Daisy jones & the six review

By Ella Paul, 2024

Published 3/2/23

With Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid taking the internet by storm and a TV series just one day away, I thought it was time to check out this book, and might I start with saying I was pleasantly surprised. I had received mixed reviews for sure, both on the content and the structure, and I completely loved both. 

The book centers around a rock band in the 1970s, from their roots in a small neighborhood to sold-out shows and number one singles. It is written in the style of interviews of the seven members as well as rock critics, journalists, producers, family members, and other people who worked with them throughout the course of their journey. The interview style is not for everyone, but I personally was a fan of this book for two reasons. The first being that it gave a much more personal perspective from each member that would not have been apparent if it was written in third person or if it was written in first person from the perspective of only one member. The second was that Reid pieced the interview fragments together in a way that made the story so cohesive through multiple different lenses, which impressed me thoroughly. 

Content wise, Daisy Jones and the Six was an eye-opener, a soul-warmer, and a heart-wrencher. The members of the band were reflecting on such a significant time in their lives and exploring the relationships they had with each other after the fact, which was extremely powerful. The book grappled with real life struggles such as addiction, toxic relationships, how fame changes someone, and struggling to learn when to move on. The characters had all gone through extreme challenges in their lives, some more than others, and that is clearly reflected. Additionally, some of the characters were more open in the interviews while others were reserved. The combination of perspectives created the opportunity for character and relationship development which Reid took advantage of. As we all know, there are multiple sides to every story and Reid allowed that to happen in the book as it would in real life. The relationships between the characters were raw and honest; they tore each other down and built each other up pages apart, hated each other some days and loved each other on different days. It was the type of book that you put down and instantly want more of. 

There are two different categories of “really good” books: some you enjoy while reading and don’t really think about after, but some resonate with you. Daisy Jones and the Six is an example of a novel that has and will continue to resonate with me because of the raw emotion and the truth of the content and the messages in the subtext. I can only hope the new TV series will properly reflect the content and character relationships of this incredible story.