Golden GirlGolden Girl
What it's about
Vivian Howe, a bestselling Nantucket novelist and mother of three, is killed by a hit-and-run driver while jogging. In the afterlife, she's allowed to watch her family for one summer, and given three chances to 'nudge' things in their lives, while her final novel is about to be published, with a secret in it.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a warm, emotional beach read.
You'll love it if you liked
The Five-Star Weekend
The Hotel Nantucket
The Lovely BonesGood to know
It begins with a death and deals with grief.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it's well reviewed, but isn't currently a prize winner, a lifetime bestseller or a book everyone's talking about, so we don't rank it. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Elin Hilderbrand
The Five-Star WeekendThe Hotel Nantucket
28 Summers
Summer of '69If you like this, read next
Fourth Wing
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Quicksilver
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AlchemisedExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Golden Girl worth reading?
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 71.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Golden Girl about?
Vivian Howe, a bestselling Nantucket novelist and mother of three, is killed by a hit-and-run driver while jogging. In the afterlife, she's allowed to watch her family for one summer, and given three chances to 'nudge' things in their lives, while her final novel is about to be published, with a secret in it.
How long does it take to read Golden Girl?
About 11 hours (432 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Golden Girl?
If you liked it, try The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand, The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.