As a devoted fan of The Golden Girls, I was eager to dive into this book. I thoroughly enjoyed being swept into Dorothy’s journey as she reenters the dating world. Only she discovers that it’s not quite the romantic adventure Blanche makes it out to be. And soon things take an unexpected turn when Dorothy’s disastrous date turns up dead at Rose’s cousin’s wedding. How did he end up there and who’s responsible?

While the mystery was fun, I did find myself missing some of the show’s signature charm. Rose’s whimsical stories about Olaf and Sophia’s sharp tongued wit were noticeably absent, and I felt there were missed opportunities to truly capture the essence of these beloved characters. The connection to the show’s original magic didn’t fully land for me.

That said, I appreciated the continued theme of deep female friendship and found family, which is at the heart of what makes The Golden Girls so special. I’m looking forward to the next installment and hope it brings more of that classic dynamic we know and love.

*Thank you to Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.