Unfortunately this audiobook was not for me and I was not the right audience as I try to steer clear from YA and New Adult books. I loved the premise of influencer culture meets a thriller but I really didn’t like the characters and did not finish.

I feel SUPPPERRR indifferent about this one! While the ending picked up and the last 25ISH% was really good, I was quite literally bored and forcing myself through the rest of it.

I am thinking this should be marketed as a YA book. I definitely do not think I was the right audience for this! While the atmosphere of the book was really eerie and I kind of was just like "wtf is going on" the entire time, I actually don't think it was in a good way.

Overall, if you're a thriller lover I would say give this one a go, but overall it isn't something that will stay with me for long.

I did really enjoy the audiobook. I think the narration was done well, and it kept me engaged in the story even when I felt bored.

The Goldens was a slow burn audiobook that explores the complexities of female friendships with cultish undertones. I found the story to be quick, compelling and a bit twisty. For a Young Adult thriller, this book hits on all the major elements: mystery, drama, romance, whimsy and suspense. Wilson explores how social media in today's society perpetuates a lust for attention and fame as well as the overwhelming need to feel wanted in our personal relationships.

Chloe is an aspiring writer who gets accepted into her dream college in England. There, she swaps studies for socializing when she becomes involved with Clara Holland, a social media influencer who also attends the same college. The girls build a bond and friendship, with Chloe falling deeper and deeper into the Clara's allure of mystery, power, and whimsy. To the rest of the world, Clara is notorious for throwing lavish parties and keeping a close inner circle. Soon, Chloe becomes her right hand man in planning and executing the events. Slowly, the power and influence of Clara Holland becomes out of control, with a lust for authority taking her to extreme measures and making Chloe question just how far she will go with maintain her image of prestige in order to stay at the top of Clara's priority list.

I really enjoyed the overall collegiate atmosphere of this book. I felt connected to Chloe's need for acceptance and her constant need to prove herself and suppress her loneliness when arriving at a new place. This was a theme that continued to rear its head throughout various part of the book. I wish there was a little more focus on the "thriller" parts of the book and the missing students. With that being said, I do think the end of the book got a little out of control in terms of believability. But overall, the story captured my attention and and provided culturally relevant entertainment with relatable characters and themes.

At first I started out with “this is giving The Great Gatsby vibes”. The narrator falls for the charm and elegance of a super rich, glamorous, local legend, and then quickly realizes that there are some dark exchanges for a life of that level of luxury.

But I really could not stand the main characters at all. I LOVED Olivia—she is a real one. But the injustice of it all made me so upset. I just can’t honestly believe a person who is supposed to be so bright and comes from a good family sees all those signs and falls prey to it so deeply.

The ending truly made me laugh out loud. It’s not my cup of tea for the way things unraveled, but the story was definitely engaging, the writing was very poetic at times, and it was definitely a true thriller although the realism of it all could have used a little more thought.

The narrator did a great job for this audiobook. As for the novel itself, I thought it had an interesting overall story but there was something missing that made it fall a little flat for me. I think it's more because when I go for a cult-related book, I expect more creep factor and this wasn't too creepy, but it was still interesting to see how we got to that ending. I think someone who is intrigued by cults but doesn't want too creepy or gory of a book, this could be a great option.
I would do a 3.5 for this but don't find it quite to be a 4 so I've rounded down to 3. g. I would do a 3.5 for this but don't find it quite to be a 4 so I've rounded down to 3.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Pine & Cedar Books, and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Goldens is an atmospheric debut with a seductive premise: influencer culture meets dark, psychological suspense. The setting—lavish parties, an idyllic estate, and a mysterious inner circle of beautiful, creative women—pulls you in right away. The story gives off The Secret History meets The Girls vibes, with a slow-burn descent into obsession, manipulation, and blurred identities.

As for the audiobook, the narration was well done. The narrator captured Chloe’s naive, searching tone while still giving weight to the more sinister undercurrents of the story. The pacing was consistent, and the audio helped maintain interest during slower scenes.

That said, the plot lost momentum in the middle, and Chloe’s passivity made it hard to fully connect with her. The tension never fully paid off, and while the mystery was intriguing, some twists felt predictable. Still, the writing was immersive and moody, and the commentary on social media, power, and performative authenticity was compelling.

A solid listen for fans of influencer thrillers and dark, character-driven stories—just don’t go in expecting a fast-paced, twisty ride.

Chloe Hughes has been waiting to get out of her small Northern England town and start her life. She got accepted to Dern College, and is excited to start her classes. But she was assigned a room on campus, and her three roommates all look down on her from the start. It got better for Chloe when she met Olivia in one of her first English classes, and the two of them started reading those 30 assigned novels right away.

Chloe is studying late in the library one night when an abandoned scarf catches her eye. She takes a closer look at it and finds her initials monogrammed on it. She isn’t sure at first if someone had somehow left it behind for her, but when she shows it to Olivia, Olivia figures out that it belongs to influencer Clara Holland. Chloe sees her at the coffeeshop and goes up to her, handing back the scarf and pointing out that they share initials. Chloe was worried that the famous influencer would be standoffish and rude, but Clara turns out to be gracious and kind. And when they run into each other again, Clara invites Chloe to her party.

Clara lives at a big house surrounded by woods. It’s the family’s summer house, but Clara loves it there. That’s why she chose Dern instead of Oxford or Cambridge, where she was also offered a place due to her influential parents. Clara’s parties are legendary, with platters of food and endless alcohol, elaborate themes and lavish fashions. Chloe has a great time, and she gets invited back to more parties. She gets closer to Clara as she finishes her first semester.

The two women get so close that Clara invites Chloe to live with her. The house is big, so there is plenty of room, and there is always reliable heat and hot water, unlike in Chloe’s campus room. Chloe agrees and quickly gets used to the luxury of Clara’s lifestyle. They go to campus together, they plan parties together, they skip classes together. For a while, things are ideal for Chloe. But then Clara invites more women to live in the house. And things get more complicated.

The housekeeper quits, as does the chef. There are lipsticks, magazines, and half-eaten takeout meals left all over. Clara goes to classes even less frequently, so Chloe has to take the bus to campus. But Clara has asked her to help write her memoir. Chloe has always wanted to write a book, so she’s excited to be a part of Clara’s memoir. But it means that she has less time to spend on her own writing. And then Clara starts making rules.

On the fridge is posted a set of rules. At first, the rules are about replacing what you use in the house and being considerate towards each other. As the weeks go on, however, the rules are about being loyal to Clara and staying true to the group. Olivia pulls Chloe aside and tells her that people are starting to call them a cult. Chloe shrugs it off, but she does recognize that there are changes happening in the house, including how Clara has started to call all the women at the house The Goldens.

Things come to a head at a big party Clara throws at the end of the semester. They have a giant bonfire and the largest group of invitees they’ve ever had. There were even journalists there, who could see the party firsthand and see that it wasn’t a cult. But what happens that night changes everything, and it would take the police and the courts to step in and find out the truth.

The Goldens is a debut novel about influence and manipulation. It’s a roller coaster of secrets and rumors, wealth and longing. The audio book is narrated by Cassandra Harwood, and I thought she did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life. Told through Chloe’s point of view, it’s a fantastic thriller with an ending I absolutely did not see coming. I loved The Goldens, and I look forward to seeing what author Lauren Wilson comes up with next.

An early copy of the audio book of The Goldens was provided by Macmillan Audio through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

The Goldens is a YA psychological thriller about social media influencers and a cult. It’s fascinating and unhinged all at once!

Cassandra Harwood did a fantastic job with the narration. I love a British accent, her pacing is great and I stayed engaged the entire book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Lauren Wilson , for this ARC of “The Goldens” which came out on July 15, 2025.

The audiobook was well done and easy to listen to. It took me a while because I listened to it a few chapters at a time but overall this was an interesting twisted thriller about a Queen Bee influencer.

Trigger warnings: cult, murder

⭐️Overall Rating: 3.5 star

This novel was provided by the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.

A accurate star rating would be 3.25, for GR purposes rounded down to 3.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. I thought the narrator was a wonderful choice for this book.
While entertaining, there was not a lot of original storyline. I found it wholly predictable, but enjoyed the journey nonetheless. The story would have benefitted from more flushed out characters. I don’t feel like I knew Chloe at all before her interactions with Clara, so the only sense of her that we got was completely contingent on Clara’s presence. It left us not really understanding how Chloe would have been susceptible to Clara’s influence on anything more than a surface level. There is a light lesson on the dangers of social media and parasocial relationships but I think it could have easily been more nuanced.
All in all it was a decent debut and a memorable concept.

Instagram post to be shared within 1 week of review submission date via @courtsnovellife

This story’s premise was great!

We have Chloe who is a meek FMC who is bullied by girls at her new college. She meets an intriguing Clara—a social media influencer and socialite with a seemingly perfect life—who forms a friendship with Chloe. Clara is known for her extravagant parties who everyone wants an invite to. The two choose to move in together and things start to get interesting as Clara invites more girls to move in. Then others start naming these women as a cult as they follow and admire Clara and discover info about her dark past.

Even though I got frustrated with the characters (as you’re supposed to), it took a turn that I wasn’t expecting which I appreciated.

