[unbezahte Werbung / selbst gekauft]

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a tale of functional and dysfunctional relationships and families, tragedies, trauma, celebrities, temptations, drug and alcohol, and surfing sites in Malibu, all wrapped up in the setting of a party!

A deeper dip:

Basically, the story is about four siblings whose father, Mick Riva, leaves the family to become a successful rock star icon. Their mother, June Riva, raises her kids, and accidentally drowns, leaving the eldest, Nina, to raise her siblings. Nina is determined to keep her siblings out of foster care, so she drops out of school to run her mom’s beachside seafood café. Nina struggles to make ends meet until she's spotted by a magazine editor and becomes a successful swimsuit model and surfer. Nina starts throwing an annual end-of-summer party at her Malibu mansion which is a major social event that attracts all types of celebrities. In August 1983, the party burns totally out of control with excessive drugs, sex, and destruction. An unwelcomed guest shows up and makes Nina and her siblings realize what life they really want to live.

This is what I appreciated about the book:

• Malibu! You are instantly taken to California with the sun shining down and sand between your toes! Surfing mode on!
• It has depth! Malibu Rising is more about a family struggling along, rather than being shiny-fame-obsessed.
• The story shifts between the past (the 1950s) and the present (the 1980s). Very helpful as to understand the painful relationship between Mick and June!
• Through thick and thin! I did appreciate the bond that the siblings have, how they support each other, and have each other's backs.

My nitpick though:

• slow pacing for me
• when it got to the renowned party in 1983, too many side characters pop up. Too many POVs. It took my focus off the main story.

I think the enjoyment of this book will be based on how much one can relate to the drama and high life here. But overall, it is a fluffy, light, and entertaining beach read. #TaylorJenkinsReid has the knack of elevating the story to an emotional roller coaster of a family melodrama.