okay I wasn't expecting this to be as dark as it was, it was a fun listen too. I love reading about messy girl being unhinged, and the ending threw me for a loop. This was a very fun dark academia story

The Goldens is the story of a group of girls, all beholden to a wealthy influencer who turned them almost into a cult. And then a girl is found dead and everything goes bonkers. I always love secret society kind of books and this one had those vibes. It had some dark academia feelings and lots of social media themes too and I enjoyed getting lost in that world, as messy as it was. The main character definitely got frustrating at times but I really got into the twists and turns, completely thrown off guard many times.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Holy buckets of obsession and popularity contests - this book was crazy, but not in a bad way. If you were into the Anna Delvey story and Netflix show "Inventing Anna" - then this book is for you. I can genuinely say that I was sucked in and couldn't stop listening. I don't listen to or read YA books often, but this one made me question why I don't.

The audio narration was excellent making this an all-around quick and enjoyable listen.

Chloe, an aspiring young writer, leaves her hometown to study at Dern University. At first she struggles to fit in and is mocked by her roommates, but then a chance meeting leads her to befriend Clara, a beloved social media influencer, socialite and model, who also attends Dern. Chloe can’t believe Clara has chosen her of all people and basks in the attention, eventually moving out of her dorm and into Clara’s family estate.

Chloe’s popularity grows just by virtue of being Clara’s friend and soon the two of them are spending most of their time planning and throwing lavish, beautifully-themed parties, and when they aren’t doing that, Chloe is writing Clara’s memoir. When Clara invites more young women to come and live at the estate and then starts imposing strict rules on the residents, rumors start circulating that she has started a cult and when a young woman goes missing after one of Clara’s parties, the rumors turn even darker, making Chloe finally start to wonder if she has made a major misstep in befriending Clara.

If you’re into mystery/thrillers that explore toxic female friendships, parasocial behavior, how easy it is for vulnerable people to get drawn into cult-like groups, and also how easy it is to craft an online persona that bears little resemblance to how a person might actually be in real life, I think you’ll enjoy this book. It’s a bit of a slow burn at the beginning before Chloe meets Clara, but once they meet, the pacing really picks up and I found the rest of the story quite addictive.

I enjoyed the narration of Cassandra Harwood. She did a really nice job of capturing the different emotions Chloe goes through, as well as the dark, suspenseful nature of the latter chapters of the story. If you enjoy audiobooks, you can’t go wrong with this one.

I loved the premise of this book - and I thought the writing style worked really well. I also loved all the characters and the setting. My main complaint was that I wish there hadn’t been hints at what was to come throughout the book - the story had an ominous enough feel that the added foreshadowing took away rather than added. I also thought the ending could have been more fleshed out, it felt very abrupt.

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.

My review will also be on https://thebookdutchesses.com on July 31st.

This was a thrilling and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
They are realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I love a YA book with a cult vibe. This one was fun and I couldn't put it down. Think Gossip Girl mixed with The Skulls (I might be dating myself with that movie reference.)

4.5/5!!! Even though this book is advertised as YA, I feel as though it had a more mature theme overall. As I was listening I found myself getting drawn in along with Chloe. As we progressed to the end of the book, I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it would play out. Would Chloe finally listen to everyone tell her that Clara is not who she thinks she is or would she realize the piece she is in Clara's games? Overall this was a very enjoyable listen and great story!

All that glitters ain‘t gold(en).

When first-year university student and aspiring author Chloe meets Clara Holland, a glamorous influencer, she’s swept into a world of curated perfection, lavish parties, and online fame. Invited to live at Clara’s sprawling estate, Chloe becomes entangled in a glittering lifestyle that blurs the lines between friendship, manipulation, and obsession. But as Clara’s circle of followers grows and rumors begin to swirl, Chloe discovers that behind the filters and fairy lights lies something far darker - and more dangerous - than she ever imagined.

The Goldens started off strong, pulling the reader right into Chloe’s world as she arrives at a prestigious university, feeling isolated and out of place - until she meets the dazzling Clara Holland. Clara is a fascinating character: mysterious, magnetic, and hard to pin down, a magnetic social media icon whose lifestyle is as intoxicating as it is curated. Watching Chloe get pulled into her orbit was gripping at first.

The early parts of the book contain a timely and engaging exploration of themes like loneliness, the hunger for belonging, ambition, and the seductive pull of influencer culture. The commentary on social media and the power certain personalities hold over their followers felt on point and thought-provoking.

That said, the final section of the book was increasingly implausible. The concept of a 19-year old running a full-blown influencer cult strained credulity, and the climactic party sequence leaned heavily into melodrama. The last party in particular felt both predictable and wildly over the top, which undercut the suspense for me. What started as an insightful and grounded narrative eventually spiraled into something that felt less believable and more sensational.

All in all, Lauren Wilson’s The Goldens offers a sharp and atmospheric take on the darker side of influencer culture, resulting in an undeniably intriguing debut with a strong voice and some powerful ideas. It’s an often thought-provoking and atmospherical read and will likely resonate with readers interested in the psychological cost of internet fame. I just wish the ending had shown a bit more restraint, as the novel might have benefited from a more grounded and nuanced conclusion to truly land its themes.

