Reviews with content warning for Eating disorder - Malibu Rising

Although this book didn't particularly focus on one person, I will never forget Nina Riva. She is technically the protagonist, but it is more about the Rivas as a family. I found June's story quite interesting and compelling, so I didn't mind that it took up so much of the first half of the book. My heart just goes out to June. She tried so hard to be the best parent she could and make sure Nina never felt elder sister syndrome, but in the end failed. Oh, and Nina, her growth just made me so happy. I found her the most relatable, so it made it hurt all the more sometimes. Kit was the most likable of the Riva children (

besides maybe Casey

, though Nina was plenty likable, just in a more melancholy way), but her story wasn't quite fleshed out enough to be able to stand on it's own (it felt like it was just beginning and there wasn't enough detail and focus on her past for a proper build-up, but the focus was primarily on Nina, so it makes sense). I didn't care too much for Jay and Hud's stories, but they weren't bad in anyway, just not as compelling to me as Nina or June's. I definitely will be buying a physical copy of this book to reread in the future because there were so many quotes that stood out to me that I want to annotate in my own copy. The build up to the fire from mid-point onward was done very well because of the intensity and internal conflicts of the characters kept ramping up into a breaking point that coincided with the fire (it is also reflected through the party slowly growing more and more out of control). However, at the halfway point, a bunch of side characters were introduced that were attending the party, and we were getting their perspectives, but I didn't find any of them particularly interesting because I wanted to get back to the story! I understand why it was included, to build up the chaos of the party even more and stretch out the pacing a bit to increase the anticipation of the inevitable blow-up, but I found it a bit annoying, constantly thinking, "Who the fuck is this? Why am I reading about them?" The payoff is effective, I admit, but while reading about these random people, I wasn't too interested. I did like the ending.

Nina deserves to live for herself. I only wish she destroyed Brandon more. I cannot BELIEVE he went back to Carrie Soto. I honestly did not mind Carrie all that much. Is she a bitch? Yes. Is she a good person? No. However, she doesn't put up with bullshit, and I respect that. Her being a Karen about the almonds, not so much. Her coming to the party and threatening to burn Brandon's stuff, then calling him out for being an asshole while pretending to be a nice guy? Honestly, fair enough. I'm glad Kit got closure on her identity and that she feels safe with her family, and that the family welcomed Casey and threw away Mick. The fact that Mick Riva is the reason the fire set is just absolutely perfect and makes sense because just destroys these kids lives constantly. I can't believe the audacity, though it was unintentional, just as all his other actions he claims are, but at the same time it makes sense and is perfect poetically. Jay and Hud's reunion is fine, though a bit fast; I'm not too invested in their story.

I would recommend this, and it was on the cusp of a 4 star, if not for the random party-goer's POVs that I wasn't too fond of reading. Last thing: Tarine is kind of iconic, though rude, and I did not care that much about Vanessa.

Content Warnings

mickraine's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

aymboi's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

2.0

I liked it at the beginning but about halfway through when the party started I got sick of it and just couldn't care about any of the characters anymore 🤐

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

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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."

Content Warnings