California Golden is about a family of surfers set in the 60’s. Mindy and Ginger grew up knowing their mom was different. She would spend everyday surfing, forgetting to pick the girls up from school, change their clothes or have enough food in the house.

Their dad walked out and the girls know their mom might leave them next. Mindy and Ginger start surfing as attempt to bond with their mother and to keep their family together. Mindy never expected to fall in love with surfing too. Soon she’s skipping school to catch waves and spends all day at the beach just like her mom. Ginger has a fear of the ocean and she struggles as her mom and sister leave her behind.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a 5/5 for me. It was interesting to read about the surf culture during this time period and the characters were well written. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review and it was published this month!

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So there's this vibe of an A24 movie with beautiful and raw stories of 3 women: mothers, daughters and sisters, that have to find themselves in a moment in time where women have no voice or decisions of their own.

Let's say this book gives us 3 perspectives, completely different and opposite to eachother and for some reason all three of them have valid points (yes, even ginger's).
We have the mother that didn't wanna be a mother but society told her otherwise.
The daughter that didn't wanna become her mother and was tired of taking care of everything, and decided to choose herself.
The daughter that felt belittled by her sister and not loved enough by her mother that decided to find some kind of love that will replace those relationships, and yes she loved very deeply in a very weird and obsessive way, but loved nonetheless.

This was a really interesting and raw reflection of family relationships and personal growth.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From a young age, Mindy and her sister Ginger realize that to get their mom's attention, they must become surfers like her. Mindy also becomes famous for being a female surfer, as Ginger takes a more hippie path. Set in the 60's in Laguna Beach, CA, Mindy and Ginger must navigate sexist, racism, bad men, and unloving parents.

I liked that this book took on a different topic and time period and I liked the beach setting. I felt bad for both of the sister's struggles, but I could never truly embrace them. The writing style for this book was good narratively, but I wish it had gone a little deeper on the characters. I really liked the mother's backstory towards the end of the book that helped her motivations click into place.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy for review.

Review will be posted on 8/23/23

Carol Donnelly is an athlete in a world where people want her to be content with getting married, having kids, and raising her family. It's the very opposite of what she wants and when she does find herself married with children it doesn't go well. She doesn't take to it and often leaves her kids at school, wearing two-day-old clothes, and forgets all responsibility by going to the beach. Carol's real love is the ocean and she is good at many sports, but she stands out in surfing. Her eldest daughter, Mindy, as she grows up shows great promise with surfing, too, whereas Ginger, the youngest daughter, isn't a natural and everything is a bit harder for her. As the years go by, the girls suffer from fear of abandonment as their mother is never really there for them and things only get worse when Mindy outshines her mother at a surf content. Eventually, Mindy ends up in the beach movies of the 60s and becomes a minor celebrity, and Ginger takes a much darker path. The Donnelly girls go their separate ways, but as the years go by, they find they need each other, especially when things get tough. Melanie Benjamin brings to life the surf culture of the 60s very well in California Golden. Fans of Gidget will thoroughly enjoy this tale that also has some similarities to Daisy Jones and the Six as well as Malibu Rising.


Gidget makes surf culture seem pretty tame, but we know the 60s weren't like that. Benjamin portrays the dark side of the counterculture with drugs as well as domestic violence, the war in Vietnam, and more. It follows the stories of the Donnelly women and how each deal with their own issues as society pressures them to be something they aren't. Mindy and Carol especially faced a lot of sexism when dealing with athletic women or women in sports as that wasn't the norm for the time. Benjamin covers a lot in California Golden, but I think it works and makes the women's story worth it as it is based on many real-life female surfers. If you like the 60s time period, (both the good and bad) then California Golden is a good fit for you.

Let me start by saying this is my first Melanie Benjamin title and that I found her to be a brilliant writer. She has a very poetic voice that I envy. In California Golden, she created three complex female characters: Carole, the self-absorbed mother and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger. The book is a fascinating look at family dysfunction and the effects of emotional neglect on future generations.

And yet I didn't love the book. I liked it - because of all the above reasons - but I didn't love it. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't engage with the characters.

For starters, all three women are Messed Up. A lot. Carole is a horrible mother who neglects her children while she surfs. (By the way, surfing in this book is protrayed as a religion, not a hobby. This is a very important point.) She blames motherhood for preventing her from pursuing her dreams, first as a female professional baseball player and later as a surf bum. Both daughters chase love in self-destructive ways. Mindy seeks it through adoration and fame; Ginger develops a codependent relationship with narcissistic drug dealer.

What bothered me was that none of the characters took any kind of responsibility for their actions. Instead, they compound bad decisions with more bad decisions. For the first two-thirds of the book, I had tremendous sympathy for Ginger who was such a lost soul. Sadly, she makes a decision later in the book that took away my sympathy. Mindy seemed to be having a giant pity party for a large part of the book, albeit a very justifiable one. She did show growth as a person, but by the time she did, I didn't really care.

