California Golden by Melanie Benjamin

 

California Golden takes you back to the 1950s and 60s, to the hey day of the California girl and surfing.  The story is about two sisters and their desire to keep their family together.  One aspect I really enjoyed was that the story was told from three different points of view, Mindy the older sister, Ginger the younger sister, and Carol the mother.  Carol only cares about surfing and often forgets about her girls at times.  It is the 1950s and although the standard is to be the perfect housewife she would rather be in the ocean.  Mindy comes up with a plan to keep her mother from leaving them and being forced to go to an orphanage.  She convinces her sister that they have to learn to surf so that they can always be with their mother.  Mindy embraces her new role and becomes an amazing surfer but the weight of trying to keep her family together brings forth a desire to become her own independent person.  The drama continues from there as Ginger desperate to belong and be loved goes down a dangerous path. 


There was so much to enjoy about this novel.  I was immediately invested into what was going to happen to the girls.  The novel alternated times so that you got background on the characters motivation and what was happening.  Their childhood really touched my heart and I was rooting for both of them.  I also loved the time period of the book.  It really spoke volumes to what life was like during this time period.  Plus even though the book said California it was set in Vietnam and Hawaii as well.  I loved that the author brought all of the locations into the book.  Lastly, I really want to get out in the ocean and try surfing.  This is an incredible work of historical fiction filled with drama and an emotional impact.  I highly recommend it!


Thank you to Ballantine Bantam Dell | Random House Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

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