They notice the photo shoot, and Nina recognizes that hes some type of tennis player. He ended up winning that tournament, and afterwards he and Carrie hooked up. Its the day of Ninas annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch as everyone who is someone gather at Ninas glamorous Cliffside mansion. At 6:51, Jay, Hud and Kit arrive at Ninas. As professional Facebook sleuths and murder podcast enthusiasts, were pretty sure were going to figure this one out. In September, they are remarried. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. She knows the famous people about to be all up in her house will be aware of her relationships shameful turn, but she just cant cancel a party that has never had any official invitations. She tells him she thinks she prefers women and wants to be friends with him instead. Finding she has nothing in her closet that makes her feel the way she wants to feel, she goes to her sister for advice. Carol tells June that Mick is the father and that shes unable to take care of the boy. Soon, there are people everywhere, and Jay is waiting impatiently for Lara to arrive. Over the course of 24 hours, everything the Riva siblings have spent a lifetime holding together comes crumbling down. Why did Mick come to party and finally face his kids? Please post a comment and let me know what brought you to my corner of the web. How do we know? Soon, they move into 28150 Cliffside Drive. Plot Summary The prologue opens with Malibu's history of fires. At the beach, Jay and Kit are done surfing, and they plan to head to their childhood home on Malibu Road where they both still live before going to meet their siblings at Rivas Seafood. Is he, too, capable of doing terrible things? As she drives, she thinks about baby names. Meanwhile, Ashley comes in and finds Hud at the party. Just because it is in Malibus nature to burn, so was it in one particular persons nature to set fire and walk away., One of my favorite moments in the book comes at the end when they adopt their probable sibling Casey into the fold, and I dont have my book with me at the moment, but the narrator says something like, she needed to be loved, so they would love her, and I just melted. SPOILERS AHEAD! But instead, he gets nervous and ends up asking Jay what he thinks about the two of him dating. For three years, Nina keeps the family struggling along, barely getting by. Even at a young age, she didnt trust her fatherfor good reason. As Nina finally starts to enjoy herself, she sees Hud with Ashley in an unmistakably romantic way and she know this is not going to end well. Malibu Rising follows the life of Mick Riva's kids, Nina, Kit, Jay, and Hud. We cant wait to cringe at whatever line Mick feeds June next. What are your listenin, Happy December, bookworms! Malibu: August 1983. Her mother, Christina, comments on how handsome Mick is, but warns June to be careful with guys like that. From there, the money starts rolling in. Elsewhere, Hub tells Ashley hes going to try to talk to Jay again tonight. The baby named Hudson. Kit thinks shes just as good at surfing as her siblings, but she doesnt have Ninas gorgeous looks to get the same type of attention. Oh gosh, she really went through it all. Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. In tiny Merinac, Kansas, Chicken Mimis and Chicken Frannies have spent a century vying to serve up the best fried chicken in the stateand the legendary feud between their respective owners, the Moores and the Pogociellos, has lasted just as long. Afterwards, Nina offers to help her mother out at the restaurant instead of going to school, but her mother declines. Finally, as yet another expensive item gets broken in the house, Tarine decides to put a stop to the party, telling Greg to shut off the music. She still remembers him making and breaking promises as a kid, and she tells him off, saying that hes not their father. June turns on entertainment news to see that Mick has married for the fifth time. She hopes to see Vaughn Donovan, who she heard might make an appearance. Jay, 23, is a professional surfer. . It was expected that June would take over cooking at the restaurant for her mother, but she dreamed of stardom instead. The other kids diffuse the situation, but Jay and Hud finally talk about their mothers situation and contemplate trying to contact Mick, though they know June specifically doesnt want to do that. From there, there was a string of other women though he told himself he was still a good husband to June. The party scenes were entertaining and a good mix of the serious and ridiculous. Jay and Hud make peace with each other. When Nina gets angry with him for his attitude, Mick defends himself, saying that he truly wasnt capable of being a good father until now. The last thing Brooklyn-based organizational guru Mae Moore, Amandas sister, wants is to go home to Kansas. So predictable. By morning the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. I thought it had so much more depth than I expected. 