13 Malibu Rising Book Club Questions to Discuss
Looking for Malibu Rising book club questions for your next reading group meeting? Here are 15 thought-provoking discussion questions to get you guys going!
Malibu Rising is the seventh book from Taylor Jenkins-Reid. Another entry into the world of celebrity culture, the story follows four siblings – Nina, Jay, Hudson, and Kit – in the beautiful setting of Malibu. The siblings have a famous father, Mick Riva, who left them behind long ago.
Each of the four siblings has their own troubles. Nina, a surfer and model, is dealing with the aftermath of her husband’s affair with a famous tennis player.
Jay and Hudson have tension between them that simmers throughout the book, and Jay worries about his future. And their little sister, Kit, is secretly struggling with the lack of a father figure.
As the book develops, we learn more about the four of them, their family, and how much they depend on each other. It’s a beautiful, glamorous world to escape into for a little while, and it makes an ideal poolside novel and a good pick-me-up on a cold, dreary day.
This is a fun story to enjoy with your book club. To get the discussion going, here are thirteen book club questions for Malibu Rising.
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Malibu Rising Book Club Questions
The book opens with the ending: Malibu ablaze, starting from the home of Nina Riva during a wild party. ‘Because, just as it is in Malibu’s nature to burn, so was it in one particular person’s nature to set fire and walk away’ (Prologue)
As the book progressed, did you know who could have started the fire? Were you surprised when you found out?
We meet Nina, Jay, Hudson, and Kit in the opening chapters. The siblings are obviously close, although we quickly notice a bit of tension between them.
What were your first impressions of the siblings? Were there some that you warmed to more than others?
Hud has fallen in love with his brother’s ex-girlfriend, Ashley. As the book progresses, he grapples with his guilt. He wants to tell Jay but can’t seem to find the right opportunity until it all comes out later in the book.
What did you think of Hud and Ashley’s love story? Did you feel sorry for Hud, or did you sympathise more with Jay?
While Nina appears to be living in paradise in her modern Malibu mansion, the siblings had a difficult childhood. Nina had to become a guardian to three younger Riva children in her teen years. When they finally meet their father, Mick, they’re understandably furious with him.
How did you feel reading about the siblings and their struggle for survival? Do you think the siblings were unfair to Mick, or do they forgive him too quickly?
‘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.’
The four Riva siblings see their parents’ love story in different ways. For Nina, it was a tragedy. For Jay, it was a comedy of errors. For Hud, it was an origin story. For Kit, it was a mystery.
‘But to June, it was, always and forever, a romance.’ (Part One, 1956)
What do you think about Mick and June’s love story? Did it feel like a romance, a tragedy, or something else? Which siblings’ viewpoint do you align with the most?
Jenkins-Reed beautifully describes the beachside setting of the book. Malibu comes to life in her writing.
How does the setting shape the characters? What do you think it would be like to grow up by the sea, how would that change your lifestyle?
Nina goes from struggling, sacrificing everything for her siblings, to living in a gorgeous home with her husband, Brandon. But it becomes obvious that she is unhappy there, feeling dissatisfied even before her husband had a high-profile affair with tennis star Carrie Soto.
What do you think of Nina’s character arc? Did you feel happy for her at the end of the book? How do you see her future panning out?
Kit goes from a slightly nervous, unsure kid to a more confident, self-assured young woman with a deeper understanding of herself. Her siblings must learn to adjust to seeing her as a grown-up rather than just their little sister.
What do you think about Kit’s transformation in the book? What do you imagine she will do after the book ends?
Jay is a promising young surfer with a big future ahead of him, but his newly discovered heart condition has interrupted his plans. Devastated by this knowledge, he seeks solace in Lara, but she doesn’t appear to be as interested in him.
How do you think Jay will learn to live with his heart condition? Do you see him getting his life under control, or do you think he will go off the rails?
Hud is hit with the news that he will be a father. However, he hasn’t grown up with a decent father figure around him.
Do you think Hud will be a good father?
‘Kit moved away from her father’s hand and laughed. “You have no idea what suits me.”
“I was the first person to hold you the day you were born,” Mick said to her gently. “I know you like I know my own soul.”‘
Kit is astonished by the presumption of her father, who had been missing most of her childhood. Even though she invited him there, she still doesn’t know what to make of him. Mick doesn’t even recognise Kit when he first spots her at the party.
What do you think about Mick’s attempts to connect with her? How would you feel in Kit’s position?
Later in the book, we are introduced to Casey Greens, the potential half-sibling of the Riva children. She appears at the party looking for answers and ends up meeting her father there, although it doesn’t work out the way she imagined.
What do you think about Casey’s character? Do you think the Riva siblings will all go on to accept her as one of their own?
Mick Riva is a heartthrob, leaving a trail of abandoned women (and children) behind him. Taylor Jenkins-Reed is excellent at writing about stardom and the dysfunctional nature of being a celebrity.
What do you think this book is trying to say about celebrity culture? Did you feel that Mick was a well-rounded character? Do you feel sorry for him, or were you angry with him for his decisions?
We hope these Malibu Rising book club questions get you all talking at your next book club session!
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