Malibu Rising

A Novel

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today • From the author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo . . .

“Irresistible . . . High drama at the beach, starring four sexy, surfing siblings and their deadbeat, famous-crooner dad.”—People

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Time, Marie Claire, PopSugar, Parade, Teen Vogue, Self, She Reads

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives 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 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 rising 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.

©2021 Taylor Jenkins Reid (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Reid has once again crafted a fast-paced, engaging novel that smoothly transports readers between decades and story lines.” (The Washington Post)

"If summer could somehow fit into a book, then you’d find it in Malibu Rising.” (Oprah Daily)

“Reid’s descriptions of Malibu are so evocative that readers will swear they feel the sea breeze on their faces or the grit of the sand between their toes.... A compulsively readable story about the bonds between family members and the power of breaking free.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Incredible Story

I usually listen to audiobooks while I work as a designer, but this book’s story was so captivating I had to wait until after work to listen. I will definitely get a hard copy of this book to read again and probably enjoy it even more without the narrator’s monotoned voice. Which is the only part of the experience that could have been improved.

9/10 Would Recommend to Others

Loved!!

Great story, start to finish! Enjoyed all the characters and the depth of their stories...Loved all of it!!

LOVED THIS!!

Loved the book, loved the narrator! I feel like I knew all these characters! I wanted Mick to be better but somehow knew he wouldn’t be. This is my first read of Taylor Jenkins Reid but it will not be my last.

Amazing

Even better than Daisy Jones and the six. It’s worth your time. I want more!

Entertaining and good

I enjoyed the story as well as the narrator- will be looking out for both Taylor Jenkins Reid and books narrated by Julia Whelan !

Slow start but keep listening!

I started to set this “listen” down about an hour into it. I decided to keep listening a bit. So glad I did! Loved this story of love and loss and our need for belonging.

Brilliant!

Ugh I love Julia Whelan. I wish she would narrate every book. She did amazing as always and this book was so so good! I miss it already.

Taylor Jenkins Reid + Julia Whelan = Win!

I got this for the author and for the narrator and it didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the story (sad as it was) and am glad I spent the credit.

No real ending

The story is just ok. no traumatic ending. no spark. just a story. it's not boring but definitely don't keep you on the edge of your seat.

Animated narration and surprisingly humorous

Enjoyed the story, the narrator did a good job reading the book. She was animated and made it exciting and at times humorous. I listened to it in one sitting.