Literary in the City

RATING: 5/5

“Or maybe we are free the moment we’re born. Maybe everything we’ve ever done is by our own hands.”

Malibu Rising

Am I too late to jump onboard the Taylor Jenkins Reid train? I hope not, because if Malibu Rising is any indication of what her work is like, I’m desperate for a seat.

This book broke my heart over and over again, but there’s something about that repeated heartbreak that made it one of my favorite reads of the year. There’s so much I have to say about this masterpiece, but first, a quick overview of the story:

Malibu Rising tells the story of the Riva family. A dual-timeline story, one timeline starts in the 1950s and follows the disastrous relationship between June Costas and Mick Riva. The other timeline spans the day of August 27, 1983, when Mick and June’s children decide to host their annual summer party. As chaos erupts, the Riva siblings must make difficult choices about love, family, and life.

I quite like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s style of writing. It’s simple, so you won’t get bogged down in the sentences, but it’s still profound. There were so many quotes I highlighted. If you choose to read this book, you’ll have a bunch too!

Of course, the descriptions of the California setting also won me over. I felt like I was there, on that coast, with the siblings, breathing in the ocean air. I could feel the wind in my hair, the spray of the waves on my face. Part of the reason why I was so enamored with this book is because it really felt like I was escaping life for a few moments, like I was in this little Malibu-bubble. 

Above all, I loved how messy this book was. Reid paints a great picture of the disorder in a family, yet she also includes several moments of sweetness and love. Nina, Jay, Hud, Kit, June, Mick–each character is clearly shaped by the burdens of the past, their secrets, and their troubles. It’s beautiful to see such complex personalities and bonds.

If you’re looking for a summer read that’ll have you in deep contemplation, I cannot recommend Malibu Rising enough. While it may be a little heavier than some of my previous recommendations, I think that, along with the heartbreak, it inspires you to rise up and ride the wave of life.

If you’ve read this book or anything else by Taylor Jenkins Reid, let me know what you thought!

Surfing somewhere (mentally),

H.