This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author! I was also lucky enough to read this while in California so it just hit a little different.

Set in the 60s two sisters take different paths in life and we are taken for the ride. I love all the cultural references to the times and how it played out with the sisters. The relationship they had with their mom played a part in how their overall relationships played out. This book was good and interesting and was spot on with the times.

I came into this novel knowing nothing about what world I was about to be dropped into. I am one that likes the story surprising me, and not knowing anything outright makes for a more enjoyable read.

From the beginning I felt the darkness mixed with the light. The imagery of the sun, sand and water was so intoxicating that I felt myself there despite never visiting California or Hawaii personally.

This is a very character-driven novel and all the characters are very well fleshed out. I am not one for spoilers but I have to get this off my chest: Tom is so abusive and disgusting!!! His character makes me cringe like no other and every time I saw his name on the page I tensed up. I felt so bad for Ginger but what she sacrificed for Tom was unimaginable to me, and I was truly shocked by her choice. There was also quite a heartbreaking twist that I was not expecting, adding more weight to an already heavy novel.

I hated all the cursing, as the Lord’s name in vain was quite excessive and very much unwanted. I also hated ending the novel with so many questions left unanswered. What happened to particular characters that were left with unfinished plots? What happened to the family? So many questions that I hate will forever remained unanswered, but sometimes that’s just how it goes. What is in my imagination is most likely better than anything that could’ve been dreamt up anyway, so I’m not mad about it, just a tad disappointed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I read it in one sitting and loved being immersed in a world that I truly know nothing about. The writing was strong and honestly if the cursing was omitted it would’ve been a perfect read for me.

California Golden told of the very real culture of the 1960's in California, including the life of a female surfer who was trying to break into the "male club" I felt sorry for the sisters who were born into this life. They each handled their differently. I have enjoyed every book written by Melanie Benjamin .

I want to thank NetGelley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Melanie Benjamin for allowing me to read this ARC, the review is my opinion.

As editor, I requested this book as background reading for a review we ran on BookBrowse. I thought it very enjoyable; as did our reviewer

In the mood for some sun, sand, and surf during the raw, dreary cold? Then California Golden by Melanie Benjamin may perk you up. It takes place over a handful of different time periods from the 1940s after the war, 1950s, and spanning the 1960s and early 1970s. Two sisters, Mindy and Ginger, learned to surf from their mother Carol Donnelly who lived to surf and didn't fit into their suburban Van Nuys community. You'll experience all the high and low tides regarding surfing as well as all the turbulent times of this time period from the counterculture, drug culture, celebrity culture, and cults in general as well as the Vietnam War.

What first grabbed my interest with this book was the subject matter. I'm totally fascinated with surfing culture and the 1960s and 1970s and all that goes with it. I also really enjoy this author's historical works and was very curious about how she would put her own spin on it. You will not disappointed by all the different topics she covers from Hollywood to life in a cult. All throughout she weaves surfing into many of the plotlines.

And the author goes into more of the real origin and meaning of surfing, incorporating Hawaiian culture as well. I'm sure that you're tired of me using the word "culture", but it applies to many of the stories you'll read about. You'll find out about the racism and sexism that takes place within the world of surfing, which you won't find out about by listening to "Wipeout" or any Beach Boys song before "Pet Sounds." And this book looks at the underbelly of many other situations that look appealing on the surface.

This book also champions women and female surfers who really needed to fight for their places on the beach--literally. It was pretty eye-opening, and if you're interested in any aspect of surfing, this covers a lot of territory. Although the author admitted to never having surfed before, her mastery of the subject makes it feel like she was just out on the waves. But it's not overdone to the point where you're lost in the waves. It's just enough information to make it authentic.

Although I loved the different plotlines and experiences of the characters, I really didn't love them. They felt a little lackluster at times, and one character will make you feel like screaming at her. I could not tolerate her or her pathetic choices after a while. It was hard to read about her, and you felt as frustrated as the other characters did with her. One character who may appear cold felt understandable after hearing her story. You want to despise what she did, but you understand why she acted the way she did, for better or worse.

I think this is the perfect complement to many other books that cover the 1960s like Taylor Jenkins Reid's Malibu Rising or Jane Green's Sister Stardust. I really loved those aspects of the story as well as the beach and surfing. The characters were not my favorites, but the story really holds up and kept me captivated throughout the book. I'm interested to see which time period Melanie Benjamin conquers next.

Loved a look at the surf culture of the 1960's and being a California girl myself I also loved the setting of this book. The author did a good job of hitting on everything from the 1960's culture like the sex drugs and rock and roll and I enjoyed that part but the story line lacked for me.
The sister relationship was not as multi dimensional as I had hoped but I did enjoy the story and would recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.

I love historical fiction and books set in sunny California celebrating the surfing culture - both which made this a winning read. This is a gripping emotional story about a mother and two sisters - touched on a lot of themes that I enjoyed reading about including parental and sibling relationships, the surfing culture, the political climate of the 60’s and others.

Well written and enjoyed this one!

