Many will see the name of the author of today's book and think of Daisy Jones & The Six, one of the most talked about historical fiction books of 2019. Today I am discussing the latest offering by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising. Once again, Reid will be presenting a world of fame, fortune, access, and chaos, but this time from the shores of Malibu, California in the early 1980s.
The Situation: When Mick met his future wife, June, he promised that he would always take care of her and provide for her. He promised her the life he never had, and vowed to be committed to his growing family, while chasing his dreams of becoming a rock star. But it is when his oldest is still in elementary school that he will leave his family for good, no longer occasionally sending money like he did when he had left before. His four children - Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit - will always know of their father, the famous Mick Riva, but they will not really know him. Once they reach adulthood, the Riva children will be well-known for other reasons, as well as because of who their father is. With Nina's good looks and modeling career, Jay's skills as a surfer, Hud's talent for photography, and the youngest sister Kit carving her own way in the world, the Riva kids are making their own path. Plus, there is the annual party that is thrown at Nina's house to which everyone wants an invitation. And it is rumored that the 1983 edition will be the party of the century.
The Problem: Nina may have found success as a model, the money from which has helped take care of her, her three siblings, and the family business, but it has not brought her the happiness her fans would imagine it did. Honestly, she would rather be surfing, and she is not a fan of the attention modeling has brought her. Plus, it seems her beauty was not enough to keep her tennis star husband from leaving her for another woman. Despite her situation, the annual party is today, and she must get herself and the house ready. Her three younger siblings will be joining her, and while the Riva children are close, they are each holding onto secrets that could upset the relative harmony they have maintained. Little do they know that family secrets will not be the only thing exposed tonight, and almost the last thing that anyone will be paying attention to. By 3:00am, the party will be out of control, and by 7:00am, everything will be on fire.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that has the main action take place in Malibu in 1983, though the story does reach as far back as the 1950s when it talks about the early relationship between Mick and June, the parents of the now-famed Riva children. When Mick meets June, he wants to believe he has met someone he can spend the rest of his life with, someone who will support him as he pursues his dream of stardom, someone who will raise the family he can come home to. While June is that person, Mick cannot seem to stay faithful. From this, the saga that is the Riva family will continue to grow and expand, spilling out of Malibu, where everyone knows who they are. While Mick may still be the star of the family, even as he gets older, Nina is more or less the focus of the book. She is the older sister who has always felt, even as a kid, that it was her job to hold everything together. So in the hours leading up to the party, the story of Mick and June is told while preparations are made. And when the party is in full swing, it becomes clear that the story of the Riva family is all but finished.
My Verdict: At the opening of the book, before the narrative begins regarding the story of the Riva family and the annual party, a brief history of Malibu and its tendency to catch on fire is presented. It is one of the most intriguing openings I have come across this year. The stories that follow, of both the relationship and marriage between Mick and June, and the lives of the four Riva siblings, are interesting, fully-formed, well thought-out, and entertaining. And then the main event comes, this massive annual party that does not even have formal invitations: If you know the address, day, and time, then consider yourself invited. The party is as wild as the reader can imagine, but the events that take place - or at least the way they are described - leave something to be desired. Nothing seems to fit, not even the Rivas siblings, as more and more people show up, more scenes are dropped in and smashed together, and suddenly lives are changed forever. Somehow, this epic Malibu beach party ended up being the least interesting part of the book, which seems like the opposite of how things should have been.
Favorite Moment: At one point, Nina finally stands up for herself, after a lifetime of putting everyone else first.
Favorite Character: Casey is introduced somewhat later in the book, and while I feel her story was rushed, I liked her courage and honesty.
Recommended Reading: Daisy Jones & The Six is as absorbing as people say it is, and I cannot recommend it enough.
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