Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

191 reviews

creativelifeofliz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The first half of this book was pretty terrible and I actually thought about DNFing it several times. It got better for the second half, as long as you accept that there aren't any actually likeable characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Pregnancy

gracehx's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

mstlove90's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Read this book if you're looking for: historical fiction, 80s vibes, different timelines, family drama, badass women MC

*Look up trigger warnings because there are a lot of sensitive topics*

I really enjoyed this book but honestly I was expecting to love it like I’ve loved all of TJRs books so far. 

That’s not to say it wasn’t great, I really enjoyed reading about the Riva children and the MANY struggles that they faced. I liked how we got to see everything that happened on one single night told from everyone’s points of view. BUT in my opinion there were TOO MANY points of view. I found it very hard to keep track. It would bounce not only between the 4 main characters but then also side characters too and that got very confusing.

One thing I did really enjoy about this book (not a spoiler) was the perspective of the Riva kids and their love for their siblings. Each wanted to be better, stronger, and more resilient because they thought they had to be. In the end it really showed how the family bonded and saw the unconditional love they had for each other. 

I like family stories, especially siblings. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Gun violence

wildflowerleahg's review

3.25

I don’t remember the line in the Katy Perry song about burning down the lawn…

I feel like every TJR book could be summed up as: Fame isn’t glamorous, men aren’t worth the trouble and Europe is always a good idea. 

Honestly, the only reason I wanted to read this was because of the her other novels. I absolutely love the world she has created. It’s so fun to see all these worlds colliding. This book was entertaining but just overall just okay. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Drug abuse and Infidelity

Minor: Car accident

kyliieamberr's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

honeybunchesofoats06's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Once again, Taylor Jenkins Reid did a phenomenal job on this book. It follows the complicated story of Mick Riva’s (who you might recognize from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) family and the beautiful relationship between his children. The writing in this novel is outstanding, just like Reid’s other works. I did find it to be a slower pace but that did not take away from the overall story. All the characters in this book were extremely lovable and the family dynamic between the Riva family is absolutely heart wrenching. I loved the character development of Nina Riva and it honestly almost had me in tears. The dual timeline really adds to the development of the plot in a interesting and tasteful way. I love love love how the information was revealed through out that helped builded up to the ending. The only thing I wish it had more of was the fire. It seemed like that was going to be a really big part of the story but it turns out it wasn’t. Still an amazing read and I would recommend it to anyone!

Fav quote:
“When there is only you, you do not get to choose which job you want, you do not get to decide you are incapable of anything. There is no room for distaste or weakness. You must do it all. All of the ugliness, the sadness, the things most people can’t stand to even think about, all must live inside of you. You must be capable of everything.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

jdawg1's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Drug abuse

jenna_s_9's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

As it goes, f-ck Mick Riva.

I really enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid, her novels always have a way of punching me in the heart. This one more pointedly.

This felt fast paced, I loved how the dual timelines played out and how the story came together in the second half. As readers we are offered so much insight to the characters and how they affect the people around them. It felt entirely immersive.

Her characters are unlikable in some ways but entirely human, Nina being the most compelling character for me. Maybe because I see some of what she is in myself, that feeling of having to accept but never allowing herself to be.  

Nobody is perfect. But once again, TJR captures what we all want from people so eloquently, we want them to try. Try. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion

ellamary16's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cursing, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship

ptitirodactyle's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury