Malibu Rising
Roman | Starautorin Taylor Jenkins Reid erzählt von der Party des Sommers
📘 About This Book
Das Sommerbuch des Jahres: laut, pulsierend und so unterhaltsam wie eine richtig gute Party Malibu, 1983. Die jährliche Sommerparty von Nina Riva, Surfstar und Supermodell, steht bevor. Es ist das Event des Jahres, und niemand möchte die Gelegenheit missen, um mit den berühmten Riva-Geschwistern zu feiern. Nur Nina wünscht sich an diesem Tag so weit weg wie möglich: Nachdem ihr Mann sie betrogen hat, würde sie die Party am liebsten abblasen. Doch ihre Geschwister, Surfweltmeister Jay, Starfotograf Hud und das Nesthäkchen Kit stecken schon mitten in den Vorbereitungen und kurz darauf kommt der erste Überraschungsgast ... In dieser wilden Partynacht kommen Familiengeheimnisse zum Vorschein, die seit Jahrzehnten unter der Oberfläche brodeln und drohen, das fragile Familiengefüge auseinander zu brechen. Weder Nina noch ihre Gäste ahnen, dass am Ende der Nacht alles in Flammen stehen wird ...
📖 Summary
Malibu Rising, written by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, transports readers to the sun-drenched coast of California for an unforgettable, high-stakes twenty-four-hour period in the summer of 1983. The novel centers around the famous Riva siblings, four extraordinary individuals whose lives are perpetually watched, envied, and whispered about. As the children of legendary, absentee rock icon Mick Riva, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit have grown up navigating the turbulent waters of fame, abandonment, and survival. Every year, they host an infamous end-of-summer party that becomes the social event of the season, drawing in celebrities, surfers, and hopeful hangers-on from all over. Yet, beneath the glittering surface of the upcoming 1983 celebration, deep fractures and long-buried tensions threaten to shatter the fragile foundation of the family. Nina Riva, a celebrated supermodel and surf star, is dreading the festivities entirely. Having recently suffered a very public betrayal by her husband, she would prefer nothing more than to cancel the party and escape the suffocating gaze of the public. However, her siblings are already deeply immersed in the chaotic preparations. Jay, a decorated surf champion, is wrestling with his own internal pressures and secret desires. Hud, a talented and sensitive starfotographer, is harboring a massive secret that could alter his relationships with his siblings forever. Kit, the youngest and fiercely independent sister, is striving to carve out her own identity while managing the overwhelming legacy of her famous surname. As the day progresses and the evening approaches, the anticipation builds to a fever pitch. When the first surprise guests arrive, the party transforms into a wild, pulse-pounding, and unpredictable gathering. Interspersed with the vibrant, chaotic energy of the present-day party are compelling flashbacks that trace the troubled history of the Riva family. Readers are taken back through decades of heartache, tracing the agonizing path of their mother, June, who was left to raise the children alone while enduring the agonizing shadow of Mick Riva's careless rock-star lifestyle. We witness how the siblings learned to rely solely on one another, forming an unbreakable bond forged in poverty, neglect, and coastal beauty. As the alcohol flows, the music pulses, and inhibitions fade away during the course of that fateful night, the veneer of perfection cracks. Long-held family secrets, buried resentments, and shocking truths come bubbling up from beneath the surface, threatening to tear the Riva family apart for good. By the time the sun rises on a radically altered Malibu landscape, the siblings must confront their past in order to decide what kind of future they want to build. Taylor Jenkins Reid masterfully weaves a tale of fame, generational trauma, resilience, and the complex nature of sibling love, leaving readers breathless until the very last page.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Vivid, atmospheric setting that captures the vibrant energy of 1983 coastal California.
Deeply complex, flawed, and incredibly relatable characters with rich emotional arcs.
Engaging structure that brilliantly alternates between the chaotic present night and revealing flashbacks.
Thoughtful exploration of complex family dynamics, fame, and generational trauma.
⚠️ Cons
The sheer volume of characters and subplots can occasionally distract from the main narrative tension.
Some readers might find the fast-paced party scenes overwhelming compared to the quieter emotional moments.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Malibu Rising? +
The novel was written by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid and published in 2023.
When and where is the story set? +
The primary narrative takes place over the course of twenty-four hours in Malibu, California, during the summer of 1983, with flashbacks to earlier decades.
Who are the main characters? +
The story focuses on the four famous Riva siblings: Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit, alongside their absentee rock-star father, Mick Riva.
What triggers the main conflicts in the book? +
The annual end-of-summer party hosted by the siblings acts as the catalyst where long-hidden family secrets and personal betrayals finally come to light.
How many pages are in the book? +
The novel spans 420 pages of rich, character-driven fiction.
