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A review by jor_dy
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
3.5
what i liked:
- the exploration (even if minuscule) of quite literally each and every character that is mentioned
- the summertime vibe
- easy, quick read
- the author’s understanding that humans have multiple sides, and people aren’t always 100% good (though it matter that they try to be)
- the way carrie soto immediately apologizes to nina at the party (a nice break from two women arguing over a piece of shit man)
- chosen family
- the ending
- NINA CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY HER RANT TO MICK AT THE END UGH
- kit and ricky are literally robin and steve the coming out scene was literally how it went in st????
what i disliked:
- characters are allowed only ONE personality trait, except nina who gets TWO because she’s the author’s favorite 😊
- the relationship between the siblings. on one hand, they love each other very much and it is clear that they would do anything for each other. but at the same time they did not feel like they were written as sibling. they felt more like childhood friends???
- the timeline was so ambiguous?? like it could be set at literally any point in history after 1950. i wish the time periods in the book were more clearly detailed and it felt like i was actually experiencing the characters in, say, the ‘60s or the ‘80s
- the omniscient, constantly switching pov. i don’t care about whoever tf wendy is get back to the main point.
- when the men in the book got mad at someone for accusing them of shit they know they did
- everything felt so utterly predictable
- the exploration (even if minuscule) of quite literally each and every character that is mentioned
- the summertime vibe
- easy, quick read
- the author’s understanding that humans have multiple sides, and people aren’t always 100% good (though it matter that they try to be)
- chosen family
- the ending
- NINA CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
- kit and ricky are literally robin and steve
what i disliked:
- characters are allowed only ONE personality trait, except nina who gets TWO because she’s the author’s favorite 😊
- the relationship between the siblings. on one hand, they love each other very much and it is clear that they would do anything for each other. but at the same time they did not feel like they were written as sibling. they felt more like childhood friends???
- the timeline was so ambiguous?? like it could be set at literally any point in history after 1950. i wish the time periods in the book were more clearly detailed and it felt like i was actually experiencing the characters in, say, the ‘60s or the ‘80s
- the omniscient, constantly switching pov. i don’t care about whoever tf wendy is get back to the main point.
- when the men in the book got mad at someone for accusing them of shit they know they did
- everything felt so utterly predictable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Violence
nina riva, a central character, is a model and as part of that she mentions being on a diet in order to lose weight . additionally, there is a moment where a partygoer grabs a loaded gun, which does go off in one scene toward the end of the novel.