Reviews

Find Me in California: A Novel by Kerry Lonsdale

novelgossip's review

4.0

This would be the perfect read for someone who wants a little bit of everything because this has romance, some mystery, family drama, secrets and a dash of magic. Both Julia and Matt are complex characters with complicated pasts and the author did an excellent job at weaving their narratives together. The story itself is quite intricate as besides Julia and Matt both of their grandmothers stories are told over the course of the book. The familial relationships here are so heartbreaking and there are so many subjects explored here from dementia to drug abuse to abandonment issues and many more. It’s also about second chances and forgiveness and it’s highly emotional for both Julia and Matt. I always say the authors books are a perfect summer escape and this was no exception, it’s fresh and unique. The audio version is narrated solely by Amanda Leigh Cobb and she’s delightful. I’ve listened to her before but it’s been awhile and she has a very engaging style.

erinremen's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

It was a fantastic, emotional story that took us on a journey of healing, forgiveness, and love as two people's stories come together in the most incredible way. Told from a few different perspectives, as well as past and present, we navigate the painful way a neurological disease tears away pieces of a person until there is nothing left, the way it affects their loved ones, and the way we cling to the lucid moments. Julia struggles to keep her promise to her grandmother to keep her in the facility she chose as money becomes tighter. While Matt finds himself having to deal with his grandmother, who is also at the facility, that he has not seen in years. He had a traumatic upbringing, and his grandmother treated him like he did not even exist. A diary full of secrets is discovered that will change everything Matt and Julia thought about themselves, pasts hurts may just be healed and something even better may just grow from the pieces that are left over from the fallout. 
I thoroughly enjoyed going on this journey with Matt, Julia, Rose, and Liza!

sarahsbookstack's review

mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Julia has been volunteering as a massage therapist at the nursing home where her beloved grandmother lives but because of money and new ownership must leave. 
There is where Matt's grandmother lives also and it's facing eviction and while Julia had all the love from hers, his was cold towards him though she raised him after his parents died. 

Matt is a very complicated character and for much of the book, I was kind of indifferent to him. (TW- lots of drug/booze use from him). Though he didn't deserve the hate/silence from his Grandmother. But I feel he was redeemed at the end and I came to care for him. 

In phone conversations, a journal, and the spotty memories of the two grandmas.. The past is slowly coming together. These two women have a history but because of their mental ailments it's hard to piece together. 

True to Kerry's books, this is full of drama, secrets, lies, love, and astonishing conclusions. Matt's journey takes some interesting turns as he tries to make it to California.

shelleys_book_nook's review

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I don’t know what the author was thinking with this one, it took everything I had to finish it and it took me an entire week to do so. I thought I was getting a magical family mystery and what I got was an utter mess. This is my first read by the author and I was so disappointed because this has such a high rating (4.28) after eighty-seven reviews.

The first thing I want to mention is the stupid idea to name two characters Matt and have another character with two different names. There are also two timelines and the two-name character shows up in both. Also, we get to read a diary from one character and letters from another.

The two lead characters fall googly eyes in love and spill their saccharine guts to each other before even meeting. The guy has some substance issues but the girl just loves him sooooo much he can stay with her and even be in her house alone cause she trusts him. I mean what the actual fuck!? Anyone with any sense would steer clear of someone with addiction issues romanticly. I have no judgement of people with substance abuse problems (I love relatives who are addicts) but I do have issues with anyone getting into a romantic relationship with them when they need to be focusing on getting clean and sober.

There were some hallucinogens being used and lots of drinking and smoking weed over a weekend and the guy had visions…or are they? It was so stupid and not needed for the plot at all. The story was very repetitive with the same things happening over and over again. Matt gets drunk/high and puts off seeing his grandmother and finding a new care home for her to reside, for three days straight. Ruby works/volunteers and visits her grandmother while putting off looking for a new, more affordable care home for her. Good thing both grannies die because these asshole grandchildren couldn’t be bothered to get off their asses to find a new place for their grandmother to live.

Everyone is sleeping with everyone in this book. Now I am no prude…sexy time is okay with me in books…but not only is everyone sexy-timing with everybody they’re also getting pregnant but not by the person they’re married to or in a relationship with. It’s a good thing there is no such thing as sexually transmitted diseases, am I right? And oh ya, they don’t tell the baby daddy he’s the father. They lie about it and tell their partner he’s the father.

This was just terrible for many reasons and I really wish I could get the time back that I spent reading it. Dear whoever wrote the blurb for this book: An achingly romantic novel this is not. 

randina's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

alysonbookishthoughts's review

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

4.75

amalia1985's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 

Matt and Julia have more in common than meets the eye. Both use their careers as an anchor to the reality around them, both have been facing family issues all their lives and both have grandmothers in an assisted living home. There is one more problem, though. They have never met each other. When the intertwined fates of their relatives bring them together through cardboard boxes and a few agitated phone calls, a tender story of love and grief unfolds.

To say this is a beautiful love story is an understatement. Matt and Julia’s stories evoke routes through difficult paths. Love, loss, grief, despair. The ever-problematic question of the family that should have been a shelter instead of a prison. The daily nightmare that is Alzheimer’s when you witness your loved one wasting away, all memories lost. And this accidental meeting (or phone call…) that might - just might- change your life.

With traces of Magical Realism used to perfection without being a cheap, fashionable gimmick and a poignant approach towards sensitive subjects like Alzheimer's and suicide, Kerry Lonsdale creates a story to be remembered.

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/

 

cad_reads's review

emotional slow-paced

2.75

"Find Me in California" is a poignant tale of love, loss, and destiny, intertwining the lives of Julia and Matt as they navigate the complexities of grief and family ties. Kerry Lonsdale does a great job in weaving together multiple perspectives, both past and present, having which readers into a captivating narrative that spans generations. From Julia's tender relationship with her grandmother to Matt's journey of confronting his painful past, every character is richly developed, evoking a range of emotions from laughter to tears. As secrets unravel and connections deepen at the Rosemont Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility, Lonsdale expertly explores themes of forgiveness and redemption. With its compelling storyline and relatable characters, this novel is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming and thought-provoking story.

crhbrault's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was an interesting book with some twists and family dynamics that gave way to themes of forgiveness, moving forward, and finding your own value in life. It gets a bit twisty at times with multiple points of view and timelines, but was very good.

sikensmanicpixiegf's review

3.0

 "Find Me in California" is a beautifully written novel that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and the power of forgiveness. Kerry Lonsdale's skillful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and settings to life, creating a world that I found myself fully immersed in. The themes of love, loss, and redemption are expertly explored, leaving a lasting impact on those who read it.

The story follows when Julia is struggling while caring for her grandmother who raised her, while Matt is estranged from the grandmother he lived with after his parents died. Julia & Matt's lives collide when Julia sends Matt's grandmother's belongings to him. What transpires is how secrets that have been kept by both grandmothers for many years have afflicted upon both Julia & Matt and many others!!!

The emotional journey that Julia and Matt embark on is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as they navigate their past traumas and struggles to find a way back to each other. The novel's exploration of family ties and the importance of forgiveness is both thought-provoking and moving, making it a truly unforgettable read.

However, I do have some criticisms about certain aspects of the plot, I found Matt's hallucinations quite as tedious and unrealistic to read. Despite that, this book managed to evoke such strong emotions out of me! In conclusion, "Find Me in California" is a must-read for anyone looking for a touching and emotionally resonant story that will stay with them long after they turn the final page. Kerry Lonsdale's masterful storytelling and compelling characters make this novel a standout in the genre, and a book that I personally will not soon forget.

Thankyou Negalley and the publisher for the arc!