+Character-driven
+Compelling writing
+Easy to read
+Great resolution

Honestly not surprised that TJR was able to pull it off again. There's just always something so compelling about her writing, and Malibu Rising is no different.

I was honestly shocked (and so so excited) when I got approved for this ARC, as this was one of my most anticipated reads this year after loving Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo last year. I loved the premise of this one, and couldn't wait to dive in.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I just couldn't stop reading! Unfortunately I always picked the wrong moments to start reading, and kept being forced to put this down so I could sleep, but I couldn't wait to get back to it the next day. This book was just so easy to read, and the way it was formatted made it easy to just say 'one more chapter', which I haven't had often lately. Malibu Rising combined my favorite aspects of both Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones yet gave the story of fame it's own special twist.

Reid always excels when it comes to making you connect with and feel for the characters, and Malibu Rising is only further proof of her skill with character building. From the beginning you feel a connection for the Rivas, siblings who seem to have it all on the surface, and you're immediately drawn in by their close relationship and their story. The first part of the book consists of alternating flashbacks and present scenes building up the events to happen later, allowing you to connect both with who the characters are now and understand what shaped them in the past. Even in this part, Reid managed to keep me hooked in both the past and the present, with one never seeming to overshadow the other. By the second part, where all the build-up goes somewhere, you're already quite invested in the characters and all their individual stories and problems. I honestly don't think this story could have been told differently and had the same effect. While I definitely favored some characters over others, I felt all had their own moments to shine, and their dynamic as a family also played a huge role in the story.

This is definitely more of a character-driven story, though the plot is still interesting in its own way. The present story hinges around the 24 hours leading up to and after the famous Riva party. While the events of the party itself sometimes disconnect from the turmoil of the siblings themselves, it's a great background for the tension that builds over the course of the night. As the conflict with each character grows, so does the party grow more wild. It was the perfect complement to such a character-driven story, and keeps the reader excited and interested even when emotional conflict may seem slow to some.

Overall, I loved this latest book by Taylor Jenkins Reid (and the nods toward Evelyn Hugo it contained), and I can't wait to see what Reid writes next! In the meantime, I still have a few more of her books to read...