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aurora_smith12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
timeline jumping
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
katherinek's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
abbeyroad1410's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was immaculate; I'd consider it one of the best books I've read in 2023 thus far.
First of all, the characterization of every member of the Riva family was amazing. Readers could track how and why their personalities developed as they did. Nina was forced to drop her boundaries to care for her siblings; Jay was a brash kid and remained so but had a self-consciousness from trauma; Hud was different from his siblings; Kit was self-discovering and had a chip on her shoulder from experiencing unfortunate events from such a young age. Not to mention, you see June go from a dreamer to someone coping with the realities of life. I am a sucker for characters that grow and make sense.
Second of all, I love that this book never condoned cheating even when you saw why the characters may choose that direction. In fact, it emphasized the victimization of those cheated on. One of my pet peeves is when a book tries to claim that because two characters love each other, it was okay for them to betray their partner. I think this novel does a great job of showing three very different circumstances of cheating and how it impacts those around those having an affair.
Third of all, I love a book that flashes back and forth. The tracking back and forth flashes really helps keep my attention and captivate me. I think it is nice to give my mind a little extra task. I also like that he helps you directly track characters decisions between time periods to see how their decisions are influenced by the past.
If I had a critique of this book, it would be that it introduced too many characters. I understand that in some ways, this was needed to show the chaos of the party and just how many people were there and how many activities were taking place. The many different perspectives also drew my attention to what the f- moments like bars of cocaine being passed out like snacks. I do think some of these scenes could have been conveyed without SO many points of view, however.
Overall, I loved this book, and I am tempted to pick up another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid on my next Barnes and Noble trip.
First of all, the characterization of every member of the Riva family was amazing. Readers could track how and why their personalities developed as they did. Nina was forced to drop her boundaries to care for her siblings; Jay was a brash kid and remained so but had a self-consciousness from trauma; Hud was different from his siblings; Kit was self-discovering and had a chip on her shoulder from experiencing unfortunate events from such a young age. Not to mention, you see June go from a dreamer to someone coping with the realities of life. I am a sucker for characters that grow and make sense.
Second of all, I love that this book never condoned cheating even when you saw why the characters may choose that direction. In fact, it emphasized the victimization of those cheated on. One of my pet peeves is when a book tries to claim that because two characters love each other, it was okay for them to betray their partner. I think this novel does a great job of showing three very different circumstances of cheating and how it impacts those around those having an affair.
Third of all, I love a book that flashes back and forth. The tracking back and forth flashes really helps keep my attention and captivate me. I think it is nice to give my mind a little extra task. I also like that he helps you directly track characters decisions between time periods to see how their decisions are influenced by the past.
If I had a critique of this book, it would be that it introduced too many characters. I understand that in some ways, this was needed to show the chaos of the party and just how many people were there and how many activities were taking place. The many different perspectives also drew my attention to what the f- moments like bars of cocaine being passed out like snacks. I do think some of these scenes could have been conveyed without SO many points of view, however.
Overall, I loved this book, and I am tempted to pick up another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid on my next Barnes and Noble trip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Infidelity
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, and Alcohol
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
Title: Malibu Rising
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 27, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Addictive • Evocative • Entertaining
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over--especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud--because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth. Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own--including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.
By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family's generations will all come rising to the surface.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I deliberately chose to take Malibu Rising on my recent trip to Los Angeles and I couldn't have picked a better time to pick it up. Being in the California sun, with the gentle ocean breeze, and being close to some of the places talked about throughout the book really offered something extra to my reading experience.
The dysfunctional family dynamics of the Riva siblings felt believable, their relationships seemed genuine, and their flawed character development was fantastic. Nina was my favourite character - her arc is the one I gravitated towards most. Her selfless nature felt entirely relatable and my heart just went out to her.
Even though the entirety of this book takes places over the span on 24 hours, the bulk of it takes place in Malibu during the 1980s. While the party timeline could feel a bit distracting, I understand it was necessary and feel as though TJR has crafted them together perfectly. The main issue I had was with the amount of characters I needed to keep track of at the party. I didn't really care, and wanted more depth about the Rivas. The setting itself added an element of glitz and glamour, and the TJR describes the area with ease.
