I'm of two minds about Malibu Rising. On the one hand I think Taylor Jenkins Reid writes incredibly readable novels. Despite its relatively hefty size and my significant summer reading slump I breezed through Malibu Rising in a handful of sittings. In some ways I really do commend Reid's juicy character writing and incredible ability to hook me into a story. But looking back on this book I really can't see it sticking with me for very long. 

While Reid is a masterclass in crafting salacious drama I found myself unfulfilled with how the arcs she established resolved themselves. Malibu Rising was at its best when it explored the messy Riva family history and complicated sibling dynamics. But there wasn't really enough room to tease out the complexities of those relationships. And especially as the book ramped up it felt like Reid was rushing to resolve each conflict with a neat bow. The timeline and scope of the book didn't really allow the story to dive deep into that character work in a way that would really stick with me.  

In the end Malibu Rising is a perfect beach read. If you're looking for summer vibes and something to hold your attention on a vacation this book would be a great pick. The book is engrossing and fun even if it won't leave a long lasting impression so I'm sure I'll be picking up another of her books when summer rolls around.