Firstly, thank you to Harper Fire and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Goldens follows our FMC, Chloe in her first year at Dern university. She quickly becomes wrapped up in a very unhealthy and obsessive friendship with social media star and fellow student, Clara. And then things take a turn for the worst.

Marketing this book as a thriller feels like a bit of a stretch, the pacing of this book was only sped up by the easy to read writing style and the short chapters. I felt like there wasn’t a lot happening until the very end of the book.

I don’t think I realised quite how YA this book was going to feel. With talk about cults and the word thriller being thrown around in the marketing, I was expecting something that felt a bit more grown up, but I struggled to connect to a single character in this book. The girls all felt incredibly petty and juvenile, I struggled to relate to anybody’s motivation. I was particularly disturbed by Chloe’s behaviour midway through the book when she essentially realised what was happening and her resulting actions.

The major plot hole in this book for me was simply that Clara didn’t seem that special - certainly not special enough to achieve what she does in this book. She just seemed nasty and I’m unsure how she would be able to cultivate such a devoted following by giving people crumbs.

That being said, the writing itself was what kept me engaged with this book. The descriptions were so rich and I really enjoyed the setting Wilson portrayed. The super short chapters kept me turning pages and I did want to know how the story would end.

I see what this book was getting at as a critique of social media culture and its influence on young women and it was a super binge-worthy read but I feel it would be much more suited to a younger audience than myself.

This is so fun, jarring yet addictive. The storyline had a thriller-style undertone with the cult depictions and I absolutely loved the sapphic relationship. Overall, I’ll definitely read this again.

The goldens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

This book is exactly what I want to find every single time I see the mention of dark academia on tropes or anything like it. I'm a big fan of this aesthetic and what it represents in terms of story and plot and The Goldens is a fresh take on everything we can find in a DA book: the character of the "outsider", the toxic friendships, the idea of cult and obssesion, the tension surrounding a mysterious death but instead of the classic academic interest on literature or ancient history (for example), the focus of attention is social media, influencers and socialites, Gossip Girl style.

The setting was amazing! The author did a great job reflecting this world of luxury and exclusivity, being very descriptive of every detail: the decorations, the dresses, the jewelries, and I found it quite inmersive and like I could see what was happening, not just reading about it.

The pacing was also really well done, slow yet engaging. This is the type of story where you know that something is happening, but can't point a finger on what and that made it very bingeable for me. I just couldn't stop reading. The vibe was kinda claustrophobic at times, in a good way.

The characters were quite interesting as well! The dynamic between Chloe and Clara was so intense and a bit codependent but at the same time kinda relatable tho I wish that certain secondary characters have had a better development and more on page time. However, I understand that by maintaining the focus on the 2 FMCs mostly, added to that feeling of isolation and bubble where both lived.

As for the ending, it wasn't a big surprise for me but that doesn't mean I enjoyed any less. As the rest of the book it was well crafted if not to over the top. I think I would actually like a sequel 😏.

So, I def recommend!!!! Plus the edition is just gorgeous!!!! I'm in love and I need it in my hands!

This was an exciting, fast-paced read, of how peer pressure can influence and shape our actions, in an academic setting. The characters are captivating and Lauren is masterful in her slow development of their personalities, allowing them to grow and adapt as the book takes more sinister turns. Without spoiling, it's a book that makes you question how far you'd go for someone and the tight line between admiration, jealousy and love. Popularity is seductive, but also has its dark charm, and Lauren depicts this theme well.

I particularly liked the links to today's modern day problems with social media, and the effect it can have on young women. It was chilling in its realisism, and I really felt for the main character Clara, and her friend Olivia. The ending was just absolutely beautifully devestating, and the last paragraph hits hard.

I'm surprised to read that this is a debut novel, as it reads beautifully and flows perfectly. This is definately an author I will be following for future works!

Thank you so much Harper Fire for allowing me to read this early!

This was a book I had been highly anticipating and it did not disappoint

The Goldens follows shy bookish Chloe as she starts Uni and meets the enigmatic influencer Clara and from a chance meeting the two become best friends. As the story unravels we start to see the dark lengths Clara goes to truly be adored.

The writing is really captivating, the descriptions Lauren writes makes everything feel so vivid and decedent, I felt like I was absorbed in this world.

The book is about obsession, the need to feel wanted and loved, you get drawn into The Goldens just as Clara attracts people to her.

Truly a spectacular novel and one I will be thinking about for a long time!

Chloe's dreams of becoming a famous writer seem to be on course, when she receives a surprising boost in the form of her encounter, and the subsequent hitching of her wagon, to the meteoric rise of social media influencer Clara Holland.

But things are not as straightforward as they initially appear and a rapid descent into decidedly bizarre territory follows. Soon, Clara becomes increasingly unpredictable. Drawing a large group of wannabes to her, her followers' are uncomfortably cult-like in their devotion, drawing comparisons to precisely that.

This story offers a crystal-clear glimpse into the excesses and ambitions of our celebrity obsessed society. How badly people want to be famous and what they will do to achieve their aims is held up to the light, painting a portrait that is less than pretty. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

I'm absolutely obsessed
A captivating debut thriller based on the toxicity of being an influencer. I loved the english university background setting, quite a lot of the storytelling reminded me of my uni days.
The characters are incredibly complex and I love how Lauren shows their crave for love and affection in different ways.
This book gripped me and pulled me on a journey of almost 400 pages

The only thing now is hoping there's a special edition somewhere to be kept on my shelves....

