Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid follows the story of the Riva siblings over the course of one full day/night, in the build up and during their yearly party.
I enjoyed this a great deal, and I appreciated the Easter eggs from Evelyn Hugo (and Daisy Jones I believe)- the most notable of course being that the siblings are the children of Evelyn’s third husband Gullible Mick Riva. I love TJR’s writing style as it is very readable and so descriptive; it feels like you’re there in the action and that these people exist.
I really enjoyed the duel timeline of present day and the siblings growing up with Mick and June Riva. I preferred reading about their childhood and reading their backstories as it helped to understand why they behaved as they did, especially Nina. I found Kit to be the most interesting of the siblings and I loved June too.
The build up to the party was great; but once the party began, I felt like the book slightly lost its way and became a bit disjointed. The cast of characters was huge and including the party guests there were perhaps too many to properly keep track of. I suspect that this could be to use some characters in future books and highlight the chaos. I also thought that the ending was quite abrupt and I was surprised that the fires which are so common in that area were not touched upon more.
I did love this one, and I hope the Riva siblings will pop up again, but it isn’t my favourite from TJR.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for my advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

Great to get to read the most recent Jenkins Reid. Flawless character development, and her characteristic 'real feel' for setting and story. Think this will be a hit!

Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest novel, a dysfunctional family drama, is certainly a riveting read.

Malibu Rising follows four siblings, the children of music superstar Mick Riva. But despite Mick’s fame and fortune life hasn’t been easy for any of the Riva kids, Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit. Abandoned by their father and living with their mother June, an alcoholic, they work hard to make ends meet, until August 1983 when everything changes.

The dual timeline moves between the flashback sections from the 1960s to the 1980s present, detailing the Riva family history and the drug and alcohol-fuelled end of summer party held in August 1983. My first book by this author was a huge success and I really enjoyed reading about the colourful characters. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Random House via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Another smash hit from Taylor Jenkins Reid, we follow the Riva siblings on the day of their annual Summer party. This is the perfect summer read, set in the coastal town of Malibu we follow the children of a world famous singer and through a series of flashbacks we chart the families rise and fall through the parents early relationship days to the eventual fallout from their marriage. Each sibling has something to hide and during the course of the day the four siblings will have to face their families history.

Since finishing this book a couple of weeks ago, I’ve spent quite a while mulling over what I thought of it, hence this rather delayed review. A slow-burn family saga, which is for the most part set against the glamour of the 1980s music and surf scenes, I raced through this novel in a couple of days.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master of evoking time and place, fame and fortune, glitz and glamour, and perhaps this is what made me feel that Malibu Rising would be perfectly suited to a big or small screen adaptation. I found the story of the Riva siblings and their mother to be compelling, yet I didn’t feel hugely connected to any of the characters, in part I suppose because their world view and life experiences felt so very far away from my own and partly because I didn’t find any of them to be all that likeable.

TJR’s writing is incredibly rich and a total joy to read. The way she builds up a sense of foreboding in the lead up to the big party with each of the plot strands finally coming together towards the fiery denouement is very clever. Though the ending wasn’t quite as explosive as I would have liked, on retrospect it was fitting nonetheless and totally in keeping with the feeling of the rest of the book.

With thanks to the publishers for gifting me a digital copy to review. Malibu Rising is out now.

This is just the perfect summer book, I could almost feel the sun on my face while I was reading it (although not really because it seems to be raining every day at the moment)! I absolutely loved Daisy Jones and The Six by this author so I couldn't wait to read Malibu Rising. I was not disappointed! Taylor Jenkins Reid is just the master of characterisation and her characters always seem to pop in to life as I'm reading them. I can imagine them so well. This has to be another five star read for me and one that I will be recommending to all my friends to read on their summer staycations this year! Next up is Evelyn Hugo and from what I've heard I'm in for another treat...

This was a good read for the summer. But somehow I felt little let down, because I just expected more from this book. 3.5 stars

Malibu Rising 🏄🏽‍♀️🌊💓

TJR has done it again! Her writing is so readable and the glamour and gossip that she creates is just fab.

In this book we meet the Riva siblings who are about to throw the annual Riva party. We also get to learn about their parents early relationship and the emotional background to their family life.

The settings of TJR’s books are so well created that you will definitely want to be there. This is a true holiday read and it gives off some serious summer vibes.

I loved a few of the characters (Kit, Hud and Nina) and of course there were characters I didn’t warm to so much but I loved the role of each main character in constructing the overall links between this family.

There’s not an awful lot of plot in this book though to be honest. There is a lot of build up for a crazy party and then lots of short chapters where we are introduced to brand new characters at the party. I think the intended effect of this was to show the chaos, but it did make these parts feel a bit disjointed and unnecessary.

