I really enjoyed THE GOLDENS. It was fast paced and hard to put down. The narrator did a great job. I was entertained for an entire day.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my ALC.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you're wanting cult, social media influences, college life, glam, glitter, parties, and murder, this story is for you. While I enjoyed the story, the main character Chloe really and truly annoyed and irritated me to no end. She was very naive and easy to manipulate. In all honesty, an easy target.

The audiobook is narrated by Cassandra Harwood. She did a good job telling the story. She was easy to understand and listen to. I listened at 2x speed.

Chloe has always dreamed of becoming a bestselling writer. Then she meets Clara Holland, a prominent influencer, socialite, and model. Clara is enigmatic, dazzling, and gorgeous. Bonding instantly, Chloe moves into Clara’s grand family estate. They spend long afternoons together, writing Clara’s memoir, polishing social media posts, and planning sumptuous, decadent parties: fairy lights in the orangery, themed cocktails, sequined backdrops, and roaring bonfires. But as Clara opens her home to more girls who want to live like her and inspire one another, the media calls them a cult.

Thank you, NetGalley, and MacmillanAudio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Glitter, glam, and a slow slide into darkness—The Goldens is a chilling debut that lures you in like a champagne-soaked fairy tale and leaves you questioning everything. Chloe’s dream of becoming a writer turns intoxicatingly real when she’s drawn into Clara Holland’s glittering, influencer-filled world, but what starts as aspirational quickly veers into unsettling. Think culty vibes, missing girls, and an eerie sense of being watched behind all the sparkle and curated perfection. Addictive and unnerving.

Thank you Lauren Wilson, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#thegoldens #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

🎧ALC review🎧

I really enjoyed this book. I did feel like the ending was a little rushed, and that is my reasoning for 4 stars. This is a thriller that follows a girl, Chloe, who is so desperate for attention and validation from others, that she easily falls under the influence of the manipulative, rich, influencer, Clara. Chloe sees this friendship giving her the recognition she’s always desired, and the opportunity to further her author career by writing Clara’s memoir. But once Chloe starts to learn more about Clara’s past, and when her roommate is found dead, Chloe starts to realize how dark and dangerous her new friend is.

This audiobook is a single narration. I really enjoyed the narration. I had no problem following along and getting sucked into the story. Cassandra did a great job bringing this story to life. I definitely recommend checking out this audiobook. It is a captivating story that will have you constantly wanting to know what’s happening next.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the alc for my review.

Quick summary: Chloe, a student at the prestigious Dern University, wants to become a writer. When she meets Clara, a wealthy and glamorous influencer, the two become fast friends. Chloe is drawn into Clara’s world of curated perfection, expensive clothes, high-profile parties, and rising social media fame. But as the friendship deepens, Chloe begins to sense that something is off. Clara’s past may not be as polished as her image, and Chloe starts to uncover secrets that force her to question everything.

Review: I really enjoyed this audiobook. The writing and pacing kept me fully engaged from the beginning. The narrator, Cassandra Harwood, added a lot to the experience and really captured the moody tone of the story. Chloe felt like a relatable character. She comes from a modest background and gets swept into a friendship with someone who seems to have everything. That dynamic felt very real.

Clara was written in a way that kept me questioning her intentions. Even before anything truly dark happened, she gave off that manipulative, isolating energy. The author handled that buildup really well. The book focuses on themes like friendship, obsession, social media, class, and power. It reads more like a dark academia drama than a psychological thriller, and the tone stays consistent throughout.

Although the plot turned out to be fairly predictable, I still thought it was compelling. Once things started to feel off, I had a pretty good sense of where it was heading. That said, I was invested the entire time and never felt bored.

I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about intense female friendships, academic settings, and rich-girl drama with a darker twist. It reminded me of Gossip Girl, but with more emotional weight and a quieter kind of tension.