Wow! What a page turner. Couldn't put this down for a second until the end. I love an academia thriller but this does a brilliant job of bringing the premise of an it girl, girl gangs and influencers together.

The book talks brilliantly about the impact of influence of our peers, the feeling of being in and wanting to be in and complex relationships we have. The thriller element is dark and has serious chills. The college life and friendships is brought out well along with the theme of ambition, family and dysfunction. Absolutely recommend this!

Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

Lauren Wilson delivers a chilling and compulsively readable thriller in The Goldens, diving deep into the allure and danger of influence, obsession, and the thin line between devotion and manipulation.

Chloe, an aspiring writer, is drawn into the dazzling world of Clara Holland, a magnetic influencer with a mysterious past and a growing following. What begins as inspiration for a novel quickly spirals into something much darker, as Chloe becomes entangled in Clara’s cult-like lifestyle of river baptisms, bonfire rituals, and unsettling secrets. When a girl vanishes after one of Clara’s infamous parties, Chloe realizes the price of belonging might be her own safety—or sanity.

Wilson masterfully builds a world simmering with tension and glittering deception. The Goldens is perfect for readers who love twisted female friendships, influencer culture critique, and stories where glamour hides rot.

I could not put down this book and was actually so sad when it finally finished because it was absolutely intoxicating to read!

The book was so gripping and thrilling while being accessible at the same time. It tells the tale of Clara who pretty much winds up in a wellness cult and it goes through the subtle stages of how she becomes entrenched within it. If you're into cults and the beauty industry, this book is for you!

I could not put down Goldens. The book was as mesmerizing as Clara allegedly was, and I really enjoyed the spiral of madness basically every chapter went down on. I would recommend to anyone who liked the drama of gossip girl and also thinks cult documentaries are really interesting. And the twist at the end, damn! What a ride :)

This was a thoroughly enjoyable, gripping YA thriller. I read the first half in a single sitting. If you’re a fan of dark academia mysteries like The Secret History, or sparkly social-media driven narratives like Gossip Girl or Emily in Paris, you’ll enjoy the two smashed together in this fast-paced rollercoaster. I thought the author perfectly summarised the sometimes rapid development of female best friendships, in which you throw yourself into a new friend and embracing their proximity before you really know them. Chloe is awestruck by Clara’s shiny, glamorous, influencer lifestyle, and flattered by her attention, and it was easy as a reader to get sucked in and absorbed in the luxury of it all. Soon the cracks start to show, with frequent references to true crime reporting and trials building the tension, ready for the explosive third act. I really loved this book, and it’s full of beautifully written phrases that did remind me of The Secret History and If We Were Villains, with an almost poetic quality, but a much brighter, sparkly feel to the setting. Anyone who has experienced the tumultuous nature of young female friendships and feeling out of place will relate to Chloe, and see why she was so easily led into Clara’s perfect visage of a world. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what the author writes next!

Okay, I need a minute to recover because The Goldens just wrecked me in the best possible way. Lauren Wilson has crafted a hypnotic, unsettling tale about the seductive allure of power and the dangerous lengths we’ll go to feel like we belong.

The story follows Chloe, an ordinary college girl who dreams of being a writer, and Clara, the kind of effortlessly glamorous, wildly charismatic social media star who makes you feel like your entire life is beige in comparison. When they meet, Chloe is instantly pulled into Clara’s golden orbit—the mansion, the parties, the hypnotic charm that makes you ignore every red flag waving in your face. At first, it’s all champagne and late-night confessions, but then things start getting… weird. Like, bonfire rituals and river baptisms weird. And when a girl disappears after one of Clara’s infamous parties, Chloe has to ask: Is she part of something magical, or something seriously dangerous?

What makes this book so gripping is how real it feels. Clara is that girl the one who makes you feel special just by noticing you, but whose smile never quite reaches her eyes. You know the type. And Chloe? Relatable as hell. She’s not some fearless heroine; she’s messy, insecure, and so desperate to be someone that she ignores every warning sign. I spent half the book yelling at her in my head, obviously and the other half realizing, Oh no, I’d probably do the same thing.

The cultish vibes are chef’s kiss Wilson slowly ramps up the tension until you’re as trapped as Chloe, questioning whether Clara’s a visionary or a villain. And that ending?

If you’re into stories that make you side-eye every too-perfect influencer on your feed, this is your next obsession. And yeah, it’s technically YA, but don’t let that fool you—this is a razor-sharp, unputdownable thriller that’ll mess with your head no matter how old you are.

4/5 stars, zero regrets, and a strong urge to go delete some apps off my phone ! Thanks for the psychological damage.

Lauren Wilson’s debut is NOT TO BE MISSED!!
She has created a captivating story, immaculately written with impecable characters. Orloe and Carla are fascinating and devastating. The Goldens is brilliant and terrifying ... Because this could happen. You could tell me it has happened, that it’s based on a true story and l’d believe it.
I am obsessed.

Lauren’s writing is perfect for this book, and with the combination of an excellent cast of characters and a plot to die for, how could someone want more?