Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid


I won't be attempting to write much about this book because this one is pure entertainment. Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way with weaving stories about the world of glamorous actors, musicians and models-- something that not many of us are familiar with. She is careful about showcasing not just the glittery facade but also the dirty laundry which is always kept away from public eyes.


The book is centred around the the Riva siblings- Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit. Alternating chapters also provide a backstory about how their parents June and Mick met. Their marriage started out as a fairy tale but quickly disintegrated following Mick's rise to fame as a singer. The glamour and the constant attention quickly got to him and he soon left his young children with an alcoholic mother without a second thought. While June's forgiving nature and big heart definitely won my sympathy it did get irritating after a point. Nina's character was the one that stood out. Her transformation from a naive, trusting girl to one hardened by a lifetime of disappointments was particularly well written.


A perfect beach read complete with surfing, parties and drinks on the beach, this book is perfect for reading on vacations. Plus a free trip to the beaches of Malibu-- who would want to miss that? 


Inspite of a slow start it picks up pace after the first 50 pages or so and is a complete pageturner henceforth. TJR's writing is crisp and keeps you on the edge and inspite of a predictable storyline, it doesn't cease entertaining you. I would definitely recommend this one for a quick entertaining read.

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