This was really looking forward to this book from everything I heard about it, but it did not engage me as I was hoping for.

Oh how I love a fictional family drama! THE CALIFORNIA DREAMERS by Amy Mason Doan didn’t disappoint.

This dual timeline novel is told from the perspective of Ronan. She and her three brothers were raised by their nomadic parents, traveling up and down the west coast in a modified van. Ronan tells the story of their lives in the 1980s - how they spent their days surfing and exploring, always treading lightly on the land - up until her 17th birthday when she left them.

Interspersed is the present day narrative. Ronan has reunited with her family for her father’s memorial. This is the first time she’s seen them since she left, and she’s weighted down with an overwhelming amount of guilt.

This was such a well-balanced portrait of a family in all their messy glory. Each of the six family members is a fully developed character. Their nomadic lifestyle was portrayed just picturesque enough for the reader to envy parts of it, while also casting a critical eye on some of their choices and the consequences. And I appreciated the philosophical questions around freedom.

There’s one character who becomes much more significant at the very end of the book, and I wish she was given a little more time. For narrative reasons, she is very elusive. But because of that, it’s a little challenging to understand her motives and concerns once the curtain is pulled away. I managed to piece together most of it, but remain slightly confused.

This would make a great summer bookclub pick. It’s light enough to read by the pool with enough substance for a fun discussion.

I only picked this one up because the cover reminded me of Malibu Rising and I needed to see what it was about. Love finding a new author so this was great. THanks so much for the giftedc opy

This was quite the book. I also listened to the audiobook as well. We follow a family who led an unconventional life as they come back together after many years after the passing of their father. We learn about secrets hidden from each other and many revelations. A photo that changed all of their lives in different ways. This was a great book with many surprises and it also shows the complications and bonds of family as well.

This book was set in the 80s, where a family of 6 live out of their van and chase sunsets and waves. I loved the sibling dynamic, how they took care of one another and the beautiful scenery, but after that is kind of fell short for me. At parts I felt it dragged and while I understand their privacy and the life they were leading, what happens over 1 picture kind of blew my mind and felt off to me.

I was really intrigued by the idea of this book, I really enjoyed the family side of things and how Ronan grew up in a nomadic life. The book left me feeling a little underwhelmed though, I felt like there was something missing from the emotional side of things, I wanted a bit more of Ronan and her relationship with Charlie, the after just felt too easy between the two of them with so much time missing in between. The mystery of the picture and who took it did keep me going, but once that came out I felt like the story still took too long to get somewhere.

I loved this book! California Dreamers was a nostalgic and beautifully written story about an unconventional family living off the grid on the California coast in the 1980s. Having grown up in the 80's is what drew me to this book, along with the gorgeous cover. Amy Mason Doan’s writing completely immersed me in this book, I could smell the salt air of the ocean and hear the crash of the waves. Her vivid descriptions of the California coast in the 1980s brought the setting to life, especially the lavender fields, the van and feel the sand between your toes. There were complex characters, especially Ronan. It is amazing how one picture can change your whole life. This book was thought-provoking and heartfelt. I’ll definitely be reading more by Amy Mason Doan!

This was a great story with a satisfying ending. I read a lot of really dark stories so this was a nice change for me. The writing style sucked me into the story and it was like I was there. The characters are all well-written and interesting. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Amy Mason Doan,Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was soooo good!! I highly recommend this to w everyone looking for a great summer beach read! Pack it and bring it on the beach!

A good summer family drama and I'd recommend for anyone who loves that specific type of story, though it was nothing incredibly memorable for me.

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

Having spent my teenage years in the 80's I really enjoyed the past and present timelines in this story. Life was a lot different then and I love the reflections of the characters on their lifestyle and growing up in that decade. The ending was incredibly poignant to me and once again showed me the emotional skills of Amy's writing. I listened to the audiobook and was completely caught up in the beauty of this novel and the nostalgia of a unique childhood spent in an era that can never be again.

I loved the setting and the dual timeline. It was interesting to see how the family lived before they became famous as well as the ways that it had changed their life, not all for the better. As the siblings reflect on their childhood you could tell they really enjoyed their life but as they grew they started to understand how it was not considered normal. The writing was atmospheric and the mystery of what happened to cause Ronan to leave drove the plot forward. The themes of grief, forgiveness, and healing we all incorporated really well.

Thank you @amymasondoan @suzyapprovedbooktours @netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.

unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. i loved the idea of it but i felt like i couldn’t get into it and wasn’t sure what was going on

When I was young, growing up in California, I dreamed of a life where I could spend each day at the beach instead of going to school. The beaches, the surfing, the infinite sunshine. It sounds like heaven. What I didn't dream about, however, was living in a van with my parents and siblings in order to do that.

I, too, grew up in the 1980s, which is why I was attracted to this story. I could easily picture many of the places described in this book. It was interesting to read about a family that lived the ultimate lifestyle of freedom. They weren't tied down to school schedules, and they had no one but each other for the most part.

It was also interesting to read about the family relationships. That being said, the story also moved a little slowly for me. I kept waiting for the big climax, but there really wasn't any. There were some scuffs with others, friendships made, and a romance that blossomed.

This would be a good vacation book, if you are looking for some light reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing and Amy Mason Doan for my free copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

When the Merrick children were growing up, they lived in a van on the California coast and spent their days surfing and learning about life life from their parents. Years later, they gather to scatter their father's ashes and the past catches up to them. This is a family drama that explores the complexity of family and the power of love.

It sounds like the most idyllic of childhoods - infinite freedom and an endless summer - traveling up and down the California coast in the family van, surfing and swimming all day with your siblings - without a care in the world.⁣
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Until one day a photo is taken of your family and suddenly everything changes. ⁣
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Alternating between their sunny childhood and decades later when they are all grown up - does it still feel as magical? ⁣
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I can’t imagine what a dreamy time the 80s in California must have been and this story puts you right there. You can almost smell the salty air, feel the sun on your face, and your toes dipping in the sand. While it may seem like a magical way to grow up - there is always room for family drama and long buried secrets when the outside world threatens to expose a unique little life. ⁣
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It’s such a beautiful story of love for family, living simply in a complicated world, and how being truly free can mean something different to everyone.

I thought I would love this but unfortunately I didn’t. I couldn’t relate to the characters as much as I thought. It was still overall enjoyable and I’ll be recommending it. I did enjoy how it explored the complexity of families and secrets and the unraveling of it.

This was meh for me. I was intrigued by the off the grid story and the surf setting but then turned off by the nefarious/rules/forced nature of it. That aspect, for me, has been overdone as a plot element. I thought the author’s note was interesting, including the family that inspired the idea, but unless I misunderstood, it did not appear that family decision was done to hide.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I would give it a 3.5. I really wanted to love this book. I liked the premise of the Merrick family living out of their van and the many questions the four children had about the secrets their parents kept about why they lived completely off grid without any interaction with "citizens". It was a beautiful story about the complexities of family and loyalty, relationships, and personal identity. I just felt that the writing was ultimately missing something that would really hook me into loving it and leaving me satisfied when it ended.