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    We Are the Goldens
    We Are the Goldens
    We Are the Goldens
    Audiobook4 hours

    We Are the Goldens

    Written by Dana Reinhardt

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Nell worships her older sister, Layla. They're one unit, intertwined: Nellayla. As Nell and her best friend, Felix, start their freshman year in high school, on Layla's turf, there's so much Nell looks forward to: Joining Layla on the varsity soccer team. Parties. Boys. Adventures.

    But the year takes a very different turn.

    Layla is changing, withdrawing. She's hiding something, and when Nell discovers what it is, and the consequences it might have, she struggles. She wants to support Layla, to be her confidante, to be the good sister she's always been. But with so much at stake, what secrets should she keep? What lies should she tell?

    Award-winning young adult author Dana Reinhardt explores questions of loyalty, love, and betrayal in this provocative and intimate novel.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateMay 27, 2014
    ISBN9781480590670
    We Are the Goldens
    Author

    Dana Reinhardt

    Dana Reinhardt lives in San Francisco with her husband and their two daughters. She is the award-winning author of the young adult novels A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, Harmless, How to Build a House, The Things a Brother Knows, and The Summer I Learned to Fly and the middle-grade novel Odessa Again. Her books have been named to many best of the year lists, and reviewers have praised her work as “exceptional,” and “funny and unforgettable.” Visit her at danareinhardt.net.

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    Reviews for We Are the Goldens

    3.5/5

    52 ratings14 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Nell has always been so close to her older sister, Layla, that she used to think they were the same person, Nellayla. Nell thinks that being a freshman at the same school where Layla is a junior will bring them closer, but instead, Layla is pulling away. Nell has to try and find out what secrets Layla is keeping, while keeping her and her sister's secrets from their parents and Nell's best friend, Felix. I thought this story was going to be a bit darker judging by the blurb, and therefore the ending was a little unsatisfying, but the approach to the story and subject matter were entertaining.
    • 3/5
      I have mixed feelings about this one. It is a fast paced read, but it is also sloppy. The writing is messy, and I get that it needs to be, since it's narration is a letter written by a high school freshman... but, I think it still could have been better. I quickly was annoyed with Nell's ramblings, but I HAD to know what was going on, so I pressed on. I honestly don't think another point of view our different narration would be better, I think it just needs some cleaning around the edges.
      This was a really quick read and a serious page turner. I had a few hunches, one was right, one I'll never know the answer to. Even though I guessed at some of the plot, I still enjoyed the read- knowing what was coming didn't make it any less shocking or meaningful.
      My other issue was that ending. I mean, OMG. I literally sat up on bed and yelled "what?!" at that. Talk about a cliffhanger, and (maybe?) a set up.
      Overall, a good book. Quick read, interesting concept, and full of drama.
    • 2/5
      I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

      Honestly, I am just not a fan of second person POV stories, so that was a major factor working against this book for me. I didn't really understand why the major dark secret was revealed so early on in the book, when that seemed to be the crux of the plot. I do enjoy stories about twisted, obsessive relationships (friendship, romantic, familial), but, ... I don't know. It didn't work here for me.

      The writing was ... serviceable. Nothing to get too excited about. The characters weren't all that interesting, either, in my estimation. Overall, I can see the potential and I could understand why people might love this, but it just wasn't for me.
    • 4/5
      (This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).


      There was something about this book that intrigued me. Maybe it was the forbidden romance between a student and her teacher. I decided to give this book a try. Although it wasn't as great as I thought it would be, it was still an alright read.

      I love the title, and I feel that it fits in really well with the book. These two sisters have always had each other's back and have done nearly everything together.

      The cover is okay. I think it looks a bit too cavemanish though instead of two beautiful girls as what is described in the book. Maybe if both girls were looking up and the lighting was different, the cover photo wouldn't look like I was looking at two cavemen.

      I enjoyed the world building. We learn about the world through Nell's letters to her sister Layla. (At least it sounded like she was writing a letter(s) to her sister. The author made it easy to understand Nell's and Layla's relationship from the beginning through her fantastic prose.

      I thought the pacing held up rather well. There were times when I thought I'd be able to put the book down so I could go to bed or do something else, but I'd always end up reading a few more chapters. It thoroughly held my attention. Plus, I enjoyed the back story leading up to everything immensely.

