Such a fun book for a Golden Girls lover! As I was reading the book, I could hear the characters saying those words in my head. The author did a great job of nailing the personalities of each character.
I feel the book was very well written! I would highly recommend giving this book a read.

Set in 1980s Miami, this cozy mystery stars the beloved Golden Girls in a nostalgic adventure that will delight fans of the classic TV series. Rose is tasked with organizing a traditional St. Olaf wedding for her cousin in Miami, while Dorothy decides to try her luck at video dating. However, when her date abruptly leaves the restaurant, she doesn't think much of it—until he’s found dead in a hotel freezer, where the wedding is set to take place. Dorothy becomes the prime suspect, and it's up to the Girls to gather clues and clear her name. Will they solve the mystery before Dorothy is arrested for a crime she didn't commit?

While I had high hopes for this novel, some parts fell a bit flat. On the plus side, the characters’ distinctive mannerisms and catchphrases from the show were spot-on, and it was clear the author put a lot of effort into staying true to their personalities. The setting and interactions felt authentic, and I could easily picture the Girls in the kitchen, brainstorming their next move. The story is cozy, with a few twists, making for an enjoyable read.

However, there were moments when the St. Olaf references—so central to Rose's character—became overwhelming. Fans of the series know that Rose's St. Olaf stories are a frequent feature, but here they were stretched out too much, overshadowing other elements of the plot. The wedding and its associated traditions often took precedence over the mystery, which I felt diminished the focus on solving the crime. The novel sometimes felt more like a St. Olaf celebration than a murder investigation.

Still, the book offers a quick, fun read filled with nostalgia. I would recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries and anyone who fondly remembers the Golden Girls. It’s a light, entertaining experience that captures the heart of the show, even if some aspects could’ve used a little more balance.

A special thank you to NetGalley and publisher Hyperion Avenue for the advanced reader copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Overall, I enjoyed this fun, cozy mystery. I thought there would be more complicated and twists though.

Reading Murder By Cheesecake is like reading a script for the Golden Girls series. I’m old enough to have watched and loved that show when it first came out even though the characters were my Mom’s age. Being born and raised in Minnesota, I identified most with Rose. Although her expressions of her life back home were exaggerated and funny, they weren’t all entirely wrong!

When I started this it was initially really slow going as I would read a sentence or two as written, just like any other book but then had to go back and read it by imagining it being said by the character. Sophia’s put downs and Dorothy’s sarcastic remarks. Blanche’s southern drawl and Rose’s outrageous St Olaf-isms in her innocent voice all resounded in my head. But eventually I had to stop reading it that way, at least most of the time, because although enjoyable, it slowed me down too much.

I have to admit to eventually scanning or entirely skipping several pages though, as Rose’s extravagant wedding plans guided by St Olaf’s extensive and pretty unbelievable “requirements” just got to be too much. The story was fun and at times intriguing but probably would have been better if made much shorter. Love the concept, just got overwhelmed y the details.

This book is entertaining and gets into the flustered friendship that is often Golden Girls. The book is a nice little nostalgic book, like sitting down with an old friend.

I ended up getting hung up on how often it seemed popular quotes from the show were thrown in. It was like they were there simply to check off the boxes, not to help the plot along. I think it's difficult to translate something on the screen into a book, this showed up sometimes with how often the book relies on dialogue.

Overall, this was a fun, cozy read.

What a nostalgic read! I think Rachel did great job taking the essence of Golden Girls and truly making this read feel like an episode you could have watched. From Sophia’s sarcastic ways and calling Dorothy “pussycat,” to all things St. Olaf, it was extremely relatable. I think readers who LOVE Golden Girls like myself will really appreciate this book.

It was completely aligned to how Rose talks and views her hometown. I found myself watching episode of Golden Girls in between to compare and I will say, this novel is an amazing depiction of Golden Girls. Susan Harris should be extremely proud of this work.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for an advance copy of Murder by Cheesecake.

What a fun, cozy mystery! I am a huge fan of the Golden Girls, and this book felt pretty true to all of their tones. As Rose struggles to plan the perfect St. Olaf wedding, including all of the traditions, Dorothy finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. Can the girls crack the case before the wedding, and Dorothy's reputation, are destroyed?? I enjoyed this and will definitely check out more if the author continues her Golden Girls cozy mystery series!

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is an absolute must read for any Golden Girls fan! I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book as I am a huge fan, and loved how perfectly it aligned do the show. The characters mannerisms and voices were flawless, and picked up on various side characters or locations.

It was a cozy, fun mystery with family and friend dynamics built in as well, all revolving around a wedding. So enjoyable and definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for a completely honest review.

Golden Girls is my ultimate comfort show and I've lost track how many times I've watched every episode.

From the beginning this book made me smile. It felt like I was watching an episode (with a murder mysery to solve).

The author described things so well and nailed all of the personalities perfectly, I could hear their voices in my head as the story unfolded.

