It’s almost time to start your summer reading! My favorite ‘summer vibes’ book is Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book follows the Riva family; the story alternates from the four Riva children and their mother, her perspective taking place in the past. The novel details the lives of the Riva family and how their fame has affected them, as well as the party that started the 1983 Malibu fire.
I think the best part about the book are the ‘mini-plots’. While most of the book is told from the perspective of members of the Riva family, some chapters are told from the point of view of random characters who happened to be at that party that fateful night in 1983. That night did not just affect the main characters and their friends and family; it affected many people there in unexpected ways. This technique reveals how people not necessarily related to a situation can still be effected from said situation, whether goodly or badly.
A few chapters are also from the perspective of antagonists. These chapters proved to be quite intriguing; seeing another side of the story in a well written way was very satisfying and fun to read, even if it was just fiction. It made me feel something, but I’m not sure how to put it into words. The pacing of this book was very smooth and pleasing, and the writing was so amazing. The descriptions really paint a picture in your head, and the ‘vibes’ of this book are simply immaculate. I enjoyed learning about the characters and loved them all. The characters were very thought out, and they all had realistic flaws that somehow just made them more likable and relatable.
While there are a few flaws of this book (which I will leave unmentioned due to spoilers), I really loved this novel and hope you add it to your summer TBR! Definitely a 5 star read.
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