Golden Hills by Jennifer Weiner @jenniferweiner @copatter @BrilliancePub

the setup…
Congresswoman Ida Berkowitz is running for the US Senate seat and right now things are looking good after handily winning the primary. She’s feeling good, that is until her campaign manager looks up from her phone and asks, “Who is Marissa Schuyler?” In that moment, everything about who Ida has come to be is threatened as she remembers the woman who was her bunkmate at Camp Golden Hills when she was 16-years old.

the heart of the story…
What voters love about Ida is her authenticity, especially her deep rooted commitment to the empowerment of women. Even before the story shifted to her time at that camp, I knew whatever happened between her and Marissa might put some chinks in that pillar. Still, given what I’d learned about the present day Ida, it was hard to believe she’d ever strayed too far from that identity. Great care was taken to fully define Ida, Marissa and their relationship, skillfully leading towards what proved to be a defining moment.

the narration…
I love when a narrator provides a subtle performance, letting the story stand on its own, as was the case here. It’s especially crucial for a short story that needs no embellishment. Very well done.

the bottom line…
I had several theories of where the story might go and none of them materialized. Women empowering other women is a personal passion of mine so I was uneasy about where Ida would land. I also loved the exploration of Ida’s journey to adulthood, including her own complicated relationship with her accomplished single mother. This short story managed to pack in some thought provoking elements despite its brevity. Loved it.

Book Info

• Release Date: June 1, 2023
• Narrator: Courtney Patterson
• Audio Length: 1 hour, 33 minutes
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio

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(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)