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A review by abbeyroad1410
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was immaculate; I'd consider it one of the best books I've read in 2023 thus far.
First of all, the characterization of every member of the Riva family was amazing. Readers could track how and why their personalities developed as they did. Nina was forced to drop her boundaries to care for her siblings; Jay was a brash kid and remained so but had a self-consciousness from trauma; Hud was different from his siblings; Kit was self-discovering and had a chip on her shoulder from experiencing unfortunate events from such a young age. Not to mention, you see June go from a dreamer to someone coping with the realities of life. I am a sucker for characters that grow and make sense.
Second of all, I love that this book never condoned cheating even when you saw why the characters may choose that direction. In fact, it emphasized the victimization of those cheated on. One of my pet peeves is when a book tries to claim that because two characters love each other, it was okay for them to betray their partner. I think this novel does a great job of showing three very different circumstances of cheating and how it impacts those around those having an affair.
Third of all, I love a book that flashes back and forth. The tracking back and forth flashes really helps keep my attention and captivate me. I think it is nice to give my mind a little extra task. I also like that he helps you directly track characters decisions between time periods to see how their decisions are influenced by the past.
If I had a critique of this book, it would be that it introduced too many characters. I understand that in some ways, this was needed to show the chaos of the party and just how many people were there and how many activities were taking place. The many different perspectives also drew my attention to what the f- moments like bars of cocaine being passed out like snacks. I do think some of these scenes could have been conveyed without SO many points of view, however.
Overall, I loved this book, and I am tempted to pick up another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid on my next Barnes and Noble trip.
First of all, the characterization of every member of the Riva family was amazing. Readers could track how and why their personalities developed as they did. Nina was forced to drop her boundaries to care for her siblings; Jay was a brash kid and remained so but had a self-consciousness from trauma; Hud was different from his siblings; Kit was self-discovering and had a chip on her shoulder from experiencing unfortunate events from such a young age. Not to mention, you see June go from a dreamer to someone coping with the realities of life. I am a sucker for characters that grow and make sense.
Second of all, I love that this book never condoned cheating even when you saw why the characters may choose that direction. In fact, it emphasized the victimization of those cheated on. One of my pet peeves is when a book tries to claim that because two characters love each other, it was okay for them to betray their partner. I think this novel does a great job of showing three very different circumstances of cheating and how it impacts those around those having an affair.
Third of all, I love a book that flashes back and forth. The tracking back and forth flashes really helps keep my attention and captivate me. I think it is nice to give my mind a little extra task. I also like that he helps you directly track characters decisions between time periods to see how their decisions are influenced by the past.
If I had a critique of this book, it would be that it introduced too many characters. I understand that in some ways, this was needed to show the chaos of the party and just how many people were there and how many activities were taking place. The many different perspectives also drew my attention to what the f- moments like bars of cocaine being passed out like snacks. I do think some of these scenes could have been conveyed without SO many points of view, however.
Overall, I loved this book, and I am tempted to pick up another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid on my next Barnes and Noble trip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Alcoholism
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexism