I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

I ended up DNFing this book around 26%. I requested this books because the premise sounded interesting. However the characters couldn't capture my attention. I ended up waiting until this was published, and listened to the audiobook while following along with the arc. The writing style is solid, but I just wasn't interested in the story or the characters. Nothing against the author, and I'm sure some others will probably love this. Maybe I will pick it up again at a later date.

In Brian Castleberry's The Californians one of the main character’s says, “He’d come west dreaming that he was an artist, and immediately been made a cog in someone else’s machine.” That about sums up what happens to most who tried to find gold in the 19th century, fame in the 20th, and freedom in the 21st.

Don’t expect this novel to have all the answers; the dream we are all after is likely to remain elusive. Much like this ambitious novel that reaches for the stars; this one doesn't quite achieve escape velocity. The book tackles timeless themes about art, commerce, and the corrupting influence of money - themes that resonate deeply in our current era of NFTs and content creation.

The novel opens strongly with Tobey's compelling contemporary storyline about wildfire evacuation and desperate choices. Unfortunately, the narrative quickly splinters into multiple timelines and perspectives, losing the immediacy of that initial hook. While Castleberry demonstrates talent for keen observations and occasional humor, the ambitious scope of covering a century of two families' interconnected histories ultimately works against the story's emotional impact.

The author's prose is often elegant, and there are memorable moments scattered throughout the various timelines. The depiction of the evolution of entertainment and art across different eras - from silent films to television to the 1980s art scene - shows impressive research and attention to detail. However, the complex structure and frequent timeline shifts make it difficult to fully invest in any single character's journey.

While I typically enjoy sprawling multi-generational narratives, The Californians did not hit the mark for me. The talent is evident, but the execution doesn't quite match the grandiosity of the concept. Maybe that’s the point; like California itself, all the pieces are there but they don’t quite lock together to form a satisfying whole.

My Rating: 3.25 Stars
Review Sites: 3.12 Stars
Length: 384 Pages
Read if you like: Jonathan Franzen, Donna Tartt, literary fiction, sprawling novels

such an interesting story of two families across a century. a great read! and will be recommending to others. 4/5

Spanning one hundred years and alternating between three POV's it is an ambitious read as it portrays the American Dream. It was difficult to engage and connect to the characters which was the primary issue I had with the book and somehow lacked the flow though the story was interesting and well written.

The Californians is a compelling dive into the complexities of relationships and identity, set against a California backdrop. The prose feels gritty yet poetic, capturing both the sun soaked allure and underlying discontent of its characters. The story's pacing is tight, with moments that linger, inviting reflection. While some plot threads could be more developed, the novel's raw honesty and vivid atmosphere make it a strong read. Overall worthy of four stars. Would recommend to those who enjoy introspective stories with a California vibe.

This book tells fictional stories spanning over 100 years in America, from the times of silent films to the more recent wildfires in California, interweaving and connecting the stories of parents and their children. I was initially very interested in the first more current timeline introduced when Toby is fleeing the wildfire, but then the other stories are introduced and after a long while I was left wondering if I would ever hear about Toby again. The timelines are initially confusing - it is not immediately evident how they connected to each other and some captured my attention more than others. I liked the commentary on our current politics throughout the book and it is quite obvious where the author stands on these issues. It did feel jarring at times switching between timelines and stories. Overall, I did enjoy this one but it was just a bit long and some of the stories dragged for me. I also felt there was a lack of resolution at the end with some of the characters. I would still recommend this if you enjoy multigenerational family stories and historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley, Brian Castleberry, and Mariner Books for the gifted ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the biggest letdowns. I really expected The Californians to be my big lit fit fave for the year. The beginning was terrible and I thought maybe it would be like Long Island Compromise, where I would just need to get over the hump of the main character’s mess but no. I’m also wondering how this one will land with a majority of readers since the opening scene is a detailed escape of a California wildfire.

This historical fiction set in California covered a lot of areas of the California experience. I enjoyed the parts with Klaus and his rise from silent film producer to TV series producer. His story was interesting even though he was not the most likeable character. His experience certainly caught the changes and adaptations a person makes as the times change.

The other parts of the story were a bit hard to follow at times. The different characters were connected but the connections were not heartfelt or stable. I wanted to know a bit more about Tobey and how his story played out. Some of the characters were hard to get to know or to feel a connection.

The cynicism was felt and purposeful. I overall enjoyed the read and felt it was a bit different than other current books. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review.

It was ok, I had the audiobook and it was difficult to follow the plot. Maybe the book would be better.

The story tells the story of a small town shaken by the disappearance of a mysterious cult leader. Each chapter focuses on a different character, exploring themes of fear, loneliness, and the search for meaning in a changing America.