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 . He tells her everything she wants to hear and promises her the world, because he wants a woman who believes in him and will do anything for him. In spring 1978, the two boys graduated high school. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. (Nina is known for her career as a swimsuit/surfing model.). Finally, Nina tells both Brandon and Carrie to leave, and Carrie apologies for interrupting the party. Lets talk about the push for Nina to go to Portugal and leave everything behind including finally selling the family restaurant. If you know the location and the date, you are invited. Her principal tells her he knows whats up, but he wont call CPS and risk having them split up as long as shes doing OK. Nina drops out of school and goes to work at the restaurant. 7) How did you feel about Mick by the end of the novel? SPOILERS for Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid If you continue reading, you will be exposed to spoilers from the above book. As one does, when they have a cliff. Nina finds her. He secretly took cortisone shots for his arms. The book alternates between a narrative of Mick's early career and first marriage, and Mick's children hosting their annual blow-out Malibu beach party in 1983. She is the only one he has told, so he confirms that she will be at the party. :: Notable quote: 'Destruction. What listen are you most l, Sending Alice Hoffman birthday wishes today. He introduces himself and hands her his business card, suggesting that she could make money from modeling. As everyone grabbed their essentials, Nina had seen her mother grab a bottle of vodka before they left. Cliff wind has to be much more satisfying to scream into than a pillow. Quick synopsis to get you started! Afterwards, they talk about how Mick didnt show up, even though Nina had tried to contact his manager and the courts had likely already reached out to him as the executor of Junes estate. Oh, and maybe Hudbecause it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom hes been inseparable since birth. His mother is a cook with a violent temper. We all have important moments and meaningful turning points in life, don't we? However, Nina laughs in his face, saying that capable has nothing to do with it, instead she and June did it because it was necessary. Or, Netflix n buddy-read withthis years book-to-screen adaptations(just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?). I also like books with words (and dogs) in them, but I will stay far away from this one. In what ways is Nina, who is the most worried out of all of her siblings about following in her mothers footsteps, both like and unlike June? Hope you enjoyed book club questions for Malibu Rising! Proceed with caution. Tarine also tells Nina her biggest flaw is that shes too selfless. A few weeks later, June burns dinner and serves it anyway. Soon, six police officers arrive. However, when the call came saying June was in labor, Mick skipped it to do his show. Meanwhile, Ninas closest friend (and gorgeous fashion model), Tarine Montefiore, 27, walks in with Greg Robinson, 50, who is a big time music producer. On her answering machine, her agent Chris Travertine, has left a message about someone releasing photos of her dressed in a bikini from a calendar shoot she previously did. Casey tells Nina that she thinks Mick Riva is her father. (I numbered the chapters to make it easier to reference, but the chapters are un-numbered in the book.). Meanwhile, Kit asks Nina where shed want to be if she could be anywhere, and Nina says Madeira, Portugal. Then, he comes home from Wimbledon and tells Nina hes leaving her for another woman. The parties get so out of control that Nina doesnt always know everything that happens until it makes tabloid news. Casey hands Mick the photo of her mother, but Mick looks at it and tells her honestly that he doesnt know if he could be her father or not. I present to you, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid! Our handyBook Clubbin questionsmake it super easy to start a book club. Before he leaves, Mick tosses a cigarette that starts a fire that ends up burning down the house. A year later, while on tour, Mick runs off with a backup singer. At this point in time, I think Mick really does love Junie, at least in his own way, in his own definition of what that means. Mick and June sleep together, often. Jay speeds over to the Sandcastle, where his crush Lara works, and makes sure shes coming to the party. Plus, his arm was killing him, and she was unsympathetic. But when the sun rises, she picks up the pieces for the kids. Brandon is having his photos taken on the beach when he spots Nina eating at a beach club. That night, all the kids fall asleep with thoughts of surfing in their heads, but Nina especially is consumed by the feeling of wanting to go back. But on Christmas morning, they find a Christmas tree on the beach, surrounded by a board for each of them. Micks own parents were Carlo and Anna Riva, and Mick was their only child. Afterward, he reiterates that he loves Lara, who doesnt feel the same way. I had to post this comment somewhere! Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. He looks around the party, wondering if his perfect match is out there. She asks to bring her (platonic) co-worker, Chad, to cheer him up after recently being dumped. We learn that on Saturday, Aug. 27, 1983, in Malibu, a fire begins at a notorious party at the home of Nina Riva one that ends up spreading across the entire coastline. Meanwhile, Mick is continuing to drive towards the party. At midnight, Mick Riva, 50, is in his bedroom wearing a suit and tie. The reviews and comments posted on this site reflect the opinions of individual posters and do not reflect the views of Cannonball Read. Kit, meanwhile, is busy at parties, surfing and doing part-time work as a housepainter. A few hours later, Hud proposes to Ashley and she says yes. Andrew Lownie's book is certainly good, though it's a little hampered by his understandable decision to begin 'in medias res' (in the middle of the Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey. Brandon was raised by a father wont accept any less from him than to always win, while being a perfect gentleman. For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, fromnature therapytopersonal finance. While there were no formal invitations to the Riva party, Kit had always sent a handwritten one to Mick each year, since she had tracked down his address five years ago. Then, he realizes June loves Hudson, and realizes shell take him back to keep him. After June almost sets fire to the kitchen, Kit explodes and calls her a drunk. Afterwards, Nine thinks about how relieved she is to be done with him. At 8:00 PM, Tuesday Hendricks, an Oscar-winning actress, runs into her most recent co-star Rafael Lopez at the party. Nina finds Casey and tells her that Mick is downstairs if she wants to talk to him. At first Kit insists that shes into it, but finally she admits she wants to stop. Meanwhile, they are financially living off of the restaurants profits, but its not enough to make ends meet. and what they will leave behind. I liked how complex their father was, despite being such an asshole, and I loved seeing the four kids choose to support and love one another no matter what. Vaughn joins in eagerly. Kit grows quite a bit in the novel. AT 3:00 AM, Ted Travis, a network TV star whose wife recently passed away, meets Victoria Brooks, a 43-year-old script supervisor, at the party. If you were a single mom to four kids whose true love had just returned, what would you do? Then, he finds an excuse to push her body against his. In 1961, the day after Mick and Junes divorce is finalized, Mick and Veronica are married, and soon theyre living in a Manhattan penthouse. Shes so desperate for a life bigger than a fish restaurant that she absorbs every ounce of bullshit he produces. Mick remarries again after Veronica, but its annulled the next day. He is staying with said mistress at a hotel. June wakes to find him proclaiming his lover for her, and he begs her for once more chance. Discover short videos related to malibu rising spoilers on TikTok. Nina also meets Casey, a young woman wandering around the party, who turns out to also be Micks daughter. She does a calendar, and her photos inspire her siblings Kit realizes women do a future in surfing, Hud realizes he loves photography, and Jay realizes he needs to up his game. 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. Nina forages her fathers name on everything. There is a funeral for June. But what warning signs did she ignore about Mick? Still, Nina tells him that his love doesnt mean very much. But by then, Nina is already on a plane to live out her dream of living an unassuming life of surfing and eating fresh fish in Madeira, Portugal. However, very quickly, hed realized that Carrie was too severe and her life was too structured for his liking. While Jay travels a lot for his surfing career, Kit is a junior at Santa Monica College, and she helps out at the restaurant on weekends. We learn shes 25, and she says shes not a mother but has raised children. Hmm. Kit hopes to kiss a boy for the first time at the party. He also talks about how his mother would get mad and set things on fire, probably to upset his father. A.) As he heads out, Mick is smoking a cigarette and flicks it onto the ground. So she lets him love her. June reluctantly lets him back in, and Mick promises to be a better husband. She just couldnt get over being left behind by Mick who was very much emotionally abusive to her. Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: 1980's, Fiction, historical fiction, malibu rising, narfna, surfing, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Good evening, everyone. Then, he kisses her and asks if she has ever stolen anything. Hes a handsome, cocky, championship surfer, but is apparently cursed with living under the shadow of his famous father. I am about halfway through. I would also love to see this get a big budget series order. She introduces herself as Casey Greens . Their mother June is determined to leave behind her home and family restaurant and believes Mick will be her ticket out of there. Hud contemplates his birth mother, Carol, and wonders how much of his father he has in him. Nina absentmindedly picks up a magazine and has to read about her husbands affair, again. Young Mick learned to care for himself. 1 yr. ago. The couple moves up the wedding date and has a small beach ceremony; Junes side has family and friends, Micks only has music executives. Enraged, Jay goes to find Hud, who decides to tell Jay the truthHud will be a father. He asked June out after seeing her standing on the beach, and took her out to a fancy restaurant, the Sea Lion. SPOILER !!!!! Kit becomes a teenager and spends as much time as possible out of the house. The rest of the house finally admits that fact aloud. That night, Nina reassures the others that everything will be ok. By 4:00, Ninas house is spotless. He tells Nina that he loves her and that he wants to come home. SPOILERS : 4.25/5 What an epic story! At theyre surfing, a perfect wave comes in and as Jay goes for it, Kit sees him and cuts him off, stealing the wave from him. If you're lookin, A question you've probably never asked: Which spoo, Happy autumn to all the book lovers out there. Check out my book club questions here. It turns out that Victoria is a widow as well, and he asks her out. In Malibu Rising, the Riva siblings face their secrets and their problems over one epic party night. It lands in the bushes and starts a fire without him realizing it. As the summer of 1983 winds to a close, the entire town looks forward to the party to end all parties. . Jay forgives Hud, who proposes to Ashley. Brandons mistress arrives, and Nina realizes she doesnt have to blandly accept everything that happens to her. . Welcome back to our monthly Book Clubbin feature where we provide discussion questions for your next book club meeting. Hud is consumed with feelings of guilt for hooking up with Ashley behind Jays back. Nina is determined to keep her siblings out of foster care, and the school principal had explained to her that as long as it seemed like things were in order, he wouldnt inform the state. In Fall 1971, Christina dies of a stroke. Both Nina and Junes storylines were very compelling and heartfelt. Ramon, who has been running the restaurant since 1979, is in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Nina is surveying the party when Wendy Palmer, one of the staff from the restaurant, beckons her to dance. Will the siblings ever see their father again? He was taught to act like a gentleman and to win. As theyre sat in the cop car, Ricky and Vanessa agree to go out the next day, assuming theyre no longer in jail. 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. SPOILERS for Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger, SPOILERS for The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, SPOILERS for All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham, SPOILERS for The Night Shift by Alex Finlay. The Bibliofile's review of Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. On the way to the precinct, the cops also find Brandons car wrapped around a tree. This year, however, shes also very aware that all the guests will likely know that her tennis pro husband Brandon Randall recently left her for another woman (and fellow tennis player), Carrie Soto, since the story was splashed on the front page of a tabloid a few days ago. In Huds truck, Jay tells Lara hes in love with her. Soon, it is rolling down the coastline and eventually when the firefighters arrive, Brandon is with Carrie when he sees that his house is on fire. The story is told in multiple timelinesthe majority is focus on the four siblings and their parents. I am so glad you stopped by. Nina thinks about all the nice stuff she now owns. Maybe its finally time for me to dive into TJRs back catalogue, even if none of them are the historical fiction that I think she does so well. Nina and her siblings grew up in a shabby bungalow. At 6:00 AM, Kit suggests that Nina move to Portugal if thats her dream. One Good Book About Edward VIII and One Bad Book, Why do these colonizers always claim what isnt theirs?, There Isnt an Adequate Title To Tell You How Much I Loathed this Book. Looking at herself, Kit feels great. By 197 at Junes funeral, Nina is now 17. At Riva Seafood, Nina makes her siblings each a mess of seafood between bread, a comfort lunch called The Sandwich. It would have never occurred to Jay, Hud, or Kit to make the sandwich themselves, or to make the sandwich for Nina. Ah, a delicious metaphor.