Ughhhhhh I wanted to love this. I REALLY wanted to love this. But it is so slow. I finally got interested around halfway through but I was never able to connect with the characters. I liked them all fine but I didn’t care about any of them. This book was also rife with plot holes which drives me crazy. I’m sure a lot of people will love this but it just wasn’t for me.

Yes we all loved Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book, Malibu Rising, is not like Daisy Jones. But take heart, Taylor is a fabulous author who paints a vivid picture of Malibu that puts you on the California coast during the 1980s.

This story is about the children of a famous aging rocker. There is an annual party, a huge blowout bash, held by the daughter of infamous Mick Riva. I kept thinking of Mick Jagger while reading this story.

The kids all have their issues and underlying feelings and emotions towards their father who basically abandoned his children. Everything comes to a head on the night of this party.

Here’s the scoop:

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 for him 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 rising to the surface.

As always, the writing is very good; the story flows and the escape to Malibu was a fun adventure.

Coming out on June 1.

I am a huge TJR fan. And Malibu Rising did not disappoint. The deep dive into 24 hours in the Riva family’s life too readers on quite a journey. With the flashbacks at the beginning I had a hard time getting into the June/Mick chapters, but found myself looking forward to the sibling chapters. The character development is beautiful and is what turned me into being fully hooked. Nina, the nurturing sister. Jay, the surf star. Hud the cover worthy photographer and Kit, the baby of the bunch still figuring out life. The journey up until and thru THE party. Their story is just filled with heartbreak, resilience, love and just true family life. By the end of the book I wanted to literally hug each character. Thank you NetGally and Penguin Random house for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

No one can deny that TJR has a perchant for storytelling and nowhere is this more prevalent than the beginning half of this story. Starting with the prologue in which Reid foreshadows that the book will figuratively and maybe even literally end in flames, Her characters are often deeply flawed individuals with whom the reader can usually root for and as someone who has read her entire back list I had high expectations for this book and was unfortunately let down.

Malibu rising centers around  the four Riva siblings (Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit) and their mother June. The story is told in dual time lines including the Riva family origin starting in the 1950’s and present day (1983) when the kids are all grown up. In the present the siblings are preparing for Nina’s annual house party in which most of Hollywood society will be in attendance.
In the past we get to witness the almost tear inducing tragedy that is June and Mick’ “love” story. I want to say for the record I absolutely hated Mick. He is honestly the worst type of character and it really irritated me that TJR tried to make him seem like some complex character when he honestly wasn’t.  

This story is a slow going and it didn’t quite capture my attention from the beginning because for me it was so frustrating reading about the parents history and how Mick was emotionally abusing June and even though she knew he was doing it she still wanted his love and validation after being repeatedly violated. And this is a common theme even from the children who constantly wanted the validation from a father that has proven he does not care about them. It was maddening to read. 

But where my interest in the book really started to decline was the second half of the book that was taken up by so much filler that we honestly did not need. We started getting chapters from people at the party that added nothing. Why on earth are we getting the POV of these random people at the party? For what? We kept getting thrown out of the story for characters that we did not need, that did not advance the plot in ANY way. 

I did love the relationship and the complexity of the siblings and their characters. Reid has done a great job showcasing the bonds between siblings and the sometimes complicated feelings that come from knowing someone your whole life and having their expectations placed on you even if you don’t want them. And even though I was initially annoyed with all of the characters there was some growth and character development especially from Nina. She really came into herself and stopped living for everyone else and it was nice to see. 

Overall, this book was a little disappointing but an otherwise okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Random house/Ballantine publishing for providing me with an E-arc in exchange for an honest review.


·       Review will be posted to posted Goodreads and Amazon.

·       Goodreads review will be posted 01/25/2021. Amazon review will be posted on publication date.

·       Review posted on Goodreads here... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3480973206?book_show_action=false

Taylor Jenkins Reid really knows how to bring her settings to life. She brought us 1960s glam Hollywood in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and gave us 1970s rock band vibes in Daisy Jones and the Six. Malibu Rising is no different. We dive into 1980s Malibu and follow four siblings who are throwing their annual party to end all parties. We see the siblings lives in the present (1980s), but we also learn about their parents and everything leading up to the night of the party. Taylor Jenkins Reid is able to weave the different timelines seamlessly. This will be a great summer beach read! 

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and NetGalley for providing a copy to review.