      The plot of the whole teacher-student relationship has been done before. However, Reinhardt makes her story interesting and unlike the other stories. I liked the close relationship that Nell and Layla used to have before Layla started dating her teacher. I was saddened to see it start to unravel over a forbidden romance. There's no plot twists that I read about, but that doesn't hurt the book any. The only thing that annoyed me was the ending. I would've liked to know a bit more such as what happened to Mr. Barr and Layla. That's all I'm saying because I don't want to give away anything that could be deemed as a spoiler.

      Nell was instantly likable. There was a certain innocence and vulnerability with her. It was easy to empathize with what she was going through, and I felt like her struggle with keeping her sister's secret was my own as well. I also thought Layla was a fantastic character as well. We get to know her through Nell's letters, and we learn that she too is also very vulnerable and just wants to find her one true love. I loved the character of Felix except that I had a hard time believing that he was into girls as it said in the book. I found his speech to be very effeminate. He reminded me of Damian from the film Mean Girls. Every time Felix was in a scene, I always was picturing Damian. We don't really learn too much about Mr. Barr (the teacher in a relationship with Layla) other that his students all think he's the coolest teacher and the best looking. We also learn that there's rumors about him being with other students previously.

      The dialogue flows very smoothly and is never awkward. The speech fits my perception of how teenagers speak. It suits a young adult book. There is some swearing and some sexual references although none that are graphic. There is no violence in this book.

      Overall, We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt is an enjoyable read save for the ending. The characters are well written as is the whole entire book. This book deals with subject matter that happens at every school.

      I'd recommend this book to those aged 15 who enjoy realistic fiction and characters that are easy to relate to.

      I'd give We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt a 3.5 out of 5.


      (I was provided with a free ebook of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review).
    • 4/5
      I was gifted a copy of this box via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That in no way compromises or changes my opinion of this novel.

      I read this book in one day, which says a lot. Often time I get distracted, life gets in the way, or a book has a slow beginning, therefore I have a hard time getting into a story. “We are the Goldens” had no issue capturing my attention and keeping it until the very end. And now that the book is over, I am left hanging, wondering “what the heck!?!”. I really hope the author plans on a second book to follow this story, because I just have to know what happens; so many loose ends.

      The story are about the Golden sisters- Layla and Nell; and is written from Nell’s point of view, diary-like, addressed to her older sister (by 18 months), Layla. I personally enjoyed this style of writing, as it is refreshing, and added quite a bit of depth to the story.

      Their parents divorced when Nell was in Kindergarten, at Christmas, nonetheless. They split up their time living equally with each parent. But all in all, Nell relies on Layla, and Layla relies on Nell for everything. They are more than sisters; they are best-friends, confidantes, secret keepers. But some secrets just shouldn’t be kept.

      Nell’s best friend, Felix, often times helps put things in perspective for her. And he is right; this is not a secret Nell needs to keep to herself. But will Layla see it that way? Or will she view it as a betrayal?
    • 4/5
      A tautly written, absorbing, and emotionally honest story.
    • 3/5
      The author employs some common YA tropes: first person narration in the form of a letter by a teenage girl; intimations of a secret (one that is, however, in this story not very hidden); a boy best friend (male best friends in YA books tend to be either gay OR The One You Should Have Been In Love With All This Time); and the usual high school travails of bullying, sexual pressure, drugs and alcohol, and image control.This book differs from the rest only in that the protagonist Nell is addressing her letter to her big sister Layla. 15-year-old Nell and 17-year-old Layla have always been close, especially because their parents divorced early, but now, just when they are back in the same school again, Layla is pulling away from Nell. There are rumors about what Layla is up to, but Layla denies everything when questioned by Nell. Meanwhile, there is also vicious gossip bruiting about Nell.Eventually, Nell discovers something about Layla that gets her very worried. She wonders if she should seek advice from her BFF Felix about Layla, but wouldn’t that be a betrayal of Layla? And Felix has his own (more serious) family problems with which to contend.Evaluation: I didn’t think there was much to this book. The author throws out a number of possible plot lines that get pushed to the background in deference to the main dilemma, which didn’t seem all that momentous to me. A number of threads were left hanging, in fact, so much so that you might think this was only the first book of a trilogy (but it’s not).
    • 3/5
      This was one in a handful of books that I have read without much dialogue that I thoroughly enjoyed to read. I usually prefer dialogue in my stories. I usually find them boring without it-but not this one.