Oh and Carole - I couldn't sympathize with her, even when in her POV. It wasn't until I was done reading that I realized I wasn't supposed to sympathize with her. This was where Benjamin's writing showed why she's one of the top hist fic writers of the day. She did a marvelous job of showing how Carole justified all her actions.

I also didn't buy the whole insta-love relationship between Jimmy and Mindy. In fact, after Mindy selfishly dumped him, I was hoping he would end up with Ginger.

Over all, I would say this was an above average, but not fantastic read. I will read Melanie Benjamin again however. I read more than enough to warrant a second pass.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballentine Books for the advanced read.

This one was fine it has potential. It was unique and had potential to be great. But I didn’t love the family dynamic in this one.

Carol Donnelly and her two beautiful daughters Mindy and Ginger are a sight to see surfing during the surf craze of the early 1960's. They are a Malibu fixture, but behind the scenes Carol is barely a parent and Mindy and Ginger are raising themselves.

By the mid 1960's Mindy is a surf star and Ginger is living with a Surf God in an abandoned shack and neither have talked to Carol in years.

I really enjoyed most of the book. The characters are a great example of generational trauma. Carol was essentially forced into motherhood, Mindy seeks external validation and Ginger's need to be loved leads her to a cult. I feel like the story dropped in the third part. The most interesting part of Ginger's story is not on the page. I was really interested on where she ended up.

A mother and her two daughters learn to live and grow in the 60's surfing world.

Mindy and Ginger grow up in the shadow of their mother Carol, one of the first women surfers. It is the time of Gidget and Beach Blanket Bingo. Mindy becomes and excellent surfer while Ginger follows but is not quite as passionate or committed. When Carol leaves to find her own path, Mindy and Ginger must figure out how to go forward.

The novel brings in all the turmoil of the 60's and 70's including the Vietnam war and women's rights. Mindy follows her mothers steps into movies and surfing and then joins an entertainment tour in Vietnam. Ginger goes another path following the love of her life into very different circumstances.

It is a well researched historical novel with realistic characters that the reader can relate to .

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This story spans a decade starting in the early 1960’s. Every cultural reference from this era are revisited. The surfing scene from the sunny beaches of California to Hawaii are told through the turbulent story of two sisters. The music, Vietnam War, racism, women’s lack of independence, and the hippie cults are all included. It’s a heavy read, but I was engrossed in the story. A few things felt a bit far fetched and predictable, but I remained engaged and entertained.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

California Golden follows two sisters who follow very different paths. This book jumps around in time and is told from different perspectives. I enjoyed Mindy’s story but for me Ginger’s fell flat. The ending became like a soap opera but the surfer girl vibes were immaculate throughout the book.

The spot did not seem up to caliber as far as her other books go. But it definitely captured this era. Thank you to NetGalkey and the publisher.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I love historical fiction, especially when I’m familiar with the time period. The 1960s are my jam, and although I’m not familiar with surfing, I was able to connect and relate pretty quickly.

This book brought out all the feels regarding motherhood. Being a mom to a toddler, there were moments I felt like I was reading about myself - I was able to connect to the main characters because I felt a lot of the same feelings (in different ways). Especially Mindy - I felt for her so so much. Relationships are tricky, no matter if they are family or not. Melanie Benjamin isn’t afraid to write about touchy subjects and topics that are sometimes uncomfortable. I didn’t want to put this one down.

My reasoning behind 4 stars is simple - I wanted more!!! I want to know what happened to Ginger + Tom, why she was back, did Carol die, why didn’t Jimmy + Mindy have their own baby? These are just some questions unanswered that I felt would have given me some clarity. Overall - this was great!

I really like the books that Melanie Benjamin writes, she tends to drop me, the reader, in spots that I could never find myself in and they are all very interesting. This month's pick is one that is set on the beach, that in itself is a place I don't much care for (the sand!), but I found myself sucked into this one from the start. It is the story of two sisters, Mindy and Ginger, that bonded in childhood simply because they were afraid social services would tear them away from their mom. Their mom wasn't an abuser, she was just a mom. that wasn't present. Her life revolved around surfing and doing whatever it took to keep her top surfer status. She would cart the girls off to many different locales but would tend to ignore them so she could compete. The system the girls put in place worked beautifully for a while and then the girls were old enough to surf with mom. Here is where the story gets interesting, think about it, two girls about to go through puberty and trying out their talents at their mom's sport.

Fast forward a bit and the girls are apart, they don't even know where the other one is living. You will have to read to find out what happens to cause this and how the book ends, but I think you will enjoy the ride.

Just as kids today are obsessed with the 90s, as a 90s child myself, we were fascinated by the 60s. Melanie Benjamin’s new novel California Golden encapsulates this distinctly unique moment of time by following a mother-daughter surfing trio across this “golden” era.

