Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

198 reviews

heidibaumgart's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The main characters were wonderful. How they interconnected and their hopes and fears got on each other … I thought that was great. The bit parts weren’t great. At the beginning of Part 2, it felt like when you have to do time period research and you over describe fashion and music to prove that you did the research, or lived in that time. It was like a bingo card spaces of 80s / Malibu related people and culture. (Thanks goodness Rob Lowe was mentioned or it really would have been bad - research for 80s Malibu.) 

The tie up was satisfying. The fire was just bookends and not really necessary except for the bingo card. 

Also imho: 
Evelyn > Malibu > Daisy
Reading TJR in publish order. Only Carrie Soto is left and I’m not looking forward to it, having met her in Malibu Rising. But then I will have completed the TJR author binge…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical trauma, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

The main characters were wonderful. How they interconnected and their hopes and fears got on each other … I thought that was great. The author does grief and dealing with it in a very layered multidimensional way emin every book. The bit parts weren’t great. At the beginning of Part 2, it felt like when you have to do time period research and you over describe fashion and music to prove that you did the research, or lived in that time. It was like a bingo card spaces of 80s / Malibu related people and culture. (Thanks goodness Rob Lowe was mentioned or it really would have been bad - research for 80s Malibu.) The tie up was satisfying. The fire was just bookends and not really necessary except for the bingo card. Also imho: Evelyn > Malibu > Daisy Reading TJR in publish order. Only Carrie Soto is left and I’m not looking forward to it, having met her in Malibu Rising. But then I will have completed the TJR author binge…

noelle_madison's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I decided to read this book after loving “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and “One True Loves” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’m so glad I did because man did this book take me on a journey! 

This book focuses on four siblings, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit, throwing their annual party at Nina’s house in Malibu. It is set over 24 hours in August of 1983. This story is jam packed with drama, emotion, relationships of all forms, and pure entertainment. I was intrigued the whole time because I no idea where this story was going to take me next! There were so many side characters that I’ll admit sometimes it was a little hard to keep up with and remember everyone, but it didn’t take away from the overall pull of the story. This book will have you absolutely hooked! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury

findleydunn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Kind of slow until 3/4 through, then fast and exciting. I like the morals at the end, but it's a little hard to get there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit, Car accident, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

catherine_77's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism

eeelwell's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another gem from Taylor Jenkins Reid!  I loved how this book was broken up into hours over a 24 hr period with some flashbacks mixed in and told from multiple points of view!  The characters are all troubled in their own way but you can’t help cheer for them as they make their way through this crazy night.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

daisyfont's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence and Car accident

Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion

sazzzberry's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Drug abuse and Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

lea_kwy's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Beautiful character study, altough very painful at points 
The relationships are well crafted und complex, almost everyone is lovable <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Drug abuse

Domestic trauma

budderfly_reads28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved the story line in this book. The past and present timelines explaining how the characters came to be. I love Nina, all the obstacles she overcame and her love for her family. Jay & Hud, brothers. Thick as thieves. Kit the Lone Ranger but never really alone. 

Wow! It’s been a while for me but this book was 5 stars. I loved the audiobook. I’ll need the paper copy to add to my book shelves. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Abortion