Malibu Rising: From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Carrie Soto is Back

I recently went away for a week’s holiday and had deliberately left the time free to read purely for pleasure and took with me half a dozen books from my TBR. One of the books which made its way into the suitcase was Malibu Rising. Don’t ask me why I chose this one rather than any of her others, I think it was purely because the setting made it sound like it would be a good beach read. And was it… in spades. (Terrible pun, I know. Sorry, not sorry.)This is a dual timeline story telling the story of the four Riva children living in Malibu in 1983 as young adults and, going back in time, the story of their parents failing in love in California in the late 50’s and growing their family. The Rivas’ father was a legendary singer and so the story is touched with the glamour of Hollywood in those days.I absolutely fell in love with the Riva children and the dynamic between them. For reasons I won’t go in to because I don’t want to include any spoilers in the review, the story is not all happiness and beaches and Hollywood glitz – although there is enough of that to make the part of me which picked up the book for those reasons very happy – but is a beautiful exploration of the ups and downs of relationships, especially those of celebrities, and what effect that has on the offspring of such marriages and how it bonds those children together. Despite the fact I have no experience of the Hollywood lifestyle, or indeed the Malibu life (much as I wish I did), I related very hard with the four Riva children, particularly Nina. I myself am the eldest of four children and could sympathise with her feeling that she has to take on the parental burden of the younger ones when the parents step out of that role (although my parents were nothing like the Rivas, I hasten to add.)Aside from being great at formulating a ripping good story, Taylor Jenkins Reid is a genius at character development, creating a sense of place and her writing is just beautiful. This book elicited huge emotion in me, even more so than Maybe in Another Life, and it was one of those books that kept me thinking about it long after I had finished it. Still now, more than two weeks later, I am still feeling emotional about this book and I know it is one I will return to again in the future. I absolutely adored the ending in particular, it was just so perfect and I was cheering for Nina and her amazing siblings until the last page.Is it too early to say that Taylor Jenkins Reid is becoming one of my favourite authors after only two books? I don’t care, it’s how I feel at the moment and I can’t wait to read her entire back catalogue. As I said, I already have three waiting to go and I’ll not leave such a big gap before I get to those. Watch this space.

I really enjoyed reading his novel. I liked the way the story took you back and forth between the 1950s and 80s, telling the story of Mick Riva, the legendary pop star, his wife June, and their four children.Nina, a sought-after model and the eldest of the Riva children, is the selfless mother figure to her surfer siblings, the reason of which is slowly revealed as the story spans the different eras. We follow her as she prepares for her annual party, attended by everyone who's anyone.The glamorous setting of Malibu immediately draws you into the story, as does the more innocent era of the 1980s (or was it just more ignorant and cruel?). Anyone of a certain age will recognize the casual sexism and the not-so unintentional discrimination of anyone outside the norm.My only slight criticism of Malibu Rising is the number of characters attending the party, brought in late in the book. It became highly confusing to know who was who. I wonder if this was intentional, to reflect the chaos of the celebrity bash? If so, I can see why this is necessary, but I think the number could have been cut – or their stories could have been told earlier in the novel.However, the emotional journeys the grown-up Riva children, especially the selfless Nina, take in the book is beautifully told. Highly enjoyable read and much recommended!

I had no idea what to expect, but I was not left disappointed! Why am I now left with the urge to become a beach bum and pro surfer?The genre is considered historical fiction, as it is set in 1960’s-80’s California, Malibu. The timeline jumps back and forth between two different time periods following two generations of the Riva family.Jenkins Reid expertly highlights real life domestic issues in this novel, and I was captivated throughout the entire read. The writing flows seamlessly - I forgot I was reading a book!I want to point out that I particularly enjoyed reading about Mick and June Riva’s story, highlighting infidelity and alcoholism. The bond between the four Riva siblings (the children of Mick and June) whilst they were growing up is a beautiful thing to read.Nina Riva is my favourite character. She is completely selfless, resilient, absolutely full of love, and will do anything for her family. I don’t want to give spoilers, but her self development journey in this novel really resonates with me, and I feel it could be really powerful for anyone who doesn’t live wholly for themselves; the people who give too much of themselves to others… a ‘human doormat’. Nina makes me feel genuinely empowered as an individual, and she reminds me that I am in control of my life, and I can decide who I will allow into my life, and how they treat me.No family is perfect, and this is what this novel is all about. It highlights that we can push against our ‘generational curses’, and be the creator of our own lives.This is a comfortable read that pulls at your heartstrings - it’s absolutely perfect if you’re in a reading slump!

Certeza que a Jenkins assistiu Casos de Família no SBT para escrever esse aqui. Fofoca boa, a leitura é muito tranquila e prende a atenção. Gostei! Agora a capa tem essa proteção de papel que é horrível, porem a capa dura é muito feia, não combina nada com a história. Pq fizeram isso? Espero que os outros livros tenham o mesmo desempenho, agora quero ler Carrie Soto (descarada) is back.

I definitely loved this novel!!! TJR has a way of creating characters who are real with raw, honest intensity. I loved seeing the characters grow throughout the novel, ending in a way that I thought was empowering and satisfying. To me, it’s really Nina’s story, and I could feel her strength, as well as her compassion. But June (who is a foil to Nina) and the other siblings, Jay, Hud and Kit, and even Mick Riva, are deeply-drawn characters who evoke heartfelt empathy from the reader. We learn that despite the selfish, unkind and sometimes debauched world they live in, the four siblings are shown to be resilient, good, decent people, and the reader sincerely knows it to be true.TJR’s narrator effectively moves among the thoughts and perspectives of each character to create an immersive reality. And let’s not forget the setting. TJR creates a world so rich that one can almost feel the sand beneath one’s feet and smell the brine in the air. I could also sense the ‘cool’ vibe of Malibu in the early 80’s. (I could at least sense it to the point of knowing that I am not cool enough!) The setting and the characters are thoroughly linked, making their interactions with it, especially through connecting with the ocean while surfing, all the more powerful. We are also aware of the looming presence of wildfire.The plot is well-structured and unique. It fully develops the characters through its oscillation of the past and present. It also builds tension and depth as the story unfolds simultaneously over decades and over the course of one day. And all of the signature elements of a good plot are there and masterfully executed. The pacing is precise and keeps the reader engaged. The character arcs are solid.The novel had powerful themes of family and identity, as well as empowerment and ownership of one's whole self. I feel it really gets at in what ways one accepts one's circumstances, what we will ourselves to be, and how we can choose to define ourselves boldly and unapologetically. These themes were effectively woven throughout the plot.And can we talk about Carrie Soto? What a powerful presence, for better or for worse! I highly recommend reading 'Carrie Soto is Back' is back to gain a deeper appreciation of this complex character. And Brandon. Weak just like Mick. What is TJR saying about the ways that men are weak and fail and the ways that women are strong and succeed? It is worth considering how or if this question applies to the novel's characters.Overall, I couldn’t put this book down! I was drawn in and rode the waves all the way through!

This book was such a good easy read. Kept me interested the whole time, I couldn't put the book down! I will be checking out more by this author

I usually read personal growth and nonfiction but it was really nice to read an entertaining, fun + easy read.

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