Most avid readers have an author whose entire bibliography they’ve read and whose books they race to their nearest bookstore to find anytime a new one is published. For me, that author is Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Reid is among the most popular currently publishing authors, with over 21 million books sold, according to The New York Times. She has written nine books, seven of which have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.
Two of her novels have been adapted to television, with several more adaptations on the way, according to People. “Daisy Jones and the Six,” Reid’s first bestseller, was made into an Amazon Prime Video limited series and “One True Loves” was turned into a movie. Netflix has announced that they will also be adapting “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” “Forever, Interrupted” and “Carrie Soto is Back” into television series, while “Malibu Rising” is reportedly being adapted into a Hulu television series and “Atmosphere” is being adapted into a movie produced by Laika Studios.
My attraction to Reid’s novels is attributed to their riveting and moving storylines that draw you in from the first page. While I love to read, I often find it difficult to start new books because of their slow introductions to characters. I typically don’t find myself becoming engaged with a book until at least 100 pages in, which is why I have a rule that I have to read at least 150 pages before calling it quits. With Reid’s novels, I have never had this problem.
The first of her books that I read was “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” To this day, it is my favorite book, with its intricate storyline that builds up into an unforeseeable plot twist and its hypnotic writing, making it almost impossible to put down. The story follows Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo throughout her career and seven marriages. It is split up into sections, each titled for one of her husbands. The story is also a dual timeline, adding to its unique structure, which, along with the sapphic storyline, is the reason for my ongoing love for the novel.
“Daisy Jones and the Six,” a story about a 1970s rock band based on Fleetwood Mac, was the second novel of Reid’s that I read. Upon opening the book, I was apprehensive because of its interview transcript style of writing and was unsure whether this structure would have the ability to create a detailed and chronological storyline, but I was proved wrong. The book successfully drew out a cohesive and evocative story that, like the previous novel, drew me in from the first page.
While reading, I was especially engaged when I noticed a familiar name on one of the pages: Evelyn Hugo. Many of Reid’s books are set in the same “universe,” which adds to my love of them. It is thrilling to see characters briefly mentioned across books, especially knowing that you have more knowledge about that person than even the characters who mentioned them.
Two other books that are set in this same “universe” are “Malibu Rising” and “Carrie Soto is Back.” The former is a dual storyline that tells the story of Mick Riva, who is one of Evelyn Hugo’s husbands, and his kids, including his daughter Nina Riva. The book is structured with time stamps leading up to a party that the Riva kids throw — once again a unique and engaging story structure. Of course, Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six are mentioned as party attendees, adding to the links between the novels. “Malibu Rising” also contains details about an affair between Nina Riva’s husband and a tennis player Carrie Soto, who actually has her own book.
“Carrie Soto is Back” is a novel about Soto, a professional tennis player, as she comes out of retirement for one last tennis season. This novel is a good example of how Reid’s writing has the ability to make you interested in topics you never gave thought to before. I played tennis as a kid, but hadn’t been interested in it for years until I finished this book and suddenly found myself wanting to go play a match with friends or watch a game on TV, something I hadn’t done since I was 13-years-old.
Another one of Reid’s books that has this same power to engage you with new subjects is “Atmosphere.” The story, which is set in the 1980s, follows Joan Goodwin, an astronaut in the NASA Space Shuttle Program, and her romantic relationship with fellow astronaut Vanessa Ford. Between the immediate action that starts the book, the dual storyline, the lesbian romance and the overall emotional writing, I fell in love with this story. But through reading the book, I also began to develop an interest in space.
I have never been a STEM person, but after finishing “Atmosphere,” I suddenly wanted to learn everything I could about space. Immediately upon finishing the book I watched the newly released documentary “Sally,” which is about the life of NASA astronaut Sally Ride, who actually inspired Reid’s novel and her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy.
Reid’s ability to draw readers in from the first page, engage readers with unique story structures, connect many of her stories through shared characters, spark interest in new topics and bring you to tears through her writing are why she continues to be my favorite author and why I will read any book that she publishes.
