Taylor Jenkins Reid just knows how to write and to create characters that you care for so much, that you just have to know what’s going on in their lives. Her stories and characters are always so complex, no black and white.
I didn’t know what to expect from this one when I went in, but now I can tell it was kind of a weird story. One that I couldn’t stop reading!
It’s a bit of a slice of life, not really with a specific kind of plot, more like a family story.
It jumps back between the past and the present, between June and Mick, from when they first met, and that of their now adult children now in the 80s.
The way the story is told I just felt like I was right there, in Malibu, with the burning sun and the ocean. Right there in the described decade with the fitting background music playing. All of her books did that for me so far.

In the second part of the book the two stories kind of meet in the 1980s at an annual party Nina Riva is hosting. The last part got a bit confusing for me. All these new people were introduced, the party got quite out of hand and turning into a riot, I was starting to wonder what this is all about.
In the end it was still a family story. A story about an imperfect, dysfunctional, messy family, but in the end still a family.
My favourite parts to read were the ones about the present, the lives of the Riva children. But it was also so interesting to see how they got where they were right now and why they developed that way. They all have their packages to carry and they all carry a different one, they all have their own problems and secrets.
I love stories about siblings, especially big families and found families. I loved how it ended, with each of them figuring themselves out a little more, developing in different ways.
I can’t say this was the most thrilling story ever, but it just sucked me right in somehow and if you love family stories and character driven stories in general you will love this as well!

✨ She knew it was up to her to say what had to be said. To do what had to be done. When there is only you, you do not get to choose which jobs you want, you do not get to decide you are incapable of anything. ✨

There is something about the way that Taylor Jenkins Reid writes that completely draws you in. Malibu Rising is another novel where I was sucked in from the start. Jenkins Reid develops the characters so well that you can’t put it down.

This wasn’t my favourite Jenkins Reid novel, however I was heavily invested in the Riva family. I really felt for Nina, raising her brothers and sisters without any support and in the end she was fighting so many of her own demons trying to balance living her own life and providing for her family.

Also, Is Kit my spirit animal? I vibed with her personality a lot. When I was growing up I was often referred to as the “tomboy” and was also playing rugby with the boys in the backyard, so I kind of understand Kits vibe. Also, youngest child right here 🙋🏻‍♀️

Controversially, the last 20% didn’t really hook me in like Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo. Still a great read, as always, putting the reader right in the minds of the characters. Can someone take me to Malibu now?! Thanks 🙏🏼

This one is out 27th May!

#maliburising #taylorjenkinsreid #randomhouse #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagramaustralia #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookclub #bookcommunity

I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars. I'm sitting here trying to decide but I clearly can't make decisions, so let's just get on with the review.

Before I get into what it's about, let me say that I am now hopelessly in love with TJR's writing. That's how I want to write someday. The whole book is written flawlessly, but that beginning? OMG, she had me at the prologue. I knew I was going to love it right then and there.

This is the first book of hers that I've read and I'm now officially making 2021 the year that I read all her other books that have been sitting on my TBR pile (aka Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Maybe in Another Life).

Now, back to the topic at hand. Malibu Rising tells the story of the four Riva children, the story of their parents, the story of family bonds and, in some way, the story of fire. The book takes place over one single day of August 1983 but, as the day unfolds, we get flashback chapters on everything that came before, starting in 1956 when June Costas met Mick Riva.

This is a story of childhood and growing up, sometimes faster than you should; a story about the struggles of being a single parent, especially when the money is tight; a story about realizing you don't owe anything to people who hurt you or betray your trust, whoever that may be; a story about healthy relationships and toxic ones; and ultimately it's a story about Nina Riva, a strong as hell female character who will do whatever it takes because that's just how fiercely loyal she is.

I loved the relationship between the siblings, how they looked out for each other and how they each turned out to be after everything they went through. Anyone who reads this will love Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit in every possible way. Also, as a side note, I cried so be warned.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Cornerstone (Random House UK) for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.

I keep hearing praises for Taylor Jenkins Reid's writing and so I came into this book with high expectations since it would be my first read from her, but this book did not disappoint at all. TJR's writing style is perfect and I love how well, she intertwined the past and the present in this story. All characters, specifically the Riva family, have such interesting backgrounds and are so complex; I just enjoyed reading from their POVs. I knew I has to finish this so I didn't stop reading and finished this in one go. It's so so good and I'm super excited for the book to come out.

