A review by julesthebookdragon417
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings