By Riley Dauber
Elm Staff Writer
Author Taylor Jenkins Reid is gaining popularity on social media for her novels about celebrity culture. The three books in the literary universe are “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” “Daisy Jones and the Six,” and “Malibu Rising.”
Each book looks at a specific type of fictional celebrity and time period.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” tells the story of famous actress Evelyn Hugo, who gained fame in the ‘60s, and is telling her story to an up-and-coming journalist in the present day.
In “Daisy Jones and the Six,” a rock band talks about their rise to fame in the ‘70s in the form of an interview.
“Malibu Rising” looks at the model industry and the surfing lifestyle in Malibu in the ‘80s through the famous Riva siblings.
What connects these three books is sleazy Mick Riva, a fictional rock star who becomes Evelyn’s third husband, attends one of Daisy’s parties, and is the father of the Riva siblings in “Malibu Rising.”
Other than Mick, “Malibu Rising” references other characters as well since Nina Riva, the eldest daughter, hosts a party each year and invites the world’s hottest celebrities, leaving plenty of room for character cameos.
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” (2017)
The first in Reid’s celebrity cinematic universe, the novel follows Monique Grant, an up-and-coming journalist, who is specifically asked by old-Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo to tell her life story.
Evelyn, famous for her sex appeal, acting, and abundance of ex-husbands, tells her story, and as the two grow closer, her relation to Monique becomes much more apparent.
Evelyn is a complicated and flawed character whose actions are questionable and not always morally correct. Thanks to Reid’s writing, she becomes a fascinating character as she explains why she made certain choices, including how she came to have seven husbands.
Evelyn’s life as an actress is arguably the most compelling out of the three fame experiences, and her relationships with the other characters in her story are strong.
The chapter where Evelyn decides to seduce Mick Riva is particularly interesting because it is told in second person. She manipulates the people around her to save her own skin, making her an anti-hero readers can root for.
The novel is a fascinating look at old-Hollywood and celebrity culture. Between its forbidden romance and the point of view, it is sure to keep readers hooked until the very last page.
“Daisy Jones and the Six” (2019)
What makes this novel unique is the writing style. Since the main characters are a rock band from the ‘70s, the narrative’s “talking heads” interview style — in which each character speaks and tells their side of the story — feels like you’re watching a documentary.
“Daisy Jones and the Six” tells of the rise and fall of the titular rock band, from recording their first album together to the tour that ruined it all. It also handles themes of addiction, parenthood, and infidelity.
Other than the writing style, Reid also engages the reader with the characters who are once again flawed individuals dealing with their own personal problems.
Daisy runs away from home at a young age, uses all types of drugs, and starts relationships with older men. What grounds her, however, is her goal to make a name for herself and write her own songs.
Then there’s Billy Dunne, who struggles with addiction and staying loyal to his wife and children. Daisy and Billy have a complicated relationship, which makes for an interesting read, but becomes too messy to bear at times. The constant worshiping of the two leads of the band can become tedious as well.
The novel is being adapted for an Amazon Prime show starring Riley Keough as Daisy and Sam Claflin as Billy, which is — simply put — perfect casting in my opinion.
“Malibu Rising” (2021)
The perfect summer read, “Malibu Rising” focuses on Mick Riva’s four children: Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit Riva.
They’ve had to survive on their own with no help from their father, leading Nina to start a career as a model and surfer, Jay to become a surfer, Hud to take up photography, and Kit to pursue a successful college career while hoping to also succeed as a surfer.
Each year, the siblings host a party where celebrities and townsfolk intermingle, but this year, the house will go up in flames.
The novel is my favorite in the series for multiple reasons.
Each chapter is a point in time leading up to the party, creating suspense as readers anticipate the upcoming party and fire.
Reid’s stylistic skill is on full display, as she uses third-person omniscient narration to fill in all the gaps.
Readers learn about the siblings, their mother June, Mick, and the celebrities and townsfolk that attend the party.
Each detail creates a fully fleshed-out character, making them feel all the more real.
The only downside of the novel is that the “celebrity aspect” is somewhat put on the backburner.
Nina, the model and surfer who has recently been dumped by her tennis-playing husband, is approached by plenty of creepy men after a seductive photoshoot. However, it is heavily implied that she only models for the money. The love of one’s career that was present in Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones is missing here.
Each book is a captivating read. The flawed characters alone are enough to draw readers in, and Reid shows real human struggles and flaws in the characters she created, all while still making them likable and sympathetic.
Her novels are intense character studies as well as commentaries on celebrity culture, making for an immersive, enjoyable reading experience.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr
Featured Photo Caption: While Jenkins Reid has written a number of novels outside of this timeline, such as “Maybe in Another Life” and “Forever, Interrupted,” it is her novels tied together by Mick Riva that have shot her into popularity amongst teens and young adults.