it didn’t take long before taylor jenkins read became an auto-read author for me — there’s something about the way she tells stories that is so immersive, compelling, and just plain FUN. i love the easter eggs of characters appearing in different stories, and i’ve believed her storytelling so much i was convinced some of these weren’t fiction at all. high praise!!

ps — i’m aware of the criticisms of TJR (a white woman) writing characters of color, and have a whole host of varying feelings about that. i encourage you to do your research and come to your own conclusions as well!

pps— all links are amazon affiliate links, so any purchases made once clicked will put a few pennies in my pocket. thanks in advance for your support!

Here’s where to start reading Taylor Jenkins Reid:

If you want a summery beach read:

Malibu Rising (2021)

My review: ★★★★★ • while the plot of this one seemed simple (a 24 hour time window, with flashbacks along the way), the story was amazing. looooved the easter egg character mentions to her other books! if you’re a fan of family dramas and sibling stories mixed with rock and roll/surfer lifestyles (sex, drugs, the whole nine), you’ll love this one!

If you like stories about sex, drugs, and rock and roll:

Daisy Jones and The Six (2019)

My review: ★★★★★ • I seriously kept thinking “wait is this about a real band?!??” because it was just so well-written and engaging. It’s written all in an interview style, similar to a long form magazine profile or a documentary style, and I really loved it! Some “A Star is Born” vibes for sure (big fan) and a whole lot of sex, drugs, and rock n roll and I just FLEW through it but didn’t want it to end (and loooooved how it did).

If you like love triangles:

One True Loves (2016)

My review: ★★★★☆ • Read this gem in one sitting, and loved every bit of it. It's a well told love story with enough twists to keep you changing what you think the ending will be about a dozen times and more emotion than I expected. This is such a great read if you're looking for some good, solid fiction with a strong love story and an emotional punch-- I was so delighted by it and enjoyed every page (and even the ending I didn't quite see coming!).

If you’re intrigued by old Hollywood and movie stars:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017)

My review: ★★★★★ • I loved everything about this book. It hooked me and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it, and I loved every twist and turn and heartbreak and reunion and power move and tear jerking moment. This is fiction done SO RIGHT.

If you like choose your own adventure stories:

Maybe in Another Life (2015)

My review: ★★★☆☆ • This one was like that whole “expectations vs reality” meme mixed with a choose your own adventure story set in a chick flick... and I enjoyed it! It plays out in two parallel storylines based on one crucial choice the main character makes in the beginning, and it was really cool to see both plots unfold as a result! There’s a lot of talk of fate and love and what’s meant to be, so maybe not the book for “true love” cynics.

Other books I’ve read from TJR:

After I Do (2014) // My review: ★★☆☆☆ • i did not love this one. it mostly felt like a depressing and discouraging look at love and marriage and i’m not really into that.
Carrie Soto is Back (2022) // My review: ★★★★★ • While I enjoyed reading this book, hearing from other booktokers about how hurtful it was that a white author was writing Latina characters changed my views, and I am not promoting this book. Read more of the controversy here.