Malibu Rising: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel Paperback – 20 Sept. 2023

I loved Daisy Jones And The Six and The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo but I'd heard mixed reviews of Malibu Rising, and it's the only one of Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels that I've read that's written in the traditional format, so I was a little nervous going into it. However, I needn't have been. I became completely immersed in the characters and their lives and it was difficult to tear myself away from their story. I loved that I recognised some of the characters from the later novels in this one.Malibu Rising takes us through, hour by hour, the build up to and the events of Nina Riva’s annual party. It is clear from the beginning that the day was eventful and I really wanted to know what had happened. I loved tension created by the time frame, as despite the slow build up, the novel is really quick to read.There are also chapters in Malibu Rising that go back in time to when June and Mick Riva started dating. Taylor Jenkins Reid takes us through their life together, including the childhoods of Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit. This gave me real insight into the characters and why they behaved in the way they did, and I really enjoyed getting to know them more deeply. It meant that as the story went on, I was rooting for them, really invested in their lives.The lives of the Riva family are turbulent, and there's a lot going on for them. This allows Taylor Jenkins Reid to explore a number of themes, including grief, addiction and infidelity. Her writing is incredibly emotive and I often felt the sadness and anger and disappointment of the characters pouring off the page.I'm looking forward to reading more of Taylor Jenkins Reid's earlier work in future - as it's definitely just as good as her more recent work!

Malibu Rising is a good book but it’s not my cup of tea. It has some great content in it. I absolutely loved the Riva siblings. I love how no matter what the Riva siblings always stuck together.

I did enjoy the first half of this book but I just feel a bit 'meh' about it in it's entirety.It wasn't really a page turner for me nor did it have me hooked and because of this it's took me a few days to read.The book deals with some nitty gritty storylines that I'm sure a lot of readers will relate to. I myself found parts of it relatable. As stated above I enjoyed the first half. I enjoyed reading all about Mick and June in the past then how it would jump forward to the present time and how everything coincided but I think the second half just kind of let it down for me. The ending just felt a bit rushed for me personally. I do appreciate that we got closure for some of the characters but for the majority I felt the closure was lacking and I'm left wanting to know a bit more. Overall I feel the book just kind of dragged even though I enjoyed parts it. Basically I didn't love this book but nor did I hate it.I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this particular book but it hasn't put me off reading more by this author. For example I really want to read 'The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo' and 'Daisy Jones And The Six.' Hopefully I enjoy those more than I enjoyed this one.

A holiday in a book!! This story lives so close to my heart and completely transports you to a summer beach destination. I love how Taylor Jenkins Reid links all the characters in her books as it gives that familiar feeling of knowing you’re about to read something magical.

There’s something of the family saga about this book all centred on Nina an eldest daughter and her siblings and the absence of Mick Riva their narcissistic celebrity father.For those of you who did not live in pre #metoo times, the 80s when this novel is set, were a time when women began to realise how big their struggle to be equally included and valued both as caregivers and in their professional lives actually was. We put up with hepeating, mansplaining and men assuming they could casually take liberties with our bodies with outward calmness while cringing and seething inside. We see this lived through Nina as she becomes a surfing sex symbol while sublimating her professional surfing goals in an attempt to keep her family of siblings together.This was a time when we knew we had to find a voice to change the status quo. Jenkins Reid tells this subtly and perfectly through Nina and her siblings.This was also a time when Malibu was transitioning from being a beach shack surfing paradise to a privatised beach town for the rich and famous and it comes alive in the story. In Covid times, it made me want to sail into the sun, dive into the sea and never come back home to a cold winter.It starts with the fire and brings us back to the fire. All politics, history and worthiness aside, it is richly told and plotted.It is not my favourite of her books but I still really liked it and can recommend it for a lazy weekend read.