The California Dreamers: A Novel

A group of siblings captured in an iconic beach photo reunite on a sunny California island, where they're forced to face the fallout of their unconventional upbringing—and the golden secret that has been simmering ever since...

“A thoroughly enjoyable, tender story about the heartbreak of long-kept family secrets. You will cheer for the Merricks!” —Tracey Lange, New York Times bestselling author ofWe Are the Brennans

It’s 1980s California, and everyone’s dreaming of the endless summer: sun-drenched beaches, infinite waves, and most of all, beautiful, beautiful freedom. For the Merrick siblings, this idyllic vision is their reality, as they travel up and down the coast with their parents in a van year-round, surfing and swimming their days away. But when a photographer secretly snaps a stunning photo of the family with their boards in the sand, and the image ripples across the country, the only life they’ve ever known is put at risk.

Decades after, the now-distant siblings gather on a gorgeous, wild island to honor their late father. But their reunion is complicated when a journalist, eager for the truth behind the famous photo, discovers their identity and tracks them down. As the siblings reckon with the possibility that more of their lives could be shared, a revelation about their past forces them to confront long-held heartaches. Together, they’ll have to decide whether to let the same tensions rip them apart again—or if telling their story on their own terms might just be the way to recapture the family magic.

“Magical and atmospheric. I promise, you will devour this enchanting story and think of the Merricks long after the final page.” —Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight

Also by Amy Mason Doan:
Lady Sunshine
Summer Hours
The Summer List