A wonderful read albeit a new subject for me. This is a favorite writer. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. I have always been a fan of this author's thoughtful heartfelt work and this book was especially one that makes the reader take pause and think about the afterlife.

Vivan Howe is a famous published author who lives in Nantucket and jogs in the mornings. One day she is killed in a hit and run. When Vivian dies she is given the opportunity to see what happens after her death to her loved ones. As she watches over her three adult children and finds them struggling she is destined to not help but watch from afar. She cannot change the outcome of their lives but she learns of the meaning of her life . Its a interesting premises. I liked the book and find no reason for the controversy about the author .

Elin Hilderbrand does not disappoint in her latest novel “Golden Girl”. What a unique and engaging story of a mother who watches over her family from heaven and provides ‘nudges’ when necessary. Once again Ms Hilderbrand takes her readers to Nantucket where we are made to feel at home. This is a must summer read. Hats off for “Golden Girl”.

What a wonderful book! Really makes one think, if i were to die today, do I have unfinished business? Are my relationships in good standing? How would my family cope?

This story explores what happens as a family when someone dies. Secrets are found out, bad habits are dealt with, and the past is revisited.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this ARC, in return, for an honest review.

I truly love Elin Hilderbrand books, and this one was no different. It's like being wrapped up in a big beach blanket that smells of salt, sand, and sun,.
Vivan Howe has just finished her 13th novel based on the town she lives in, Nantucket. While going for her morning jog, she is killed in a hit and run accident. And while this premise put me off a little, the idea of your loved ones watching you in the afterlife actually is quite peaceful.
Vivian is allowed to watch the devastating effects of her death play out in the lives of her 3 grown children. The secrets, and lies that they have all told begin to unfold, and she is not able to help them.
Don't take this book too seriously. Enjoy the island, the drama, and escape to Nantucket.

First of all, Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of Golden Girl in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing Date: June 1, 2021.

I was hesitant to read this book, because of all the controversy that surrounded Elin; BUT I have always enjoyed her books and received this one on Netgalley a while ago. I have to say I ended up loving it more than I would have ever expected.

I really did love the concept and plot of this book, and my favorite thing about Elin's novel is we get to hear the different perspectives of all the different characters on Nantucket.

I enjoyed that this book was more of a mystery than a women’s fiction like her usual books. Along with the mystery in the book it was packed full with tons of family drama, and I truly love those kind of books.

The characters in this book were truly a mess but the character development was great, and you grow to love and enjoy each and every character.

I have been a long time fan of Elin Hilderbrand and love all of her books. Golden Girl is by far my most favorite. It follows the story of Vivi and her family and is told from the different characters' view points. The relationships in this book are so well written and really make you step back and take a look at life.

Love love love this author and her new book!! Golden Girl is one of my favorites by this author. Cannot recommend this book and this author enough!!

At first I wasn't sure about <i>Golden Girl</i>. I don't particularly like books where the dead are looking back at their lives, but since I love Elin Hilderbrand's books, I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad a did. I listen to Elin on the podcast Bad on Paper, and heard her mention that she plans to retire in a few books. <i>Golden Girl</i> feels like a retirement book. The main character is writer who looks back on her career, the characters in her life who shaped it and what happens after she's gone. It's not overly weepy and really hits a nice balance of the things that make her books so fun to read.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

Elin Hilderbrand is well-known for being the “queen of beach reads.” Titles like Summer of ‘69, 28 Summers, Trouble in Paradise…you get the idea. Every once in a while, I want something escapist, pretty much guaranteed to have a happy ending, and NOT focused on any of the current “issues” that are like a tsunami whenever we turn on the news. Not my genre, but I was hoping that her latest, Golden Girl. would be just the thing to sink into (thank you, Little, Brown and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review).

Vivian Howe, a successful novelist, is the Golden Girl. She is killed in a hit-and-run accident on her home island of Nantiucket. OK, I’m still there. Then she ascends to the Beyond and finds Martha, who tells her she can spend one last summer watching from “above” and seeing whether she can gently nudge her three children in the direction of “good decisions.”

Wait, what? So there her family is, grieving their loss, and she’s on the other side, trying to steer them the way she thinks would be in their best interest? Huh. I kept reading. Then — OK, I admit it–I gave up. DNF. Just not for me. But clearly this in right in Ms. Hilderbrand’s lane: tugs at the heartstrings, evokes emotions including both the warm & fuzzy ones and the sad/tearful ones.

I’m fairly certain anyone who enjoys a “beach read”or “women’s fiction” (whatever THAT is) or who has become a fan of Ms. Hilderbrand will love this one. I can only go three stars, but that’s just me. Not my thing — but I know several people to whom I will recommend it! BEACH READ LOVERS, THIS IS FOR YOU!

Elin Hilderbrand is an autobuy author for me. I have never met a book of hers I did not love. This was unlike any of her books I have read in the past, but I loved it just the same.

Vivian Howe was jogging when she is killed in a hit-and-run accident. She then goes on to the afterlife and watches her family deal with her death and a detective investigate the accident. The story follows Vivian in the afterlife along with her three children and the problems they are having on top of their mother's death.

I am not normally a paranormal fan, but the small aspect in this storyline added to the depth of the characters. I really enjoyed it.

Oh my goodness. I loved this book so much. Having lost loved ones, like most human beings do, I thought it was such a clever and sweet idea to be able to orchestrate a few things before entering heaven. Love the idea that if you're taken from this earth abruptly that you can help your loved ones a few times before meeting Jesus. Such a great story and I loved all of the characters. Elin knocked it out of the park yet again!!