I enjoyed the vivid writing and complex characters, but its non-linear structure can feel slow or disjointed. Overall, it’s a thoughtful, atmospheric novel about isolation and the hidden darkness beneath everyday life.

This was a well-written, timely, and sprawling book. I also found it kind of boring. It was very ambitious in its scale and there were a lot of interesting ideas there. It just never fully clicked for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters, unfortunately. I think I'm in a bit of historical fiction rut these days, so maybe that's why the book didn't work for me as much as I would've liked it to. It was definitely a YMMV kind of book though and there was enough promise that I would be interested in seeing what else the author does.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I think the story was good but I felt the story just lacked something and I found it hard to connect to the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

The Californians was an excellent read. The writing was propulsive and the character development was rich. I would read more from this author.

I really did enjoy this book. I think all three narrative lines were important, but it felt like modern day was only there to serve the other two plot lines. I wish that would have been a little different but overall it was a good intergenerational saga

In the midst the of a California wildfire, a down on his luck young man decides to steal a couple famous painting from
His ex girlfriend. I liked the premises but I think the book tried to accomplish too much in a short time, and the characters were hard to connect to. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

The Californians, by Brian Castleberry, is an expansive, multigenerational family saga that is at times insightful, and at other times, a confusing tangle of characters and plotlines.
The years covered are over a century, from 1900 to 2024, and are certainly fertile ground for a story that revolves around the evolution of the film industry in California, and the eccentrics involved in film, TV and the visual arts of that era.
In 2024 Tobey Harlan, a temporary waiter, loses everything he owns in a Northern California wildfire. He is heading to stay in his father's house. Once there he plans to steal three valuable paintings and has a plan in place to sell them. A hundred years earlier, Klaus Aaronsohn reinvents himself as Klaus von Stiegl and travels to Hollywood to make silent films. He later directs a popular 1960's TV crime drama,Brackett, starring Tobey’s grandfather. Klaus's granddaughter, Di (Dianne) Stiegel, is an artist in the 1980's NYC art scene. It is her paintings that Tobey is planning to steal.

The book skipped around over various time periods, locations and with many characters, making it hard to follow. It was just not for me.

THank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars
The Californians, by Brian Castleberry, is an expansive, multigenerational family saga that is at times insightful, and at other times, a confusing tangle of characters and plotlines.
The years covered are over a century, from 1900 to 2024, and are certainly fertile ground for a story that revolves around the evolution of the film industry in California, and the eccentrics involved in film, TV and the visual arts of that era.
There is much history here, and as a Californian I was pleased to become immersed in the fascinating story of the movie arts and its evolution from silent pictures to talkies, and reading about the regional quirks of this great state, from Chico in Northern California, to Stockton in the Central Valley, to Palm Springs in SoCal. Additionally, as an art buff, I felt nostalgic and invested when reading about the art scene in New York City, circa 1970s to 1990s. There was much realism to like, and it is interesting to see the stories based on the east and the west coasts converge.
The cast of characters ranges from a likeable, naïve, college-aged Tobey to a range of unpleasant manipulative characters in the Von Stiegel family. This is very much a character-driven story, and once the characters and timelines were sorted out, the saga makes sense and becomes more enjoyable.
I wish the different time periods and transitions from past to present time were less abrupt. I usually enjoy multiple plot lines and some time-jumping, but I found this particular novel challenging in that respect.
This is a worthy effort with fascinating movie and art history. I will definitely look for more works by this author.

Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This book is so timely which can sometimes be difficult to read but its funny nature made the characters worth sticking around for.

4 Stars – The Californians is a gripping, multi-layered novel that weaves together politics, paranoia, and personal reckoning in 1970s America. Brian Castleberry’s sharp prose and complex characters make for an immersive read, though the nonlinear structure may require patience. A compelling exploration of power and identity.

This book was a mixed bag for me. We have three different timelines. In 2024, Tobey lives in a small town in California that is sadly burned down by a wildfire. In the 1920s, Klaus immigrates from Germany and becomes a major Hollywood player. And in the 1970s, Diane makes her way up through the art world with provocative political pieces. These characters are all connected by family and history, and we meander through their lives.

There were parts of this story that I enjoyed, but overall this was a let down for me. I think my disappointment with this book was that it felt extremely unoriginal. To me, the 1920s Hollywood story has been done again and again, and it didn't feel like Klaus' story had much to say (besides him being a vapid narcissist who was only out for himself and couldn't even acknowledge the damage he did). We didn't spend enough time in Tobey's timeline to feel that connected to him, and there wasn't a satisfying conclusion to any of the threads. Diane's timeline was the most interesting and emotive, and I wish that had been its own book, because the other timelines didn't have any resonance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!