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bookishkale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I like the overarching story, I always appreciate a story that has two different timelines, but I don't know if it worked as well for me in this case. I like the Riva siblings, all of them endearing in their own special way. I liked hearing from each other them. Along the lines of TJR's other books, the characters are really the backbone of this story. Without the Rive siblings being so interesting, the rest of the story doesn't have much merit to me. I know Mick is supposed to be a flawed character, we have seen that in plenty of his other appearances in the TJR cinematic universe, but I don't really care for his and June's love story. I find it a little lackluster. I think TJR just needed to go a little further with everything in this book. Every one of the siblings' emotions are so stunted, and I understand why in the grand scheme of life, but in a book, go further. I felt like everything was just out of the Riva's hands, brushing their hands of everything. I feel like there is no good conclusion to anything, but maybe that's the point? I don't know, it feels a little messy to me. I didn't really like the cuts to random strangers just because they were at this party, I felt like it took away too much from the impact of the story.
If you like TJR, I would say you should still pick up the book to connect more with her little universe that she has going on. If you want an intro in this, I would go with Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo first.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Grief, Drug use, Alcoholism, Sexism, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
iulia619's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Minor: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Grief, Police brutality, and Infidelity
jessy_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Suicide
Moderate: Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
kayabennett's review against another edition
- 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
firstly, i absolutely love how the events of the book all is wrapped up in one day (with the exception of the flashbacks). i like medium/fast paced books so this definitely was the one for me. i actually started reading malibu rising because the secret history was being too slow for me and i needed to read something else before i fell into a book slump.
for the characters, i am so in love with each and everyone of them (except mick, fuck you. you know what you did.) i am especially in love with june and the way she was talked about by her children made me tear up about every single time. yes, she had flaws and she knew that but they were because of mick’s actions and i hate him for that. nina-baby, you deserve the world and more (also, fuck you brandon). the way she was so selfless to care for her siblings after her mother’s death and even before it makes nina so lovable. nina had been put through so much (as so did all the other siblings) and i hope she’s living her best life in portugal.
i also want to mention that tjr’s books all being in the same universe is literally my favorite thing ever. seeing mentions of people from daisy homes and the six and evelyn hugo lights up my face.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Infertility, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Cursing, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, and Violence
abbrillopezz's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Abortion, Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Stalking, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Car accident, Sexual content, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Police brutality, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
alannahberkeley's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
strixy16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence and Car accident
addyson_raelynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is officially my second favorite TJR book!! The story is so intriguing, I didn’t want to stop reading. TJR has such a way of creating stories and characters that are so real and raw, it’s hard to believe I’m reading fiction.
I found a lot of myself in Nina. I haven’t been through the things she had but the mindset she gained from the way she grew up is something I heavily understand.
And though what I’ve been through doesn’t perfectly line up with the things Nina and her siblings have been through, I found myself understanding on a personal level how the family felt. Even if you’ve been through nothing at all, you will feel and understand this family, because the writing is just that good.
I recommend this book to everybody!! Especially after reading Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence
lucielockettreads's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, and Police brutality
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Gun violence
mandaraffe's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Sexism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Abandonment, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Addiction
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, and Vomit