Malibu Rising Review

Review

An e-arc of the book has been provided by the publisher, Penguin Random House International in exchange for an honest review.

“I’m just saying… I didn’t come from any money at all. But I don’t think what you’re born into says anything about where you’re headed.”

‘Malibu Rising’ is the story of a family; each having to choose which decision is right.

May I just say that the prologue of this novel is highly intriguing. As a contemporary novel, it is honest, raw, and beautifully electric. It tackles so much real human struggle without sugar coating any of it. I loved this book!

The entirety of the story happens in less than 24-hours. It’s the annual party of the family and as any other parties, an unexpected turn of events are about to happen. It just so happens that this family isn’t just your typical one.

Placing the story in such a constricted time would seem impossible a task, especially in trying to tie things up. However, Taylor Jenkins Reid did a fantastic job in not only fleshing out her characters background stories but also their personalities in that span of time. She gave life to her story as if it is the story of someone real. It makes you wonder, “Will I ever bump into Nina (or any of them) if I ever visit Malibu?”

In trying to lengthen the story, Reid optimized tiny stories of side-characters. It didn’t feel clunky at all despite how short they are. The flow sometime seems out of place. However, it provides good insight on who or why our main characters acquainted themselves with these people. Moreover, I love what she did with the transitions for their parent’s story. It did not only gave depth to the story, but it gave us an idea of what kind of people the parent’s are. The way she wrote was also easy to digest. Her prose are simple and yet the elegance never left.

“When there is only you, you do not get to choose which jobs you want, you do not get to decide you are incapable of anything. There is no room for distaste or weakness. You must do it all. All the ugliness, the sadness, the things most people can’t stand to even think about, all must live inside of you. You must be capable of everything.”

Nina Riva was such a selfless and kind-hearted character that I cannot seem to not cry for her. For all the hardship she experienced. For all the pain she’s gone through. That is not to say that I am invalidating the rest of her family. They did have to go through a dreadful life as well, but Nina especially, suffered from it real bad. It pains me to even imagine how difficult it had been for them to continue being the sweetest living beings despite all of what they faced.

Reid created characters that felt authentic. They did not feel 3D. They did not feel fake. They were real—living, breathing humans. I sympathize with them and despite their collective exterior kindness, there is a layer of personality that is waiting to pop up.

For something that felt like a vacation to Malibu, this novel was quite a dark read. It was sad. It left me feeling empty yet hopeful that there are still people out there with a genuinely kind heart. Consequently, it ignited a hatred in me that I never knew I had. Plenty of the characters in this book seem to think that forgiveness can be given out like gifts on special occasions. As if a mistake is there to be done so other people will have the reason to forgive. Being an arsehole is a choice no one should choose. And if you ever do something that you’ll end up regretting sooner rather than later, do not forget to hold yourself accountable and not make the person you’re apologizing to feel like the victim of the story.

“She didn’t have to do any of this. The victimization, the acceptance of bullshit, the leaving your heart in the hands of an asshole yet again. She could just decide not to.”

‘Malibu Rising’ is more than just the story of the Riva family. It is about the selflessness of a woman who’s left alone to fend for herself and her family. It’s about knowing your worth and not accepting anything less. It’s about being selfish in times where you must put yourself first. But most importantly, it illuminates the importance of kindness, love, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the people we love and care about.

About the Author

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as four other novels. Her newest novel, Malibu Rising, is out now. She lives in Los Angeles. You can follow her on Instagram @tjenkinsreid.