I have read a few titles by Taylor Jenkins Reid previously so I knew I would enjoy Malibu Rising where us normal people get a salacious look inside the overly rich and famous/other people in this universe/ and I was not disappointed. Reid's newest book reminded me a bit of her Daisy Jones and The Six due to the number of characters and the going back and forth between their characters, but this time Malibu Rising focuses not only on the siblings but also dips into their parents' pasts so we can get a bigger picture of the proverbial Ferris Wheel of family matters that will either make or break you.

----------Her mother had screwed up almost as much as she'd succeeded.

Malibu Rising definitely has a message even from the title, and the first pages of the book eludes to Malibu burning and you can't help but think of the phoenix rising from the ashes. When we think of people living in their multi-million dollar mansions we automatically assume that life must be so easy for them yet this book quickly takes that impression away. The family of siblings Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit have definitely not had a spectacular life even though their dad was a rock star but yet the family knew how to stick together and truly look out for each other, with most of the work being done by Nina. The plot's current timeline is focused on the famous Nina Riva Party but we keep getting pulled back in time to learn how these characters actually made it this far. 

 ---------June was gone. Yet here she was living on through her children.

It was a very intriguing story, although very depressing when you look at how parenting is portrayed here. Lots of sex, scandal, drugs and crazy things going on all culminating in a tearful ending that still leaves you wanting to see what happens after.  Taylor Jenkins Reid succeeded once again in providing an addictingly fabulous story with bonus eccentric characters that really fleshed out the entire saga. You will definitely want to add this to your summer reading list for 2021.

Oh how I love Taylor Jenkins Reid. Malibu Rising is one of the few books that actually lived up to the hype for me.  I was hooked from the very beginning and enjoyed getting to know all of the Rivas and their backstories.  However, this was not my favorite book of hers. There were way too many characters thrown into the mix and a lot of them were irrelevant. I felt that that took away from the main story line and I really enjoyed the main story. Overall though this is definitely a book that I would recommend especially if you are a fan of TJR.

Well.... here I am again in the minority with a Taylor Jenkins Reid book. 

TRJ'S latest two books.... Daisy Jones and the Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo... well I dnfed Seven Husbands and almost Dnfed Daisy Jones as well. (I know considering everyone had SUCH praise for these.)

I think it's because I'm not a big movie star fan or rock and roll/music fan. This really just doesn't appeal to me at all in books. I also could really care less about the "scene" with famous people. I typically roll my eyes when people discuss it haha. So, on that note it doesn't fascinate me to read or hear about it in real life about people's wealthy lifestyles along with that music, fame, etc.

So, unfortunately Malibu Rising fell into this same genre for me and fell extremely flat. It just had that same feel with following someone's lifestyle that's in the fame/movie awards etc.

If you enjoy that Hollywood lifestyle or look into fame like her two previous books then this should be right up your alley! :)

3/5 stars 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 6/1/21
Published to GR: 2/20/21

What complex, wonderful, enjoyable, entertaining characters created by the ever talented Taylor Jenkins Reid. To have the pleasure of indulging oneself in a world created by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a delight in its own.

I just finished this much anticipated book and I loved it! Taylor Jenkins Reid has a gift for developing characters that you know well by the end. I even feel like I could cast the movie because these are people I know. Some I like some I don’t. The story takes place in Malibu ( surprise ) and spans several decades in the Riva family. All coming together in a 24 hour experience. It has family dynamics which include sex, betrayal, surprises and love. Love of family being the most important. 
I liked Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo, but I loved this book. It will be published in June, out it on your list! Thanks to #netgalley and #ballantine  for the advanced read. @tjenkinsreid for writing it. You have a winner! #maliburising

I loved this so much, what a treat! Below is the transcript for a special bonus episode we did for our What Should I Read Next supporters (members-only, I'm afraid) 

Hey readers, it’s Anne, and I’m here with a patron-only bonus episode of in style of One Great Book. That means I get to tell you about one forthcoming release that I’ve read but hasn’t been published yet, and today I’m sharing my take on one of the most anticipated books of Summer 2021 that you will most definitely be seeing in the SRG—but I thought you’d enjoy hearing about it now. 

The book is Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins R  eid, her first release since publishing her chart-topping book Daisy Jones and the Six in 2019. The paperback edition of Daisy Jones is finally coming out on February 4, and it will include a sneak preview of Malibu Rising, which is hitting shelves on June 1. 

