Review | Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Page count: 355 pages
Content Warnings: substance abuse, abortion
Star Rating (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy Rating (out of 5): n/a

This novel, delivered as a tell-all behind-the-scenes interview, follows the rise and rapid dissolution of a rock and roll band in the 70s. I know… I’m a couple of years late to this party. To be honest, I just happened upon this book after reading Malibu Rising and looking for more books by the author. I had no idea ahead of time what this book was about, that it was insanely popular, or that Amazon is working to release a limited series next month. On a whim, I decided to choose the audiobook version, and I think that was the right choice given the book reads as an interview and the audiobook hosts a full cast. It was easier to get a feel for (and keep track of!) the characters in the audiobook format. This kept me more engaged in the story than if I had read the book.  

As I was reading, I found out the book is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham’s relationship. I grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac, and they are still one of my favorite bands, so the connection in part explains why I was so enraptured with this book. The fictional band Reid created was compelling and convincingly authentic – from the song lyrics to recounting how the songs were developed, produced, and refined. I had to repeatedly remind myself that Daisy Jones & The Six doesn’t actually exist.

The relationships and conflicts depicted were raw and real. For instance, the push and pull of Daisy and Billy’s relationship was expertly executed so that I was constantly asking… “Well, will they?!”. And while I couldn’t exactly understand Billy and his wife Camila’s relationship, I imagine it is realistic for a relationship where one person is famous and always on the road. There were a couple of events I remained unconvinced about throughout the book – knowing Daisy’s motivations and personality, would Daisy really have been so excited to join The Six?? After all, she knew she wanted to write her own songs, and being in charge of that was more important to her than singing and being famous. Overall, this story was engaging, entertaining, and emotional. I recommend this book if you’re looking for an easy read that quickly grabs your interest.