wasptobias's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
kayleighdebruin's review against another edition
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Obviously this TJR book was another briliant read. There were a lot of characters, which made it kind of confusing sometimes. It still was an amazing read though!
This TJR book is about Mick Riva's family. When Mick was young and his career had not gone off yet, Mick met the love of his life. Her name was June. They fell in love, got married, and got pregnant. This would have been a perfect love story if Mick would have been able to remain faithfull, which he could not.
Reading about Nina her story especially made me feel sad. TJR does this in most her books where she projects someone's story and describes how their lives are not perfect. Nina's story, however, is just depressing. She had to take care of her drunken mother, then find her dead, take care of her siblings, and that all while she is in high school. She was not able to graduate. She ended up rich but hated her career, and last but not least her had even set her house on fire.
The plot was good but there were definitely a lot of characters which made the story kind of hard to follow. I feel like if she just focused on Mick, June, and Nina and just lightly touched on Jay, Hud, and Kit then the story would have been a little more easy to follow. Next to that, bravo to TJR. She did it again.
Obviously this TJR book was another briliant read. There were a lot of characters, which made it kind of confusing sometimes. It still was an amazing read though!
This TJR book is about Mick Riva's family. When Mick was young and his career had not gone off yet, Mick met the love of his life. Her name was June. They fell in love, got married, and got pregnant. This would have been a perfect love story if Mick would have been able to remain faithfull, which he could not.
Reading about Nina her story especially made me feel sad. TJR does this in most her books where she projects someone's story and describes how their lives are not perfect. Nina's story, however, is just depressing. She had to take care of her drunken mother, then find her dead, take care of her siblings, and that all while she is in high school. She was not able to graduate. She ended up rich but hated her career, and last but not least her had even set her house on fire.
The plot was good but there were definitely a lot of characters which made the story kind of hard to follow. I feel like if she just focused on Mick, June, and Nina and just lightly touched on Jay, Hud, and Kit then the story would have been a little more easy to follow. Next to that, bravo to TJR. She did it again.
charlotteschapter's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
graceslibrary's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
emilyanddeb's review against another edition
5.0
Taylor Jenkins Reid can do not wrong. I absolutely loved this novel, as I do all of her other novels. The intricate storylines and family aspects of this were my favorite parts. Reid really makes the reader consistently feel like they know the characters and actually understand, all the while creating a fully thought out plot.
ayshayodels's review against another edition
5.0
Struggling to rate this because there were moments that made me visibly go ??? but they were few and far between compared to the amount of times I absolutely fell for this book over and over again.
Malibu Rising had everything I love in a story, the right amount of tragedy, right amount of chaos and the perfect amount of familial loyalty. I was expecting a family drama (which this was in a lot of ways) but the bond the Riva siblings have is worthy of 5-stars.
Taylor Jenkins Reid.... I don't know how you keep doing it. But keep doing it.
Malibu Rising had everything I love in a story, the right amount of tragedy, right amount of chaos and the perfect amount of familial loyalty. I was expecting a family drama (which this was in a lot of ways) but the bond the Riva siblings have is worthy of 5-stars.
Taylor Jenkins Reid.... I don't know how you keep doing it. But keep doing it.
zoconium's review against another edition
5.0
⭐️ 5/5 ⭐️
the entire time that i read this book i had no idea how i was going to rate it. however, finishing this book, my heart aches for the riva family. like i genuinely don’t think i will be the same now that i’ve met this family :,). i think that a lot of this can be rooted back to the fact that nina riva is the strongest character that i’ve ever read about.
“She didn't have to do any of this. The victimization, the acceptance of bullshit, the leaving your heart in the hands of an asshole, ever again. She could just decide not to.
Nina smiled. She had to sit with that one for a moment. It was almost too good to be true.”
i feel like a lot of people can agree that it’s very easy to just go with the flow of life and to not stand up for yourself, but seeing nina start to realize her value and to stand up to herself :( she had gone her entire life having to be the rock for everyone else and so the ending of this book was everything i could’ve asked for.
"Must be nice. To be able to be weak. I wouldn't know.”
now onto kit <3 kit might be my favorite riva personality wise :,) she’s so funny and just seeing her find out more about herself was really endearing! the way she is so bold and strong made me really happy, that even after everything, she was still her.
now onto hud and jay
the entire time that i read this book i had no idea how i was going to rate it. however, finishing this book, my heart aches for the riva family. like i genuinely don’t think i will be the same now that i’ve met this family :,). i think that a lot of this can be rooted back to the fact that nina riva is the strongest character that i’ve ever read about.
“She didn't have to do any of this. The victimization, the acceptance of bullshit, the leaving your heart in the hands of an asshole, ever again. She could just decide not to.
Nina smiled. She had to sit with that one for a moment. It was almost too good to be true.”
i feel like a lot of people can agree that it’s very easy to just go with the flow of life and to not stand up for yourself, but seeing nina start to realize her value and to stand up to herself :( she had gone her entire life having to be the rock for everyone else and so the ending of this book was everything i could’ve asked for.
"Must be nice. To be able to be weak. I wouldn't know.”
now onto kit <3 kit might be my favorite riva personality wise :,) she’s so funny and just seeing her find out more about herself was really endearing! the way she is so bold and strong made me really happy, that even after everything, she was still her.
now onto hud and jay
aedgeworth27's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid. She's a new go-to author for me. I loved the progression of this story and the elements of flashbacks it used. I've heard so many people complain because of the sheer amount of side characters talked about, especially at the party, but I actually loved that side of the story and felt like it added to the craziness of the night. I thought the story of this was heartbreaking and empowering and so well done.
adeleighpenguin's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5, this was a really lovely story. Great summer read--Reid's character development is always wonderful. I am kind of bemused by this author multiverse thing we seem to be seeing more often (re: Amor Towles), and I'm looking forward to reading Daisy Jones and the Six as well as Carrie Soto is Back.