Malibu Rising follows the Riva family over several decades, from June and Mick's initial meeting to daughter Nina's yearly party at her Malibu mansion. Taylor Jenkins Reid has once again created a riveting and heartfelt novel with believable and (mostly) likeable characters. As always, her work is so captivating that I genuinely forgot I was reading a novel.

The various timescales were easy to follow with a good structure, allowing the reader to fully understand the various characters decisions, outlooks and goals. The characters are all very well-written and whilst some are understandly given more of a story than others, they all have their part to play.

Beautifully written with intriguing characters and a riveting plot. Recommended.

Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this. This story is full of heartbreaking, heartwarming and reflective moments. The sibling relationships were the highlight for me and I’m so glad we got to see all of their perspectives. TJR has such beautiful writing which is present in all of her books however, this was the book that made me absolutely love it. I love this book more than Evelyn and Daisy which I didn’t think was possible but here we are. I especially appreciate the characters’ love for the ocean. I’ve never been able to express my love for the ocean into words but TJR has done it for me and I will forever love that. Just a minor thing that might bother other people but it didn’t bother me (clearly) is that if you’re going into this book thinking that the Malibu Fire is a focal point in the plot, it’s not. Again I didn’t care as much because I was just invested in the characters and the writing. If you did love Evelyn and Daisy then you will obviously love this too but if you haven’t, I think this is a good starting point.

A tale of riches, excess, family and betrayal

Let's just say that I didn't burn for this one...🔥

I am pretty upset that I didn't like this, as I am a fan of this author, previously loving Evidence of the Affair and Daisy Jones & The Six, and also enjoying Maybe in Another Life, but I found this one quite tedious!

There were pacing issues for me, as the first 60% was very slow and boring. The third person omniscient writing style kept me at arms length, so I felt detached, and had no real connection to any of the characters. It felt oddly impersonal, as if I was reading about someone else telling me these character's story, rather than the characters themselves? There was also so much filler! There was a huge amount of descriptions about what the characters were wearing for example, which felt shallow to me.
Then at abut the 70% mark, the pace suddenly picked up, and the story became more dramatic, drawing me in, only to find that there were many new POVs, from guests at the big party. This felt like an odd choice to me, so far into the story, and I found that I cared even less about these characters and what they did or thought! Much like a soap opera, the party was full of trashy, clichéd Hollywood stereotypes. I wasn't surprised at the destruction, the name dropping of made up and real celebrities, and the vapid narcissistic guests, but did feel like we were building to something dramatic.

The characters had a lack of development, and didn't feel fully fleshed out to me. We actually missed a huge chunk of the Riva children's lives. Nina, the main character was so bland and dull, she irritated me until right near the end, when she finally had a bit of character growth. The sexual harassment she put up with turned my stomach! Hud and Jay were both ok, and I did like their brotherly bond. June was hard to read about with her alcoholism, and the fact that her whole character and worth was based around her husband. Both her life and death felt meh. Mick Riva, was quite obviously written to be unlikeable, as he was a selfish, self obsessed, unfaithful, weak man, but I didn't want him to return near the end, and did not appreciate his attempt at a redemption arc. He was a P.O.S and a waste of space. Kit, the youngest Riva, was the most likeable, being a no nonsense kind of girl , just discovering herself, but I felt that storyline could've been explored more.
I did appreciate the bond that the siblings had, how they supported each other and had each other's backs. They were dealt a crappy hand. Really though, I couldn't bring myself to care much about what happened to any of them!

Although, I could feel a build up to a dramatic and devastating climax, it actually fizzled out in an anticlimactic and flat manner, which was disappointing.

Overall, I found this book lacklustre, predictable, over the top and forgettable, but I am definitely in the minority here! My unpopular little opinion is that this isn't TJR at her best, it just lacks the magic of her other books, but with a 4.29 average rating on GR, it is likely that most people may like it, and I sincerely hope that you do like it more than I did! Many have enjoyed this beachy read, so maybe head over to Malibu to see what you think for yourselves!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the e-arc of Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This was my first Jenkins Reid book, but I was intrigued based on the fervour that her previous works have stirred up. Definitely not my usual reading category, I’d say more a beach read, an emotionally intelligent beach read.