Overall, Malibu Rising is another enjoyable story, mixing historical fiction with family drama, that I would highly recommend. The audio narration by Julia Whalen is fabulous. And what I love so much about TJR's stories is how each one is so unique. While this one wasn't my absolute favourite, I still cannot wait to keep exploring her backlist and seeing what she writes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone looking for beachy summertime vibes
• TJR devotees
• historical fiction readers looking for something different
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Our family histories are simply stories. They are myths we create about the people who came before us, in order to make sense of ourselves."
"She had to choose what, of the things she inherited from the people who came before her, she wanted to bring forward. And what, of the past, she wanted to leave behind."
"She knew that she could not sustain her life fueled only by the memories of those she once loved. Loss would not propel her forward. She had to go out and live. She had to find new people."
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 27, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Addictive • Evocative • Entertaining
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over--especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud--because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth. Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own--including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.
By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family's generations will all come rising to the surface.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I deliberately chose to take Malibu Rising on my recent trip to Los Angeles and I couldn't have picked a better time to pick it up. Being in the California sun, with the gentle ocean breeze, and being close to some of the places talked about throughout the book really offered something extra to my reading experience.
The dysfunctional family dynamics of the Riva siblings felt believable, their relationships seemed genuine, and their flawed character development was fantastic. Nina was my favourite character - her arc is the one I gravitated towards most. Her selfless nature felt entirely relatable and my heart just went out to her.
Even though the entirety of this book takes places over the span on 24 hours, the bulk of it takes place in Malibu during the 1980s. While the party timeline could feel a bit distracting, I understand it was necessary and feel as though TJR has crafted them together perfectly. The main issue I had was with the amount of characters I needed to keep track of at the party. I didn't really care, and wanted more depth about the Rivas. The setting itself added an element of glitz and glamour, and the TJR describes the area with ease.
Overall, Malibu Rising is another enjoyable story, mixing historical fiction with family drama, that I would highly recommend. The audio narration by Julia Whalen is fabulous. And what I love so much about TJR's stories is how each one is so unique. While this one wasn't my absolute favourite, I still cannot wait to keep exploring her backlist and seeing what she writes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone looking for beachy summertime vibes
• TJR devotees
• historical fiction readers looking for something different
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Our family histories are simply stories. They are myths we create about the people who came before us, in order to make sense of ourselves."
"She had to choose what, of the things she inherited from the people who came before her, she wanted to bring forward. And what, of the past, she wanted to leave behind."
"She knew that she could not sustain her life fueled only by the memories of those she once loved. Loss would not propel her forward. She had to go out and live. She had to find new people."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, and Gaslighting
hrhprincessjasmine's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
this was my first time reading a taylor jenkins reid book, and only because i saw that it has good sibling dynamics. even though i loved it i'm not likely to read another tjr book simply because the genre isn't for me.
this book is amazingly written. at one point i even shed some tears. there's not much going on for most of the book but it still was easy to read and somehow felt fast paced. maybe it was the dual timeline.
i do wish there was more chance for me to get attached to the characters though. besides nina we don't really see a lot into their minds.
also, i still don't get why exactly jay was so mad at hud, i mean he was over ashley so what's the big deal?
this book is amazingly written. at one point i even shed some tears. there's not much going on for most of the book but it still was easy to read and somehow felt fast paced. maybe it was the dual timeline.
i do wish there was more chance for me to get attached to the characters though. besides nina we don't really see a lot into their minds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
kaiyoung_kop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming and Eating disorder
prettybaddieb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
The story was pretty good. I will say I liked part 2 better than part 1. that’s when things kicked in, the party itself was by far the most interesting part (and the events that unfolded afterwards). Part 1 was satisfying but for me I really had to get through it cuz at times it dragged. Didn’t like how at the end there were some super irrelevant characters. That felt unnecessary. But i’m happy with the ending and the story overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Gun violence
itsluisa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
merrynthomas's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment