Malibu Rising

I have been a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid ever since I read and adored her 2017 book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Needless to say, her latest book, Malibu Rising, was high on my TBR. It is a story that is set in two eras that centres around two generations of the Riva family and features scandal, family dysfunction, and a hearty dose of celebrity and a beachy vibe. 

The story is divided into two parts. The first half balances a lead up to a highly anticipated annual party with flash backs to the 1960's and Mick and June's early years with their four kids. The second half is set in 1983, the day of the epic Riva party thrown by eldest daughter Nina that attracts the rich, famous, and self-proclaimed fabulous. There's still a lot of family dysfunction but now with a glitzy, glamourous feel. 

TJR excels at describing the two eras and it was a compelling read which kept me turning the pages but (oh, I hate that there's a but), even though there are so many issues crammed into the lives of these four kids, I felt no connection to them. It was just too over the top and the general pall over the story got to me. The Rivas are an interesting bunch, and I loved the bond between the siblings but the large secondary cast at the party muddles things up and take focus away from the main characters. But there is a kick-ass monologue towards the end that I absolutely loved, ending this book with an awesome bang!

Overall, I probably had overly high expectations for this book because I loved Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones so much. Malibu Rising has great discussion topics and a cool celebrity/California vibe, but no one was more surprised than I was that this ended up being just an okay read for me.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Pages: 384

Publisher: DoubleDay Canada

First Published: June 1, 2021

Opening Lines: Malibu catches fire. It is simply what 

Malibu does from time to time.

Book Description from GoodReads: Malibu 1983. Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of one night, each of their lives will be changed forever in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six .

Malibu is buzzing with anticipation for Nina Riva's annual party. Everyone wants to be in the company of the famous Rivas: Nina, the surfer and model; her brothers, Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other his renowned photographer; and Kit, the adored baby of the family. As if that picture-perfect family isn't enough, their father is Mick Riva, the legendary singer.

By morning, the Riva mansion will have burned to the ground. And no one will know how the fire started. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play and the loves and secret yearnings that shaped this family across generations will all come bubbling to the surface to make for a night no one will ever forget.

This is a story about family: about what you choose to keep from the people who made you, and what you must leave behind.