A review by spongebobbiii
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging emotional sad tense 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

4.0

While this may not be the best Taylor Jenkins Reid book, it certainly was very much my time to read. Going into this, I was super skeptical. The reviews for this were not great, and they carried a similar sentiment that this was not TJR's best book. After having read Malibu Rising, definitely gave the reviews too much weight. To think I almost missed an entirely enjoyable book! *gasp* Now do I think warranted terrible reviews? No I don't, but I can understand why some folks were displeased. I just wasn't one of them. 

So then why not a 5 star review? Wellll, to be honest this was a SOLID 4 star book, but it lacked that extra specialness that other TJR books have. The plot was fairly predictable, especially if addiction and/or abandonment has touched your life story. With that said, the depiction of addiction and abandonment is INTENSE, which why they are my most important trigger warnings. It very much activated my recent experiences with abandonment. 

The beauty of the story is the ways in which is showcases how unhealed generational trauma can really fuck up your kids. 
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