Ratings381
Average rating4
Another wild and profound story by Taylor Jenkins Reid! Like Daisy Jones and the Six, I enjoyed it despite not being a book I would normally pick up. I love how human these characters are. How tragic yet realistic their lives have been. I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the second, but I did like the conclusion. Not quite what I had anticipated.
I absolutely loved this book. TJR is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read more of her books. I definitely cried at the end. I loved the way this book was organized and how it was all set within 24 hours, it was unique and fun to read. I also love how her books are standalone but set in the same universe so characters from other books are mentioned.
Bit of a queer story that focuses on the power of found family and where marriage is just the worst.
Mick Riva (who I've learned is a keystone part of the TJR universe having also appeared in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six) is a Sinatra-level singing sensation that, before leaving his family and burning through 6 marriages, was devoted to one June (of course her name is June) Costas.
He's a next level order of cad. Grand-master, good-for-nothing cheat who doesn't just leave June and his two kids but impregnates another who drops the bastard foundling at June's door before heading off into the sunset.
At least the kids are alright. Nina is married to a multiple Grand Slam winning tennis star, she herself is a surfer model that's graced magazine covers and calendars. She's Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs all in one. Her brother Jay is a world-class surfer who's graced countless covers himself, all taken by his devoted brother Hud and then there's “never-been-kissed” Kit who, despite being the youngest, might well be the best surfer among them all.
The story takes place over the course of a single day in 1983 and from the opening pages we know it ends in flames.
Totally invested in the opening chapters and completely immersed in the sun and sand set against the hazy backdrop of pre-internet 80's Malibu. By the end it felt like every cliched house party pulled from 80's teen movies. There's even swinging from chandeliers! But it was fine, it was fun. It was the platonic notion of a beach read and a tiny balm against the raging winter chill outside.
Every book I pick up by this author is another one to love. The dual timelines, multiple POVs, the drama, chaos, love, heartache, grief and on and on, is simply amazing.
It was hard to put this one down once I started but you know life
Do not read this book if you think you want to do something else. . . particularly the last half of the book. Reading it was like running downhill. I couldn't stop. I needed to sleep, but I tried several times to put the book down after finishing a chapter and I couldn't. That's quite a recommendation for a nearly 400-page book.A stunning fact about this book it is really takes place in 24 hours. Sure, there's backstory, mostly in the first half, but the second half is more like a description of 12 hours and a ticking clock. Add that to the explosive family dynamics and you've got a real adventure in your hands.The whole book centers around the Riva family and their legendary party. And, trust me, [a:Taylor Jenkins Reid 6572605 Taylor Jenkins Reid https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1645653842p2/6572605.jpg] knows how to show a family coming unglued and how to write a party into legend. The setting itself is an evolving character. The Malibu she depicts used to be a sleepy surf town that got discovered and suffered the same fate as most of the movie stars who inhabited it. If you need a real romp, [b:Malibu Rising 55404546 Malibu Rising Taylor Jenkins Reid https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618293107l/55404546.SY75.jpg 74581401] fills the bill. Just give yourself the time you need to read it. Stock up on food and drink. Lock the door. It's a masterpiece.
-1 star because even though Taylor has done such an amazing job of creating this universe of movie stars and rockstars and tennis pros, she FAILS to reference them in each other story lines!!!
You mean to tell me that although Mick Riva was referenced in not one but TWO of her other novels, those people are not even referenced in Mick's life?? And to be honest, this story is written in 2 separate timelines, 1 from Mick Riva and 1 from the alternating view of June (Riva's children's mom) and his kids (Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit). Its a damn shame because the Mick chapters are relatively short and it would not be too much to reference his interaction with both Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones with the Six. That is the true shame.
This book was good, but all in all you could really tell that it was a world-building book. It set up the cast of characters for Taylor to expand upon in future novels. At the time I read this, I knew that ‘Carrie Soto is Back' was coming out, so I read the parts that mentioned her with more intent because I knew she would be expanded upon from her own point of view very soon.
As for other instances, there was a part at the party where she was naming random actors, producers, financial gurus, etc. etc. The few sentences of pure name drops were clearly for reference later in future novels.
This book really reminded me more of a stepping-stone novel as opposed to a stand-alone. It was good, don't get me wrong, because I really enjoy Taylor's writing and the way she humanizes her characters. Her play on drama is more down-to-earth comparted to other contemporary/historical fiction writers, which is a feat when talking about actors and rockstars, etc. with big egos. BUT, this book did not measure up to Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones, which I have read several several times over (and I don't normally do that).
This is a story about personal growth, the sacrifices you make for family and the struggle to prioritize yourself. I appreciate it being framed in a setting that many idolize. But this story really lacked the charm and novelty I felt when reading Evelyn Hugo.
This book has cured me in so many ways!!! Seriously I had no idea what I was getting into and thought it would be another Taylor Jenkins Reid book I would find okay but this was a masterpiece to me!!!
I enjoyed this book a lot. The protagonist was engaging and relatable, even though her life in Malibu was beyond my scope of understanding. Jenkins Reid brought me into this setting that was hard to pull away from with characters that had their own arcs, complications, and relationships.
What a crazy ride!
A rock star dad with a wandering eye, a surf-crazed family, an alcoholic mother, and a setting of mega-stars, elaborate parties, and ocean-front property in the hills. It was the dirty part of glamour on display and I felt like I was watching my favourite stars strip naked.
A beach read with more depth. Thumbs up.
This is a book you will share with friends.
This book is full of nostalgic 80's vibes and a unique family dynamic. For those of us who adore the 80's, this book is a must-read! It's a delightful trip down memory lane, reminding me of when cellphones weren't a constant distraction and we could simply enjoy the moment. Also, the non-traditional family dynamic and the inclusion of puzzle pieces in the story make it all the more endearing. The only downside? I wanted more! That's why I gave it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
I loved how this book switched between timelines drawing parallels between the parents' lives and the children's' lives. I also love hearing about characters from other Taylor Jenkins Reid books within the parameters of this storyline. This was a sometimes sweet, sometimes heart wrenching story about inter-generational struggles and parenting/ relationship patterns repeating themselves.
It wasn't necessarily gripping, and definitely not my favorite book from this author, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Listen, I'm just a sucker for TJR's writings. They are just my preferred type of “easy” read that doesn't feel dumb or like rotting my brain. I find them compelling every time even if they ultimately have no big life changing impact.
4.5 ⭐️ Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was sure it was going to be a 5 star read, but the ending lost me.
I wanted so much more from this book, the story built so well and the ending in boring soppy stuff
another underwhelming book for me. multiple people have noted this but this novel didn't feel complete..... i had trouble connecting with and caring about the characters. the writing style was so bland with a peppering of pretty prose every 12 pages or so. the cursing in this book also felt so bizarre to me- it seemed unnecessary and it didn't really flow. every f word was just jarring. and the plot was just..... i just didn't care all that much? normally i love a story that takes place over a short period of time but this one did NOT do it for me. uninteresting, uninspired.
i'm leaning toward 2.75 stars right now. i just didn't love this one the way i wanted to :(
Just what I needed. An easy unwind with a glass of wine book. Not the page turner that was Evelyn Hugo, but still roped you into everyone's individual stories as the night progresses.