Malibu Rising

 Title: Malibu Rising

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

What’s it about?

The novel is split into two parts: before the party and during the party. In part one we are introduced to Mick and June Riva. Mick and June both want him to be a good guy, husband, and father.  Not really a spoiler to say he doesn’t reach the bar. When we aren’t following the older Riva’s doomed marriage we follow the lives of their children in the present day. Nina is the oldest, a surfer girl who is famous for her sexy photos. Next in line is Jay, the oldest boy. He is also a surfer, but unlike Nina, he is famous for his surfing. Hud is the third child and he is a photographer. Kit is the youngest and she is trying to figure herself out. 

The second half of the book is about the big annual party Nina always throws. To say things get wild is an understatement. Almost everyone at the party gets a few pages devoted to them and their problems. 

I found it to be a fun summer read, although I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. Reid spent the first half focused on the Riva family so when the second half started jumping between everyone in Malibu, at least it felt like it, I found myself skimming. Outside the Riva family, and maybe two of the side characters, I didn’t feel the others justified taking up page space. The second problem I had is an extension of the first, everyone gets their outfits described. I did not care rando number thirteen wore a cropped top, leather skirt, and had teased hair. Nope, not even a little bit. 

Would I recommend it?

Yeah, I would recommend it. I found it to be a fun read outside of the two problems I mentioned. I think it would be a good book to take with you on vacation, especially if you are going to be at the beach. If you like the beach, California, and the 80s there is a good chance you will enjoy this book. 

 

Book groups? Eh, I think it would depend on the group. There was enough there that you could talk about it. I feel this book is more on the fluffy side of literature so if your group is used to deep discussions where you wring every theme and metaphor out you might be disappointed.

Purchased? 

This was one of my picks from my Book of the Month subscription. I don’t plan on making it a permanent part of my book collection so I will be passing it along to someone else. 

3.5/5