I went into this book cautiously optimistic. I liked Daisy Jones a lot, and the same goes for the book she wrote before that one, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Side note: I am fascinated by the trajectory of Reid’s career: the first book of hers that landed on my radar was One True Loves, which is like the Tom Hanks movie Castaway, but if Tom Hanks returned to his fiancée before the wedding. I liked it enough that I went back and read her previous work, that all had pretty much the same feel and tone. But then with Evelyn Hugo, she dipped into historical. And then Daisy Jones was HUGE. And now, three books later, readers’ expectations are in a whole different place than they were five years ago. 

Readers’ expectations are a lot HIGHER than they used to be as well, which accounts for the caution in that optimism. Plus, this book is set in the 80s, focusing on one filthy-rich family, and do I care about a filthy-rich family in the 80s?

Well, as it turns out, yes I do. 

The setting is Malibu, 1983. The story opens the day of Nina Riva’s annual party. Nina and her siblings are well-known in southern California, and their party is THE EVENT of the season: it’s always an epic bash, and the siblings themselves are notorious—everyone wants to bump elbows with the Rivas. Nina is a surfer-turned-supermodel, her brother Jay is a championship surfer, the other travels the world with him as his photographer, their baby sister, Kit, is finally old enough to consider herself a grown-up, too. 

But people aren’t just interested in the Riva kids for their own sake—everyone is interested in their father, the singer Mick Riva—to be connected to him is to be interesting. 

Speaking of connections: there’s a subtle connection between Malibu Rising and Evelyn Hugo that I didn’t notice while I was reading! Mick Riva, who looms so large in this new release, was a minor character in Reid’s last two books: he is Evelyn Hugo’s husband #3, and shows up at one of Daisy Jones’s wild parties. 


Back in the present day—the story’s present-day of Malibu 1983, that is—the Riva family’s fans don’t  know that Mick has ZERO relationship with his kids; he hasn’t talked to them a single time since he walked out the door when Kit was teeny-tiny. 

The book is about one day and night in the story of one family, and Reid takes us through the day’s (and night’s) events hour-by-hour. At 7am on party morning, when Nina is in the waves, dreading the coming party that she’s hosting. And when we find out Hud has been keeping an unconscionable secret from his brother. We move through the events of the day, when Nina visits the family’s restaurant to check in, and the brothers buy beer and booze for their guests, and Kit invites a surprise guest to attend. 

We see when the party starts at 7pm, and what happens when it gets out of control by midnight, and how it ends up burning down by 7am when the book ends. And, lest you think that’s a spoiler, we know from the book’s opening lines that somebody was going to set a fire and walk away. “Malibu catches fire,” she writes. “It is simply what Malibu does from time to time.” 

The hour-by-hour timeline that takes place on August 27, 1983 is just one of two timelines in the book’s first half. If the hour-by-hour timeline tells us what the Riva family is like now, the second timeline tells us how they got there—and Reid does that by taking us through the years into the Riva family’s past, beginning in 1956, when Mick and June met on a Malibu beach. They fell for each other hard and fast, and though June’s parents cautioned her against an aspiring singer with dubious prospects, June had utter confidence in his talent, and their future together. She proves to be right about one of those things, as Reid shows us, in chapters set in the years between 1956 and 1981.

 What those chapters reveal isn’t good for the Riva family: Nina thinks of her parent’s doomed relationship as a tragedy, Jay sees it as a comedy of errors, to Hud it’s an origin story, to Kit it’s always been a mystery. 

At 7pm when the party starts, the storylines converge, and it’s all party, all the time from that point on. 

It’s a propulsive way of telling the story, because you know something is going to go horribly wrong in the present day plot. Reid opens the book with a big teaser, so you’re always anxious to get back to it to see what’s going to happen. The backstory has more of a contemplative feel, while the party plot is fast, flashy and frothy in a way that feels right for a summer book. It’s a fun balance, and one that will feel familiar to readers of Daisy Jones.

I read the advanced review copy of this book, and something I especially love about these early editions is that they often contain a letter from the author laying out what they were striving for with their work, and what they hope readers take away from it. In Reid’s letter, she outlines her themes very clearly, so I’m going to let her speak for herself.

“It’s a story about fame and the objectification of women. It’s a story about sibling rivalries, about parenthood, and about marriage. And the ways we repeat the mistakes of our parents. And it’s all set against the backdrop of 1980s Malibu - surfers and models, actresses and screenwriters, tennis pros and TV stars, studio execs and musicians, all coming together to lose control over the course of one evening.”

