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California Gold
Frank and Chrissy meet a few days into ’70. Frank has been travelling around California when someone tells him about a house in the desert where the walls are steel and the glass shimmers. When Chrissy picks him up hitchhiking on the side of the road, all blond hair and oversized sunglasses, it’s love at first sight.
Years later, as their shared dream of recreating a mid-century masterpiece in Britain threatens to overwhelm them, Frank will often think back to the start. What if he had carried on walking? What if she had driven to Palm Springs the next day? Every moment of tomorrow would have changed . . .
Years later, as their shared dream of recreating a mid-century masterpiece in Britain threatens to overwhelm them, Frank will often think back to the start. What if he had carried on walking? What if she had driven to Palm Springs the next day? Every moment of tomorrow would have changed . . .
- GenresFiction
Hardcover
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About the author
Jodie Chapman
4 books112 followersBorn and raised in England, Jodie spent a decade as a photographer before returning to her first love of writing. She lives in Kent with her husband and three sons.
Instagram: @jodiechapman
Twitter: @jodiechapman
Instagram: @jodiechapman
Twitter: @jodiechapman
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 18, 2025
4+
Englishman Frank O’Hara and Chrissy Wharton meet in 1970 south of Los Angeles when he’s hitching a ride and she stops to pick him up. She’s definitely all California Gold and he’s dazzled. There’s an instant connection and they swiftly marry in Las Vegas in opposition to Chrissy’s wealthy parents who disinherit her. They head to England and set about re-creating a dream home in Kent, reminiscent of one Frank sees in Palm Springs which mesmerises him. Eventually ‘Mirage’ appears on the Kentish hillside. However, transferring a Californian dream to Kent could indeed be a mirage, and it will certainly come with a multitude of challenges that could impact them for years.
Well, this is a saga that’s for sure as it follows the family through the decades and I’m not surprised it took the author so long to write it as it’s so polished. It’s beautifully written, there’s nothing unnecessary or superfluous as I immerse myself in the emotional rollercoaster that is the O’Hara family. Their relationships are charted, how it changes and morphs into something new, it’s hard to get a handle on some characters but that’s how they are to those who observe them. The fluctuating dynamics and family conflicts are fascinating.
Overarching it all is the house, a character in its own right, mirroring what’s going on inside and reflecting it back in its appearance. It could be anything from gold to grey, filled with love and laughter or silence and ghosts, vibrant or disintegrating. This is one of the most powerful elements in the book in my opinion.
Each decade has its own specific feel along with the characters which gives a great sense of context and time. There are lots of other touches that I like, such as lack of speech marks at the start which captures the excitement, optimism and energy which then appear as life takes on a different tone.
I really like the ending as it’s a full circle moment.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Englishman Frank O’Hara and Chrissy Wharton meet in 1970 south of Los Angeles when he’s hitching a ride and she stops to pick him up. She’s definitely all California Gold and he’s dazzled. There’s an instant connection and they swiftly marry in Las Vegas in opposition to Chrissy’s wealthy parents who disinherit her. They head to England and set about re-creating a dream home in Kent, reminiscent of one Frank sees in Palm Springs which mesmerises him. Eventually ‘Mirage’ appears on the Kentish hillside. However, transferring a Californian dream to Kent could indeed be a mirage, and it will certainly come with a multitude of challenges that could impact them for years.
Well, this is a saga that’s for sure as it follows the family through the decades and I’m not surprised it took the author so long to write it as it’s so polished. It’s beautifully written, there’s nothing unnecessary or superfluous as I immerse myself in the emotional rollercoaster that is the O’Hara family. Their relationships are charted, how it changes and morphs into something new, it’s hard to get a handle on some characters but that’s how they are to those who observe them. The fluctuating dynamics and family conflicts are fascinating.
Overarching it all is the house, a character in its own right, mirroring what’s going on inside and reflecting it back in its appearance. It could be anything from gold to grey, filled with love and laughter or silence and ghosts, vibrant or disintegrating. This is one of the most powerful elements in the book in my opinion.
Each decade has its own specific feel along with the characters which gives a great sense of context and time. There are lots of other touches that I like, such as lack of speech marks at the start which captures the excitement, optimism and energy which then appear as life takes on a different tone.
I really like the ending as it’s a full circle moment.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
February 22, 2026
Jodie Chapman is one of my go-to authors, whose books I will forever read. Another Life and Oh, Sister are both fantastic so I had high hopes for California Gold and it did not disappoint.
When Frank meets Chrissy unexpectedly on a Californian highway in 1970, he never expects that it will be love at first sight. But their infatuation with each other leads them to move back to Frank's native Britain, where they try to recreate Chrissy's family home on a Kent hillside. They name their home "Mirage".
This is a novel of love, heartbreak, grief and all the complicated intricacies of life and family. It explores themes of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and the repercussions of having parents who find it difficult to show their love. As we follow the family over the decades, Mirage essentially becomes the central character and plays a huge part in the family's dynamics. But, ultimately, is home ever just about bricks and mortar?
Written both beautifully and with incredible emotion, I can see why this took Jodie so long to write - it feels like she poured her heart into it. And it now has my heart too, I loved it!
When Frank meets Chrissy unexpectedly on a Californian highway in 1970, he never expects that it will be love at first sight. But their infatuation with each other leads them to move back to Frank's native Britain, where they try to recreate Chrissy's family home on a Kent hillside. They name their home "Mirage".
This is a novel of love, heartbreak, grief and all the complicated intricacies of life and family. It explores themes of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and the repercussions of having parents who find it difficult to show their love. As we follow the family over the decades, Mirage essentially becomes the central character and plays a huge part in the family's dynamics. But, ultimately, is home ever just about bricks and mortar?
