I loved this book so freaking much. The Dual POV and Dual Timelines worked perfect to weave together a story of family secrets, a bit of magical realism, a mystery and an old diary full of quite a life and story. I loved Julia and Matt. How each of them learned of their grandmother's and learned more about love, life, emotions.
I'm a Kerry Londsdale fan, and have read all her books. This one had me in its clutches and I could not put it down. I highly recommend this one to Women's Fiction lovers with a twist!

Find Me in California is a captivating novel that will take readers on a roller coaster of emotions. This is a tangled tale of family, betrayal, long-buried secrets, and love. There are really four main characters in this book, with their stories bobbing and weaving together through flashbacks, photos, letters, diaries, and a mysterious encounter. I was spellbound as it all came together! I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher.

A tale of love and loss woven together with a sprinkle of mystery in this new release makes for an entertaining read. I enjoyed the writing style including the mixture of current scenes and flashbacks guiding the reader throughout the book as the story unfolds. While the character relationships throughout the book were well developed, I felt that the individual characters occasionally felt hard to connect with in certain scenes. I also felt that there were a couple of areas where the transitions in the story arrived abruptly especially when the writing was so well done throughout the book to the point it felt like I was transported into the scene.

Every time I read a book by Kerry Lonsdale I say, "this is her best book yet". Find Me in California is no exception. This book was brilliantly written, going back and forth between stories of love, loss, friendship, family secrets, and forgiveness. A true emotional rollercoaster of emotions throughout that will leave you longing for more. Once you pick the book up, you won't be able to put it down! By far my top read of the year!

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.

Thank you Kerry Lonsdale, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read my 10th Kerry book.

Find Me in California by Kerry Lonsdale delivers another heartwarming story. Julia and Matt both grapple with deep losses and lingering family wounds, their paths intertwine in a way that feels both fated and deeply relatable. They have to figure out how to get past their hurt and rejections from their past to move forward. Mama Rose's diary adds a touch of mystery, unraveling secrets that shed new light on the choices made that led the four main characters to the place we meet them in this journey. If you're searching for a story about the enduring power of love and overcoming past hurts, this book is like a warm hug for your soul.

Matt and Julia's lives are forever connected as both of their grandmothers face the end of their lives.

This was an interesting one for me. There were some things that I relayed liked and a few that were just off. I enjoyed the backstory using Julia's grandmother's journal. The past chapters were actually some of my favorite. I loved seeing these two women come together and form this beautiful friendship. I also liked the mystery of this. I wanted to keep reading and find out more about both generations of characters. I really felt for Julia and wanted her to find a happy ending.
The parts with Matt in the motel and even his whole road trip were not it for me. I couldn't understand why they were happening and the whole time it felt very off. BUT, beyond that, I did like the love story and watching both Matt and Julia find family.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of Find Me in California.

Yet another good read from Karry Lonsdale!

Matt Gatlin is done with his grandmother until he receives boxes containing her stuff. Julia volunteers at the assisted living home where Matt's grandmother resides and she is the reason he received his grandmother's stuff. Matt and Julia's worlds are set to collide as they try to work out the past and present.

Another 5 star read
Another great read from Kerry Lonsdale, finished in one day. Get comfortable and be prepared to finish in one sitting. Complex characters that bring sadness, compassion, love, forgiveness and family. Main characters Julia and Matt meet by chance and take you on a wild ride that reminded us that the truth will set you free, no matter how painful that may be .

I enjoyed this, but I don't think I'm the target demo.

I really struggle with multiple POVs and we had a lot of that here. It didnt take away from the story, but it also was hard for me to follow.

I love this author, but this book just wasn’t for me. The writing style is different than her previous books.
It follows several broken characters, none were very likable. I found myself getting confused during the first 30% or so because the storyline was hard to follow. The weird scenes during Matt and Magnolia’s weekend felt so out of place, it was more distracting and did not enhance the story. A lot of repetitiveness. I did appreciate how the author described each characters journey to finding peace.
I will continue to read books by this author though!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This is a heartfelt tale of love and family set against the backdrop of sunny California. It follows Julia and Matt as their paths unexpectedly cross, leading to the uncovering of old secrets and the exploration of deep emotions.

The author's writing vividly brings the California landscape to life and I love how relatable characters and engaging storylines keep you hooked until the very end. Will recommend this to my friends...

I don’t know where to start to describe the genre of this book since it is steeped in romance, mystery and a little fantasy along the way, too. Matt Gatlin and Julia Hope are two sympathetic and relatable protagonists, both facing a difficult future after traumatic childhoods. Both were cast off by parents and raised by a grandmother. Julia’s grandmother, Mama Rose, was nurturing and kind, but there are secrets that Julia is discovering now that Mama Rose is dying and it would have been better for Julia if Mama Rose had been totally honest. Matt was raised by his grandmother, too, a Hollywood legend named Liza who was distant and cold to him, even leaving the room when he was present. His childhood was marked by rejection, first by his mother and then by his grandmother, so it is no wonder that he has a few problems with the present situation in which his grandmother is dying and requesting to see him. The way these two come together, via a nursing home where both grandmothers reside, is an original take on a meet-cute situation. Matt’s trip to get to his grandmother’s bedside is fraught with his own personality as he uses drugs along the way, hallucinates a relationship (maybe…not sure about what this really was but it was interesting) and finally arrives at the nursing home to actually meet Julia in person. The two have so much in common that it seems inevitable that they must become a couple, but that cannot happen until both of them deal with their pasts. I enjoyed the intricacies of this story, all of the background information about Liza, Mama Rose, Matt and Julia that were woven into the main story of a loss that was certain to come soon. This is a multi-layered, well-crafted story of relationships, secrets, forgiveness and finding hope in the most unlikely places. It is also a story of acceptance and love even in the middle of a messy life. The characters are deeply touching, unique and realistically flawed representatives of life. The complications in the plot are thought-provoking and I encourage readers to go through the discussion questions at the end of the book because they are a great way to reflect on the truths encountered within its pages. Insightful, captivating and magical, this book is a brilliant look at overcoming one’s past and facing a new future.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Another excellent Kerry Lonsdale that is very thought provoking and easily pulls the reader in. Very enjoyable.

I’m a big Kerry Lonsdale fan. For me, she’s one of my “must-read” authors, who always delivers an enjoyable mix of mystery, romance, and suspense.

“Find me in California” brings together two women in a California care facility and their relatives, delving into important themes around love, loss, addiction, with a backstory of Hollywood royalty and the question of how long, and how far will you go to hold a grudge?

The current timeline story brings together Julia Hope, who adores her grandmother Rub Rose Hope who created and then let go of a successful landscaping business. Matt Gaitlin is a photographer who holds a grudge against his Hollywood king-maker of a grandmother, Elizabeth Holloway, who adopted him after his parents’ death, but never loved him. He doesn't want to waste his time traveling to California to assist wither her running out of money to pay for her care.

As Julia and Matt interact, both trying to meet their own goals, we discover the mystery behind their grandmothers’ stories – which delves into old time Hollywood and reveals many secrets. Secrets the two grandmothers have kept not only from Julia and Matt— but from each other.

An original, refreshing romance, bound up with a mystery, that kept me engaged right through the twists toward the end. A fast-paced, romantic read with a truly original plot. Highly recommend!

Don’t Live Your Life with Regrets. That’s the message of this book told by Kerry Lonsdale. I am a huge fan of Kerry and so excited to get this early advance copy of her newest book “Find Me in California “. With that being said, I had a hard time following the story and just found myself “lost” several times. For that reason, only 3 stars from me. Looking forward to her next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Find Me in California" and all opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoy Kerry Lonsdale's books. This was a quick read that told a wonderful story. It is packed with family, friends, loss and grief and regrets. I loved all the characters, yes even Elizabeth. Very heartwarming and makes you think about your own life and maybe taking chances so you won't have those regrets. Sometimes they do work out.

This was a lovely story of Julie and Matt and the way their lives become intertwined because of the grandmother's who raised them. This story was told in different pov's and in different time periods. I really enjoyed the story and only felt like one small part in the middle was a bit confusing and didn't read as smoothly as the rest of the story. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Julia and Matt are almost complete opposites at first glance, yet at least one thing connects them -- dealing with the challenges and realities they encounter with their grandmothers living in the Rosemont Assisted Living care facility. Although the facility itself is terrific and both grandmothers as well as Matt and Julia want them to continue, reasons beyond their control are forcing them to consider leaving. Amidst the chaos this causes, Matt and Julia both -- separately and together -- become aware of themselves and their families in a new light. A heartwrenching yet heartwarming story of love, family, and friendship -- strongly recommended.

This 5-star read hit me in all my feels. I experienced a similar situation with my own grandmother living in a memory care unit, but even without the personal connection, I think I still would've cried at the same point in the book. Parts of this book were a literal trip, and I personally enjoyed the realism in that. From laughs to tears, the writing was perfectly nuanced to invoke all the right emotions. The story line was entertaining and I was engaged throughout the read. I will be recommending this one for sure! Just enough romance for those who like a good sprinkle of spice too.