Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Malibu Rising

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

183 reviews

mishasbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad fast-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

5.0

Content Warnings

zerenreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Malibu Rising is a multi-generational story of a family living in Malibu. It follows the children of legendary Hollywood singer, Mick Riva, on the day of their much-anticipated yearly party. Their parents’ love story, told through a series of flashbacks, is also central to the plot.

This book is my perfect summer read. The setting of 1960’s to 80’s Malibu was fitting for a beach read, filled with surfers and roadside dive bars and restaurants. It wasn’t all fun and games, though. I loved the not-so-subtle commentary on the gentrification of this and other areas. One very clever way in which this was illustrated is through the home and circumstances of the main character, Nina. In eight years she went from living in a small but loved home on the beach and taking care of her siblings to living in a massive cliff-side mansion with her pro tennis player husband. I also enjoyed how TJR explores family dynamics between partners, parents and children, and most of all siblings. Each sibling is unique and well-rounded, and it’s interesting to see how they are and have always been a unit despite, or perhaps because of, this. Aside from the main characters, every single side character is interesting and unique. I loved how everyone named was somehow relevant to the story later on, and I’d honestly read a spin-off about any of them. Who doesn’t love a good bit of old Hollywood decadence?

This is the second book I have read by TJR, and there are two things in particular that I enjoy in her writing. The first is how she writes such realistic characters, especially women. Her characters are unique and well-rounded, and have such relatable, human flaws. It is so refreshing to see female characters, especially in the time period in which their books take place, who do not fit neatly into the categories that society tries to put us in. Her female characters tell the story of millions of women whose stories are very rarely told. Women who, like Evelyn Hugo, will do anything to protect themselves and the people they love without looking back, and who get looked down on and called b*tches for it. Women who, like June, are single mothers trying (and sometimes failing) to do right by their children, and who get looked down on and called stupid for it. Women who, like Nina Riva, get things done not because they want to but because if they don’t nobody will, and who often go without thanks for it. Women who, like Carrie Soto, are loud, and angry, and want the world to know it, and get looked down on and called crazy for it. Women who, like us all, are hurt and messy and scared and brave, who cannot be put neatly into a box, and get called names for it. It’s easier to mock and mistreat these women than it is to admit that we are scared and in awe of them.

The ending of the story is in both the blurb and the prologue, and yet still managed to surprise me. I was expecting it to go in a different direction, but it was still satisfactory and I ended up actually liking it.

Overall, this book was brilliant and I absolutely recommend it. A new favourite.

I rated it 5 stars, which I reserve for books that leave a real impression on me, and that is certainly true of this book. From the plot and the writing style to the characters and their development, I loved it all. My only regret regarding this book is not reading it earlier.

Content Warnings

bennoyb's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

neliadiedenise's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Content Warnings

izbizz's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

hayleythegoose's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Content Warnings

celestialg's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad slow-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

A family-centered drama akin to Little Fires Everywhere, and a story I did not expect to love. Shocked me at some points, cathartic at others - I was so invested. A lovely surprise that reminds you - every family has their shit.

Content Warnings