Malibu Rising: A Novel

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
 
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.

• ISBN10: 038569220X
• ISBN13: 9780385692205
• Publish Date: 1 June 2021 (first published 27 May 2021)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: CA
• Imprint: Doubleday Canada
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/isbn/9780385692205

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Okay, so to preface my review, I'm going to state that Malibu Rising is not normally a book I would pick up and dive into. I tend to be overly picky about my historical fiction reads.

However, Malibu Rising was one of the top contenders for BOTM's book of the year award, and that caught my attention. When given a chance to nab a copy (through BOTM) for free, I didn't hesitate.

Who hasn't dreamed of the fantastical parties that must occur around the rich and famous? Well, one party is about to get out of hand. The year is 1983, and one of Malibu's premier events is on the horizon: Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party.

However, she's not quite in the right headspace for this party. She and every member of her family seem distracted by personal issues. These issues set the tone for the party, which will eventually go up in flames. Literally.

“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?”

Wow. There is SO much going on within Malibu Rising! I can see why fans ended up loving it so much. We're talking about layer upon layer of subplot and character-driven elements. All of which come together for an explosive finale. Sorry, last time I make a pun like that, I promise.

If you love historical fiction, suspense, or family drama, the odds are good that you're going to find something to appreciate here. It doesn't hurt that a lot is going on here. But I should probably take a step back for a moment.

Malibu Rising is predominantly told through two different points in time. The past and the present. One follows Nina Riva and her siblings as adults; the other follows their parents and younger selves.

I'll confess that I found one timeline to be more interesting than the other. It seemed like the present had many more threads to play with. However, I can see how the past was setting the scene for what was to come. So I wouldn't have cut it out, given a chance to do so.

I loved the added surfing elements and very individual plots each character brought with them. It felt like we were diving into a fleshed-out world. One that is admittedly very full of drama! It makes one grateful for a calmer life, right?

Overall I'd say that Malibu Rising was a fun and exciting read. While it was not my favorite, I can certainly see why so many loved it. More than that, I can see why it almost won.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

3.5⭐️

I have become such a big fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. She is a great storyteller where she infuses just enough detail to make me feel like I'm there and these characters are real. Character driven books are not necessarily my favorite because I feel like most of the times not enough happens and it is not like a lot is happening, but the story of this family, their struggles, their personalities are just so interesting to me. Plus the setting is great, Malibu in the early 80's and kids of a famous rockstar. I loved it.

[Jeff Sexton]

Strong Story. Strong Storytelling. Don't Understand The Hype. Let me be extremely clear on this: This was a very strong story of a family's rise and fall across two generations, told in both past and "present" (with the "present" being nearly 40 years ago from the time of publication) and executed very well in both. The use of a full 24 hour timestamp as a narrative structure was great, as it really drove home that the story was counting down to some cataclysmic event. Truly, there is absolutely no doubt here - this is a great story superbly told.

But I would be remiss if I didn't share my *other* overriding thought about this book, and that is simple: I truly don't get the hype. I stand behind everything I said in the last paragraph 100%. But this was book 56 on the year for me and I've read over 250 since the COVID-related lockdowns began 53 weeks ago. And *many* of them were equally strong, and some quite similar in genre and tone. So I simply do not understand how this review will be number 990 on Goodreads - over two full months before this book publishers - while others languish in obscurity, seemingly struggling to get even double digit reviews even though they are at least as strong and good as this one. And again, I cannot emphasize this enough: This isn't saying in any way that this book isn't an excellent tale excellently told. My sole point is simply that there are *so many others* that could and arguably should receive the same amounts of attention and love, yet do not. And I truly don't understand how this happens. I mean, I know *how* it happens- massive marketing campaigns. I just don't understand the *why* of it and why *not* those others. Something that will likely always elude me.

Anyway, read this book. It deserves it. And maybe follow me wherever you find this review, and maybe you'll find some equally deserving books you weren't aware of. :D Very much recommended.