Malibu Rising: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

Book club for June, discussion questions in paperback edition of book and online. Hosting ideas include sea breezes for drinks (or just vodka, ha), cheese and crackers, seafood dip, shrimp cocktail, and if possible, fried seafood. I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones... this one was just not as good or compelling a read for me. The book focuses on the 12 hours leading up to and the actual night of the wildest party in Malibu, where everyone who is anyone has to be! The story alternates with Nina and her 3 siblings, and their absent Dad and his relationship with his children and their mom. In flashbacks the story tracks famous womanizer singer Mick Riva and his first marriage to June, through his rise to fame and endless affairs and displays of selfishness as ignores his family for his career. The kids are all damaged, and Nina is facing a crisis herself, with her marriage ending abruptly when her famous tennis player husband decides he wants to leave her for his new love, Carrie Soto. We also have drama between Nina's two brothers, and an obvious upcoming discovery for the youngest sibling Kit. It flashed from Mick Riva's kids views, to his and his first wife June's life for about the first 2/3s of the book. It kept hinting about the life changing party, and the fire, but then the actual ending felt like such a let down. We did get to see Nina grow a back bone, while June never did. To be fair, June was a product of the 1950s, though, so I guess that makes sense. As the party progresses (at the 2/3 mark) all of a sudden we start meeting all these random characters and their thoughts / motives - Nina's best friend! waitress who wants a threesome in front of everyone! all these people looking for love! - and it all got muddled and diluted for me. By the time we have the fire at the end of the night, its a meaningless fire. I am not sure why it was even included except to show the continued selfishness of one of the characters. Anyway, i have no interest in Carrie Soto is back, as both her and her husband did not interest me at all. Since i enjoyed other books by the author, she is still someone i would read again, but with a little more caution when picking the book

this is definitely my fav by TJR after not entirely enjoying DJ and Evelyn Hugo - i thought the characters had more realistic arcs and the generational story telling was good just wish the end was more satisfying

Spoiler alert if you have not read this book yet turn back now! What your about to read will spoil the ending. That ending! The fire didn’t happen til the last five pages of the book but who knew that a lit cigarette could cause so much damage. I would like to read a sequel that is a follow up if they find out who started the fire or if it’s just deemed an accident with Santa Ana winds. Maybe Hud and Ashley have a wedding.Does Kit find love? What becomes of Jay’s cardiomyopathy? I crave this.

Read long ago, no review.

I think a more accurate rating would be 3.5. Loved the themes. The family bonds. Loved the 24hr time like with the flash backs to bring structure and clarity. But I’ve gotta say the last 1/4 lost me. It got too busy and lost some of the magic