Malibu Rising

Strong Story. Strong Storytelling. Don't Understand The Hype. Let me be extremely clear on this: This was a very strong story of a family's rise and fall across two generations, told in both past and “present” (with the “present” being nearly 40 years ago from the time of publication) and executed very well in both. The use of a full 24 hour timestamp as a narrative structure was great, as it really drove home that the story was counting down to some cataclysmic event. Truly, there is absolutely no doubt here - this is a great story superbly told.

But I would be remiss if I didn't share my other overriding thought about this book, and that is simple: I truly don't get the hype. I stand behind everything I said in the last paragraph 100%. But this was book 56 on the year for me and I've read over 250 since the COVID-related lockdowns began 53 weeks ago. And many of them were equally strong, and some quite similar in genre and tone. So I simply do not understand how this review will be number 990 on Goodreads - over two full months before this book publishers - while others languish in obscurity, seemingly struggling to get even double digit reviews even though they are at least as strong and good as this one. And again, I cannot emphasize this enough: This isn't saying in any way that this book isn't an excellent tale excellently told. My sole point is simply that there are so many others that could and arguably should receive the same amounts of attention and love, yet do not. And I truly don't understand how this happens. I mean, I know how it happens- massive marketing campaigns. I just don't understand the why of it and why not those others. Something that will likely always elude me.

Anyway, read this book. It deserves it. And maybe follow me wherever you find this review, and maybe you'll find some equally deserving books you weren't aware of. :D Very much recommended.

This started out great, with raw and honest personalities and the writing style I loved so much in ‘daisy jones'. I was deeply immersed in family drama and rich peoples problems and then it just ... unravels? The second half is so unintentional and longwinded, sappy and melodramatic that it feels like a different book.

Also hated the way the men got so much more space in a story that supposedly wanted to center the generational trauma of the women. I know way too much about Mick Riva and way too little about June.

I love that she is building up her own little extended universe though, it's fun.

4.5 stars!!!!!

Taylor Jenkins Reid never lets me down. This was a beautifully written book about family, loss, and forgiveness and I loved every second of it. I don't have a close relationship with my siblings and this book made me wish that I did.





Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eBook copy to review.

Malibu Rising is that book. A story of a young couple in love and the world created by the collision. A decadent character driven story of a family plagued by fame, addiction, and bad decisions. ..this is every bit the guilty pleasure I wanted in a book. This was a dramatic ride of the interwoven lives of a dysfunctional family and the potential that exists for all people to gain redemption despite their circumstances. Five stars all the way...highly recommend!

I have never loved a story about a toxic man and his actions, however, I genuinely enjoyed this. Each of his children have a piece of my heart. I hate Mick but love his kids and this story broke and warmed my heart all at the same time.

I would have given it 5 stars but there were too many small characters that I couldn't keep track of at the party.

I enjoyed “The Seven Husbands of Evely Hugo” and had high hopes for this book. Overall, it was just an average read for me and not up to the level that I was expecting. I didn't find the character development that I typically enjoy and the story was predictable and ho-hum.

I think many readers will enjoy this as a light, summer read this season. It just didn't captivate me as I had hoped it would.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital advanced review copy of the book.

I remember jumping at the chance to get this book in my Book of the Month box because I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo a long time ago and loved it. Well, I'm not quite sure if my preferences have changed since then or if this book just doesn't hit as hard as Evelyn Hugo did but I came out of this one a bit underwhelmed. I knew that it wasn't a thriller going into it but I have heard beforehand that there's a mystery aspect to it and that's all I needed to know before picking it up. Maybe I should just stop trying to read historical fiction all together, since it does not seem to be the genre for me.

To begin with, Malibu Rising is about the lives and histories of the Riva family. We follow the family from it's beginning to where their lives consequently take them. We also follow Nina Riva and her party guests as she hosts the extravagant yearly party at her huge house. I thought the premise of this book was okay but I am starting to realize that I really don't enjoy reading about fictional characters' histories and lives, especially when it follows a long timeline. I'd rather follow what the character is doing at the present moment, with brief mentions of what they went through in the past. I was more excited to read about what was happening in the present day, at the party, and even then I didn't feel like there was nearly enough there. I usually love dual timelines but not when it's in a historical fiction novel apparently. It's good I finally learned this about myself. Also, the ending was a bit of a let down for me because I was hoping for more to the mystery of who set the house on fire.

Further on, the characterization was okay in this book, in my opinion. I felt that because there were so many characters, especially in the present day, at the party, we only got to see a very small snapshot of most of them and for this reason the characters really didn't grow on me and I didn't feel attachment to any of them. Don't get me wrong, I was still rooting for them and wanted to see where life would take them but it didn't illicit any real emotions out of me. I wish we could have seen more into the soul of the main characters, as opposed to reading very brief chapters about very minor ones. Also, for this reason I don't think this book should have been as long as it was, it would have packed a greater punch with less. In this case, less is more, at least in my opinion.

Finally, the writing style is classic Taylor Jenkins Reid, which is beautiful and flowing without being overly complicated and hard to follow. I love how she is able to make beautiful writing accessible and very easy to understand for everybody. I think that if she would have focused on less amount of characters, we would have really gotten to see into their souls and her writing would have evoked all the feelings and emotions within me that seemed to have been missing for me this time around. The beauty is apparent, there's just not enough of its focus in certain areas.

In conclusion, I thought this book was a good historical fiction novel about the ties of family and escaping your family lineage or what you're more prone to or is expected of you in the family dynamic. I think it would be good for historical fiction fans but I found it to be too much, with not enough depth and focus on the stars of the show. Overall it wasn't a bad book, just not the most memorable.

This books follows a dual time line, one in the 80's focusing on Mick Rivas kids: Nina, Kit, Hud and Jay, and them preparing for Nina's famous end of the summer party. The other time line goes back to the 50s and slowly but surly reaches the “present” 80s timeline. In this one we find out Mick Riva's background story: how he became became famous, we get an insight on his relationship with his wife and kids and lastly, discover how his kids became famous as well.

I was a little disappointed in this one because the way the summary was worded it seemed like something tragic was going to happen at Nina's summer party. So, the build up was very intense and I was gripped from the start, until well.. the “big” thing came and went in a blink of an eye. So to me the ending was very “meh”. One other thing I wasn't a huge fan of, was that during the chapters of Nina's party there were far too many pages dedicated to characters that didn't really interact with the siblings so I didn't really care for them as they were pretty irrelevant to me. So during those parts I was a bit bored, I understand that the maybe the author wanted the party to feel full and wanted to give the reader more insight to the type of people who where there, but I just didn't really care. However, the rest of this book was really great. Loved how it was written, I read this in two days and I'm a very slow reader, but it flowed beautifully. It was surprisingly gripping cos I'm nosy and wanted to know the siblings secrets and what happened in their family dynamic. And boy is there a lot of drama... June, the kids mom, deserved so much better. I swooned with her when she first met Mick, and then my heart also got shattered. I just wanted to go inside this book and give her a hug, and then her kids, especially Nina, a hug as well.

If you've read the seven of husbands of Evelyn Hugo and liked it then chances are you'll like this one as well. It has the same old Hollywood feel that Evelyn Hugo has plus some little easter eggs as well, being that Mick Riva is one of her husbands. As always, the characters feel SO real, I left the book feeling like I have met these characters personally. Also recommend if you like family dramas and reading about famous people with a whole lot of issues. This is a perfect summer read, it's so atmospheric that I felt as if I were on a beach in Malibu under the warm summer sky, even though I read this during cold and rainy days.

4.2/5

It seems so fitting having to read and finish this during the scorching hot Southeast Asian summer. Malibu Rising send you away into an environment so vividly rendered, it feels like you're basking in the golden Malibu sun yourself. TJR has a captivating way of taking us to the iconic beachside locale through finely crafted details that stimulate all the senses. The salty ocean breeze, the warmth of the sand, the sound and energy of crashing waves – she paints an immersive tapestry that envelops you in the perfect Malibu experience from the get-go.

At the heart the story are the all-too-human characters of the Riva family. There's this exceptional depth into the siblings. It's impossible not to create a profound connection with each one, empathizing with their unique struggles and triumphs. You find yourself invested in their journeys, cheering them on at every turn as they navigate the complexities of identity, familial bonds, and the human condition.

The final act somewhat leaves you yearning for an extended epilogue glimpsing how the Rivas have faredin the months or years ahead, and there's a certain beauty to that open-endedness.

Malibu Rising is a shining testament to Taylor Jenkins Reid's exceptional storytelling prowess. From what I've observed reading her previous novels, she always impart valuable insights into the essence of human nature. She's a masterclass in crafting layered, unforgettable characters that resonate universal truths about life, love, and the pursuit of fulfillment.

Let me start by saying I think Taylor Jenkins Reid is a phenomenal writer. I have greatly enjoyed almost every book I've read by her. Unfortunately, Malibu Rising is disappointing for me. I feel that Reid is attempting to capture an atmosphere with the 80s Malibu setting similar to what she did with the 70s music industry in Daisy Jones and the Six. I just don't feel that she is as successful with this one. While I enjoyed the story of the Riva family, I did not enjoy the setting of the celebrity-filled 80s party of the second half of the book.

In this story, we follow the Riva family in two time lines: June and Mick Riva circa 1950s-early 70s and then their children Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit circa 1983. The romance between June and Mick is heartbreaking, while the story of their children's sibling love and survival is uplifting. Nina, the oldest, has to hold the family together. By 1983, she has been taking care of her siblings for years while her own life and marriage is falling apart. On the night of the annual Riva party, several dramas play out and lead to much needed confrontations and resolutions.

The best part of this book is the relationship between the Riva siblings. Their bond and love is inspiring. Nina is the strong one that takes care of everyone else, but no one takes her for granted, which is refreshing. Hud is my favorite character because he is so unassuming and genuine. The entire group is likable, even with their quirks and flaws. My least favorite character is Mick Riva, who is about as selfish as they come. I do like that he owns it, though.

If this book had stuck to the story of the Riva family and not veered off into a portrait of 80s celebrity and excess, I would have enjoyed it more. The addition of so many secondary characters at the party is very distracting. I felt it completely unnecessary to the story Reid is telling in the book. None of these secondary storylines ever go anywhere important in the overall context of the book. When the narrative switches to some random partygoer, it breaks the flow of the real plot. It frustrated me as a reader.

I wish I could give this book two ratings, one for the story of the Rivas and one for the story of the party. The Rivas would get a 5 star rating, but because of the distracting and irrelevant subplots of the party, my overall rating falls to 3 stars. I think I understand what Reid is trying to do, but for me it doesn't work.

After falling in love with Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo, this book was somewhat of a let down. Mick Riva is interchangeable with Billy Dunne and was one of Evelyn's husbands. The being cheated on but sticking around trope is not one I can stomach anymore in a TJR book. Nothing new was given with this book.