Last Summer at the Golden Hotel

 

Summary (from the publisher): A family reunion for the ages when two clans convene for the summer at their beloved getaway in the Catskills--perfect for fans of Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel--from the acclaimed author of The Floating Feldmans.

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.

Review: Once the 'it' spot to vacation in the Catskills, the Golden Hotel has declined in popularity and slowly fallen into disrepair. After sixty years of joint ownership, the Goldmans and the Weingolds must decide whether or not the hotel can be saved. This multi-generational family story follows members of the family and staff of the hotel as they navigate what is likely the last summer of the historic hotel. 

This was a cute summer read reminiscent of the summer resort setting in both Dirty Dancing and the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel but without as much of the glamor. While the characters frequently reference the hotel's glorious past, it has now fallen into disrepair and the list of needed repairs continues to grow, without the funds to address them. As the guest list has dwindled, so has the quality of the facilities. Now, the members of the families have gathered to decide whether or not to accept an offer to buy the hotel. This possible last gathering gives them a chance to reminisce, to consider their shared history, and to reflect on where they will go from here. 

It would have been fun to see the hotel at its height, maybe with flashbacks or an earlier section in the novel. As a reader, it feels like we've arrived for the final chapter. Without the glamor and a real sense of the history, it was hard to feel as sad as the characters to see the hotel possibly go. Also, there are a lot of characters in this and at times it was hard to keep up with everyone. There are two families who co-own the hotel and each has multiple generations plus staff and guests. This difficulty was likely compounded by the fact that I listened to this on audible and my memory is lacking when I don't have a visual. However, the audible narrator was delightful and this was a fun listen. I liked the realism in the conclusion and the lives of the characters and loved the Dirty Dancing inspiration. 

Stars: 3