I found this compelling and sun soaked.

In the 1980s the Merrick siblings and their parents lived a life of nomads, traveling from place to place at their leisure, surfing the days away. The siblings grow up not knowing anything different, basking in their picturesque life, but there are carefully crafted rules and ways they must live by to sustain their lifestyle. When a photograph of the entire family appears in the news, and further on a bigger scale, that life they crafted seems like it could disappear.

In present day, not all of the siblings have remained close, but they all reunite in celebration of their beloved father. Coming to terms with their upbringing, the ways in which they parted, and long buried secrets are all things that they must confront. I enjoyed the dynamic of this family. I found their story and their lifestyle to be so intriguing. There is a little of everything in here. You get adventure, strong family connection, some romance, and an interesting coming of age story against sunbaked ocean backdrop.

The Merrick family are nomads. They live out of a van and stay out of public eye as much as possible. They have rules about not being photographed or talking to strangers about their personal lives. One day a photo of the family surfing is published, causing a rift in the family dynamic. Ronan left home at 17 and now has a family of her own. Her brother shows up, letting her know that their father died and they want her home to send him off. Ronan is hesitant, but decides to go home and face her past.

I loved this story! At first, I was a bit stuck with the writing style and did consider not continuing, but I’m SO glad I did. I binged the book in one sitting and ended up crying by the end. I really appreciated reading about a family with a different lifestyle from mine, learning how they navigated and grew from the life they had as kids. This was a beautiful story that speaks to multiple generations of the Merrick family.

Richly depicted and dreamy story of a family living in a van home in the early eighties..

Fiercely private and idealistic, the Merricks family lives by their own rules in a rusty van they call “The Gull.”

Soaring from beach to beach, they spend their time in the water or otherwise communing with nature. But the sole daughter, coming of age in tight quarters, listening to her parents’ whispers in the night, begins to ache for more…or at least, more answers as to why they live as they do.

A cautious friendship - and first love - open her eyes to more of the world beyond her father’s self-imposed bubble.

And Pandora’s box is opened.

To reveal much more would take from the myriad pleasures of this unusual and special story.

Thoughtful, emotionally honest and deeply enjoyable, this is a memorable title for spring 2025 adult upmarket fiction fans.

The California Dreamers by Amy Mason Doan

⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)

📄 Pages: ~368
📖 Genre: Contemporary Fiction
📅 Age Rating: 16+
📚 Availability: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook
⚠️ Content Warnings: Drama, Emotional Distance, Slow Burn
🔥 Spice Level: None

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Overall Reading Experience & Impressions:

I really struggled to get through this book, and it ended up feeling more like a chore than an escape. I requested it because the premise sounded like something I’d love, but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The story meandered, the plot was scattered, and the drama felt forced. The dialogue and setting were highlights, but it wasn’t enough to carry the entire narrative. I kept reading hoping it would turn around, but it stayed slow and unfocused.

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What I Liked:

✨ Beautiful Setting: The descriptions of the scenery and atmosphere were vivid and immersive.
🗨️ Well-Written Dialogue: Despite the plot issues, the conversations between characters felt natural and emotional.

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What Didn’t Work:

🐢 Slow Pacing: The story dragged, making it hard to stay engaged.
🌀 Scattered Plot: It felt all over the place, with no clear direction or momentum.
🎭 Overdone Drama: The conflicts felt unnecessary and exaggerated, adding more frustration than tension.
❓ Misleading Cover: The cover gives a different vibe than the actual story, which led to unmet expectations.

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Final Thoughts:

I wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t click for me. It had moments of beauty, especially in the descriptions and dialogue, but the lack of cohesive plot and slow pace made it tough to enjoy. If you’re someone who loves ultra-slow, character-driven stories with dreamy vibes, you might still enjoy this — but it wasn’t for me.

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Who Would I Recommend This To:

🌿 Fans of atmospheric, lyrical writing.
🪴 Readers who enjoy off-the-grid, whimsical lifestyles.
📚 People who prefer quiet, introspective narratives over action-packed plots.

Amy Mason Doan’s The California Dreamers is a beautifully written, nostalgic journey through the sun-soaked beaches of 1980s California and the complexities of family, identity, and the price of freedom.

The novel follows Ronan (Ro) Merrick, the only daughter in a family of surfers living off the grid in a van, moving from beach to beach in search of the perfect wave. Their unconventional existence is upended when a photographer’s candid shot of them goes viral, exposing their private world to the public and setting off a chain of events that ultimately fractures the family. Decades later, Ro—now living under a different name—must confront her past when she reunites with her estranged brothers to honor their late father. As secrets unravel and long-buried tensions resurface, the Merricks must decide whether to heal or remain divided.

Doan masterfully captures the allure of California’s coastline, making the ocean feel like a character in itself. The dual timelines—Ro’s coming-of-age in the 80s and her present-day reckoning in 2002—add depth and suspense, revealing family secrets at a tantalizing pace. The relationships, especially Ro’s bonds with her brothers Charlie and Dyl, are richly drawn and deeply moving.

Inspired by a real-life nomadic family, The California Dreamers is a poignant meditation on what it means to belong. It’s perfect for fans of atmospheric, character-driven stories about love, loss, and the unbreakable ties of family.

#TheCaliforniaDreamers #AmyMasonDoan #HistoricalFiction #FamilyDrama #CaliforniaVibes #SurfCulture #ComingOfAge #BookReview #BohemianLife

In 1983, on a California beach, we are introduced to fifteen-year-old Ronan Merrick, the only daughter in her family. With her three brothers, father "Cap," and her mother, the Merricks lead a free-spirited life, choosing to live unconventionally. They reside in a van, traveling up and down the coast, searching for perfect surfing spots. The family gains unwanted notoriety when an unauthorized photograph of the family holding their surfboards is splashed across the country, threatening their nomadic lifestyle.

The story shifts to 2002, and Ronan is living in Oregon under the name Ava LeClair with her two sons, who are unaware of her true identity. After years without contact, Ronan's brother Griffin contacts her to inform her that their father has died, and an ocean memorial service is planned on a remote island. While a tense reunion is inevitable, the situation becomes more complicated when a journalist shows up to write about the family. This unique family's story is told through the period when Ronan decides to leave her family and at the time of the memorial, when the family tries to determine if they can truly be reunited.

Few authors have captured the essence of California like Amy Mason Doan. In The California Dreamers, you can almost feel the ocean, the sand, and the warmth of the sun. The Merrick family was inspired by a real family who led a transient bohemian lifestyle for over two decades, traveling in a camper from one wave to the next. This is a touching coming-of-age story about the preciousness of family. If you remember the musical group the Mamas & the Papas, you'll be humming their song California Dreamin as you read this enjoyable book.

The cover and description of this book was what initially drew me in and the first 1/4 of the book had me interested but that interest unfortunately didn’t hold me throughout the rest of the read.

The story is about a family that lives a very off the grid/nomad lifestyle. The timeline jumps between the past and present day where they’re all meeting up again after lots of hardships that get revealed. They live a very secretive life and a photo of them surfing gets published and becomes a huge sensation which adds to a lot of the strife they deal with as a family.

I had a difficult time with a couple different things. The writing was beautiful but also slightly confusing at times. I’d be trying to picture the scene and then the descriptions would just cut short and I’d be left wondering what just happened. Almost as if the author was writing in riddles at times. Another thing that bothered me with the surfer/van life slang. I just couldn’t understand the dialogue between characters enough personally.

I never felt super attached to any of the characters. I loved what was happening with Ro and Charlie at first and that got me excited to see their story unfold. But then it abruptly changed course and then picked up again way later in the story.

All of the drama seemed so extreme and dramatic over a simple photo. So many grudges and missed opportunities with each other over something so silly, but I understand it was more of a big deal for ‘this’ family. It just didn’t add up for me.

Amy Mason Doan’s The California Dreamers is like a perfect summer day—warm, nostalgic, and a little bit bittersweet. Her writing pulls you right in, making you feel like you’re there with the characters, soaking up the sun and sorting through the messy, beautiful parts of life. The friendships feel authentic, the emotions hit just right, and there’s this effortless mix of heart and escapism that makes it hard to put down. If you love stories about second chances, deep bonds, and chasing dreams (even the ones you didn’t know you had), this one’s a total treat.

This book is a must for your beach bag this summer!! A family with four children traveling the coast of California spending the days surfing the various beaches. They are a nomadic family living in their van completely off grid. The story is told in past and present timelines. The atmospheric description really set the setting for the book and this family. I just felt like I was living with these kids in the van as they experienced life. This had a little bit of mystery, family dynamics, and secrets.

Great book club type read

If you’re looking to escape to a beautiful place and simpler era, this is the summery book for you.
The author creates an enthralling world very different from any I’ve seen, and the intensity of this unusual family’s bonds are captured perfectly.

This is a novel that builds steadily so by the time we are a quarter through we are COMPLETELY invested in this group of characters we MUST know what’s going to happen to them! Truly a love story about an ocean lifestyle and the unbreakables bonds of family.

I cherished the last ten pages especially, knowing I’d have to say goodbye and leave this bright world and was truly sorry to see it end.
This novel has inspired me to visit the real Channel Islands described in the contemporary (well early 00s) plot of the book.

