A stunning and addictive novel, a marvelous story, just perfect for a day on the beach! A summer must read!
A hell of a party is about to take place at Nina Rivas house on the cliffs above a perfect surfing spot at Malibu. The Riva Family has been there for a while, growing and developing along while Malibu grew from a rural town into a hot spot for the 80’s party people of hollywood circles. Ninas Mother June inherited the restaurant and spent her life taking care of her four children, the third one not her own. Her husband is the famous singer Mick Riva. They married young and dreamed of a happy life together, he being a star rising, and her a devoted wife. But Mick can’t control his needs, can’t be the man he wants to be for June. And so he leaves. June does what she wanted to escape from: Taking the place behind the register as her mom did. When she dies, Nina has to take over her place. She drops out of school and becomes the foster mother for her three siblings.
Tonight is the big thing: Once a year a huge end of summer party takes place at the house Brandon Randall, the famous tennis player and just recently separated husband bought for the two of them. By the end of the party everything will be gone: the house will be destroyed by fire nurtured by the Santa Ana winds which have been haunting the region for ever. Malibu people know how to live with it. Know how to evacuate, know how to keep themselves safe. But with a lot of booze and coke the party quickly gets out of control.
It is a hell of a ride reading how the Rivas fall apart, diving deep into their family history. But it is also a story of healing, of mending old wounds and of closure, closure with unsatisfying paths taken and wrong decisions made during the journey of their lives.
Breathtaking and intense! Five stars for Taylor Jenkins Reid!
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