This October, I’m promoting a beloved author all newcomers should check out. The talented and brilliant Taylor Jenkins Reid, or as fans know her, TJR, is my current favorite author of the month. Each of her novels continuously captivates readers with a clever, stylistically unique storytelling format. Whether she’s crafting the saga of a Hollywood icon, a fictional rock band’s rise and fall or the tangled lives of surfers and tennis stars, TJR has a remarkable ability to weave together complex human experiences that feel both personal and universal.
I advise only those who are familiar with her novels to continue reading, as my opinionated self will be spoiling some key details; for those wanting to read her books, come back and revisit this column afterward.
Starting off strong with the first TJR novel I read: ‘”The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” Evelyn Hugo, the main character, is an up-and-coming movie star who, per the title, goes through seven marriages during her time in the spotlight. Through interviews, newspaper articles and inner monologues, the storyline runs much deeper than the title implies. I found this book on an LGBTQIA+ display and figured it must have been displaced. I feel this isn’t a spoiler to the plot, but an unexpected twist; it actually is an heartbreaking LGBTQIA+ love story.
Moving swiftly along, the most creative of the bunch, in my opinion, is “Daisy Jones & the Six”, which was recently adapted into a TV show. I’m typically very critical of TV adaptations of books, but the producers exceeded my expectations; the characters and story truly came to life in the show version. They captured the novel’s 70s-esque essence with the musical ambiance, wardrobe and spot-on character choices. One thing the TV version wasn’t able to capture is the uniqueness of Reid’s writing style. The chapters are set up in interview form, and the story reveals itself in the form of an interviewer in conversation with the former bandmates. It mimics a documentary-style interview transcript featuring the band members, managers and roadies through their rise to fame.
It’s a well-known mannerism of many avid readers that when you reach a truly well-done plot twist, your jaw drops, you gaze off toward the wall and slowly close the front cover to give yourself a moment of reflection. That was me in this book’s final chapter — when Daisy Jones & The Six went straight to the top of my book recommendations list. Daisy Jones and her six bandmates become their own family amidst the chaos of rising to fame. The recurring family theme foreshadows the drumroll-worthy reveal of the interviewer’s identity.
Another fun trivia about TJR books is that she subtly interweaves characters from different novels. In another fan favorite, “Malibu Rising”, which follows the Riva family children, their dad is one of the seven husbands of none other than Ms. Evelyn Hugo. As an ever-present Hollywood symbol, Evelyn is also seen attending one of Daisy Jones’ parties.
Transitioning from entertainment to athletics, TJR’s most recent release, “Carrie Soto is Back”, made me want to pick up tennis — I didn’t, but for a second, it made me consider it. If you watched and enjoyed the Challengers movie, this book is a great story to continue that tennis theme. While the descriptive sporty action is a major plus to this novel, the real magic is the protagonist, Carrie Soto. Carrie Soto embores readers as a formerly retired tennis star. She navigates her return from retirement to defend her grand slam record after a newcomer threatens it.
TJR’s works challenge readers to reflect on fame, family, love and the legacies we leave behind. I, along with many other devoted readers, am eagerly anticipating her next publication.