I loved the sibling relationships though and that kind of unconditional love was demonstrated really well.

Overall probably a 4⭐️ (maybe 4.5…) read for me. I loved it, but it didn’t come anywhere close to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for me.

I read last 3 books of Reid, and I love her writing style that immerses you into the story. Her stories are both in present and past moving forward to come to present day to reveal the full picture.
I did enjoy this book a lot more than Daisy Jones and the Six, but my favorite still is Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Each one of these books had a fame element to it. One or several characters would be famous. Drugs, alcohol, lifestyle, pain and loss that comes as a result of people becoming famous and getting out of control. So, at this point, I think it's a bit repetitive, and I'd like to see some other topic from the author.
The house burning at the end is an execution very prominent in Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. And again, I wish Reid was more original in her own devices. Some parts didn't have the depth I'd expect them to have.
But, overall, I enjoyed it, I can't say I loved it.

A perfect bit of escapism to take you away from the crazy.

TJR has once again built a vivid, beautiful world that you can't help but want to dive right into. Her characters are easy to believe, their stories are heartbreaking yet real and for the time it takes you to read this book, you'll be completely absorbed in the Riva family'stories.

Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo are still my favourites & if you're a fan of TJR, you'll enjoy the Easter eggs she's hidden inside this one.

This was a great read. i loved the characters and the Malibu setting - surfing, music, wealth and poverty. Nina is the eldest of 4 children of their rock star father and their ordinary mother. I loved being involved in the 4 siblings lives - they were interestingly written, sparky dialogue and a satisfying plot. Great book. I am going to read her first novel now - Daisy Jones and the Six

This book is the perfect escapist beach read. A compelling story about the price of fame and family loyalties and divisions, set against the backdrop of Malibu past.

YOU magazine, South Africa, 8 July issue

Malibu Rising
&&&&
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Hutchinson

If the winter blues are getting you down then this book could be the perfect antidote. Set over the course of one day in 1980s Malibu, it revolves around the famous Riva siblings – supermodel Nina, champion surfer Jay, renowned photographer Hud and their baby sister Kit – as they plan their annual end-of-summer party.
The bash is legendary and everyone wants to be invited and this year will be an occasion that people will never forget because by midnight everything will have spiralled out of control and come morning Nina's mansion - the venue of the party - would have burnt to the ground.
But before that happens, readers get to know each of the siblings and find out about their turbulent upbringing and the reason for their estrangement from their father, who is a famous singer. Some of them are hiding big secrets which have the potential to tear the family apart - and by dawn they will all come spilling out.
I really loved Taylor Jenkins Reid's previous novel, Daisy Jones & the Six, and while this latest offering isn't quite as good, it's still a totally absorbing read. Pure escapism. - JANE VORSTER

This is an absolutely stunning read. I felt like I was there in Malibu, soaking up the sun and part of the Riva family, anticipating this annual party where everything was going to change. Although their situation isn’t a normal one, everyone can relate to someone in the family, and you are rooting for them from the very beginning. This is another magnificent book from Taylor Jenkins Reid, who manages to make all of these characters seem so real, you feel like this could almost be a big budget documentary rather than a work of fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley and Cornerstone for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Daisy Jones and the Six & Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Malibu rising. I loooove TJR's writing style it’s so beautiful & full of glitz & glamour. But this one was showing the life styles of the rich and famous but also showing the hard times that families had to go through, which is so refreshing & inspiring as everyone starts somewhere right?! I love Nina & her whole family, their bond is just beautiful & I think TJR captured that beautifully. I didn’t love this as much as I loved ShoEH but still beautiful & I can’t wait to read more!

After reading The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo, and falling so absolutely and completely in love with that book, I was super excited to read this one. I had very high hopes and perhaps that was part of the problem. This one fell short for me and I didn't love it.

Here is what I really liked:
* I loved the chapters set in the past i.e. in the 1950's, when we learn about the initial romance and relationship between Mick Riva and June. That was so interesting and I was totally engaged during that part of the story. I found myself eager to get back to those chapters whenever the book moved to the 1980's.
*The underlying theme of surfing and spending time on the waves was fun and fitted in perfectly with the Malibu setting.
*The family nature of the story was somewhat heartwarming and nice to read about.
*The book was extremely easy to read, and one didn't need a lot of concentration to get through it.

