I absolutely love The Golden Girls, and I was in awe and shock when I saw this book. I immediately had to look it up to see when it would be released. I'm so glad I was able to read it early. Having been a fan for many years and having seen every episode probably 1000 times, it was so much fun to read this. I could picture everything they were describing from clothes to what the rooms look like. I was able to know what their voices sounded like, and I even knew how to pronounce St. Olafian words. I also appreciated how things from the tv show were mentioned and I recognized characters talked about. I can't believe it's taken this long for someone to come up with this idea. It will be so hard to have to wait for more books to be published. I don't buy too many books these days, and even though I already read this book, I will still be buying it!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC.

I loved this book! Full disclosure - I honestly did not know what I was getting into with the 'Golden Girls' theme. I watch very little television and was not aware of the connection. I was looking for a fun read, and this one filled the bill. The characters were a pleasure and while the whole St. Olaf wedding tradition thing got VERY OLD, very fast, it was impossible, by the end, to not be rooting for Rose. Four elderly ladies, roommates and friends, work together to solve a murder. What could go wrong?! I think the plot was well thought out although I thought the police really glommed on to Dorothy a little too quickly. Even though I'm not a Golden Girls fan, I will definitely be looking for the next installment in this series.

This ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

3 stars. 🌟 Huge thanks to Hyperion Avenue for the ARC via NetGalley! 💌

Okay, confession time: I have never watched Golden Girls. I KNOW, I KNOW—how dare I?! But listen, when I requested this book, I had no clue it was actually tied to Golden Girls. Now, after reading this? I might watch it someday... just not, like, any day soon.

So what’s the tea (and cheesecake)? Dorothy’s awful date winds up dead in a freezer, ruining both the dessert and Rose’s elaborate St. Olaf-themed wedding plans. (Tragic, really.) Enter: Blanche, Sophia, and the sassiest amateur sleuthing squad Miami has ever seen. They’ve got wisecracks, VHS dating, wedding drama, and a mystery to solve.

Sounds fun, right? And honestly, it kinda was! The humor? Spot-on. The vibes? Pure nostalgia. The characters? Nailed. Dorothy’s sarcasm? Chef’s kiss. Sophia’s one-liners? GOLD. If you love the show, you’ll probably enjoy this cozy little trip down memory lane.

Buuut here’s the thing. The mystery? Weak. Like, “blink and you’ll miss the murderer” weak. The big reveal had me sitting there like… who? 🤨 It felt like the book was more focused on wedding shenanigans than, you know, the actual murder. And while St. Olaf traditions are quirky and all, I didn’t need that much detail about herring shortages.

Would I read the sequel? Maybe. It was fun, light, nostalgic, and definitely entertaining. But if you're in it just for the mystery? Might wanna lower your expectations.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I suddenly have an intense craving for cheesecake. 🍰

Well, this was a hoot!

Based on the "Golden Girls" TV show, we have the four friends living in Miami in the 1980s, when Rose's cousin Nettie decides to elope to Florida for her wedding.

Nettie's fiance Jason wants them to be welcome back in St Olaf, and in order for that to happen, they need to follow all the St Olaf wedding traditions - from the silly to the downright crazy! Rose works very hard to try and give her cousin the perfect wedding, while the groom's rich and snobby family want to take it over. When Dorothy chooses a VHS dating service to find a date for the wedding, the man she meets seems nice until he leaves her at the restaurant.

When a man is found murdered in the freezer at the wedding venue hotel, one of our four friends is suspected of being the murderer.

All four become amateur detectives, to save the wedding and their friend.

The author got the characters just right, and I enjoyed reading the book whilst hearing the familiar voices in my head. There was probably more wedding fun and foolery than there was mystery, but I enjoyed the balance in this quick fun read.

Perfect for fans of the TV series.

If you loved watching the Golden Girls you will absolutely enjoy reading this book!

Rose is in a pickle as she tries to prove to everyone in her hometown that she can pull off a wedding for her dear cousin following all the traditions of St. Olaf. Things are going as planned until a dead body shows up and one of the girls is a suspect!

Can Rose pull this wedding off? Can the girls solve the murder before one of them is falsely accused? Can Blanche think of anything besides men?!

This book was just like watching an episode on tv. I could hear and visualize all the characters in my head. All of Rose’s silly phrases did not disappoint. The story was bonkers- in a good way! The cozy mystery vibes added a fun layer to the story. I would definitely read more in this series.

