Review of Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (hardcover)

 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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.

 

 

There is something I love about Taylor Jenkin Reid’s characters and this was no exception. My only complaint is that I wasn’t ready to be done with them.

I finally decided to pick this one up because I was going to be in Southern California. I sadly didn’t read much while there, but it really was the perfect setting. We were in San Diego and I loved that the author mentioned Sunset Cliffs, Black’s Beach, and others. It’s my favorite place, so I always get excited when I get to read about it. Reading about the surfing was extra enjoyable because we went to the surf museum on this trip. It just made the book that much better.

I loved how many characters there were and how we got just a little bit of into on each. The book goes back and forth between the 50’s/60’s and 80’s. The 80’s was current and the book took place over one day. The Rivas kids were getting ready for their big annual party. Nina was hosting and her husband had just left her for another woman. There ended up being some similarities to her story and her mom’s love life. The kids father, Mick, was a famous musician that was absent from their lives. There were four kids in their family. They all had secrets, some bigger than others. I loved how Nina took care of everyone and loved Kit’s attitude. The Malibu setting was so perfect. I don’t want to go into details and ruin how the story unfolds, but I loved everything about this book. Had I been home, I likely would have finished it in two days. It was hard to put down.

I gave this book 5 stars.

 

Have you read this?  Is it on your TBR?