sadgirlsaz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Vomit, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
mia_belanger's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny, Abortion, and Death
storieswithbee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Genre: Adult Contemporary Fiction
Age range: 15+
Trope: Celebrity
Overall: 4/5
Content warning: *Abortion, Depictions of Mental Illness (Addiction, Anxiety, Depression), Cheating, Substance Abuse (Alcohol/Drugs), Eating Disorder, Unplanned Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Profanity, Sexual Themes, Self-harm, Parental Neglect*
I listened to this book in an audio format, and I highly recommend that everyone does this.
Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Daisy Jones & The Six' and 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' are extremely reminiscent of one another. If you liked one, then I can almost guarantee you'll like the other.
Reading this book for the first time - not having read the blurb - and heading into this story blind, I was thrown off guard that we were delving into the life and the backstory of a singer and a rock and roll band from the seventies. We were introduced to so many characters very early on that played so many integral parts. And that came across as a little confronting, but that evoked confusion is deliberate.
This book is written in a documentary-style format that takes you across the span of years with Daisy Jones and the band known as The Six. It features their rise to fame, their challenges across that time, and their eventual split.
The characters were so well fleshed out already, and that was all the more satisfying with how well this book was narrated. Listening to how each character talked, the emotions in their voices, the pauses, the breathiness, and the laughter, gave the reader/listener this whole new depth in how they could submerge themselves into the story. I genuinely felt as if I was watching a proper interview with the characters, just without viewing it in front of me. I found it so incredibly fascinating.
The main themes behind the book were thought-provoking, but also really genuine in their mundaneness. All the characters' struggles were real-life struggles. All the conflicts were valid to the main storyline, but they were also complimentary to the time, and to the characters themselves. Nothing felt out of place or too extreme, or too far-fetched.
All in all, I think this book was a phenomenal read. However, for me, I found that I was comparing this book back to Evelyn Hugo a lot more than I wanted to. I loved that damn book, and because I loved that book, this one paled slightly in comparison. I think it will depend on what you read first. Should that turn you off this book? Absolutely not. Daisy Jones and The Six will be characters that I never let go of.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Misogyny, Addiction, Drug use, and Infidelity
Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Vomit, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Abandonment, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Death of parent
archer_w27's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
honestly, i wasn't a fan of this book. i could go on for quite a bit about why, but i'll keep it short. TJR wrote this in a different format than (i believe) most of her books, and i think that's obvious. it was very difficult for me to develop any attachment to these characters. while i liked a few of them, i wasn't able to connect with most. when writing in a new format, you have to be sure you don't lose the characters or the plot, and i think that's exactly what happened. i wasn't really invested in this story, the relationships, the characters, etc. i think the issues in this book were never truly resolved or resolved too quick. i never found myself wanting to pick up this book. i also wish TJR would have better utilized the fact that this was in the 70's. you could have told me the events were set in present day and i would have believed you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Infidelity, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Abortion, and Self harm
channamason's review
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
my favorite TJR book i’ve read. kept my interested and excited. not exactly a page turner but it’s very readable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abortion and Misogyny
alyssadavis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“You have these lines you won’t cross. But then you cross them. And suddenly you possess the very dangerous information that you can break the rule and the world won’t instantly come to an end. You’ve taken a big, black, bold line and you’ve made it a little bit gray. And now every time you cross it again, it just gets grayer and grayer until one day you look around and you think, There was a line here once, I think.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Abortion, Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, and Chronic illness
prairieraven's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
redefiningrachel's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Abortion, Addiction, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, Self harm, and Domestic abuse
apalershadeofwhite's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This story is so beautifully melancholic. It's dealing with all these issues - personal, public, controversial, common - and it's done in such a way that you feel every ounce of it. You feel for these characters as if they were actual people you were having a conversation with, and it breaks your heart that someone could be going through things like these all the while dealing with them alone.
This book had had such an freaking amazing start. Phenomenal, really! I really liked the documentary-style writing because it was super experimentative for me, but it also played into my sporadic habit of jumping down pages to read the dialogue lol. I think, on the surface at least, it's written in a really accessible way; I think even non-readers would enjoy this! I mean, you can't read the word "I'd've" and expect a formal piece of work lol. I think there's an initial worry with this kind of niche writing style, but TJR is a writer like no other and somehow manages it. What talent.