Sadly I could not finish this book. I am reluctant to give it a 3 star rating, but since I am unable to finish it I believe that's fair.
While I was excited to receive this as an ARC, I was soon disappointed with the writing and how slow it seemed to read. There is not flow to the writing. The sentences felt stiff and poorly structured leading it to be a difficult to continue read. The Golden Girls tv show had heart and flow, sadly this book did not capture that essence. I was over halfway finished, and while yes I want to know how it will end and who is the killer, it is not worth continuing with so many other books and ARCs to read.
Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Golden Girls are back!

This cozy book felt just like watching the tv show. The characters fit their same personas, the humor is spot on. Really enjoyed and can't wait to see what other adventures and situations the characters find themselves in.

This lighthearted mystery novel kicks up the nostalgia. Taking place in 1980 Miami, these characters are a delight to read. The style of writing matches the television show and the characters fall right in line with their tv personas. I would recommend to a reader looking for a palate cleanser after a thriller or emotionally draining book. This book is a quick and very cozy read with a heartwarming resolution.

I went into this with high expectations and came out a bit disappointed. I guess I had hoped it would be reminiscent and feel nostalgic, but it was kind of just frustrating. I do appreciate the author and publisher for providing this ARC!

I thought this was a really cute idea and it stayed true to the characters throughout. Now, could I binge this in one sitting? No, I had to treat these as little episodes and read a few a day. But it was very enjoyable in that way. Had all the nostalgia I've come to want from these gals and plenty of references. It was helpful to keep me in that world, so I appreciated the throwbacks. If you're a fan of the Golden Girls you'll be a fan of this book. If not though, it will be completely lost on you. It's very steeped in the knowledge and history of the show.

This is a book for true Golden Girls fans. If you're craving MORE GG content or are curious about the world of fan fiction, read this. It reads a lot like an episode though it is notably longer and more meandering.

I want to thank Hyperion Avenue for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was a super cute concept for a new cozy mystery series so I was, initially, interested in reading it. However, I felt like the whole time the story was fighting to keep both the mystery part and the Golden Girls theme of it on an equal playing field and I feel like it all the momentum of the story just fizzled out.

Ooo! Get your cheesecake ready, people! Thanks to Rachel Ekstrom Courage, we get to enjoy the new Golden Girls Mystery series!! The first installment is titled Murder By Cheesecake, and it is quite the cozy mystery! (And I could almost hear the inter-scene music from the TV show when a break came in the book).

In this first novel, Rose’s cousin, Nettie, has announced that she and her boyfriend, Jason, are eloping; which really goes against the traditions from St. Olaf, all of which Rose still holds dear. Recognizing that Jason’s not being a native of St. Olaf might be better accepted into society up there if they complete the wedding traditions of St. Olaf, Rose convinces them both to let her take care of all of the wedding preparations. Nettie and Jason eventually agree, but warn Rose about the opposition that she might encounter from Jason’s parents, who are used to their way being the only way.

To find a date to the wedding, Dorothy decides to use the very new video-dating service available in Miami. She watched so many introductions of men on VHS tapes until she found one that she wanted to get to know. She lets him know that she has a wedding to go to shortly, and that’s why she was in a rush to meet someone to be her date. They agree to meet in real life, and it was an eye-opening date.

As the Golden Girls go to help Rose set up for the wedding activities, they stumble upon a dead body, which of course leads to the interrogations of several of the wedding party, including Dorothy. To prove her innocence, she and the Girls investigate to clear her name from the investigation. Mayhem and hilarity ensue.

You’ll totally want to pick up this book and be transported back to the days when the Golden Girls were still part of our lives, with their humor, shenanigans, and the tales of St. Olaf. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC!!!

How can you not love a cozy mystery? Then throw in the Golden Girls who get involved in this cozy mystery. Who wouldn’t love this who done it.

Roses niece Nettie is getting married to Miami born Jason. Jason’s family think over the top wedding Jason and Nettie think small but with St. Olaf traditions which Jason wants. Plus they must have the elders blessings to be married. Rose goes full blast to make this wedding perfect until there is trouble.

Dorothy is feeling the single woman blues. She would love a date for the wedding so she tuns to video dating and makes a match. She meets Henry but feels something is off. Why does Henry leave her stranded, something isn’t right. With Dorothy being furious she dives into helping Rose with the wedding. Then tragedy strikes someone is murdered , stuffed in the hotel freezer with Rose’s homemade cheesecakes. Who is this ma and why was he here. Next thing you know Dorothy is a suspect because the victim is Henry. He was Dorothy’s date gone wrong. Why are they arresting her?

As you read this book you feel like you are watching one of the episodes of the show. You can picture each character and play it all in your mind. I truly enjoyed it. Very enjoyable and it brought back many Saturday memories.

So thank youNetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC, and I truly hope there is more in this series. I would definitely read them and would certainly recommend them.4.5 stars

"The first novel in the all-new Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series!

When Dorothy's obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf - themed wedding Rose is hosting.

Things are heating up, and not just because of Blanche's hot flashes. Rose's cousin is eloping to Miami, and Rose is playing host. If she can't balance the groom's family's snobbery against the traditional St. Olaf wedding week guidelines, her hometown may never accept her cousin again!

Dorothy quickly realizes she needs a date with whom she can exchange wedding-related wisecracks. Turning to a newfangled VHS dating service, she believes she's found the ideal conversationalist. Unfortunately, what looks good on TV can actually be a total jerk in real life. It seems she'll just have to enjoy the company of Sophia, Blanche, and whomever Blanche has targeted for a hookup.

As the Girls all pitch in, Rose is thrilled that the tea-and-fish-themed kickoff event is perfect, not a herring out of place. That is until Dorothy's date is found dead - face-planted in an otherwise scrumptious-looking cheesecake. With every guest a suspect (especially Dorothy) and a marriage on the line, the four besties must ID the real killer, get the should-be-happy couple down the aisle, and make sure nobody from St. Olaf gets lost in the wilds of Miami. It's up to the Golden Girls to sleuth out a way for friendship and love to win the day!"

WHY HAS NO ONE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE!?! Seriously brilliant. Like a perfect cheesecake.

Ufda! The Golden Girls are back, this time in a cozy mystery, the first in a series. This first volume was way too cutesy for me. Rose's cousin, Nettie, has decided not to get married in St. Olaf. Rose feels honor bound to produce a St. Olaf-style wedding in Miami, and needs to pull this together in a very short span of time. Dorothy goes on a blind date and finds a body, quite dead, in a commercial freezer, and she is the prime suspect in his death. Blanche is Blanche and Sophia is feisty as ever. The St. Olaf traditions soon became old and Nettie behaves like a spoiled brat, making life even more difficult for Rose. The boat ride added an unexpected dose of fright into an otherwise cotton candy book.
Perhaps the author needs to dial back some of the saccharine flavor in subsequent additions to this series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a fan of The Golden Girls, you'll enjoy this one!
I loved that the premise of the book took place around Rose's niece's wedding, and all the tie ins to St. Olaf and their traditions. I could hear the character's voices in my mind throughout the book. This book channeled the personalities of the Golden Girls perfectly. From Dorothy's dry humor, to Sophia's "Picture it...", Blanche's escapades, and of course, a mention of Shady Pines, this book is great for any Golden Girls fan. It was a cozy mystery, that kept you guessing, but with the nostalgia of the classic tv show. I thought this was a great book and a fun little adventure!

Miss the Golden Girls? Guess what, they're back!

I wasn't sure what to expect when diving into this mystery. But it's basically a deep dive episode of the beloved show. Read it for nostalgia, and a light hearted escape for reality, not to detail nitpick.

I'm not going to say you need to have watched any of the show to love this book, but it will definitely help ground personalities and characters. St. Olaf really does make the perfect quirky base for a cozy mystery.

The characters are hilarious, the hijinks are over the top and the side characters are quirky as can be. All in all, the author does the source material justice. I loved all the wedding craziness. At first I couldn't figure out how the girls were going to sleuth any bit of this case out as the victim is a random person no one knows, but as the clues start revealing themselves it becomes clear how they can clear Dorothy's name. There's even a bit of life threatening action for multiple characters. I almost didn't think the wedding was going to happen, but you'll just have to read it to see how that all turns out. The groom's actions could really go either way with being in it for the inheritance or for love. Does he dislike his family enough to marry into a crazy family just for money?

You're really going to enjoy this read if you already love the Golden Girls, but you'll also enjoy it if you love cozy mysteries with elderly sleuths, and comedic situation where if it can go wrong it will.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this may be a case of "it's not you, it's me." I felt like the plot dragged a little bit and maybe this type of cozy mystery isn't for me. I think Golden Girls fans may be a fan of this book, but I think it fell flat for me.

Highs and lows in this one for me! I love a cozy mystery and the Golden Girls - so when I saw this on Netgalley I requested it right away. I loved how true the voices were to the GG ladies - you could see the characters shine through! Unfortunately, I did find the plot to be a bit slow and the mystery a bit simple for me. Blanche and Sophia also fell to the background - but guessing there might be more books where they will be featured. Ultimately, if you love cozy mysteries and the GG this is worth picking up! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy!