Kerry Lonsdale, the author of “Find Me in California” has written a captivating and intriguing novel. The Genres for this novel are Family Life Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Friendship and Fiction. In this well-written novel, the author vividly describes four characters with their own stories to tell, and weaves them into an emotional and memorable book. I appreciate how the author discusses important topics such as the importance of family, friendships, honesty, communication, forgiveness and second chances. The author also mentions the importance of self-worth, self-esteem, and taking an emotional journey to find oneself. Other important topics are dementia and Alzheimers, alcoholism, and drugs. I like the para-normal feel of certain situations in this novel.

Julia Hope and Matt Gatlin both have aging grandmothers in an assisted living home. Julia has always been loved by her grandmother, and Matt has been ignored by his grandmother. Both were brought up by their grandmothers. Currently both grandmothers are in the same assisted living residence, and seem to have secrets. Julia and Matt are not aware that both grandmothers knew each other. Julia is a volunteer at the facility and has sent Matt boxes from his grandmother. Matt has been contacted by the facility to come and take care of financial arrangements for his grandmother. Julia works at several jobs to help keep her grandmother at the facility. Matt leaves to go to California to take care of this, and has several detours on his way.

Julia finds an old diary that sheds light on many situations. I loved everything about this story and highly recommend this to other readers.

I'm not sure where to start this review. By the summary, I wanted to like it, but it never really came together for me. Throw in a drug/alcohol infused hallucination(?) and I was left wanting a bit more substance from the story. While I'm glad to have read it, it was not my favorite.

Absolutely loved loved loved this book!
Kerry Lonsdale is one of my favorite authors.
It had 4 stories in one and kept you wondering.
Would definately recommend this book and this author.
5 Stars!!!

Matt and Julia have more in common than meets the eye. Both use their careers as an anchor to the reality around them, both have been facing family issues all their lives and both have grandmothers in an assisted living home. There is one more problem, though. They have never met each other. When the intertwined fates of their relatives bring them together through cardboard boxes and a few agitated phone calls, a tender story of love and grief unfolds.

To say this is a beautiful love story is an understatement. Matt and Julia’s stories evoke routes through difficult paths. Love, loss, grief, despair. The ever-problematic question of the family that should have been a shelter instead of a prison. The daily nightmare that is Alzheimer’s when you witness your loved one wasting away, all memories lost. And this accidental meeting (or phone call…) that might - just might- change your life.

With traces of Magical Realism used to perfection without being a cheap, fashionable gimmick and a poignant approach towards sensitive subjects like Alzheimer's and suicide, Kerry Lonsdale creates a story to be remembered.

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/

This book was like a sleeper that I didn't expect to get so wrapped up in. The grandparent/grandchild relationship resonated with me, as did Julie's story.

I really enjoy Kerry Lonsdale's books. They are always enjoyable and keep me interested the entire time. But this time, I found myself skimming pages just to get past chapters. The story was wonderful. I loved it and it intrigued me immensely! But the chapters about Matt, once he went on the road to meet them, I just couldn't get through them. I thought it was extremely uncomfortable and weird. His chapters before and after that were great though. But the road trip chapters, I feel like those could have been left out of the book and I'd have liked it much more. I understand it was his way of coping with things. But I did not enjoy reading them at all. Otherwise, wonderful book with a great story!

Told in two carefully constructed timelines, this was such an emotional and rewarding read. I really felt for the characters - Julia who's losing her beloved grandmother to Alzheimers, and Matt who's never come to terms with the death of his parents and his grandmother's cold-hearted treatment of him as a child. The characters' challenges and vulnerabilities are touchingly portrayed, sweeping us along as we read on, hoping and trusting they'll find a way to connect as they confront the past and allow themselves to heal.

This one was a bit different from the other books I’ve read by this author. I liked the analogy about the memories of Alzheimer’s patients.

I really enjoyed the start of this book, although from the get go Matt’s character was rude and arrogant. I was more interested in their grandmothers lives and friendships than I was Matt and Julia. I also found the time skips a little confusing and the entire plot was a little all over the place. I did love Julia as a character and her relationship with her grandmother though, that was the saving grace of this book for me.

