Golden Girl
Heartwarming
Inspirational
Original

Golden Girl

It isn't summer without a new Elin Hilderbrand novel -- and this one is another immensely satisfying page-turner from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine). Golden Girl follows Nantucket novelist Vivi, who gets one final summer -- after she is killed in a hit-and-run accident -- to protect her secrets and learn from her mistakes while her loved ones still on earth try to solve the mystery of her death. Vivian Howe, author of 13 beach novels and mother of three young adults, is killed in a hit and run car accident while jogging near her home in Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she's assigned to a Person named Margaret, who agrees Vivi's death was unfair. Margaret allows Vivi to watch what happens below with her children, her best friend, her ex-husband, and her rival novelist (whose book is coming out the same day as Vivi's). Margaret gives Vivi the use of three "nudges" so that she might influence the outcome of events in the world of the living. Vivi discovers her children's secrets, watches the investigation of her death (headed by our old friend Chief Ed Kapenash) and worries about a secret from her youth, which is embedding in her forthcoming novel, coming to public light. Elin Hilderbrand's twenty-seventh novel is a beach book like no other.
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Reviews

Photo of Paige Paul
Paige Paul@ppaul13
4 stars
Oct 24, 2024

Interesting way to layout the book with the protagonist watching her life play out after being killed - also very meta describing her as a similar person to the author herself. Another fun summer read.

+2
Photo of Alexis Donahue
Alexis Donahue@donahuealexis
4 stars
Jul 20, 2023

Loved the shifting perspectives and the mystery of who caused the hit and run. I even loved the perspective from heaven and the “nudges”. Good read!

Photo of Haley Kirinsky
Haley Kirinsky @haleykirinsky
5 stars
Jun 22, 2023

I loved this book, thought it was so cute and the first fiction book that got me to like reading fiction honestly.

Photo of Caitlin Moore
Caitlin Moore@readingrealtor
4 stars
Jun 14, 2023

A book I would never have read if not recommended to me- and I’m so glad it was. I couldn’t put this book down from start to finish. The book follows the unexpected death of Vivi, a mother and a writer. We see into her afterlife as well as the lives her three grown children have to live once she’s passed. Although it didn’t end with the twists I so love, it was such an sweet and page-turning story that I wish there was a sequel.

Photo of Cheri McElroy
Cheri McElroy@cherimac
5 stars
Sep 5, 2022

Vivi is finding her feet after a painful divorce. She and her three children are forging adult relationships, and her latest book Golden Girl is set to be published soon. And summer is beginning on Nantucket. Then Vivi goes for a run and is killed in a hit and run. But she has one last summer to help her family navigate the tragedy and trail of secrets left behind. This is quintessential Hilderbrand. Summers on Nantucket, family drama, lots of secrets and bad decisions. But it’s my favorite because she weaves a tale of grief in a lighthearted way and reminds us of the importance of family. I loved it.

Photo of Alex Flagg
Alex Flagg@alflagg
4 stars
Aug 11, 2022

A lighthearted, easy read based in Nantucket. This was a little bit of a different book for Elin because it is based on the “beyond” and the main character has already died. Part family drama/part whodunit. Has multiple POVs, which is hit or miss for me, but in this case made the story more interesting!

Photo of Kerry Kalinoski
Kerry Kalinoski@busywithmybooks
4 stars
Jun 27, 2022

4.5⭐️ This book was sooo easy to read and I feel like she expanded from the “typical” elin hilderbrand cliches. I love the multiple story lines of the mom, the kids and the dad. I was honestly shocked at the ending and I loved the way she tied everything together She does spoil the perfect couple in here and if I hadn’t just read it I probably wouldn’t have noticed but yeah I would read the perfect couple before this one!

Photo of Emily C
Emily C@emcullitan
4 stars
Jun 15, 2022

Can always count on Elin Hilderbrand for lighter summer reads, liked how this one threads in some mystery Unique POV, liked the different relationships explored between each family member

+3
Photo of Léa Blanchet
Léa Blanchet@leablanchet
3.5 stars
Aug 27, 2024
Photo of rebecca
rebecca@rebecstrickl
5 stars
Sep 4, 2022
Photo of Emma Byrnes
Emma Byrnes@emmacbyrnes
4 stars
Sep 4, 2022
Photo of Katherine WIneland
Katherine WIneland@katwineland
3 stars
Aug 3, 2022
Photo of Ciara Renaud
Ciara Renaud@ciararenaud
3.5 stars
Jul 22, 2022
Photo of Kelly Modrick
Kelly Modrick@kmod
4.5 stars
Apr 5, 2022
Photo of Gabbi Miller
Gabbi Miller@gabbi
3 stars
Mar 20, 2022
Photo of Meaghan
Meaghan@meagcity
3 stars
Jul 6, 2024
Photo of Wingyan Chan
Wingyan Chan@wingyan
5 stars
Feb 6, 2024
Photo of Erin Jones
Erin Jones@erinpennjones
4 stars
Jan 18, 2024
Photo of Arianna
Arianna@annaira
3 stars
Jan 3, 2024
Photo of Zaira A
Zaira A @zai
4 stars
Jul 28, 2023
Photo of Caitlin Hooker
Caitlin Hooker@chooker
5 stars
Mar 12, 2023
Photo of Hayley Milligan
Hayley Milligan@hayleym
5 stars
Feb 28, 2023
Photo of Mirin Riddell
Mirin Riddell@murm23
4 stars
Feb 12, 2023
Photo of Melyssa Tromberg
Melyssa Tromberg @melyssat
4 stars
Feb 6, 2023

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