Taylor Jenkins Reid has quickly become one of my favorite authors and she’s hit another homerun with Malibu Rising. Told in alternating timelines between the 1950s and 60s, and 1983, Malibu Rising tells the story of the fictional rock legend, Mick Riva’s four children.
The 50s and 60s chapters tell the story of Mick and his wife June’s doomed romance and Mick’s rise to stardom, while the 1983 portions all take place on a single day – the day of the annual infamous Riva party held by the now adult children. Despite having a famous (and absent) father, the Riva children have made somewhat of a name for themselves – Nina, the oldest, is a famous swimsuit model and married to a tennis pro; Jay is a world renown surfer; Hud’s photographs of Jay are featured on magazine covers; and Kit, the youngest, is quite the surfer in her own right. Anybody who is anybody attends the Riva party – movie stars, television stars, athletes, models, musicians, etc. – and anything can happen. What happens at this particular party will change the course of all their lives.
I loved this book. The writing is spectacular – it transports you right to the Pacific coast and you can almost smell the surf, sand, and fried seafood. I loved each Riva child, each one having a unique personality and distinctive voice. One of my favorite aspects of this book were the small connections and Easter eggs related to Reid’s other books (Mick Riva is one of the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). If you have enjoyed any of Reid’s previous titles you’re sure to enjoy this one as well!
