Staff Review – Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After reading “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” last year, I was interested to read more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels. I’d heard good things about this one, of course, and was eager to try it out. I’d also heard many people wondered if “Daisy Jones and The Six” were actually a real band after reading this book, which made me sure it was going to be a good one! The novel tells the story of Daisy Jones, a young woman trying to break her way into the music world in the 1970s, as well as The Six, a young rock band moving up the charts at the same time. The Six consisted of six members, including lead singer and songwriter Billy Dunne. Daisy and Billy have a dramatic partnership as they eventually try and work together, while Billy works on his sobriety and being a good husband to wife Camilla and father to their children. The novel is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the greatest rock bands that never was.

Just before I began to read this novel, I found out about the style in which it is written. Have you ever watched a documentary about a rock band or musician? Now imagine that, but as a book. The book is written in interview format, with members of the band and others close to them recounting the events of the height of musician’s careers.

This format took a bit of getting used to, mostly to make sure I noticed who was speaking in each paragraph. Eventually, I did enjoy reading the story like this, as it did make it feel like I was listening to a rock documentary as opposed to just reading a novel.

As per usual with Taylor Jenkins Reid, the characters in this novel were all really fascinating. While Daisy and Billy are the main focus (along with Billy’s wife Camilla), I really enjoyed learning about the other members of The Six, including Billy’s brother Graham, keyboardist Karen and unhappy Eddie. The band held many secrets from each other which are revealed in the book, and it’s fascinating to think about how this type of behaviour probably exists in many real-life bands, whether nowadays or in the 1970s. The book touches on some heavy topics, such as addiction, adultery and unwanted pregnancies, and does so in a very raw and honest way. The reader is completely entranced by the world of rock and roll, and all the pain that comes with it.

Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction, romance, or a story full of secrets, this novel has something for everyone! The series just began on Prime Video on March 3, and it looks fantastic!, opens a new window The book comes with a complete list of lyrics for the bands’ songs, and I can’t wait to hear them come to life on this show. The cast recorded the fictional album “Aurora” and it is topping the charts in real life! Be sure to check out Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six today!