Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: "August 1983. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their baby sister, Kit. The siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over-- especially as the offspring of legendary singer Mick Riva. It's the day of Nina's annual end-of-summer party, and she's the only person not looking forward to it after being abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Hud needs to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth. Jay is counting the minutes until the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own. The alcohol will flow, the music will play... and by morning the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames."

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an extraordinary author. She makes you feel things in ways you never see coming. 

I loved the setting, the time period, the surfing, the family. I look forward to what she comes up with next!

"Every day of your life feels like you're climbing up the mountain. And then you get there and you stay for a bit. And it's nice at the top. But then you start sliding down the other side."

P.S. Maybe in Another Life was my first and will always be my favorite of hers.

369 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising-Wow! This will go down as a top 10 book for me. Taylor Jenkins Reid is quickly becoming a superstar author. She knows how to develop characters and tell a story that is meaningful and real. This is the story of 4 siblings, that seem to have it all: money, fame and a closeness that runs deep. While this story goes back to the siblings youth at times, the story focuses on a 24 hour period before, during and after one of their epic yearly parties. This new classic gave me all the feels!

369 pages

- Robin

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: "Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself... Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career...But as Evelyn's story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways."

I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her stories are so human, simple and poignant. Except this one. It was disappointing and oftentimes felt forced. None of the characters, settings or storytelling felt natural. None of the reveals were surprising or interesting. I couldn't understand what the point of this elaborate story was supposed to be. There is no conclusion or satisfaction found at the end. Just bitter disappointment and frustration. 

I ultimately hated this book. I honestly wish I had never read it. I remain hopeful that TJR's books will redeem themselves in the future. 

391 pages

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

In all honesty, I will probably read every book that Taylor Jenkins Reid ever writes because I am still so in love with Maybe in Another Life. However, I feel like I've set myself up for disappointment because no book will probably ever top it. 

However, I truly did enjoy One True Loves, as it was an emotional story about love and a refreshing discussion what "true love" really is. This book made me smile, it made me cry, it touched my heart, it made me analyze my entire life and all the choices I've made; meaning, it was another fantastic novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 

331 pages

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I decided to read this after reading Laura’s interesting review of it, and I am really happy that I did. You can pop over to her review for a summary, because I’m going to ignore that part and focus on the emotions and what the novel said to me.

This was a compelling story about what it takes to both make and break a relationship and how understanding yourself and knowing how to communicate can be more important than loving your partner. It also addresses how hate and frustration, while often attributed to the actions and behaviors of others, frequently stems from a place within, a place of selfishness and/or disappointments and hurts that are never communicated.

This book reminds people that it’s impossible for someone else to fix whatever is upsetting you, if you have the truth of the matter buried deep inside. It’s like putting sunscreen on after a burn: too little too late. It’s also unfair to expect others to magically know and fix what is upsetting you, even the people you love. The story is subtly layered with these gentle reminders that sometimes we expect too much from the people we love the most. We want something impossible from them, and in doing so, we set both them and ourselves up to fail.

This book also explores how even those you know the best, like the ones you choose for family, often have their own complex issues and concerns that you might not ever see if you don’t take the time to get real and be honest with them. There’s a surface level people share of themselves, a second level they seem to save for loved ones, and a third, deeper level that sometimes people keep from everyone, even themselves. When they stop, that seems to be the moment when life becomes most interesting, despite the challenges. This story will take you to that level, and afterwards, you won’t ever want to return to the surface again.

Pages: 352

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: "When Lauren and Ryan's marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes. Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren's ideas about monogamy and marriage."

After I Do is another of Taylor Jenkins Reid's amazing books, and I enjoyed it very much. It is not quite as magical as Maybe in Another Life, but its realism spoke to me. Reid is an excellent story-teller. She makes you feel intense emotions and second-guess your entire life with just a few sentences. Her words are simple but very powerful. I can't wait to read more of her work. 

336 pages

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: "Hannah Martin's life isn't shaping up into much of anything. Since graduating college eight years ago, she has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs ... She takes up residence in her best friend Gabby's guest room. Along with Gabby and Gabby's husband Mark, [she goes] out to a bar where they meet up with some of [their] old friends, including Hannah's high school boyfriend, Ethan. Shortly after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she's ready to go. But then Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan? [This book] is told in two concurrent storylines following the consequences of each choice." 

I LOVED this book so much more than I ever expected. It's simple and sweet while being simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking. Hannah is relatable and inspiring, especially through her failures and struggles. 

Favorite (of many wonderful) Quote: 

"We have to face those consequences head-on, for better or worse. We don't get to erase them just by saying we didn't mean to. Fate or not, our lives are still the results of our choices. I'm starting to think that when we don't own them, we don't own ourselves."

336 pages