Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an adult contemporary fiction novel centered around the Riva siblings who live in Malibu in 1983. The Rivas may be celebrities among the public, but they each have their own struggles hidden beneath the surface. When Nina, the oldest of the Riva siblings, throws her signature party, each of their issues are gradually unraveled throughout the night. Through flashbacks of the past and snippets of the present, tensions are gradually built and relationships are put to the test. As the night progresses, drama spews through the walls of the Riva mansion. By the next morning, the house will have burnt to the ground entirely, leaving us helpless to watch the story unfold.
The Pros: One thing I love about the type of books Taylor Jenkins Reid writes is that they’re always so realistic. Malibu Rising is no exception to this, in fact, it honestly felt like I was reading a nonfiction book about real celebrities at some points, which was so fun! I really enjoyed watching all the drama unfold and gasping in shock as each incident unfurled. Honestly, reading this book was just like watching reality TV!
The Cons: It’s really hard for me to pick out any cons in this book, as it was a prime example of what I love to read. However, I do understand that the audience for these types of books is limited. If you aren’t a big fan of reading lots of dialogue and character backstories and prefer an engaging plot, this story might be boring for you.
In conclusion, I definitely recommend Malibu Rising to people who love fiction in general, as it was an amazing five star read for me! If you don’t like simply reading about realistic characters and their stories, I’d stay away from this book, but otherwise I’d definitely recommend everyone to give it a shot, as it might just surprise you by how interesting it is!