A review by genny
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.5

The first note I wrote in my reading journal:
"Jesus, is there a single Taylor Jenkins Reid novel without cheating?"
😂

This wasn't bad or anything, it's just the weakest of the TJR novels I've read so far (Evelyn Hugo was better, and Daisy Jones is a 5-star for me). It's never as hard-hitting emotionally; I enjoyed the flashbacks more than the story set in the present. When everything came to a head, I was kind of like, "that's it? Oh." Nina was my favorite Riva (although, I can't help but wonder
how she's going to sustain herself in another country if she's giving up the limelight. Maybe she'll find a quiet desk job, IDK.
), while I found Jay mildly annoying to the end. The short POVs from random partygoers...I could've gone without them, but I suppose they did help a bit in establishing the atmosphere. Some of them were actually fun to read.

There is a really important message here about choosing your family, choosing to be responsible, and not excusing abusive behavior. I'm glad that it ended the way it did. But it's only my 3rd TJR book and I already feel like it's a rehash of her tried-and-true "flavor" - which can work if it's elevated and made fresh, but this didn't quiiite hit the mark IMO. The good news is that Julia Whelan was a fantastic narrator. I suspect I would have enjoyed this less if I read it physically.
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