A novel about the meaning of family during a time of changing family dynamics, this book really pulled me in because I’m a California Girl and was immediately drawn to the nostalgic sixties surf culture era described. Carol, a true female surf champion when there were none, has two daughters who are pulled in different directions as they grow up during a period of little/no parenting. It was sad to follow the stark differences in Mindy and Ginger’s lives as they matured, especially knowing at times they were making poor choices. Although sad at times, I found hope in the end when the family reunites and the daughters are able to fill in some of the missing pieces of their family’s story.

I found the topics and scenarios to be fairly realistic for what could have happened during that point in time. The bond between sisters is felt with Ginger and Mindy despite their divergent paths.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for allowing me to read this ARC. I’m sorry to be posting my review so late!

California Golden was a great read by Melanie Benjamin. Carol Donelly is living in 1960s Southern California during a time that women are expected to be housewives. She is breaking the mold as a legendary female surfer while her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of her unconventional lifestyle. The sisters grew up enduring their mother's absence both physically and emotionally. From the first time Mindy got on a board she showed a natural talent but Ginger felt out of place on a board. Their lives diverged as they got older and their relationship changes. Mindy has found celebrity while Ginger is pulled into the culture of drugs and cults. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

My largest complaint was I did not need the section about the mother in the middle of this book. Felt it was unnecessary and I was already into the sister dynamic that it just felt out of place.

Growing up an East Coast girl and having only been to the California Coast once in my 50 years, I was excited to have the opportunity to dive into another of Melanie Benjamin's historical novels, this time centering on the Malibu surfing vibes and times of the 1960/70's. Raised on Endless Summer 1&2 at the Roxy, I easily submerged myself into the sandy setting and wound up reading the book over the course of only two days, enjoying the family drama unveiled between two sisters and their surf "Betty" mom. California Golden brought to life much of politics and pop culture of the late 1960's, not just beach parties and surfers but Hollywood and hippies, drugs and cults and Vietnam and USO tours. And though Benjamin had me listening to The Beach Boys, Dick Dale and the Deltones, and Frankie Avalon, and looking up who Gidget really was. I would be remiss if I left out the potential triggers for some - child abandonment, drug abuse, Vietnam war, sexism. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy of this novel.

The Donnelly girls and the 60's. There was much more to the surfing scene than Gidget and the Beach Boys. In this story of Carol Donnelly and her two daughters, Mindy and Ginger, we get a warm and salty Melanie Benjamin title. Carol struggles with balancing motherhood and her passion for surfing while also battling the attitudes of the guys on the beaches in California and Hawaii (the real origin location for surfing) in the 50's. Her daughters take up her mantle in the 60's and we even take a detour to Vietnam. What will they pass onto their daughters? This is an engrossing read. If you are still thawing out from reading her last book about The Children's Blizzard, here is an opportunity to warm up on the beach. 🌴

Surf, sun and sand... What more do you need?

This book is set in California in the sixties. It's well written and filled with so much. A family. Two siblings. And the beach. Filled with lots of love, happiness, tears, struggles and ultimately forgiveness.

The descriptions were so well written it made you feel you was right there. I enjoyed this book so much.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.5 stars for me.

I swear I provided feedback on this one back when I read it over the summer but I guess I hadn’t.

I really enjoyed this one. The writing was beautiful and it reminded me a lot of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s style.

So sorry for responding so late and not providing adequate feedback.

3.5 Stars
Taking place in the thrilling and tumultuous world of California surf culture during the 1960s, this book delivers struggle, triumph, heartbreak, and forgiveness. What a dramatic ride! The story revolves around the Donnelly sisters, Mindy and Ginger, who were raised primarily by their mother, Carol Donnelly, a legendary female surfer. As they grow up, their paths drastically diverge with Mindy chasing fame and the spotlight and Ginger being drawn into the underground world of drug use and cults. Two drastically different lives come back together with a big old bombshell!

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, & Delacorte Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story of two sisters growing up in the sixties with an absent mother and no father, each taking very different paths. Both great surfers in Southern California, Mindy tried to lead the life of a young actress, partying and keeping up with the latest gossip and trends. Ginger falls in love at a young age and ends up living with him in a cult. I loved the depth of the character development, the reality of the storyline and the amount of emotions I felt reading this book.

This was enjoyable; it was different from historical fiction I've read before in that it wasn't based off of a specific person from history but I still enjoyed the surf culture. I liked the family dynamic between the characters and I was anxious to see how it ended.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

It is the 1960’s in Southern California, where Carol Donnelly is not following the normal expectations of women.. Carol doesn’t care about being a mother to her children. She only wants to be on the ocean surfing. When her husband leaves, the two sisters are left alone. Mindy and Ginger are often wearing dirty clothes among other things. They learn to survive their mother’s “abandonment. Mindy becomes quite good at surfing and eventually becomes better than her mother. Ginger is somewhat timid and not interested in surfing. The two sisters go on their own paths. For Ginger, it means ending up with a man that tells her he is God. She eventually goes to join a cult. Mindy ends up playing minor roles in surfing movies. Through all this the sisters have gone their separate ways, there is the sense of duty to each other. The sister have had an unorthodox childhood which gives them a forever connection.

The author has written an emotional, comprlling novel that shows how women were breaking the normal housewife life. It is a novel that kept me glued to the pages wondering what was going to happen to Mindy and Ginger’s lives.

This book really placed me in the 1960s! The tension between the dysfunctional family members kept the story moving along. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.