Books › Malibu Rising
Malibu Rising
580 pages
A sun-drenched, ticking-clock family drama where decades of secrets ignite over the course of one legendary, out-of-control summer party.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a sun-drenched, Polaroid-tinted memory of 1980s California, where the glamour is intoxicating but the emotional undercurrents are dangerously strong. The narrative moves with a propulsive, ticking-clock momentum, anchoring you in the chaotic span of a single, legendary summer party while seamlessly drifting back in time to unravel a bittersweet family history. It is a deeply immersive experience, balancing the soapy thrill of celebrity excess with a surprisingly tender exploration of sibling loyalty and the heavy inheritance of parental mistakes. The prose is cinematic and breezy, making it impossible to put down. It will absolutely delight readers who crave glamorous, character-driven dramas that end in a cathartic, literal blaze of glory.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- intoxicating
- chaotic
- bittersweet
- Tone
- nostalgic
- empathetic
- dramatic
- glamorous
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- sibling loyalty · parental abandonment · the facade of fame · family legacy · letting go
- The writing
- Cinematic, breezy, and highly readable, dripping with the sensory details of 1980s California.
- The arc
- Starts with simmering tension and nostalgic longing, builds to a chaotic climax, and resolves in a cathartic, liberating release.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave immersive, character-driven family dramas set against a backdrop of glittering, flawed glamour.
Content notes
- parental abandonment
- alcoholism
- infidelity
- death of a parent
- fire
About the book
August,1983, it is the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone who is anyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: surfer and supermodel Nina, brothers Jay and Hud, and their adored baby sister Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over - especially as the children of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
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 of dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family will all come bubbling to the surface.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Malibu Rising
See why they match
Daisy Jones & The SixTaylor Jenkins ReidAn electric, documentary-style plunge into the glamorous, drug-fueled chaos of a legendary 1970s rock band.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoTaylor Jenkins ReidA dazzling, unapologetic plunge into Old Hollywood glamour that peels back the scandalous headlines to reveal a devastating, decades-spanning queer love story.
People We Meet On VacationEmily HenryA sun-drenched, banter-filled exploration of the terrifying leap from platonic soulmates to true love.
Beach ReadEmily HenryA sun-drenched, banter-filled exploration of creative burnout and the terrifying vulnerability of letting yourself believe in happy endings again.
Family of LiarsE. LockhartA sun-drenched, dread-soaked return to a private island where golden privilege masks a rotting core of secrets and sorrow.
The Last Thing He Told MeLaura DaveA fast-paced domestic mystery that wraps a tense search for the truth around a surprisingly tender story of a stepmother and daughter finding each other.