Crow’s Reads

People Watching in the Desert

by Cali Adeline

First published 2026 · debut

Cover of People Watching in the Desert

Reception

  1. 2026
    Los Angeles Times

    Reviewed by Mark Athitakis, 14 July

  • Los Angeles Times · 14 July 2026

    Why this deceptive beach read is poised to become a cult favorite

    Cali Adeline’s debut novel ‘People Watching in the Desert’ uses the tropes of a breezy summer getaway to explore the thorny, Didion-esque ethics of the stories we tell about others.

    By Mark Athitakis

    Read at Los Angeles Times (opens in a new tab)