Reviews

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

bridge_overbooked's review against another edition

inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I couldn't put this one down! I loved the characters that TJR created for this book and I saw so many overlaps between what fictional Carrie went through in the 1980s and 90s and what real women go through every day - the constant commentary that you're too nice or too pushy, the demand that you smile all the time and don't show emotion, and the belittling of women's sports and opinions. I liked the expansion of Carrie's emotional state through the book and I appreciated that she didn't just have a straight line to success coming out of retirement, but it was ultimately a little predictable.

"Carrie Soto is Back" follows legendary tennis player Carrie Soto as she comes out of retirement at 37 to reclaim her record from rising star Nicki Chan. With her father coaching her, she undergoes grueling training for a chance to be the best again. Despite her fierce reputation, the story also explores her personal life lessons and how to find her joy again.

parksparks's review against another edition

3.75

With Challengers, Joey from The Bachelor, and me reading this book — big year for tennis!

viclingg's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-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

4.5

boombaeyah's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Great writing, I just don’t care enough about tennis to find this as entertaining as some of this author’s other works.

rwedesky1's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

xameliakee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring tense fast-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

4.0

leah24601's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

clairetomlinson's review against another edition

5.0

got me out of a reading slump; i dont know anything abt tennis but this + challengers has made me vry interested

christina_mitchell's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Read this after seeing Challengers lol not her best work but still worth a read

amanda_mh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense slow-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

5.0

How can an author make you love and hate a character ?! Well Taylor Jenkins Ried did just that with Carrie Soto! There were moments where I loved Carrie and there were also many moments where I could not stand her! This just made me enjoy the book even more!! 
I learned a little bit about tennis, competition , relationships and may have cried along the way 🥰😭 
Another solid read by TJR!!

Now I need to read through her backlist of books 📚 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Chronic illness

Moderate: Death of parent