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megshelton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.0
It took me a second to get into the book, but once I did, it took off. My heart was broken for June and the heartache Mick put her through over and over. I wanted to hug Nina and hold her tight but also was proud of her character arc by the end. The rest of the Riva siblings all had small growths that I liked to read about and I wouldn't mind learning more about how their lives progressed. I really liked that fact that this story was set in the 80s as present time with flash backs to give "origin story" set ups for how things came to be.
elifer's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ceyda_ta's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
nicolenovs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bee_thebibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Taylor Jenkins Reid has such a special way of telling a story...it pulls you in and you find yourself completely immersed in the world she’s created. While Malibu Rising didn’t (in my opinion) quite live up to Daisy Jones and the Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I still found myself feeling like I was in Malibu with the Rivas, dealing with whatever life was going to throw their way that day.
Malibu Rising is the story of the Riva family, spanning two generations and covering some pretty difficult topics. There’s the story of Mick and June, who loved each other so much, created a life together that they both thought they wanted and learned that it wasn’t quite enough to keep them happy. Their story could have been a book all on its own with the love, twists, heartbreak and obstacles that they faced together and apart. We also see the second generation of Rivas - Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit - who were directly affected by the tumultuous relationship between their parents. Without Mick and June there would be no Riva siblings, so their backstory is important to understanding who the siblings are and why they’ve found themselves in the situations they are today.
The present day story (August 1983) focuses on the Riva siblings and their preparations for their yearly end of summer party at Nina’s cliffside Malibu home. We get a lot of sibling interaction but also solo stories sharing the secrets they’re keeping from the others. Nina is the oldest, the model/poster girl for the California surfer girl look, the protector, the mother figure who feels like it’s her job to keep the family together even when her world (work and relationship) is coming apart at the seams. Jay is a professional surfer and works right alongside Hud, a professional sports photographer - they work as a team and have each made a name for themselves with the help of their brother. And Kit is the youngest and most confused member of the RIva family, not quite understanding where she belongs in the world.
I appreciated all of their character growth throughout the book, from the time they were children in Mick and June’s story to the present. Nina’s growth by the end of the book was monumental and I really didn’t think she had it in her, but I was very pleasantly surprised with where her character found herself at the end. Jay and Hud had such a great relationship their whole life and seeing them continue to navigate that, even with the bumps along the way, was heartwarming - they’d always have each other. And Kit’s exploration of herself, her likes, her dislikes and her professional ambitions was really interesting to watch...she always kept you guessing. They’ve grown as a family, helping each other flourish regardless of their mother’s struggles to keep it together and their father’s absence to live the life of a rockstar for almost the entirety of their lives.
I can’t help feeling that the ending didn’t quite live up to my expectations. After building up to what I thought would be an epic conclusion to this insane night of partying and revelations, it just ended...and left me feeling like there should have been more closure for all of the Riva children. There were also a lot of side characters at the party mentioned for a chapter here or there that weighed down the story and made it difficult to remember who was who and what they were doing there. With so many main characters, I felt like adding in so many specifics about others held the story back.
Overall, I enjoyed it. No one writes historical fiction quite like TJR and I’ll never pass up an opportunity to dive into one of the worlds she creates. But this one was a little slow to start (really didn’t pick up until about 50%) and left me wanting more - maybe an epilogue or final chapter, I’m not sure. After everything the Rivas endured, I think they deserved a little more once they finally embraced their past and their future happiness.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC to review!
Malibu Rising is the story of the Riva family, spanning two generations and covering some pretty difficult topics. There’s the story of Mick and June, who loved each other so much, created a life together that they both thought they wanted and learned that it wasn’t quite enough to keep them happy. Their story could have been a book all on its own with the love, twists, heartbreak and obstacles that they faced together and apart. We also see the second generation of Rivas - Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit - who were directly affected by the tumultuous relationship between their parents. Without Mick and June there would be no Riva siblings, so their backstory is important to understanding who the siblings are and why they’ve found themselves in the situations they are today.
The present day story (August 1983) focuses on the Riva siblings and their preparations for their yearly end of summer party at Nina’s cliffside Malibu home. We get a lot of sibling interaction but also solo stories sharing the secrets they’re keeping from the others. Nina is the oldest, the model/poster girl for the California surfer girl look, the protector, the mother figure who feels like it’s her job to keep the family together even when her world (work and relationship) is coming apart at the seams. Jay is a professional surfer and works right alongside Hud, a professional sports photographer - they work as a team and have each made a name for themselves with the help of their brother. And Kit is the youngest and most confused member of the RIva family, not quite understanding where she belongs in the world.
I appreciated all of their character growth throughout the book, from the time they were children in Mick and June’s story to the present. Nina’s growth by the end of the book was monumental and I really didn’t think she had it in her, but I was very pleasantly surprised with where her character found herself at the end. Jay and Hud had such a great relationship their whole life and seeing them continue to navigate that, even with the bumps along the way, was heartwarming - they’d always have each other. And Kit’s exploration of herself, her likes, her dislikes and her professional ambitions was really interesting to watch...she always kept you guessing. They’ve grown as a family, helping each other flourish regardless of their mother’s struggles to keep it together and their father’s absence to live the life of a rockstar for almost the entirety of their lives.
I can’t help feeling that the ending didn’t quite live up to my expectations. After building up to what I thought would be an epic conclusion to this insane night of partying and revelations, it just ended...and left me feeling like there should have been more closure for all of the Riva children. There were also a lot of side characters at the party mentioned for a chapter here or there that weighed down the story and made it difficult to remember who was who and what they were doing there. With so many main characters, I felt like adding in so many specifics about others held the story back.
Overall, I enjoyed it. No one writes historical fiction quite like TJR and I’ll never pass up an opportunity to dive into one of the worlds she creates. But this one was a little slow to start (really didn’t pick up until about 50%) and left me wanting more - maybe an epilogue or final chapter, I’m not sure. After everything the Rivas endured, I think they deserved a little more once they finally embraced their past and their future happiness.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC to review!
lucycoates13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
acartreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0