Malibu RisingMalibu Rising
What it's about
In August 1983, the four Riva siblings, children of the famous singer Mick Riva, are throwing their annual end-of-summer party in Malibu. Nina is a surfer and supermodel whose husband has just left her; Jay is a pro surfer; Hud is a photographer with a secret; Kit, the youngest, wants to be seen. By morning the house will be on fire. The story also goes back to their mother, June, and how Mick broke her heart.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for historical fiction. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes glamorous, emotional stories about fame and family.
You'll love it if you liked
Carrie Soto Is Back
Atmosphere
The Hotel NantucketGood to know
It moves between 1983 and decades earlier. There's alcoholism and drug use.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller69 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #82 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #108 of the 233 romances we rank
- #249 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1426 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Atmosphere
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Daisy Jones & the SixCarrie Soto Is BackIf you like this, read next
Lessons in Chemistry
The Island of Missing Trees
The Age of Innocence
Emma
David Copperfield
The Light Between OceansExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Malibu Rising worth reading?
Yes. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for historical fiction. It ranks #1,426 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Malibu Rising about?
In August 1983, the four Riva siblings, children of the famous singer Mick Riva, are throwing their annual end-of-summer party in Malibu. Nina is a surfer and supermodel whose husband has just left her; Jay is a pro surfer; Hud is a photographer with a secret; Kit, the youngest, wants to be seen. By morning the house will be on fire. The story also goes back to their mother, June, and how Mick broke her heart.
How long does it take to read Malibu Rising?
About 9 hours (369 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Malibu Rising won?
Goodreads Choice (historical fiction) winner (2021).
What should I read after Malibu Rising?
If you liked it, try Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid or The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand.