Good book…was a little drawn out at times. Felt like at times there was a lot of build up for not much of a twist…also wish we would have known ahead of time that there are LGBT themes.

The Merrick family..mom, dad/cap, 3 sons and 1 daughter live a nomadic life in the 1960s surfing along the coast in a converted food truck. Mom and dad were very strict in some ways and lax in others. I was hard to like either one of them. When a picture of them is taken that becomes iconic, it upsets and changes the family. This was a different story than i was expecting but not unhappy about that. It seemed repetitive in some parts but the dual timeline kept me interested.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I could not stop reading this book! Following the Merricks in their journey and also specifically Ro in hers was fascinating. It’s a world I do not have any experience with, nor will I ever, and I think that made me all the more spellbound with the settings and descriptions of the nature, relationships, and conflicts inside this story, The time frames were easy to follow as were most of the journal entries; I won’t say why I used the word ”most” because it would be a spoiler. The end was satisfying and left me wondering about a couple relationships and where those would wind up in the future. I am intrigued by those who live the van life, and this gave me a glimpse into 1980s vanners. It would be so much easier now! I do recommend this book—it was a quick read simply because I couldn't leave it alone. It is well crafted and developed. I will definitely look for the author’s other books.

The California Dreamers is a gem of a novel. The unique plot is loosely based upon the real like Paskowitz family who are considered the first family of surfing. In this book, the main characters are the Merriks who are a family of five and is written from the perspective of the only daughter, Ronan. They are a surfing family, live in a van, homeschooled, and cruise up and down the California coast. This book is beautifully written with many underlying themes and heartfelt insights.

Once in a while you stumble upon a book that makes you fall hard. For the story, for the characters, for the landscape, for the writing, and for everything those characters went through, could have gone through, but never did.
Cap and Ella (Mama) Merrick raised their three sons and one daughter in a small, fixed up van, driving up and down the California coast, surfing the days away, and keeping them out of school and friendless. But at seventeen years old their daughter Ronan left without saying goodbye.
Written in dual timeline, in the 80s and fifteen years after Ronan left, “The California Dreamers” takes you through years of a family’s unconventional life. However while representing an ideal to the parents, is it really an ideal to the children?
This book is a full sensory experience: the writing, the endless sunny California summers, the smells of Mama’s orange and clove potions and of surfboard wax, Dyl’s Field Journal, the children’s (often repressed) thoughts and feelings, and their parents’ rules and beliefs. I will think about the Merrick children for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As someone who has never surfed or even around the ocean, this book was so visual and had a sense of beauty to it. I enjoyed following the characters and how both mother and daughter sought a different life that was for them.

I felt the book was very detailed and the characters were well written. I am planning to read more from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ebook ARC of 'The California Dreamers' by Amy Mason Doan - expected release date of 04/08/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a beautifully written, engaging story of a free-spirited, holistic, nomadic family living off the grid, traveling across the west coast in an old food truck. Written from the lone daughter Ronan's (Ro) perspective, in both the past (her coming of age years) and the present (after her father's death). While this lifestyle would be more socially acceptable in today's society, the 80s was a much more regimented, structured time, which forced the family to keep their living situation a secret.

The kids were wildly street-smart and lived in fear of the outside world and what troubles they would bring their family if there was any interaction. They also internally questioned a lot of their parents choices, and wondered about social norms of that time, yet never confronted their parents, instead they bottled that all up.

The family was avid nature and surfing lovers. A captivating photo of them in their glory was secretly taken, submitted to a newspaper and it went viral. This action blew up the family's privacy and caused Ro to run away at only 17 in an attempt to start living her own life.

Their secrets are revealed slowly through the book and they sure are juicy. Charlie and Dyl's characters were so rich and captivating, I adored both of them and their close relationship to Ro.

I appreciated all the nods to 'Island of the Blue Dolphins' throughout. As an 80s baby myself, this was one of the first novels I remember reading in school, and helped kickstart my insatiable need to read.

I loved following this family as they followed their dreams. The off-grid van living, photography, and surfing were a great combination. A fascinating family as you learn about each of their lives throughout the years.

