Malibu Rising – Book Review

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them… and what they will leave behind.

This is the second book I have read of Taylor Jenkins Reid, and after enjoying reading Daisy Jones and the Six, I decided to read most of her books. Malibu Jenkins was published last year and rumor is this will soon turn into a movie or TV series.

Four siblings, Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit are famous siblings–born to a famous singer Mick Riva who had been absent in the siblings’ lives. Each of them are dealing with their own dramas–Nina’s tennis pro husband Brendan is cheating behind Nina with a fellow tennis pro named Carrie Soto, Hud is in love with Jay’s girlfriend and Kit has a secret. The story sets between the time when Mick met the siblings’ mother June and present, when the siblings are arranging the party of the summer.

Initially, it was slightly boring in the beginning but soon, by about after few chapters, I started enjoying the book. I do like the closeness that is mentioned between the siblings and how the night eventually turned into a disaster. I do like how initially, the siblings overcame difficulties. This story mainly talks about friendship, sibling connection and overall, though this wasn’t as good as Daisy and The Six, I actually did enjoy this one. Worth 4.5 stars in my opinion.