Fave Recent Read- A Carrie Soto is Back Review

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Historical Fiction | Published: 2022

I came across Carrie Soto Is Back on Twitter, where someone was raving about how brilliant and captivating it was. At that point, I’d only read two of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, both of which I’d thoroughly enjoyed, so I thought, Why not give this one a go? So I added to my TBR

This is going to be more of a snapshot review, unlike my recent ones that have been long, thematic, deep dives. I fancied doing something a bit shorter and lighter for a change.

I always say that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes about fictional people who feel as though they’ve truly lived, characters who could easily exist in our world, with achievements and legacies that seem entirely believable. The historical fiction element in her work feels so authentic that you can’t convince me Carrie Soto isn’t a real person. The way Reid tells her story makes it feel like a genuine biography or even a documentary unfolding before you.

I more or less knew how it was going to end; it’s somewhat predictable, but there’s still that irresistible urge to stay with it, to see how everything plays out.

Plot Overview

By the time Carrie Soto retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.

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, British 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 her body doesn’t move as fast as it did.

Despite it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback.

Themes

There are so many strong themes explored in this book: ambition and legacy, how women are perceived when they’re competitive and strong, particularly in the public eye. There’s also the overarching theme of fading fame and the struggle for relevance in a youth-obsessed world, especially for women. Alongside these, Reid weaves in gentler ideas around family and identity.

I’m going to focus mainly on legacy and the challenges faced by driven women in a society that still expects them to embody softness and traditional femininity.

There’s no question about whether Carrie Soto is a likeable character; she really isn’t. What begins as drive and determination is twisted by the media into something harsh and unpalatable. She’s branded a “battleaxe”, cold, unflinching, and unladylike. The more she realises that the sport and the press will continue to vilify her simply for wanting to be the best, the more she leans into the persona they’ve created for her.

The commentary surrounding her treatment feels painfully familiar. Carrie, being a white Latina woman, may not face the overt racism and discrimination that Venus and Serena Williams endured while breaking into a predominantly white sport, but there are still glimpses of this struggle. Set in the 1990s, with her prime in the late ’70s and ’80s, the book highlights the misogyny and prejudice that women of colour—especially those who defy expectations of femininity—faced in that era.

Carrie sacrifices so much of herself in her pursuit of greatness, and this comes at a heavy cost to her personal life and relationships. It’s this sacrifice that explains why she cannot simply rest on her legacy; striving to be the best is all she’s ever known. Yet, in her journey to reclaim her title, she begins to rebuild what she once lost and learns that there’s more to life than a single consuming pursuit. It’s a powerful reflection on how ambition, while admirable, can become hollow when it eclipses everything else that gives life meaning.

The ending beautifully encapsulates this growth—a moment of acceptance and maturity. Carrie’s decision to become Nikki’s coach symbolises a redefined legacy: one that continues not through titles or trophies, but through guidance, influence, and the wisdom gained from a lifetime of striving.

“I am no longer the greatest tennis player in the world. For the first time in my life, I can be…something else.”

Character Focus

As I said, Carrie Soto is not a likeable character. Personally, I don’t need a protagonist to be likeable to enjoy their story. On one hand, I understand her perspective—how she chose to lean into the narrative the media created about her. She’s unapologetically driven and fiercely ambitious, a complex and layered woman. But at the same time, she can be incredibly brash, arrogant, and often downright rude. She’s not easy to warm to, and readers may struggle with that. Yet I love a multi-layered female character, and there are very few that I can happily dislike—Carrie Soto is one of them.

Carrie’s inner battles are rooted deeply in loss—losing her mother at a young age and being pushed by her father, Javier, to achieve greatness. His ambition for her becomes her own, to the point where she eventually distances herself from him in pursuit of even more success. The higher she climbs, the less grounded she becomes, losing the only genuine connection she ever had. She begins to seek validation through superficial relationships and men who ultimately take more than they give.

Growing up sheltered, her entire world was centred around one goal, leaving little space for emotional growth. From a young age, she learns that many men simply want something from her, and this pattern defines all her relationships until the very end. Yet, at her core, her bond with her father remains the truest part of her identity, resonating throughout the novel.

Javier Soto

I adored the supporting characters. Nikki Chan, for example, is the perfect rival. She both mirrors and challenges Carrie’s mindset, forcing her to confront all parts of herself. But the character who stood out most to me was Javier Soto. He’s the perfect balance of warmth, humanity, and love to Carrie’s relentless ambition. He is her foundation; the one who taught her to strive for greatness while reminding her that being her best self was always enough.

The moments when Carrie realises her father can’t, or won’t, take her any further are emotionally charged and beautifully written. You feel the weight of that realisation, for both of them. For Javier, it’s the painful understanding of what he’s created: a daughter so consumed by success that it’s too late for him to simply “love her enough” to fill that void. Losing him is utterly heartbreaking, yet their story concludes in such a poignant, poetic way, right where it all began. He led her towards greatness, and she carried his determination, drive, and love with her to the very end.

“My heart hurts when you hurt because you are my heart.”

Writing Style

I listened to Carrie Soto Is Back as an audiobook, which I think was the perfect decision. The cinematic tone of the book translates beautifully in audio form. That’s something I really love about Taylor Jenkins Reid. I recently listened to Daisy Jones & The Six, which also uses that documentary-style format, and it genuinely feels like you’re watching it unfold on screen. The inclusion of press clips and media snippets in Carrie Soto Is Back adds to that same immersive, almost film-like experience.

Reid captures the intensity and the loneliness of professional sport so well, particularly in an individual sport like tennis. The way the media treats Carrie is telling: male presenters repeatedly calling her a “bitch”, the relentless scrutiny of her personal life, her choices, and her mistakes. And then there are the actual match scenes, Reid writes them with such realism and tension. You can feel every serve, every missed point, every shift in momentum. It perfectly captures how quickly things can change in a match, the fine line between victory and defeat. If you’ve seen Challengers, it has that same charged energy.

This book is undeniably about tennis. If you’re not interested in the sport, you might find it a bit tennis-heavy, but honestly, that shouldn’t be a deterrent. I’ve seen that critique a few times, but I don’t think you need to love or even fully understand tennis to appreciate the story.

Reid’s prose is crisp and accessible, and despite the depth of the themes, it’s an easy book to follow. The pacing is fast, as you’d expect from a story centred around competition—but it’s also layered with real emotional depth. Through Carrie’s perspective, we get an intimate exploration of ambition, loss, and identity, as well as her struggle to reconcile her drive with her humanity.

Final Thoughts

I can’t say I have many critiques of this book; truthfully, I loved it, and even now I struggle to think of a flaw. I’ve seen some mixed opinions on Goodreads, and while I usually understand where people are coming from, this time I simply don’t agree. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the journey Taylor Jenkins Reid has been taking me on with her stories.

Carrie Soto Is Back is packed with emotional depth, sharp social commentary, and fast-paced storytelling. It’s a powerful, emotionally intelligent read that elevates sports fiction into something more, a profound study of ambition, self-worth, and the sacrifices we make in pursuit of greatness. Carrie Soto may never ask for your sympathy, but by the final page, she’s more than earned your respect.