4/5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved the Riva siblings and their deep bonds with each other. Part of why I really liked this book is because I relate to Nina, and I loved her character journey and growth. The setting was really fun and I thought it was cool that the siblings all surf. A book about surfer siblings in Malibu in the 80s definitely makes “Malibu Rising” a perfect summer read.
Keep scrolling for my full review!
I think the introduction is the best start to a book I’ve ever read. The writing was superb (and stays great the whole book) and the intro just really drew me in:
“Malibu catches fire. It caught fire in 1982, 1985, in 1993, 1996, in 2003, 2007, and 2018. And times in between. Because it is Malibu’s nature to burn. Habitats — brush and shrubs and trees — and homes — cabins and mansions and bungalows, ranches and vineyards and farms — go up in smoke and leave behind a scorched earth. But that land is young once again, ready to grow something new. Destruction. And renewal, rising from the ashes. The story of fire.”
The story of the Riva siblings is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. They’ve experienced so much loss and hardship, but their unwavering love and loyalty for each other have held them together. The deep sibling bonds in “Malibu Rising” are definitely my favorite part of the book. I also really liked reading about their mother, June, and how she met Mick and navigated single motherhood. I think she was a wonderfully complex character and a (mostly) good mom. On the other side, Mick is the worst dad ever and is just so awful. He’s a great villain because he’s not “evil” but is very selfish and a little delusional — he has almost no self-awareness. Brandon sucks too, and seeing these men get what was coming to them is very satisfying.
I loved the first half of the book and would rate it five stars, but because of the second half of the book, I’m giving it four. In my opinion, there were just waaaayyy too many characters introduced in the second half. And their two-five page snippets were unnecessary filler and didn’t add anything to the story. I also, personally, didn’t care for the Casey plot point.
Overall I really enjoyed “Malibu Rising” and would recommend it as a great summer read, but it’s also an excellent book any time of the year if you’re looking for a unique book about deep, loving sibling relationships, family trauma, and discovering what you want to do and who you want to be in spite of family and the hardships you’ve been through.
Also, apparently, this is the year f Taylor Jenkins Reid for me! This is the third book of hers I've read this year, and it definitely won't be the last.
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