A review by parchment_and_papyrus
Daisy Jones & The Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow. That’s the first thing I want to say, just wow. 

Daisy Jones and the Six is the story of the spectacular rise and equally magnificent fall of one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s. The book chronicles their respective journey through the small-town circuits, hard graft, rising fame, tours, and the process of making their award-winning album.  And it answers the one question on everyone’s mind, why did they throw it all in at the blink of an eye? 

First off, this book is not your traditional novel. It’s not set out as you would expect. Throw out your usual narrative and say hello to a chronicle of interviews. Wait, don’t let that put you off! It works. TJR orders each fictional interview so that accounts from each person present gives you all the detail you will ever need and the bonus, all the perspectives you could ever want. She even goes as far as giving slightly differing accounts, giving it such a realistic quality that I had to google if the band existed! 

It’s a bit of a slow burn to start with so give it some time. There are some strong foundations that she must build. But once you get into the second half you feel like you’re on a runaway train and it’s never going to stop. There will be very little that will be more important than reading that next chapter in that book, I promise you! 

The character development is out of this world. You cry for them, hope for them, plead with them, hate them, love them. It’s spectacular. I’ve read very few books that make you want two people to be together so much and so little. That you wish they could have this amazing relationship but knowing they would destroy each other. 

There are just so many things that I wish I could gush about so here’s a quick low down. There are wonderful moments in the book shining a light on the human condition. There is an amazing passage about what it’s like to love someone with an addiction. How surrounding yourself with the right people can have such a profound effect on the outcomes of your life. That both life as a mother and life as a childless woman are equally valid and fulfilling existences. That a stranger’s kindness can save you in moments of doubt. 

I know it’s an amazing book when it makes me laugh out loud or brings a tear to my eye and this book did the latter. There is a conversation between two characters who love the same man, and that conversation has such a theme of sisterhood and love that it ends up being both their salvations. 

It’s the slow start that is the only thing stopping me awarding it five stars. If you haven’t already read it, please make it your next read. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings