Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

1071 reviews

haley_elisabeth's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I just love Taylor Jenkins Reid! A few trashy, sex parts but overall very heart warming and sweet story. Fast read. I really enjoyed it!

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ksabol's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.25


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julesthebookdragon417's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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

3.25

The first half was a 4.0 for me, with potential to reach even higher. Beautiful exploration of characters, relationships, and the web of events and comnections that made the family at the heart of the story. But as part two begins, the pacing, scope of characters, and plotting style all shifted into something completely different. Either style would have been good, but smashing them together felt disjointed and disappointing, especially in how conveniently all the loose little threads wrapped up. I also wasn't a fan of how the absentee father storyline was resolved.
It wasn't Hallmark, but it does wrap up with something of a messy bow. If you enjoy a character getting to finally say their piece to the person who did them wrong you might find it gratifying.

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tbr_withmaya's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The fact that this whole story takes place in one night with flashbacks is wild. 24 hours is truly a long time.

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maika's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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maryshelleys's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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


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annabananadel's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

“She was a woman, after all. Living in a world created by men. And she had long known that assholes protect their own. They are faithful to no one but surprisingly protective of each other.” 

I actually gotten goosebumps after finishing the last three lines. I was trying to feel it out if this was a 5 stars book or not because it started a little bit slow for me - not because of the book but just because of me since this wasn't my type of book, but after awhile, when you get to know the characters and their stories, I was just instantly fascinated. I devoured it right after (in 2.5 days to be exact). Although it was not tagged as romance, there was romance here and there, but definitely not the focus - although I really thought the romance would be hitting hard but bruh June and Mick's really made me hope. I'm so glad as well that I read the 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo before reading this one as there were a lot of cameos from it. I love that she wasn't even mentioned in the book, it was pretty ironic. I only later realized that it was THE Mick Riva that was in the said book. Plus points because it's a third person POV and it's not focused on just one or two characters but all characters - yes, the four siblings and even including the side characters. That's one of my favorite things about this book because I saw all point of view of the party-goers. 

10/10 would definitely recommend this book to people both non-romance and romance reader. It scared me at first but really, this book taught me multiple things at once. Nina deserves the world.

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hello_lovely13'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

3.75

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.

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lewbug's review against another edition

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emotional relaxing medium-paced
  • 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

4.25

I think this book was a lot of fun but at times it could be a little difficult to remember the side characters. I enjoyed a lot of the subplots though.
  I found myself wanting better for Carrie Soto at the end.
I liked how this book was a slightly different take on the fame/celebrity angle and explored what it might be like to be a kid of one of the most famous people in the world. I also enjoyed the nods to other stories. Overall it’s a fun beachy read with family drama and a lot of heart. But if you don’t like multiple perspectives or confrontations/drama I don’t recommend 

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violetbentbackwards1036's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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