Kerry Lonsdale's novel is truly remarkable! It delves deep into themes of love, loss, and the complexities of family ties, painting a vivid picture of human emotions and relationships. The characters are so well-developed that you feel like you're right there with them, experiencing every twist and turn of their journey. The way the storylines intersect keeps you engrossed throughout, with each new revelation adding layers of depth to the narrative. It's a story of redemption and forgiveness, showing the transformative power of connection and understanding. If you love captivating storytelling, this book is an absolute must-read!

ARC REVIEW- 4 Stars.
Publishing Date June 11,2024

“Don’t live you life with regrets, Just live as fully as you can. Take it from one who knows: you can reshoot a scene multiple times, but you cannot do over your life”

Brief Summary-
This story is about two grandmothers who were once best friends that end up in the same nursery home. Their two grandchildren both start to discover how their lives are all intricately connected. You follow Julie and Matt as they peel back layers of secrets through an old diary written by Julia’s Grandmother.

What To Expect-
🌊Dual Timelines
🌊Dual POV
🌊Magic Realism
🌊Family Secrets/Drama

Content Warnings-
🌊Caring for a loved one with Alzheimers
🌊Alcoholism
🌊Drugs

My Thoughts-
What a beautiful story of love, loss, family, betrayal, mystery and romance. There is four storyline that intertwine perfectly. The writing was beautiful. The premise was interesting and certainly different. I fell in love with each complex character and I was so invested in their story being told. This was a journey of healing, forgiveness, trauma and finding family where you least expect it. I certainly cried a little bit. I loved reading the diary entries from Julia’s grandmother, it was touching and eye opening. This is an emotional read but it’s worth the trip.

If you're looking for a captivating read with chance meetings, buried secrets, and plenty of twists and turns, "Find Me in California" is definitely worth adding to your TBR pile

“Life isn’t worth living if we don’t allow ourselves to love”

Playlist-
Tequila Sunrise- The Eagles
Aint No Sunshine- Bill Withers
Take It Easy- The Eagles
Piano Man- Billy Joel
My Girl- The Temptations
Have You Every Seen The Rain- Creedence Clearwater Revel
Peaceful Easy Feeling-The Eagles
Dancing In The Moonlight- King Harvest
Black Magic Women- Santana
Hotel California- The Eagles
Corazon- Santana
Dreams- Fleetwood Mac

✨Thanks to NetGalley, Kelly Lonsdale, and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨

I read this book once but didn't go write my review, so I decided to do a re-read and write the review. I am glad that I did because I think the book is even better the 2nd time through. This book is about love and loss, family, friendship, and forgiveness, grief and gratitude. There are several stories within this book but it doesn't seem overwhelming or too much. I really fell in love with these characters. Julia is full of so much goodness and Matt while broken is still lovable.

Matt and Julia are forced to interact after Matt receives boxes from his estranged grandmother. Julia, a volunteer at the care facility when Matt's grandmother resides sent Matt the packages. Elizabeth Holloway, Matt's grandmother, is going to be evicted in 5 days and the director has been trying to reach him. This leads Matt to call and "meet" Julia. From here we learn Julia's grandmother is also at Rosemont and that perhaps Matt's grandmother and Julia's grandmother have a past.

This book takes us through Matt's journey to California, the story of Magnolia and Liza, and Julia's own sorted past This book is beautifully written and let you feel Matt's sense of abandonment and Julia's feeling of loss dealing with Mama Rose's Alzheimer's disease. Matt and Julia form an unlikely bond and help each other heal. We learn about secrets and hurts and learning that sometimes forgiveness is what will heal us.

I highly recommend this book to all!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Find Me in California by Kerry Lonsdale

I have not read any of Lonsdale's books before, but after reading this book I most definitely understand the hype surrounding this author. This was a beautiful story packed full of important topics which the author expertly explores.

I loved how the author explored family relations throughout the book. Matt and his Grandmother (Elizabeth) have a tough relationship, stemming from the fact Elizabeth blamed Matt for his mother's death and subsequently neglected Matt as a child, which then haunts him throughout adulthood. This childhood trauma causes Matt to spiral, where he drinks and takes drugs as a form of escapism. I must say I wasn't a fan of the fact Matt was driving whilst under the influence of marijuana, but the author did a good job of showing this as a result of Matt's mental breakdown and not glorifying this behaviour. The author also uses these two character's relationship as a way to explore forgiveness, regret and many other complex emotions. I loved Matt as a character, but felt deeply sorry for him. Elizabeth was a very unlikeable character, but she added a great deal to the story and was a very well-formed, complex character.

The relationship between Julia and her Grandmother (Ruby) is more stable. Yet, Ruby has Dementia so cannot remember Julia, and the author explores this tricky subject in a compassionate and heart-wrenching way. Julia undoubtedly loves her grandmother, as she raised her after Julia's mum abandoned them. However, it was so sad to see Ruby's memories slowly fading away, and the speech Julia makes about what happens to memories after we are gone was incredibly emotional and hard-hitting. The author explores, through Julia, the importance of self-worth and how Julia has attachment/abandonment issues due to the actions of her mother.

