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.

A solid 5 stars from me.
I absolutely loved this. In two parts, the first part alternates between the present (well the 80's) which leads up to the party and the past where Mick and June first meet.
The second part is the last couple of hours leading up to the party and then every hour till morning.
The siblings are very close with Nina the eldest looking after Hud, Jay and Kit.
The family dynamics are quite intense at times when certain events throw up problems which generally leaves Nina to sort out.
The party itself, well, let's just say I'm glad I wasn't invited.
Malibu was a lovely setting for the book, I could imagine myself walking down to the beach every day, the sand between my toes and the warm sun on my skin. Bliss.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review

Taylor Jenkins Reid has a talent for creating multiple, interesting characters, particularly those from the world of celebrity.

I enjoyed following the lives of the Riva family, past and present. The foundations, as ever, are expertly laid to explain present and future consequences.

Descriptions of Malibu are decadent and evocative, particularly the beach. I could practically feel the sun on my skin and taste the salty sea air.

Another guaranteed hit for Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I enjoyed this book, with thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the arc of this book in exchange for this review

There is something about Taylor Jenkins Reid and the way she writes that draws the reader right in and Malibu Rising was no different. I was hugely excited to read this after falling in love with Daisy Jones and the Six and it exceeded my expectations.

I was completely and utterly captivated by the Riva family. This book has such a wonderful and complex set of characters that each have their own story to tell. Many times throughout I felt like I was right there with them all….a long lost ‘Riva’ sibling watching it all happen.

The story is told by hours, leading up to the end of the party and with chapters that take you back in time to when the Riva children’s parents first met. These are the parts that gave me a Daisy Jones vibe as we learn about Mick Riva and his ‘rockstar’ life. Also fun fact, Mick Riva is briefly mentioned in Daisy Jones and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

As each hour passes by we learn more and more about each of Mick Riva’s children and each of their stories is beautifully woven into the next which allows the reader to fully understand the family. During the party we also experience side stories featuring other characters and even though you only meet them briefly it was still fascinating to read about each of one of them and essentially what they’re hiding from people – be that their true self, their love for another or their confidence.

This is a book that will draw you in and will have you thinking about it long after reading. I just want more….I could of quite happily read so much more about the Riva children and their lives.

Overall this was a fantastic story exploring the price of fame, finding your true self and the strength of family bonds no matter what.

I finished Malibu Rising last night and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Atmospheric and nostalgic, emotive and moving, powerful and beautifully written - I can't recommend this book enough.

I love multiple PoV narratives and Taylor Jenkins Reid makes it look effortless - you flow seamlessly from one character's perspective to another's, but you still feel completely connected to each and every one (especially the Riva children).

A compelling and poignant novel that explores familial ties, redemption and morality, the devastating impact of loss and heartbreak, and the burden of fame and fortune.

There are not enough stars to give this stunning book - it has stolen my heart.

Many thanks to the Hutchinson, PRH team and NetGalley for this ARC.

After reading this captivating story I really want to go to a Riva party! I adored the writing and felt the author captured the free spirit of those times. Usually when I read a story with lots of characters it's just too much. The author here introduces many new faces including their back story throughout the story (especially at the party) and it is cleverly woven into the storyline with such ease.

This book is easily one of my favourites book this year and one that I will happily recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

4.5 stars

Well that was a wild trip. The trials and tribulations of the Rivas grabbed me and did not let me go. Seriously. I ended up reading this book in a day, and it would have been in one sitting if I could have avoided life commitments.

Malibu Rising is set in the 80s and follows the lives of the four famous Riva siblings. Beautiful, talented and troubled, they are the progeny of a famous singer who is absent from their lives. The story unfolds over the course of one day, culminating in a rather eventful party, but we also follow the characters over the decades from the 50s.

This was the first book I’d read by this author, but I enjoyed the style of writing and story telling so much that midway through this book I stopped to purchase The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo also by this author.

Taylor Jenkins Reid provides the perfect form of escapism in Malibu Rising. There is betrayal, romance, heartbreak and a whole lot of emotion and drama. This book is so well and tastefully written that this feels like reading an extravagant soap opera, but in the best way possible.

I found myself caring about these characters and was rooting for them; their resilience, love for each other and ambition made this book a joy to read. Each character was well developed and had their own unique voice, though the eldest sibling, Nina, tugged at my heart strings constantly.

The flare of the 80s was captured perfectly and I felt transported while reading. The story was well paced, the dialogue flowed and despite there being numerous characters it didn’t detract from the main plot, however I did feel like towards the end of the book there were some unnecessary points of view and the overall conclusion was satisfying enough but I felt like I wanted a little more.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you enjoy books about flawed families with a good dose of emotion, escapism, tragedy and heart then this could be a read for you.

