Instead of posting separately, I thought I would talk out the two books I’ve read recently. My resolution for this year was to read more (more than I had the year previous) and I’m smashing that target. I didn’t watch a lot of television before hand but since I started reading more, I’ve found I watch it even less. Another benefit is that reading before I go to sleep has seemingly helped combat an issue I had of not being able to fall asleep easily. Win/win!
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Coming straight off the back of Evelyn Hugo, I was keen to dive into Daisy Jones & The Six. As a Fleetwood Mac fan, the premise immediately caught my attention, and the parallels between the band and the novel’s story were obvious in the best way.
At first, I wasn’t sure about the interview format. It felt like reading an extended magazine feature, and I didn’t think I’d enjoy that. But as the story unfolded, it grew on me. I started to really appreciate how each character’s version of events would either align with or completely contradict someone else’s. It’s a clever observation from Reid in the way we all remember things differently, whether it’s a small detail or something that shifts the meaning entirely.
Daisy herself (clearly inspired by Stevie Nicks) was a standout. She’s funny, magnetic, and deeply tragic. I thought her addiction was portrayed well, mirrored by Billy’s own journey into sobriety and the lifelong nature of recovery.
Reid’s world-building remains as strong as ever. She captures time, place and atmosphere beautifully, though this story didn’t engulf me quite as much as Evelyn Hugo did. Still, I found it an engaging read and well written. The reveal at the end of who the interviewer was tied everything together neatly and added a nice emotional punch.
I also loved the subtle Easter eggs that connect back to characters from other books in the Reid universe. All in all, a satisfying read from an author I’ll be exploring more.
‘The Party’
by Elizabeth Day
Despite an intriguing premise, The Party ended up feeling like a bit of a slog for me. None of the characters were particularly likeable except for Lucy, whose diary entries were the clear highlight. Her voice brought a bit of humanity and depth to a story otherwise filled with people I struggled to care about.
The secondary characters, like Serena, felt more like caricatures than real people. Her role as the stereotypical wealthy mean girl didn’t add much beyond surface tension. The big reveal (the event that bound Martin to Ben and the Fitzmaurice family) also fell flat. After all the build-up, the payoff was disappointingly small, more like the kind of mid-level drama you’d catch on ITV than a true literary twist.
Martin’s obsession with Ben was interesting in theory, but it never quite clicked for me. I didn’t feel I understood the root of his infatuation, though perhaps that was intentional, maybe it’s meant to capture that strange spark of attraction that deepens precisely because it’s unreciprocated. Still, it left me wanting more insight.
I was honestly just glad to finish it. Elizabeth Day’s writing is readable and accessible, but I found it meandering in places, especially when describing quite simple things and felt like it was beyond descriptive and too much. Overall, it’s an easy enough read, but it never quite delivered the psychological punch it seemed to promise.