This story deserves far more than five stars. It is a delightful, inspiring and heartwarming story from one of my favorite authors. There are four main characters and I loved all of them. Julia is the granddaughter of Mama Rose who is in assisted living and has Alzheimer’s disease. Mama Rose raised her because her mother abandoned her her when she was three. Matt is the grandson of Liza Holloway, famous in Hollywood. Matt’s parents died when he was young and he was sent to Liza but she ignored him and did nothing for him. Matt felt unloved and unlovable. Julia felt unloved by her mother who never came back for her. Together, these two can begin healing and maybe be able to love and be loved?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a huge Kerry Lonsdale fan, this book did not disappoint. The storyline revolves around 2 grandmothers, 2 grandchildren and how their lives have intersected over the past 30+ years. I really appreciate a book that is just on the edge of realism and this one delivered. The grandchildren Julia and Matt are coming from 2 very different places in their relationships with their grandmothers, yet still are able to relate to each other and rely on each other through shared experience. There was one twist that I was about to see about 60% through but I was looking forward to seeing if I was actually right about it and really enjoyed the mini twist at the end that I did not see coming.

While it's a bit heavy of a read at times, I would definitely recommend along with Kerry's other novels.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 11, 2024
Julia Hope was raised by her grandmother after being abandoned by her drug addicted mother as a child. Surrounded by nothing but love, Julia is heartbroken as she watches her grandmother struggle with Alzheimer’s and starts to think about a future completely alone.
Matt Gatlin is a famous auto photographer living in New Mexico when he receives word from the retirement residence his grandmother is living in that she is short on payments and is about to be evicted. Matt and his cold-hearted grandmother were never close, and he doesn’t feel like he should have to travel one thousand miles to deal with his grandmother, who never wanted him in the first place.
Both Matt and Julia’s lives intersect over their complicated family relationships and the understanding of being completely alone in this heartwarming emotional story, “Find Me in California” by Kerry Lonsdale.
“California” is Lonsdale’s tenth novel, and I have been a fan since her very first, and was over the moon when I was asked to be a member of her reviewing team. Lonsdale takes deep, emotional topics like Alzheimer’s, elder care and childhood abandonment and manages to turn them into an engaging and entertaining read. “California” is both light-hearted and poignant, which is what Lonsdale is famous for, and it takes a special kind of talent to forge these into a page-turning novel.
Julia and Matt are the same and yet so very different, but both have suffered significant loss and trauma, making them human and relatable. It was obvious from the beginning that they would end up together, but I was invested in every part of their journey. Both characters take turns narrating, so the reader is able to understand both protagonists from their point of view, which adds depth and strengthens character development. The ending plays out as I hoped it would, but there were some delicious twists and turns along the way, and I turned the pages at a record pace!
“California” is the summer read of 2024, and I can’t wait to see what Lonsdale delivers next!

Kerry is a one-click author for me. As soon as something is available, I either own it or I'm on the waiting list for it at the library. And usually I'm way too impatient to wait at the library so if there's more than five people ahead of me I'm just buying the book. No questions asked I don't need to cover I don't need a blurb just give me the story.

I was incredibly excited to find out that the next release was a standalone. I absolutely love this series books but sometimes there's something so nice about knowing that you get to curl up with a book and from beginning to end you get the full story.

If you are a fan of books that are heartfelt, emotional, deal with real life issues like forgiveness and redemption, this is the book for you. If you are a reader who wants to sit down and escape into a book with nothing more than feel good, joyful emotions, this might not be your book. Simply because this book deals with grief, and loss, and can be heavy at times. But Kerry does a wonderful job of when she writes the heavy, she does it's so well, readers want to keep going. We want to feel the emotions.


I absolutely loved Julia's character and definitely felt more connected to her in the story than with matt. It wasn't that I didn't like him or that I didn't feel that his character was developed, I simply didn't connect with him the same way that I did with julia. That's not uncommon. I think the piece that took me out of the connection with him is the drug use aspect. I understand why it was done and why it was in the story, but it was just one of those things that because of my own personal history, it pulled me from the story. And that is likely why I didn't connect with him as much.

Sometimes, when I read a book that has a section that I don't connect with or something takes me out of the story, I have a tough time even when that ends to continue with the book, but that didn't happen with this book. When those scenes were finished and we moved forward with the story I was easily back in the story rooting for the characters wanting to know what happens to them. As I was reading I was concerned that the ending would leave me unsatisfied. But I couldn't imagine a better ending to the story and it absolutely not only met but exceeded my expectations.

I am such a fan of Kerry's writing and the way that she weaves stories together. I cannot wait to be able to share this book with friends and I already know that I will be purchasing copies as gifts.

Even though there was a small element of the story that took me out of it and was difficult for me to connect with, this was still a five-star read for me. It is still a book that I will be recommending to people and talking about.

This is a beautifully crafted story about hidden secrets. Matt arrives home to find 15 boxes shipped to him from the nursing home of his estranged grandmother. Matt hasn’t spoken to her in years but is forced to deal with her eviction from the nursing home. If you like stories about secrets, lost love and family history you’ll love this book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

Kerry Lonsdale is an auto-buy author for me. Every novel she has written - whether her stand alones or series - leaves an imprint. There is something about her writing that immediately draws readers in, leaving them to ignore their lives while they dive into the characters in her stories. Find Me in California is no different. If anything, Kerry takes her writing to a new level by seamlessly weaving in the past of her main characters (Matt and Julia). This book is an absolute trip (literally and figuratively) and I really don’t want to give anything away - so I will just say - trust me. Go, pre-order and buy this book today! You will not regret it! The only thing missing is a playlist to accompany the road trip Matt takes to find his grandmother.

Find Me in California is a crazy romantic, suspense filled trip that will leave you wanting more. Easily a 5+ star read for me.

Find Me in California is a multi view point book told from the perspective of Matt, Julia, and entries in a diary belonging to Julia's grandmother. Both Matt and Julia have a lot of baggage, and their grandmothers have more to do with that than they realize. Through what seems to be random circumstances the two connect and through the course of phone conversations and eventually meeting in person, they both learn more about their family history and what actually connects them. There was a mystery to this story that I really enjoyed as the story of the past unfolded. I was very invested in having all the pieces put together. As both characters wrestle with how the past effects their presents, I enjoyed seeing them grow together. Overall this is an intriguing read with interesting characters.

I am a big fan of Kerry Lonsdale's books. I have read them all. While this wasn't a super quick read for me, I really enjoyed the intertwined story of Magnolia Blu and Liza and their grandchildren. I loved the closure the ending brought. A solid 4++ star read.

Find Me in California is a story about family secrets, second chances, and forgiveness. From the first chapter I felt very connected to and invested in all the characters and where their stories were going. This book was very well written and I enjoyed the alternating POV which really helped to understand the motivations of the main characters. This was my first book from Kerry Lonsdale and would definitely look for more from her in the future. Giving this one 3.75 rounding up to 4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to read another book by Kerry Lonsdale! This book, like her others, was fabulous. There was a large section in the book still on my mind that I'm trying to figure out...great plot!

Just when I thought I knew how the story would go, Kerry once again surprised me with this book. Everything starts with a bunch of boxes and ends up hundreds of miles away with two strangers getting to know each other over the phone. Two grandmothers with a history, inadvertently connect their grandchildren who share their childhood traumas with each other. Who knew two strangers could be so alike, with a shared history, yet never know the other existed?
Another well-written book from one of my favorite authors. Kerry includes psychological traumas and hallucinations due to drugs, but are they really hallucinations? Definitely a must read.

Romance books are hard for me. There is not often that I come across one that hits me in all the right places but this one just did.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest feedback.

I was hooked from page one… a multigenerational, multi POV, timeline hopping story of Matt and Julia and their intersecting lives through their grandmothers and the suspense of what happened in the past and how it’s related to the future…. I LOVED it all.

There is a bit in the story ( without giving any spoilers) that kind of made no sense and the plot could’ve done without…. Even this, did not spoil my enjoyment of my very first ( but definitely not her last for me at least ) Kerry Lonsdale book. A deffo 5 star read for me.

Family secrets, forgiveness and second chances are the primary themes of the latest must read novel by Kerry Lonsdale.

Julia Hope is doing everything she possibly can to take care of her grandmother while Matt Gatlin has done everything possible to avoid his. When both grandmothers face dramatic life changes, the fallout creates a connection between Julia and Matt that unfolds in unexpected ways.

Told over a few days, the two find their lives intertwined as the history between their grandmothers is uncovered and long buried secrets are revealed. A compelling and engaging read.

Find Me in California, another great book by Kerry Lonsdale! This is a multi generational family story that shows us the past and present of the four main characters. I was intrigued from the start when Matt mysteriously received boxes of his grandmother's belongings. I wanted to learn more about his relationship with his grandmother and why he had so much resentment towards her.

Julia Hope, who also has a grandmother at the same care facility as Matt's grandmother, starts communicating with Matt over the phone. They both need to find new care facilities for their grandmothers. As Matt and Julia Hope continue communicating, their friendship grows. They learn more about each other and secrets are revealed when Julia Hope finds her grandmother's journal. I found this story very interesting nd unpredictable, which I loved. This is a book about family relationships, buried secrets, chance encounters and new beginnings.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest review of Find Me in California.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Julia and Matt and I loved their development over the phone. It felt real and authentic because sometimes it's easy to be real and truthful with someone without a face and someone you don't know. The relationship between Ruby Rose and Liza was definitely interesting and I kept wanting to find out what happened between the two of them. It wasn't so clear exactly why they both ended up at Rosemont. I think that should have been expanded on further rather than in just a letter. Also, the "hallucinations" of Magnolia with Matt and their relationship was very odd and confusing and was never really delved into. It was just sort of left that it was strange and was likely a hallucination, even though Ruby Rose recognized Matt. So, I didn't understand that part. Overall, it was an interesting read but I was left with more questions than I would have liked.

I love Kerry Lonsdale. I’ll read whatever she writes. This one missed the mark for me.
I liked the connection between Matt and Julia which translated into a romance. I liked the back story of the grandmothers. I just wanted their “secret past” to be more than who the father of their children were. Also the Mangnolia hallucination stuff was too weird and I didn’t like it.

What would you think if you came home and had 15 boxes of your estranged grandmother’s belongings sitting in your driveway? Matt left her house when he was 18 hoping to never see her again. He arrived when he was 10 after the deaths of his parents. His grandmother was old school Hollywood and had been married to actor Matthew Holloway who died in a car accident before the birth of their daughter Aubrey. Adam the butler was the only person who was nice to Matt.
After receiving the 15 boxes Matt calls the Nursing Home that his grandmother was in and talks to Julia a volunteer who knows

I was 50% through this book when I said I wasn't sure if I liked it, but I am glad I stuck with it. I think Matt as a character was much more developed than Julia who seemed to be just a savior/helper type character in the end. I was not surprised at the family relationships in the end, but I liked how they were revealed in the end and that not everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Overall I would recommend this book.

3.5

Kerry Lonsdale's Everything series was what got me back into reading, so I was super excited for this read. I did like this book, but not nearly as much as the Everything series. My biggest hiccup with the book was the "hallucinations" with Magnolia Blu. It was just.....weird. Mainly because that was her grandmother, yet it was supposed to be her?

The end twist was a bit shocking (in a good way), but overall, I enjoyed this book.


'Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest feedback.