Oh, I so loved this book! Taylor Jenkins Reid has the ability to place characters in a truly believable setting, so you get drawn into their world, and see it through their eyes. I felt as though I was sitting on the beach in California with Nina and her siblings, contemplating everything that unfolds in these pages. It's a story full of love, and hope, and disappointment, as well as giving a wry satirical look at the excesses of celebrity, and spotlighting what really matters in life. The messy nature of families spills out in a glorious way, and you feel empathy for each of the characters, even when some behave appallingly. For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, there's a lovely joining of those worlds too. Beautifully done.

Another fantastic character study from TJR!

I was already a massive fan of this authors work so I had high hopes going in, this one did not disappoint at all. The first half is set between the past and the (1983) present day and slowly reveals the past of the characters and how they came to be a the famous Riva's party. The second half is much more fast paced and details the events of the party hour by hour.

There was so much heartbreak in this book, I just wanted to reach in and hug some of the characters. You could see the children growing physically an emotionally throughout and it really gave me a connection to their stories. I absolutely love how much the siblings loved each other and how fiercely their mother loved them. The little mention of characters from other books was fun too!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favourite current writers. Both Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo are 2 of my favourite books of the last 5 years.

Nobody writers about nostalgic Hollywood Glamour like her and this book is no different.

Malibu Rising is the story of singer Mick Rivas and his wife June, and their children Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit as adults.

The story jumps between Mick and June meeting and marrying in the 50s and 60s and Malibu in the 80s, which takes place over one night.

I absolutely loved the characters so much that I wanted to live in this story, which is why I think it took me so long to finish. I actually preferred the story of Mick and June more than the story of Nina’s party, the “modern day”’of the book, in 80s Malibu.

All the characters feel completely real, and the writing is engaging and exciting.

This was nearly a 5 star book for me but in the end the plot just wasn’t as exciting as Jenkins Reid’s previous books and it didn’t suck me in as much as those books did. I will force anyone I know to read Daisy Jones and the Six, and this just didn’t excite me quite as much by the end.

However I still loved it and it reminded me so much of Evelyn Hugo. It felt more like a book written before those absolute masterpieces so I was a tiny bit disappointed as my expectations were so high, but it’s still a solid 4, maybe 4.5 from me.

I didn't expect to enjoy this book. I hadn't read Daisy Jones and the Six, despite all the hype. I wondered what I might be missing. Having read Malibu Rising, I might be tempted.

It's 1980's California. Nina Riva, supermodel and surfer, recently embroiled in a high profile break up with her tennis playing husband, is preparing for her once a year famous party. The Rivas are gilded...rock star father, both brothers are talented, one a surfer and the other a photographer; Kit, the youngest, has a natural talent for surfing too.

Nina has held the family together since she was a teenager, sacrificing her hopes and dreams to make sure they are all happy. Her rock star father Mick, unreliable and unfaithful, hovers in the background. Their mother June drank herself to death. On the surface, everything seems stable, but all of them are keeping secrets and these will come out at the party in a spectacular fashion.

I expected this to be a frivoulous book, but it actually kept my attention and I enjoyed it much more than I thought. The back story of the family, the history of Mick and June, kept me interested throughout the narrative and I was keen to see how both storylines would pan out at the end.
If flowed really well, and the build up to the party and the secrets that emerge throughout the evening are well timed. The subsequent debauchery of the guests was eye opening, but the best part for me was the arrival of
the father.
As someone who had an impact by his absence in all his children's lives, his presence has, for once, an ironic result....an act of carelessness, of which he is predictably unaware, results in a phoenix rising literally from the ashes.

An easy, lighthearted, enjoyable read. With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a prepublished copy in return for an honest review.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks so much as always to Netgalley for sending this to me!

Malibu Rising is another of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s forays into the world of celebrity stardom, following characters from the golden age of Hollywood to the early eighties, providing a fascinating insight into a wondrous and often toxic world full of glitter, debauchery, money, sex and betrayal. The book is split into two parts – the first part acting as a lead up to the night of the party, which also provides us with a look into the characters’ pasts, particularly the Riva siblings’ tumultuous upbringing as they deal with the chaos causes by their negligent, unfaithful, and deeply scummy (yet still somehow bizarrely likable?) father, Mick Riva – yes, that Mick Riva. One of Evelyn Hugo’s long list of husbands – and thankfully, the most short-lived of all her marriages.

Part one of the book is wonderful. We meet Mick as a young man looking for his big break, as he woos a young woman named June, marries her, and they seem to have a perfect relationship at first. But as Mick’s fame skyrockets, he proves himself incapable of resisting the temptations it provides, leading to years of tumult as he cheats, lies, disappears and then comes back again, wreaking havoc upon June and their children. Mick’s awful legacy leaves an indelible mark on the kids, particularly Nina, who finds herself having to take charge of her family in his absence – and so the novel jumps between their origin story, and the present day in the 80s, where Nina is dealing with her own unfaithful husband, forced to commodify her body in order to support her family. It’s about legacy, cycles, generational trauma – all that accompanied by lush, dreamy descriptions that made me, the complete opposite of a beach-bunny, dream of lazy afternoons in the sea spray, watching the sun set over the sands.

The first part of the book has so much complexity, setting up all these amazing threads of conflict, and one can’t be stirred without disrupting another. It has so much building tension, as we get close to all these different characters and realise with bated breath that something’s gotta give. As I read, I found myself holding my breath, waiting for the moment when everything came tumbling down. The characters are brilliantly rendered, particularly Nina; I feel like anyone who’s been an eldest daughter will recognise something in her, that particular weird god/martyr complex that so many eldest daughters experience as a result of being essentially a third parent. I also adored June, and in a weird way, Mick, who is an awful person but a fascinating character. If anything, I kind of wish we had followed him more closely. It’s impressive to me that TJR stated repeatedly that Mick was awful but charismatic, and he really was – his actions repulsed me, but I still liked him. That’s talent.

As you can tell, if the entire book had carried on in the same vein, it would have probably been a five star read for me. Unfortunately, I felt like the book lost its way somewhat in the second half. Part two brings us into the promised premise: the party of the decade, which rapidly spirals out of control. I was holding my breath for a manic, Gatsby-esque haze, which is kind of what I got, but as a result the book loses its intense focus on the main characters, and things began to fall apart for me from there. The book becomes disjointed, as we hop from head to head, getting little snippets of the party from the perspective of dozens of characters I didn’t care about, many of whom don’t have any significant role in the story. Meanwhile, as things inside the party reach a fever heat, the main characters are dealing with something very different on the outskirts. It felt like we were building and building to something that never ended up actually coming to fruition, especially when this big conflict that was seeded since the beginning turned out to have a very mundane explanation. It was symbolism, sure, I get that, but it was also a huge anti-climax. The book starts by bigging up this event to make us think it’s going to be something hugely dramatic, and it just sort of fizzles. The whole thing felt a little disingenuous to me, like I’d been led to believe I was getting something the author never had any intention of giving to me. In general the ending felt too neat, too nice for a story with so much pain in it. I’m a huge advocate for happy endings, but sometimes it doesn’t fit the tone, and everything just felt a bit too convenient. Perhaps that’s just the cynic in me not wanting to believe that everything could work out so well for these characters, but sometimes a sad ending can be cathartic, and I didn’t get that catharsis here.

In general, I enjoyed this book a lot. As mentioned, the writing style was great, the main characters were compelling and I really felt for them, the setting is gorgeous – there’s so much to love here, but I did feel ultimately let down by the direction the story took and I wish it had continued on with the same level of perfection that we had in the first half. 3.75 stars.

I’ve never met a Taylor Jenkins Reid book I didn’t like. Malibu Rising is now one of my favourites of hers. I loved the setting, the characters and the story. It was beautifully woven together and I found that I couldn’t put it down.

YOu would have to be living under a rock in the book loving world to not be excited about a new novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid in 2021. I hav to admit that I squealed when I was approved on NetGalley by Random House UK for this highly anticipated book. I just couldn’t wait any longer to read it.. and I devoured it in a few short hours.

I was completely immersed in the lives of the Riva family from the opening chapters. It is a family drama, with so much drama. From the meeting of June and Mick and their marriage, to the 4 children and their lives and struggles, you cannot help but get lost in it. I am not going to say too much about the story because the less you know the better. What you will love about his story is the characters and their relationships. Nina is the eldest child and such a strong and likeable character. They are growing up in the 70’s and adults in the 80s amongst the beautiful people of Malibu. Things are not always as they seem and they are all keeping things from each other. Family is the most important thing to these siblings and will do anything to protect each other.

TJR has absolute nailed it with Malibu Rising once again. The emotions are all there, the setting is perfect.., I just loved it

Malibu Rising is the story of the Riva family. Mainly focused on 4 siblings; the sensible and put-upon Nina, brothers Jay and Hud and (the best of the bunch) the straight talking Kit, as they prepare for and throw an annual party that draws Hollywood A listers and every other star imaginable.

Interlaced is the tale of the previous generation; parents Mick and June. Mick is a renowned crooner, June the stay at home mother who looks after her children while her husband drifts in and out of their lives. The happenings of the parents come back to haunt and repeat on their children in the up-to-date time line with clever plotting and detail.

This is an enjoyable yarn. The first half builds the back story of each of the characters. Once the party gets started the pace is increased as the high jinx commences. However, it’s difficult to find much resonance in the lives of the super rich or to entirely like any of the Riva clan or their wider acquaintances/party guests. For me a 3.5*.

Thanks to Netgalley and PRH for and advance copy.

Malibu Rising is about family, those strange bonds between siblings, responsibilities, marriage, self-discovery, and a little bit of how Malibu riches live and have fun. It is a novel that is easy and enjoyable to read. I loved each character one by one; they all came to life beautifully. I wish there’ll be a film of Malibu Rising because the characters and Malibu, with the sun, the sea and all the glamour, are extremely aesthetically pleasing in every sense. I recommend Malibu Rising if you are looking for a book that will not distract you while travelling or if you’re looking for a relaxing weekend. Enjoy!

I fan girl so hard for Taylor Jenkins Reid so when I spotted that her next book was available for request on Netgalley I moved at lightening speed. This is probably the most excited I’ve ever been to be approved for an ARC. Thank you to @penguinrandom and @tjenkinsreid for this advanced copy of Malibu Rising in return for an honest review. Malibu Rising is due to be published on 27th May 2021 and you can get a copy here.

Description 🔖

The Rivas are known for their end of summer parties. Everyone wants to be there and anyone can be as long as they know the address. The year of 1983 is no exception.

Siblings; Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit all have different feelings about the 1983 party. Nina is not at all looking forward to it following the breakdown of her marriage. Jay is feeling excited about it as he is hoping that a certain girl is going to make an appearance. Hud is nervous as he plans to reveal a secret that he knows nobody will like to hear. Meanwhile Kit as also hiding a secret of her own and has invited a guest that nobody will be expecting to see.

The party will both start and finish with a bang but none of the Rivas will be the same people they were once it is all over.

General Thoughts 🤔

I was so looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint. I love TJR for her fabulous story writing and the way she pulls the reader in deep. I was in over my head with all of the characters and felt like I was watching an episode of a drama series. I loved the 80s LA vibe that this book oozed and the mix of glamour and seedy.

What surprised me about this book was the lack of hit you in the face drama. It certainly wasn’t a bad thing. The story slowly unfolded and developed as I learned more about each of the characters and their relationships with one another.

Characters 👬👭👫

Malibu Rising was 100% all about the characters for me. I fell in love with all of the Rivas for different reasons.

Nina – What a hero. I had so much respect for her. At the age of 25, she seemed to have lived a lifetime and continued to put other peoples needs before her own. I was silently encouraging Nina to see that she didn’t have to do that. She had choices and I wanted her to realise that.

Jay – There was definitely potential for me to dislike Jay and see him as arrogant and self-centred. However as the story went on and I learnt more, I admired his softer more vulnerable side.

Hud – I instantly liked Hud. He was definitely the level headed, sensible sibling. I empathised with him for carrying such a potentially damaging secret and I felt his relief when the truth was revealed.

