Cover Image: Daisy Jones & The Six

Daisy Jones & The Six

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I just know this will be one of those strange circumstances where I just don't connect with the book, characters or story BUT this is TJR we're talking about! For me this book was more a biography of the 70's rockband than a story like the author's others I truly enjoyed.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! It was so good and so different I couldn't read fast enough. It tells the story of a fictional rock band set in the 1970's and is told in an interview style. There is so much to say about these characters and their story that you just need to read it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Net Galley and Publicist for the ARC of Daisy Jones and the Six. I started Daisy Jones and The Six in the midst of our Homecoming Week at school and had to remind myself every time I put it down (which killed me, but responsibilities) that this was a work of fiction, that there are no Daisy Jones t-shirts at Target. I always lose myself in Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels. One minute I'm smiling and the next I'm crying and fighting the urge to find the band's albums and memorabilia (which I would totally buy by the way) because TJR is a master of her craft. I am literally in a different world and time period in her novels; they are my favorite for a reason. I loved that this one was crafted like an interview taking place from when the band started to now. It IS sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. The fun, the struggle, the TRUTHS (ah the truths!) the aftermath, and characters I am totally fangirling over. It was absolutely perfect!!

Was this review helpful?

Loved, loved, loved this book. Reid's premise of telling the story through an extended Rolling Stone-like interview (with shades of Fleetwood Mac-level drama) seems simple at first, but as you get further into the oral history, Reid weaves in drama and complexity that builds to a near-perfect ending. Makes you wish that Daisy Jones & The Six were real. Reid truly commits, leaving the reader with the lyrics for all the songs referenced in the novel. If you are a music fan, an oral history fan, or like your fiction couched in an interesting format, this book is for you...and for your book group.

Was this review helpful?

There is a lot to like about Daisy Jones & the Six. I'm a huge fan of oral histories, pioneered by Jean Stein's biography of Edie Sedgewick, which this book owes a debt of gratitude to.

However, the one thing the oral histories depend on is the richness of description that must come from the sources, and while Daisy Jones & the Six is entirely fictional, the era that it takes place in isn't, and I wished that Taylor Jenkins Reid had made more use of the actual music and cultural history of the time in order to give the book more of a historical foundation. There are passing references to cultural markers -- fashion, television, etc., but as someone who grew up during that time, I felt as if there was a lot missing that could have enriched the setting of time and place.

The story isn't a historical one as much as it's about relationships, and the characters are lovingly drawn and memorable. I find no fault with them, and if there isn't a movie made within five years, I'll jump naked in the pool on the roof of the Roosevelt. I'm sure the rights have already been sold. (Especially since Reese Witherspoon has already chosen this book as a book club pick.)

I'm not sure whose idea it was to place the lyrics from the album at the center of the story, Aurora, at the end of the book, but as someone who reads electronically, I found that flipping back and forth was problematic. Hyperlinks? End of the chapters? There has to be a better way to include the lyrics because the songs are central to the stories.

I don't want to focus too much on the story, but if you're a fan of Behind the Music, Almost Famous, and Fleetwood Mac this is definitely a book you'll want to read.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed it at first, Daisy is my favorite character. After a while I got tired of the format. I would have liked to see more than just a long interview. Overall the writing is great, though.

Was this review helpful?

No one is more shocked than me that I’m deciding not to finish this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid stole my heart with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and I was so ready to read and love this one. Sadly, it wasn’t for me.
There so many different characters here that it was easy to get confused. I really wish that the story was only focused on Daisy herself. Not including voices for everyone else. Another thing that wasn’t for me was the format here. It was told in an interview format and I just couldn’t get into it.

Take my review with a grain of salt because there are quite a bit of reviews where readers love it. This one just didn’t work for me for personal reader reasons.

Was this review helpful?

While very interesting, the format was hard and seemed to be the typical “rock” band bad boy lifestyle meets snotty rich girl.

Was this review helpful?

#DaisyJonesTheSix #NetGalley

What a fun read! I could NOT put this book down, finished it in one day, stayed up til 1 a.m.. Shades of Fleetwood Mac and perhaps the Eagles, great scenes of what goes on behind the scenes. I thought the format would bother me, but I actually enjoyed it - interviews of the key "players" and their perceptions of events. I wasn't a huge fan of Daisy; in the beginning, she seems as if she can do no wrong, and is working the silver spoon. But she becomes more human as the story unfolds. Is she Stevie Nicks? Is she Sheryl Crow? Now that I think of it, I wasn't very fond of Karen, either. Perhaps the only sympathetic female character is Camila - I found her real and amazing. Warren is hilarious, Billy is noble, Eddie has a huge chip on his shoulder. Jenkins-Reed seems to know a lot about the recording industry, and the song lyrics at the end are a special bonus, as is discovering where each of the characters go after walking away, not always wilingly, from the success. I look forward to Amazon's treatment of the story.

