Malibu Rising

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again.

Chef’s Kiss, honestly. As a former southern California resident who spent many days driving up PCH to Malibu, this book had such a strong sense of nostalgia that this element alone made me fall in love with the book.

If you are a fan of Reid’s other books, then you will absolutely die for this. Taylor Jenkins Reid takes us deep into her world again through the eyes of the Riva family. Does that name ring a bell? Think Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Yes, that Mick Riva. It is such a fun and clever easter egg, and it had me holding onto every word on the page in case she weaved in another clue to her other books.

Malibu Rising has the same theme of heartbreak that her other books have, this one taking shape in parental struggles. The 4 Riva children, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit are all incredibly talented surfers, and famous in their own right. However, they are shadowed by the fame of their estranged father, and are haunted by their later alcoholic mother.

We follow the lives of these four as they face crossroads in their own personal struggles. Nina is going through a divorce, Hud is facing romantic struggles, Jay has to make serious decisions regarding is career, and Kit wants to be recognized for her own talent on the water.

This book is absolutely beautiful, and while I can’t possibly pick a favorite out of Reid’s writings, this is 100% a contender. Please please do yourself a favor and read this book. You won’t regret it. Now, if you will excuse me, I’ll be changing my last name to Riva and going to hunt down my long lost siblings because I refuse to believe that they are fictional characters.

xoxo Reb.