I also really enjoyed the plot. The secret diary entries were a brilliant addition to the story and I loved seeing into the past through Magnolia's eyes. At first I was very confused about the meeting of Matt and Magnolia, but when it became clear what the author's intentions behind this were I found this supernatural element an interesting addition. I thought the ending was overall satisfactory and showed us some real character development in both Matt and Julia.

Overall I found this an immensely enjoyable read, even if it was heart-wrenching and emotional to read at times. I enjoyed Kerry Lonsdale's lyrical writing style and the way she addressed such hard-hitting topics in such a sensitive and realistic way. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars and would highly recommend you pick this book up! Thank you to Netgalley and Kerry Lonsdale for the ARC

I was looking forward to reading this book and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

The tangled website of deceit and conditional love that some children grow up in, there isn't any wonder some of us are messed up adults.

This is a journey of life ending and others finding joy and love in life for the first time

I loved it so much

I reviewed this book via netgalley

⭐️⭐️ 2 not for me stars.

This book was slow to get going and then as it progressed it was hard to gel with the characters.

The flashback scenes and hallucinations were very confusing and overall it just felt disjointed.

Sorry.

3.5 ⭐️
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC of this novel. This was my first ARC experience. It wasn’t without its hiccups, it took me a few weeks to figure out how to load it onto my kindle and & I struggled reading it on my phone but once I figured it out, I flew through the book.
Expected publication date: June 11, 2024

A journey of healing, forgiveness, trauma and finding family where you least expect it.

The 4 main characters and the mystery of the way (and the how) their lives intertwine is very interesting. It follows Matt, a man who has experienced a lot of loss and trauma. Julia, a woman determined to fulfill her promises to her grandmother, No matter the cost. Mama Rose, Julia’s grandma, a once feisty, eccentric fun woman now suffering with late-stage Alzheimer’s. Ie; running away to a commune in Arizona in the 70s (lol). And Liza, Matt’s cantankerous and mysterious grandmother.

Overall, I liked the story & it was much twistier than I anticipated! There was a point in which I checked what genre this was listed because it had some great twists that lead me to think it had a thriller aspect. There’s also a bit of magic that was built into the story that lead to great character development.

One note that I found through the book is POV sometimes lost me in the story. I think this would make more of an impact in first person POV.

I feel like I’ve read a totally different book to everyone else. Definitely a case of it’s not you, it’s me. I’m gutted because the synopsis had me from the start.

This story deserves far more than five stars. It is a delightful, inspiring and heartwarming story from one of my favorite authors. There are four main characters and I loved all of them. Julia is the granddaughter of Mama Rose who is in assisted living and has Alzheimer’s disease. Mama Rose raised her because her mother abandoned her her when she was three. Matt is the grandson of Liza Holloway, famous in Hollywood. Matt’s parents died when he was young and he was sent to Liza but she ignored him and did nothing for him. Matt felt unloved and unlovable. Julia felt unloved by her mother who never came back for her. Together, these two can begin healing and maybe be able to love and be loved?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a huge Kerry Lonsdale fan, this book did not disappoint. The storyline revolves around 2 grandmothers, 2 grandchildren and how their lives have intersected over the past 30+ years. I really appreciate a book that is just on the edge of realism and this one delivered. The grandchildren Julia and Matt are coming from 2 very different places in their relationships with their grandmothers, yet still are able to relate to each other and rely on each other through shared experience. There was one twist that I was about to see about 60% through but I was looking forward to seeing if I was actually right about it and really enjoyed the mini twist at the end that I did not see coming.

While it's a bit heavy of a read at times, I would definitely recommend along with Kerry's other novels.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 11, 2024
Julia Hope was raised by her grandmother after being abandoned by her drug addicted mother as a child. Surrounded by nothing but love, Julia is heartbroken as she watches her grandmother struggle with Alzheimer’s and starts to think about a future completely alone.
Matt Gatlin is a famous auto photographer living in New Mexico when he receives word from the retirement residence his grandmother is living in that she is short on payments and is about to be evicted. Matt and his cold-hearted grandmother were never close, and he doesn’t feel like he should have to travel one thousand miles to deal with his grandmother, who never wanted him in the first place.
Both Matt and Julia’s lives intersect over their complicated family relationships and the understanding of being completely alone in this heartwarming emotional story, “Find Me in California” by Kerry Lonsdale.
“California” is Lonsdale’s tenth novel, and I have been a fan since her very first, and was over the moon when I was asked to be a member of her reviewing team. Lonsdale takes deep, emotional topics like Alzheimer’s, elder care and childhood abandonment and manages to turn them into an engaging and entertaining read. “California” is both light-hearted and poignant, which is what Lonsdale is famous for, and it takes a special kind of talent to forge these into a page-turning novel.
Julia and Matt are the same and yet so very different, but both have suffered significant loss and trauma, making them human and relatable. It was obvious from the beginning that they would end up together, but I was invested in every part of their journey. Both characters take turns narrating, so the reader is able to understand both protagonists from their point of view, which adds depth and strengthens character development. The ending plays out as I hoped it would, but there were some delicious twists and turns along the way, and I turned the pages at a record pace!
“California” is the summer read of 2024, and I can’t wait to see what Lonsdale delivers next!