Written both beautifully and with incredible emotion, I can see why this took Jodie so long to write - it feels like she poured her heart into it. And it now has my heart too, I loved it!
March 23, 2026
From the blurb, I thought this was about a troubled marriage, but it’s so much more than that. I’d recommend going in blind, so I won’t say much about what happens. What I will say is that this book is quite unique, as it centres around a family home. The fictional house Frank and Chrissy build is inspired by a real house in California called the House of Tomorrow, once leased by Elvis Presley. The house feels so essential to the story that it sort of becomes a main character, which I found both special and a refreshing way to tell a family saga.
I won’t say anything more, but this book really is incredible. It made me cry a couple of times 🥹 My heartstrings were pulled in all directions. For all the characters. The writing is rich and evocative. It pulled me in from the very first line to the last. If you love an epic family story that spans decades, I really think you’ll enjoy this. It’s one of the most moving books I’ve read this year.
One thing to note: the first quarter of the book (Part 1) doesn’t use quotation marks for dialogue, which is woven into the paragraphs. I know that can feel a bit disorienting for some readers. If that’s you (me too), I’d really recommend the audiobook. It would be a shame to miss out on this beautiful story!
5/5 🌟
I won’t say anything more, but this book really is incredible. It made me cry a couple of times 🥹 My heartstrings were pulled in all directions. For all the characters. The writing is rich and evocative. It pulled me in from the very first line to the last. If you love an epic family story that spans decades, I really think you’ll enjoy this. It’s one of the most moving books I’ve read this year.
One thing to note: the first quarter of the book (Part 1) doesn’t use quotation marks for dialogue, which is woven into the paragraphs. I know that can feel a bit disorienting for some readers. If that’s you (me too), I’d really recommend the audiobook. It would be a shame to miss out on this beautiful story!
5/5 🌟
March 21, 2026
Once again Jodie Chapman has written a compelling and immersive novel. California Gold begins in 1970 when British backpacker Frank meets American Chrissie in California. Following their marriage they return to the UK and build a house based on Frank’s dream Palm Springs house. What follows is a heartbreaking family drama that I raced through over the course of 24 hours, I was completely drawn into the complex lives and relationships of the family as we follow them over the decades. It was an emotional read and I cried a few times, So much of the relationship between Frank and his children resonated with me, I felt anger towards Frank but eventually empathy for him and the overwhelming grief he experienced and could not process.. The house ‘Mirage’ serves as a metaphor for the disintegration of their lives and I felt so much sadness witnessing it. However the novel ends on a hopeful note and it is a satisfying and compelling read that I’d highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars
March 21, 2026
California 1970. Frank O’Hara meets Chrissy by chance on the highway and by the time they reach the desert they’ve fallen in love. It’s a random meeting that results in marriage, family - and a very important house on a hill back in the UK. And it’s the house that’s probably the centrifugal force of the story here; filled with magnificence and meaning, as life ebbs and flows around it, that it starts on a trajectory of self-destruct. Do the O’Hara’s even stand a chance here?
This is one of those sweeping multi generational novels. I don’t tend to read that many of them these days. Is there less demand for them? There shouldn’t be as this was an utterly glorious read, filled with decades of moments and memories . I loved getting to know the characters within this incredibly dysfunctional family. Saying that, I wanted to shake many of them for their inability to show emotion, and their ability to let things slide, almost to the point of decay. Indeed, the house is the perfect metaphor for this family. Like them it stays silent; unmoving yet all-seeing, ruined but still remarkable.
California Gold is a beautifully, well written tale; tender and triumphant. It’s vivid, evocative and packed with emotion. I loved it.
This is one of those sweeping multi generational novels. I don’t tend to read that many of them these days. Is there less demand for them? There shouldn’t be as this was an utterly glorious read, filled with decades of moments and memories . I loved getting to know the characters within this incredibly dysfunctional family. Saying that, I wanted to shake many of them for their inability to show emotion, and their ability to let things slide, almost to the point of decay. Indeed, the house is the perfect metaphor for this family. Like them it stays silent; unmoving yet all-seeing, ruined but still remarkable.
California Gold is a beautifully, well written tale; tender and triumphant. It’s vivid, evocative and packed with emotion. I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars
“All his life, Frank's glass had been half empty, and then someone came along with too much in their cup. They poured into his without asking, and look how they overflowed with more.”
🥺🥺🥺
“All his life, Frank's glass had been half empty, and then someone came along with too much in their cup. They poured into his without asking, and look how they overflowed with more.”
🥺🥺🥺
February 18, 2026
California Gold by Jodie Chapman is a deeply emotional, character-driven novel that really resonated with me. It delves into themes of love, longing, architecture, family, and the long-lasting consequences of the choices we make.
The story begins in the 1970’s with Frank, restless and drifting, who hears of a striking desert house that feels like a vision of possibility. His encounter with Chrissy, who embodies that same effortless glamour, only intensifies the allure. Their bond forms quickly, driven not just by attraction but a shared hunger for ambition, and reinvention, as their obsession with modernist design and the ideal of a perfect life starts to define them.
Years later, back in Britain, their attempt to recreate the iconic desert home becomes a symbolic project, meant to anchor them and prove something about who they are. Frank clings to the belief that if he can build something beautiful enough, it will compensate for what he lacks within. His inability to confront his own emptiness frustrated me at times, but I also saw it as a deliberate portrayal of someone mistaking structure for substance. Chrissy becomes far more than this golden girl Frank first encounters. Her disappointments feel deeply authentic, and the push and pull between her and Frank captures the fragile balance between loyalty and self-preservation.
