Sure to appeal to YA readers, The Goldens offers a glimpse into both influencer culture, sororities, and cults and where the Venn diagram overlaps. Full of glamour and angst, Wilson keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

‘A delicious, intoxicating debut thriller about a young woman who is swept into a glamorous world of fascinating influencers, glittering parties—and possibly murder.’

Is this not marketed as YA? Certainly reads like one. That or perhaps I was simply the wrong audience. What with my inability to connect with the FMC or any of the other characters and my struggle to relate to the plot, I felt like I was in the wrong age-bracket to find this book enjoyable or satisfying.
The young FC's were juvenile and petty; obsessed with Instagram and an influencer who’d garnered an obscene amount of followers. The influencer herself was overtly ostentatious, selfish and jealous which seemingly induced a malevolent and murderous side.

None of this to say the writing wasn’t well done. It was. I just couldn’t identify with the jejune subject matter and I found the cast insufferable. I think my daughter would be more likely to appreciate this story and I will certainly recommend it to her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I am always grateful.

Pub: 7.15.2025.

“The Goldens” by Lauren Wilson is an obsessive mysterious read about two women in their first year of college. One who is a rich successful model, blogger, and influential social media personality. The second, a naïve, lonely, storyteller who longs to be something special. As their friendship develops it begins to shift into an unsettling and tense relationship. Social media attention describing the wild parties, beautiful clothes, drugs alcohol excesses cause more young women enter their world and a cult like culture develops until a girl mysteriously disappears.
This book is about the power of devotion that can be created by the media, and the scary consequences of being a “follower” when there is an evil force behind it.
I read this book in one sitting and recommend it to everyone, especially those who have children in this age group. There is an important awareness that comes from reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Goldens has a delicious blurb and gorgeous cover I’m certain will lead to many picking it up, and the book itself delivers with a storyline that marries cultlike bad behavior and the charming and toxic personality of an enigmatic young woman, much like some influencers today (or how some seem to be).

Chloe, not so golden, is taken in by Clara, joining her many followers (essentially, worshippers) while in school. At first it all seems a dream for the rather ordinary Chloe until Clara starts to reveal the dark side which compliments the equally golden one that pulls so many in. I was rooting for Chloe but she absolutely had me a bit torn on whether she’d be strong enough to own who she was - and what was right.

I wasn’t surprised by what happened in this dark story, but the ending sentences was where I was left shocked, and raised so many questions, which I loved. This book looks to be for teen and young adult readers, but take it from me - you’ll enjoy this regardless of your age.

A moment for this enchanting and perfect book cover.

*pauses*

Okay, now let's get into the story: The Goldens follows many similar arcs of an (ahem) golden girl who's charismatic, privileged, and lacks self awareness. However, it takes things a step further in multiple mysterious and dark ways. As other reviewers have noted, the plot is fast-paced and is almost a sneaky thriller. For me, it was a delightful way to break a recent string of lackluster books.

One note that isn't a huge deal, but kind of threw me for a loop: The book's blurb doesn't exactly follow the arc of the story. Several elements are either incorrect (Chloe isn't inspired to write; she notably *doesn't* work on her own projects) or happen out of order (the rumors in relation to the NYE party). Just a head's up to other readers who might have also gotten confused.

A debut thriller that unfolds like a fever dream, The Goldens is a story of cults, obsession, privilege, and the allure of reinvention.

Chloe has always longed to be a writer, a storyteller, someone extraordinary. She thinks this will happen at her new university but she has a hard time fitting in and finding her place. Then she meets Clara Holland—a mesmerizing influencer, socialite, and model who seems to have stepped out of a dream. Clara is everything Chloe isn’t—effortless, dazzling, and larger than life. When Chloe is invited to move into Clara’s sprawling estate, she finds herself swept into a world of indulgence and excess. The days blur into ghostwriting Clara’s memoir, curating her image, and hosting lavish parties, filled with fairy lights, curated cocktails, and an intoxicating sense of purpose.

But what starts as an intimate friendship begins to shift. Clara welcomes more girls into her world—young women eager to live as she does, inspired by her presence and devoted to her vision. The media dubs them a cult, but inside Clara’s orbit, it feels like belonging. That is, until a girl disappears after the New Year’s Eve party.

Seductive, unsettling, and simmering with tension, The Goldens is a thriller about power, devotion, and the consequences of chasing an impossible ideal. It grips you from the first page to the last!

Brace yourself—this is about to be your newest obsession.

#TheGoldens #FlatironBooks #PsychologicalThriller #DarkFiction #CultThriller

Chloe has always dreamed of becoming a writer and when she is accepted to a prestigious college her dreams become one step closer. It is there that meets Clara, a social media influencer, fellow student, model, and the main subject of everyone around her. People seem to flock to Clara, worship Clara, women want to be her and just be her friend. Overnight Chloe becomes the attention of Clara, her best friend and delights Chloe to no end because she has never been the "it girl". Overtime Chloe finds herself dragged into Clara's world of The Goldens, a cult-like group and sinister forces come into to play.
Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Frieda McFadden.

A thriller that doesn't feel like a thriller until it becomes one! Wow, I enjoyed this story so much. I could not put it down. The setting and characters were well-developed and all the action flowed at a great pace. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.