The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel

The Goldman and Weingold families have co-owned the Golden Hotel in the Catskills for over 60 years. Now in severe decline, the once-glamorous resort faces potential sale to casino developers, bringing three generations of both families together for one pivotal summer. The grandchildren, parents, and grandparents converge at the hotel to decide its fate, each bringing their own baggage and secrets. As they navigate both family dynamics and business decisions, memories of the hotel's glory days in the 1960s contrast sharply with its present-day challenges. The story alternates between different family members' perspectives as they grapple with change, loyalty, and what it means to preserve a legacy. Hidden relationships, financial troubles, and long-buried resentments surface as the families face hard choices about the future. This multi-generational tale explores themes of tradition versus progress, the evolution of the hospitality industry, and the complex bonds that hold families together through decades of change. The novel captures a particular moment in American Jewish cultural history while examining universal questions about inheritance and adaptation.

Readers describe this as a light beach read following two families at a Catskills resort. The book maintains a 3.7/5 rating on Goodreads (11,000+ ratings) and 4.1/5 on Amazon (2,800+ ratings). Readers liked: - The nostalgic Catskills setting - Multi-generational family dynamics - Jewish cultural elements - Quick, easy pacing Common criticisms: - Too many characters to track - Underdeveloped relationships - Predictable plot points - Character perspectives that switch frequently "Perfect for fans of Dirty Dancing who want a behind-the-scenes look at Catskills resorts," notes one Amazon reviewer. Several readers mentioned difficulty keeping track of the 12+ main characters and their interconnected storylines. A recurring Goodreads comment points to "surface-level development" of the romantic relationships. BookPage and Library Journal gave positive reviews, while Kirkus Reviews noted the "overcrowded cast of characters" as a limitation.

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🌟 The book draws inspiration from "Dirty Dancing" and classic Catskills resorts like Grossinger's, which were once popular vacation destinations for Jewish families. 🏨 The real-life Catskills resorts, known as the "Borscht Belt," hosted legendary comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers, and Mel Brooks early in their careers. 📚 Author Elyssa Friedland worked as a corporate attorney before becoming a full-time writer and has written five novels, including "The Floating Feldmans." 🗽 The Golden Hotel in the book is set in the Catskills region of New York, which saw its peak tourism in the 1950s-60s, with over 500 hotels operating in the area. 💫 The novel alternates between three generations of two families, the Goldmans and the Weingolds, telling the story through multiple perspectives and timelines.