Let’s talk about that Malibu setting: the details Reid contains are pitch-perfect. Talk about sense of place! Nina bemoans the tabloid photo that pictures her coming out of the supermarket smoking a Virginia slim and carrying a six-pack of tab. At a previous Riva party, Nina’s neighbor Rob Lowe sang all of “Jack and Diane” with her other neighbor Emilio Estevez in her kitchen. One character dresses for the party wearing a sky-blue tshirt, belted at the waist, with white shorts and white pumps. She’d teased her hair at the crown and rimmed her eyes in black eyeliner. (She’d stolen the outfit idea from heather locklear, who’d been wearing the same thing on the cover of Los Angeles magazine the month before.) 

So far I imagine this sounds like a fun, flashy story—and it IS that—but the reason I enjoyed it so is the emotional truth it carries. What do we owe the people we love? What do we owe the people we love who let us down? How do our families shape us; how do siblings form and shape each other? Are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of our parents—or can we find a way to embrace the good while shunning their destructive legacy?

Previously, this wasn’t one of the summer reads I was most looking forward to, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being one of my very favorites. The characters, and there are a lot in this book, are all well-developed and authentic. Each sibling was very distinct with a unique personality and voice.  It’s smart and fun, deep and thought-provoking, but with a locomotive narrative drive - and set on one of the most famous beaches in the world, complete with rockstars and surfers and set in the 80s. SOLD. And while it has all those fun characteristics, the writing and character development remain strong and engaging enough to hold readers that tend to slant literary, but enjoy the fun of a beach read. It’s also fun and beachy enough to interest a fan of what publishers pitch as more “typical” beach reads. 

I gotta give you a whole bunch of trigger warnings before we go: there is SUBSTANTIAL drug use, severe alcoholism, childhood abandonment, infidelity, death and violence and destruction, and sexual content that isn’t terribly graphic but I wouldn’t call closed-door. 

This book reminded me of sibling stories I loved, like Commonwealth and The Dutch House. It put me in mind of Old Hollywood books like The Stars of Sunset Boulevard and Evelyn Hugo. It’s got a little bit of a Big Little Lies vibe, And my mind kept going back to Rob Lowe’s Stories I Only Tell My Friends for that Malibu connection.   


Malibu Rising is out June 1 from Ballantine; the audiobook is going to be read by Julia Whelan, who so many of you love. This book is going to be HUGE this summer so put in those requests and preorders just as soon as you can….

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again.  I flew through this in a single day, but wish I had taken longer so I could spend more time in this world.  The novel is about a family and a party that they throw.  I loved all of the different characters and story lines.  The setting was great, I just wish there was more!

4.5 stars!  Loved this book.  In typical Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, this book is filled with so many wonderful characters, each with their own depth and complexity but packaged to the reader with a beautiful lightness.  She is able to convey depth without sacrificing light, which I have loved about all of her books and especially this one.  For me, this has been my favorite of her books - I loved the family aspect, I loved the seductive glamour of California through the decades aspect, and I loved the draw and nostalgia of a 1980s Hollywood-filled mansion party.  But what I really love most about her style of writing is her tribute to and understanding of so many different types of loves.  As with Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising has the enticing glamorous, exciting background which is so fun, but it is ultimately a book about the capacity for love.  Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House / Ballantine Books, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.



#netgalley #randomhouse #randomhousepublishing #ballantinebooks #taylorjenkinsreid #maliburising #arc

I am a big fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Malibu Rising did not disappoint. 

Pros: great cast of characters, love the 80s Mailbu vibes, immersive setting, and different storylines. 

Cons: slower plot and so many people/names, the siblings and main characters were easy to follow but I found it hard to keep track of who was who. 

The book is written about one full day, but has flashbacks to the past. This is well done, and help drive the story forward rather than providing useless information. 

I didn't like it as much as Seven Husbands and Daisy Jones, but it was really an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it still! 

tw: alcoholism, death

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and NetGalley for providing a copy to review

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again and wow does she hit it home! Malibu Rising is a story of a beautiful and unconventional family set in pretentious Malibu. Reid does an amazing job with describing Malibu and making the reader fully immersed in the setting. We’re following the story of the Riva family from each persons perspective. I loved getting so many peoples different point of views throughout the novel. Learning about this family you feel so many emotions and I found myself sometimes rooting for Mick and June for their children’s sake, to them hating Mick with a passion, to then feeling some semblance of sympathy for him. As a reader you can relate to every single characters in this book. Mick for his love of career, June for her kindness and naïveté, Nina for her selflessness, Jay for his drive, Hud for being sweet and soft, and Kit for her self discovery and feistiness. Overall I laughed, I cried, I felt a great sense of warmth for this family. Thank you TJR for another story that I will cherish.

