Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Maybe our parents’ lives are imprinted within us, maybe the only fate there is is the temptation of reliving their mistakes. Maybe, try as we might, we will never be able to outrun the blood that runs through our veins. Or Or maybe we are free the moment we’re born. Maybe everything we’ve ever done is by our own hands. - Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising

Spanning across two generations of the Riva family, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is truly a tale of legacy and family history. There are two interwoven storylines in this book: the day of the annual Riva family, and the history of the Riva family - how the characters got to where they were. Through decades of vicissitudes of this family, Reid reveals the values of blood bond and what it means to carry on our parents’ legacies.

Reid’s writing in this novel is absolutely gorgeous and evocative. Her descriptions of Malibu are so immaculate that I can almost feel the salty breeze through my hair and the gritty sand between my toes. With a subtle hint of danger, Malibu becomes almost like a femme fatale - tempting but feral. This story is told in third person, but the author does switch back and forth from various characters’ points of view. This stylistic choice works well for the first half of the story. However, in the second half, the transitions between different points of view become relatively convoluted as a plethora of new characters is introduced.

There’s something very special about the way Reid writes female characters. From June, Nina, Kit, to Ashley, the women in this novel are so real and humane. They are flawed, nuanced, complex, and vulnerable with their own barrage of emotional baggage. However, despite their differences in lifestyles and personalities, these characters all share a sense of dormant strength and resilience without appearing too one-dimensional or stoic.

When there is only you, you do not get to choose which jobs you want, you do not get to decide you are incapable of anything. You must do it all. All of the ugliness, the sadness, the things most people can’t stand to even think about. You must be capable of everything. - Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising

Although I adore the male characters in this book, I can’t help but feel that they are overshadowed by their female counterparts. Jay, Hud, and Mick Riva are quite predictable. Thus, their stories become less fascinating to the readers. With that being said, Malibu Rising is still an enthralling work of fiction with a diverse cast of characters (in terms of life experiences and personalities).

My only quibble is that the second half of the book becomes quite fragmented and disjointed because there were a lot of unnecessary side-characters. I found these little vignettes about the party-goers quite irrelevant and distracting. They take away the focus of the story - which is the Riva family, and dilute the brimming tension that the first half of the book has built up so far. The actual party is supposed to be the climax, the epicentre of the whole family saga. However, the delivery fell short and the story gradually lost its momentum towards the end. Overall, this is only a minor issue for me and probably I’m just being way too picky.

Although Malibu Rising is not my favourite Reid novel, this book resonates strongly with me. It makes me ponder upon my identity and how my own family history has moulded me into who I am. This book is definitely worth checking out if you're interested in reading about family history and legacy.