As a fan of previous books written by this author, I was looking forward to reading this new novel. And it did not disappoint.

Taylor Jenkins Reid's ability to create characters that her readers fall in love with immediately is second to none. The moment we met Nina, I already cared about her. And even the more morally gray characters of the book made me feel a sort of attachment to them.
The author's plots are always interesting, of course, but it is the characters that make these books absolute page-turners. At least in my personal case.

In this novel, we read about just one day, 24 hours. I do appreciate that the structure is different from the one used in "The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo" or "Daisy Jones and the Six". As much as I enjoyed those books, I was worried the author would fall into the habit of repeating similar structures and make that format stale. However, that was not the case. We have two different parts in this book, one where we get flashbacks to flesh out some of the characters better and to just fill in some gaps the story would have without that extra information.
The other part, the second, is where we only get the present time. But even if it is "just" the present time, the cast is slightly expanded. I did enjoy reading about other minor characters, especially since they all felt very different from one another. But I would have preferred not to spend as much time with them on the final chapters, since I was more involved in our main protagonist's stories. It was not something that prevented me from enjoying the end of the book at all, though.

Another thing that I would like to mention is that I chuckled at the beginning of the book when Stephen King was mentioned and then we find out that this book is kind of connected to "The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo". I love when authors connect their books in one way or another, same as King does with his multiverse. I am sure many fans of Evelyn Hugo loved that little connection and I do hope the author does something similar in the future.

Overall, this book was fantastic. And I cannot wait to read Jenkins Reid's next novel as I am sure it would be another rollercoaster of emotions, which I will fall in love with.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing me with an ARC copy of the book.

When you think Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books cannot get any better and then you read Malibu Rising and it just blows your mind how good her stories and writing are - honestly I loved this book. It had all the glamour from Evelyn Hugo and the sex, drugs and rock n roll from Daisy Jones. A story about a whole family told over two different timelines and over one day and night which brings everything together. I loved the Riva children and how the stories were told and woven together. If you are going to preorder one book this year to read - make it this one!!! Out 27th May 2021

Thank you netgalley as cornerstone for my didgital copy for review.

This was my first time reading this author's book and I am completely in love!
It was amazing, it had all the twists and turns. I couldn't have asked for a better narration. I could also feel empathy towards the characters which is not easy to do

Malibu Rising - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Well Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! This book follows the Riva Family and all their dysfunctional ways. The story is told primarily over the course of 24 hours, but does flit back and forth between past and present, giving the reader a real sense of the characters and their past experiences which have impacted on their lives. Reid just has this amazing talent of making you feel that these people are real and are out there somewhere in the world, it's like the perfect look into their lives that otherwise you would never get to see (apart from the edited highlights online or in magazines). Highly recommend this one if you enjoyed Daisy Jones and The Six!

I really enjoyed this book.

As a child of the 80s I loved the decade it was set in, but the flashbacks to the 50's and 60's were great to read.

It felt a bit Jackie Collins/Dynasty in places - loved that!

It follows the lives of the Riva siblings and the trials and tribulations of being the children of the famous Mick Riva, loved by the world, but not so much by the children he abandoned.

It all comes to a head the night of Nina Riva's annual party.

I also liked the side plots in this book of the guests at the party, it helped the book to keep it's fast pace.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

If you enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's previous novels, you are not going to be disappointed with the fabulous Malibu Rising. It's the story of the Riva family, in particular the oldest daughter Nina and her famous end of summer party at her Malibu beach-side mansion. Nina and her siblings Jay, Hud and Kit, are the children of faded rock star Mick Riva, although they have been estranged from him for years. Apart from young Kit, the Riva children are all successful in their own right. Nina is a supermodel and surfer, Jay is also a professional surfer and Hud is a photographer.

The charisma of Malibu comes across so well in this book. The cool, utopian lifestyle, the flamboyance and extravagance, the beauty of the beach and sea, and the allure of bright young people. And yet for all its glitter and glamour, as Nina says, it's still just a place where people live their daily lives, admittedly with a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean.

I loved the way this book was written, mostly over the course of 24 hours. In each of these hours, we hear from each of the siblings in their own words, giving access to their innermost thoughts and secrets which, in some cases, not even those closest to them know. Interspersed with this, there are flashbacks to the tempestuous relationship between their parents and what life was like for the siblings after they split up. At the party, the reader is like a fly on the wall able to observe closely all that is going on. Not only do we continue to follow the Riva siblings, we also hear from several of their rich and privileged guests. My goodness what a wild party it was, a party of total excess and over-indulgence, with outrageous behaviour from some of the guests. At this stage of the book, I was absolutely glued to the pages as all the time there was a sense of building up to an explosive event when everyone's secrets would be uncovered and life would never be the same again.

