Audiobook Review: Golden Hills by Jennifer Weiner

Author: Jennifer Weiner

Narrator: Courtney Patterson
Title: Golden Hills

Genre: Chick Lit, Novella, Short Stories, Politics
Published: June 1, 2023
Pages: 53

Where I Got It: Amazon

Summary: 

Senatorial favorite Ida Berkowitz is headed for a win. Raised by a hardworking widowed mother, she’s authentic, relatable, and down-to-earth. Voters love her. Polls promise victory. Then her campaign manager utters four awful words: Who is Marissa Schuyler? She had almost managed to forget. Ida’s bunkmate at Camp Golden Hills when they were girls, Marissa was confident, sophisticated, and wealthy. Everything Ida wasn’t. Now the polished wife of a major conservative donor, Marissa’s announced a press conference. About Ida.

Just like that, Ida’s old insecurities come rushing in. So do new feelings of dread. After all these years, she knows what’s on Marissa’s mind. It could undermine everything Ida’s worked for. Because it isn’t very pretty.

Review: 

So I guess this was Amazon Prime First Read’s Pick for the month of May 2023. I had no idea about that when I first downloaded this. I have read previous books by this author so I knew I had to check this out. 

This follows Ida who is a senatorial favorite. She was raised by a hardworking widowed mother. She is authentic, relatable, and down-to-Earth. The voters are eating it up and love her. Everything is looking good until her campaign manager utters four awful words: Who is Marissa Schuyler? All the memories from Camp Golden Hills come rushing back. After all these years, she knows what is on Marissa's mind. It could very well undermine everything Ida has been working for. 

Now, I really really liked this from page 1. It had feeling and Ida really is someone you can't help but love. I'm sure she would get my vote if she was real.

Sadly....the ending and the "big reveal" was super cringe. SUPERRRRR CRINGE! I could not roll my eyes any harder at the ending. Sighs. Disappointing. I was hoping for more there. 

The narrator was good. I would like to listen to more by her. 

Overall....I started off liking this and even loving it. Ida is a great character. The ending and "reveal" was eye-rolling-worthy. 

2 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #31 for Audiobook challenge