The California Dreamers - a family chooses an unconventional life of surfing.

In 1983, on a California beach, we are introduced to fifteen-year-old Ronan Merrick, the only daughter in her family. With her three brothers, father "Cap," and her mother, the Merricks lead a free-spirited life, choosing to live unconventionally. They reside in a van, traveling up and down the coast, searching for perfect surfing spots. The family gains unwanted notoriety when an unauthorized photograph of the family holding their surfboards is splashed across the country, threatening their nomadic lifestyle.

The story shifts to 2002, and Ronan is living in Oregon under the name Ava LeClair with her two sons, who are unaware of her true identity. After years without contact, Ronan's brother, Griffin, contacts her to inform her that their father has died, and an ocean memorial service is planned on a remote island. While a tense reunion is inevitable, the situation becomes more complicated when a journalist shows up to write about the family. This unique family's story is told through the period when Ronan decides to leave her family and at the time of the memorial, when the family tries to determine if they can truly be reunited.

Few authors have captured the essence of California like Amy Mason Doan. In The California Dreamers, you can almost feel the ocean, the sand, and the sun. The Merrick family was inspired by a real-life story of a family who led a transient bohemian lifestyle for over two decades, traveling in a camper from one wave to the next. This is a touching coming-of-age story about the preciousness of family. If you remember the musical group the Mamas & the Papas, you'll be humming their song California Dreamin as you read this enjoyable book.

Many thanks to Graydon House | HTP Books for my gifted copy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Historical & Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: April 8, 2025.

Please "like" this post if The California Dreamers sounds like a book you might like to read. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.