stephfutch3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A riveting story of family, love, loss, betrayal, and rebirth. This book was captivating and provocative. It’ll make you stop and take a good look at your life and how it has all played out.
devonsanders's review against another edition
3.0
A perfect little beach read. Reid did a nice job at cutting to different time periods but maintaining an easy to follow plot.
erikas_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what a rollercoaster!
Malibu Rising tells the story of the Riva siblings, alternating from their difficult childhoods to the day of a big, star-studded party that's quickly getting out of control. Each sibling is struggling with big decisions that will shape their future and wondering how much the absence of their famous father and death of their mother has shaped them.
No author makes me feel completely immersed in a book's setting like Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her writing is so vivid that I get lost in the setting of Malibu - something I'm especially grateful for during winter in the northeast.
Although this is my least favorite of her books that I've read, I'd still recommend it. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I have in the past but I still couldn't put the book down because of the excitement of the plot.
Malibu Rising tells the story of the Riva siblings, alternating from their difficult childhoods to the day of a big, star-studded party that's quickly getting out of control. Each sibling is struggling with big decisions that will shape their future and wondering how much the absence of their famous father and death of their mother has shaped them.
No author makes me feel completely immersed in a book's setting like Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her writing is so vivid that I get lost in the setting of Malibu - something I'm especially grateful for during winter in the northeast.
Although this is my least favorite of her books that I've read, I'd still recommend it. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I have in the past but I still couldn't put the book down because of the excitement of the plot.
hannah_beth_charles's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A very fast read. I didn't care about June and Mick's flashbacks. I was only interested in Hud and Kit's stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Infidelity
taz3159's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
laceydbell's review against another edition
4.0
Great character growth! Beautiful writing, of course. I do agree with other reviews I've heard and that is that it gives too much in some ways and not enough in others.
achaperonwrites's review against another edition
5.0
“Maybe our parents’ lives are imprinted within us, maybe the only fate there is is the temptation of reliving their mistakes. Maybe, try as we might, we will never be able to outrun the blood that runs through our veins.
Or.
Or maybe we are free the moment we’re born. Maybe everything we’ve ever done is by our own hands.”
— Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️/5
Oh man, TJR done did it again. But first, synopsis.
Malibu Rising is the story of family. It is the story of the four Riva children - Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit - and the places in their lives they find themselves on August 27, 1983, the night of the infamous Riva Party. Told over the course of the 24 hours leading up to and during the party, we learn the secrets and desires of these children. We discover how they choose what they will keep and leave behind from the ones who raise them, all before the whole thing goes up in flames.
I have such a love affair with Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones, and this is the perfect addition to the bunch. TJR has such a beautiful way of writing that makes you feel as if you’re living through these moments with her characters. Malibu Rising was no different.
All of the Riva children are people I could see pieces of myself in. As the eldest of my siblings, I strongly identified with Nina’s need to protect and take care of everyone. I understood Jay’s struggle to reconcile something potentially dangerous within himself with the way he wants to live his life. Hud’s creativity and need to frame the world in such a way that makes it beautiful was appealing to me as a writer. And Kit’s rebellious nature and absolute self-confidence in her abilities is something I have experienced a time or two.
I absolutely loved the multiple perspectives, and I especially enjoyed the timeline jumps from past to present. Learning where the kids came from is paramount to understanding who they are and where they’re going.
Once again, TJR has created a masterpiece. I strongly encourage everyone to preorder this before its release in June!
Or.
Or maybe we are free the moment we’re born. Maybe everything we’ve ever done is by our own hands.”
— Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️/5
Oh man, TJR done did it again. But first, synopsis.
Malibu Rising is the story of family. It is the story of the four Riva children - Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit - and the places in their lives they find themselves on August 27, 1983, the night of the infamous Riva Party. Told over the course of the 24 hours leading up to and during the party, we learn the secrets and desires of these children. We discover how they choose what they will keep and leave behind from the ones who raise them, all before the whole thing goes up in flames.
I have such a love affair with Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones, and this is the perfect addition to the bunch. TJR has such a beautiful way of writing that makes you feel as if you’re living through these moments with her characters. Malibu Rising was no different.
All of the Riva children are people I could see pieces of myself in. As the eldest of my siblings, I strongly identified with Nina’s need to protect and take care of everyone. I understood Jay’s struggle to reconcile something potentially dangerous within himself with the way he wants to live his life. Hud’s creativity and need to frame the world in such a way that makes it beautiful was appealing to me as a writer. And Kit’s rebellious nature and absolute self-confidence in her abilities is something I have experienced a time or two.
I absolutely loved the multiple perspectives, and I especially enjoyed the timeline jumps from past to present. Learning where the kids came from is paramount to understanding who they are and where they’re going.
Once again, TJR has created a masterpiece. I strongly encourage everyone to preorder this before its release in June!
snliving's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
artbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Wasn't what I was expecting at all really. Definitely have liked other books by Taylor much better. I felt like there were way too many characters being thrown in. I'm also not a huge fan of third person books, so that may have been part of it.