A review by writingcaia
Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
I’m finding that all Reid’s latest books are true masterpieces, the perfect example of the craftsmanship of a writer. Her characters are so alive, her narrative and plot becomes a living thing, so much so that in every book I keep feeling that what she’s telling actually happened, that it is a true story, and with this one, like with Daisy and Evelyn, the same happened.
I loved this tale of the Rivas, these four Malibu born siblings with surf, sand and love in their hearts, their beautiful relationship with each other, their care and protectiveness, but also how each of them was impacted by the trauma of abandonment and how that reflects in their current lives.
The narrative takes place in only a day, 24h, in the present, where Nina, the eldest, a model who has just been cheated on and left by her husband, is preparing to host the Riva’s anual party event at her mansion in Malibu, but while we see each hour go by we are brought back to the past, to their parents relationship, to their father’s fame, to their abandonment and poverty, and to the sad fact that Nina ends up carrying so much of the family’s responsibilities on her shoulders.
I know some people felt that there were too many POV, not only did that not bother me at all, I actually felt it was quite impressive that we could glimpse so much of what was happening through those many eyes, and I was also amazed by the ability of the author to create such different characters, with such specific characteristics, backgrounds and idiosyncrasies,some of them in only one or two chapters. It made the tale come alive and, again, feel so freaking real.
I also really loved that Portugal was mentioned a couple of times 😉
It didn’t supplant my fave, Daisy Jones & The Six, but I got the same connection to the characters that I did on that one.
I loved this tale of the Rivas, these four Malibu born siblings with surf, sand and love in their hearts, their beautiful relationship with each other, their care and protectiveness, but also how each of them was impacted by the trauma of abandonment and how that reflects in their current lives.
The narrative takes place in only a day, 24h, in the present, where Nina, the eldest, a model who has just been cheated on and left by her husband, is preparing to host the Riva’s anual party event at her mansion in Malibu, but while we see each hour go by we are brought back to the past, to their parents relationship, to their father’s fame, to their abandonment and poverty, and to the sad fact that Nina ends up carrying so much of the family’s responsibilities on her shoulders.
I know some people felt that there were too many POV, not only did that not bother me at all, I actually felt it was quite impressive that we could glimpse so much of what was happening through those many eyes, and I was also amazed by the ability of the author to create such different characters, with such specific characteristics, backgrounds and idiosyncrasies,some of them in only one or two chapters. It made the tale come alive and, again, feel so freaking real.
I also really loved that Portugal was mentioned a couple of times 😉
It didn’t supplant my fave, Daisy Jones & The Six, but I got the same connection to the characters that I did on that one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Abortion, and Miscarriage