One crazy night changes everything in Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel

     From the bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo comes the story of four famous siblings, an epic party, and how their lives will all change after one fateful night. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s newest novel, Malibu Rising, shows how fame can affect people and who it means to be a family.
     Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva. The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth. Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone. By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.
     This book was a lot easier to read than I thought it would be and further solidified my belief that Taylor Jenkins Reid is a masterful writer. The story flowed wonderfully and made it such an engaging read.
     The way this story takes place in the span of a day in 1983, while also flashing back to moments from the 50s to 70s, is so wonderfully engaging and really broadens the scope of the characters and why they are the way they are and the actions that shaped them.
     While I found there to be a few too many characters to keep track of at certain parts of the story, the different people taking part in the Riva Party actually gives readers a glimpse into not only what the party is like, but also what the 80s were like for those trying to make it big in Hollywood or those who already have. The setting of Malibu paints an idyllic picture of what fame and fortune can bring while also juxtaposing it with the realities of these people’s not-so-perfect lives.
     Once again, Reid is a masterful storyteller and readers looking for an engaging story that will hook you in from the beginning will fall in love with this book! I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a final summer read or to escape real life for a while.

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