Malibu Rising is a story of how life is never as perfect as it may seem, that paradise may not exist. But it's also a story about what remains when the ivory tower comes tumbling down. Malibu Rising is a sun-soaked, addictive book, the perfect beach read. (Or back garden read if that's as far as you get this year!).

Another novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid that just drew me straight in from the first page. I felt like I was riding the waves of Malibu as well as the dramas and tragedies of the Riva family. This will be a summer best seller and should be on the holiday to-read list.

This book ended up being a new favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. I loved how it was written from two different timelines telling the story of the parents and then the events of the party on the day. This aspect meant you got to know the characters well and the story flowed. I loved the characters of the Riva siblings and their loyalty to one another. This book kept me gripped right until the end and with all the surprises and turn of events throughout.
I thought the ending wrapped up everything nicely and safe to say Taylor Jenkins Reid has become a new favourite author of mine.

The full review is on my blog and Instagram both linked down below.

This is in my top 3 most anticipated release in 2021, and I know it’s the same for many of you!

TJR has set herself apart from other authors with her previous works , Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & Six, by offering fascinating stories about legendary public figures like Hollywood stars and rock stars, making us feel like we have a very exclusive VIP pass to look into the lives of these larger-than-life figures!  I love the way these figures become very raw and vulnerable in front of us the readers as they show us how flawed, conflicted, imperfect and you know, how human they are. 

This time though, she gives a spotlight to the offsprings of a legendary figure.  The story follows 4 siblings for 24 hours on the day of the biggest party of the year in Malibu.  I feel like this is the most ambitious work by TJR so far.  Not just the interesting 24-hours structure of the book and the number of characters that appear in the story (especially the second half of the book when the party begins!), but the theme in this book is heavier and more heartbreaking to read. 

👉If you are a TJR fan, I know you will pick it up and read, so pls let me know your thoughts!  Some might enjoy Malibu Rising better.  Some might enjoy Daisy Jones better.  This book is still very TJR, so you are likely to enjoy this book no matter what.  Personally, I learned more and was inspired more by this book, but it’s too difficult for me to re-read this.  It hits home too much.  Daisy Jones on the other hand, it has certain lightness and warmth that make me want to go back to re-read it over and over.  I love them both equally but differently if you know what I mean.

👉If you did NOT like Evelyn Hugo and/or Daisy Jones, I’d love to see you pick up Malibu Rising and hear your thoughts!!  Because this book is different from her previous work.  It has more depth to it and who knows?  You might end up enjoying it!😘

Book review - 3.75/5

“Just because it is in Malibu's nature to burn, so was it in one particular person's nature to set fire and walk away.”

Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse for the e-ARC!

This is my first time giving a book .75. This book felt so close to 4 stars but a few things fell short for me. But first I’ll dive into what I loved about this book.

When you read Malibu Rising, you really feel TJR’s love and familiarity with California. She truly brings the sunshine state to life with her breathless descriptions of the Malibu shoreline and the PCH running along it.

The novel is split into two parts and I would say, hands down, that the first part was my favourite. In particular, June’s and Mick’s tragic love story. Although cliched in parts, it provided the backbone to the novel as a whole. It felt like the Riva children had very little depth to their characters with their storylines alone. June’s and Mick’s timeline really enriched what otherwise would’ve felt like a vapid and superficial novel about the woes of mega wealthy/famous white people. Without the tragic backstory, I don’t think I would’ve warmed to any of the Riva siblings. Mick’s and June’s love story and subsequent disruptive parenting helped to humanise the Riva children for me.

On the other hand, the novel fell flat on its face in Part 2. TJR does away with dual timeline between the past and the present of the summer party. What went from being a deep exploration of family life and the shortcomings of two parents turned into a depiction of chaos, superficiality and debauchery. I didn’t care for any of the random celebrities that TJR introduced randomly in the second half. It felt as if they were simply there as ‘filler’ content and actually the book could’ve been a lot shorter as a result.

Additionally, this is my third TJR novel which centres around the lives of famous (predominantly white) people and at this point I feel like I’m starting to spot some of the TJR stereotypes and staple cringe unrealistic moments. I am no longer as mystified with the tragic male love interest who battles with his addiction (be it with drugs or women). I know that TJR has never purported to be a writer who explores cultural and ethnic diversity but I can’t help but feel a small niggle at the lack of cultural diversity within her recent 3 books that I have read.

Although this is by far my least favourite book by TJR, I did still enjoy it very much. Based on the first part of the book alone, I would’ve rated it 4/4.5 stars but I felt that the second half really let it down. If you are looking for an easy, beach read about the power of family and sibling love - I recommend this book!