Who Would Like This Book:
Cue the 1970s rock-nostalgia! This book absolutely nails the sex, drugs, and (fictional) rock and roll atmosphere of the era, plunging you into the rollercoaster rise and fall of a band that feels almost too real to be made up. The unique interview-style storytelling makes the characters jump off the page, offering multiple perspectives that feel authentic, messy, and intensely human. Spot-on for music lovers, fans of behind-the-scenes celebrity drama, and anyone who gobbles up character-driven stories. If you enjoyed "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," think Fleetwood Mac is iconic, or just love the idea of flawed, passionate artists wrecking and remaking each other, you'll vibe hard with this novel. Audiobook fans: the full-cast recording turns it into a rockumentary experience!
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re not a fan of unconventional formats, the oral-history/interview style might put you off, especially since there’s minimal description or traditional narrative. The plot leans into familiar rock-band tropes: addiction, infighting, love triangles - so it can feel a bit clichéd or predictable if you’ve seen a lot of music documentaries. Some wanted deeper dives into secondary characters, and not everyone clicked with Daisy or Billy as protagonists. If you dislike stories heavy on flawed, sometimes unlikeable characters, or are hoping for a straightforward high-stakes romance, this may not be the one. And if you really don’t care about 1970s music culture, the atmosphere might leave you cold.
About:
'Daisy Jones & The Six' by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a novel written in an interview format that tells the story of a 70s rock band, reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. The book delves into the lives of the band members, their rise to fame, struggles with addiction, complex relationships, and the dynamics within the group. The writing style, portrayed through interview transcripts, provides a unique and engaging narrative that captures the essence of the rock 'n' roll era.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, infidelity, and emotional turmoil.
Has Romance?
Romantic relationships are significant to the plot but are not the sole focus, showcasing both romantic tensions and deeper connections.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup-from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the new novel Malibu Rising, available now!
REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
IN DEVELOPMENT AS AN ORIGINAL STREAMING SERIES EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY REESE WITHERSPOON
"An explosive, dynamite, down-and-dirty look at a fictional rock band told in an interview style that gives it irresistible surface energy."-Elin Hilderbrand
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR
The Washington Post
Esquire
Glamour
Real Simple
Good Housekeeping
Marie Claire
Parade
Paste
Shelf Awareness
BookRiot
Everyone knows DAISY JONES & THE SIX, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.
Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it's the rock 'n' roll she loves most. By the time she's twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.
Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she's pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.
Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.
The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.
Ratings (465)
Incredible (89) | |
Loved It (197) | |
Liked It (101) | |
It Was OK (41) | |
Did Not Like (30) | |
Hated It (7) |
Reader Stats (728):
Read It (472) | |
Want To Read (165) | |
Did Not Finish (18) | |
Not Interested (73) |
25 comment(s)
Loved the style of this book - narrated as a compilation of interviews of band members and various other characters giving a rich perspective on each event in the story. I had a hard time believing this wasn’t a real 70s rock band! And still wish I could hear the songs in real life…
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a compelling and inventive portrayal of rock 'n'roll in the 1970s. This book centers on Daisy Jones (a fierce, independent, and magnetic young artist) and The Six (a young band on the cusp of legendary status). When they join forces, their rise and ultimate fall deliver a journey full of passion, creativity, and heartbreak.
The way the narrative is structured in this book has to be its standout feature. The interview compilation with perspectives from each band member feels authentic and intimate. Honestly, this was a behind-the-scenes documentary in text format, and as a lover of documentaries, I couldn't get enough.
Daisy is a force of nature - vibrant flawed, and captivating. Her relationship with the band members is rocky at times. Especially with the frontman Billy. Their tension was palpable and I really enjoyed how Reid used their relationship to explore themes of love, addition, and sacrifice.
The only setback for this book was the pacing. At times, the plot felt uneven and dragged along in areas.
Overall, it is a solid exploration of fame, its cost, and the bonds that form and fracture under pressure.
4.25 starts. It’s a beautiful book and i need a fake documentary movie to go along with this book. so so so good Ried is a phenomenal writer.
Ahhh I hated the format of this book, cannot do it. Maybe the show will be more digestible.
Do yourself a favor and listen to this one!! The voice talents are amazing! Really beautiful.
Daisy Jones and the Six feels curiously voyeuristic, or like watching a documentary. It gave me Fleetwood Mac and Amy Winehouse vibes. The book had all the glamour, fame, drugs, sex and rock and roll of being on tour in the 70s. Lyrics to several songs are interspersed throughout the narrative and there is much discussion of the recording of the albums. Each song had a story behind it. There is even a tracklist to Aurora for added verisimilitude.
Following the characters felt like watching a real band chart their success.
Because no matter how many books we read saying that that sort of life isn’t secure, sustainable or satisfying, we all want a piece of it. We all want to explode in a cascade of glory like Daisy, to martyr ourselves on the pyre of constant drug highs and parties. We want to be able to get away with whatever we want, even though there’s really no such thing.
The book also left breathing room for real triumphs. There was never a sense of waiting for the other shoe to fall: characters could celebrate their achievements.
The relationships between the band were explored well, except perhaps Pete and Eddie’s. I loved the book’s uncompromising position that women deserve their own voices, and the space it gave to the childfree perspective. Too often in fiction we see the prevailing narrative that the traditional lifestyles of romance and having children are the raison d’être for most characters, LGBT characters included. I just loved Karen’s perspective because she stuck uncompromisingly to it.
The last 5% unfortunately saw a dip in quality. Once again, burning hot romantic love trumps everything. It’s an emotion I simply can’t fathom, and as such, it irritates me endlessly when it’s used, as here, by one woman against another. Can I please, just once, have one story that doesn’t push this romance-is-king narrative?
4 stars. once again tjr has blown me away. nothing beats evelyn hugo, but this book has got to be a strong second
don’t know why it took me so long to read this book, fun and really easy to read, great summer beach book for sure
Minha primeira leitura de 2020 e não podia ter começado melhor o ano!
A small "rant" before I get into reviewing the book. This took me back to memory lane as I vividly remember where I was and who I was back in early 2019. Just merely taking baby steps in preparation of starting my recovery journey for real this time and accepting help, accepting being uncomfortable in order to be okay and all that. To agree to move into a group home for disabled people was the scariest tet the best decision I ever made and I'm so glad for the progress I've done so far and I'm excited for the journey I keep on taking.
Now onto the book. When I first listened to this, I think I put Al my frustrations onto the characters and book and now when I have a fresh mind my reading experience was changed dramatically. I loved the realness of the story. Both it felt like a real band but also real people. Loved that my library book had the song lyrics in the back and I wonder if there is an Spotify playlist with the songs played out. Full five stars
What can you read after
Daisy Jones & The Six?
About the Author:
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their daughter.
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