Today’s in Ariel’s Arcs, we’re going to dive into some summer beach fun in Malibu, California! In Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid takes us on a surf-ridden adventure of fame and the search for happiness in 1950s-1980s Southern California.
If you’re familiar with her other books like Daisy Jones and the Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you might know what to expect with this book. The writing is in a familiar elegance of her other books, but the plot distinguishes itself from her other books about Hollywood.
Malibu Rising follows four siblings and their mother in a non-linear timeline as they reckon with the choices they’ve made and the decisions they have yet to face. The story flows along nicely, and the ending is tied up in a satisfactory way. Malibu, California is itself a background character as well, where a previously mostly-remote beach town becomes the focus of many rich and famous celebrities wanting to escape the Hollywood Hills. Such changing, developing, and growing of the setting is also reflected in the characters, and it leaves the reader feeling complete at the end.
The story itself has a generational theme and how the children will handle their parents’ legacies and the choices they make that stem from their experiences. The pace flows relatively quickly, even if the grand finale at the end may feel a little lackluster, I think the purpose was to help the characters find their own peace in their own way, and that makes the story feel that much more authentic.
If you’re a fan of celebrity drama or literary fiction, I’d give this a shot. Some content notes to be aware of: Alcoholism, death of a parent, infidelity, mild violence, and sexism. A huge thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Final Rating:
** Be sure to check out Malibu Rising. It is out June 1, 2021! **
Cover image: Photo on Pixabay
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