Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reed

Sex? Drugs? Rock N’ Roll? Yes. But so much more. What starts as a simple story of the formation of a band evolves into a the best Behind the Music never made. The fictional oral history of a 70s super group, Daisy Jones and The Six hooked me quickly and really never let up.

Billy and his brother spend a lot of time forming their band (The Six), perfecting their sound, and touring hard on their first two albums. But the life catches up to Billy in the form of an acute addiction to all manner of substances, and missing the birth of his first child scares him straight. The life of recovery is a difficult path, yet one that is very well described by Reid.

Daisy is the rare natural talent whose voice can captivate a room with no effort at all. Her childhood ended quickly as she got caught up in the LA music scene of the late 60s. A string of throwaway relationships, her relentless energy, and the endless party categorizes a life that is constantly threatening to run off the rails. But she always has her voice and a drive to create music. The success of a duet with Billy Dunne brings an opportunity to join the band, and with it create a legendary sound. A rising star with a trajectory for greatness.

Told in the words of band members, record execs, rock critics, and more, the story is a riveting portrayal of the life of the 70s rock band. Reid has a real knack for knowing how to break up the interviews, and to cut the stories with various points of view to create great tension and drama. Reminiscent of the rise of Fleetwood Mac and the tumultuous relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, Daisy Jones and The Six is a book that I predict will do very, very well. It’s been endorsed by Reece Witherspoon and will be turned into an Amazon Original show, and I think all the hype is totally deserved.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Taylor Jenkins Reed for the opportunity to read and review.