Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

1064 reviews

zorhose's review against another edition

3.0

This was decent, but not Taylor Jenkins Reid's best. I think hardcore fans wouldn't mind, but I feel like this could've done with some different structuring. The amount of characters obviously makes it a bit messy inherently and I feel like that could've worked in the books favor if used correctly. But idk something was missing for me, it could've gone harder. I would definitely say read it after all her other releases starting wih Evelyn Hugo, if you're really still craving more. There are so many cameos in this book that it sometimes gets a little much, but I can't lie and say it wasn't fun at all to get another glimpse of my fave, Carrie Soto, etc.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual harassment and Injury/Injury detail

crystal689's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol

klaraax's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Blood

Minor: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Fire/Fire injury

miranda_is_reading's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow, I really loved this book and found a lot of different ways to relate to each Riva family member. This book is heavy on generational trauma.

Part 1 was interesting getting to know the Riva children in present day, while also learning of their parents pasts. It was really well done to explain the family history. I liked each Riva kid in their own way, but mostly related to Hud and Nina. The struggles Mick put his family through were awful and I struggled to like him. He really reminded me of my grandfather. June was likable in the start, but it was sad to watch her mentally decline. You grieve her with her children.

Part 2 is present day and where the “action” takes place. We know a fire is going to happen, but when, where and how it starts is the suspense. Does anyone get hurt or die? We need to find out! There’s a lot of people introduced in this part making it a bit confusing at times. I think there’s so many people introduced causing the reader confusion tactfully though? It kind of conveys how out of hand and all over this party really was. The ending was good, but emotional. I would love a follow up book of the Riva kids in the future to see how their lives turned out further down the road! I’ve gathered there’s some crossover of character in some of the authors other book, so I’m looking forward to reading those!

I will totally recommend this book to others, especially if they like historical fiction type books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug use, and Infidelity

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction

Minor: Blood, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Pregnancy

marleen02's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Outing, Abandonment, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Car accident, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Violence

emilyandthewhippet's review

slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Vomit

bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

challenging inspiring 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

4.0

The perfect way to kick off the summer! I really enjoyed this story and the writing style ,as usual,was perfection. TJR really knows how to immerse the reader in!

I will say unlike her other books which I have read, I did find this one to be far more character heavy over a continuous plot but did enjoy the backstory plots from part 1 a lot.

As the plot does flitter back between past and present - though both still interesting - did become a bit slower paced and a little harder to keep track of characters subplots at times. 

I loved each character it their own right and it’s great to get some more depth to characters I’ve come to know from her other books. I especially loved Nina and watching her develop throughout the struggles of her past. 

The only reason I can’t rate this a 5 is I wish the fire foreshadowing which gripped me at the start held a bit more weight in the end of the book but still a fantastic read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and Drug use

Minor: Death of parent

danimylove's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

mariskyjy's review against another edition

emotional relaxing slow-paced

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

4.25

I can see why someone might find this book a little boring (compared to others in the "series") but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is an excellent character study for all of the siblings (except Kit, for whatever reason).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Death of parent

musicmagician823'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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, and Death of parent