NARRATION: 🎧 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I got this as an ALC from NetGalley, and the audio was great! The narration and the story progression was well done!! I highly recommend the audiobook, because the story lacked a bit for me and the narration definitely helped move things along.

PLOT 📖: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Even though the premise was good, the execution of the delivery as a story itself wasn’t the best. I felt like the story lacked packing a punch, so I did find myself zoning out some.

Oh my gosh this was too good. I could not stop listening once I set it down. It is just perfection. I adored the narration. The ending! OMG the ending!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for an advanced readers copy of this audiobook. The narrator is easy to listen to and I had no problems following along, while being on 1.5x speed. The narrator is British.

Chloe Hughes is a student at Dern University and becomes utterly enamored by our secondary main character, Clara Holland. This is a book about obsession, the influence of social media, and cults. If I had to compare genres or books, I would say it’s a mix of “You” and “Bunny” minus the magical realism.

I rated this book 4/5⭐️ based on other YA novels. It’s an easy read that keeps you intrigued. I preferred to learn more about Clara’s background as opposed to Chloe. The story truly hinges on the character development between the two and Lauren Wilson executes this well. It would fall apart if their relationship is unrealistic.

There were parts of the book where I felt like it did drag at times. Chloe, as a main character is okay. There’s nothing special about her but that may be done on purpose. I do think this is a good YA novel despite this not being my typical read. Would recommend for ages 12-17 YO.

A dark, twisted little thriller that gave cult core, candlelit insanity, and influencer drama. It definitely kept me turning the pages I’ll give it that. The vibes were immaculate: moonlit baptisms? Bonfire rituals? Rich girl weirdness? I’m in.

But for a book that promised obsession, it didn’t totally hook me. The pacing dragged in spots, and some reveals felt more like flickers than full on flames. I wanted to be breathless by the end, but instead I was just… mildly intrigued and a little dehydrated.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC definitely scratched my culty itch

How far would you go to be a part of the group?

How far would you go to be liked?

How far would you go to be golden?

Chloe just wants friends and to feel like she belongs. She has been admitted to her dream university, but she’s off to a rocky start when it comes to making friends. Until, that is, she meets Clara.

Money. Popularity. Adoration. Social media. Influence. Exclusivity. Murder.

To me, this book was such a picture of the power and the pull of female friendship. And the power, of course, of social media.

I adored the ambiguity of the ending, and I think this book would make such a good movie or series.

I listened to this one on audio; the narrator was strong, and hearing the tidbits of suspense dropped throughout the story really kept me listening.

Though I was invested enough to finish this book, it took far too long to get to the point. The building of the “cult” took a really long time and honestly was pretty minimal as far as what could have happened. The people who died were pretty obvious. The whole thing was just pretty mundane in my opinion.

Thank you to the author & publisher for this audiobook.
I was intrigued with The Goldens because it was described as a thriller. I wasn't too thrilled with The Goldens, I envisioned something completely different with the description of the book. I wouldn't say The Goldens was a thriller, I would give it suspense, maybe. The only thing that kind of surprised me was the very very end (the gift), but it wasn't like a major twist that makes you say wow. When reading the description, I envisioned a similar story to Chloe & Clara. I did not expect or envision cults, idolizing, & just odd events.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not always a big fan of thrillers, sometimes they are just too intense or fast paced for me. The Goldens had such a slow and measured slide into madness. I was comfortable and yet so eager to read on. I was very comfortably on the edge of my seat. The author did a wonderful job of slowly pulling her reader in, making us identify and sympathize with the main characters. There were points where I wanted to just scream at Chloe and others where I was almost jealous of the life she was living. And as for Clara, her magnetism

While this was entertaining for me, and I flew through it, it did fall a little flat for me. Even though the story centered around University students, the plot felt pretty juvenile to me.

Lauren Wilson’s The Goldens is a chilling and addictive psychological thriller that pulls readers into a world of deception, manipulation, and unsettling friendships. With an atmosphere thick with tension and a slow-burning suspense that builds masterfully, this novel is as captivating as it is creepy.

At the heart of the story is Chloe, a lonely and vulnerable protagonist who yearns for connection—and finds it in Clara, a seemingly perfect but increasingly disturbing friend. Wilson does an excellent job capturing Chloe’s emotional state, showing how her desire for friendship clouds her judgment, even as others try to warn her. The writing is richly descriptive, immersing readers in Chloe’s world and making the growing sense of dread impossible to ignore.

The psychological complexity of the characters and the careful unraveling of the plot make The Goldens a standout in the genre. It’s a gripping read that explores how easily trust can be misplaced and how dangerous that can become. Creepy in all the right ways, this is a thriller that lingers long after the final page.