      This story is of two sisters. Layla-the oldest, and Nell-the youngest. Nell is the narrator of the story.

      Nell and her sister have always been close. They shared everything. Nell looks up to her sister, feels connected to her-in my opinion, maybe a little too much.

      Layla is becoming secretive, and that bothers Nell. Layla is distancing herself-and Nell can't deal with that. Layla is keeping a secret.

      This secret is tearing the sisters apart.

      Eventually Layla confides in Nell. Has she made a mistake?



      Should Nell keep this secret? Read and find out!
    • 3/5
      Sisterhood is complex. And complicated. That much I know even without having a sister. Although I've frequently wondered what it would be like to have one. Especially one really close in age. (when we were kids my little brother and I used to pester my mom - of course always Mom - to "give" us a sister...she vehemently refused...hmmm wonder if we were really that "bad")Nell and Layla have always been very close. So much so that Nell used to consider them "one entity" when she was a kid. (and hence referred to both of them by one name - Nellayla) Layla is 17 months older. The levelheaded, reliable one. The popular and beautiful one. The star soccer player. But Nell doesn't mind. Because it's Layla and Nell against the world. Until Nell starts her freshman year at the same high school as Layla. And starts noticing all the little ways in which Layla is starting to change. Withdrawing. Keeping secrets.We Are The Goldens reads like a letter Nell wrote to Layla. About what that distance between them feels like for her. About boys. And navigating the tricky world of teenagehood and high school. About Duncan and Parker, teen sons of family friends. About their parents. About falling in love. About missing her sister."But I guess I was imposing a Hollywood version of falling in love onto a high school where there really isn't much use for love, or even dating. There's hookups and people who hang out and all sorts of variations, but the actual boyfriend/girlfriend is a rare breed at City Day."It was a quick and fairly engaging read for me. I tend to enjoy YA literature of this kind. And while I was reading We Are The Goldens I really did enjoy it. All the characters came to life and it made me care about both girls. However the entire time it felt like the story is building towards something significant and emotionally impactful, there was a sense of anticipation that kept moving the story forward. And then the ending fell short for me. I was left looking at the last sentence thinking "Really? That's it?" I feel that with a different ending I would've given this story a higher rating.If there was a book telling the story from Layla's point of view I would definitely pick it up. I'd recommend this one to YA lovers who are looking for a fast read and are drawn to the subject matter.I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Nell starts her freshmen year in high school with the safety net of having an adored older sister, Layla and a loyal best friend in Felix. As she navigates the social pressures of high school, her sister holds onto a huge secret that threatens their sacred relationship. There are a lot of important issues here that are addressed realistically and Nell is a likable yet flawed narrator. The narration is addressed as Nell explaining her side to Layla and this carries the book well. I was only disappointed by the abrupt ending and would have like to see more resolution to the storyline. This was a good book, though, and one I recommend. I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Dana Reinhardt is known for her hard-hitting contemporary YA. She pulls no emotional punches, and her prose is precise and intense. She brings all these elements to her latest, WE ARE THE GOLDENS -- a book you must read this summer.WE ARE THE GOLDENS follows the stories of two sisters as they navigate their changing relationship. The book is narrated from the perspective of the younger sister Nell, in second person as she speaks, almost as if in a letter, to her older sister, Layla. Nell and Layla have always been close, and Nell has always considered her big sister her best friend. But something changed when the rumor about a favorite teacher and her sister turns out to be true. And Nell has to keep this secret.Part of what makes this book so special is the style in which it's told. It's definitely as much about the art of storytelling as it is the story. And while this story is very much about sisters, it's also about self-discovery and identity and navigating divorce. WE ARE THE GOLDENS also explores a beautiful friendship between Nell and her bestie Felix, who is, as they say, the Ducky to her Andie. This book is short, but it's absolutely rich. Fans of David Levithan and Lauren Myracle will definitely dig this wonderfully real new novel.
    • 4/5
