Malibu Rising

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

[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.