Here's what I didn't like:
*The story just seemed a little bit too basic and I felt that it lacked real genuine depth, especially in the chapters set in the 1980's and dealing with the lives of the siblings. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but some level of depth seemed to be missing.
*I didn't love any of the siblings. I found Nina to be too straight-laced and a tad unrealistic, I didn't bond with Kit at all and she seemed like the spoilt baby of the family, and the two boys seemed fairly superficial and lacking depth. There was nothing really interesting about them. One was a pro surfer and the other a photographer who only photographed his brother surfing. Wasn't there more to them than that?
*In the second half of the book when the infamous party takes place, I couldn't believe what I was reading. The party was so extremely over the top and the events that went on were just ridiculous and totally unbelievable, especially in light of the fact that Nina was such a rule-follower and straight laced individual. Is it believable that she would allow people to swing from the massive chandeliers and rip them from the ceiling, causing them to crash to the ground shattering everywhere? And would she be okay with people throwing her crockery around like frisbee's, smashing everything against the walls? I most seriously doubt it. It was all a bit too much for me.
*I didn't like, nor did I really understand, why we were told so many arbitrary facts about the love lives or potential love lives of totally arbitrary characters. It just seemed unnecessary and although at times some of the info was entertaining, in retrospect, I think it weakened the story.
*I wasn't a big fan of the ending and of the family getting together on the beach for the big emotional chat, which just seemed forced and just off. Also, the person who arrives at the party and then joins the family on the beach as part of the family, just seemed wrong and unnecessary. Why bring in another person like that? What did it add to the story? And in real life would the four siblings just accept this person as part of the family, just like that? No, it didn't work for me.

Reading though my review now I'm almost tempted to give this book 2 stars, but that just doesn't seem completely right. I was, to some extent, entertained while reading this book. But, I didn't love it and I have some major issues with it. I'm in the minority here, but unfortunately I'm very lukewarm about this one. Let's hope for better things in the future, because man alive, Evelyn Hugo was such a knock out of a read. I hope this author has another one like that up her sleeve.

For years the Riva siblings have hosted a big summer blow out party in Malibu, which has only gotten bigger the more their fame has risen. Nina (surfer and supermodel), Jay (championship surfer), Hud (renowned photographer who's helped boost Jay's career) and Kit (the youngest, still trying to find her place in the world) are the estranged children of Mick Riva, legendary musician. This year's Riva party is going to be the biggest one yet, everyone is vying to go but with secrets simmering under the surface for each sibling, this party may blow up in more than one way

The story has two timelines: we have the current timeline of 1983 which is set over 24 hours and is broken down into chapters of one hour, as well as the past of how Mick met their mother June in the 50s and what happened to their love over the decades that made Mick estranged from the family. I love books that span a day, it's a fun concept and Jenkins Reid does a good job of balancing the past to give us context of what's happening in the future. I really felt for Nina, trying to hold everything together for her family and putting the happiness of others first over her own. The conflict between Jay and Hud adds some tension to the story and while I feel like we didn't really get to know Kit too much, I could totally see a follow up novel with her at the centre. The storyline with their mother June is sad and poignant at times and I loved how we travelled through the different decades, I could imagine the different looks and fashions even though there's not a lot of description of these, I think Jenkins Reid does a good job at creating books that you can see vividly in your mind, ones that would be good as film adaptations and this is no different. The setting in Malibu, with the descriptions of the beaches, cliff side houses and surfing was amazing, making this a great summery read. While I did enjoy the book, there were elements I didn't enjoy. Primarily at the party a lot of characters are introduced and have their own little story arc (involving sex, drugs or vandalism as the party got wilder). It got a bit difficult keeping track of these minor characters, I get that Jenkins Reid was showing that even when bigger dramas are happening at a party, everyone is having their own mini drama and she was showing how some of the characters were connected to each other. As well as adding to the debauchery at the party. However it really distracted from the main characters and what was happening to them. We didn't need to know some of the background tales for these characters, even if it was only a few lines. We just needed to know chaos was happening. I think if you're a fan of Jenkin Reid's books you will enjoy this but it doesn't top The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones and the Six

Taylor Jenkins Reid has cemented herself as an author to watch for with Malibu Rising following up Daisy Jones & The Six. The writing is outstanding as we follow the Riva family over the course of 24 hours leading up to and during Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party in 1983. The four siblings have plenty of secrets in the present day looming beneath the surface. There are flashbacks interspersed throughout illustrating the history of the family. The story is captivating throughout telling a gripping story with fascinating family dynamics. Highly recommended!

Oh my word this book was flipping fantastic, I have read and loved Taylor Jenkins previous book Daisy Jones and the six, so I will admit to feeling a bit nervous starting this one. What if I didn’t enjoy it. Well there was no need for me to worry as I absolutely loved everything about this book and I’m recommending it to everyone.

Expectations were very high after how much I loved Daisy and it did not disappoint. I love novels that happen in a 24 hour frame and centred around a family, so this was a really good mix for me.