was totally enthralled by all the tennis (and, yes, there is a lot of tennis).
I could go on, probably for essays’ worth of words, but honestly no words can do this book justice anyway. In the end, all I can say is do yourself a favor and read Carrie Soto Is Back as soon as you possibly can.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: sports dramas; characters that jump off the page; recent-history historical fiction.
CW: Death of a loved one; misogyny/sexism.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Carrie Soto, once the greatest women’s tennis player in the world, returns to the sport after a five-year hiatus determined to reclaim her record for most Grand Slam titles.
I know these will be fighting words, but this is the best TJR novel, and Carrie Soto is the best TJR heroine. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and Nina Riva, and all of their respective books. But Carrie Soto has instantly found such an important place in my heart for so many reasons—she’s brilliant, funny, feisty, infuriating, determined, strong, and deeply deeply relatable. I’ve never played tennis (I’m not even confident I could hit a tennis ball, at all, in any context) but so much of Carrie’s journey resonated with me anyway, because it is so deeply and intrinsically human.
I rarely cry at books, even the deeply sad ones, but I was on the verge of openly sobbing *several* times while reading this one, which is the mark of a truly special book in my world. While Carrie and the various supporting characters are the definite highlight, the plot is also fantastic and gripping, and I absolutely loved the various themes woven throughout. And, I’m also a sucker for a sports story, so I was totally enthralled by all the tennis (and, yes, there is a lot of tennis).
I could go on, probably for essays’ worth of words, but honestly no words can do this book justice anyway. In the end, all I can say is do yourself a favor and read Carrie Soto Is Back as soon as you possibly can.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: sports dramas; characters that jump off the page; recent-history historical fiction.
CW: Death of a loved one; misogyny/sexism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
megbooks02's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I DIDN’T ASK YOU TO RIP MY HEART OUT ON A RANDOM TUESDAY NIGHT, TAYLOR JENKINS REID.
This book is everything. Taylor Jenkins Reid is the queen of writing strong, badass female characters that stay with you long after the last page. Carrie, Nicki, and Javier are characters you will never forget. Carrie Soto Is Back is a beautiful story about perseverance, love, and the power of being vulnerable. I loved every second of this story!
This book is everything. Taylor Jenkins Reid is the queen of writing strong, badass female characters that stay with you long after the last page. Carrie, Nicki, and Javier are characters you will never forget. Carrie Soto Is Back is a beautiful story about perseverance, love, and the power of being vulnerable. I loved every second of this story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism
sophiareads_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings: misogyny, death of a parent
Carrie Soto was born to be the best tennis player in the world, and she was. But five years after her retirement, the new face of women's tennis ties her record of the most Grand Slam titles ever, prompting Carrie to come out of retirement and defend her legacy.
I was super excited to receive an ARC of this novel, because I've really enjoyed all of the books in this series so far, and man, this did not disappoint! The snippet of Carrie Soto that we got in Malibu Rising had me intrigued and excited for this book, and she remains and fascinating and incredible well written character in her own story. I continue to love TJR's writing - I always find her novels so easy to read (apparently, even when they are about sports, which I must assure you is very impressive because I truly cannot emphasise how much I do not care about sports). The mixed media elements are done very well - I think it can be easy to overdo it with them sometimes, but here I think they enhance the story. TJR is very good at extremely flawed, abrasive characters who you still root for, and Carrie Soto is maybe my favourite yet - I was rooting for her SO hard the whole way through. I truly didn't want to like the romance subplot (personally, I was hoping for a Chan/Soto rivals to lovers moment) but I must congratulate TJR for selling me on it eventually.
Daisy Jones and the Six might have a rival for my favourite TJR here. I loved this novel. Such an easy recommend!
Thank you to Taylor Jenkins Reid, NetGalley, and Random House UK for the ARC of Carrie Soto Is Back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny
alylentz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've been lukewarm on previous titles from this author, but I so thoroughly enjoyed this! It was very interesting to see the themes of fame Taylor Jenkins Reid often plays with interpreted in an entirely new arena by writing a sports novel. I also found Carrie Soto to be such a fun protagonist to follow... I'd bet many will find her unlikable but won't be able to stop themselves from rooting for her. There is also a romance subplot that I found really well-done. Overall, a complete page-turner, the way books from this author so often are, and one with a perfect ending. Not always to my personal taste, but a definite good time and a worthy addition to the interconnected, fame-focused universe Taylor Jenkins Reid has created. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy challenging protagonists, family-focused stories, and fast-paced, plot-focused books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent