With on-screen adaptations of two of her novels in the works, it’s safe to say that Taylor Jenkins Reid has forged a very successful writing career over just the past several years.
Her books explore themes of love, tear-jerking losses, and life-changing decisions. These themes, combined with the glamour and secrets of the rich and famous, make for intriguing beach reads and complex escapism.
In this post, we’ll take a look at Jenkins’s 8 published works that fans of romance and drama will definitely want to check out.
Best Taylor Jenkins Reid Books
Below are Taylor Jenkins Reid’s 8 published books, ranked in order of their average Goodreads ratings.
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Evelyn Hugo is a reclusive Hollywood icon who’s finally ready to tell the story of her scandalous and glamorous rise to fame, her 30-year career, and the 7 husbands in between. (Think of her as a fictionalized Elizabeth Taylor.)
To everyone’s surprise, Evelyn selects an unknown magazine reporter, Monique, to deliver the big scoop. As Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the silver screen legend, she also realizes that her life intersects with Evelyn’s in some tragic ways.
2. Daisy Jones & The Six
Presented as the transcript of a music documentary, Daisy Jones & The Six tells the story of a 70s rock group’s rise to stardom, as well as the mystery behind their infamous breakup.
Taylor Jenkins Reid has said that the book was partly inspired by Fleetwood Mac, whose performances she watched while growing up. Filming for an Amazon Prime series based on the book began filming in September 2021.
3. Malibu Rising
It’s 1983, and the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party—one of the most anticipated parties of the year among the Malibu elite.
Nina and her three famous siblings join together for the epic celebration, but over the course of 24 hours, the loves and secrets that shaped the Riva family for generations will all come bubbling to the surface, ending in flames.
4. Maybe in Another Life
After moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles, 29-year-old Hannah Martin goes out to a bar with her best friend Gabby.
There, she runs into her high school boyfriend, Ethan, and faces a choice: will she return home with Gabby, or accept Ethan’s offer for a ride?
From here, the book follows two concurrent storylines, as Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. In each case, Hannah believes she’s found her soul mate, but the book still raises questions about how much of life is determined by chance.
5. One True Loves
In her twenties, Emma Blair married her high school sweetheart, Jesse, and together they built a life of adventure.
But on their one year anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter that goes missing over the Pacific and disappears.
Thinking her husband dead, Emma moves back home with her parents to try to put her life back together. Later, in her thirties, Emma runs into her old friend Sam and thinks she may have finally found love again.
But just as she and Sam become engaged, Jesse is found alive, and Emma must figure out what her heart is trying to tell her.
6. After I Do
When their marriage reaches a breaking point, Lauren and Ryan make an unconventional attempt at saving it: they’ll live apart for an entire year, with the only rule being that they cannot contact each other.
Lauren starts a journey of self-discovery, and finds that her friends and family each have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage.
These influences, along with her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from her husband, begin to change her ideas about monogamy and marriage.
7. Evidence of the Affair
Technically an epistolary short story, a young woman in Southern California writes a letter to a man she has never met—a choice that will change both of their lives forever.
David is married to the woman Carrie’s husband was having an affair with. As these two strangers comfort each other through their correspondence, Carrie discovers how complicated the heart is, and how liberating it can be once it’s broken.
8. Forever, Interrupted
Elsie wasn’t expecting to fall head over heels in love with a man she met in a pizza shop, but that’s exactly what happened when she crossed paths with Ben Ross.
Their instant and electric chemistry leads them into a whirlwind romance, and within just a few short months, they’ve eloped. But nine days after their impromptu marriage, Ben is hit by a truck and killed just outside their apartment.
At the hospital, Elsie must face Susan, the mother-in-law who doesn’t even know Elsie exists. Their healing process proves that there is more than one way to find a happy ending.
What Kind of Books Does Taylor Jenkins Reid Write?
Most of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books can be classified as romance novels, with books like One True Loves and Forever, Interrupted exploring themes of love and loss.
Other works, like Malibu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, explore the drama and intrigue surrounding the rich and famous.
Do you have a favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
