Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity review this book. Loved it. Powerful story, well told with some humour and plenty of twists and turns. Happily recommend it to anyone.

Vivi author and mother of three grown-up children, is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Who was responsible?
Vivi is allowed to watch what happens with her family and friends from Beyond - a holding place before moving on.
She is also granted three 'nudges' that she can use to influence outcomes back on earth. Will she use them wisely?
Snappily written with tenderness and humour.

Vivian Howe's world shattered when she was struck down by a speeding motorist. As the culprit flees the scene, Vivi finds herself drifting into a waiting area called the Beyond. Due to her untimely death, she was awarded time to watch over her loved ones and influence their decisions.

Coming to terms with her death is a bitter pill to swallow. Her future seemed golden after receiving glowing book reviews. While her children took different paths, they fiercely loved each other. Vivi's death would rock their world and she needed to give them a nudge in the right direction.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the early edition of #GoldenGirl in exchange for an honest review. I'm a fan of Elin Hilderbrand's writing and her new release is even better than past novels.

While Vivi is reliving her golden moments, she's reflecting on past mistakes. Her choices had devastating consequences. Will she be able to atone before her light fades or has any chance for restitution been extinguished?

Golden Girl is, above all, a story about a mother's love. It is such a lovely, heartwarming and powerful story written in Elin's beautiful writing. It will definitely make you fall in love with Nantucket. Unforgettable. Unputdownable. 5 stars.

4.5 stars

Ever since I've discovered Elin Hilderbrand's books, her novels have become my summer holiday treat. Golden Girl was no exception. I savoured the book, visiting Nantucket yet again with a new cast of flawed characters and their complicated relationships and an unpredictable plotline. As usual with Elin's books, I was hooked from page 1.

What's the book about? I suggest going into the book blind as it's hard describing the plot. I've tried and couldn't do it justice so I'm going to leave it.

Charming and compulsive, Golden Girl should be on everyone's reading list this summer 🌞🍹⛱📚

Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun book with a good premise. The central figure is Vivian Howe, a well known author, who is killed in a hit and run accident. She find herself in a limbo place awaiting her full entrance to heaven. She's been assigned a 'helper', Martha, who tells her that for a few weeks she is able to view her family and friends and she will also have three 'nudges' allowing her to influence events on earth for the better. Vivian's three children are all causing her concern. Willa, aged 24, is married but has had a few miscarriages, Carson, 21, is working in a bar and is overdoing the partying, drinking and drugs. Leo, 18, is having on-off trouble with his girlfriend and now appears to have fallen out with Cruz, his best friend who Vivian considers her fourth child.

The time line of the book goes back to various incidents in the past as Vivian is allowed to revisit past events while in her waiting room to heaven.

Meanwhile, Vivian's latest book, Golden Girl, is about to be published and Vivian is anxious that the ex-boyfriend she based the plot on does not realise his connection as any revelations from him could seriously damage Vivian's reputation from beyond the grave and change the way her family remember her.

The premise is interesting and worked well but I found it hard going at times as there are so many characters and I was struggling to remember all the relationships as there were many connections between the family and friends of Vivian.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Elin is my favorite author. I have to admit when I read this description, I thought she was killing herself off. So many of the things in the book correlate with her, I thought she was how she was going to announce her retirement. But then I saw her post something about her book for next summer. Loved this book!!! Her books always make me want to go to the beach. Happy moments, sad moments. I have to say I figured out very quickly who the driver was, but it was still an awesome book!

I really, really enjoyed this book. I love Elin's writing style and her stories always capture my attention from the get go, Golden Girl was no exception. A beautifully written storie. Would definitely recommend!

A book about grief, acceptance and acknowledgement. Vivian is killed by a hit and run driver and is then given the opportunity to watch her family from above and influence changes to their life outcomes. Told from several different perspectives. The beautiful setting of the book enhances the joy you feel for this book. Would thoroughly recommend.

Oh my gosh, Elin Hilderbrand is fast becoming one of my absolute favourite writers, and this book is just perfect! Glorious, beautiful,,exquisite writing, an absolutely wonderful, amazing story that I can hardly find the right words to do justice to.
28 Summers was my first read of Elins and I adored it, Ive bought all her others since but have been saving them, I was rather worried I might not enjoy Golden Girl having read the synopsis, but I loved every single page and had to ration myself so I didnt finish too fast, I now feel a little bereft that it has ended.
I find Elins' writing beautiful, the characters and Nantucket come to life (I find myself googling images and maps of the place and dream of going) and you just fall in love with them, and her descriptions of food are amazing!
Gorgeous book, Read it and love every page as I did.

If you’ve ever lost a loved one and wondered if there remained some kind of spiritual connection; that he or she was watching over you — a guardian angel, if you will — then this seductively beautiful story from Elin Hilderbrand will surely strike a chord.

Vivian Howe is newly arrived in heaven after killed by a hit-and-run driver. She’s greeted by Martha, the “Person” assigned to aid her transition. Because of the sudden nature of Vivi’s death, Martha grants her a 75-day viewing window to watch what happens “down below” in the aftermath of her death, as her three grown children adjust to their loss. She’s also given three “nudges” that she can use to influence the course of events.

