2021
WISE Score
A glamorous, high-stakes 1980s Malibu rager where four famous siblings must face their father’s messy legacy before the house literally goes up in flames.
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This is the ultimate 'beach read' that actually has a soul. It’s glamorous and messy, but the core isn't the party—it’s four siblings trying to be better people than their famous, flakey father.
If your teen is moving out of YA and into adult fiction, this is a perfect bridge. It’s sophisticated enough to be challenging but fast-paced enough that it never feels like 'homework.' Just be ready for some heavy conversations about what makes a family.
Best for high schoolers (15+) and adults. While the writing is accessible, the themes of marriage, infidelity, and the burden of fame are aimed squarely at an older audience.
The core is built on fierce sibling loyalty and the protection of family, though it's wrapped in a layer of 1980s excess, infidelity drama, and a literal house-burning rager.
Taylor Jenkins Reid excels at building a 'fictional history' that feels so real you'll find yourself googling Mick Riva's discography. The 1983 Malibu setting is vivid and immersive.
Typical adult contemporary content: plenty of alcohol, some drug mentions, sexual situations, and heavy emotional themes regarding parental abandonment. Nothing shocking for a teen reader, but not for the middle-grade crowd.
It's a masterclass in examining how we inherit our parents' mistakes and the conscious effort required to break those cycles. Great for empathy and understanding complex family structures.
Taylor Jenkins Reid has carved out a specific niche: fictionalized oral histories of mid-century icons. If your kid liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones & The Six, they’ll recognize the name Mick Riva. He’s the connective tissue between these books, and Malibu Rising is where we finally see the fallout of his rockstar lifestyle through the eyes of his children.
Even though it's marketed to adults, the book resonates with older teens because it deals with that specific moment of transition: realizing your parents are flawed humans and deciding who you want to be independently of them. Nina Riva, the eldest, has spent her life parenting her siblings, and her journey toward setting boundaries is a powerful arc for any kid who feels the weight of family responsibility.
Don't let the cover fool you. While there’s plenty of surfing, supermodel glam, and 80s nostalgia, the book is essentially a drama about generational trauma. The structure—counting down the hours of a single day—makes it incredibly hard to put down. It’s a great example of 'literary-lite' fiction: it’s smart and well-constructed but doesn't require a degree in English lit to enjoy.
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