This book offers the reader a doorway beyond the enticing glimpses of lives of the rich and infamous by drawing us into the complex, intense and fascinating lives of the Riva family.

It’s the morning of Nina Riva’s legendary annual summer party - infamous for past epic drug & alcohol-fueled gatherings, attended by celebrities, directors, musicians, and all those who know the address of the party. The Riva party and the Riva children are famous, in spite of their rockstar father Mick Riva.

Nina, the eldest Riva is a supermodel, discovered surfing, Jay is a prize winning surfer, Hud is an up and coming photographer, and Kit is an emerging talented surfer.

The story is told across multiple timelines and viewpoints, alternating between the party preparations and the party in 1983 and the past heart-breaking and complex backstory of their parents June and Mick Riva, the ivonic rockstar.

The narrative pulls together the timeline of their parents’ tragic relationship from blossoming live, to unfaithfulness, estrangement and ultimately abandonment.

As the 1983 party nears however, the 4 siblings have more to contend with than just their parental baggage, each has a secret that is weighing them down and this year’s party is one that will go down in history!

What I loved about this book is that it ran with a great narrative, but didn’t concentrate with tunnel vision on the party alone. The character studies of each of the Riva family members added to the depth of the story and totally pull you in. Their stories are inherently emotional and compelling, there is no holding back, showing the damage and impact on the siblings past and present. These characters are whole heartedly true, flawed, damaged, but loved by each other - they are a true family.

In addition, the insights into side characters and events during the party only served to make this book even more enticing and delectable.

If you’re looking for a beach/summer read that is poignant, emotional, fast paced and doesn’t flinch from dealing with love, loss, grief, trust, family and all the messiness that entails, then this is the book for you. I was totally engrosándome am so excited for the arrival of my finished edition.

A few months ago I read Daisy Jones & the six and really enjoyed it so decided I would like to read more. This is not normally the sort of cover or book description that draws me in but read it purely on the strength of her previous book. For me this was a book that fell into the category ‘the more I read, the more I enjoyed it’, certainly not at the level of Daisy Jones but a decent read.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of the Riva family, where each individual family member will have life changing decisions to make. A book full of the good and bad in family life and all the upset and joy along the way. There is lots of love in the Riva family where the siblings have always had each other to help make their way through the difficult times. Nina, Jay, Kit and Hud have a very close bond and look out for their mother June who struggles to get by.

Through the book we learn of the siblings struggles and successes with the story concluding with the annual party in Malibu that will change the families life forever.

A book about relationships and family bonds that I am glad I continued with.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having enjoyed Daisy Jones and The Six, I was intrigued to read another novel by the same author.

Malibu Rising was a different format, flipping between past and present, with the present being just a 24 hour period. The time frame was easy to follow and well structured to avoid confusion, and for me the format worked well. Skipping back allowed the author to build fully explored characters who's ambitions, motivations and traits were all examined as they grew. It was a brilliant read full of highs and lows set against the Malibu landscape but for me, there were just too many new characters introduced in the final chapters of the party. The book sets the scene of the party to be the main event, but somehow deviates into detailed descriptions of these new characters whom we meet briefly and don't fully appreciate (or need, to be honest) meaning the final hours and events for the Riva family become lost in a sea of faceless 'celebs' who arrive without invite or care.

So as it turns out TJR books just aren’t for me. I decided to give this one a try despite not enjoying Daisy Jones and the Six as people told me it was really different and I would like it. They were wrong. Sadly I just cannot get on with the authors writing style or find it in myself to care about the characters. I don’t think I will continue trying with this author sadly.

“How were you supposed to change- in ways both big and small- when your family was always there to remind you of exactly the person you apparently signed an ironclad contract to be?”

One thing is certain: Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to write. I love her authentic style and enjoyed reading this book even if it didn’t captivate me as much as The Seven Husbands. At times a little too predictive but still enjoyable!

Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid. 4/5

One famous family. One lifetime holding it together. One unforgettable night.

This perfect summer read practically simmers as you flip the pages. Taylor Jenkins Reid creates vivid characters and settings to lose yourself inside and Malibu Rising is filled with them.
Siblings Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit are emblazoned across these chapters and each one is just as deeply explored. The setting is gorgeous, you can lose yourself inside of it this summer and the story weaves the complexities of relationships and family.