The Goldens - Lauren Wilson
Pub Date - 7/15/25
Rating - 2.5/5 rounded to 3
Thoughts - Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this gifted advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Cults, social media influencer, college life, and murder made this an extremely interesting premise that I wanted to get my hands on. At the beginning, the narration seemed a little slow, and I was waiting for it to pick up. After about 50%, I was still extremely bored but stuck with it. The end fell extremely flat with the trial that seemed very rushed. The characters were all very frustrating and I couldn't really relate to any of them. Overall, this book wasn't for me.

I was really looking forward to this based on the synopsis, but it fell flat for me. It dragged in the middle, and while it kept alluding to a trial and court, I never really got hooked enough to want to keep reading. I liked the plot idea but it just didn't really execute that well.

Chloe, an introverted aspiring writer, scores admission to her first (and only) choice for university but her living situation (three stuck-up girls who judge her on sight) is not great. She accidentally meets Clara Holland, a charismatic influencer whose family has a home nearby and who also is a university first-year, like Chloe. Chloe idolizes Clara's glamour and connections, and when Clara decides to bestow her affections and attention on Chloe, Chloe is all in--even to the level of moving into Clara's home. Is Clara starting a cult? Or is she just a self-actualizing, slightly narcissistic female entrepreneur?

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook--the narrator is excellent and even does differentiations in accent (Irish, Scottish) where appropriate. Even though the foreshadowing could be heavy handed at times, the plot ended up genuinely surprising me in places and I did not see the very last bit of the book coming. I got Julie Chan Is Dead vibes along with general social scheming (The Secret History meets Gossip Girl?); the book raced along and still had time for visually sumptuous descriptions of the Goldens' lavish parties, luxe attire, and enviable living quarters. Didn't even realize this is a YA book--don't let that label deter you from giving it a listen.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook; all opinions are my own.

Chloe, a young, determined, and impressionable college student connects with a popular and wealthy influencer and gets caught up in the whirlwind of her world. When dangerous rumors begin to emerge and a girl goes missing, Chloe must make some tough decisions.

I really enjoyed the character development, strong female leads and focus on the power of friendships. I struggled a bit with the naivety of the narrator, but also realize she is young and that is very realistic. The storyline was interesting and had some twists. The narration seemed to accurately depict the characters and I found it to be an easy listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Goldens had all the makings of a good read for me, but suffered from me having just read another book where people died that I didn't think should die based on the conventions of the genre! I think it will work for a lot of people, especially those who love true crime books about cults.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

I was disappointed in this book. I had high hopes for it and was super excited to start reading, but when I finally started reading, I was bored. The narrator was pretty good, so there is that. But overall, this book was a letdown for me.

Fans of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and You will love The Goldens.

Chloe goes to university to become a writer, and meets Clara, an influencer with incredible charisma. Chloe is immediately drawn into Clara's circle, starts attending her extravagant parties, and eventually even moves in with her. But as she grows closer to her Chloe realizes she might not know Clara as well as she thinks that she does.

This was a great dark academia novel with just enough creepiness and intrigue to keep you at the edge of your seat. Chloe is a relatable character and you understand how she is drawn in by the alure of Clara. Definitely a YA thriller that I would recommend.

The audiobook is incredibly well narrated. Cassandra Harwood has such an enchanting voice that captures your attention and draws you into the depths of the story.

Tropes:
* Dark Academia
* Influencer Culture
* Rich people with dark secrets
* Cult Behavior
* College setting

4.5 stars

In this dark and moody novel, first year college student, Chloe, becomes infatuated with wealthy influencer and school mate, Clara Holland. After an act of kindness, Chloe is swept into Clara's world and begins to lose herself. When she hears troubling rumors about Clara, Chloe begins to question her relationship with her rich pal, but there's always something that keeps her connected to Clara - no matter how ugly the accusation.