Kit – She was fiery, determined and strong minded but harbouring her own big secret that she didn’t feel like she could reveal to even her family. As the youngest out of the siblings I think she struggled to find her own identity and not compare herself to her older and successful brothers and sister.

Writing Style ✍️

This is the first one of TJR’s books that I’ve read on Kindle as opposed to listening to the audio book. I was intrigued to see how this was as her audiobooks have a very special and signature “feel” and structure to them. This book was a very different experience but I’m not convinced it was because I read and didn’t listen.

I thought that the pacing was fantastic. The book covers 24 hours on the day of the party and there was no point where I thought it was dragging or needed to be faster. The narrative switches between 1983 and as far back as the 1930s and I thought the way those two narratives were sewn together was brilliant.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖️

I was absorbed in this story and the characters. TJR has a way of drawing you in to the point of feeling like you know each individual in a book and it’s quite consuming whilst you’re reading. I am pleased to say that I am still very much a fan girl!

This book was so addictive- I got totally absorbed by it! I l;oved the detail of Malibu in the 80s, the surfing, the courtship between Mick and June and the four Riva kids. My hand was over my mouth at everything that was going on at the party - the sheer excess was so compelling.
My only criticism is that i felt the ending was quite rushed and there were lots of questions I wanted answering that weren't!

You know what I love the most about Taylor Jenkins Reid? She always gets the job done! I fell in love with her when I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, went through her back list and I have been a loyal fan ever since.

Malibu Rising is a "stay up all night" kinda book. I love the way the plot twists were unravelled. There's a lot but it doesn't feel overdone or too much. It's just right and it makes you never want to stop reading because you have to find out how it's all resolved. I really really enjoyed this book and can't wait for everyone to read it!

Daisy Jones and the Six was one of my favourite reads of recent times. Taylor Jenkins Reid is someone who has a massive fan base, so I’m sure they’ll devour this book. Unfortunately I really didn’t like this one. I read the first couple of chapters and knew instantly that this one I will have to plough through quickly. Here’s why this book didn’t work for me:
* too much description. I love a vivid place of setting, but the prologue is literally description and history of Malibu. I felt Reid could’ve cut the writing down and drip-fed the descriptive writing. Personally I felt she was trying too hard.
* the foreshadowing of the house burning down was a hook-worthy one, although it did remind me of Little Fires Everywhere.
* too much gratuitous female nudity. The female characters in this book are always naked and topless, with constant references to their breasts and how it moves while having sex.
* cliched sex scenes. It felt more like soap opera. The brother having an affair with his sibling’s ex.
* clunky writing and two dimensional characters. I found the characterisation strange. There’s so much telling. I found the fact Kit, the 20-year sister, hadn’t been kissed had to be mentioned and was a concern for her older brother rather odd.
* heavy handed message of generational trauma.

I’m sure that since Reid has such a huge and a dynamic fanbase that this book will be lapped our, but it was just plain awful in my opinion and I judge the editors who thought this was worthy of being published and when they’re so many better books out there.

This is a great novel about family and sibling relationships. I liked the world it was set in - like many Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, it has a great sense of escapism and characters working their way up from nothing to riches. There were some nice little nuggets and twists throughout that came together nicely by the end.
I wasn’t overly keen on the first half of the book, where it was mostly from the mother’s perspective, but once the kids started to grow up, I enjoyed watching their relationships change and grow.

This is the first book I have read from this author & I am so impressed! This book was absolutely brilliant, the way it is structured and told from multiple points of views... it’s just so well written.

This is the story of Nina Riva and her siblings, the story of their childhood growing up in Malibu with a mother who they adored and a famous womanising father.... it spans from 1950s when their parents met through to 1983 where we meet the adult Rivas on the day of Ninas infamous annual summer party.

The author captures the pain of each of the siblings so well, you really feel as though you know them or know someone like them.

A highly recommended read from me and I will be telling my friends to go and purchase it.

Thanks to the publisher & netgalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This book was absolutely stunning and just cemented my love for Taylor `Jenkins Reid. It was so beautifully written and even with these characters living extraordinary lives, they felt so real. I don't personally cry at books but if I did, I would've been absolutely sobbing at the end of this. Loved it!