“Savannah leads her down the hall to a library, which is everything you’d want an at-home library to be. Built-in shelves hold rows and rows of books—the requisite leather-bound kind but also the rainbow spines of popular hardbacks and an entire swath of battered paperbacks. There’s a deep leather armchair where apparently someone has been sitting recently.” 🥰💕

A successful novelist, killed in a hit-and-run on her beloved island of Nantucket, has one summer to protect her secrets and witness her family trying to survive without their Golden Girl. Vivian Howe ascends to the Beyond after her death and meets a woman named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch watch happens below for one last summer. Can she “nudge” (she’s allowed 3) her 3 children appropriately and protect them from further heartbreak?

What an absolutely fascinating concept. First of all, even if all of her books aren’t 5 stars for me, they are so compulsively readable. Elin Hilderbrand has this way of transporting you to whatever island location she has placed you on. Her writing evokes such emotion and, as someone who rarely cries, I actually found myself choking up twice reading this one.

Imagine being able to watch your family grieve from the other side. Imagine having the ability to “nudge” them; To save them from heartbreak or devastation or to push them in the direction that will define their happiness. Just imagine. This was such a beautiful and emotional read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown & Company, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is so much more than a ‘Summer read’. Elin never disappoints with connecting her reader with the strength and frailties of the human spirit. Her characters think and feel and wonder just as you or I do.
In this novel, author Vivian Howe who meets her untimely and tragic death in a hit and run accident. When Vivian ascends into the afterlife, she is assigned to the ever stylish Martha, who allows her viewing windows to observe the remainder of the summer and the way in which her earthly exit was handled. Vivian is gifted three ‘nudges’ that can help change the direction of how things are unfolding. The insights and dimensions of her family are keenly observed. Humor, love, romance, scandals and suspense keeps the reader engaged as the story is conveyed in different perspectives.
Thought provoking and captivating, this is an immensely enjoyable read.
Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book from one of my favorite authors! I like books that keep you guessing and this one did it for me. Who ran over Vivian? I changed my mind on who did it a couple of times! I also like the setting of Nantucket. And the 3 "nudges' that Vivian gets after she dies to see what happens with her children and change their fate was great! I will continue to read this author!

Elin Hilderbrand is THE definition of a Summer delight. Whenever I am going to the beach, I immediately plan on bringing the latest Elin Hilderbrand book. Golden Girl however, did deviate from the typical Elin Hilderbrand BRAND, But that's not always a bad thing. I was completely hooked and turning the pages faster and faster. I truly recommend this book. It's different, fresh, and unique.

Elin Hilderbrand has given us a new glimpse into her talents with this book. True to her style, we have a character who is going through an emotionally turbulent time. Her three adult children are each wrapped up in some type of life-crisis: one trying to conceive, one having a relationship with a married man, and one who is keeping his sexual orientation a secret from his friends and family. THIS, and ex-husband struggles, would be enough for any character to deal with. But Vivian has all this and so much more.... Including figuring out how she has just died. Using this opportunity to watch her family and intervene on their behalf before crossing over, Vivian has only three "nudges" to influence her family. Despite the sadness of loss, this book is a mystery that left me reading to the very end to figure out what exactly happened to Vivian and what will happen to her family.

This is one of my top reads for 2021. I was anxiously awaiting this book and it does not disappoint. Golden Girl is set on Nantucket just as Elin Hilderbrand's book are. I must visit Nanutucket now! Vivian (Vivi) is a famous author that writes novels that are set on, you guessed it, Nantucket! She is a divorced mom of three and is suddenly killed in a hit-and-run accident leaving three kids behind. Two are adults but nevertheless, they are left behind to fend for themselves at a fairly young age without their precious mom.

There are several characters in this book and Elin introduces them in a way that is so easy to know and remember. It is not confusing as to who is who. Vivi's best friend Savannah takes the wheel and watches over the kids just like she was expected to if anything ever happened to her best friend. The kids have a dad but he has a young girlfriend, Amy, with whom he has been with for many years and no one is really fond of her except for her best friend Lorna. Some fun and interesting twists and turns happen here.

Interesting things transpire as Vivi watches from the Beyond for a short time the summer she died. She only has so much time to be able to do this. Her Person, Martha, is there to guide her through this period of time before Vivi has to let the earth world go and finish ascending to heaven. Martha makes me laugh. One of my favorite characters in this story. She is a very cute character that was well thought out.

The ending is satisfying but as with her other books there is always room to give us more on the characters. They seem to pop up here and there in subsequent books and we learn more of their lives. I hope this is true with this book because I need a follow up on a few things. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of this book. Excellent read!

I'm so sad that Elin Hilderbrand is retiring soon--I know she has a wonderfully large backlist that will remain popular for years--but for me, her summer release has become synonymous with summer! Golden Girl isn't her strongest title (the pandemic has hit all of us so hard--I can't imagine having to write a book during this time!) but it is a fast, enjoyable read. Kudos to Golden Girl and Ms. Hildebrand for years of summer fun on the page!

Elin Hilderbrand does it again. This book captures the essence of her beach reads, but adds in captivating family drama that layers the book and adds depth. Essentially, a beach read filled with dynamic characters who blur the lines between good and bad. Would reommend to fans of Elin and thrillers.

Golden Girl, by Elin Hilderbrand, is the first book that I have read by this author. I wasn't sure why I requested it, but having completed it, I am glad that I did read this novel. Hilderbrand's book has enough of a mystery to keep me reading and characters who, while not always likable, were always interesting. I enjoy mysteries and I always want engaging characters, with complex stories. In this regard, Hilderbrand is a good writer. The one jarring note was a very poor analogy that referenced Anne Frank in a dismissive and poorly chosen reference. This allusion should be removed from the ebook and any subsequent printings. Other than this very significant complaint,
I am appreciative of Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. Now that I have finally read a Hilderbrand novel, I will look for additional books of hers to read.