xbernadette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Sexism, and Infidelity
cutepatzie's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Misogyny, Death, Abandonment, Sexism, Pregnancy, Drug use, Infertility, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, and Police brutality
Minor: Vomit, Antisemitism, and Chronic illness
hannahbailey's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Oh to be a Riva! On the surface, the four Riva siblings seem to have it all: fame, fortune and each other. But by the end of the night, everything's changed. This is what drew me in, that the whole book was set over the course of one night. The character analysis started off well and I enjoyed the switch between flashbacks and present day as we learned more and more about the Rivas.
I was expecting 80s beach-babe Malibu vibes, but I wasn't expecting this book to approach and handle some heavier topics like death, grief, divorce, betrayal, alcoholism and family issues. Although it is a TJR book, so actually that's on me for not thinking this would pack an emotional punch. I thought these topics were handled well, and the characters struggles felt realistic. I was able to empathise with them despite their sickening level of wealth (rich kids 😔🥲).
The first part was setting up for something massive—secrets revealed and people exposed. I was excited to watch it all unravel over the course of a night. However, what followed was an underwhelming and understated second half. New characters were introduced too frequently to fully care (which I admit is truthful of large parties) and so much more could've been done when a certain character arrived. I was left disappointed and sad. The ending was emotional but not in a cathartic way–although I guess life is often like that. These characters deserved better endings!
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Injury/injury detail
juvonh's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, and Vomit
katekatiekait's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit, Suicide, and Racism
marieos's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Violence, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Car accident, Gun violence, and Infidelity
Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Abortion, Blood, and Miscarriage
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i most enjoyed the plots concerning the core four siblings and, later, their plus-one. you'd think they be the majority of the plot, but there are a lot of subplots that have little-to-no bearing on the main storyline, and i understand wanting to make this gigantic party with all these interesting people feel more alive, but after a while i stopped caring and just wanted to skip to the Rivas. it was overall pretty good though
book cover discussion: the British one is so much better than that of the United States, like the pretty sunset/fire (👀) colors, the serif font. unfortunately it doesn't carry over perfectly to the square aspect ratio for the audiobook.
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Grief
Moderate: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Blood, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Body shaming, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Vomit, Car accident, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and Police brutality
baiileywiilson's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.5
Things I liked
- the flashbacks to the parents
- focusing on all the siblings
Things I didn’t like
- their new sister at the end
- perspectives of characters who were not central to the book (random people at the party) seemed like a waste of writing as it added nothing to the plot
- their dad randomly showing up at the end
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
olivia1007's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, Vomit, Drug use, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
kayabennett's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
firstly, i absolutely love how the events of the book all is wrapped up in one day (with the exception of the flashbacks). i like medium/fast paced books so this definitely was the one for me. i actually started reading malibu rising because the secret history was being too slow for me and i needed to read something else before i fell into a book slump.
for the characters, i am so in love with each and everyone of them (except mick, fuck you. you know what you did.) i am especially in love with june and the way she was talked about by her children made me tear up about every single time. yes, she had flaws and she knew that but they were because of mick’s actions and i hate him for that. nina-baby, you deserve the world and more (also, fuck you brandon). the way she was so selfless to care for her siblings after her mother’s death and even before it makes nina so lovable. nina had been put through so much (as so did all the other siblings) and i hope she’s living her best life in portugal.
i also want to mention that tjr’s books all being in the same universe is literally my favorite thing ever. seeing mentions of people from daisy homes and the six and evelyn hugo lights up my face.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Infertility, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Cursing, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, and Violence