That is the thing about the water, it is not yours to control. You are at the mercy of nature. That’s what makes surfing feel like more than a sport: It requires destiny to be on your side, the ocean must favor you.
Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising
Obviously, you can read whatever book you want on the beach, but I have to say there are better ones to read than others. Malibu Rising, written by the lovely Taylor Jenkins Reid, is a clear beach read winner.
You see, I didn’t know that when I started it so unfortunately I didn’t get that opportunity, which is why I’m here today imploring you to get this book and read it on the beach. Learn from me.
Check out the lengthy description below and then enjoy the 5 Reasons You Must Read Malibu Rising on the Beach.
Book Description
Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.
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 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 promises 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.
(Brought to you by Goodreads)
1. It’s basically a big party…on the beach
My golden rule is if the setting of the book takes place on the beach, then you too must read the book on the beach. It allows you to get into the character’s state of mind.
The day starts at 7 am and goes into the wee hours of the next morning, each chapter detailing out the hour for each sibling. If you think I’m exaggerating about the book taking place on the beach then I do insist you read it and see for yourself. There are a limited number of scenes that don’t take place on the beach, and even then the beach is across the street.
2. There is a lot of sibling bonding (on the beach)
Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit have all been through some trauma, and that is what has tide 😉 them together. Nina kind of acts as their pseudo-mama and from the way she is constantly checking on her siblings, you can see that she would do anything for them.
These four peas in a pod are what I like to call “friblings” they are siblings, yes, but they are also best friends. Despite a few tiffs, there doesn’t seem to be anything that could break them apart.
3. There is lots and lots of surfing
The one thing that truly united the Riva siblings was surfing. From a young age when their father abandoned them and then when their mother passed, it seemed surfing was their only escape. For most of the sibs, it’s more than a hobby, it’s a way of life.
Reading about them surfing almost made me want to surf myself. Seeing as I live in the midwest, I don’t really see that happening.
4. It’s a very fast read…perfect for the beach
Taylor Jenkins Reid does an incredible job of writing complex plots while still making the book an easy and fast read. I didn’t know anyone could be so talented, yet, here we are.
I think it helps that you get so many different perspectives from all of these characters and it just hooks you in. Each character is interesting and you keep wanting to know more from their perspective.
The whole plot of this book takes place in 24 hours. Along with some chapters that outline the origin of June and Mick Riva’s relationship, which allows us to see how the siblings became who they are.
5. There’s a lot of juicy drama
This book is filled with all the juicy drama you could ever want in a book. It’ll be so juicy that you’ll want to drink it.
When you have a party filled with high and drunk people (including famous people), plus all the side drama coming from the Riva family’s personal lives, you get a big hot mess. This also ends with a giant fire, so I don’t think the mess could get any hotter. Don’t worry, it’s a good hot mess (except the fire isn’t great).
Just Read It
While I aimed to make this post light-hearted and didn’t go into a deep analysis (this is a beach read after all) there is a lot more depth to this book than meets the eye. I highly suggest you read this book, not just for the juicy drama, but for all of the beautiful character developments and plot twists. There is a lot to unpack there.
If you’re ever interested in making this your next book club read then you can check out some awesome guides that I found:
As I said, there really is a lot to discuss with this book. Don’t miss out on a fantastic read.
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