- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid -

Published : 27th May 2021

Format : Kindle, Audio, Hardback, Paperback

Genre : Literary Fiction

* All words highlighted in Grey are affiliate links to either purchase from a range of sellers or links to the authors sites. Where ever possible I will try and provide different versions of the book on all purchase sites.

Synopsis

A lifetime holding it together.

One party will bring it crashing down.

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.

Thank you @Hutchinson for this advanced copy

My Review

Every year in Malibu, Nina Riva throws an annual end of Summer party.

Its the party of the year and everyone wants an invite, a chance to spend the evening with the famous and talented offspring of the famous Mick Riva.

This year though Nina is not looking forward to the party. She just got dumped by her cheating husband, and worst still it was all over the media and the whole world knows about it. But, the party must go on.

Each chapter reveals family secrets as the countdown to each hour gets closer to the party. Throughout the story are flashback scenes involving the Rivas’ parents June Riva, and the famous Mick Riva. Within these flashback chapters we are shown how the pair met and ultimately married and had their five children, and also his singing career and other vices that consistently took him away from his family.

Drunk on alcohol and high on the plentitude of drugs, it isn't long before the party full of celebs, musicians and actors becomes out of control as the guests loose their inhibitions. This is a party that no one will forget anytime soon.

Why I Loved It

I loved reading about the relationships between the siblings, they are all so close and this comes across strongly. The flashbacks to June and Micks relationship was heartbreaking and emotional, they have a tragic story but the family are strong regardless.

Nina was my favourite character, after being dumped by her cheating husband she comes out of the party stronger and learning to stick up for herself.

I giggled at the antics at the party, got emotional over June and Mick, loved the closeness of the Riva children and felt strongly for Nina to see that she is stronger then she believes.

This was an emotional rollercoaster read but as this is my first Taylor Jenkins book I can say hands down it will not be my last.

Rating

★★★★★

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Meet the author

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted.

Her novels have been Indie Next Picks, chosen by Book of the Month, and featured in People, US Weekly,Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, and more. Her newest novel, Daisy Jones and the Six, is a New York Times bestseller. She lives in Los Angeles.