2.5 * rounded up. I actually DNF and only made it to 34% before calling it quits. It warrants a 3 because the writing was very good and I was listening to the audio version, rather than reading. I think this one needs to be read in order to do it justice.
The book started out hot with the first character Tobey. If the entire book continued with him I would have absolutely finished the book. Things unravelled for me when the characters of Diane and Klaus came into play. I didn't feel connected to them or curious about what would happen next. I just wanted the book to go back to Tobey and when it didn't, I couldn't motivate myself to continue.
A sidebar that I did not include on Goodreads is that the title the "Californians" made me think I would be getting "Cali vibes". I am a sucker for books that evoke all things California, good or bad. It started out on point with the wildfires and the flakey girlfriend but the other two characters did not feel very California. Perhaps a different title would attract a different audience.
I would like to thank Harperaudio for providing this book for review via Net Galley . All opinions are my own.

This tale weaves in and out of different time periods and we get a flashback to an earlier time in one of the characters life. This is an epic tale that feels a little overwhelming at times and meanders a bit at times. New to me author and I will be interested in checking out future books by him.