Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5/5 stars

TO SAY THAT I WAS BLOWN AWAY FROM THE START WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

I finished this book in about 4 hours because I couldn't get enough once I started it.

Set in the mid sixties – late seventies, Daisy Jones & The Six transports readers to the most iconic age of rock n’ roll. The atmosphere and story composition create and authentic tale that I almost refuse to believe isn’t real! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master of fiction – her characters possess an uncanny ability to charm readers and settle into their hearts. Her novels are multi-faceted and unlike any other books I’ve read, especially due to the oral history storytelling of Daisy Jones.

There is no doubt that Reid drew inspiration from Almost Famous' Penny Lane and the films band, Stillwater. Daisy Jones is so much like the iconic Penny Lane it's insane, but they are also very different. Daisy Jones is what Penny Lane would be if she was the one making the music instead of taking on the role of the fan.

I was amazed with the writing and how shockingly engaging it was. Reid writes in interview style. Consequently, multiple characters perspectives are explored which ultimatley elevates the story to another level. Hearing personal accounts from each character made me feel connected to them on a deeper level.

The story is raw and evocative, filled with sweet, complicated characters I can't help but connect with. There's complexity and nuance in the way Reid captures the relationships between the band members, each flawed in their own way. With their every success, I cheered for them. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what happens next.

For me, the only small letdown was the ending. To be fair, I can't quite separate out if my disappointment is just that I wish the band had stayed together forever, making music and being happy, instead of splitting up. I wanted certain things to happen with the story, but they obviously didn't, and that left me with an unfinished feeling.

BUT the way Reid crafts Billy and Daisy's relationship is a main aspect of what kept me hooked. The way they clash for majority of the novel and have such heated arguments, but also form deep love and respect for one another is something that I thought was so complex and fascinating.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo kept me on my toes when I first read it over a year ago, and Daisy Jones & The Six was an exceptional follow-up read from Taylor Jenkins Reid.