Taylor Jenkins Reid does a great job setting up am atmosphere and throwing the reader into a specific time and place, and that talent is on full display here. She really made Malibu in the 80s (and 50s) come to life, and even though I don't have any experience with the time or place I really got a feel for the setting. In a book with a number of ensemble characters, sometimes their nuances and personalities get a little lost; Jenkins Reid also sidesteps this potential weakness, creating distinct characters with unique traits that were also very well tied together. The siblings were all interesting in their own rights, but they also worked well together as a collective and I was never bored or annoyed when the plot shifted focus among them.

Nina seemed to be the focus of the novel, though, and rightfully so—her arc encompassed a lot of the overall themes of the book, and she juggled the same fears her mother faced and the fame her father owned. But even though she was a celebrity, she was a very relatable main character and I was happy to be part of her journey. There were a lot of plotlines in play in this book, and it could've gotten to be overwhelming, but Jenkins Reid once again put together a well-weaved story with engaging characters and an intoxicating setting. 5 stars and no complaints for me, except that reading this so close to its publication means I'll probably have to wait a while for a new novel.