Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.
Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.
Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.
Golden by Jessi Kirby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
”Life is made of moments and choices.”
I think that the first words of a book are the hardest to write. They’ll either make you feel that it is that good you have to read it now or that it can wait a few more days.
And as a reader, I just know I’m going to love a book through those first sentences that I read.
Golden got me hooked from the very beginning. It is a breathtakingly heartbreaking, memorable read.
Parker is the seventeen-year-old protagonist who is just a speech away from fulfilling her dreams - being accepted into one of the most renowned universities and then becoming a doctor. She’s the perfect student with the perfect grades who always does what others expect of her.
Parker knows what she’s gonna do with her life; she has it all planned out... or at least that’s what she thought. After finding a journal that changes everything she has believed in all these years, Parker does what she’s never done before: do something unexpected, unforgettable and wild.
What I loved most about Parker is she’s a very relatable, realistic character. With the same problems, drama and whims of a teenage girl about to graduate high school, one can easily see themselves in her shoes. Parker has built a wall of perfection and expectations around her though that she gets scared of taking risks and making choices she might see herself regretting someday. She’d rather choose to play it safe in fear that she’d mess up and disappoint the people around her, most especially her mom. We all feel a little like that sometimes. When we think too much of what other people might say or think that we do things not in a way we would have but in a way others expect us to. Parker’s also a big fan of sappy romance books/movies and being a die-hard romantic at heart myself, I liked her character even more.
I also love the easygoing friendship between Parker and Kat. Kat is the supportive, “out there” bff. She’s the bestfriend who does the risky, surprising things and drags you with them but at the end you won’t regret coming along ‘cause no matter how wrong it seemed at the start, it turned out to be the most fun you’ve ever had.
Trevor Collins is a sigh-worthy character. He always knows the right thing to say who would leave you utterly confused and giddy at the same time. He’s a perfect gentleman who means what he says. Parker and Trevor’s interactions always make me smile. I can feel the chemistry around them and it’s even hotter when they try to avoid and deny it. Looking for a new book boyfriend? Try Trevor Collins.
I love everything about Golden. A romantic story with a touch of mystery with characters that are all alluring and brilliantly written.
Another thing I love about the book is reading the journal entries. It gave me goose bumps. It tells of a tale of first love, falling in love and then finding something you never saw coming but you just know it’s the best thing that’s happened to you. It tells a story that would pull you in and would tear you apart.
I liked keeping a diary when I was little. I can still remember how it felt just after putting all my thoughts, sorrows and feelings into words. How relieved I’d feel and somehow lighter. That’s one of the best things about Golden, it makes you remember and feel and make you see deeper into yourself.
Reading this book made my heart race. Told in a heartfelt, genuine voice, Golden is a thought-provoking novel that is warm and alive with emotions. It would make you smile, cry, hope and believe in love and taking chances. Poignant, tragic and full of all the intricacies of love and life.
A song that I think is very fitting for Golden - Chances by Five for Fighting
Chances are when said and done
Who'll be the lucky ones who make it all the way?
Though you say I could be your answer
Nothing lasts forever no matter how it feels today
Chances are we'll find a new equation
Chances roll away from me
Chances are all they hope to be…
An eARC copy of Golden was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss.
Keep the books coming -
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