Taylor Jenkins Reid - Malibu Rising

Taylor Jenkins Reid - Malibu Rising 

3.5⭐

Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit 

Pages: 351

Format: Paperback

Publisher:  Hutchinson 

Date Published: 5th March 2019

 

Book Blurb: 

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

My Review: 

Ok, so unpopular opinion but this book was the worst TJR book that I have read. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I still loved the writing and scene setting, short and snappy chapters, as well as the premise of this book, but it could have been executed better.

The book follows the famous annual Riva family party in Malibu. It is August 1983 and well over 24 hours we learn about Mick Riva and his four kids, whilst also getting a glimpse into Hollywood glamour and drama. The book also includes the background story of Mick Riva and his wife.

Firstly, there were so many different characters in this book that I actually lost count and lost track of some of them. Honestly, if the book was just about Riva's kids then it would have been so much better. All those other side characters weren’t really necessary. Secondly, Mick Riva…Omg! Although the only thing I loved about this book was the background story of how Mick met his first wife and the mother of the kids, I hated how Mick treated her and his kids. Honestly, he’s the only fictional character that I hate with all my heart. Thirdly, it just felt that although Riva kids were well fleshed out characters, it was something missing about some of them. I wanted more chapters on some of the siblings, to get to know them and for book to make sense as to why they are the way they are.

Overall: I expected so much more, especially after reading Carrie Soto is Back and Daisy Jones and the Six. This book was such a letdown, although it had such a great premise and set of main characters (Riva kids) but was not well executed. 

About the Author:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as four other novels. She lives in Los Angeles.

https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/