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Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid
384 pages
Ballantine Books
published June 1, 2021
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Can I start this entry that as I was pulling together the data about the book, I saw this is listed as historical fiction. OMG, how can a book about a time in my lifetime already be historical fiction? I protest this. 🙂
Told from multiple points of view of the Riva family, it’s the day of Nina’s annual end of summer bash. They’re all famous in their own right and the party is a who’s who of celebrities. While told over a 24 hour period leading up to and encompassing the party, there are flashbacks to the love story of Mick and June.
I’m always a sucker for an 80s setting. And throw in a tight family bond and I’m all in. While a great read, the heart of the book is the good and bad parts of family. There are good apples and bad apples and sometimes the good apples do something bad and Vice versa, but when you get down to it, family will always be family.
I really liked the four Riva children, all for different reasons, and the bond they have. Maybe I’m drawn to the story since I’m an only child, but the bond felt authentic.
The book begins with the four children all seeming larger than life and almost too good to be true, but as you continue reading, their secrets emerge and they become more relatable. Twists leading up to the out of control party keep you wanting more.
What a great first Taylor Jenkins Reid book for me. She writes a compelling emotional story that draws you in. I can’t wait to go back and read her other books.
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