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Malibu Rising Taylor Jenkins Reid Book Review


Reason for reading this book

My reason for reading this book is my best friend recommended it. She is the one who first introduced me to the author Taylor Jenkins Reid by loaning me her copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I then went on to read Daisy Jones & the Six which is also by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Maybe In Another Life. My best friend said she loved Malibu Rising. We usually like similar books so I took her word for it and read this book. I read and reviewed this book last summer and am just now getting around to posting it.

Content of the book

Today is the day. Its August 1983 and its the day of Nina Riva's infamous annual end-of-the-summer party. Everyone wants to be invited to the party so they can get a look at Nina Riva the talented surfer and supermodel. Not only is she important, but so are her surfer champion brothers Jay and Hud and up-and-coming younger sister Kit. Why is this the party to be at? One because you can only go if you know the address, and two they are the children of the legendary singer Mick Riva. Nina is less than enthused about this year's party. After going through a very public separation from her pro-tennis player husband she is not ready to once again be the center of attention. Tonight is also the night Hud is going to confess his long kept secret to his brother Jay. This is a night of discovery and secret spilling. By midnight the party is completely out of control. There was a steady flow of alcohol and drugs all night leading to destruction of Nina's mansion and by morning it will be up in flames. Read to see how this ever anticipated night ended in flames.

Themes

Family first. Fight for what you want. Everything isn't what it seems. 

What I liked about the book

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. Her books have been a hit or miss for me and this one was a hit. As an author Taylor always writes about famous people and the infamous lives they live. She did not  disappoint in creating a world of fame, glamor, secrets and the reality of being a public figure. This book captivated me from start to finish. Usually I only read around 30 minutes a day, but with this book I was reading much more than that because I could not put it down. I read for a total of 81 minutes in one day just so I could finish. This book is sectioned into the past and the present. The past is distinguished with years and the present is distinguished with time stamps for every hour of that day. The book effortlessly flows from past to present. The author gives you just enough background information to prepare you for what might happen in the present. The author describes secondhand characters just enough so you care about them enough to want to learn what happens to them at the end of the night/party. Taylor Jenkins Reid once again does not disappoint in depicting the reality of being famous. A majority of the story is told from June, Mick, and their four children's point of view. The telling of the story from each perspective gives a clear understanding of the family dynamic and what roles each person plays. Some readers might want an epilogue to learn more about what happens to the characters, but how Taylor Jenkins Reid concluded the book is satisfying enough for me as a reader and for my curiosity about the characters and their story's.

What I disliked about the book

What I disliked about this book is that I could not read it fast enough. Lol, but really I was reading this book while I was deployed to a disaster and only had so much time and energy to read it. Other than that I do not have any complaints about the book. 

Would I recommend this book?

I would without a doubt recommend this book. For a Taylor Jenkins Reid's book this book ranks second to The Seven Husbands of Evenly Hugo.  

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