I thought the narrator was pretty good, she did a nice job with the various dialects. I wasn't excited about the author's choice to give physical descriptions of certain characters hours after I'd developed a mental picture of them. The ending was awkward and I couldn't suspend my disbelief that it would end that way. I actually rolled my eyes at the end. Despite the buzz, I found this novel to be just okay.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars ! I really enjoyed this audiobook. It really drew me in right away. The cover is so stunning. The narrator did a great job reading this book. I love anything with good writing, dark academia vibes, psychological thrillers, and atmospheric settings. This book checked all my boxes for things I like in a book. I highly recommend giving this one a read this summer. It is quite the ride !

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book is very reminiscent of the Magpie Society series. I loved the audio narration and will definitely try other books with this narrator featured.

This reminded me of Gossip Girl and You but make it dark and add some cult. So obviously I loved it!!

The narrator was perfect for thd FMC, Chloe. Her accent had me reeled in from the get go.

This was full of influencers, glamour, cult behavior, a bit of dark academia and social media. So if you like reading about the rich and famous, you're going to love this one.

Social media.
Influencers.
Cults.
Murder.

Had me wondering the whole time what was going on what was happening. I was swept up into Claris’s worlds just like Chloe.

Very good book, gives a grim look at what can happen when we put people on a pedestal.


The narration was great.

This was a dark book that reminded me of Gossip Girl. I did not realize it was YA though so I think it read a little young for my taste. You get a taste of the glamorous life of influencer Clara and Chloe being welcomed into that world. This book is culty and a bit twisty and for sure dark academia if you like that. I give it 3.5 stars.

This book is a slow-burning YA mystery packed with plenty of frustrating moments that will keep you on your toes. It begins like a slice of real life, only to spiral into a dream that culminates in a truly twisted nightmare! As you navigate through these stages, you’ll find yourself thinking, “What on earth is happening?”

Chloe, an aspiring bestselling writer, becomes friends with the mysterious influencer Clara Holland and moves into her mansion. As Clara's fame grows, her behavior becomes increasingly erratic, leading to wild parties and unsettling rituals. Chloe hears disturbing rumors about Clara's past, and after a girl goes missing following one of their parties, she realizes she may be in danger herself.

The main character, Chloe, is young, naive, and all too susceptible to peer pressure. We’ve all been there, watching the plain Jane transform into someone others admire or envy. It’s a rite of passage, but how far would you go to maintain that illusion? The characters are youthful and incredibly naive, making it hard to believe that anyone could actually meet a tragic end.

Now, I’m not usually one for YA novels, but the cover caught my eye, and I was curious about the plot. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of distinguishing the characters, making it an enjoyable listen overall.

I understand this story might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I found myself thoroughly entertained by the audiobook, the outlandish plot, and the chance to get lost in a whirlwind of teenage drama for a day. If you don’t mind toxic relationships, obsessive cult-like vibes, and the antics of the wealthy with little to no consequences, this book will keep you occupied all summer long. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you, MacMillan Audio, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Chloe is unassuming and often overlooked by her peers. She feels like a complete outcast until she meets Clara. Clara makes her feel seen for the first time. And Clara isn't just anyone-She's a famous influencer. Having Clara's light shining her, Chloe feels special and seen in a way she never has before. When Clara invites Chloe to move into her mansion, it solidifies their bond every further.
But things quickly turn sour between them. Clara starts inviting more girls to move in with them, and Chloe starts to feel like she isn't so special after all. When rumors start swirling about Clara running a cult and one of their roommates mysteriously goes missing, Chloe realizes she needs to get out from under Clara's gaze and her control before it's too late.

This is a perfect blend of dark academia and social media mayhem. Add in a cult, and you have the concoction for a fantastic story.
Social media themed mysteries are one of my favorites at the moment, and this one really hit the spot. This was a layered story of deceit and manipulation, with a cunning villain in the form of influencer Clara. Additionally, Chloe was a wonderfully drawn character. She's deeply insecure, flawed, and susceptible to influences such as Clara's. However, she does show character growth throughout the story, which left me rooting for her.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.