However, although I think this novel is written in a really accessible way for readers and non-readers alike, I don't think it is very universal. I am definitely someone who thrives while reading more traditional writing styles and I think there's something so powerful in a good description; whether it be tension or the linguistic side of writing or even just being written in a beautiful way. It's definitely fun to experience with writing styles, as both a writer and a reader, but I think the power that description can have is personally an integral part of my reading experience.
With this writing style, as well, I think it draws special attention to the little things. Every single thing someone could say is important. You have to really look at what they're saying and see if it could possibly foreshadow or symbolise something else. For example, some things would seem like an insignificant detail to read in a book but is actually a significant narrative point or turning point in a documentary.
I really like the grittiness of this book though, which was enhanced by the setting and plot as well as the writing style. We got to see what love is like on tour, what relationships and friendships are like, with an insane amount of candour. It made for some shocking things, but also some really funny moments as well. (Side note: I'm sorry but the name Karen Karen had me howling.) An example I like is when Karen is asked to wear mini skirts and low-cut tops and she says "an ugly face isn't, you know, the end of a man". I love that we got deeper things than just the sex and drugs that come with rock and roll and touring; we're getting other things like social commentary, which is really well broached. (Side note #2: Warren is a pig.) For instance, Billy expected to be in complete control and when finally letting someone else have a say in the creative process, even though he 'didn't think he should have', he expected to be praised and rewarded for making people feel included.
The author's note actually took me so off guard! I was not expecting that. I think I forgot that despite this being a book, it is still a documentary-style writing piece on this band, so of course there's going to be a character who is writing it! And that plot twist was one I didn't suspect at all, which just shows that TJR is crazy talented and can even shock you in experimentative writing styles like this!
This book had had such an freaking amazing start. Phenomenal, really! I really liked the documentary-style writing because it was super experimentative for me, but it also played into my sporadic habit of jumping down pages to read the dialogue lol. I think, on the surface at least, it's written in a really accessible way; I think even non-readers would enjoy this! I mean, you can't read the word "I'd've" and expect a formal piece of work lol. I think there's an initial worry with this kind of niche writing style, but TJR is a writer like no other and somehow manages it. What talent.
However, although I think this novel is written in a really accessible way for readers and non-readers alike, I don't think it is very universal. I am definitely someone who thrives while reading more traditional writing styles and I think there's something so powerful in a good description; whether it be tension or the linguistic side of writing or even just being written in a beautiful way. It's definitely fun to experience with writing styles, as both a writer and a reader, but I think the power that description can have is personally an integral part of my reading experience.
With this writing style, as well, I think it draws special attention to the little things. Every single thing someone could say is important. You have to really look at what they're saying and see if it could possibly foreshadow or symbolise something else. For example, some things would seem like an insignificant detail to read in a book but is actually a significant narrative point or turning point in a documentary.
I really like the grittiness of this book though, which was enhanced by the setting and plot as well as the writing style. We got to see what love is like on tour, what relationships and friendships are like, with an insane amount of candour. It made for some shocking things, but also some really funny moments as well. (Side note: I'm sorry but the name Karen Karen had me howling.) An example I like is when Karen is asked to wear mini skirts and low-cut tops and she says "an ugly face isn't, you know, the end of a man". I love that we got deeper things than just the sex and drugs that come with rock and roll and touring; we're getting other things like social commentary, which is really well broached. (Side note #2: Warren is a pig.) For instance, Billy expected to be in complete control and when finally letting someone else have a say in the creative process, even though he 'didn't think he should have', he expected to be praised and rewarded for making people feel included.
The author's note actually took me so off guard! I was not expecting that. I think I forgot that despite this being a book, it is still a documentary-style writing piece on this band, so of course there's going to be a character who is writing it! And that plot twist was one I didn't suspect at all, which just shows that TJR is crazy talented and can even shock you in experimentative writing styles like this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexism
nehanaomi's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
definitely grew on me the more I read, very excited to hear the songs in the tv series!
Spoiler
the reveal of the author had me gagged! the rest of the book suddenly made so much sense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Vomit, Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Death, Sexism, and Toxic relationship