Reid really knows how to bring characters to life. I still feel like Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones are real people to this day! When I saw Reid was publishing another historical fiction novel, I had to request it right away. Malibu Rising follows the Riva family (we met the most famous one in previous novels) in dual timelines. One timeline is leading up to the Riva sibling’s annual house party in 1983 and the other is following the story of their parents relationship and the siblings adolescence.

The novel really started off strong. I quickly became invested in the past story line of June and Mick. I really felt for June and was rooting for her happiness along with her children. Mick is the worst husband and father ever. I couldn’t care less about what happens to him. The Riva siblings were so multidimensional and had a really great bond. I have three sisters myself, so I really related to the sibling relationships. I absolutely loved Nina, the oldest, and was rooting for her the whole time. She is at a crossroads where she can repeat her mother’s fate and it was so beautifully written. Jay and Hud are “twins” who are inseparable in all areas of life. Unfortunately, Hud falls for Jay’s ex-girlfriend and is trying to figure out a way to break it to him without ruining their relationship. Then there is the youngest, Kit. I absolutely adored Kit and wish we saw more of her. She is struggling with her identity and really trying to find a way to express herself authentically. The moments she had with Nina were my favourite.

The current timeline was great in the first half, but in the second half it became a bit too much. In Part Two we ditch the dual timeline and follow an hour by hour account of the events unfolding at the famous Riva party. Every big name star is present and things get crazy. My issue was that we were introduced to so many new characters explaining their relevancy in the industry and why they were there. I understand introducing a couple of people that have relationships with the Riva family but a lot had no affiliation and were just famous people hanging out. Did I really need to know their life story for a couple of pages just to never hear from them again? On the other hand, a couple did sound fascinating, so I could only theorize that maybe one of them is going to be the main character in a future novel..

Overall, I was so satisfied in the ending and happy with how the family dynamics were handled. While this is the eighties with an industry not that diverse, I understand the lack of representation. However it is still a fictional story, so I did hope there would be some diversity. Taylor Jenkins Reid is easily one of my favourite authors, though, so I would love more diverse main characters like Evelyn Hugo in the future. If you like historical fiction or any of Reid’s past novels, you will definitely enjoy this!

Thank you to Hutchinson for the arc! This title releases May 27, 2021.