Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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 for him 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.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

Review:

I was first introduced to the writings of Taylor Jenkins Reid through my book club when we read The Nine Lives of Evelyn Hugo.  Since then, I've read Daisy Jones and The Six, and now, her latest novel, Malibu Rising.   Although this is another story about people in the entertainment industry, at its core, it's a story of a family.  The novel moves between two time periods: a day in 1983, where the adult Riva children are gearing up for a party, and the 1950's and 1960's, which follows the story of their parents.  With strong characters, and an insight into the price of fame, this was an entertaining book that raised many interesting questions.   Are we the product of our genetics, or our upbringing?  Do people deserve a second (or a third, or  a fourth) chance when they screw up?  I really enjoyed this novel.

What I Liked:

Story format:

The story moves back and forth between Mic and June's rocky romance and marriage, and the aftermath of that relationship on their four children.  We learn everything on a need to know basis, so there's a lot of cuts between the two storylines.  I really liked the format.  It kept me guessing as to why the author was showing certain parts of the story at a given moment.  But it all made sense.  

I also liked the linear countdown aspect of the kids story.  The author tells us, up front, there's going to be an epic party where the relationships between the siblings will be altered forever, and that there will be a major fire.  So as the countdown to disaster happens, we know something big is "rising".

Characters:

Mic and June are almost stereotypes for a 1950's Hollywood marriage.  Mic's rise to fame is exciting for June.  She gets the stability of a successful husband's career, and Mic gets all sorts of adulation.  But you know where this is headed.  With women throwing themselves at Mic, it's just a matter of time before there is trouble.  But as we learn from Mic's backstory, his dad was also a womanizer.  So would Mic eventually have become one even without the fame?

June is all too happy to be a housewife, having children and raising them.  When things go sour, June steps up to the plate and continues to provide love and support to her children.  But keeping a smile on her face for the kids has a price.  She becomes a serious alcoholic.

All this has an effect on the kids (how could it not?).  I think this is the most interesting aspect of the book.  Nina, the oldest, has had to become a mother to her three younger siblings.  Every time June, passes out (and more), Nina is there to pick up the pieces.  This is admirable, except that Nina really sacrifices a lot for her family, more that one could imagine.  It's not just missed opportunities she missed out on, she becomes accepting of people walking all over her (just like her mom did).  Will she be able to stand up for herself, or will she self-destruct like her mom?

Jay and Hud both feel the absence of their father the most, and have something to prove.  Can they be  as successful as their dad?  They each are on a path to a major career.  But, like their dad, they don't seem to mind that a woman (Nina) is taking care of things so they can focus on their careers.  Plus they are competitive with each other is a passive-aggressive way.  They will have a lot to work through as major revelations come to light be the end of the party. 

Kit, is the youngest, and doesn't feel in sync with her siblings.  She knows that she is a fantastic surfer (like some of her siblings), but she is very intimidated by Nina's beauty.  She doesn't feel all that girly like Nina or her friends.  And she has yet, at twenty, to even kiss a guy.  She will figure out some things about herself by the end of the night too.  One thing that she already has in abundance, is a low tolerance for bull$!#t. She is the most no-nonsense of the siblings.  I loved that she doesn't accept excuses for people's bad behavior.  And her assertiveness is just what she can lend to Nina.  She might be the youngest, but she will probably become the most famous of them all by sheer grit and determination.

Themes:

The theme of family duty and love is prevalent in this book.  June is completely in love with, first Mic, and then her children, and is willing to sacrifice all her hopes to make sure they are taken care of.  This is especially difficult when Mic leaves her with the kids, and doesn't provide any financial support.  Yes, she could have taken him to court, but she also had her pride.  She did not want to be seen as the long suffering wife.  Nina takes up the banner, when June begins drinking too much.  Again, she sacrificed everything for the family.

I can't help but think that the message that the author is trying to make is that there needs to be a balance between taking care of your loved ones, and meeting your own needs.  All the care that June, and then Nina, took of the other kids came at a steep price.  

The party itself is a metaphor.  Even though Nina creates a beautiful party, compete with valets, bartenders, waitresses, catered food, etc. people abuse her hospitality.  They steal, break things on purpose, and generally make a spectacle of themselves.  All the guests know this is THE party to be seen at, so they make sure to do just that.  All the care that Nina has put into the party is taken for granted.  Just like Mic has neglected and walked all over his family.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  June 1st, 2021

Author:  Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publisher:  Ballentine Books

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  With unforgettable characters, this book will get you thinking about our expectations of family, and fame.  This will be a great summer read.