Malibu Rising

“Malibu Rising” was a good book. In fact, I liked it better than the author’s even more well-known book, “Daisy Jones and the Six.” However, I’m not going to say it was a GREAT book, just a good one that I enjoyed reading. I think like some of the other books I read toward the end of last year, it suffered from all the hype built up around it. I kept hearing that I just had to read this book, so I went in with unrealistically high expectations. If not for that pressure, I think I may have enjoyed it even more than I did.

This is the story of four siblings, all who love surfing and are involved with it professionally in one way or another. Nina is the oldest, a surfing model who is now rich and famous, but not happy. Brothers Jay and Hud, one who is a professional surfer and the other a surfing photographer, have always been intertwined but are finally figuring out how to live their own lives separate from each other. And the youngest Kit, a talented surfer in her own right, is constantly being overshadowed by her siblings. Thrown in two dysfunctional parents, and you have some great character arcs. I found all their stories compelling but was especially drawn to the four siblings, who are growing as individuals as well as brothers and sisters.

Like I said, this was a good book that stayed with me. Was it worthy of being the Goodreads 2021 Historical Fiction winner...no, not in my opinion, but I’m still glad I read it.