Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friesland is a heartwarming story that takes place during the summer the owners of the hotel gathered to decide its fate. It’s full of nostalgia, family drama, and humor.
My Overview
The Golden Hotel was established more than sixty years ago by the Goldman and Weingold families. Located in the Catskills, it soon become the place to be for affluent guests and celebrities. Unfortunately, the glory days of “The Golden” are long gone. The hotel is now in disrepair, has high vacancies, and is facing a possible demolition. This is the story about the summer the Goldman and Weingold families gathered at The Golden Hotel one last time to decide its fate.
As the three generations of both families gather at The Golden this summer, it soon becomes apparent there’s more to deal with than the fate of the hotel. Aside from a rift between the families that began a few years back, each member is dealing with their own problems. The more time they spend at the hotel, the more secrets and scandals are uncovered. All while having to experience first-hand the hotel’s state of disrepair and lack of modern amenities.
This is a character-driven story told in various points of view. I enjoyed the toggling between the characters’ views. By the end, I truly felt like I knew and understood each of the characters. I didn’t necessarily like all of them, but was definitely drawn to their stories. Overall, this is heartwarming story centered around family, friendship, and new beginnings.
My Recommendation
If you’re looking for a heartwarming story full of nostalgia and family drama, give Last Summer at the Golden Hotel a try. I highly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by Julia Whelan.
Have you read this book?
Lark
I do like a good character-driven novel. And 5 stars? sounds like one I need to put on my TBR list. 😀
Lucy
I hope you’ll enjoy this too when you get to it. I enjoyed the multi-generational family drama 😊.