Over all I thought this book was pretty good! If you like the original show it definitely has the same feel. Like you’re reading a script for a golden girls movie spin off! I was reading in the girls voices and everything.

There was a part near the end where it seemed there was some LGBTQ stuff forced into the story line. Obviously inclusion is a big factor in any books but you don’t want it to seem forced it should flow with the book. That part because of the way it was added felt like a sore thumb. It didn’t feel like it matched the rest of the book and felt far more “modern” like it was written in 2024 not when this book was supposed to be set. I think it should have been written in better or changed to fit the premise of the book.

Other than that everything else felt organic or campy but in the classic golden girls way. I will say if you’re not a fan of overly descriptive books that did make the story line drag out longer. It didn’t both me to much but I could see it being a little much for some.

Omg I absolutely loved this book. I felt like I was in it. Just amazing! Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this one

Thank you Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Cheesecake alone would have been enough to get me to want to read this but when I saw The Golden Girls, I cannot tell you how excited I was and just knew I had to read it.
I applaud the author for taking on such a huge task of reviving the characters we love and miss so very much. They did a good job of sharing some of their background, describing their personalities and there was some of the old familiar ribbing but as much as I love the Golden Girls (and cheesecake), this just didn't give me the same loveable vibes as the old TV show. There were many times that honestly if Rose had talked about herring one more time I would have thrown my copy into the Scandinavian water the herring comes from. The details of the traditional St. Olaf wedding became redundant and tiring. At times, I felt the story was never going to come to an end and I needed it to, there was just so much filler.
It is the Golden Girls, the expectations are high and for me this just didn't quite reach it. To be fair, I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it like I thought I would and since this was the first in what I believe will become a series, I might be willing to give the second a try.

I snapped this up as soon as I saw it. I didn't grow up watching The Golden Girls, although I've been peripherally aware of them, of course. A few years ago, when I was approaching and at my sickest with my chronic illness, I binged the whole series. I'm not going to say that watching the show got me through it, but the show holds a little place in my heart, as does everything (that I can remember at least-- I've discovered that I don't remember a lot of details from that time) that helped me get through the days.

This is a sweet mystery, but the characters take the spotlight over the who-dun-it. Although most likely to be picked up by existing fans, enough details are sprinkled throughout that this could certainly be read by someone who had never seen any of the show.

Like a lot of cozy mysteries, there is a lot of detail incorporated in every scene. While this does set the stage for the 1980s with hair, clothes, make-up, and décor, there's so much details that the writer and editor(s) obviously got overwhelmed by it all-- there are several instances in which characters repeat actions, probably because the first instance was lost amid the descriptions of outfits and living rooms. The character picks up her purse and walks towards the door, continues her conversation, and then picks up her purse again; the characters retrieve their luggage and walk to the car, then stand at the baggage carousel and pick up their luggage again.

Although Sophia's character never felt quite right for me, but the other main characters were pretty spot on in their mannerisms and dialogue.

eARC from NetGalley.

The Golden Girls brought back to life by this author how exciting! I watched this show as teenager and I loved it so I was excited to see this book.
It didn't disappoint it made me happy to be back with them again! Wow! It was like seeing old friends again. I loved Rose more than ever! We got to see a special side that we didn't see in the show.
Sophia's still up to her wisecrack that drives Dorothy crazy. Blanche is being Blanche. I'm so glad the author didn't change their personalities.
These girls are a legend.
This was a great start to a new series! I can't wait to read the next one! The storyline was fantastic! It flowed smoothly and each girl got the fullest attention which I appreciated.
I love the mystery which was written so well I had a hard time guessing who did it.
Only flaw I had with it was some of the words do run together so it was sometimes hard to make out.
Still a 5 star read from me. I highly recommend this book if you love these lovely ladies.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC when i saw this cover i had to read this one growing up my grandmother used to always watch it on the TV while babysitting me and watching some episodes as an adult and loving the show still i had to give this one a go and let me tell yall the characters in this were just like the golden girls the author made this book as if you were watching a long episode of the show and it had very funny moments especially with sophia she was my favorite i do wish Blanche got a little more airtime in the novel but rose was definitely the main lead which is fine as well because i love her too. This novel was just a little too slow paced for me as a murder mystery but i definitely think it was a cozy one and definitely golden girl fans will love this one. Seeing as they have all passed it was nice to feel a modern day spin on them so that was nice. i did enjoy the ending regarding the reveal and how it was explained to us. I did enjoy the wedding storyline and all the mess it was bringing and the funny moments even when they all were stressing over this event! Overall this was a good book!

Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a charming and fun read that had me hooked from the very first page. The story combines cozy mystery elements with a delightful nod to *The Golden Girls*, as a group of sharp-witted, older women find themselves entangled in a murder mystery. When a local bakery’s cheesecake contest turns deadly, it’s up to this group of friends to solve the crime. The characters are endearing, and the humor is on point, making it an enjoyable and lighthearted read. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries and *The Golden Girls*, this book is the perfect mix of both—full of laughs, charm, and just the right amount of suspense!

If you are a fan of the show, this is for you. I found it a bit too much like the show to really enjoy the characters because the tv show was playing in my head the entire time.

I started reading Murder By Cheesecake as soon as I was approved. How could I say no to the Golden Girls solving a crime! What an interesting and funny premise. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this- even to my Golden Girls loving friends.
The author added some of the hilarious banter and was true to the women’s personalities that you would remember from the tv show. However, the crime and resolution itself was nothing special; I know it is a cozy mystery, but there was just So. Much. Filler. The St. Olaf wedding traditions were discussed over and over and stopped being funny. I did quite a bit of skimming and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I guess I’m in the minority.
I would like some cheesecake though….

I'm a huge fan of cheesecake and the Golden Girls. Thanks for the review copy. I like the cover. This will be a great cozy series.

More of a 4.5/5

As a mystery 3/5: The puzzle was not very interesting.
As entertainment 5/5: The author clearly cares for the IP she is working with. This translates very well. It was a really enjoyable read. I could see the book play out as a Golden Girls episode/movie as I was reading it.

The book is a VERY light read. Perfect as something for when you’re traveling.

This was so fun and charming!! I haven’t watched Golden Girls in forever but watched it a bit when I was a kid, and I can’t believe how spot on the characters are even from my distant memories. Reading this feels exactly like watching the show because both the mannerisms and dialogue of each of the main characters is written perfectly and you can really picture each actor saying the lines.

Also, for a cozy mystery, I was pleasantly surprised when parts of the second half got quite action packed and a little suspenseful.

Plot wise I was left with a few questions and the mystery itself wasn’t quite as fulfilling as I would have hoped for, but I enjoyed reading this so much that it didn’t bother me that much either.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and the author for the opportunity to read this!

As someone who grew up watching the Golden Girls with my grandma (and that wants to be as amazing as Betty White was when I grow up), I may have squealed when I saw that this book was a thing! With high standards in tow, I dove head first into this book ... And as I'm sure you are waiting to hear... Did it disappoint? Did it not? Is your anxiety rising as I drag this out? Murder by Cheesecake was everything I hoped it could be! All the things I remembered from the television show were wrapped in with an amazing plot!
TO THE AUTHOR: THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS BOOK A THING! I HOPE THERE ARE MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES TO COME!!!!

My only complaint about this book was that it wasnt long enough!!! I LOVED this book. It felt like picking up with old friends and the author perfectly captured all of their voices. I cant wait for more books.

This was everything!! I loved this cozy mystery that featured the iconic Golden Girls, it felt like coming home from school and watching your favorite nostalgic sitcoms. The characters are so organically their own, while staying true to the personalities we all loved from GG and really made it such a fun reading experience. The girls find a dead body in a freezer, in the precious space that Rose keeps her cheesecakes….I will let readers find out what happens next. A must read for all those that love GG, enjoy a cozy sweet mystery and is ready to curly up with a hit of nostalgia, with an original voice.

A Golden Girls mystery series, I thought sign me up! Who doesn't love the Golden Girls? It's a true cozy mystery, that maybe tries a little too hard to capture the magic of the Golden Girls.

As a huge Golden Girls fan, I couldn’t wait to get into Murder by Cheesecake. I mean, come on—Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia solving a mystery? Sign me up! Unfortunately, this book left me feeling disappointed and, dare I say, a little betrayed.
Maybe I’m the wrong audience for this cozy mystery, but it felt less like a love letter to the show and more like a patchwork quilt of nostalgia. The plot read like a collection of classic Golden Girls moments, but when the characters weren’t goofing around like they did on the show, they felt completely off. My gals just weren’t written the way I know and love them. It’s as if their charm and sass got lost in translation.
The writing itself didn’t help. It felt disjointed and slapped together, making it hard to stay engaged. Honestly, it reminded me of when public domain characters get dragged into bizarre, off-brand horror films—like Popeye the Slayer Man. You recognize the names and faces, but everything else feels wrong.
If you’re a diehard Golden Girls fan like me, I’d say approach this one with caution. Sometimes, it’s better to rewatch the show and enjoy cheesecake with the real Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia instead of trying to force them into a genre that just doesn’t suit them.
Two stars for the concept, but I’ll stick with St. Olaf stories and Dorothy’s iconic side-eye, thank you very much.

As a child of the 80s, The Golden Girls were a staple of my childhood. This book was like stepping into an episode. It's perfect. I hope there will be many more in the series.

Murder by Cheesecake x Rachel Ekstorm Courage

If you don’t know anything about the Golden Girls - I feel bad for you 😂 kidding

It’s basically 4 older women (3 roommates & one of their moms) who all bond and get through life together, while eating cheesecake late into the night! It’s the best. Go watch the show if you haven’t.

So when I downloaded NetGalley & saw that there was an arc for a cozy mystery about my favorite ladies, I had to jump on it!

You have Rose who’s in the middle of setting up a St Olaf wedding for her cousin. Dorothy who hasn’t been so lucky with romance since her divorce, wants to bring a date to the wedding so she goes on a blind date hoping to meet her match. All is well until her date leaves her high and dry during appetizers. She’s bummed but doesn’t think too much until the police start investigating HER for her dates death!!!!

You can tell this author is a BIG fan of the show. The girls from the show reminded me just like the girls in this book! Sophia with her hilarious jokes. Blanche doing what she does. Rose being so naive but hilarious at the same time. I chuckled throughout this entire book.

The only bad thing I will say is that the formatting was off on kindle. Words were combined together. Like full sentences. Paragraphs mixed all together. It was a little confusing at first, but I obviously dealt with it lol
4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for my copy!

Growing up I adored the Golden Girls and all their shenanigans, banter, and friendship. Therefore, when I saw "Murder by Cheesecake", it was an instant must-read.
The author did an amazing job capturing the personalities of the ladies and creating the same feel-good energy as the TV show.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it not only to fans of the Golden Girls, but to anyone who likes a witty and fun cozy mystery.