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The Goldens

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About this listen

A dark, intoxicating and unputdownable thriller, simmering with atmosphere

‘One of the best debuts I’ve ever read’ Laura Steven

‘A thoroughly insidious thriller’ Bea Fitzgerald

‘Sprinkled with the glamorous, the glittering and the gothic’ H. F. Askwith

Chloe has always dreamed of becoming a bestselling writer. Then she meets enigmatic influencer Clara Holland, and at last, Chloe has something to write about. They bond instantly, and Chloe moves into Clara’s mansion. But as Clara’s fame skyrockets, she starts behaving strangely, hosting increasingly wild parties, complete with bonfire rituals and moonlit river baptisms.

Clara opens up her home to other girls desperate to live like her. The media call it a cult, and soon Chloe begins to hear unsettling rumours from Clara's past. After one spectacular party, a girl goes missing and the rumours take on a sinister new meaning. If Chloe can’t escape Clara’s influence, she may be next …

THE GOLDENS is about to become your newest obsession.

©2025 Lauren Wilson (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological
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I liked the slow build up to a great story. It was exciting and kept you guessing.

The twist at the end was wonderful.

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When Chloe picks up a beautiful scarf monogrammed with the same three letters as her name she wonders if it's a gift or chance coincidence. When she meets the owner, self-styled social media model and influencer Clara, she wonders if it's destiny that they should become friends, but there is no escaping Clara's power to draw girls to her fandom nor to her need for adoration. thus begins a story about vanity, insecurities and agency.

I wasn't blown away by the plot of this story, sure it built nicely but also you could see the red flags from a mile off and the plot rolled out like a red carpet. It still was an effective novel but the superficial trappings and descriptions of manor life were not as appealing as the tensions between characters. it all pays off neatly but much like Clara's opulent home, everything in this book feels pleasingly put together and lacked any real grit for me. Good distracting read, with implausible scenario but engaging characters.

Vanity Comes before a Fall

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