I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Dysfunctional family stories can be really interesting or too over-the-top, but this one was well-written and plotted, with fully-developed characters the reader is invested in.

Ronan Merrick grew up with her unconventional parents and three brothers living in a van (couldn't help but think of Chris Farley's hilarious Saturday Night Live "I live in a van down by the river" sketch), and roaming up and down the California coast. Father Cal does odd jobs (some not so legal), Mama make lavender sachets and what-not and "teaches" the kids from mostly ecological-themed books. Mostly, they surf, and even though Ro is an excellent surfer, Cal only seems to encourage his sons. After a photo of the family running toward the surf with their boards is sent to a local newspaper and goes viral (the photo eventually shows up on blankets, ads, cups, you name it), Cal is outraged that his family is exposed to the terrible excess of consumer greed.

The story goes back and forth from the 1980s to 2002. Ro, who changed her name, got married and had two children, lives on a farm in Oregon, but when one of her brothers unexpectedly shows up to tell her their father has died, she is talked into returning to California for the funeral -- which in the surfing community, involves a "paddle out" ceremony. Family secrets are gradually revealed, relationships are tested, and while it's not relatable to many of us, it's told so beautifully, that you root for everything to turn out okay in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Graydon Books for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Fell in love with this book on the first page. It’s beautifully written and has the most complex characters. It follows the story of a family of 6 who live a nomadic life traveling the west coast surfing in the 90s. It has multiple points of view which gives you insight in how their childhood affected each sibling. There’s unexpected twists and I just kept hoping the story would never end!

This was such an interesting read. The unique family dynamics pulled me in and I felt as though I was traveling with them in the van. With the dual timelines, I just wanted to keep reading to put all the puzzle pieces together. At times, I was a little confused by what was happening but I felt that it was all wrapped up in the end.

I love me some 1980s throwback stories. This book was so well thought out and written. Not oy touching on the difficulty of living non traditionally but how family dynamics follow a theme no matter how you choose to live. The characters were really written to give you a deep connection to each uniquely.

A breath of fresh ocean air and an escape to a more hopeful world.
The California Dreamers is deserving of the title; it’s a dreamy world, one I haven’t encountered in any other novels.
But the author takes our hand for the journey to ground us. I especially enjoyed the complex and at times tense family dynamics and the realistic simmering of emotions.
Ronan’s small act of rebellion (spoiler) and its ripple effects made for a suspenseful framework, but it’s the overall dreamy mood and peaceful settings that drew me in fully.

I will remember this one for a long time.

This is a sweeping and thought-provoking new novel about a family living a fiercely off-the-grid lifestyle in a van. Dedicated to nature and ocean life with a special devotion to surfing every morning, the 6 Merricks have rejected money and society for a simpler existence.
In their ancient gray and white van home — a fixed up lunch truck with broken awnings they nickname “The Seagull” because it reminds them of one — they travel the western US coast in the 70s and 80s.
We are plunged into their world without judgement, seeing the family and outsiders or “citizens” through the sharp perceptions of the only girl.

At times heartbreaking, sometimes mysterious but always fascinating, we see new layers and struggles as she ages.
And by the time the family reunites in early middle age to mourn their “exasperating but worshipped” dad, I was truly along for the dreamy ride.

An unusual and fresh book. Enjoyable and gorgeously depicted.

Simply beautifully- told story of one unusual family striving for happiness in their own way, flying from beach to beach in a beat-up camper van in the 80s. Life is not perfect, even though it looks it in the family’s immortalized photo.

Then when the patriarch passes away decades after the children grow up , they gather to memorialize his life and examine their own.
All is tied together surprisingly by the end. We see this unique world through the sensitive lens of the sole daughter, Ronan or ‘Ro’.
I enjoyed this one very much. Entrancing and fast paced with just enough surprises to keep me guessing, and clearly a tenderly loved (by their author-creator) set of characters.

A favorite of 2025 so far.

Thank you to NetGalley and HT press for this early look in exchange for my true opinions

3.5 Stars

Set in California in the 1980’s, this is a story of a family, with a somewhat unconventional life, a family who become famous, despite not wanting to carry that fame. In fact, they avoid it as much as they possibly can, living in an RV.

A story shared slowly over time, sometimes a little too slowly, but overall a story of living a life outside of the average life, and avoiding, or trying to avoid, the people who see them as ‘famous’ while they wish to be left alone.

While at times this was somewhat atmospheric and thought-provoking, to me, and I enjoyed it, the ending seemed to not have any connection to the beginning.


Pub Date: 08 Apr 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing / Graydon House

The Merrick Family—Legends in the surfing world. Drifters, who follow the coastline in their old van, the Gull.

The interesting story covers the family’s values, different beliefs, secrets, complicated relationships, and their love of surfing. The novel is emotional, at times, especially when they’re obviously betrayed by their peers, and constantly ostracized by much of society, yet revered as surf celebrities because of a rare family photograph. A newspaper reporter brings it all into perspective at the end. It’s obvious the author spent a lot of time plotting characterizations for the family.

This is a wonderful story. I hope many readers will enjoy.

I honestly read and reviewed a digital arc provided by Harlequin Publishing/Graydon House. All opinions are my own.

I struggled through this one TBH. There wasn't any real plot action until 52% in when it's revealed that Ronan took the (in)famous photo, then again later on when her and Charlie's relationship is revealed. But other than that...it was unfortunately boring.
It's character driven, I suppose, but I don't feel there was much growth at all in any of the characters. And it left me with a lot of questions: what about her relationship with Charlie? When she returns to life in Oregon?

4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book. There were parts that took me longer to get through but ultimately I liked the pace and the switch in storytelling between Roman’s past and present. Parts reminded me of the book uneducated - with people choosing a different path, where it leads them and all of the challenges they face along the way.

Wow I loved this one. Wasn't sure what to expect, but one page in and I was hooked.

The California Dreamers follows a very unusual family of six in the past and present, mingling in mystery, secrets, and an ache for answers and lost love, the love of family most of all, along the way. It's not a surfing book per se, more of a unique and beachy family saga. The story made me think about what VAN life means today and what this precious group was seeking back then. The writing is gorgeous throughout and interwoven with journal entries that take a twist when you're not expecting

Wonderfully evocative and held my attention throughout, right to the unexpected turns and revelations on the island at the very end

4 1/2 blissfully surprised stars


Recommended for fans of Malibu Rising and The Great Alone
Some romance in the background

the slow pacing made it difficult to stay engaged will circle back to this and try to read it at another time.

thankful for the arc

Sweeping story of a world I know nothing about - the original van life. Complicated characters in beautiful settings. Worth sticking with the story until the very end.

When I first started reading this book, I got that tingly feeling I get when starting a great read. However, even though the book is well written, I just didn't connect to the characters. I love coming of age stories and ones set in the 80s, which was when I was a teenager, like the main character. I wanted more of a feeling of nostalgia. I felt like I was reading about nostalgia and seeing a character remember her past, but I didn't connect to her or to her family. Additionally, the book alluded to what I thought were going to be some big twists and discoveries, and that didn't really happen. I did like this book, but I was pushing to finish it, so that I could start reading something else.

4.5 stars

This is simply gorgeous. I felt transported by the story, the vibes, the setting, the era, and it's just what I needed at the moment.

The mysteries unfold steadily and have more than a few surprises -- my instinct about what had happened was totally wrong, but I was happy with these twists as they felt authentic.
A lovely beachy read with a unique take on family life. As a child of the 80s this melted my heart.

Highly recommended.
Some love scenes/mostly closed door.

This book follows the Merrick’s, a nomadic family traveling along the West coast. It follows 2 timelines told by the one daughter. Slowly it uncovers secrets of the past and present.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is exactly the kind of book I was looking for and perfect for a summer vibe. As a parent this book really made me feel a lot of emotions. This book is all about family and so loved it.

I so enjoyed California Dreamers. I could imagine the lifestyle they were living. the author did an excellent job of keeping your interest. I loved Ro, I loved how she told the story of her brothers,, her family. I would recommend this book and I give it 4 stars.

I asked to review “The California Dreamers” by Amy Mason Doan because I loved the premise (and the book’s beautiful cover). A family with four kids travels across the west coast, living off the grid during the eighties. However, a photographer picture of the family brought them unexpected fame and Ronan, our protagonist, separates herself from her family.

We flash forward to the present where the family comes together to scatter their father’s ashes. Naturally, there are plenty of secrets that began to unravel.

I read this book at the same time Southern California was experiencing a series of wildfires, so reading about the California coast (I lived in Malibu from 1988-1991) was especially poignant. I found the author’s prose evocative and felt an instant connection to Ronan. I also grew up in the eighties though my experience was quite the contrast to Ronan’s. This is more than a beach read.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for this memorable read.