Kerry is a one-click author for me. As soon as something is available, I either own it or I'm on the waiting list for it at the library. And usually I'm way too impatient to wait at the library so if there's more than five people ahead of me I'm just buying the book. No questions asked I don't need to cover I don't need a blurb just give me the story.

I was incredibly excited to find out that the next release was a standalone. I absolutely love this series books but sometimes there's something so nice about knowing that you get to curl up with a book and from beginning to end you get the full story.

If you are a fan of books that are heartfelt, emotional, deal with real life issues like forgiveness and redemption, this is the book for you. If you are a reader who wants to sit down and escape into a book with nothing more than feel good, joyful emotions, this might not be your book. Simply because this book deals with grief, and loss, and can be heavy at times. But Kerry does a wonderful job of when she writes the heavy, she does it's so well, readers want to keep going. We want to feel the emotions.


I absolutely loved Julia's character and definitely felt more connected to her in the story than with matt. It wasn't that I didn't like him or that I didn't feel that his character was developed, I simply didn't connect with him the same way that I did with julia. That's not uncommon. I think the piece that took me out of the connection with him is the drug use aspect. I understand why it was done and why it was in the story, but it was just one of those things that because of my own personal history, it pulled me from the story. And that is likely why I didn't connect with him as much.

Sometimes, when I read a book that has a section that I don't connect with or something takes me out of the story, I have a tough time even when that ends to continue with the book, but that didn't happen with this book. When those scenes were finished and we moved forward with the story I was easily back in the story rooting for the characters wanting to know what happens to them. As I was reading I was concerned that the ending would leave me unsatisfied. But I couldn't imagine a better ending to the story and it absolutely not only met but exceeded my expectations.

I am such a fan of Kerry's writing and the way that she weaves stories together. I cannot wait to be able to share this book with friends and I already know that I will be purchasing copies as gifts.

Even though there was a small element of the story that took me out of it and was difficult for me to connect with, this was still a five-star read for me. It is still a book that I will be recommending to people and talking about.

This is a beautifully crafted story about hidden secrets. Matt arrives home to find 15 boxes shipped to him from the nursing home of his estranged grandmother. Matt hasn’t spoken to her in years but is forced to deal with her eviction from the nursing home. If you like stories about secrets, lost love and family history you’ll love this book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

Kerry Lonsdale is an auto-buy author for me. Every novel she has written - whether her stand alones or series - leaves an imprint. There is something about her writing that immediately draws readers in, leaving them to ignore their lives while they dive into the characters in her stories. Find Me in California is no different. If anything, Kerry takes her writing to a new level by seamlessly weaving in the past of her main characters (Matt and Julia). This book is an absolute trip (literally and figuratively) and I really don’t want to give anything away - so I will just say - trust me. Go, pre-order and buy this book today! You will not regret it! The only thing missing is a playlist to accompany the road trip Matt takes to find his grandmother.

Find Me in California is a crazy romantic, suspense filled trip that will leave you wanting more. Easily a 5+ star read for me.

Find Me in California is a multi view point book told from the perspective of Matt, Julia, and entries in a diary belonging to Julia's grandmother. Both Matt and Julia have a lot of baggage, and their grandmothers have more to do with that than they realize. Through what seems to be random circumstances the two connect and through the course of phone conversations and eventually meeting in person, they both learn more about their family history and what actually connects them. There was a mystery to this story that I really enjoyed as the story of the past unfolded. I was very invested in having all the pieces put together. As both characters wrestle with how the past effects their presents, I enjoyed seeing them grow together. Overall this is an intriguing read with interesting characters.

I am a big fan of Kerry Lonsdale's books. I have read them all. While this wasn't a super quick read for me, I really enjoyed the intertwined story of Magnolia Blu and Liza and their grandchildren. I loved the closure the ending brought. A solid 4++ star read.

Find Me in California is a story about family secrets, second chances, and forgiveness. From the first chapter I felt very connected to and invested in all the characters and where their stories were going. This book was very well written and I enjoyed the alternating POV which really helped to understand the motivations of the main characters. This was my first book from Kerry Lonsdale and would definitely look for more from her in the future. Giving this one 3.75 rounding up to 4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to read another book by Kerry Lonsdale! This book, like her others, was fabulous. There was a large section in the book still on my mind that I'm trying to figure out...great plot!

Just when I thought I knew how the story would go, Kerry once again surprised me with this book. Everything starts with a bunch of boxes and ends up hundreds of miles away with two strangers getting to know each other over the phone. Two grandmothers with a history, inadvertently connect their grandchildren who share their childhood traumas with each other. Who knew two strangers could be so alike, with a shared history, yet never know the other existed?
Another well-written book from one of my favorite authors. Kerry includes psychological traumas and hallucinations due to drugs, but are they really hallucinations? Definitely a must read.

Romance books are hard for me. There is not often that I come across one that hits me in all the right places but this one just did.