June was a short but sweet reading month. Things got a bit hectic between moving and being back to teaching yoga and fitness classes IRL. The two books I did read though were amazing. So much so I promptly handed them off to my mom after reading them. For me, it’s the ultimate Kayla seal of approval if I make my mom read something.
What I Read in June:
The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
This book was like the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel meets Dirty Dancing meets an Emma Staub novel. Which is to say I absolutely loved this book. In its prime, the Golden Hotel was one of many super popular resorts for Jewish families in the Catskills. For the last 60 years, the resort has been owned by the Goldman and Weingold families. The hotel has been struggling in recent years. The Catskills are no longer the place to vacation as a family plus the hotel is now super rundown.
It’s up to three generations of the Goldman and Weingold family to decide what the fate is for the Golden Hotel. Should they sell it or try to bring back its glory days?
This book is the right mix of family drama but also really funny at times. My mom grew up spending summers in the Catskills and this book left me thinking a lot about my own grandparents and their summers upstate. From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s a perfect read for summer.
My Rating: 4.5/5
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Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
Elin Hilderbrand is truly the Queen of Beach Reads. To me, it is not officially summer until I read an Elin book 😂
This book is her newest one and it’s easily my second favorite, only after 28 Summers which I LOVED.
Author Vivian Howe is mysteriously killed in a hit-and-run while out running in her neighborhood in Nantucket. She enters the Beyond where she’s granted viewing access to watch what happens this summer to her three young-adult children. She is also given three nudges to change the outcome of something on earth.
Her eldest, Willow, is anxious after multiple miscarriages. The middle child, Carson, has always been a bit lost in life. And Vivian’s youngest, Leo, is a new high school graduate preparing to leave for college.
Meanwhile, Vivian’s final book is about to be released on earth. In it is a big secret that she’s long kept to herself.
As is true of all Elin Hilbernband books, it’s the perfect mix of escapism (I’ve never been to Nantucket but GAH do I want to!) mixed with complex characters all with things to hide. I totally ate it up and it left me wanting more time with each of these characters. A great book to pick up and read this summer.
My Rating: 4.5/5
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