I really enjoyed Malibu Rising because the book offers different ways to read it.
The book is about one day in the life of the four Riva siblings. Not any day, but the best day every year. It starts at 7am on the day of their annual end of summer party. Interrupted by flashbacks to their parents’ love story (gone wrong) we get to know the four siblings along with their dreams, fears, wishes, problems, and insecurities. With the start of the party trouble shows up in the shape of Nina Riva’s husband who left her almost a year ago. The party grows bigger by the hour and locals as well as Hollywood stars, famous musicians, and sports starts party alongside each other. People are enjoying themselves and its clearly the place to be this weekend. But the more inebriated the guests get, the more the party goes downhill.
If you want a light beach read that reminds you of great summer vibes with a bit of comedy and some tragic love, then this book is great. You don’t need to think about anything that is going on. However, then the story might be a bit boring to you and the characters superficial. There is no huge culmination at the end of the book, which might be a disappointment to some.
But if you are up for it, the book can make you think and question the meaning of the story. In my opinion, the characters are not as two-dimensional as others think. And the way it is written is a metaphor for a party. The story drifts through rooms and past people like someone at the party. The people we encounter along the way are not meant to have a meaningful impact on our life. They don’t matter to us or to the story, but they fill up the party. Just like the party, the high point of the story is two-thirds in and then it calms down again. Still, I enjoyed reading until the end. I loved the combination of the great summer vibes and finding the meaning of the book.
