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Golden Girl
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Summary
In this satisfying pause-resister from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine), a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl.
On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of 13 beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she's assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter, Willa, on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently “off again” with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she’ll have to think carefully where to use them.
From the Beyond, Vivi watches “The Chief” Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes - with or without a nudge of help from above - while Vivi finally lets them grow without her.
With all of Elin’s trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals, and picture-perfect homes, plus a heartfelt message - the people we lose never really leave us - Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other.
Critic reviews
"Summer on Hilderbrand's Nantucket is never dull. This time she focuses on former lovers who now lead separate lives but share an island idyll once a year. Captivating and bittersweet." (People)
"Hilderbrand steers this tightly written novel with ease and skill.... Less a story about a secretive affair and more a tale of sweet nostalgia and fate, this title will be popular with a wide audience." (Library Journal)
"This sweeping love story is Hilderbrand's best ever.... Her stories are relatable in an aspirational way, but her attention to detail is what makes her characters feel like living, breathing people you want to know. They would never skimp on citronella candles; they would save the least creaky rocking chair for you." (Elisabeth Egan, New York Times Book Review)
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What listeners say about Golden Girl
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Nikki
- 11-08-21
Now I want to go to Nantucket!
Gorgeous story! I absolutely loved this title abs can’t wait to read more from Elin. Love love love!
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- Mrs kelly
- 08-07-21
Beautiful story
I really loved this book. The writer has a beautiful way with words.All lives tangled and untangled as the book flowed, Never too dark or emotional for such a difficult topic.
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- Diana E. Williams
- 08-06-21
Had potential
The narrator was good. I liked the idea of the book. I lost interest when I realized how "woke" the author was being. It would have been better without forcing topics that had nothing to help the story.
76 people found this helpful
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- Rainy day lady
- 05-06-21
Good read!
I love her stories and this one did not disappoint. However, I wish she’d leave out her political views (even though I agree with most) because I read for entertainment, not to hear MORE about politics.
56 people found this helpful
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- Forever Florida
- 14-06-21
Predictable and way too detailed with glossy picture descriptions.
Beyond predictably, this book expresses incorrect portrayal of human characters and leftist political views! Humans, especially in USA are not systematically anything- particularly racist! Shame one the artsy Democrat writers for inverting their trash into what was expected to be light entertainment.
We all are t leftist racist propagandist readers.
20 people found this helpful
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- Audrey Fine
- 06-06-21
Best EH Book Yet
Like Vivi’s Golden Girl, Hildebrand’s ‘Golden Girl’ is her crowning achievement— with this novel she fully hits her stride and captivated and delights the audience from the opening sentence. My ONLY critique is too liberal a use of the work “yawning” as a descriptor (3 tines, I believe) but with a sniveling complaint like that as the only ‘note’ you know you’ve got a great story on your hands! What a fun, thought provoking book. And, Erin Bennett remains at the top of her game. She’s truly a gifted reader and helps bring every character she narrates to life.
19 people found this helpful
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- Susan Hendrix
- 03-06-21
Elin Hildebramd does it again in Golden Girl!
Golden Girl is another hit for Elin Hildebramd.
The book makes you feel like the people are real and that you really know them. Elin has a way to make all of her characters come to life I. every book but somehow, Golden Girl made me believe that what she wrote is true.
For me, this book took me in from the first word I read and it kept me not only entertained but engrossed I. the lives Elin wrote about. Now I feel like I know every person in this story. They are so real! I can just imagine getting along so well with Vivi.
I believe Elin Hildebramd must be a behaviorist ince she understands people and their behavior so very well.
I’d like to think that her story is just a prediction of what really happens when we die.
Great book and one that I will remember.
Thank you’
18 people found this helpful
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- Lisa
- 06-06-21
Interesting
Overall, a good story. Narration was excellent as always. Erin Bennett has a way of telling the story very smoothly. Too long- 13 hours. There could've been more editing done in the story as some details just weren't necessary. I thought there would've been more emphasis on the past love aspect of the story- the basis for the title but there wasn't. That didn't even get explained until more than halfway through the story. I generally enjoy Hilderbrand's stories. It seems as though there's too much emphasis placed on people's place in society though. The haves and the have nots. And the younger people in the story - way too much drinking, partying, drugs, sex, etc. That doesn't portray teenagers and young adults in a very good light. I like the description of the island and the food though. Easy to imagine what some of the area looks like.
14 people found this helpful
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- Kimberly Delano
- 04-06-21
Classic Ellen Hildebrand masterpiece
Golden Girl is A uniquely creative and emotionally driven storyline with Elin Hilderbrand’s trademark development of characters that causes you to feel like you know them personally. This is my favorite Hilderbrand novel to date, with some extra twists and surprises that made it a real page turner. This thought provoking story will stay with you long after you’ve finished, in all the best ways.
12 people found this helpful
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- Lindsey Ortega
- 03-06-21
Beautiful!!
This was so great! But all of her stuff is! I like the way she presents heaven. Amazing!
11 people found this helpful
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- Kate Weadock
- 03-06-21
Loved it.
Loved the story.
Narrator was perfect.
First exposure to this author but won't be the last.
In a world where there is presently so much discord and chaos this book was a beautiful diversion.
11 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 04-06-21
It may be Elin's best yet!
Caught my attention at once! A little different from her norm but I really enjoyed it.
10 people found this helpful