Professional Fangirl- Katelyn Benschoter

There may not have been a song of the summer, but for me, there was a definite book of the summer. And by no surprise, it was written by one of the most popular authors right now, Taylor Jenkins Reid. She is known for books such as Daisy Jones and the Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Malibu Rising. And this summer, she just came out with her brand new novel: Atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, it is another knockout read. Reid is a wonderful storyteller, and putting her books down is the worst part of reading her books.

Reid’s books follow a trope of a female working or having a hobby in a male-dominated field. While her books may follow this same trope, each of her characters has their own unique struggles, which play an important role in their story. For example, Daisy struggles with addiction, and Evelyn struggles with her sexuality. She has perfected this formula as readers keep getting similar themes and ideas that they like, yet it is completely new every time.

The most notable aspect of Reid’s books is the universe she has created throughout all of them, despite her books not being a series. Each of her books has a standalone plot where there is no need to read any of her other books to understand the story. But a lot of the same characters are mentioned in several books. Even if it is just mentioning a character from a different book who is at a party or listening to a band from another book, etc. The key to her world-building is that it is not super intense or in your face, but there are just enough clues that her books take place in the same world.

Reid’s worldbuilding has two effects when fans read multiple of her books. First, it makes it more fun for her avid fans to search for these clues to a singular universe. Secondly, and most importantly, it allows fans to learn more and understand the characters on a deeper level. It reveals sides of characters the audience would never see. When a fan reads a book of hers that mentions someone else from a past book, it feels like the reader is getting a behind-the-scenes look at their life. Reid pulls back the curtain on what these characters do beyond the timeline of their book. It is nothing short of genius. Whether these clues reveal a character’s dating history or that two different characters may have known each other at one point, it leaves me astounded every time. For example, a character named Mick Riva is mentioned in 4 of Reid’s books. And while he is never a main character, he has added an interesting layer to the plot in every book. Reid’s ability to create a simultaneous universe amongst many very different stories is all the evidence you should need to see her storytelling genius.

Now, to take a closer look at some of Reid’s books and my ranking of her top three reads. First up, taking the third-place slot for me is Reid’s most viral book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This book blew up in 2020 during lockdown, and for good reason. The reader follows Evelyn, a movie star, as she recounts her life to a journalist. Evelyn describes her seven strategic marriages and the realities of being a movie star in the 1950s, including her struggles with her sexuality. The book is broken up into digestible chunks, the chapters being divided up by each husband. This results in being a very fast-paced read that I would definitely recommend if you are in a reading slump.

Next, taking the second-place spot is the book of the summer, Atmosphere. This book is still very new, but it has already received rave reviews. This book follows Joan Goodwin, a young physicist and one of the first female astronauts. The reader follows her journey at NASA, and the whole book leads up to the STS-LR9 mission in 1984. On that mission, things go terribly wrong, leading Joan to have to guide them home. But the twist is that Joan is madly in love with someone on that shuttle, and no one knows but her. This book is beautifully written and does a wonderful job of creating suspense. I would highly recommend it; even if you know nothing about space, the book is still a wonderful read.

Last, but certainly not least, the Taylor Jenkins Reid book that takes my first-place spot is Daisy Jones and the Six. There simply is not a day that goes by that I do not think about the characters of Billy and Daisy. This book follows the rise and fall of the 1970s rock band Daisy Jones and the Six. Primarily following Daisy and her upbringing, love life, and addiction. My favorite part, besides that it’s set in the 70s and takes place around music, is the way in which it’s written: in an interview style. A journalist is interviewing all of the bandmates 20 years after the band broke up. It is a super cool experience as a reader to get to hear about the past while simultaneously hearing them reflect on those times and see how they have all grown. The love triangle, the song lyrics, and even the TV show based on the books all blend so well. When people talk about their personal Roman Empire…Billy and Daisy are mine. That being said, I would highly recommend any of Reid’s books, but especially this one.

All in all, it may feel like there is a drought of good music right now, but as long as Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books are accessible, there is no shortage of good books. I really think that there is a Taylor Jenkins Reid book for everyone. Whether you are an athlete, a musician, if you like romance, or if you like drama, she has it all. And her storytelling ability is just amazing; she transports you into whatever story she is telling. And then to make it even better, you realize all of her stories connect. I could go on and on about my love for her books, but I won’t. That just takes away from the time you could be reading one of her books.