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A review by hannahs_library__
California Golden by Melanie Benjamin
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This oneโs for the Taylor Jenkins Reidand Kristin Hannah fans!!! ๐๐ดโ๏ธ๐
Things that reminded me of TJR:
- Strong women ๐ช
- Flawed, realistic characters
- Expectations of women back in the 50s and 60s
- Surfing (Malibu Rising obvi)
- Drug use (Miss Daisy Jones)
- The dark side of fame
Things that reminded me of Kristin Hannah:
- The Vietnam War
- Sisters and their dynamics with each other and their mom
- Strong women (again)
- Themes of domestic abuse
I am a historical fiction girlie to my core and I LOVED learning about the rise of California surfer culture in the 60s. Melanie managed to create characters that I was both rooting for and extremely frustrated with at the same time.
While this story centers around surfing, there is so much more that goes on in the story; following 2 sisters throughout their lives as they take very different paths in life. The author brings us into the world of surfing, cults, the Vietnam War, Hollywood, motherhood, and sisterhood.
Going into this book, I was a little nervous that I would constantly be comparing it to Malibu Rising (which I loved). I really, genuinely enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised by the different angles on the surfing world that Melanie took. I highly recommend this book! ๐
Thank you so much PRH for the gifted copy of this book!
Things that reminded me of TJR:
- Strong women ๐ช
- Flawed, realistic characters
- Expectations of women back in the 50s and 60s
- Surfing (Malibu Rising obvi)
- Drug use (Miss Daisy Jones)
- The dark side of fame
Things that reminded me of Kristin Hannah:
- The Vietnam War
- Sisters and their dynamics with each other and their mom
- Strong women (again)
- Themes of domestic abuse
I am a historical fiction girlie to my core and I LOVED learning about the rise of California surfer culture in the 60s. Melanie managed to create characters that I was both rooting for and extremely frustrated with at the same time.
While this story centers around surfing, there is so much more that goes on in the story; following 2 sisters throughout their lives as they take very different paths in life. The author brings us into the world of surfing, cults, the Vietnam War, Hollywood, motherhood, and sisterhood.
Going into this book, I was a little nervous that I would constantly be comparing it to Malibu Rising (which I loved). I really, genuinely enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised by the different angles on the surfing world that Melanie took. I highly recommend this book! ๐
Thank you so much PRH for the gifted copy of this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Abandonment