Another brilliant read from fiction queen Taylor Jenkins Reid, always an instant addition to my “must read” list.

Mick Riva is a living legend. Famous. Fabulous, And a really terrible father.

Malibu Rising is the story of Mick Riva's legacy. The wives. The career. And the children he left behind.

It's set amongst the backdrop of surfside Malibu and the fires that burn through the area focusing on a fire in 1983 that burns down Nina Riva's house after her annual Riva Party, a star-studded, gathering of glitterati and who's who. The book backtracks through a number of storylines - of Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit - Mick Riva's children, their loves and losses, bringing them to the night of the party and the culmination of years of unresolved tension and familial trauma.

This book is richly layered in family relationships and the ties that bind. It's emotive and pulls the reader this way and that. There's a sense members of the family are not going to escape unscathed, and it's engrossing, a little bittersweet, and a fantastic step back to the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Loved it, Couldn't put it down.

Melodrama galore. I love TJR but this ain't up to her usual standard. It's all filler and far too much drama. for my taste.

I am utterly devastated by this book.

Taylor Jenkins Reed once again shows her flair to both fill your heart with warmth and obliterate it. Malibu Rising is a story that I can only sing the praises of the joy, the pain and the heartbreak are felt so viscerally in every single page.

A story documenting the heart-rendering history of a family both destroyed and saved by the trappings of fame and fortune; a saga that culminates with the blazing party of the year in which secrets and scars are laid to bare amidst the booze, the coke and the bodies.

Another thing about this book that I utterly adored was the breathtakingly poetic description of Malibu. Stripped from all the faux glamour, Malibu Rising presents a new peek into the beautiful reality of Malibu and proves in every page why it is the perfect back drop for this tale of family and loyalty.

TJR seems to have a talent for creating beautiful, redemptive and ultimately brutally satisfying stories and it seems she has another hit on her hands.

The Riva family, headed by Nina, has risen from nothing to be rich and famous, and everyone looks forward to their legendary Summer party. Told in a slow build up on the day of the party, interspersed with flashbacks to the past which explain what happened to the Riva siblings and their parents, and how they struggled from rags to riches. The party becomes a nightmare car crash event which changes all their lives. Some of the scenes are hilariously funny. The only criticism I have is that too many new characters were introduced in the last few chapters and I lost track a bit of who they were. But the main characters are well-rounded and believable. Brilliant!

Exquisite Escapism....
The glamorous Rivas. A family of fascination in Malibu and the world over. The renowned end of Summer party that everyone wants to attend. A party that, ultimately, no one will ever forget. Fabulously well drawn character driven drama with a wholly immersive plot line. Exquisite escapism.

The Riva siblings all share a love for the ocean and each other but are as unlike as any four individuals can be. The eldest sibling, Nina, is hosting her infamous end-of-season party, which is usually a great source of joy for all four of them. This year, however, each is dealing with their own crises, which they are attempting to keep from the others and are fearful that the party will be the setting where all is revealed.

I loved how this novel was formatted. The novel took place over twenty-four hours and the reader was provided with the timeframe of 7am to 7pm, in part one, and 7pm to 7am, in part two, as chapter headings. It added an ominous layer to an already mysterious narrative to feel the time oppressively ticking down to the conclusion.

Intersecting these chapters were snippets from June and Mick Riva, their parents. The portions following them detailed how they met, fell in love, and then fell out of it. Witnessing their grown-up selves after being provided with details of their childhood versions added poignancy to the novel and ensured I loved the siblings all the more.

This was a very human novel. This is the best way I can describe it. There were scenes of action and sinister intent but the ones of high emotion and suffering were the ones I remained most drawn to. Despite the very privileged lives the siblings led, all they were dealing with were very relatable issues and I thought Taylor Jenkins Reid sensitively and accurately tackled them.

I don't know what story I was expecting after the tumultuous The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I absolutely adored, but it wasn't this. This was a far quieter story and it showcased how this author can craft characters that, whether in or out of the media's attention, have me longing to gravitate towards the inner-light she grants them with.

This is a really easy read centred on a family, their relationship, and their missing father, but it's not full of easy stories or plain characters, there are some really interesting and difficult plot points that the author tackles really well. I enjoyed the way the chapters were set out, I don't think I've come across it before and it meant the story never felt stagnant or slow. There were some sideline characters that I felt the reader had unnecessary detail on and the ending was a little farfetched for me but overall I really recommend this and am keen to read more by this author!

