Daisy Jones & The Six

5/5 stars

“I think you have to have faith in people before they earn it. Otherwise it’s not faith, right?” (pg. 76) 

Daisy Jones had something really special. Her natural talent and beauty solidified her fate to be a rock ‘n’ roll star. The Six, led by Billy Dunne, was a band on the brink of making it big. When the two acts team up, it’s clear they’re going to be the true stars of the rock ‘n’ roll era. They shocked their fans when the group abruptly dissolved without an explanation… until the members finally spoke up about what happened. 

I was unsure about this book because I typically don’t read historical fiction, and I didn’t think the format would interest me. I was so, so wrong. I devoured this book in one day. The interview style added a level of humor and complexity I could not have imaged. I could almost picture a documentary with cuts to the different band members giving conflicting accounts of their history. The style forced me to take in the different perspectives and consider the many ways the same event could be interpreted differently.

I loved the characters. Even the minor characters brought great insights into this fictional band and what was going on behind the scenes. Of course, I found Daisy and Billy to be the most developed characters. Their complex partnership and struggle to produce a number one album was truly fascinating to read. They were the epitome of making sacrifices for your art and giving your entire self to your work.

While funny at times, I found the overall story to be a bit sad. I saw young artists getting swept away by rock ‘n’ roll, drugs, sex, and having a good time. Underneath it all, they were lonely and yearning for love and connection. They had their own personal struggles that shaped how they viewed the rise and fall of the band and their own identities. Above it all, was a shared feeling that the band and everyone connected to the band must trust each other and trust the process of producing art. 

Taylor Jenkins Reid did a magnificent job with this page-turner. The format was totally different from anything I’d read before and the band/story was so well-developed, I actually questioned if Daisy Jones & The Six was a real band. This was a fascinating read!