A review by kimmiereadsalot
Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
3.5
2.5 stars
Cw: alcohol abuse, drug use
I started this on a 3+ hour plane ride. I read over half of it. Finished it the same day at my hotel. I was annoyed when it made me cry. But right around the tears was also when it lost me. Why? Those tears were at the end of part 1. But part 2 started and was just kind of a mess. Not sure if this was purposeful, but the entirety of part 2 read more like a movie. Jumping from scene to scene. Not really knowing who was going to pop up next. Ending scenes abruptly. I’m not sure it’d have worked in a movie either, but that’s how it felt to me. Taking the viewer along for a ride. Getting different glimpses of various TJR world characters at a party to set the scene. Only I didn’t care about them. Like not even a little bit.
Idk. Part 2 just killed it for me. But truly, it was when the tears came in part 1 that I realized TJR is just not for me. I liked Hugo. I liked Daisy. This one was the most meh of hers I read. But I haven’t loved any of them. Maybe it’s because I’m a romance girl. I live for HEAs. And with these depressing adult fiction stories, I am far from guaranteed and HEA. In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite. So I just don’t see myself picking up another TJR. Like booktok’s beloved coho, this is yet another author ima no longer feel pressured to read. I’m letting her go.
Minor rant: I was exceedingly distracted every time she used OK instead of okay. Like why? “Are you OK” is so weird to me. Why wouldn’t an editor change the many uses of this. Why use the slang. Why not just write the word?!?
Cw: alcohol abuse, drug use
I started this on a 3+ hour plane ride. I read over half of it. Finished it the same day at my hotel. I was annoyed when it made me cry. But right around the tears was also when it lost me. Why? Those tears were at the end of part 1. But part 2 started and was just kind of a mess. Not sure if this was purposeful, but the entirety of part 2 read more like a movie. Jumping from scene to scene. Not really knowing who was going to pop up next. Ending scenes abruptly. I’m not sure it’d have worked in a movie either, but that’s how it felt to me. Taking the viewer along for a ride. Getting different glimpses of various TJR world characters at a party to set the scene. Only I didn’t care about them. Like not even a little bit.
Idk. Part 2 just killed it for me. But truly, it was when the tears came in part 1 that I realized TJR is just not for me. I liked Hugo. I liked Daisy. This one was the most meh of hers I read. But I haven’t loved any of them. Maybe it’s because I’m a romance girl. I live for HEAs. And with these depressing adult fiction stories, I am far from guaranteed and HEA. In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite. So I just don’t see myself picking up another TJR. Like booktok’s beloved coho, this is yet another author ima no longer feel pressured to read. I’m letting her go.
Minor rant: I was exceedingly distracted every time she used OK instead of okay. Like why? “Are you OK” is so weird to me. Why wouldn’t an editor change the many uses of this. Why use the slang. Why not just write the word?!?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use