California Golden

More about the book

Two sisters navigate the early days of California surf culture in a saga of ambition, sacrifice, and longing for a family they never had. In 1960s Southern California, Carol Donelly defies traditional roles as a legendary female surfer in a male-dominated sport, leaving her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, to grapple with her absence. The sisters grow up feeling the void of their mother's presence—physically at the beach and emotionally at home. To escape the questions about Carol's whereabouts and seek her elusive affection, they skip school to surf. Mindy shows a natural talent from her first time on a board, while Ginger struggles to find her place in the water. As they grow older, their paths diverge. Mindy becomes enmeshed in celebrity life, experiencing beachside romances, parties at the Playboy Club, and USO tours to Vietnam. In contrast, Ginger seeks belonging within the vibrant counterculture of drugs and cults. Despite their differing journeys, the sisters' bond endures, rooted in the emotional scars of their unconventional upbringing. This gripping tale unfolds in a time when societal expectations for women were shifting dramatically, capturing the essence of three women navigating a world as tumultuous as the surf they ride.