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The Goldens

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The Goldens

By: Lauren Wilson
Narrated by: Cassandra Harwood
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About this listen

A dark, intoxicating and unputdownable thriller, simmering with atmosphere

‘One of the best debuts I’ve ever read’ Laura Steven

‘A thoroughly insidious thriller’ Bea Fitzgerald

‘Sprinkled with the glamorous, the glittering and the gothic’ H. F. Askwith

Chloe has always dreamed of becoming a bestselling writer. Then she meets enigmatic influencer Clara Holland, and at last, Chloe has something to write about. They bond instantly, and Chloe moves into Clara’s mansion. But as Clara’s fame skyrockets, she starts behaving strangely, hosting increasingly wild parties, complete with bonfire rituals and moonlit river baptisms.

Clara opens up her home to other girls desperate to live like her. The media call it a cult, and soon Chloe begins to hear unsettling rumours from Clara's past. After one spectacular party, a girl goes missing and the rumours take on a sinister new meaning. If Chloe can’t escape Clara’s influence, she may be next …

THE GOLDENS is about to become your newest obsession.

©2025 Lauren Wilson (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Coming of Age Difficult Situations Family & Relationships Friendship Literature & Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Peer Pressure Thrillers & Suspense

Critic reviews

‘One of the best debuts I’ve ever read – The Goldens is the influencer-starts-a-murder-cult story I never knew I needed. Dark, seductive and ruthlessly compelling, this is a cuttingly deep exploration of tender girlhood and toxic obsession … but I would still follow Clara Holland to the ends of the earth. Nobody is ready for this book’ Laura Steven, author of Our Infinite Fates

The Goldens is a thoroughly insidious thriller, set in a glittering, decadent world that will lure you in just as surely as the cast’s characters fall to the influence of their intoxicating, charismatic leader’ Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

‘With creeping dread building to a nerve-shredding finale, The Goldens is sprinkled with the glamorous, the glittering and the gothic’ H. F. Askwith, author of A Dark Inheritance

'Deliciously dark and incredibly cool … An unputdownable novel' The Bookseller

‘A hedonistic exploration of when fascination becomes obsession, The Goldens is a deftly plotted tale of toxic friendships, wild revelry and the tipping point of social-media darling to cult leader. If Serena van der Woodsen had the personality of Rebecca de Winter and decided to start a teen cult, The Goldens would be the result’ Rachel Greenlaw, author of Compass and Blade

‘An unputdownable book fuelled by ride or die, toxic friendships and an irresistibly coquettish cult led by a social media influencer. The Goldens is feverish, sultry and tense – trust me, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever read’ Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb

‘Lauren Wilson has delivered a sparkling debut – hidden inside this glittery party favour is a razor blade’ Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town

‘An outrageously good thriller’ The Sun

‘A seductive tale of effervescent glamor, toxic friendship and the fragile line between devotion and worship – irresistible’ Kate Alice Marshall, author of Rules for Vanishing

‘A dark, compelling thriller with a hint of Saltburn’ Metro

All stars
Most relevant
I liked the slow build up to a great story. It was exciting and kept you guessing.

The twist at the end was wonderful.

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When Chloe picks up a beautiful scarf monogrammed with the same three letters as her name she wonders if it's a gift or chance coincidence. When she meets the owner, self-styled social media model and influencer Clara, she wonders if it's destiny that they should become friends, but there is no escaping Clara's power to draw girls to her fandom nor to her need for adoration. thus begins a story about vanity, insecurities and agency.

I wasn't blown away by the plot of this story, sure it built nicely but also you could see the red flags from a mile off and the plot rolled out like a red carpet. It still was an effective novel but the superficial trappings and descriptions of manor life were not as appealing as the tensions between characters. it all pays off neatly but much like Clara's opulent home, everything in this book feels pleasingly put together and lacked any real grit for me. Good distracting read, with implausible scenario but engaging characters.

Vanity Comes before a Fall

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