Book Review: Malibu Rising
Synopsis (taken from Goodreads):
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.
Malibu Rising: 4/4 stars
Genre: Contemporary family drama
Pages: 369
Published 2021
This book was everythinggg. I am so sad it’s over but also so happy I finally chose to read it. I fell in love with the characters and their unique relationships with each other (minus Mick and Brandon, of course = 🗑️) . Thank you, Malibu Rising, for getting me out of my reading slump. I’ve had this sitting on my shelf for about 5 months and finally decided to read it a few days ago – best. Decision. Ever. We have a mixture of Hollywood in the 50s and the 80s, but what really sold me on this book was the setting. Like I mentioned, I fell in love with the characters, but I fell even more in love with the Malibu setting. I’ve never been to California before but now I want to go see Malibu for myself 🤩
I am completely fascinated with the way TJR can introduce so many characters, yet I never finish one of her books feeling confused. This is my second book of hers (Evelyn Hugo was the first) and now I want to read everything else she has written!
Read if you liked:
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
• Everything I Never Told You
• Night Road
If you’ve read this, who was your favorite character?
