Book Review: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 



**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: June 1, 2021  
Description:
"Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

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."

The main focus of the story is around the four Riva siblings, however, the way Taylor Jenkins Reid is able to shift from different timelines and perspectives in a seamless manner is an interesting feat alone. This book was told through many perspectives, starting from the parents before they even met all the way to where the synopsis reveals that the Riva mansion is in flames in the present. Although the present timeline occurs in such a small timeframe, the way the past perspectives were interwoven into the story gives amazing development for the characters, making you sympathize with some and not so much for others. 

Overall, this was a great read, and Reid definitely didn't disappoint with this one. 

Overall rating:  4/5

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