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Title: Malibu Rising
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Random House
Publish date: June 1st, 2021
Genres: Historical fiction, psychological fiction
Synopsis:
Malibu is buzzing with anticipation for Nina Riva’s annual party. Everyone wants to be in the company of the famous Rivas: Nina, the surfer and model; her brothers, Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other his renowned photographer; and Kit, the adored baby of the family. As if that picture-perfect family isn’t enough, their father is Mick Riva, the legendary singer.
By morning, the Riva mansion will have burned to the ground. And no one will know how the fire started. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play and the loves and secret yearnings that shaped this family across generations will all come bubbling to the surface to make for a night no one will ever forget.
This is a story about family: about what you choose to keep from the people who made you, and what you must leave behind.
My Rating: 4 Stars
If you haven’t already read my review of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you mightn’t know that I was itching to read another novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
However, Seven Husbands sits a whole star higher on my recommendation scale.
Malibu Rising has the same great prose, the same intricate character arcs, and drew me in with a similar ”who dunnit” style story, but what is lacked for me was pacing.
The novel jumps around chapter-for-chapter in two different timelines. One with the Riva children in their present day, and one with their parents and how they became the people they are, in the situations they’re in.
This style is great when paced effectively, but I found it took me longer to get into the story than it normally should
By contrast, Seven Husbands does alternating chapters as well, but in the style of an interview and a flashback, which I found fit the story better. I can see a way Malibu Rising could’ve benefited from a similar treatment.
However, it was still a great read, and one that I definitely do recommend.
Pick up your copy and let me know what you think!
The Pros:
- Taylor Jenkins Reid does have a gift for prose— no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The writing is beautiful.
- For someone who’s never seen Malibu, the novel really gives you all the vibes necessary to feel like you’re there. Especially the description of needing to take the Pacific Coastal Highway everywhere you go— anyone living near main highways can get a feel for that.
- The characters were relatable for the most part. I think we all have a little bit of each of the Riva children’s issues inside us. Whether we’re people pleasers, yes-people, unsure of who or what we are, plagued with a guilty conscience, or having to figure out a new path in life— there’s something for each of is in this family.
The Cons:
- The pacing, for sure. The back and forth in the timeline would be so much easier to follow if there were fewer characters. However, each character plays an important role. In this case, I think maybe story was sacrificed for structure. It should’ve been the other way around.
- Without being spoilery, there are a main character or two that drove me bonkers. Particularly toward the end— which, in true Reid fashion, was a surprising twist— I felt some characters didn’t develop sufficiently to deserve what they ended with.
- Because there’s a little bit in this story for everyone, it suffers from not giving enough of that one trait to its readers. With so many primary characters, it’s easy to see how a couple could’ve been made secondary and had a second instalment written just got them. They might’ve all gotten something more out of that.
Overall:
The novel is well-written, conveys many great messages, and was a joy to read (after some time digging into it). There’s no reason why I wouldn’t recommend you give it a read.
Reid has penned many a novel over the years, and I’d definitely give another one a try despite being less than obsessed with Malibu Rising. My short list includes Daisy Jones and the Six, and Maybe In Another Life, so keep an eye out for those reviews in the future!
Let me know what you thought of Malibu Rising in the comments below, or on social media!
Check out more of my book reviews for more recommendations!