I listened to the audiobook, which was produced flawlessly. Narrator Cassandra Harwood’s performance captures Chloe’s vulnerability and growing unease with subtle, nuanced delivery. While the plot itself eventually veers into the implausible, Harwood’s narration keeps the experience grounded and engaging, making the audiobook a compelling way to experience the novel.

Many thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„The Goldens“ was first published on July 15, 2025, and is available now.

Review for The Goldens by Lauren Wilson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

The Goldens is a twisty, atmospheric thriller that completely hooked me from the very first chapter. I listened to the audiobook in a single day—thanks to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review—and the narration by Cassandra Harwood was outstanding. She added so much emotion and tension that it elevated the entire experience.

The story follows Chloe, a lonely aspiring writer who becomes entangled with Clara Holland, a glamorous influencer with a magnetic, mysterious presence. When Chloe is invited into Clara’s inner circle to help write her memoir, she’s swept up in a world of glittering parties, curated perfection, and intoxicating social power. But as the group grows and one girl disappears after a lavish New Year’s Eve party, Chloe begins to question everything. What starts as admiration turns to suspicion, and the façade of beauty begins to crack.

Lauren Wilson does a brilliant job capturing the complexity of female relationships, the dangers of blind loyalty, and the darkness that can hide behind perfectly filtered lives. The writing is sharp, immersive, and emotionally charged. I saw glimpses of my younger self in Chloe—naïve, desperate to belong, and unsure of the cost.

This is a great pick for fans of psychological thrillers with a dark, glamorous edge and slow-burning tension. I loved the commentary on influencer culture, the cult-like allure of power and beauty, and how manipulation can wear a very pretty mask.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the chance to review this book!

Great for fans of dark academia and cult fiction! I wouldn't call this suspenseful but it was an interesting look into how cults form and how easy it is to find yourself a member. The innocence of budding feminism is quickly turned into a murderous cult in this one, making it a fun read!

From a YA perspective, I really liked this book. It was the perfect audiobook to listen to while on my walks. The story was easy to follow and I really enjoyed the overall plot. It's YA, so a bit predictable for me and I don't connect to the age of the characters, but I usually have that expectation going in since I read so much of the genre. None of those things really bothered me with this book. I definitely recommend listening to this audio. The narrator nailed it.

DNF 16%

Based on what I've read and reviews from other readers, I don't think this book is a fit for me. The FMC is a bit younger than what appeals to me.

The Goldens fascinated me because it looks at so many elements of society. From the lifestyle of influencers, the formation of cults to the bonds of friendship and relationships. The author did a wonderful job depicting a life of luxury through lavish parties, clothing, jewelry, etc

While in many ways the story was predictable, there was enough drama and plenty of twists to keep it entertaining throughout and the ending….oh the ending!

This was a fast and addictive read with moments that were like a ten-car pileup that you can’t turn away from, but in a good way.

A big thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this audio book. The narrator, Cassandra Harwood, was so easy to listen to and her portrayal of the characters was fantastic. This book was a great listen and really got the wheels turning.

3.75/5

A College set in the UK with diverse rep and queer main characters and a cult. what’s not to love!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listening to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

The Golden’s is for those who love dark academia/cult vibes. I personally love both, so this was a good one.
Clara is a classic narcissistic, controlling, charismatic leader. She is the girl everyone wants to be, and everyone is too afraid of her to challenge anything she says.
Chloe is a left out bookworm looking for true friendship. What she finds is much more than she’s bargained for.
Great read! Just finished in time for publication day tomorrow! Go grab this one!
Thank you netgalley for this arc!

The Goldens hooked me with its eerie atmosphere and dark secrets. I loved the slow unraveling of the family dynamics and the small-town gossip that added tension to every scene. The writing was sharp and the characters, especially the main narrator, felt raw and real. While a few plot twists felt slightly predictable, the overall journey was haunting and emotionally charged. If you enjoy a mix of mystery, family drama, and psychological suspense, this one is definitely worth a read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the book #TheGoldens by #LaurenWilson. I loved this story about friendship, fame and cults. Chloe is going to school and wants to be a writer. She meets a famous influencer, Chloe, by accident one day and they immediately become friends. As they become closer, Clara moves in with Chloe. Not soon after, Chloe starts becoming obsessive and power hungry and invites a lot of girls to move into her huge house, but they have to follow strict rules. Soon, Clara starts seeing a different side of Chloe and it’s dangerous. Can she escape the danger lurking before it’s too late?

This started a little slow for me - Chloe's pick me moments were a lot for someone that never cared much about the opinions of others. But it picked up, the last two hours became a wreck and I couldn't stop listening. I finished this about 12:30 am. The audio was excellent.

I suspected somewhat where this was going but still had a moment at the end that had me going WHHAAATTT!

Clara was crazy and a psycho.

4 stars for me!

Thank you MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for my advanced copy