This felt like a lot of rich people problems that I struggled to care much about. I have enjoyed following Taylor Jenkins Reid on Instagram and think she seems like a wonderful and caring person. I just struggled with the characters in this book and couldn't really connect with any of them. The father, Mick, was despicable and his kids were so self-absorbed it was hard to care about them. This is probably a good escapist read for someone wishing to view the lives and problems of the rich and famous. I definitely think I will be in the minority with my opinion - I think most people will love this book, it just wasn't the right book for me :)

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Surprising, Summertime Sadness Kind of a book.

Malibu Rising is a very highly anticipated book for a lot of readers. My experience with it is just splendid, beautiful, enjoyable and the one that stands out. Surprising
Malibu Rising have two parts, first part of the book introduces the main characters "The Riva's" and we get a glimpse of the Riva's family history. How June and Mick met and build a family, how their marriage became chaotic and a lot of experiences. It went so well, so good in the first part. Second part of the novel focuses on the annual Riva Party which every year Nina Riva ( the oldest) hosted.
The party got out of control. The plot got out of control as well. 

The thing that I admire about this book is the writing, the writing makes the difference. It had a lot of twist and turns that I find myself, shocked and astonished. Horrified, and most surprisingly crying. This is not the book I expected it to be. I expected more fancier, Baywatch-like kind of a book and thank goodness its not that. So much better. You see the cover, bright blue summer beach, happy... but it's much more than that. Malibu Rising will grab you unexpectedly, and won't leave you alone, not until you've finished it.
The Riva's have a lot of secrets. This book showed a lot of secrets. Its all about secrets. Like Hud's secret that might break his relationship with his brother. His brother Jay, his secret that might end his whole career in surfing, Kit's secret, her secret that's where her wholeness and happiness depends. Secrets is the magic of the book. It will make you stay on the story, intrigue.

The thing why this is not a five star read is there are so many people, that I couldn't even remember who is who but its just my opinion. The First part went well, really well actually. The second part is just fine. It went wild so wild. The resolution is alright, fast but alright, The Riva's siblings decision is right for me personally, it ends with the burning Malibu Beach House, which for me metaphorically symbolises freedom and new beginning.
This is my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book, and I'm impressed. I think this would be a fantastic choice for summer beach read. I enjoyed it. It was a good book.
and I can happily recommend it.


Congratulations Taylor Jenkins Reid for writing such a wonderful book. 

I want to thank Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Netgalley for the arc.

This book has some of that classic TJR sparkle. Ya know, where the mundane or the chaotic becomes beautiful prose? And you become obsessed with the histories of certain characters? 

At it’s heart, this book is about family. Families are dysfunctional and messy and oftentimes hiding behind white lies. But damn, does your family come to BAT for you when you need them to. We learn about four siblings and their unique backstories. We learn about a couple that loved each other but couldn’t make it work. Nothing really *happens* in this book, but that doesn’t matter 

Nina, a classic Monica (from Friends) with a chip on her shoulder. Jay, bland hot surfer dude. Hud, our man with a big heart. Kit, with her sassy ass attitude. Some of the siblings (Nina, Hud) were much more fleshed out & relatable. Honestly, some parts of Nina’s story got me right in the soul.

We also flashback to the love story (?) of their parents, Mick & June. Giving off mad Daisy Jones vibes with the addiction, chaos and passion. I almost liked their story the most! 

It’s not as good as Daisy Jones or 7 Husbands. It talks way too much about surfing and honestly we don’t need that. Still worth a read to get that TJR sparkle!

I love every single book that Taylor Jenkins  Reid has ever written, and this one is no exception! It is an amazing story right up there with Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo! Malibu Rising is a captivating story about 4 siblings who each have to make their way through a somewhat difficult childhood with an alcoholic mother and a famous, but dead-beat father. The way that Reid writes her characters really draws you in, getting you invested in their lives right from the start, and I always look forward to  devouring her creative delivery of an unforgettable story. Well done!

Thank you to Taylor Jenkins Reid, Net Galley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for sharing this with me in exchange for my honest review. 

I have loved ALL books by TJR!! I was super excited for this one, but it was just okay. I started to grow attachment to the characters (especially Nina), but it wasn’t enough for me to be completely invested. I didn’t care about all of the other characters the book kept introducing/mentioning. I would have loved to see what happened to each of the siblings in the end. So much left unsaid and felt rushed! 

I did love that it was a fast read and interesting enough for me to want to find out what happened at the end. Overall, I would recommend this to my fellow readers as well as more of TJR books to come!