      The Goldens of the title are sisters, Nell and Layla. Nell is the narrator, and as the younger of the two, Nell has always looked up to and admired her beautiful older sister. Seventeen months apart in age, their closeness increases when their parents divorce. Nell is 5 years old at the time of the divorce, and though the parents share custody, the sisters move between the parents' homes together. The relationship with each parent inevitably changes, but the bond between sisters grows stronger. Now, as she approaches high school, Nell is looking forward to being "Layla's little sister," again. Both girls are good students and outstanding athletes.Freshman Nell makes the soccer team and is invited to some of the junior/senior get togethers because she is Layla's sister. Layla does take her along, but Nell notices a change in their relationship. Before long she notices that Layla has also become estranged from her two closest friends at school. A prestigious private school, the student body is small enough that lots of students know one another and the rumor mill is alive and well. Could the rumors about Layla and one of the faculty members possibly be true? Nell quizzes Layla, who has a solid explanation for every rumor Nell has heard. Nell defends her sister and chooses to keep discrepancies she notices away from her parents, but before long Nell has some "secrets" of her own that she doesn't want to share with either mom or dad.This is a young adult novel that takes a good hard look at choices young people make that can affect their futures, their relationships at home and within the school. Nell must struggle with the pain of keeping a secret versus the pain of revealing very uncomfortable truths and facing uncertain consequences. Well written and thought-provoking, I think teens and those who enjoy teen lit will have some substantive ideas to think about/discuss after having read this book. I received this book in digital form from NetGalley and it should be arriving in book stores very soon.
    • 5/5
      Wow!!! If anyone has read a great 200 page YA monologue, please let me know, because I haven’t…until now. I had no idea what We Are the Goldens was about. I only knew it was Dana Reinhardt so I automatically put it on my reading list.Nelly and Layla are as close as two sisters should and could be. Only a year and a half apart, Nelly, the younger used to think their name was Nellayla, Nelly and Layla. They told each other everything…that is until Nelly became a freshman at City Day school where Layla was a junior. Then something changed. Oh sure, relationships change as sisters get older, but this was different, more severe.Written as Nelly’s monologue to her sister, she describes in such realistic terms her anguish at the changing relationship between her and Layla, her confusion about high school and boys, and her concern over her sisters actions. Right and wrong for a teenager is not a clear-cut thing (it may not be clear to adults either) and We Are the Goldens explores this as Nelly grapples with Layla’s secret.I could not put this book down. I stayed up late. I read up until the last minute of my lunch hour. It’s a short, fast read so it won’t take you long.I was introduced to Dana Reinhardt’s books through A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life ABriefChapterwhich led me to become a fan. Other Reinhardt books I’ve read and loved are (which are all of her books that I’ve read):How to Build a HouseThings a Brother KnowsThe Summer I Learned to FlyIf you are in the mood for something different, then I strongly suggest We Are the Goldens.
    • 4/5
      I would like to thank Random House Children's and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.I try to be selective about the books that I read, and especially YA books, because a lot of YA books just don't appeal to me. So when I pick books to read, I do so because I think I'm going to like them. However, when I started reading this book, I was very disappointed, because it is written in journal form, from Nell to Layla, her sister. I can't explain why, but that voice just annoyed me, and I just knew that reading a whole book of that was going to drive me crazy.But I continued to read because I wanted to know what the secret was. I love mysteries. And then the mystery came out at about 30%, and bam...disappointed again! What else could there be to the book now?! You're not supposed to give away the mystery at only 30%! But I kept reading because I wanted to know how the secret was handled.And I'm glad that I kept reading, because it turned out to be a pretty exciting book. In spite of the journaling voice and in spite of the secret being out at only 30%. I honestly, looking back, wouldn't change the secret part one bit. The way the story is written, the secret had to be out early so that it could get even more exciting later on. With even more mystery and drama.I really felt like I connected with Nell and her worry over her sister. And I even felt like I connected with Layla, even though she is written about in a journal and so is a bit more distant than she would be in another form of writing. I definitely wanted the best outcome for the two girls in this book, and my heart went out to them.Quite frankly, toward the last half to 3/4 of the book, I was so engrossed, and needed so badly to know how things were going to turn out, that I just didn't want to stop reading. I had to tear myself away from the book, and then was right back at it as soon as I possibly could get there. Which kind of amazed me for this book that at the beginning, I was just so sure I was going to hate and suffer through or not finish. So I'm really glad that I kept reading.I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am never compensated for my reviews.