Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.
In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season.
Part story, part oral history, Carrie Soto is Back is a powerful novel about what it costs to be great. Professional sports (and sports in general) are a male-dominated space and a woman's perspective is hugely important to Taylor. This is evident in all of her books—she wants to make women feel seen and heard—and Carrie Soto is Back is no exception.
Reid once again writes about strong women and the downside of fame—Carrie is in good company with Evelyn, Daisy, and Nina. (Fun fact: at the beginning of Malibu Rising, we learn that Nina has separated from her husband, Brandon, and he is now living with his mistress, tennis pro Carrie Soto.) Driven and sharp, yet brash and bold, Carrie holds nothing back and only cares about winning. She is a layered, complex, and an unlikable character that is so well written that readers will not only root for her, but they will also be enamoured with the game of tennis.
Taylor Jenkins Reid serves up an ace with Carrie Soto is Back. Highly recommend!
TAYLOR JENKINS REID is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and the Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and The Six, is in post-production having been adapted by Hello Sunshine into a limited series for Amazon.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and dog.
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