P.S. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book! It was so much more than just a book about rock and roll (although there was that too, which I enjoyed). I didn't want to put it down and loved the characters. Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a talented writer. I found the interview style the book was written in to be so unique and it worked so well. I highly recommend this book and even more so if you're a music fan! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't expecting this book to actually be commentary from the people during this time. I was expecting a novel based off of the things that happened during that time.
But I was sucked in from the beginning. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a favorite author of mine & she did such a good job of compiling all of these facts and information.
It's hard to explain how I felt once I was done reading this, but it is still with me. Very much another view point into sex, love, drugs, and rock n'roll. I loved this book and Reid deserves high praise for it. I just really felt connected to these people and like I was there in that time with them.

Was this review helpful?

WHERE DO I EVEN START?!?!

I'll admit that when I read the "author's note" at the very beginning, I thought I was reading a legit non-fiction documentary type novel about a band that really existed. Did I pay attention to the genre this is placed in, historical FICTION? Nope. You know why? Because it's written so brilliantly that you don't even notice. You are pulled into this world where we learn of the ups and downs and while Billy Dunne and Daisy are the leaders, you are rooting and feeling for EVERY.SINGLE.CHARACTER.

While this is only my second Reid book, I'm flabbergasted and completely impressed with her ability to write such different types of stories - even creating the song lyrics AND it's being optioned for the screen. WHO IS TAYLOR JENKINS REID?!

I actually did wonder just how much I would like this as I'm not big on "documentaries" in general. Written like an interview of sorts with each character giving their perspectives, it never once got confusing and the voices of each character was very clear. I love how each was flawed and yet so strong in the person that they were - even as they struggled. I really did not come across a single character I didn't like.

Reid also has this genius ability to give you a reveal towards the end of the book that is as impactful as it is subtle. I have a feeling that many people will say if you loved Almost Famous that you'll love this book and while that is true, this book holds it's own without any comparison or if you like this you'll love that kind of thought.

Just read this book. Please.

(also, how cool is it that Reese Witherspoon will be producing the adaptation?!)

Was this review helpful?

For fans of the 70’s, classic rock & band bios, Daisy Jones & the Six is a story that draws you right in. Written in interview style (but without the tedious back-and-forth q&a part) the differing POVs of the characters carry you along through the band’s rise and eventual fall. The only thing missing is a soundtrack to listen to while you read.

Was this review helpful?

A great look into the budding and subsequent crashing of a 60s-70s era rock band. If you enjoyed the film "Almost Famous" this is the book for you. Follows pretty close to that film, but with enough to really bring the characters and locations to life. Can't wait for the movie version that Reese Witherspoon is planning.

Was this review helpful?

I just loved this book, I've read all of Taylor Jenkins Reid's books and this was by far my favorite. This read like a behind the scenes documentary of the coolest rock band ever and loved the characters and story development. I've never been more excited to see an adaptation come through - can't wait for the Amazon limited series to come out!! Thank you so much for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

So many people have asked me a variety of this question since I made it known that I received an arc of this novel:

"Is it as great as Evelyn Hugo??"

If you pick up this book expecting another Evelyn Hugo, you'll be disappointed. That's already been superbly done. While the meaningful and impactful writing structure remains the same - this story itself is completely brand new, raw, and altogether bitchin'.

I have no experience with romantic love (unrequited or not), using drugs, or the process of making music and the fact that Taylor Jenkins Reid made me connect and care for these wholesome characters and their respective plights is honestly quite the feat. I am genuinely impressed.

Reid's tendency to write realistic, faulted characters with captivatingly gritty layers and complexity presents itself again in this transcripted novel. It's altogether astounding how much emotion Reid manages to convey in a book solely composed of dialectical transcripts. Not only was this refreshingly new and well done, but the author's decision to "interview" Daisy Jones and members of The Six's band individually and THEN compile their responses in chronological order (rather than by the character) excellently showcases how perceptions of a single event can drastically differ from one another.

Guys, this is in-your-face, clever writing.

And it wasn't just gut-wrenching feels 24/7. Reid's decision to formulate the transcripts in this manner oftentimes came across as humorous especially when one character would describe a moment as this deep and profound thing and the next person's recollection of said situation would be something along the lines of: "I really didn't give a shit." lol

The best way to summarize this novel is cognate to how Billy (lead singer of The Six) described their final album:

"Billy: We were writing about the push and pull between the lure of temptation and staying on the right path."

It's about being so hung up on something or someone and knowing it shouldn't happen for one reason or another. It's about the consequences of having enough willpower to do the right thing and the unfortunate truth that whilst our emotions can't be controlled, our actions CAN be. And I call that unfortunate because the realization that control is possible and one's own responsibility can be a complete and utter bummer.

Reid is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. She can write a grocery list and I'd pay money to read it.

Need I say I highly recommend this? Because I do.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with an ebook version of this story. Yet another awesome read urging me forth to purchase the actual physical copy.

Was this review helpful?

This book.....I don’t even know where to begin.