I adored everything about Daisy Jones and the Six, so I was worried this wouldn't be as good. I needn't have worried as Malibu Rising is brilliant. An intriguing plot, characters you root for and an interesting time hopping element. I loved it.

Malibu Rising tells the story of the dysfunctional Riva family — from June and Mick meeting and falling in love in 1956, through their turbulent marriage and birth of four children, to August 1983 when daughter Nina hosts an annual summer party for the rich, beautiful and famous at her Malibu mansion. It's a night that will end in disaster.

Without wanting to give away any spoilers, this is a fantastic read and one of the best books I've read this year. It's an engaging story of love, betrayal, loss and redemption; set against a background of sun, sea and surfing.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has created genuinely believable, in-depth characters. The story is so immersive that you forget they exist only in the pages of a book. The writing is quite simply exquisite. I felt every emotion possible.

The author leads you on an incredible journey of lives tainted by fame and fortune. The Riva children are resilient and fiercely loyal despite their unorthodox upbringing. They come up against tough times but grow stronger and closer through their shared experiences.

I loved this book and didn't want it to end. It was perfect.

I became totally immersed in this saga of the famous Riva family, set amongst the homes of the rich and powerful in Malibu. It’s skilfully told over the course of one very eventful day, leading up to Nina Riva’s legendary annual summer party. THE party to be seen at – no invitations; just knowing her address is enough to show up and the rich and famous from all walks of life show up in droves.

When June, daughter of a couple who ran a beachside seafood café, met Mick Riva, an up and coming singer, she knew he was the one for her and had dreams of a perfect life raising their family in house next to the beach. Mick truly loved June but he loved the excitement of chasing other women and after he left the family twice, June was left to raise the kids on her own. Which she did, working in the family restaurant and loving them as much as she could. But the pain of losing Mick hurt so much only alcohol could dull the pain and eventually kill her, leaving eighteen year old Nina to pick up the baton, leave school and raise her three younger siblings. Now seven years later Nina is a famous surfing model, her brothers Jay a professional surfer on the world circuit and Hud, a surf photographer with the youngest, Kit in college.

I really liked Nina and her siblings. They’ve grown up knowing the value of hard work and looking out for each other. Nina has been so selfless in taking care of them all that she’s never had time for herself to really work out who she is and what she wants. Her marriage has gone the same way as her mother’s with her tennis star husband chasing other women and she loathes the house he bought them overlooking the beach. However, she does love the beach below the house where the siblings can occasionally surf together as a group.

I also loved the metaphor of fire and rebirth in this novel. The siblings have secrets from each other, ones that will affect the directions of their lives, which all come to a head during the party. A party that ignites, burning totally out of control with excessive drugs, sex and destruction. An uninvited guest will be the catalyst for Nina and her siblings to realise what it is they really want from life.

Taylor Jenkins Reid does not dissapoint - ever. I absolutely adored Malibu Rising. Having read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (a personal favourite) and Daisy Jones and the Six, I couldn't wait to read Malibu Rising and was not disappointed.

"Malibu catches fire. And California burns. Because it's Malibu's nature to burn"

Malibu Rising has the additivity of Daisy Jones and the beautiful yet real Hollywood-style drama of Evelyn Hugo. It is a must read. Set primarily in 1983 but also consistently visiting times before that, it never had a boring moment. I loved the references to TJR's previous books (it made me smile SO much when I saw them) as well as how the books loosely link together. Malibu Rising follows the children of Mick Riva (aka gullible Mick Riva - one of Evelyn Hugo's seven husbands) and how his life has shaped there's as well as where their lives will go next. Although you don't need to have read TJR's other books, it is really exciting to see references and have little hints towards what's going to happen next! The characters, plot and whole book to be honest are so complex yet so well written which made it such an easy yet enjoyable read.

Overall, I really loved this book and would rate it 4.5 stars. Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing was as brilliant as always and kept me reading on and on and on. Just as always, she hooked me from the first page and I couldn't stop reading from there. My only criticism was that after the first part, the pacing slowed down a little but understandably so based on how the story was told and the plot unfolds. In summary: go read this now.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.