Malibu Rising: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

4.75 stars!!! I LOVED this one! so fast paced and fun. kind of ended quickly but still fabulous. TJR did it again!!

Malibu Rising is a breathtaking exploration of family, love, and the complexities of fame set against the stunning backdrop of 1980s California. Following the lives of the Riva siblings as they host their legendary annual party, the story beautifully intertwines their past and present, revealing secrets and the bonds that hold them together. I absolutely loved the throwback to the '80s, with its vibrant Malibu setting and California surf vibes—it felt like a nostalgic escape! Taylor Jenkins Reid has once again crafted a captivating narrative that resonates deeply. I will always and forever read and love everything that TJR writes! This book is a shining gem in her collection.

I listened to this book on Audible during a 20-hour drive....I must say- I really liked it. I was kept engaged and I felt the author really wrote clearly and concisely. I would recommend this.

This is my third book by this author and I could not love her more. Just from her writing tone I’ve decided we could easily be best friends in real life. All of her books have been different but unique but remarkable and beautifully written with stories that stick with you, and this one was no different. I now want her to go back to the other six of Evelyn Hugo’s husbands and write origin stories for them too.

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