In the past few years, Taylor Jenkins Reid has become one of my favorite authors. When I read Daisy Jones and the Six, I thought I had found my favorite book of all time. Somehow Reid had managed to include all my favorite things—a 70s rock band, romance, and blind ambition. When Reese Witherspoon announced the novel as part of her book club and released plans to adapt it for TV, I was already considering myself its biggest fan. Leading up to the show’s release, a close friend who loves Daisy Jones told me that it was a close call, but she might like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo more. I read it and was surprised to find that I agreed—Reid had managed to take another interesting time period, the golden age of Hollywood, and bring it to life through a character.
Are these not two similar stories? Both follow interview styles of fictitious famous people from renowned times in US historical pop culture. In my opinion, Reid’s ability to create a world within a historical setting is unmatched.
Not surprisingly, most of Reid’s works have been adapted for the big screen. (I can’t help but point out the likely assistance of her TV producer husband). Nonetheless, Reid’s stories are imaginative and gripping, making them apt for film and TV.
However, a few months ago, I was disappointed when I read Reid’s 2016 novel One True Loves. Though still an interesting novel, I was surprised by the main character’s lengthy inner dialogue and superfluous descriptors of love. I felt that this work seemed so different from her more popular new releases, as those works were more concise and bound to Reid’s framing and writing style. However, I began to think about the trajectory of Reid’s career, not just in terms of fame, but in the progression of her writing. Though her first novels did receive positive critical acclaim, Reid still had room to grow and explore. I think this is an important lesson for those aspiring to one day have their work appear on a bestseller list—there is always room for growth! In the end, writing, rewriting, revising, publishing, and starting over with something new is the way to grow. A writer won’t grow if they agonize over one story or idea for decades. They need to publish and share, so they can receive feedback and write some more—a process I always value in creative writing workshops. This point also applies to readers: look at how an author’s writing has changed across their career. What did they learn? How can you learn from the way their style has adapted? What worked? What didn’t?
I will be curious to see how Reid changes and maintains her style in the author’s latest release Carrie Soto is Back; a story following the fame of a tennis player on the rebound. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I wonder if it follows a similar structural framing as her previous works and if she intends to grow her style by straying away from previously successful tactics. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about Reid soon, as she remains my favorite current author.
Julia DeLuca 