A review by clairebartholomew549
The Californians by Brian Castleberry

emotional informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was a mixed bag for me. We have three different timelines. In 2024, Tobey lives in a small town in California that is sadly burned down by a wildfire. In the 1920s, Klaus immigrates from Germany and becomes a major Hollywood player. And in the 1970s, Diane makes her way up through the art world with provocative political pieces. These characters are all connected by family and history, and we meander through their lives.

There were parts of this story that I enjoyed, but overall this was a let down for me. I think my disappointment with this book was that it felt extremely unoriginal. To me, the 1920s Hollywood story has been done again and again, and it didn't feel like Klaus' story had much to say (besides him being a vapid narcissist who was only out for himself and couldn't even acknowledge the damage he did). We didn't spend enough time in Tobey's timeline to feel that connected to him, and there wasn't a satisfying conclusion to any of the threads. Diane's timeline was the most interesting and emotive, and I wish that had been its own book, because the other timelines didn't have any resonance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
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