Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Historical Fiction
Rating:
Synopsis
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: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over–especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud–because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.
Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.
And Kit has a couple secrets of her own–including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.
By midnight the party will be completely out of control. 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, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.
Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.
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Review
Taylor Jenkins Reid is a phenomenal writer, and Malibu Rising is another stunning book.
Like with her other books, this book is very character-driven. It explores a family dynamic and well as the personal struggles of each member of the family. I loved how the book was told in a 24 hour period, with flashbacks thrown in. There were two very interconnected stories being told, and though there was jumping around, it was done in a way that was clear and added value to each story.
The characters felt very real, and I felt like both storylines felt right for the period. I loved all of the family dynamics and secrets that they all had, but I also enjoyed seeing the siblings’ love for one another. This was truly a story about family and the importance of it. It ended in a very satisfying way that left me fulfilled but still wanting more.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors, from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to Daisy Jones and the Six, she writes amazing characters and Malibu Rising is no exception.
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Great review Carolynn. I need to read this one, I have heard some great things about it.