All the Taylor Jenkins Reid Books
We arrived in South Carolina on Saturday afternoon and by noon on Sunday I was deeply into Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid and had already told my niece and sister in law that they would have to read it after me. That often happens to me with Reid’s books-I can remember reading Daisy Jones & The Six at my parent’s house one weekend and then telling my mom she had to take the book and read it as soon as I was done. Her books are so compelling, with complicated characters that you root for even if you’re slapping your palm to forehead over the choices that they’re making. I thought it would be fun to do a ranked list of all of her novels, but I’m honestly having so much trouble deciding how to rank them, that I think I’m just going to say that you have to try Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. They’re all that good-especially if you’re traveling or on the beach or wanting a hit of glamour, interesting characters and intimate storytelling. Her earlier books are also solid reads, which are worth reading if you just can’t get enough TJR, so I’ll break them down after my favorite three.
(click on the images of the books for links)
Malibu Rising
It’s the perfect beach read with its mixture of the surf community in Malibu, Hollywood glam from the 80’s, rags to riches stories and lots of parties and romance. It’s told from the perspective of many different people, which is something that Reid also did in Daisy Jones and the Six, but the plot focuses on the story of the Riva siblings, the (mostly) abandoned children of a very famous singer who grew up in Malibu. Now in their twenties, the famous siblings are getting ready for their annual end of summer party, but by the end of the party their world will never be the same.
Daisy Jones & The Six
This is the book that kicked off my TJR obsession and it’s has stuck with me for several years now-I think about the characters and go back and reread it because I loved the depiction of the 70’s music scene, the characters, and I could practically hear the music that they made in the novel. Daisy is a gorgeous child of Hollywood in the 60’s who wants to be a singer. Billy is the leader of band from small town on the East Coast. When their record label asks them to record together, a fire ignites that might bring them all fame and fortune or might be their downfall, but will definitely become the stuff of musical legend.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
This was my second TJR book and although it was very different from the other two, the characters and the story kept me equally hooked. Evelyn is an aging movie star icon who has finally decided to tell her life story, and she’s picked struggling reporter Monique to record the tale for her, starting with the story of her seven husbands-the stuff of Hollywood legend. Along the way, she shares stories of heartbreaking struggles, romance, loyal friendships and the glamorous and not so glamorous side of Hollywood.
The Earlier Works
Taylor Jenkins Reid also wrote several earlier novels that are decidedly less glamorous-the protagonists have normal jobs, no rockstars or movie stars are dropping by for coffee, and there are a lot less drugs everywhere. They’re heartfelt novels about the choices that people make in love and how it shapes their lives. While her most recent novels all get A’s from me, I would put her earlier work in the B’s range-still solid writing but just a little less compelling. But if you prefer books about people that have a little more in common with your every day life, then I think you’ll really enjoy these too.
Maybe in Another Life
Hannah Martin in 29 and still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She’s just moved back home to LA to escape a dead end job and relationship and is staying with her best friend, when they go out to a party one night and a Sliding Doors situation occurs. In one vein, she leaves the party early and in another she stays. The two competing story lines take her in very different directions, and you’re wondering which will lead to real happiness that lasts.
One True Loves
Emma and Jesse are childhood sweethearts who have been married for one year, when the helicopter that Jesse is on for a work assignment goes missing over the Pacific. Emma is devastated and has to rebuild her life completely, making different choices now that she’s on her own and reconnecting with people in new ways. When Jesse is found alive and returns home, they have to decide where the future will take them.
After I Do
Lauren and Ryan married young and after reaching a point where the bad seems to outweigh the good, they decide to take a year apart-no contact for one entire year-and see where that takes them. Lauren goes on a journey of self-discovery and growth, but will that lead her back to Ryan and make their marriage stronger than ever or will it lead her to forge a new path?
Evidence of the Affair
This novella is written entirely in letter form and is free for Kindle Unlimited readers-it’s also really good! When Carrie and David discover the affair between their spouses, they write back and forth about it and try to piece together where things went wrong and where to take things from here. It’s so well written, and I think it’s my favorite of her earlier writing.