I especially enjoyed the subtle sibling moments between Alice and Jesse; those exchanges added a warmth that balanced out the heavier themes. Though Clover didn’t resonate with me as much, the depth of character development across the novel was impressively layered.
Chapman’s writing is deliberate and spare, allowing emotions to build in the silences between characters. The contrast between the bright, expansive Californian scenes and the more muted, constrained British chapters beautifully reflects the tension between possibility and limitation.
For me, the novel ultimately suggests that the most complex structures we build are the ones inside ourselves and I loved every moment of it.
Thank you @michaeljbooks for the copy ❤️
Publishing 19/03/26
The story begins in the 1970’s with Frank, restless and drifting, who hears of a striking desert house that feels like a vision of possibility. His encounter with Chrissy, who embodies that same effortless glamour, only intensifies the allure. Their bond forms quickly, driven not just by attraction but a shared hunger for ambition, and reinvention, as their obsession with modernist design and the ideal of a perfect life starts to define them.
Years later, back in Britain, their attempt to recreate the iconic desert home becomes a symbolic project, meant to anchor them and prove something about who they are. Frank clings to the belief that if he can build something beautiful enough, it will compensate for what he lacks within. His inability to confront his own emptiness frustrated me at times, but I also saw it as a deliberate portrayal of someone mistaking structure for substance. Chrissy becomes far more than this golden girl Frank first encounters. Her disappointments feel deeply authentic, and the push and pull between her and Frank captures the fragile balance between loyalty and self-preservation.
I especially enjoyed the subtle sibling moments between Alice and Jesse; those exchanges added a warmth that balanced out the heavier themes. Though Clover didn’t resonate with me as much, the depth of character development across the novel was impressively layered.
Chapman’s writing is deliberate and spare, allowing emotions to build in the silences between characters. The contrast between the bright, expansive Californian scenes and the more muted, constrained British chapters beautifully reflects the tension between possibility and limitation.
For me, the novel ultimately suggests that the most complex structures we build are the ones inside ourselves and I loved every moment of it.
Thank you @michaeljbooks for the copy ❤️
Publishing 19/03/26
March 6, 2026
I absolutely ate this up!! I loved that the book follows Chrissy, Frank, Beth and kids throughout their lives over decades, and the ending was super full circle. It’s crazy how we see the kids suffer because of choices made by their parents, and this book demonstrates it in all its glory. Many moment of the book were super emotional for me, and touched on a lot of different topics like grief, generational trauma and I think a lot of longing. I think out of all the kids I felt the most sorry for Alice, seemingly alone but surrounded by others and dealing with complex family structures. Clover and Jesse had each other in a way but not Alice. The house for me felt like a character in itself the way Jodie describes it, a real Mirage. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. 🏠🏚️🌴🎨
April 27, 2026
3.5⭐️
California Gold is broken into three sections and spans multiple decades. We begin in California where Frank meets Chrissy and instantly falls in love. They move to England and recreate a specific house they saw in California, naming it ‘Mirage’. This becomes the centre of their families lives. The book then follows their lives and their childrens lives and spans around 40 years. During this time there is heartbreak, grief, marriages and expanding families, and a whole lot of ‘‘finding yourself’’.
I looooved the first part of this book where Frank met Chrissy and they established their life in England. I loved the initial Hollywood feel and the glamour of their lives as they built and lived in Mirage. However, after this point I felt less engaged. This was a heavily character-driven book but for some reason, I just didn’t feel overly connected to the characters and felt bored for a large patch in the middle. It was such a shame because I was loving the start so much. I did enjoy the last 20% or so when the children were all adults.
The book did touch on a number of difficult topics. The different family and marital dynamics at play and the way difference characters handled grief was well-defined and well-written by the author. I really liked Beth as a character, and enjoyed seeing Alice’s development. The jumps in periods of time were handled smoothly and it didn’t feel disjointed.
I’ve seen a lot of people fall in love with this book, and I can understand why.but ultimately it wasn’t fully for me. As I said, some parts I loved but others fell flat.
California Gold is broken into three sections and spans multiple decades. We begin in California where Frank meets Chrissy and instantly falls in love. They move to England and recreate a specific house they saw in California, naming it ‘Mirage’. This becomes the centre of their families lives. The book then follows their lives and their childrens lives and spans around 40 years. During this time there is heartbreak, grief, marriages and expanding families, and a whole lot of ‘‘finding yourself’’.
I looooved the first part of this book where Frank met Chrissy and they established their life in England. I loved the initial Hollywood feel and the glamour of their lives as they built and lived in Mirage. However, after this point I felt less engaged. This was a heavily character-driven book but for some reason, I just didn’t feel overly connected to the characters and felt bored for a large patch in the middle. It was such a shame because I was loving the start so much. I did enjoy the last 20% or so when the children were all adults.
The book did touch on a number of difficult topics. The different family and marital dynamics at play and the way difference characters handled grief was well-defined and well-written by the author. I really liked Beth as a character, and enjoyed seeing Alice’s development. The jumps in periods of time were handled smoothly and it didn’t feel disjointed.
I’ve seen a lot of people fall in love with this book, and I can understand why.but ultimately it wasn’t fully for me. As I said, some parts I loved but others fell flat.
March 29, 2026
This is Jodie’s third novel and is spectacular. There's a natural flow to Jodie’s writing that pulls you in, I couldn’t put it down.
What I loved most was how the book explores the idea of "gold”, not just in the literal sense, but as a metaphor for what we value, chase, and sometimes lose along the way. It's thoughtful without being heavy-handed, and emotional without tipping into sentimentality.
California Gold is the kind of novel that resonates on multiple levels, whether you come for the story, the characters, or the writing itself. A beautifully crafted, deeply affecting read, absolutely deserving of 5 🌟
Go and read it immediately!
What I loved most was how the book explores the idea of "gold”, not just in the literal sense, but as a metaphor for what we value, chase, and sometimes lose along the way. It's thoughtful without being heavy-handed, and emotional without tipping into sentimentality.
California Gold is the kind of novel that resonates on multiple levels, whether you come for the story, the characters, or the writing itself. A beautifully crafted, deeply affecting read, absolutely deserving of 5 🌟
Go and read it immediately!
April 21, 2026
The most stunning writing! I just wish we had more of Frank & Chrissy at the beginning.
April 26, 2026
Absolutely loved this one! Great character development and lovely writing style. Definitely more character driven than plot driven, but thought the initial premise was quite unique.
May 11, 2026
mediocre but an ok read
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is it folks. This is my book to beat for 2026 and has taken the top spot from Heart the Lover. This one deserves all the hype and many MANY stars so I’m here to start that hype train and I sure as hell hope you all get on board. If you don’t then I’m sorry to say that you are missing out!
The scene is set in 1970s sun soaked California. Chrissy and Frank have a chance meeting at the side of the road and thus begins a whirlwind romance that takes them from sunny Palm Springs to a slightly more mundane and grey backdrop of a field in the British countryside. Frank is a complex character, very reserved, but so utterly besotted with Chrissy that he’s determined to give her whatever she wants. Chrissy is the all American firecracker keen to make a life for herself in the UK beyond the reach of her wealthy family. In the Kent countryside they set about recreating the Californian home that they had their first romantic encounter in.
The less you know about where this goes the better. But my gosh it’s good. It’s about marriage and what different marriages can look like. It’s about an obsessive vision of what the future should look like based on ideas from the past. It’s about family, complex sibling relationships and even more complex parent/child relationships. It’s about creating a house and a home.
It’s a largely character driven novel and Jodie Chapman’s writing is absolute perfection. I’ve loved her previous novels (go read them if you haven’t) but this is even better IMO. Each character is nuanced and imperfectly perfect. I felt for everyone and was equally frustrated with everyone at the same time. It’s a bloody excellent family saga and I really bloody well hope it gets the recognition it deserves!
All the stars and go read it now please. Well as soon as it is out, which is 19th March. So pre-order it and thank me later.
Thanks so much to the publisher for our advanced copies.
The scene is set in 1970s sun soaked California. Chrissy and Frank have a chance meeting at the side of the road and thus begins a whirlwind romance that takes them from sunny Palm Springs to a slightly more mundane and grey backdrop of a field in the British countryside. Frank is a complex character, very reserved, but so utterly besotted with Chrissy that he’s determined to give her whatever she wants. Chrissy is the all American firecracker keen to make a life for herself in the UK beyond the reach of her wealthy family. In the Kent countryside they set about recreating the Californian home that they had their first romantic encounter in.
The less you know about where this goes the better. But my gosh it’s good. It’s about marriage and what different marriages can look like. It’s about an obsessive vision of what the future should look like based on ideas from the past. It’s about family, complex sibling relationships and even more complex parent/child relationships. It’s about creating a house and a home.
It’s a largely character driven novel and Jodie Chapman’s writing is absolute perfection. I’ve loved her previous novels (go read them if you haven’t) but this is even better IMO. Each character is nuanced and imperfectly perfect. I felt for everyone and was equally frustrated with everyone at the same time. It’s a bloody excellent family saga and I really bloody well hope it gets the recognition it deserves!
All the stars and go read it now please. Well as soon as it is out, which is 19th March. So pre-order it and thank me later.
Thanks so much to the publisher for our advanced copies.
February 21, 2026
A beautifully written family saga spanning 40 years, starting in Palm Springs but largely set in Kent. This is a character driven novel with the family home Mirage (a replica of The House of Tomorrow, a mid-century modern house in Palm Springs where Elvis and Priscilla Presley chose to honeymoon) one of the most central characters.
Author Jodie Chapman asked herself the question what would happen if you took a house like that - built for the desert heat - and transplanted it to a damp and muddy field in dreary England? The story of California Gold is her answer.
I love Jodie’s writing. I was only on page 8 when I reached for my phone and added her other books to my To Buy list. I knew that quickly that this was a book I was going to love.
California Gold is beautiful and tragic, art-filled and thought provoking. I wanted to bash the family’s heads together at regular intervals, while also seeing how generational trauma repeats and reveals itself in the most seemingly inevitable of ways. I found myself looking up the art and sculpture that was mentioned, and appreciating architecture all the more for the stories it can tell.
The story also reflected some parts of my own personal family story that I wasn’t expecting, where my own childhood family home is a ghostly legend that I carry around with me, and perhaps a burden in some of the ways that Mirage turned out to be. It has given me a lot to ponder, and perhaps allowed me to let some of that burden go.
This is the first book of Jodie Chapman’s that I have read. It certainly won’t be the last. All I need to do now is book my ticket to Palm Springs!
Huge thanks to the publisher Michael Joseph for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
Author Jodie Chapman asked herself the question what would happen if you took a house like that - built for the desert heat - and transplanted it to a damp and muddy field in dreary England? The story of California Gold is her answer.
I love Jodie’s writing. I was only on page 8 when I reached for my phone and added her other books to my To Buy list. I knew that quickly that this was a book I was going to love.
California Gold is beautiful and tragic, art-filled and thought provoking. I wanted to bash the family’s heads together at regular intervals, while also seeing how generational trauma repeats and reveals itself in the most seemingly inevitable of ways. I found myself looking up the art and sculpture that was mentioned, and appreciating architecture all the more for the stories it can tell.
The story also reflected some parts of my own personal family story that I wasn’t expecting, where my own childhood family home is a ghostly legend that I carry around with me, and perhaps a burden in some of the ways that Mirage turned out to be. It has given me a lot to ponder, and perhaps allowed me to let some of that burden go.
This is the first book of Jodie Chapman’s that I have read. It certainly won’t be the last. All I need to do now is book my ticket to Palm Springs!
Huge thanks to the publisher Michael Joseph for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
April 10, 2026
Thank you to @michaeljbooks for sending me this stunning proof.
•••••
A mesmerising family drama spanning 40 years (starting from the 70’s). I was instantly invested in this story. Beautifully written, vivid, heartbreaking, poignant and utterly immersive.
I adored the beginning of this story. It almost had like a dreamlike quality to it. I felt carried away to glamorous California and into the whirlwind that was Chrissy and Frank.
The story then evolves into the life of the family over forty years.
The writing was addictive and, even though the storyline is written over such a massive time frame, the flow was seamless. It’s a character driven tale filled with incredibly complex, compelling individuals. My opinions were constantly changing of each person as I read, but ultimately it was the characters who made this story shine. At the heart of it all was the house (Mirage/House Of Tomorrow), which almost felt like its own character, witnessing the family and their memories - good and bad. The house had a transcendent quality to it that almost hovered between reality and fantasy.
Deep down it was a story of loss, grief, and family. Coping with grief and moving on. The tale focused on each individual and how they navigated their lives and found their own paths to life’s challenges. It felt real, messy, raw and deeply moving.
I absolutely loved this read. It was unique and instantly pulled me in, not only with the writing but with the visual aspects it vividly painted.
If you enjoy a family drama read that has a quiet beauty to it, but is also unflinching and unapologetic … I 100% recommend this book.
✨Quote✨
‘It could have been the sun or it could have been the rain. Nobody would ever know for sure.’
•••••
A mesmerising family drama spanning 40 years (starting from the 70’s). I was instantly invested in this story. Beautifully written, vivid, heartbreaking, poignant and utterly immersive.
I adored the beginning of this story. It almost had like a dreamlike quality to it. I felt carried away to glamorous California and into the whirlwind that was Chrissy and Frank.
The story then evolves into the life of the family over forty years.
The writing was addictive and, even though the storyline is written over such a massive time frame, the flow was seamless. It’s a character driven tale filled with incredibly complex, compelling individuals. My opinions were constantly changing of each person as I read, but ultimately it was the characters who made this story shine. At the heart of it all was the house (Mirage/House Of Tomorrow), which almost felt like its own character, witnessing the family and their memories - good and bad. The house had a transcendent quality to it that almost hovered between reality and fantasy.
Deep down it was a story of loss, grief, and family. Coping with grief and moving on. The tale focused on each individual and how they navigated their lives and found their own paths to life’s challenges. It felt real, messy, raw and deeply moving.
I absolutely loved this read. It was unique and instantly pulled me in, not only with the writing but with the visual aspects it vividly painted.
If you enjoy a family drama read that has a quiet beauty to it, but is also unflinching and unapologetic … I 100% recommend this book.
✨Quote✨
‘It could have been the sun or it could have been the rain. Nobody would ever know for sure.’
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Young Frank O’Hara has a dream: to give his new American wife Chrissy the House Of Tomorrow, a mid-century glass-and-white-concrete mansion that’s straight out of Palm Springs, dropped into the English countryside like an alien spaceship exploring strange new worlds. Their meet cute is pure cinema: he’s hitchhiking on the West Coast of America seeking a new life, wearing an Elvis shirt that’s already out-of-date, and she’s in a yellow convertible escaping expectations. Of course they fall hard and fast for each other, are married within weeks, and the American Dream seems right within their grasp – but will their love get lost in translation? California Gold is a wide-screen epic of a novel, following forty years and three generations of the O’Hara family as they try and try again to escape their version of The House Of Tomorrow: the ominously-named Mirage, constantly reminding us that their connections, their beliefs in each other are built on the flimsiest of foundations. Or, as Taylor Swift puts it: you’re on your own, kid, you always have been. Frank and Chrissy’s glossy, high-contrast, anything-is-possible Californian dream becomes a nightmare, dulled by British snobbery, tradition and the weight of expectation. There’s always a cost to living an extraordinary life, and in this case it’s the next generation who have to pay the bill. This is Chapman’s third novel and her stylish cinematic writing has reached new, dazzling heights: a superb, shimmering, stoically-life-affirming read.
April 13, 2026
I loved this book! I preordered it and kept staring at it on my nightstand for a few weeks until its turn finally came, and as usually Jodie Chapman DOES NOT disappoint. And that's me saying this after telling myself a million times I'd never love a book with main characters I can't love. Oh well, here comes Frank O'Hara, with his endless childhood trauma and zero desire to do something about it - I liked him with Chrissy (who was wonderful, excepting the very stupid "key game"), but not at all after, I can't stand a father who completely ignores his children. Unfortunately Chrissy is out of the picture way sooner than expected and I had to set my affection on Alice, Frank's youngest child, but this only came late in the book. Alice irritated me as a teenager although I could clearly see why she acted how she did, but she grew up into such a great, strong woman. I couldn't say I had any affinities for Clover or Jesse, but I did enjoy Beth transformation and "double life".
All in all, Mirage was the main character and I don't know how I feel about it. The House of Tomorrow in Palm Springs seems fantastic, a copy of it in muddy England, less sunshine - I couldn't see that working, but that's the whole foundation of the book, and trust me, it is a great premise.
The only thing that irked me about the book was the lack of quote marks in the beginning to mark dialogue, but they appeared later in the book - really confusing - or I missed something.
All in all, Mirage was the main character and I don't know how I feel about it. The House of Tomorrow in Palm Springs seems fantastic, a copy of it in muddy England, less sunshine - I couldn't see that working, but that's the whole foundation of the book, and trust me, it is a great premise.
The only thing that irked me about the book was the lack of quote marks in the beginning to mark dialogue, but they appeared later in the book - really confusing - or I missed something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2026
I love a book when it lives up to the hype and my own expectations and this brilliant new work by Jodie Palmer did both in spadefuls!
Synopsis:
It’s 1970 and Frank O’Hara has travelled to LA to escape his life in England. As a huge Elvis fan, he’s told about a futuristic house called The House of Tomorrow in Palm
Springs, where Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned and he is determined to see it.
He’s picked up hitchhiking by an extraordinarily vivacious and striking young woman and in an instant, he falls head over heels for her.
They elope and he and Chrissy not only decide to make England their home but build an exact replica of The House of Tomorrow, called Mirage in a wet, muddy field, which is a far cry from the sunshine and heat of Palm Springs.
A rich, sweeping expansive family drama with a strong cinematic quality spanning four decades.
Deeply emotional and character driven, I was hooked from the very first page and became hugely invested in the O’Hara family and their trials & tribulations.
The futuristic house called Mirage was right at the heart of this story. It remained a constant throughout and seemed to develop a life and character of its own as it held so many hopes and dreams. As it slowly disintegrated, the house also became a symbol of the relationships within the family.
The characters were flawed and complex and as the victims of an immeasurable loss, their subsequent grief permeated through time. My feelings towards these individuals fluctuated and evolved as the story unfolded.
Heartbreaking, searingly tragic and beautifully written, this was compelling storytelling at its finest.
I was very sad to finish it, know this exceptional book will stay with me for some time and will be right up there as one of my best reads of this year.
Synopsis:
It’s 1970 and Frank O’Hara has travelled to LA to escape his life in England. As a huge Elvis fan, he’s told about a futuristic house called The House of Tomorrow in Palm
Springs, where Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned and he is determined to see it.
He’s picked up hitchhiking by an extraordinarily vivacious and striking young woman and in an instant, he falls head over heels for her.
They elope and he and Chrissy not only decide to make England their home but build an exact replica of The House of Tomorrow, called Mirage in a wet, muddy field, which is a far cry from the sunshine and heat of Palm Springs.
A rich, sweeping expansive family drama with a strong cinematic quality spanning four decades.
Deeply emotional and character driven, I was hooked from the very first page and became hugely invested in the O’Hara family and their trials & tribulations.
The futuristic house called Mirage was right at the heart of this story. It remained a constant throughout and seemed to develop a life and character of its own as it held so many hopes and dreams. As it slowly disintegrated, the house also became a symbol of the relationships within the family.
The characters were flawed and complex and as the victims of an immeasurable loss, their subsequent grief permeated through time. My feelings towards these individuals fluctuated and evolved as the story unfolded.
Heartbreaking, searingly tragic and beautifully written, this was compelling storytelling at its finest.
I was very sad to finish it, know this exceptional book will stay with me for some time and will be right up there as one of my best reads of this year.
April 10, 2026
California Gold was an automatic must-read for me because I’ve loved Jodie Chapman’s other novels, and I’m so glad I read this one too.
California Gold follows Frank and Chrissy, who meet in California in the 70s, fall in love and move to the UK back to Frank’s homeland. Most of the book is not actually set in California, but the couple build a house in the British countryside based closely on Chrissy’s family home back in the US. Things are not all smooth sailing though, as we soon discover…
I didn’t expect this book to go where it did, it surprised me but felt realistic and full of emotion. It’s packed with heartache, relationships, jealousy, grief, family struggles and much more. It focuses very on the characters and their lives - not just Frank and Chrissy but their children too - and how family bonds can be broken but (hopefully) built back up too. I really enjoyed reading about all the characters, faults and all, and the fact that the book spans a long period of time meant I felt like we got to know them all very well. We also see the changing fashions which are referenced throughout the book and which I really enjoyed - for example, coupe glasses going out of fashion and changing to flutes, and then back again.
As with all Jodie Chapman’s books, this novel is written so well and the characters feel like real people. Highly recommended.
4.5 stars bumped to 5
California Gold follows Frank and Chrissy, who meet in California in the 70s, fall in love and move to the UK back to Frank’s homeland. Most of the book is not actually set in California, but the couple build a house in the British countryside based closely on Chrissy’s family home back in the US. Things are not all smooth sailing though, as we soon discover…
I didn’t expect this book to go where it did, it surprised me but felt realistic and full of emotion. It’s packed with heartache, relationships, jealousy, grief, family struggles and much more. It focuses very on the characters and their lives - not just Frank and Chrissy but their children too - and how family bonds can be broken but (hopefully) built back up too. I really enjoyed reading about all the characters, faults and all, and the fact that the book spans a long period of time meant I felt like we got to know them all very well. We also see the changing fashions which are referenced throughout the book and which I really enjoyed - for example, coupe glasses going out of fashion and changing to flutes, and then back again.
As with all Jodie Chapman’s books, this novel is written so well and the characters feel like real people. Highly recommended.
4.5 stars bumped to 5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was offered this on @netgalley by the lovely @michaeljbooks having read and loved Oh Sister by @jodiechapman a couple of years ago.
This story starts in 1970s California where Englishman Frank meets the beautiful Chrissy in California. Their whirlwind romance leads them to the House of Tomorrow, the glass and steel house where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon.
Within days they marry (to her parents dismay) and return to the UK where they build their own version of House of Tomorrow planning to live there forever….
The story follows the lives of Frank and his family over the next forty years. It’s a saga full of detail and emotional depth, resentment, distance, and emotional pain ripples through the generations, leaving each sibling scarred in their own way. For me, youngest daughter Alice was the most heartbreaking, and her suffering stayed with me long after finishing.
The House of Tomorrow was never just a building, its was a promise and a commitment, and dreams like buildings, when untended, can fracture under the weight of time.
It’s deep and slow and at times a hard read, but like Oh Sister, I highly recommend
*Out Spring 2026*
This story starts in 1970s California where Englishman Frank meets the beautiful Chrissy in California. Their whirlwind romance leads them to the House of Tomorrow, the glass and steel house where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon.
Within days they marry (to her parents dismay) and return to the UK where they build their own version of House of Tomorrow planning to live there forever….
The story follows the lives of Frank and his family over the next forty years. It’s a saga full of detail and emotional depth, resentment, distance, and emotional pain ripples through the generations, leaving each sibling scarred in their own way. For me, youngest daughter Alice was the most heartbreaking, and her suffering stayed with me long after finishing.
The House of Tomorrow was never just a building, its was a promise and a commitment, and dreams like buildings, when untended, can fracture under the weight of time.
It’s deep and slow and at times a hard read, but like Oh Sister, I highly recommend
*Out Spring 2026*
November 14, 2025
When Chrissy and Frank meet in California in early 1970, they fall in love not only with each other but also with The House of Tomorrow, Elvis and Priscilla’s honeymoon hideaway in Palm Springs, which they become determined to recreate in England. But this endeavor will come with challenges neither of them has imagined or expected, and when the unthinkable happens, the consequences will ripple through their newly-formed family for decades to come.
With sparse, almost factual prose, that somehow still ripples with emotion, Jodie Chapman paints a devastating portrait of how emotional inheritance can upend a family’s life, and what it takes to free oneself from it in order to move on.
Stylish, elegant, and immersive, CALIFORNIA GOLD is Britain’s brilliant response to Ann Patchett's Commonwealth and The Dutch House, Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful, and Eric Puchner's Dream State.
A family saga not to be missed, it will stay with me for a long time.
With sparse, almost factual prose, that somehow still ripples with emotion, Jodie Chapman paints a devastating portrait of how emotional inheritance can upend a family’s life, and what it takes to free oneself from it in order to move on.
Stylish, elegant, and immersive, CALIFORNIA GOLD is Britain’s brilliant response to Ann Patchett's Commonwealth and The Dutch House, Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful, and Eric Puchner's Dream State.
A family saga not to be missed, it will stay with me for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book has completely taken up residence in my brain… my top read of 2026 so far.
At the centre of the story is Frank and Chrissy, who meet in California in 1970 in a cinematic, sun-drenched, hitchhiking kinda way… and fall into an immediate, electric love. From that moment, everything spirals outward, what starts as a whirlwind romance quickly becomes something bigger… a shared dream. A dream to recreate a specific mid-century modern house they’ve seen in the Californian desert… but in England. In a muddy field. Because of course. And that house, Mirage, becomes another character in this story.
The book then stretches across decades, following their marriage, their family, and the generations that grow up inside this slightly surreal, sun-soaked vision transplanted into grey British reality. It’s about what happens when a dream becomes the foundation for a life, and then slowly starts to crack. About how a place can hold memories, identity, pressure, expectation, all at once.
And that’s why I CRIED about a house guys. Because it’s not just a house, it’s the emotional core of the entire story.
The writing is soooo good! Like... I cried over architecture. How?! You can feel the heat of California, the chill of England and the tension between those two worlds. It’s vivid without being showy and emotional being dramatic. Human character-wise, everyone feels equally real. They are messy and selfish but also full of love. I was so invested in all of them. There is an early twist which really took me by surprise, I was so invested even at this point that it felt like a proper gut-punch!
I’ve seen her compared to TJR in terms of her ability to blend character intimacy with a strong sense of time and place. And I would agree, but for me there’s even more heart in Jodie’s writing. It feels less polished-Hollywood and more raw, lived-in and willing to sit in discomfort. I adored this book!
At the centre of the story is Frank and Chrissy, who meet in California in 1970 in a cinematic, sun-drenched, hitchhiking kinda way… and fall into an immediate, electric love. From that moment, everything spirals outward, what starts as a whirlwind romance quickly becomes something bigger… a shared dream. A dream to recreate a specific mid-century modern house they’ve seen in the Californian desert… but in England. In a muddy field. Because of course. And that house, Mirage, becomes another character in this story.
The book then stretches across decades, following their marriage, their family, and the generations that grow up inside this slightly surreal, sun-soaked vision transplanted into grey British reality. It’s about what happens when a dream becomes the foundation for a life, and then slowly starts to crack. About how a place can hold memories, identity, pressure, expectation, all at once.
And that’s why I CRIED about a house guys. Because it’s not just a house, it’s the emotional core of the entire story.
The writing is soooo good! Like... I cried over architecture. How?! You can feel the heat of California, the chill of England and the tension between those two worlds. It’s vivid without being showy and emotional being dramatic. Human character-wise, everyone feels equally real. They are messy and selfish but also full of love. I was so invested in all of them. There is an early twist which really took me by surprise, I was so invested even at this point that it felt like a proper gut-punch!
I’ve seen her compared to TJR in terms of her ability to blend character intimacy with a strong sense of time and place. And I would agree, but for me there’s even more heart in Jodie’s writing. It feels less polished-Hollywood and more raw, lived-in and willing to sit in discomfort. I adored this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely blown away by California Gold. I've love Jodie Chatman's other novels but with this she has taken her writing to another level.
It starts as a love affair as Frank and Chrissy begin a passionate and heightened relationship which leads them across the ocean to build the house of their dreams in the English countryside.
However, without spoilers, most of the book focusses on the next generation as their children realise that their family is collapsing around them much like Mirage, the magical house that they grew up in. Jodie writes such incredibly believable characters and family dynamics. Certainly no one is perfect and some terrible errors are made but you still want them to make it though. The house itself is such an important backdrop that it is almost a character in its own right.
This is a difficult book to explain without giving key plot points away but please read it - it is such a wonderful and rewarding book.
It starts as a love affair as Frank and Chrissy begin a passionate and heightened relationship which leads them across the ocean to build the house of their dreams in the English countryside.
However, without spoilers, most of the book focusses on the next generation as their children realise that their family is collapsing around them much like Mirage, the magical house that they grew up in. Jodie writes such incredibly believable characters and family dynamics. Certainly no one is perfect and some terrible errors are made but you still want them to make it though. The house itself is such an important backdrop that it is almost a character in its own right.
This is a difficult book to explain without giving key plot points away but please read it - it is such a wonderful and rewarding book.
April 10, 2026
3.75.
Book one about Frank and Chrissy and their California meet you and move to England was literally a 10 out of 10 like I kind of wish there was a book with that vibe the entire way through which is also what I expected based on a review that said this book is very Taylor Jenkins read vibes. I was expecting kind of a Malibu rising/Daisy Jones and the 6 vibe. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed it. I just don’t think the family saga is probably for me especially when it’s spans that many years.
But the authors writing is absolutely impeccable like I am not someone who highlights or annotate a book but her writing made me want to
And I feel like she just did such a good job of exploring the characters and how the past affects their current lives, et cetera
I’m really excited to discuss this one in bookclub because I feel like there’s quite a lot of unpack that I can’t think about on my own
Book one about Frank and Chrissy and their California meet you and move to England was literally a 10 out of 10 like I kind of wish there was a book with that vibe the entire way through which is also what I expected based on a review that said this book is very Taylor Jenkins read vibes. I was expecting kind of a Malibu rising/Daisy Jones and the 6 vibe. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed it. I just don’t think the family saga is probably for me especially when it’s spans that many years.
But the authors writing is absolutely impeccable like I am not someone who highlights or annotate a book but her writing made me want to
And I feel like she just did such a good job of exploring the characters and how the past affects their current lives, et cetera
I’m really excited to discuss this one in bookclub because I feel like there’s quite a lot of unpack that I can’t think about on my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an intricately woven story beginning in the 70s, when British Frank met Californian Chrissy, and they fell into a deep relationship, with its roots in a house they travelled to see: the House of Tomorrow, all glass and steel.
They end up back in England and manage to create a replica, named Mirage, which is a sight to behold, then the rest of the story follows them, through highs and lows, and introduces us to Beth, and siblings, Clover, Jesse and Alice.
There is tragedy, and then emotional disconnect, crossed wires, and the effects a moment's choices have on future generations.
An emotional rollercoaster of a ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for an ARC.
They end up back in England and manage to create a replica, named Mirage, which is a sight to behold, then the rest of the story follows them, through highs and lows, and introduces us to Beth, and siblings, Clover, Jesse and Alice.
There is tragedy, and then emotional disconnect, crossed wires, and the effects a moment's choices have on future generations.
An emotional rollercoaster of a ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for an ARC.
April 3, 2026
I absolutely loved Oh Sister, so was very excited to get a copy of the new novel by Jodie Chapman from Netgalley. The opening was fantastic - the sun-soaked atmosphere of 1970s California was perfectly drawn and I totally believed in Frank and Chrissy. Really strong Daisy Jones vibes! The bit that came after, I wasn't so keen on... Frank turned into a really unlikeable character making everyone else miserable, which would have been fine except I didn't particularly care for any of the other adults so it made this section drag. I preferred the last 70% when the children become adults, particularly Alice, who felt much more developed and well drawn than the others. I do enjoy novels about family dynamics and although this one did make a strong impression, it just didn't quite do it for me.
March 19, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
By about 20%, I knew I was really going to enjoy this book. I love a book that dares to do something not many other books are doing, and it truly shocked me.
This was a complex look into family relationships across generations and time, into grief, illness, loss in many different forms, and I was engrossed. It can take a bit of getting used to the sweeping changes to the time periods, but once I was there, the pay off was worth it.
I loved the metaphor around The Mirage and what it tells us about what's going on underneath the curtain so to speak.
By about 20%, I knew I was really going to enjoy this book. I love a book that dares to do something not many other books are doing, and it truly shocked me.
This was a complex look into family relationships across generations and time, into grief, illness, loss in many different forms, and I was engrossed. It can take a bit of getting used to the sweeping changes to the time periods, but once I was there, the pay off was worth it.
I loved the metaphor around The Mirage and what it tells us about what's going on underneath the curtain so to speak.
March 20, 2026
In this story we follow the O’Hara family over a period of forty years. There are a number of different family members over the years but I did not get confused about who was who as Jodie has written it so well to do that job. It was packed to the rim and I was hooked straight away. I don’t know how but it felt different to the books I normally read, I thought about it when I was not reading it. Every page is unpredictable and I did not get a sense of what was to come. A book that will stay with me for a long time to come. I look forward to what Jodie writes about next.
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