The Goldens is a book I saw on Instagram. An author I adore really enjoyed this one, so of course I had to request an eARC. Today I want to tell you about this book and what I thought. Keep on reading to find out more!
A big thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar for providing me with an ALC to read and review. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.
A dark, intoxicating and unputdownable thriller, simmering with atmosphere
Chloe has always dreamed of becoming a bestselling writer. Then she meets enigmatic influencer Clara Holland, and at last, Chloe has something to write about. They bond instantly, and Chloe moves into Clara’s mansion. But as Clara’s fame skyrockets, she starts behaving strangely, hosting increasingly wild parties, complete with bonfire rituals and moonlit river baptisms.
Clara opens up her home to other girls desperate to live like her. The media call it a cult, and soon Chloe begins to hear unsettling rumours from Clara’s past. After one spectacular party, a girl goes missing and the rumours take on a sinister new meaning. If Chloe can’t escape Clara’s influence, she may be next …
THE GOLDENS is about to become your newest obsession.
Review
The Goldens follows our main character Chloe who is an aspiring writer and got into a university she hopes will help her achieve her dream. Her journey doesn’t start off as she had hoped. Her roommates don’t seem very accepting and judge her by her accent alone. One day she returns Clara’s scarf to her and joke about having the same initials.
Chloe and Clara’s relationship is an interesting one to follow. Clara seems lonely. Her parents are never around and seem to buy her things to make up for it. Chloe soaks up the attention and feels very special. You slowly see her pull Chloe in and before you know it, she’s only hanging out with Clara and doing what she wants. I was very interested to see where this would go and how it would all play out. At a certain point a student goes missing and we start getting a darker side of Clara. I do wish this played a bigger part of the story than it did. This part of the book stayed at the background and that made me miss the darker and tense moments I was expecting to get in a book like The Goldens.
That being said, I loved how this author showed us things that go wrong with social media and toxic friendships. In this case it kind of turned in to cult like behavior. These things really do influence more in society than a lot of people realize, I think. While I missed the tension of a thriller, I did enjoy how the author told this story. I hope she writes more in the future!
Also, Cassandra Harwood did a great job of bringing Chloe to life and keeping me engaged with the story. I feel like this narrator had a positive impact on my reading experience of The Goldens.
The Goldens wasn’t as dark and intense as I had hoped, but it was still a good time! I do really hope Lauren Wilson writes more, because I will definitely pick up another book by her.
