I'm a Fan of a Band That Isn't Real: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My introduction to Taylor Jenkins Reid was through The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a book that touched me so deeply it's now my absolute favorite book. So to say that I had high expectations for Daisy Jones and the Six would be a massive understatement. That said, I initially unfairly judged the book towards the beginning. I wasn't a fan of the style of it reading like a screenplay, which reminded me upsettingly of The Cursed Child. But once I got sucked in, I got really sucked in. I finished it in two days, a remarkable change from trudging through my last book.

For the people who haven't read it yet, Daisy Jones and the Six is written as a 'Where Are They Now'-esque interview with a band from the seventies. Technically, a band (The Six) and a solo artist (Daisy) more or less thrown together by their record label. I'm excited to see it how I think it should be seen in it's upcoming TV miniseries produced by Reese Witherspoon and Amazon. Regardless, this book drew me in and even squeezed some tears out of me. Not the way I ugly sobbed for Evelyn Hugo, but I digress.

Reid has a way of writing incredibly realistic characters, and the situations they find themselves in and the reactions they have to them are so relatable, and visceral, that even when you're going, "Christ, no, stop it," you get why it's happening. She also has a knack for writing characters that at face value are very shiny and one-dimensional, and you think you know what they'll do, and then the way things play out is so human and they feel so human that it just takes your breath away. Also, I can't help picturing Daisy as Florence Welch meets Stevie Nicks, with Kim Carnes voice. 

Stop reading here to avoid spoilers, thank you!

My one big issue with this book was the twist. It didn't feel as though it made sense as much as the twist from Evelyn Hugo. I mean, the narrator being who the narrator turns out to be made some sense, but the character that died–the big reveal–left me kind of confused, and although it made me sad, I wasn't as sad as I felt I should have been. I felt as though a twist purely centering on Daisy and Billy would've tied things together a lot nicer, especially since it seemed to me they were all being interviewed anyway, they were in the same room, so do something! You know? I liked the letter, and I feel as though the narrator giving Billy the letter during the interview and having him (and possibly Daisy?) react to it would've been great.

Spoilers over! Read on!

All in all, I truly enjoyed this book. I want to read the rest of Reid's books, and any future books she may produce as she is massively talented. If you're a history buff or a rock 'n' roll fan, this book is an absolute must.

Plot: 4.5/5
Writing Style: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Overall: 4.8

Thanks for reading!
Davis