Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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 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.

Published by Ballantine
on May 27, 2021

Review:

It’s been a minute since I read a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. I loved “Evelyn Hugo” and “Daisy Jones” and was excited to jump into this one to satisfy one of my PopSugar 2024 reading prompts. While I liked the book and the characters, it hit differently than the other two books of hers did. Set against the backdrop of a lavish annual party in 1983 Malibu, the novel delves deep into the lives of the Riva family and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

At the heart of the narrative is Nina Riva, a resilient and fiercely independent woman who has shouldered the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings following the tragic loss of their mother. Despite the lack of support from their famous, philandering father, Nina and her siblings have managed to stick together and run the family restaurant. A stroke of luck led Nina to a modeling gig, and she soon became a successful swimsuit model, which helped them stay afloat. A few years later, Nina’s career is flourishing, Jay is a professional surfer, and Kit and Hud are living the good life. Despite hiding a few secrets, the unbreakable bond among the four siblings remains intact.

When the novel opens, Nina is dealing with the fact that her tennis star husband has left her for another tennis star, but she won’t let that stop her from throwing the annual Riva family end-of-summer party, which has become legendary over the years. But over the course of 24 hours, the bond between the siblings will be tested in ways that they never could have seen coming, and they will end the night forever changed.

Alternating between the past and present, we get a look at the hours before and after the party, and we also get a look into the tumultuous relationship between Nina’s mother, June, and her father, Mick. Reid masterfully weaves together past and present to paint a vivid portrait of a family grappling with love, betrayal, and the legacy of their famous and flawed patriarch. Mick’s repeated abandonment of his family and selfish pursuit of his dreams have lasting repercussions that reverberate through the generations, culminating in a night none of them will ever forget.

One of the aspects I admire most about Reid’s writing is her knack for crafting intricate, multi-faceted characters that resonate with readers. The novel also delves into the nature of fame and its potential to both elevate and destroy those who pursue it. The glitz and glamour of the Malibu party scene stand in stark contrast to the Riva family’s inner turmoil and modest upbringing, underscoring the superficial facade that often conceals deeper pain and insecurity.

Reid effortlessly draws readers into a world of sun-soaked beaches, glittering parties, and heartbreaking betrayals, leaving them with a powerful message about the enduring power of love and forgiveness. The writing and the characters are great, but while I enjoyed the book, it didn’t quite leave the same lasting impression as Reid’s previous works. The pacing was a bit slow, and the emotional depth didn’t quite reach the same level as ‘Daisy Jones & the Six ‘ and ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.’ I liked it and particularly enjoyed the characters of Nina and Kit, but I wasn’t left feeling exceptionally moved by anything that took place.