There are few authors I recommend to every reader, despite their individual tastes, but Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books easily make the cut. As the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 10 commercial fiction novels, Reid’s stories center on authentic yet unique characters battling demons of every variation. Each story is so immersive and evocative that she’s become an insta-buy author for me. I mean it when I say I would read her grocery list, and with her newest novel, Atmosphere, releasing this past June, now is the perfect time to revisit her full body of work.
Though every single one of these stories is worth your time, I’ve ranked them from my least favorite (although still enjoyed!) to favorite—an arduous task, considering how much I love every one of these books. Read on to find out what her novels are about, how each Taylor Jenkins Reid book ranks, and more.
Who is Taylor Jenkins Reid?
Taylor Jenkins Reid is an absolute powerhouse in the publishing industry. The best-selling author of 10 commercial fiction novels about powerful, inspiring women, her stories are all-time favorites for many dedicated readers, as well as hot topics in the film and television industry. A Netflix film adaptation of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is currently in development, a series adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six is available on Prime Video, and Serena Williams is executive producing a Netflix drama series based on Carrie Soto Is Back. Plus, Reid’s newest novel, Atmosphere, is already set to be turned into a movie.
Reid’s books blew up on “BookTok” in 2020 and have only grown in popularity since. Her novels have sold over 21 million copies, with a few selected for The Good Morning America Book Club, Reese’s Book Club, and Read With Jenna. She is one of the most successful authors working in the industry today.
Do I need to read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books in a certain order?
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books are all standalone novels, though many exist in an interconnected multiverse, with characters from previous stories popping up in novels in which they are not the main character. Though these cameos are extra rewarding when you understand their significance, all of Reid’s books can be read on their own and do not need to be read in any particular order. So pick whichever novel catches your eye and start there!
Taylor Jenkins Reid books ranked
Now let’s dive into the good stuff. Again, I love all of these books, so ranking them was nearly impossible. Nevertheless, I hope my thoughts and opinions help you to navigate the Taylor Jenkins Reid multiverse.
10. Evidence of the Affair
Told entirely through the letters of two comforting strangers and those of two illicit lovers, Evidence of the Affair explores the complex nature of the heart. And ultimately, for one woman, how liberating it can be when it’s broken.
Goodreads Rating: 3.86/5
Being under 100 pages, this novella just didn’t have the word count for the emotional depth and character growth that I’ve come to love and expect from Reid. I still enjoyed how this story explored marriage and the lessons it taught about getting your heart broken. But this Jenkins Reid novel simply cannot measure up to the other full-length novels on this list.
9. After I Do
When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again.
Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?
Goodreads Rating: 3.94/5
This book battles with what happens when the honeymoon phase of a relationship is truly over. Reid’s prose is achingly human and honest and guides the reader beautifully as Lauren and Ryan battle to save their marriage and find themselves again. Nevertheless, this story felt more predictable and—for lack of a better term—”Hallmark movie-ish” than Reid’s other novels did, and therefore sits lower in the ranking.
8. Forever, Interrupted
On New Year’s Day, Elsie Porter heads out to pick up a pizza and meets Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped. Only nine days later, Ben is riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. At the hospital, Elsie must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met.
Interweaving Elsie and Ben’s charmed romance with Elsie and Susan’s healing process, Forever, Interrupted will remind you that there’s more than one way to find a happy ending.
Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5
Forever, Interrupted is a story about navigating grief and finding connection after unimaginable tragedy. The protagonist forms an unexpected connection with her deceased husband’s mother, which was captivating to read. Its spot at number eight is simply because it’s one of Reid’s earlier novels. I can see how her storytelling has evolved and grown since this was released. Which is a testament to her talent more than anything.
7. Maybe In Another Life
A breathtaking novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.
Goodreads Rating: 3.79/5
Maybe In Another Life is told in parallel timelines, split only by a sole decision the protagonist makes one night. The concept alone made this book an instant buy for me, and I loved the way it questioned fate and timing and made me, as the reader, wonder how my life could be different if I had made even a slightly altered choice. It sits (lovingly) at number seven on the list, though it cannot surpass the titles in the top six.
6. Daisy Jones and the Six
A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.
Goodreads Rating: 4.20/5
Loosely inspired by Fleetwood Mac, Daisy Jones and the Six tells the story of a fictional 1970s rock band through a series of interviews—and even some original song lyrics. The novel focuses heavily on the strained relationship between Daisy Jones and the band’s leader, Billy Dunne. Grappling with themes of addiction and fame, it is easily one of Reid’s most creative and enthralling stories.