“The California Dreamers” is by Amy Mason Doan. In so very many ways, I fell in love with this book. A free spirited family - living off the land when possible, raising kids in a former food truck, going where the wind and highway takes them. It may not have been a typical life - but there was love in that family. This story is told in two timelines - the 1980s and 2002. It is very easy to keep the two timelines apart. The main character, Ronan, is well thought out and given great depth. While I’m still not sure exactly why Ronan did what she did, it makes sense from a teenager’s point of view (at least to me; in other words, it made sense at the time, even if looking back it doesn’t make sense). I really liked the character of Dyl. I also liked reading about the relationship between all the siblings. The secrets in this book are told slowly, but do come to light - and I found the ending satisfying. The descriptions of the beaches and catching the waves at times seemed really real - making me long for having an ocean view out my own window. I found Ms. Doan’s inspiration for the book an interesting one, so do read the Author’s Note at the back of the book. So, with all this praise - why just four stars? For a simple reason, at times the book’s pacing was a bit slower than I would’ve liked (however thinking about it, I’m not sure what I’d cut because nearly everything advanced the plot). But, I’d re-read this book and I’ve moved Ms. Doan’s other books higher on by TBR. Overall, a 4.25 read - and I’ll be encouraging people to read it.

This book alternates between 1980 and 2002 with a family with four kids living in a van off the grid and traveling up and down the coast.

In today, Ronan is now Ava and living as far away from that life as she can possibly be, when family tragedy, strikes, and she’s asked to come back home. Can she risk her new life?
Throughout the pages of the alternating timeline, we find out what happened to Ronan and why she is now Ava
I must say I enjoyed this book and it had a little nostalgia for me

Sigh. This book is just beautiful. The cover jumped out at me and I needed an escape right now so I began it even though my TBR is dozens long and this just came in.

You know when you find a book at the exact right time ? I dove into this plot like the Merrick family dives into the water in their island "swimming hole" midway through the book, where they are all seeking healing from the stresses and confusion of the world, and the hurts that only those we love best can inflict on us. And like them I came up for air happier..

It's the story of one family that the author makes feel like an entire world. It's a simple plot on the surface - sure, an estranged group of siblings convening for their father's memorial. But so much mystery, heart, longing, nature, and gentle humor are woven in. I ADORED it.
There's something pure and healing about this gorgeous novel and I'm so glad it made it to the top of my stack when I needed it.

Highly, highly recommend. Just read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance galley in exchange for this review.

When I saw Amy Mason Doan’s announcement for her new novel, The California Dreamers, I immediately knew I had to read it. Having such an interest in surfing growing up, plus being a child of the 80’s, I knew this book was going to grab me and it certainly did just that.

The California Dreamers focuses on a family of 6 living a nonconformist, nomadic lifestyle on beaches along the west coast. Led by Cap, the patriarch of the family, the 4 children and Mama lead a life of leisure and lessons. The only girl, Ronan is the protagonist of the story. Cap’s regime seems to affect her the most, and she finds herself wondering if her “freedom” is really that, or just its own version of a prison.

Though my upbringing couldn’t be more opposite, I found myself relating to Ronan a lot. She’s around the same age as me, which made it easy for me to view the past POV’s through her eyes. I also really enjoyed Ronan’s complex relationship with each character in the book. Every single person is fleshed out so well and they were all pretty vivid in my mind.

Reading The California Dreamers was like being transported into a sunny/salty daydream that I didn’t want to end. I was truly fascinated by this family and their lifestyle. They truly showed how much beauty there is in a simple life. I highly recommend reading this, even if you aren’t a big fan of surfing. There’s just so much more to this book - complex family relationships, budding romance, and even a layer of mystery. But most of all, it’s Ronan’s love letter to her family; her Father most of all. To the positive and negative of both her relationship with him, as well as the dreamy but sometimes complicated life they lead.

I highly recommend this beautiful book. So many thanks to Amy Mason Doan, Graydon House and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Imagine living in a van. Everything you need is in it. You are trying to live as simple a life as you can, with little of the day to day items that most of us can’t live without; flush toilets, shower stalls, sink to wash dishes in, a toaster, a coffee machine, a TV; as humble a lifestyle as possible. And imagine that there are six of you in this vehicle. This is not a VW van or a Toyota Sienna. It’s more like a Sprinter or Ford Transit, or an old food cart truck as is the Gull.

The ups and downs of daily life; those trials and tribulations we all go through, but in a much smaller space than our 1500 square foot homes; a space that everything is crowded in, but everything has its place, and everything is shared all the time.

California Dreamers is the story of a family who stay away from cities and large towns as much as possible. They are as far off the grid as they can be and still get to surf as much as they want, up and down the west coast of the US. Living off the land if they can, working if money is needed, surfing at every opportunity they can; twin boys, a teen daughter, a younger brother and the parents.

It’s a life most of us can’t really imagine. It is quite different than ours. Yet the family still goes through the same we landlubbers do.

Written from the point of view of the teen daughter, the reader gets to experience this life of constant travel in their van. How she deals with everyday life and friendships and longing and family is the crux of this book. Amy Mason Doan brings us into this lifestyle and draws us into the lives of the family. You feel as if you are living with them, crowded into their van, called Gull, and you get to experience the swell of waves, the frustration of wanting something a little different, the guilt of your desires. And the pleasure of family.

