Introduction

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today • From the author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo . . .

“Irresistible . . . High drama at the beach, starring four sexy, surfing siblings and their deadbeat, famous-crooner dad.”—People

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Time, Marie Claire, PopSugar, Parade, Teen Vogue, Self, She Reads

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives forever.

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. 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. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.

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.

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Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. Just because something looks like paradise doesn’t mean its heaven. How does MALIBU RISING explore the darker realities of fame and fortune? How is fame different for women than it is for men? What kinds of expectations do we place on female celebrities?

2. Early on, Taylor Jenkins Reid writes, “Our family histories are simply stories. They are myths we create about the people who came before us, in order to make sense of ourselves.” Do you agree? How did this book make you think about your own family history?

3. Which Riva sibling --- Nina, Jay, Kit or Hud --- did you relate to the most, and why? How are these siblings alike, and how are they different?

4. As Taylor Jenkins Reid said, she is often inspired by time and place. THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO was set in Hollywood in the 60s. DAISY JONES & THE SIX was about '70s rock n’ roll in Southern California. Now, with MALIBU RISING, she’s exploring Malibu in the '80s. Why do you think time and place are so important? How does the author bring the '80s Malibu scene to life?

5. This novel is in part about the way we repeat the mistakes of our parents or try to avoid doing so. How was Nina’s life shaped by her mother’s? How has your own life been shaped by the people who raised you?

6. MALIBU RISING is also about sibling relationships. Nina is the first-born dutiful daughter, Jay thinks he’s the man of the house, Hud is the peacemaker, and Kit is always left out. All of that is based on what they’ve learned from one another. Discuss the nature of sibling rivalry. Why do you think sibling dynamics can be so complicated? How do we use our siblings to define our own personalities?

7. Mick is essentially the villain in the book, but he’s also portrayed with sympathy and humanity. Why do you think that is? What did you make of his character? Do you think he got what he deserved in the end?

8. Talk about the structure of the novel. Why do you think the narrative takes place within 24 hours? How does that influence the pacing of the story?

9. Destruction and renewal are big themes in the book. Where do you see these at play? What is interesting about those concepts? What other themes did you notice?

10. The novel is bookended by scenes of fire burning. What is the significance of fire? How are these scenes symbolic? What does it mean to have a ”nature to burn”?

11. Super Fans: How did MALIBU RISING compare to DAISY JONES & THE SIX and THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO? Did you notice any Easter Eggs or recurring characters?

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