sundeviljewels's review against another edition
5.0
Hilderbrand does it again! She hits on something we always hope for when someone we love dies. Sad, yet magical.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars for this one! Honestly, I don’t know what it is about Elin Hilderbrand’s recent books, but they have really made me think! The premise of this was dark; like, would you watch your own funeral dark. The fact that the main character was an author of beach reads set on Nantucket’s make me wonder how much therapy Hilderbrand needed after writing this.
That being said, I’ve been leaning toward stories of personal growth lately, and this hit that mark bang on. I also love multi-POV stories and I really enjoyed getting in the characters’ heads. It goes without saying that I’ll continue to check in with Hilderbrand every summer, and I hope there continues to be a mystery element!
That being said, I’ve been leaning toward stories of personal growth lately, and this hit that mark bang on. I also love multi-POV stories and I really enjoyed getting in the characters’ heads. It goes without saying that I’ll continue to check in with Hilderbrand every summer, and I hope there continues to be a mystery element!
michey2015's review against another edition
4.0
This one was really good. I loved the idea of someone watching over their loved ones from above. I recommend this to anyone interested in a mystery with lots of family/small town drama mixed in. And of course some romance because… why not?
delpaula's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
audreygrone11's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed it. It shows heaven is real and you really do have a guardian angel looking after you. Read the acknowledgments at the end and it makes so much sense on why she wrote this book.
hannahmitcham's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes I fear I give 5 stars too easily but I just can’t think of one thing I would change about this book. I legit laughed out loud at one part and cried at the end of it. The concept of our loved ones being able to watch and “nudge” us in the right direction.. it was just hopeful and beautiful. I am becoming a big Elin Hilderbrand fan!
ariiiiready2read916's review against another edition
4.0
My Review… 4.5 ⭐️
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Title: Golden Girl
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5
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My Review… Elin is perhaps the queen of the beach read. When I say that her books are beach reads, I’m not saying that it’s a simple cheesy silly little book you can read on the beach because there is always a lot of suspense intention in her books yet at the same time, you totally can just read it at the beach. Her books have a lot of character and plot development which I just absolutely love, I know it’s not for some people. There’s a lot of descriptiveness in her books, which I love as welll. Overall I generally love her writing. You always get really close with all of the characters and want them just to win. This book was one of those. Well I was skeptical of the magical realism part of this book, it wasn’t overdone in my opinion and it was definitely needed. It added to the story. This was a beautiful story of a mother who died and left three struggling children on earth. It really showed how everyone is truly affected when someone dies, especially the matriarch that holds the whole family together. Vivie was praised and loved both during life and in the afterlife. I loved how she was able to see her children after she passed and help them in ways. Wouldn’t that be nice if that was true in real life. This book was a really good written book it had some suspense aspects that kept me up at night but overall excellently done.
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Celebrated Author Vivi Howe Has been killed in a hit-and-run accident. When she reaches the beyond, she is told she can have three nudges to affect life on earth. All three of her children are struggling with different things, Willa her eldest has had many miscarriages and is pregnant again. Carson her middle child is coming home every night at 5 AM either drunk or high. Leo her son seems to not know what he wants to do with his life. Her ex-husband, who left her for a younger woman also seems to be in turmoil. And in the center of all of this, her death is being investigated.
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Title: Golden Girl
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5
•
•
My Review… Elin is perhaps the queen of the beach read. When I say that her books are beach reads, I’m not saying that it’s a simple cheesy silly little book you can read on the beach because there is always a lot of suspense intention in her books yet at the same time, you totally can just read it at the beach. Her books have a lot of character and plot development which I just absolutely love, I know it’s not for some people. There’s a lot of descriptiveness in her books, which I love as welll. Overall I generally love her writing. You always get really close with all of the characters and want them just to win. This book was one of those. Well I was skeptical of the magical realism part of this book, it wasn’t overdone in my opinion and it was definitely needed. It added to the story. This was a beautiful story of a mother who died and left three struggling children on earth. It really showed how everyone is truly affected when someone dies, especially the matriarch that holds the whole family together. Vivie was praised and loved both during life and in the afterlife. I loved how she was able to see her children after she passed and help them in ways. Wouldn’t that be nice if that was true in real life. This book was a really good written book it had some suspense aspects that kept me up at night but overall excellently done.
