Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

339 reviews

miranda_is_reading's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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

5.0

Wow, I really loved this book and found a lot of different ways to relate to each Riva family member. This book is heavy on generational trauma.

Part 1 was interesting getting to know the Riva children in present day, while also learning of their parents pasts. It was really well done to explain the family history. I liked each Riva kid in their own way, but mostly related to Hud and Nina. The struggles Mick put his family through were awful and I struggled to like him. He really reminded me of my grandfather. June was likable in the start, but it was sad to watch her mentally decline. You grieve her with her children.

Part 2 is present day and where the “action” takes place. We know a fire is going to happen, but when, where and how it starts is the suspense. Does anyone get hurt or die? We need to find out! There’s a lot of people introduced in this part making it a bit confusing at times. I think there’s so many people introduced causing the reader confusion tactfully though? It kind of conveys how out of hand and all over this party really was. The ending was good, but emotional. I would love a follow up book of the Riva kids in the future to see how their lives turned out further down the road! I’ve gathered there’s some crossover of character in some of the authors other book, so I’m looking forward to reading those!

I will totally recommend this book to others, especially if they like historical fiction type books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug use, and Infidelity

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction

Minor: Blood, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Pregnancy

emilyandthewhippet's review against another edition

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Vomit

graceev's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Grief, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Moderate: Physical abuse

crina12's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book is absolutely amazing. I loved the story and all of the characters. The way it's written keeps you wanting for more and before you know it, you're done the book. There's twists every few chapters and you never get bored. I originally only picked up this book, without knowing what it was about, because I thought it would be a lighthearted read that would resemble the time I spent growing up in Hawaii. It gave me so much more than that. Perfect read for a hot summer day.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Addiction

taylorann191's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Addiction

courtneys_reading's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I see that Taylor Jenkins Reid loves to connect all her books. And I'm not mad about it because I'm kind of obsessed with the world she's created.

Really enjoyed this one even if the mention of a bunch of new names every chapter threw me off - I'm a simple gal, it takes me so long to get into a new book with loads of characters lol

Still, this one had me hooked and I couldn't put it down

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Grief

Minor: Car accident, Gun violence, Violence, and Vomit

celery's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Violence, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Excrement, Sexual assault, Vomit, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

its_van_vulpen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Body shaming, Drug use, Car accident, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Miscarriage

Minor: Abortion

bex47's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

3.25

A quick, easy, engaging read, though not a masterpiece by any stretch. The siblings were likeable enough, and I enjoyed both their individual and collective growth. My main issue was that most of the themes and topics already were present in Jenkins Reid's other novels, and were executed a lot better. The corrupting nature of fame, the cheating, toxic relationships, family drama; nothing new was really being brought to the table. That being said, I didn't really hate anything about it, so it's a solid 3.25 for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Grief

sarahsch006's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, and Death