9 Taylor Jenkins Reid Books Ranked From Great to Absolute Masterpiece (2026 Edition)

Taylor Jenkins Reid doesn’t just write books; she builds entire decades you can smell, taste, and fall in love with. From 1950s Hollywood backlots to 1980s rock stadiums, her novels feel less like fiction and more like stolen diaries from the most fascinating people who never actually existed.

Here are all nine of her adult novels ranked from “really damn good” to “I still think about these characters daily” – no spoilers, just pure emotional damage assessment.

9. After I Do (2014)

A married couple takes a one-year break from each other to figure out if they still want to be married. Quiet, introspective, and surprisingly funny. The most “normal” TJR book, but that’s exactly why it works. Perfect if you want relationship drama without the glamour.

8. One True Loves (2016)

A woman’s husband disappears in a helicopter crash. Years later she’s happily engaged… then the husband comes back. The ultimate “who do you choose?” gut-punch. Still the book people quote when debating soulmates vs. timing.

7. Maybe in Another Life (2021)

Sliding-doors romance: Hannah makes one tiny decision at 29 (go home with her high-school sweetheart or go to a party?) and the book follows both timelines. Cinnamon rolls and fate have never felt so high-stakes.

6. Forever, Interrupted (2013) – her debut

Newlyweds, nine days of marriage, tragic accident. Told in alternating “then” (blissful first week) and “now” (grieving with the mother-in-law who never knew you existed). Proof she could wreck you from day one.

5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017)

The one that made her a household name. Aging Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo finally tells her life story to an unknown journalist. Glamour, forbidden love, ambition, and secrets that detonate across seven decades. If you only read one TJR book, the internet will hand you this one.

4. Carrie Soto Is Back (2022)

A retired tennis legend in her late 30s comes back for one last season to defend her record. Father-daughter dynamics, brutal training montages, and the most satisfying underdog sports story since Rocky. Even people who hate sports lose their minds over this.

3. Malibu Rising (2021)

One wild end-of-summer party in 1983 hosted by the four Riva siblings (children of legendary singer Mick Riva). Told in 24 hours with flashbacks to the 50s–70s. Surf culture, family trauma, and a house fire you can practically smell. The prologue alone is worth the price of admission.

2. Daisy Jones & The Six (2019)

A 1970s rock band tells their story through raw interview transcripts. Fleetwood Mac vibes, addiction, betrayal, and the song “Aurora” that doesn’t exist but you’ll swear you’ve heard on the radio. The Amazon Prime adaptation is great; the book is life-changing.

1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo still fights for #1, but…

Wait. Most people crown Evelyn Hugo.

But in 2025, a growing number of die-hards (myself included in spirit) argue Daisy Jones & The Six edges it out because you don’t just read it – you live inside the music, the fights, the heartbreak, and that final interview line that leaves you staring at the wall for an hour.

Honorable mentions: Her two early romance novels under pseudonyms (technically not TJR canon) and her upcoming 2026 title already generating insane hype.

Whether you want old Hollywood glamour, rock ‘n’ roll chaos, sports redemption, or parallel-universe love stories, Taylor Jenkins Reid has become the queen of making fictional people feel more real than most of your actual friends.

Which one hit you the hardest? Drop your ranking in the comments – fights over #1 are encouraged.

P.S. Want the full emotional experience of all nine books (every iconic quote, timeline, and tear-jerking moment) without carving out three months? BookFlow now has the complete Taylor Jenkins Reid collection summarized in gorgeous 15–22 minute reads – perfect for deciding which one to read (or re-read) in full next. Start your free 7-day trial and fall in love on your lunch break.