This book is fantastically done, which is hard to do when incorporating so many difficult themes and sensitive subjects. But the author has created a book that allows empathy and sympathy for the complex lives of the characters. It was interesting to see how people's stories weave together (and how our own lives may be woven with others without us even realizing). Julia and Matt gave me joy! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book.

I really wanted to read this book but after seeing a trigger warning about child neglect I decided not to read it. I spent my childhood being abused and neglected and I just don’t want to read about it.

I liked this one and it’s dual timeline focus . I fel it had good pacing and plot and overall was enjoyable to me . The mid point of book fell a little flat but overall a good book

My seventh ‘Kerry Lonsdale’ book but my first standalone!

I love Lonsdale’s balance of mystery, suspense and love and her authentic characters and unique plots.

As the story opens we meet Matt Holloway who pulls into his driveway in his Porsche to discover 15 boxes of his grandmother’s belongings piled up. He’s not close to her so he is puzzled as to why Liza Hollway, his 83-year-old grandma, has had her personal items sent to him.

Then we head over to the Rosemont Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility where we meet massage therapist, Julia Hope who has taken a job here to supplement her grandmother’s, Mama Rose, monthly fee. She’s stressed out because new owners won’t recognize the agreement she’d made with the current owners and Mama Rose will have to move out.

Matt and Julia’s stories intersect and Lonsdale has surprises for us as we learn more about their grandmothers’ history!

You’ll love:
✔️Lost diary and what it reveals
✔️how the author examines love, loss, grief, betrayal, forgiveness, trust
✔️the unveiling of family secrets
✔️the family dynamics; reluctant guardian, childless career-focussed couple, death of parents…
✔️a focus on the damage and care for Alzheimer's
✔️a glimpse of Old Hollywood
✔️the unraveling of the ripple effects of choices
✔️multigenerational interactions

This is a story of two broken souls, neither of whom has had a loving childhood and both were sent to be raised by grandmothers. When their journeys intersect at a memory care facility, it’s as if time stops and is waiting for them to catch up and see how they were made for each other. I was rooting for them the whole time. I love that moment in the book when the title makes sense. I enjoyed Lonsdale’s exploration of how the roots of the past are intertwined with those of our present and future.

Trippy at times, this is an engaging read - one that will remind you to touch base with your elderly parents or grandparents!

I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
5/5

𝒟𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓇𝑒𝑔𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓈. 𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃. 𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓈: 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓈𝒸𝑒𝓃𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝓁𝓉𝒾𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒹𝑜 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒.

Kerry Lonsdale is one of my all time favorite authors….so this is one of my most anticipated books of 2024 & it did not disappoint. I tend to go in blind for books I know I love the author of. I saw the cover release & was in love from that moment on. It’s a story of love, life, family, & so much more. It’s meaningful & emotional. I cried multiple times during this book (which is rare). Our story begins with Matt finding out that his estranged grandmother is being kicked out of her nursing home. He ends up in contact to Julia, a massage therapist that volunteers at the nursing home & also has a family member there, as well. We find that their lives are much more intertwined than they realized.

I love characters that feel real. That make mistakes, but still care. Real people aren’t perfect. The characters in this book felt real because they showed their flaws. I feel as though Lonsdale wasn’t afraid to put in those characteristics in fear that her readers wouldn’t like the characters because the way she writes makes you still love them at the end of the day despite their flaws. Just as you do with your close friends & family after they show their flaws, make mistakes, or have just a crappy day with a crappy attitude. Liza was definitely by far my favorite character. I’d SO love a prequel with more of Liza’s past. From Magnolia Blu to Adam, I fell for each & every one of them though. I hated them at times, I loved them at others, & I cried for them a few pages later.


💜 Pub Date is June 11th! If you haven’t read Kerry Lonsdale’s other books catch up in the meantime! You will not be disappointed.

This was an interesting book with some twists and family dynamics that gave way to themes of forgiveness, moving forward, and finding your own value in life. It gets a bit twisty at times with multiple points of view and timelines, but was very good.