However, everything that glitters is not gold. California Golden is actually quite a dark, depressing book, probing many unsettling aspects of the decade, including the Vietnam War, racism and cultural appropriation, the role of women in society, and familial discord. Told in three parts, California Golden follows daughters Mindy and Ginger through childhood as they are half-raised by a mother who, frankly, did not want them. A legendary female surfer, Carol Donelly feels like her daughters have held her back from living the life she dreamed. Later in the book, her daughters follow in her footsteps, pursing surfing careers themselves while falling prey to all of the trappings of the 1960s. As the sisters sort out their feelings for their mother and each other amid California surf culture, they battle generational wounds and societal pressures.

A historical novel in the truest sense, California Golden is a revealing snapshot of a moment of time. Melanie Benjamin brings to life a time and a place through her atmospheric tale of the revolutionary 1960s. At a time when women were experiencing promise and placement like never before, California Golden further demonstrates that despite these advancements in society, women still lacked total freedom over the direction of their lives. But at its heart, California Golden is a generational story of family and how the impact of those who raise us is far-reaching and profound.

California Golden is best when it ascribes to 1960s surf culture, bringing to life this niche segment of society amid the roar and upheaval of this pivotal decade. The family relationships, on the other hand, are sometimes slow and plodding, making this novel not as stellar as it could be.

I couldn’t really get into this book and I think that’s because of me … not the book. The writing and the story were done really well, it just wasn’t my type of read. I’m an escapist reader and don’t like to read about troubled relationships or emotional trauma. So I wasn’t able to finish this book. The characters were being developed really well and the story was taking shape, but I just couldn’t stay in the book.

"California Golden" a captivating journey that captures the heart and soul of an era through the enthralling lives of two remarkable sisters. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, the story follows the lives of Carol Donelly and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger. As a legendary female surfer striving to break barriers in a male-dominated sport, Carol's unconventional journey shapes the destinies of her daughters in ways both profound and poignant.

At the heart of this story is Mindy and Ginger's complex sisterhood. Through their divergent paths, the bonds of loyalty and love they share are palpable, forged in their unconventional upbringing. As they navigate celebrity, love affairs, parties, and the tumultuous counterculture, their sisterhood offers an emotional anchor that resonated deeply with me.

Benjamin's writing is a true marvel, immersing readers in an era when societal norms were shifting as tempestuously as the waves crashing onto the California shores. She masterfully intertwines the personal struggles of her characters with the broader cultural landscape. Whether you're a lover of historical fiction, a fan of strong female characters, or simply want a beach read, this novel is a must-read that will linger in your thoughts long after you turn the last page.

Two sisters desperate to relate to their surfer mom in California grow up showcasing the era in history of the fifties and sixties. The characters are so well drawn, and although they all are a bit flawed, you can't turn away. An enjoyable fast read that had history, romance and action. Benjamin is a solid author.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I grew up miles from the ocean, so it’s safe to say I know next to nothing about surfing, other than what I watched on TV growing up. In spite of that, I have always loved the ocean and I gravitated to California Golden because of that.

Carol Donnelly is the mother of two girls. She is also a gifted athlete and surfer that fell into motherhood way before she was ready and as a result, grew to resent her girls. The girls, Mindy and Ginger, learn to swim and surf in an effort to earn their mother’s praise.

Mindy turns out to be the more gifted surfer, while Ginger was the beauty. As they get into the teen years their differences put them on separate paths. When Mindy and her mother both enter a big competition in Hawaii, a rift between them is created when Mindy wins.

From this point the three of them are drifting apart and it takes years before they get their family relationship back on track. By the end of the story, readers will understand how different the opportunities were for Carol as opposed to how things are today.

The story has such a strong sense of place. Set predominately in California, Hawaii figures big in the story. After all, that was where surfing was born. This was a great book to read as school begins again and summer is almost at an end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this book and give my honest review.

1960’s in California were people surf during the day and spend nights at the clubs. I love the Beach Boys music, so I was thinking of their songs when I started this book.

Carol Donnelly is a legendary surfer in a male dominated sport. She has two daughters who are used to their mom’s lifestyle and lack of parenting. To get her attention they start spending time at the beach. They see their mom acting more like a teen. Mindy takes to surfing well, but Ginger does not do so as well.

As adults the sisters have their own challenges. The Mention of the Playboy Club, USO tours and parties along with free-love are talked about. Mindy is more of a free spirit and falls into this lifestyle. However Ginger falls into another world filled with drugs, cults and abuse.
They both are trying to navigate their lives after growing up with an absentee mother and looking for love where they can find it.

This is a different book from Benjamin’s normal genre, but I really enjoyed this one. Now to go listen to some more surfing music!

Carol Donnelly's first love is surfing. Her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, are the major impediments to her surfing. And her husband? He's someone who wants her to be a proper bridge-playing, PTA-participating wife. When their parents divorce, Mindy thinks the best strategy for keeping her mother interested in her daughters is by learning to surf. And it works, until Mindy becomes a better surfer than Carol.

Ginger, desperate for someone to notice her, falls dangerously in love with the charismatic but narcissistic Tom Riley. Set in California through the pivotal 1960s, this novel captures a point in time, with its beauty and peril. The ending seems abrupt and a bit unsatisfying, but overall, an excellent read. #CaliforniaGolden #NetGalley