Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MUST READ!

3/21/2023

Surfing, Romance, and Family Drama

Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MUST READ!
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The Rivas are a family with no shortage of talent. The oldest daughter Nina is a model, Jay is a competitive surfer, Hudd is a cover-worthy sports photographer, and Kit just might have more talent than all of them combined. With their connection to the famous singer, Mick Riva, and their own growing success, the siblings seem to be going great. But just because they are hosting a star-studded end-of-the-summer party, doesn’t mean they aren’t harboring their own family secrets. The siblings have come a long way since being abandoned by their superstar father who walked out on them more than once, but the party is destined to bring up years of unresolved family drama.
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Having three siblings of my own, I was pulled right into the family dynamic and enjoyed following the four siblings throughout their lives. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of those writers that tells a story with detail and precision but in a very relatable way. The writing style is sophisticated but easy to read, which is why I blew through the nearly four hundred pages in just a few days.
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Although the back cover description hinted at a little more mystery and suspense than there actually ended up being, it still kept me reading long into the night. I’m even more intrigued to know that Taylor Jenkins Reid overlaps her characters in several of her other books, which I will definitely be reading!
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What really worked? The setting. Sun-kissed Malibu on the rise, before tourists inundated the area, was probably a wonder to see firsthand, but I feel like I got to experience a bit of it myself after reading this. The constant trail of sand, the precarious heat, and the impending end of the summer made for the perfect scene, especially for building family drama. The place took on a life of its own and I loved that!
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Click here to purchase, Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid.