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Quick answer: If you loved Malibu Rising, read Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Big Little Lies and Commonwealth. All follow glamorous or troubled families over one dramatic stretch of time, with secrets, sibling bonds and sun-soaked settings.
Taylor Jenkins Reid's 2021 novel follows the four Riva siblings, children of a famous singer, as they prepare for their annual end-of-summer party in 1983 and watch it spiral out of control. It is breezy, emotional and nostalgic. The books below share its family drama, California sunshine and stories that move between past and present.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | more Reid |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | Hollywood secrets |
| Carrie Soto Is Back | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | sports drama |
| Maybe in Another Life | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | two possible lives |
| Big Little Lies | Liane Moriarty | Adult | suburban secrets |
| The Most Fun We Ever Had | Claire Lombardo | Adult | big family saga |
| Commonwealth | Ann Patchett | Adult | blended families |
| The Nest | Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney | Adult | sibling rivalry |
| Summer of '69 | Elin Hilderbrand | Adult | seaside nostalgia |
| Beautiful Ruins | Jess Walter | Adult | Hollywood and Italy |
| Fleishman Is in Trouble | Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Adult | modern marriage |
| The Last Thing He Told Me | Laura Dave | Adult | family mystery |
| Mrs. Everything | Jennifer Weiner | Adult | sisters across decades |
| Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Maria Semple | Adult | quirky mother |
| Evvie Drake Starts Over | Linda Holmes | Adult | gentle healing |
1. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A fictional 1970s rock band and its volatile lead singers, told in interview form. Addictive, glamorous and bittersweet, and the closest match in feeling.
Best for: more Reid.
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
An ageing film star tells a young journalist the truth about her marriages. A page-turner about love, ambition and what we hide.
Best for: Hollywood secrets.
3. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A retired tennis champion returns to the court to defend her records. Fierce, funny and surprisingly moving.
Best for: sports drama.
4. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A woman's life splits in two on the night she returns to Los Angeles. A light, romantic what-if.
Best for: two possible lives.
5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Three mothers at a school in an Australian beach town are drawn into a death. Funny, sharp and full of twists.
Best for: suburban secrets.
6. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
A long-married couple and their four daughters face love, secrets and a surprise visitor. Warm and absorbing.
Best for: big family saga.
7. Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Two families are joined by a kiss at a christening party. A thoughtful story of how families tell their own history.
Best for: blended families.
8. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Four adult siblings learn their expected inheritance has vanished. Sharp, funny and perfect for fans of messy families.
Best for: sibling rivalry.
9. Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
A Nantucket family spends a turbulent summer in 1969. Warm, vivid and full of period detail.
Best for: seaside nostalgia.
10. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
A young Italian innkeeper meets an actress in 1962, and the story spans decades. Charming, funny and bittersweet.
Best for: Hollywood and Italy.
11. Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
A divorced doctor is left with his children, and the story shifts to a surprising point of view. Sharp, witty and honest.
Best for: modern marriage.
12. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
A woman searches for the truth after her husband vanishes, leaving a note and his teenage daughter. Fast and emotional.
Best for: family mystery.
13. Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
Two sisters grow up in Detroit and take very different paths through the 1950s to today. Warm, moving and sweeping.
Best for: sisters across decades.
14. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
A teenager searches for her mother, who has disappeared before a family trip. Funny and unusual, told through documents.
Best for: quirky mother.
15. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
A young widow in a small Maine town rents her apartment to a former baseball pitcher. Sweet and hopeful.
Best for: gentle healing.
How to Choose
For more Reid begin with Daisy Jones & The Six. For family sagas choose The Most Fun We Ever Had, Commonwealth or Mrs. Everything. For sharp, funny drama pick Big Little Lies, The Nest or Fleishman Is in Trouble. For seaside nostalgia try Summer of '69. If you want an easy beach read, Maybe in Another Life and Evvie Drake Starts Over are the lightest. Reid's books are quick reads, so expect to finish in a weekend. Many of these are available as audiobooks with full casts, which suits the multi-voice style of Reid's novels.
Related: Malibu Rising Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes) · 15 Books Like Red Rising You’ll Love: Brutal Sci-Fi, Rebels and Epic War
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Malibu Rising about?
Four siblings host a legendary party in 1983 while the story moves back through their family history.
Who wrote it?
Taylor Jenkins Reid.
When was it published?
2021.
Is it connected to Daisy Jones & The Six?
Reid's books share an interconnected universe, with small cross-references, but each can be read alone.
Is it a romance?
It has romance, but it is mainly a family drama.
Is it a quick read?
Yes, most readers finish in a few days.
Is it a good beach read?
Yes, especially with its summer setting.
What should I read next?
Try Daisy Jones & The Six or Big Little Lies.