I mean, what a premise! Even if your instinct is to poo-poo such notions as far fetched, Hilderbrand makes it all sound so thoroughly plausible, it’s impossible not to be drawn in. And let’s face it, why would you resist?

There are multiple threads to the narrative —Vivi’s life story, which we see in reminiscences; the investigation into her death; and the separate stories of Willa, Carson and Leo, who in addition to grieving their mother, face other, personal demons that are thrown into relief by their loss. Hilderbrand stitches them together like a master weaver.

As a fly on the wall, Vivi gets to see her children as she’s never seen them before: their mistakes, their secrets, their fears. Her nudges are the unseen hand that continues to mother, but now with the benefit of insight previously denied.

In the wake of Vivi’s death, the siblings also come to learn things about their mother’s past — an unknown side to her — that affect their perceptions and ultimately aid the grieving process.

As always, Hilderbrand’s characters are vividly real and relatable — not a sniff of a cliché amongst them. And the background — her beloved Nantucket — the perfect setting.

I loved the whole idea of this book, especially the notion that death can be life affirming; that loss can give as well as take away. I wept — ugly, snotty wept — when Vivi’s 75 days were up and she had to bid goodbye to her family. Not because it was a final farewell, but because it was a gentle parting, filled with pride, love and contentment. Oh to wish it were ever so.

A gorgeous story with some ethereal elements and the power of a mother’s love and lots of “what if” moments. Elin Hildebrand’s work is second to none!

This is such a lovely Summer read ,sometimes sad sometimes happy .Viva is killed in a hit and run accident and is allowed time to watch over her three children for the Summer from the Beyond. Although I found the book a little slow at the beginning with so many characters and didn't understand the Americanisms I did enjoy this heart breaking but uplifting book .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review .

A very pacey start and lots of action. Then an unusual concept kicks in whereby after a hit and run, Vivi can watch her loved ones and also "nudge" 3 times to change events back on earth. I usually love unusual concepts but this felt a bit too much for me personally.
Slow at times which was disappointing considering the strong start. Lots of viewpoints which made for bumpy reading,
Some really poignant moments and scenes that you want to treasure.

I've read a lot of Elin's books but the last couple of years I haven't enjoyed them like I used to, so when I was offered to read this new novel by @netgalley I was a bit apprehensive.

I'm so glad I read it though because this is a hit! I'll admit to some ugly crying... 😂

I got the feeling that the author wrote bits and pieces about her own life and yep, she did. The story is about an author who lived on Nantucket...

I encourage you to read it if you want some drama, grief, love, hope and a lot more!

This is an easy to read escapism story about a mother who, upon dying in a hit and run, is given the opportunity to grant 3 'nudges' back on earth. The story takes the reader into the lives of her 3 children and their ups and downs as well as giving a peep into the wonderful world of Nantucket and it's houses, bars and restaurants.

It's a really good book for the Summer and flows well and it's a good reminder of the importance of family and friendships.

An uplifting 3* Good Read and thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.

This was a delightful story with believable characters and a storyline that was easy to connect with. Nantucket sounds like a great place and the story brings it to life. The conclusion was amazing and so comforting. Great read!.

Thank you NetGalley, Elin Hilderbrand and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of Golden Girl. This is my personal review.
I am a huge fan of Elin Hilderbrand books and this one is amazing!
The story is one that kept me turning the pages and trying to figure out exactly what did happen to Vivian Howe on the day she was out running. She is hit and killed that day and the story tells how she is given three nudges to change the course of the lives of anyone she chooses.
I was completely absorbed in this book as I was reading.

A terrific read that kept me guessing! A best selling author, Vivi's life has been a rich one but now, sadly she's dead, having been struck down by a hit and run driver. Who did it? Well, no one really thinks it was Cruz, the teen who was another son to her, but he's got a secret, as does her son Leo. Vivi's able to watch things unfold over the course of the summer - to see her daughter Carson spool out, her daughter Willa's pregnancy advance, her ex-husband JP's relationship with Amy fall apart. Amy, who has always struggled in Vivi's shadow, has her own take on things, as does the police chief trying to find her killer. I liked that Hilderbrand is willing to take on some of the cliches of her own novels as it lightened what could have been a very serious read that leveraged her usual favorite spots on Nantucket. I admit to checking out the menus of the restaurants as well as the beaches. It's a more mature take on Hildebrand's summer offering and quite poignant. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good characters and excellent storytelling.

This book is quirky and different from most other books that I have read. The main protagonist, Vivi dies in a hit and run accident and she is given the opportunity to look down on her family to see what they are doing and to also find out who killed her.
It's obviously not realistic, but it is both poignant but also lighthearted and fun in places.There are a lot of characters which can make it difficult to follow, but it is still a good read.
The beach setting is very Summery, I'm not familiar with Nantucket where the book is set. It was nice to read about somewhere that is new to me.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. It is the first book that I have read from this Author and I am interested in reading some of her back catalogue.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.