If you are looking for a cozy and nostalgic read, grab a piece of cheesecake, settle in and give this a read.

Picture it: January 17, 2025. It’s Betty White’ birthday and I was approved to receive an ARC of Murder By Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage!

First, I must say that I am the absolute biggest Golden Girls fan ever and know anything and everything there is to know about the show and actresses. I could instantly tell that the author knows The Golden Girls inside and out as she completely captured the characters and settings perfectly. It was just like watching an episode as I read.

The story takes place in beautiful Miami with the Girls working together to plan a wedding for Rose’s cousin but they soon find themselves working together to solve the mystery of how Dorothy’s one-time date ended up dead in the hotel freezer! The Girls take us along for the ride as they do their best to incorporate the strict St. Olaf wedding traditions while trying to win over the groom’s family and solving a murder.

The only negative feedback that I have is that I wish the book had focused a little more on the murder rather than the wedding but it is still a great read, especially for fans of The Golden Girls and I cannot wait for the second book to be published!

Thank you, Hyperion Avenue, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Golden girls, cheesecake, and mystery...need I say more? I really enjoyed reading this one. Thank you for the opportunity!

I really liked the idea of this book and am thankful for the arc but unfortunately I wasn't able to finish it. It was unnecessarily descriptive and trying too hard to embody the girls.

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.

I want to thank Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for allowing me to read and. review an ARC of Murder by Cheesecake by author Rachel Ekstrom Courage.
“With her careful planning and the support of her best friends, nothing at all could ruin this perfect week.”
The book is inspired by the tv series, The Golden Girls. Reading the book I can picture each one of the ladies.
Rose is planning a wedding in Miami with all the bells and whistles St Olaf requires And then a murder threatens to ruin everything! Reading this is really fun! Not the murder of course!
If you are looking for a book that will give you the giggles, this is it!
Murder by Cheesecake publishes this April.

Golden Girls TV sitcom is what this book is based on. Four women living together in Miami help roommate Rose to pull off a wedding for her niece based on traditions of the small town of St. Olaf, Minnesota she is from. Things not going as planned. Overbearing in-laws, struggles to carry out all traditions and a murder. Rose, with the help of her friends have a plan that the wedding will move forward. Some areas of the plot seem lacking full development, it was a quick read, and quirky humor throughout the plot. Thanks NetGalley and publisher for providing the ARC of this book.

I have loved The Golden Girls since I was a child, so I was extremely excited to discover this book bringing our favorite characters back to life. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. I understand that the author wanted to implement as many references from the tv show into the book to tie them together, but it felt excessive. The mystery itself was okay, but poor Dorothy. 🙁 It was nice to revisit the girls again.

Muder by Cheesecake is a delightful imagining of the classic 80's Golden Girls, inadvertently becoming amateur sleuths in a murder investigation. 
Rose's niece, Nettie, is getting married and Rose has offered to throw the wedding in Miami. The groom comes from a wealthy family who owns a hotel in the area and offers the space for the event. When Rose's friends and family from St. Olaf arrive, chaos ensues. Not only must Rose make sure that Nettie's wedding incorporates every ridiculous St. Olaf tradition, she now has to contend with a body found in the hotel freezer!

This story was entertaining and fun. The author was on point when it came to the voices of Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia – it was like watching an extended episode of the Golden Girls in your head! I do think the St. Olaf craziness could have been toned down slightly, as it felt a bit much at times, but overall a solid cozy to start a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Hyperion Avenue for providing me with a digital ARC to read and review.

Cheeky, fun and what I pictured Nancy Drew as a sassy lady in her golden years! This book held true to the beloved series and easily seemed like an episode unfolding.

The author did a fantastic job portraying the voices of the iconic Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia and the storyline was interesting, albeit a little predictable. Fans of the show will love this book if nothing else for the nostalgia. Nice, quick and easy read and I’m looking forward to seeing what the other books bring to the table.

If you are a fan of the TV show The Golden Girls, this book is for you. While very similar to the beloved TV show, the book brings a new twist in that the girls need to solve a murder after Dorothy’s date is found dead in a hotel freezer.

Rose’s niece is getting married in Miami and Rose is hosting a St Olaf themed wedding. What could go wrong? When Dorothy’s date is found dead, everyone is a suspect, including Dorothy. The girls need to solve the murder and get the happy couple down the aisle.

Everything you would expect is in this book. Rose, Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia are true to their TV characters personalities. Included are St Olaf stories, Sophia’s wise advice, Herring, Dorothy’s wise cracks, sassy Blanche and of course cheesecake. It’s an enjoyable story of friendship and familiar characters that never get old.

This book is about the characters from the GC who go and solve a mystery., I really enjoyed this book and it made me feel like I was back sitting on my couch watching my favorite ladies. However I felt like some parts of this were really long ( the st Olaf traditions) while there wasn’t enough about the murder. It also was a little long at times and dragged on but on the whole, I really enjoyed the story. .