Enjoy this book with its twists and turns as you drive along with the , large bumps or small, on their path through life.

I was stoked to read an ARC of Amy Mason Doan’s latest, The California Dreamers. We both hail from California, love to write about California, and share a deep love of the Golden State. As a big fan of her seemingly effortless prose, descriptions that plant you in every scene, and characters that make you want to keep reading, I happily gobble up every book she writes.

This novel spotlights a family who eschews convention, living in an itinerant fashion, on their own terms, as they surf the gorgeous Pacific coast. The father, Cap, works odd jobs as needed for the cash necessary to help them survive. The family follows Cap’s rules and dogma, based on his own values and beliefs—but there’s an undercurrent of tension as no one questions him despite sometimes longing to.

It presents an interesting, challenging setup: can you imagine cramming into a small van with your family of six and living that way for years? Without creature comforts? Personal space? Owning few belongs, living a life so different from the masses? Especially when you think about how we all go through our own personal evolution as we grow, and there’s no avoiding some realities, curiosities, and rebelliousness.

The story is told by Ronan, the only daughter in the entourage, and centers around a massively big secret that impacts the entire family. The timeline switches back and forth, allowing us to watch the family’s dynamics in the past coupled with the “current” timeframe, making for a propulsive narrative. At the end of the novel, Doan shares her inspiration for The California Dreamers, which set me on my own course of research and discovery.

It's a lovely read and unusual story. Her books feature young girls or women at their core, making this suitable—and relatable—for females in particular.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for this digital ARC.

I absolutely loved this beautiful, unique novel.
It's a warm story of a family who have rejected traditional aspirations in favor of a simpler life of travel, surf, and nature. Fast-paced but thoughtful, with several BIG SURPRISES that kept me reading way past my bedtime. And the writing is simply gorgeous.

This is one rare case where the evocative cover exactly matches the beauty of what is inside.

I'll be looking for more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early read in exchange for my opinion.

I really liked this book! I like how they combine the story with realistic themes of privacy, paparazzi and the media. I like how the negatives and positives are both covered, and shows the real dangers of it all. I like the story and how it all flows and the writing style too!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Oh this beach book was darling! I loved the characters and their story! It was so precious. I loved the setting! A perfect beach read for vacation or taking you away to another place. Excited to read more by this author!

Dreamy is right. I just loved this story about an unconventional family seeking out their happiness in a van and the water of the west coast.

Ava LaClair is in her thirties, settled on a lavender farm in rural Oregon, raising two sons with the scion of a farming dynasty, and seemingly happy in her small inland town. But late one night, a signal arrives on the farm's birdbath in the form of a coin from her brother, Griffin. It turns out that "Ava La Clair" is also "Ronan" or "Ro Merrick" and she's been hiding a most unusual and at times painful past. Unbeknownst to anyone in her current life in Oregon, Ro grew up wild and untamed n a van with her three brothers and her parents and never went to school or had a "normal" house. Home was a van called The Gull that soared all around beaches, wherever the wind and next day's surf took the family.. The family was so idolized and mysterious that their photo image is on beachy souvenirs and - recently - in a museum. Yet life was not all it seemed, especially for a sensitive girl like Ronan who longed to know more about "outsiders" and began to distrust her domineering, though loving, father..

This patriarch has died, and the family has been summoned to a secret island off Catalina to celebrate his life and toss his remains in the waves.
But it's SO MUCH MORE complicated and interesting than that of course. The family's lives, past and present, are explored with great sensitivity and the writing is consistently delicate and powerful.

I am still in a book hangover state from this one and will be recommending it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance read, all opinions my own.

The description drew me right in, and so did the story. A family with four kids travels up and down the west coast of the US in a van, living off the grid. The book alternates between the 80s and 2002, when a reporter catches up to the family after they became accidentally famous in a viral (as viral as one could be in the 80s and 90s!) photo. The descriptions are incredible, I could picture the beaches and the van and the family. I loved learning about how they survived living the way they did, and finding out how and why Ronan left at age 17 to start a more typical life as a "citizen." The secrets are revealed slowly throughout, and the ending was satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. What an interesting, funny, touching, beautiful story Amy has written. Each character could be the subject of their own story, each is complex and detailed on their own. Taken together, the Merrick family is a wonder. So surprising! Amy does a really good job of painting a picture of their life along the California coast, it's easy to imagine the world they live in. Love the throwback memories to another era where such a lifestyle was possible and accepted. Loved it!