Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Fiction
Berkley
May 18, 2021
Hardcover
384
Purchased (Book of the Month edition)
In its heyday, The Golden Hotel was the crown jewel of the hotter-than-hot Catskills vacation scene. For more than sixty years, the Goldman and Weingold families - best friends and business partners - have presided over this glamorous resort which served as a second home for well-heeled guests and celebrities. But the Catskills are not what they used to be - and neither is the relationship between the Goldmans and the Weingolds. As the facilities and management begin to fall apart, a tempting offer to sell forces the two families together again to make a heart-wrenching decision. Can they save their beloved Golden or is it too late?
Long-buried secrets emerge, new dramas and financial scandal erupt, and everyone from the traditional grandparents to the millennial grandchildren wants a say in the hotel's future. Business and pleasure clash in this fast-paced, hilarious, nostalgia-filled story, where the hotel owners rediscover the magic of a bygone era of nonstop fun even as they grapple with what may be their last resort.
What a great story! If you've been with me here for awhile, you know how much I adore family sagas. This one was the intermingling of three generations of not just one family, but two! And yes, that means there are a lot of people to keep track of, but the author does include a handy family tree of both the Goldman and Weingold families at the front of the book. Trust me though, you will be caught up in the story quickly, and won't need it after the beginning pages. Each character has their own distinct personality, and it's very easy to tell them apart as the story progresses. My absolute favorite part about this book was the interactions between the generations. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion when the elderly hotel owners and their children had to be schooled by the youngsters. At the heart of the story is how, or if, the Golden hotel can be saved and attract clients like it did in its heyday back in the 1960's. Back in those days people would flock to the Catskills from the sweltering cities for some fun, food, and relaxation. Not much has changed at the hotel since then, and the grandchildren have the pulse on what needs to be done to bring back the glory. But is it too much of an undertaking, and at what cost? The families come back to the hotel to decide its fate, and the fun begins. Of course, as there is with any family saga, there are secrets to be exposed, and liaisons to be made. The whole thing gets wrapped up in a big bow at the end, and I was there for it!
Another great summer read, this one is for the nostalgia buffs who remember the grand hotels of summer, or for anyone who enjoys a fun multi generational tale.