Now, before anyone attacks me for placing a fan favorite at the middle of the pack, I want to stress: I loved this book. It is a work of art. However—and this is simply personal preference—the interview format just wasn’t for me. In retrospect, if I had listened to the audiobook instead of reading the hard copy, it may have been a different experience, one I hope to try very soon.
5. One True Loves
A breathtaking new love story, Emma is unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.
Goodreads Rating: 4.03/5
I anticipate some pushback for putting this one above Daisy Jones and the Six, but I read this book years ago and still think about its characters. It was truly a book hangover book for me.
In One True Loves, Emma learns her husband, Jesse—previously missing and presumed dead for over two years—is coming home. She now must choose between a lost love and her current partner, who helped her heal from this loss. Despite never having faced such a dilemma, I felt as overjoyed for Jesse’s return and devastated at losing her current relationship as Emma did. Her emotions truly bled through the pages, a testament to Reid’s prose. The story asks the question of whether or not we can have more than one soulmate in our lives and left me sobbing into my pillow long after I’d read the last page. If you’re looking for a love story that will have you questioning your values and beliefs, this is that.
4. Atmosphere
Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. As the new astronauts prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a love she never imagined and begins to question everything she knows about her place in the observable universe.
Goodreads Rating: 4.41/5
This is Reid’s newest title, and despite ever-growing expectations to deliver—Atmosphere didn’t disappoint. Set during the 1980 Space Shuttle Program, Atmosphere follows astrophysicist Joan Goodwin as she navigates a rigorous training program while also developing a secret romance with a fellow astronaut, one that has deep personal consequences. Told through dual timelines, Atmosphere is an emotional rollercoaster that paints a realistic picture of what STEM fields were like for women in the 20th century.
This novel was perhaps more romance heavy than I would have preferred in a NASA setting, though the cover reads “A Love Story,” so that may just be an oversight on my part (and the space nerd in me wanting more). Still, this story had me questioning everything I thought I knew about love, so I’d say it left its mark.
3. Carrie Soto is Back
At 37 years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her champion tennis record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley.
In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.
Goodreads Rating: 4.20/5
I didn’t expect to love this one, but it’s so good that I consider it a top three pick. Carrie Soto is Back tells the story of a retired tennis legend who decides to return to the sport at age 37 to reclaim her Grand Slam title. Carrie’s comeback is not just a physical battle but also an emotional and mental one as she navigates the shifting landscape of professional sports, her personal relationships, and the legacy she wishes to uphold.
Carrie Soto makes a brief appearance in Malibu Rising and didn’t leave the best impression on many readers, including myself. I was not expecting to grow so attached to her story, but her battle—both internal and external—had me unable to stop turning the page. After finishing the novel, I can confidently say I’m one of Carrie’s biggest fans and can’t wait to see how Serena Williams helps adapt this story to Netflix.
2. Malibu Rising
Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas. Together the siblings are a source of fascination—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.
Goodreads Rating: 4.03/5
This is another fan favorite, and one I will defend with my life. Malibu Rising takes everything I love about reading and combines it into 400 pages of perfection. The novel follows the infamous Riva siblings—children of Mick Riva, famous singer and central character in some of Reid’s other novels—as they throw their annual end-of-summer party at their mansion in Malibu. The story unfolds over 24 hours, with each sibling’s story etched out through beautiful, gut-wrenching prose. Readers will root for all four Riva siblings, despite their secrets and shortcomings. Though we get such a short glimpse into their lives, Reid’s character-building skills shine through, and the Riva siblings feel like nothing short of close friends by the story’s close.
Characters from Malibu Rising play a key role in the rest of Reid’s novels, so if you’re looking for a place to start, this is a great entry point to the rest of her works.
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition and a great forbidden love.
Goodreads Rating: 4.40/5
Evelyn Hugo was the first Taylor Jenkins Reid book I read, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Yet, after reading all of her other works, it still reigns #1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo centers on a beautiful young woman navigating stardom in 1950s Hollywood. As Evelyn rises to fame, she grapples with grief and loss, forbidden love, and finding one’s identity in the public eye. It is a heart-wrenching story serving to remind readers that glamor, fame, and money cannot hold a person together—only the people we love can do that.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is still one of my favorite books of all time, even though I read it almost five years ago. Its final chapters are full of quotes I use to help guide me through my day-to-day life and—most of all—to help me remember what’s really important in life. I cannot recommend it enough. But be warned: After you read it, it’s possible nothing else will ever compare.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Intern
As editorial intern, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content, and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented by contributing to The Everymom.
The post I’ve Read Every Taylor Jenkins Reid Book—Here’s How They Rank appeared first on The Everymom.
Source link: https://theeverymom.com/taylor-jenkins-reid-books/ by Rebecca Smith at theeverymom.com