Review: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

MALIBU RISING

Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication date: June 1, 2021
Genres: Adult Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
4.5 Stars

Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over--especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud--because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own--including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family's generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind. 

Malibu Rising is the story of the Riva family – particularly the Riva siblings – in all their beautiful, talented, flawed glory.

While we are introduced to the Riva siblings – famous surfer/model Nina, champion surfer Jay, photographer Hud, and feisty Kit – in 1983, in the hours leading up to their much-anticipated party, Reid quickly takes us back to 1956 and the first meeting of June Costas and Mick Riva. The dual timeline continues throughout the first half of book, unraveling the tangled, unhappy history of Mick and June, while showcasing the aftermath of their tumultuous relationship and its effects on their children.

Each of the siblings was dealing with potentially life-changing catalysts in their lives on the day of the party and a delicious kind of tension built as the story progressed. The legacy of their famous father loomed large over their lives, as did the love and the shortcomings of their mother. And, in some cases, it seemed history was repeating itself.

My favorite aspect of this gripping story was the unshakable bond between the Riva siblings. The sacrifices that were made, the support that was so freely given, the connection they had through shared loss – they were a testament to family and loyalty and love.

If I were to have one quibble (and it’s such a minor one), it’s that as the epic party progressed late into the night (and on into the morning) Reid started to include the points of view of various revelers who weren’t integral to the story. I imagine it was choice to display the evolution of the night into absolute chaos, but it also had me itching to get back to the story that was rapidly unfolding.

I was completely captivated from the start of this remarkable story. Taylor Jenkins Reid has long been a favorite and Malibu Rising is a perfect example why. Her incredible gift of storytelling is almost unmatched. She creates nuanced characters who feel completely authentic and I slide easily into their lives as they navigate the highs and lows. I fell in love with the Riva siblings and was completely invested in their lives. I ached for their past and yearned for a better future.

In short, Malibu Rising was one of my most anticipated books of the year – and it totally delivered.

HAVE YOU READ MALIBU RISING?