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A review by rachrreads
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
3.0
I was given an ebook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Yes I’m late to this book, I was told to read Evelyn and DJATS before this and then I just STRUGGLED to get into it. I really did not care for their parents lives at all or any of the side characters. I get that the parents backstory was needed to show how this level of hurt was a cycle, but Mick and June sucked. (Mick more than June of course!)
Nina and Kit have my whole heart, I love how strong these women came to be especially in the face adversity at such a young age. These women really found themselves by the end of the book. Nina, who has never done a thing for herself, finally realizes she can be selfish sometimes. I love that she broke the cycle her mother set for her by telling Brandon to go the f*** away. Her siblings are adults, they don’t need her like they once did. Kit is just an icon— her sass and strength is unmatched. Jay and Hud, although not really twins, have such a great relationship. Combined at the hip for all their lives. A huge strain is put on their relationship and they come through it.
The close knit relationship of the four siblings was the one thing that kept me reading. I loved their family dynamic. They really grew together through such a tough childhood that no one should ever have to experience. I’m actually kind of jealous, me and my siblings are nowhere near that close.
What I didn’t like—
•The random side character’s stories— I really did not care at all
•HOW SLOW THIS MOVED. My goodness I ended up having to grab the audiobook, I could not get through this
•Mick Riva —enough said
Overall, while I loved the Riva siblings and how close they were, this book just did not live up to the hype. The story was inspiring but it was just so slow moving and wasn’t executed in a way that drew me in. TJR knows how to tell a great story though, which is why I didn’t completely hate it.
Yes I’m late to this book, I was told to read Evelyn and DJATS before this and then I just STRUGGLED to get into it. I really did not care for their parents lives at all or any of the side characters. I get that the parents backstory was needed to show how this level of hurt was a cycle, but Mick and June sucked. (Mick more than June of course!)
Nina and Kit have my whole heart, I love how strong these women came to be especially in the face adversity at such a young age. These women really found themselves by the end of the book. Nina, who has never done a thing for herself, finally realizes she can be selfish sometimes. I love that she broke the cycle her mother set for her by telling Brandon to go the f*** away. Her siblings are adults, they don’t need her like they once did. Kit is just an icon— her sass and strength is unmatched. Jay and Hud, although not really twins, have such a great relationship. Combined at the hip for all their lives. A huge strain is put on their relationship and they come through it.
The close knit relationship of the four siblings was the one thing that kept me reading. I loved their family dynamic. They really grew together through such a tough childhood that no one should ever have to experience. I’m actually kind of jealous, me and my siblings are nowhere near that close.
What I didn’t like—
•The random side character’s stories— I really did not care at all
•HOW SLOW THIS MOVED. My goodness I ended up having to grab the audiobook, I could not get through this
•Mick Riva —enough said
Overall, while I loved the Riva siblings and how close they were, this book just did not live up to the hype. The story was inspiring but it was just so slow moving and wasn’t executed in a way that drew me in. TJR knows how to tell a great story though, which is why I didn’t completely hate it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy