California

by Edan Lepucki
California cover
Good Books rating 2.75
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Technical:
  • ID: 1167
  • Added: 2025-09-27
  • Updated: 2025-09-27
  • ISBN: 9781405525824
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2014-07-01
  • Formats: 15
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £20.00

California is a gripping debut novel that explores a frighteningly realistic near future where environmental crisis and societal collapse have left Los Angeles in ruins. Cal and Frida, a couple struggling to survive in the wilderness, find their fragile existence threatened when Frida discovers she is pregnant. Driven by fear and uncertainty, they journey to a nearby settlement, only to find that the community's security comes at a sinister cost. The novel delves into themes of resilience, trust, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones in a world teetering on the brink. The book has been highly acclaimed for its vivid portrayal of a generational anxiety about the future, resonating with readers who share concerns about environmental crises and the stability of human society. With its provocative narrative and compelling characters, California forces readers to question the nature of humanity and the choices we make in the face of adversity.

Reviews
The Guardian · Amity Gaige · 2014-09-04
provocative 3.75

The novel thrusts an ordinary American couple into a frightening future with shades of 1984 and The Road. It's a gripping and provocative debut that imagines a near future with realistic and chilling possibilities.

Amity Gaige from The Guardian praises California as a gripping and provocative debut novel that thrusts an ordinary American couple into a frightening future. She notes that the novel draws shades of 1984 and The Road, creating a realistic and chilling portrayal of a near future. Gaige highlights the author's ability to build tension and explore the complexities of human relationships in a dystopian setting. While the novel may not reach the literary heights of Melville, it successfully captures the essence of environmental breakdown and its impact on society. The reviewer appreciates the novel's fast-paced narrative and the atmospheric tension that keeps readers engaged throughout.

Quick quotes

    This bestselling debut, with shades of 1984 and The Road, thrusts an ordinary American couple into a frightening future.

    Lepucki's novel is a gripping and provocative debut that imagines a near future with realistic and chilling possibilities.

    The novel successfully captures the essence of environmental breakdown and its impact on society.

Electric Literature · 2014-08-25
entertaining 3.00

The novel is a fast-paced, fun read that feels like a summer blockbuster. However, it lacks depth and may feel a bit thin in its execution.

The reviewer from Electric Literature describes California as the literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster—fun, fast-paced, and engaging. The novel's quick pace and entertaining narrative make it an enjoyable read. However, the reviewer notes that the novel may lack depth and feel a bit thin in its execution. Despite this, the reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to keep readers engaged and entertained throughout. The atmospheric tension and the exploration of human relationships in a dystopian setting are highlighted as strengths, but the reviewer feels that the novel could have benefited from a more substantial plot and deeper character development.

Quick quotes

    Edan Lepucki's post-apocalyptic thriller California is the literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster — fun, fast paced, but perhaps a little thin.

    The novel's quick pace and entertaining narrative make it an enjoyable read.

    The atmospheric tension and the exploration of human relationships in a dystopian setting are highlighted as strengths.

Reddit - r/literature · 2014-01-01
critical 1.50

The novel is criticized for being muddled and nearly plotless, with vague worldbuilding and weak science-fictional elements.

A Reddit user from the r/literature community offers a rare negative review of California, criticizing the novel for being muddled and nearly plotless. The reviewer finds the worldbuilding vague and the science-fictional elements weak, which detracts from the overall reading experience. Despite the novel's ambitious theme of environmental breakdown, the reviewer feels that it falls short of delivering a compelling narrative. The lack of clear plot development and character depth is noted as a significant drawback. However, the reviewer acknowledges the novel's attempt to explore important themes and its potential to spark discussion among readers.

Quick quotes

    Muddled, nearly plotless, bad at both the science-fictional/worldbuilding (nothing but vague handwaving about the apocalyptic setting and social structures).

    The novel falls short of delivering a compelling narrative despite its ambitious theme.

    The lack of clear plot development and character depth is noted as a significant drawback.

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