Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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:

When I learned that Elyssa Friedman had a new novel out, I had to get my hands on it as soon as possible.  I really enjoyed her humorous take on cruise ships (written pre-COVID) called, The Floating Feldmans where everything that could go wrong does.  Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, Friedman's latest book, follows two families who run an old fashioned Catskills resort.  The clash between generations, and between nostalgia and innovation, come to a head as an offer has been made by a casino to purchase the hotel.  

What I Liked:

Premise:

In flashbacks, the novel fondly recalls a time where Jewish families would spend the entire summer in the Catskills.  Men would work in New York during the week, and join their families on the weekends to relax and have family time.  But now, the hotel is a relic of the past with run down buildings, and low occupancy.  Several generations have a vote on whether or not to sell the hotel.  But each member has different motives that will influence their vote.  I loved the clash of generations, and the conflict between sentiment and practicality.  

Characters:

Since there were two families, there are wonderful characters from several generations that I fell in love with.  And I enjoyed that the novel didn't focus solely on the younger characters.  The eighty year olds were just as interesting as the twenty-somethings.  Franny and Louise, the wives of the founders of the hotel, continued long-standing slights and misunderstandings.  And all of the older generation has reverence for one member who has passed away, Benny, Abe's business partner.  The middle generation (the sandwich generation), were caught between looking out for their parents, and worrying about their own adult children.  Amy feels untethered with her three kids all grown up, and her marriage in trouble.  Brian, who was nearly fifty, was still working for his parents at the hotel.  Is he up to the task of running the hotel?  Or should he try to make his own way.  Brian's brother Peter worked as an attorney to create a comfortable life for his wife, Greta.  But, as the book progresses, it's clear that money doesn't buy happiness.  The youngest generations, all twenty-somethings, are also still figuring out what they want, and who they want to spend their lives with.  They also were the most eager to embrace changes to the hotel.  But can their changes improve the hotel, or ruin what made the hotel special to begin with?

Catskills Resorts:

If you enjoyed the movie, Dirty Dancing, then you'll have a feeling for what the Catskills were like in its heyday.  But even if you haven't seen the movie, the novel does a wonderful job of lovingly describing the magical summertimes of years gone by.  From the activities such as bingo, cha-cha lessons, and canasta, to the bountiful food, the author shows us a time where people really understood what vacation time was all about. 

But the book also recounts some of the not so wonderful happenings at such a resort.  "Bungalow Bunnies" were wives who slept with the staff while their husbands were away working, the men also cheated on their wives.  And parents arranged marriages with other families based on superficial attributes such as the appearance of the girl, and the boys future job prospects.  

It's also worth noting why these resorts were set up in the first place.  Jewish people were often barred from country clubs, and other types of resorts.  So, hotels in the Catskills were created to cater solely to this group.  I understand that the author wanted to keep the book light, but I think a little historical context might help readers understand the significance of these places.  

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  May 18th, 2021

Author:  Elyssa Friedland

Publisher:  Berkley Books

Genre:  Literary Fiction

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  Public Library

Format:  Audiobook

Narrator:  Julia Whelan

Audiobook Length:  9 hours, 26 minutes       

Recommendation:  A very funny novel about trying to  find common ground between generations of family members.  Full of nostalgia, this novel is a lovely reminder of how some people used to vacation.  I loved this novel.