•
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Celebrated Author Vivi Howe Has been killed in a hit-and-run accident. When she reaches the beyond, she is told she can have three nudges to affect life on earth. All three of her children are struggling with different things, Willa her eldest has had many miscarriages and is pregnant again. Carson her middle child is coming home every night at 5 AM either drunk or high. Leo her son seems to not know what he wants to do with his life. Her ex-husband, who left her for a younger woman also seems to be in turmoil. And in the center of all of this, her death is being investigated.
bijourin's review against another edition
4.0
October 16, 2021 was the evening I was notified that an electronic copy of this book was available from my local library. This was also the very night my aunt passed away from cancer. It is the connection that I had with her, our shared love for reading, and with this book in particular, that will stay with me forever. ❤️
In my journey to finish 50 books this year (2021). I happened upon this book in late September after hearing the buzz of Hilderbrand’s latest book and the excellent reviews from those who have read it. Given its popularity, the book had a 6 week wait from my local library. I placed a hold on this book and opted to begin reading another book that was readily available. Shortly after, I received news from my mother that my aunts cancer had returned and she wasn’t doing well. There were days filled with hope and good news, and others filled with worry. She was eventually moved to the ICU and from there, spent a few days in hospice, where, on October 16, 2021, she was taken from this world.
The following day, my mom and I went to visit her three grown children to spend the evening with them. As we were leaving their house that night, I said to one of them, that I wish I had known what book she was last reading so that I could read the book. She said - “well I can help you! I know exactly what book she was reading!” It was a book her daughter had recommended to her. She started reading it, but because she wasn’t feeling well, she never finished it. That’s when she told me that the book was “Golden girl” by Elin Hilderbrand. I could not believe what I was hearing. This was the very book that I started reading the night before. I took out my phone and showed them that I received notification 3 weeks early that an electronic copy of this book was available from my library and that I had just started reading it. We cried. My cousin said - “just a moment ago, I was begging my mother to show me a sign that she is ok. This is the sign I was looking for. She is ok.”
After the funeral, my cousin handed me the very book that sat on her coffee table. And today marks the day that I have finished it. I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have not yet read it - but the main character, Vivi, says it all at the very end. “It’s all going to be ok”.
She is ok. ❤️
In my journey to finish 50 books this year (2021). I happened upon this book in late September after hearing the buzz of Hilderbrand’s latest book and the excellent reviews from those who have read it. Given its popularity, the book had a 6 week wait from my local library. I placed a hold on this book and opted to begin reading another book that was readily available. Shortly after, I received news from my mother that my aunts cancer had returned and she wasn’t doing well. There were days filled with hope and good news, and others filled with worry. She was eventually moved to the ICU and from there, spent a few days in hospice, where, on October 16, 2021, she was taken from this world.
The following day, my mom and I went to visit her three grown children to spend the evening with them. As we were leaving their house that night, I said to one of them, that I wish I had known what book she was last reading so that I could read the book. She said - “well I can help you! I know exactly what book she was reading!” It was a book her daughter had recommended to her. She started reading it, but because she wasn’t feeling well, she never finished it. That’s when she told me that the book was “Golden girl” by Elin Hilderbrand. I could not believe what I was hearing. This was the very book that I started reading the night before. I took out my phone and showed them that I received notification 3 weeks early that an electronic copy of this book was available from my library and that I had just started reading it. We cried. My cousin said - “just a moment ago, I was begging my mother to show me a sign that she is ok. This is the sign I was looking for. She is ok.”
After the funeral, my cousin handed me the very book that sat on her coffee table. And today marks the day that I have finished it. I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have not yet read it - but the main character, Vivi, says it all at the very end. “It’s all going to be ok”.
She is ok. ❤️
abigailflorell's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0