Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a really good contemporary fiction that follows one fictional famous family that lives in Malibu in August 1983. The book focuses on the children of legendary singer Mick Riva, who have earned fame in their own right. Through flashbacks that explain the love story, and heartbreak, of their parent’s relationship, the readers get a glimpse into the chaotic, secretive life of Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit.

Nina is a surfer and supermodel, Jay is a championship surfer, Hud is a renowned surfer photographer, and Kit wants to be surf champ. As we learn more about the kid’s history, we get a glimpse into how each copes with the abandonment, one literally and one figuratively, of their parents, and how it taints their ability to deal with problems.

The book is well written and grabbed my attention from the start. The author does a great job of painting a picture of Malibu in the 1980s. She slowly unfolds each character and their unique qualities. I was completely swept away by the story and found myself reading late into the night. The nostalgic touches of 1980’s were fun to read and brought back my own memories of those times.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books. All opinions are my own.