Golden Girl

Book: Golden Girl

Author: Elin Hilderbrand

On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she's assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently “off again” with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she’ll have to think carefully where to use them.

From the Beyond, Vivi watches “The Chief” Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes—with or without a nudge of help from above—while Vivi finally lets them grow without her.
-Goodreads

Review: Vivian Howe is jogging near her home in Nantucket when she is killed in a hit and run. Before ascending to heaven, she has a handler of sorts and is granted a specific number of viewing windows and 3 “nudges” to influence outcomes in earth. We as readers following the police chief trying to solve the crime of who killed Viv, her ex-husband, his current girlfriend and Viv’s 3 children as they try to navigate life after her death. I didn’t particularly like Viv but this was very well written, especially seeing her children in the aftermath. They were very well developed characters.

Grade: 4/5