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

I loved the Southern California and Hawaii settings of this book. I grew up watching the surfers on the beach. The cool teenagers with their board shorts, bikinis and long boards. were living the California dream. Melanie Benjamin's novel takes the reader into the heart of that world with all its seediness and glamor.

Perhaps the characters are a bit flat. (The bad guy is just a little too bad and the naive girl too naive.) But the setting and overall story made it worth the read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly, I wanted more from this book from page 1. The characters were flat and boring, I wanted more dimension from them. The story was predictable and not very exciting. I struggled to connect with the book through all 3 parts. It was not a DNF kind of read, but also not a "I can't put this down" read either. An interesting timeline and subject, just not one that I was very connected to.
Carol is a famous surfer, when women struggle in the surfing world. Unfortunately, her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, suffer from the unconventional lifestyle they live. As they grow up, Mindy follows in her mother's footsteps and loves the board, however, Ginger is not comfortable in the water. Despite their differences, and the difference lives they live as adults, they find themselves forever connected. A story about family, sisters and the bonds that tie them.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I was a teen in the 60's and remember the California surf culture, Gidget, The Beach Boys, etc. This is such a good story, from beginning to end. Family dysfunction, drug use, communes, free love, this book has it all. Highly recommend it!

California Golden is a story of growing up, growing apart, and coming back together. The entire thing made me nostalgic for the California I grew up in. The children of a rare female surfer grow up without her. Their growth mirrors the growth of the state in so many ways. No matter how close you are, you may have times in which your lives don't match well with the lives of those you love.