1980’s California. Free spirits. Beautiful scenery. Decades in the making reunion. All of these things made me so excited to read this book, and yet it wound up being not for me.

The Merricks are a free spirit family who live off the grid in their van. They never stay in a place too long and aren’t prone to photographs getting out about them. So when one does, it disrupts their lifestyle, and their family, in a way no one saw coming. Can it be resolved some 20 years later?

I wanted to love this book, but I found myself struggling to read/finish it. It never felt like it was going anywhere and the major plot points didn’t connect for me. If it wasn't an ARC, it would have been a DNF for me. It was all very anti-climatic for me as a reader.

Traveling the coast of California in a van sounds like a dream come true to many people. The Merrick family, four children and their parents, swam, surfed and lived off the grid, while doing odd jobs to support their nomadic lifestyle. They lived frugally, hid their van from the nosy public, and had very little interaction with other people. I felt bad for the children, but they seemed at peace most of the time with their laid back lifestyle. The only girl, Ronan, would sometimes stare wistfully at other teenage girls with their trendy sweatshirts and cute hairstyles. Her twin brothers, who were excellent surfers, often wished they could enter the local surfing contests because they knew they would win. The youngest child, Dylan, was happy just reading and drawing in his field journal, while always keeping a keen eye on everyone.

The storyline goes back in time to the mid 1980’s and then to 2002, when the family comes together to celebrate the life of their beloved husband and father, “Cap.” Ronan, now 32, hadn’t seen her family in fifteen years and it was a bittersweet reunion for all of them. She had run away, bringing with her a big secret that she hoped would never leave Pandora’s box. Everyone still wanted a piece of the Merrick family, or “The California Dreamers” as they were nicknamed after a photo of the happy-go-lucky surfing siblings was mysteriously made public. While apart, Ronan had a taste of real life and even had a family of her own, which made me wonder how her brothers couldn’t possibly resent her for leaving them all those years ago. Sharing memories of their father brought back the closeness they once had but in reality, it may never be the same. What would happen when secrets are revealed and the deep, dark truth comes out? Will it further erode their shaky family bond or bring about peace in their hearts at long last?

Review

I can imagine this being the beach read in everyone’s hands this summer all down the coast. When stuck in an endless loop of work, errands, and the minutia of everyday life, who hasn’t imagined their version of a simple life off the grid. Idyllic in theory, life isn’t as charmed and carefree and you’d imagine being the only girl in this family of surfers as she comes of age, pushing the limits of the pressure to conform to her family’s “nonconforming” ways. This is one I couldn’t put down. I loved the characters and the glimpse into their family dynamic. The movement back and forth between different points in time was done so gracefully. I just wish I could see what life has in store next for the Merricks.

An escape back to a simpler time and a sensitively-plumbed character study of one most unusual family living in their beloved, brilliantly tricked-out van, The California Dreamers feels like a throwback to the sweeping, earnest dramas of the mid-80s.

Artfully plotted, with gentle plot twists that hold attention as we ache to know what split the family apart and how they might mend the breech.

But it is the California coastal landscape that shines most here. And that is not a complaint.

Excellent upmarket fiction for spring vacationers

The California Dreamers by Amy Mason Doan had its strengths, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The setting was beautifully described, the nostalgic coastal vibes and sun-soaked memories made me feel like I was right there with the characters. Doan’s writing really shines when she’s exploring themes of friendship, self-discovery, and second chances.

Wow—The California Dreamers by Amy Mason Doan was an absolute journey, and I loved every second of it. This book swept me away with its nostalgic, sun-drenched setting and beautifully layered storytelling. It’s the kind of novel that makes you feel—friendship, love, loss, and the bittersweet pull of dreams we chase and the ones we leave behind.

The characters felt so real, their relationships complex and deeply moving. I laughed, I teared up, and I found myself completely immersed in their world. Amy Mason Doan has such a gift for weaving past and present together in a way that feels effortless and so emotionally resonant. If you love books that transport you and leave a lasting impression, this one is a must-read!

This book takes readers on an intimate journey with a very complex family. I found many parts of the book interesting, but I felt like it was lacking connection, I didn’t feel a connection myself with the characters, and I was hoping for more insight into Ronan’s life after she left her parents and brothers. I wanted to know where she stood with her sons and husband and the life she’d built there; I wanted to know more about that family, and what would happen when she returned.

This is a really special book about an unconventional family and their experiences and the results of those experiences. I really really loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I love a book set in California surf culture. The Merricks were non-comforists living in a van before van life was popular. This was an atmospheric family drama with interesting characters. It moved a bit slow for me, but I still enjoyed it.

I greatly enjoyed this unusual family story and its many unexpected twists.

Beach read with plenty of heart and a complicated family dynamic that’s presented with insight and care.

Recommended!