Malibu Rising

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is the beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking story of one family in Malibu, California.

June Costas grew up in Malibu. Her parents owned a restaurant across from the beach - Pacific Fish. June grew up promising herself she would do more than take over the family business. In 1956, she met Mitch Riva on the beach.

It was love at first sight. But falling in love with a man whose goal is to become the best / most famous singer of a generation is not an easy life. 

Nina, Jay, Hudson and Kat lived with their mother June in a tiny beach house. Thier father was rarely around - at one point being gone so long they would have forgotten who he was if not for his name being everywhere on TV and the radio.

Told from the points of view of the Riva children, with flashbacks to their parents, Malibu Rising is a family saga that spans from 1956 to the early 1980s. Reid is a fabulous storyteller. This is a great read!

Reid, Taylor Jenkins. (2021). Malibu Rising. New York: Ballatine Books.

Daisy Jones and the Six

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is another great read by a wonderful storyteller.

Daisy Jones grew up in Los Angeles. Her parents were rich but paid very little attention to her - including not noticing her missing after she moved out for weeks as a teen.

Growing up going to all of the hip parties and bar, Daisy joined a friend's band on stage one night. Her voice and stage presence captivated the audience. This begins the tale of Daisy making music and becoming part of the most popular rock band in US history.

Reid's tale reads like the biography - including the highs and lows of being a rockstar, living through the 70s drug haze and finding your way in a strange world of fame while trying to live your life.

Read all of Reid's books set in this timeline. She is amazing.

Reid, Taylor Jenkins. (2019). Daisy Jones and The Six. New York: Ballantine Books. 

Carrie Soto is Back

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is awesome! I was already a fan, and then Reid wrote a tennis story!

Carrie Soto dominated women's tennis for a decade. She holds the record for the most Grand Slam wins at 20. But five years after retiring from the sport, Nicki Chan has is about to tie her record.

Raised by a tennis playing father, Carrie was convinced that with hard work, she would become the best tennis player of all time. Now she will have to get back in fighting shape to defend her title. 

Carrie will enter four tournaments. At age 37 she will set a new record with every win she collects.

Tennis fans, good storyteller fans, read this book - as well as the rest of Taylor Jenkins Reid's work!

Reid, Taylor Jenkins. (2022). Carrie Soto is Back. New York: Ballantine Books.

Portrait of an Unknown Woman (Gabriel Allon #22)

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva is the 22nd book in his Gabriel Allon espionage series.

Gabriel Allon has finally retired from Mossad. His days of traveling the world on secret missions, or even his days of sending others on secret missions, is over. He and Chiara and the twins are moving to Venice where he can concentrate on art.

A few paintings by Old Master have recently been discovered in a private collection - code for likely forged with a small chance of being an authentic lost treasure. 

When an art dealer friend asks for help, Gabriel so be hunting the world's best forger. 

Silva is a great writer and storyteller. Read him!

Silva, Daniel. (2022). Portrait of an Unknown Woman. New York: Harper.