Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Book Review

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again! This book has it all - drama, fame, family feuds and one epic party. 🤩

Huge shoutout to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this highly anticipated novel ahead of its June 1st release date.

If you read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you may recognize the character Mick Riva (I love a good cross-over!). He was the famous musician that became Evelyn’s third husband before a quick annulment. Malibu Rising tells the story of the Riva family - Mick, his wife June and his children Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit.

The story takes place on a single day in 1983 as the Riva kids prepare for their annual blow-out party. Now adults and estranged from their famous father, each of the Riva siblings have paved their own way to success - Nina is a world-renowned swimsuit model, Jay is a pro surfer, Hud is a talented photographer and Kit is a quick-witted twenty-year-old whose natural ability on a surfboard hints at a very bright future.

Through the use of flashbacks, TJR takes us back to the early days of Mick and June’s courtship, their marriage, Mick’s rise to fame and subsequent infidelity as well as the difficulties faced by the Riva children after their father’s abandonment.

While The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is still my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book, I thoroughly enjoyed this one (and finished it in 24 hours). I loved each of the Riva children’s unique personalities as well as the build up to the party of the century. The only thing I could have done without were some of the chapters dedicated to various party guests. I was much more interested in the Riva siblings’ stories and whereabouts rather than those in attendance at their party.

While reading this book, I couldn’t help but think about the immense pressure successful authors must face with each new publication. After creating so many successful novels, I have to imagine it’s exceptionally difficult to continue to live up to your own hype. That said, Malibu Rising definitely lives up to the TJR hype.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What’s your favorite TJR book??