I loved it! Within the first few pages I wasn’t sure how I felt about the layout and how the story was told in small bits from different perspectives, but once I got used to it I loved it. Rock bands have never really been a huge interest to me so I was curious how I would feel about a book focused completely on that. It did not matter. The story of Daisy Jones and the Six, but mainly the story of Daisy and Billy was so compelling right from the start. I couldn’t wait to find out how the story progressed and how they found their successes, failures, love, loss etc.

I cannot reccomend this book enough. You will love every minute of it!

I received an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

“I love you as much as I’m willing to love anybody.”

Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote one of my favorites books of all time, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, that means more to me than I have words to even begin to express. But this? This was just boring, and crude, and told in such a bad format. It’s like mini interviews if you will, where multiple people are talking, but it was impossible for me to ever be immersed.

I suppose the main focus is on Daisy Jones, though, and her childhood and rise to stardom. She has a really rough childhood, and got into a lot of drugs, but eventually got really famous. We get to meet her other band mates, and other people in the music scene that changed her life, but all these voices feel disjointed and chaotic. This was really difficult to read, even with all the notes I was taking.

I don’t care about Eddie, or Graham, or Warren, or Billy, or Rod, or Camila, or Karen Karen *eye roll forever*. Honestly? I don’t even care that much about Daisy; I just feel bad for her. Simone was my favorite, easily, but even their voice wasn’t enough for me to continue on.

“I learned about sex and love the hard way. That men will take what they want and feel no debt, that some people only want one piece of you.”

I will say that I’m not the biggest fan of the 60s and 70s in general, but I think if anyone could make me appreciate the decades, it would be TJR. Maybe I’ll try this one again closer to the release date, but right now this just doesn’t feel like the book for me. But take this review with a grain of salt because it is being adapted into a series for Amazon Prime, which Reese Witherspoon is producing. Also, as of now, this has a lot of five star reviews. I’m sorry, friends. I hope you enjoy this one more when you pick it up!

Was this review helpful?

“Daisy Jones & The Six” was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. To be honest, when I first started reading it I was thinking “ what the heck is this?” LOL. If you are a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books like I am, you know that her first 4 books were similar, the feel good romance books. Then she wrote “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and changed things up. It was different and I loved it. So when I started reading “Daisy Jones and The Six”, I actually wasn’t sure what I thought. Since I love everything Taylor writes, I dove in and prepared myself for something different. So I should explain what I mean by “different”. The book isn’t written like a traditional story, it’s written out like an interview. The interviewer is asking questions to the members of the band, anyone who worked with them, friends, etc, in order to give us the inside scoop about the rise and fall of Daisy & The Six. After a few chapters I was hooked and finished the book in a weekend. When all is said and done, I loved how different the book was! It felt so real. I was really sucked into the characters and their story and at the same time was engrossed in their lives and well-being. Amazon and Hello Sunshine are making this book into a 13-part series and I am really interested to see who they pick to play Daisy’s part! I have a few suggestions so if anyone would like my opinion let me know!

Daisy Jones & The Six is about a band formed in the 1970’s. Daisy is a young beautiful teenager living with hippy parents who really don’t care much about what she does. She comes and goes as she pleases, becomes a regular at nightclubs, and starts getting into the groupie scene of sex, drugs, and Rock n Roll. Everyone who meets her is stunned by her beauty and her carefree attitude. Daisy loves to write songs, and with a beautiful and unique voice, she wants to make her own music. She gets a record deal but unfortunately none of her songs are what the executives are looking for. Being strong-willed, Daisy refuses to do any work as she will not sing other people’s music. The Six is a band on the rise, getting more and more recognition with each gig they get, and their lead singer Billy writes all their music. Daisy and The Six share the same manager, and when Billy writes a song that management thinks would be better for a female voice, he suggests Daisy. She is a great fit for the band, and her voice and presence will bring more people to their shows. After the first tour together the band decides to make Daisy a permanent part of the band, and rename themselves Daisy and The Six.

The interviewer starts in the beginning and really takes us on a journey to discover who these people were, both as a band and as individuals. The book is so well written at times I thought this was a real band! Seriously I Googled it. As many people before me have said, the band Fleetwood Mac came to mind. Female lead with a unique voice. Taylor Jenkins Reid fans will LOVE this amazing story, and love the little surprise at the end!

Was this review helpful?

MUST READ. 5 STARS. I HAVE NO WORDS.

Daisy: “I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse. I am not a muse. I am the somebody. End of fucking story.”

Y’all, she’s done it again. Daisy Jones & The Six is like a cross between The Beatles Anthology and Almost Famous and your favorite TJR novel.

The thing about this story is that it really reads the way your favorite band’s anthology does. It’s not just Daisy you’re following, it’s the whole band and their people (friends, managers, producers, reporters) and they’re all actual characters that are layered and complex and emotional. It’s work to do that well, and TJR does it.

Also, TJR knocks it out of the park in a few timely, real quotes and moments about what it’s like to be a woman. Daisy, Camila, Simone, and Karen are real women who each have these moments where you just so deeply identify with them and feel what they’re feeling, in the best and worst ways.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Ballantine Books for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?