I love Kerry Lonsdale, but this one fell short for me. Like another reviewer, the part about Matt's bender and hallucinations were unrealistic and hard to keep track of. At that point, it turned into reading just to find out what happened. I did enjoy the dual timeline and it was easy to follow between all 4 characters. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

TWs: infidelity, child neglect, heavy drug/alcohol usage

This was a mystery with bits of romance and "supernatural/magical" aspects to the story. This book had so many twists and turns that I was not expecting at all. Ienjoyed unraveling the connection between Matt and Julia and their respective family histories. It was interesting to see the dichotomy between Matt and Julia's respective relationships with their grandmothers. All of the characters have gone through a lot in their lives, and it was interesting to see how each of their lives turned out and what Matt and Julia learned from their family's pasts. I felt really bad for Matt's traumatic childhood experience and what he experienced with his grandmother. I think loneliness was a huge theme in this novel for many of the characters. I felt that Matt and Julia's build up to their relationship was a bit rushed. The majority of this book takes place within a week, and I felt that their feelings were too deep too fast. I wanted to see more of how Matt and Julia's relationship developed before it got serious.

A unique story - I've never read anything like it. I read this in one sitting! I just kept turning the page because I wanted to know what happened next.

"Find Me in California" is a beautifully written novel that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and the power of forgiveness. Kerry Lonsdale's skillful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and settings to life, creating a world that I found myself fully immersed in. The themes of love, loss, and redemption are expertly explored, leaving a lasting impact on those who read it.

The story follows when Julia is struggling while caring for her grandmother who raised her, while Matt is estranged from the grandmother he lived with after his parents died. Julia & Matt's lives collide when Julia sends Matt's grandmother's belongings to him. What transpires is how secrets that have been kept by both grandmothers for many years have afflicted upon both Julia & Matt and many others!!!

The emotional journey that Julia and Matt embark on is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as they navigate their past traumas and struggles to find a way back to each other. The novel's exploration of family ties and the importance of forgiveness is both thought-provoking and moving, making it a truly unforgettable read.

However, I do have some criticisms about certain aspects of the plot, I found Matt's hallucinations quite as tedious and unrealistic to read. Despite that, this book managed to evoke such strong emotions out of me! In conclusion, "Find Me in California" is a must-read for anyone looking for a touching and emotionally resonant story that will stay with them long after they turn the final page. Kerry Lonsdale's masterful storytelling and compelling characters make this novel a standout in the genre, and a book that I personally will not soon forget.

Thankyou Negalley and the publisher for the arc!

Find Me in California by Kerry Lonsdale is a narration about 4 main characters, all connected in one way or another. but there are two main characters that come to the top: Matt and Julia. Both Matt and Julia happen to go through difficult times, with Julia being abandoned by her mother and Matt losing her parents, at an early age. Matt finds himself being raised by a grandmother who dislikes him, and on the other hand, Julia is raised by a grandmother who adores her. Having grown old now, the two grandmothers, who had shared some history earlier in their lives and have deep secrets buried in their past, might just leave them all alone in this world, without anyone they can call family. In the end, they have some serious life decisions to make. Will they have enough courage to make these important decisions? What will become of them in the end? Well, find out in this mysterious narration.

This is a story with many stories within it, each character with a story to tell, a theme to convey, and a lesson to be learned. And this is the very thing I adored about the book.

I recommend this book, Find Me in California by Kerry Lonsdale, to those readers who love mystery books. I would say that this is a book full of mysteries, the readers will keep wanting to know what the characters are up to, what secrets they have been keeping, the reasons, and what's next, thus not being able to put the book down. It's quite a handful!

"Find Me in California" is a poignant tale of love, loss, and destiny, intertwining the lives of Julia and Matt as they navigate the complexities of grief and family ties. Kerry Lonsdale does a great job in weaving together multiple perspectives, both past and present, having which readers into a captivating narrative that spans generations. From Julia's tender relationship with her grandmother to Matt's journey of confronting his painful past, every character is richly developed, evoking a range of emotions from laughter to tears. As secrets unravel and connections deepen at the Rosemont Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility, Lonsdale expertly explores themes of forgiveness and redemption. With its compelling storyline and relatable characters, this novel is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming and thought-provoking story.