First things first -- the cover of GOLDEN is absolutely stunning ... beautiful enough that I decided to read this book without having any knowledge whatsoever of the plot or characters. Sometimes you *can* judge a book by its cover, and this just may be one of those times. 
 Starting with the plot, of course. Parker is nearing the end of her high school career, which has always been full of academic over-achievements, hours of endless studying and preparing for her future, and complete and utter adherence to a path for success that has been laid out for her by her detail-oriented mother ... culminating in a scholarship to an Ivy League University, which would in turn lead to medical school or something similarly fabulous. As one of her extra curricular activities, Parker works with an English teacher who gives each senior a composition book in which she must record the wonderful plans for her one and only life within the pages. Ten years later, he mails the notebooks back to the students to allow them to reflect back upon their 18 year old perspectives. 
 Parker uncovers the notebook of Julianna, a beautiful graduate from ten years ago who was part the town's most beloved couple -- until she and her boyfriend disappeared on a treacherously snowy night. Their bodies were never found, but their jeep was located at the bottom of a frozen pond, leaving everyone to assume that the couple had drowned, although many town residents created a local fairy tale from the teens, wishing one or both of the couple to have grown up and hidden away from the town in a continuance of their youthful love story. 
 After finding Julianna's journal, Parker can't help but take a peek inside -- which leads her to unearth shocking secrets that may have led to Julianna's possible disappearance ten years ago. Is it likely that the power couple wasn't as blissfully happy as everyone assumed? And did Julianna have good reason to possibly be living today under a newly created identity, desperate to escape her past? 
 While Parker struggles to create her own dreams in her composition notebook, she wonders if the mystery of Julianna may reveal to her the greatest lesson of her high school years. Can she break free of her mother's dreams for her and carve out her own path before it's too late? 
 I must say, I was extremely intrigued by the idea of a missing couple and a hidden journal that might be the secret to uncovering the truth behind a town's most infamous members. Granted, I can't imagine that I would ever want my old high school teacher mailing me a copy of my rantings from my teenage years -- I doubt I'd have any interest at all in reading anything from that era... although, I admit that I'm really not inclined towards sentimentality of my past. (view spoiler)[ I also can't imagine that I could harbor secret feelings of unrelenting love towards ANYONE I met when I was 18, so I really couldn't feel the magic in the relationship between Orion and Julianna -- especially after learning that Orion was still pining for his high school love. (hide spoiler)] I read the first 75% of this novel in a single sitting, eager to see the secrets of Julianna's back story and ready to see what she may have revealed in the final pages of her composition book. 
 I think that Parker's coming of age story was one that was realistic and relateable, and I enjoyed watching her grow and learn to think for herself. (view spoiler)[ I can't deny, though, that the pragmatist in me was extremely disappointed that she withdrew herself from what she seemed to think was a nearly guaranteed free ride to an Ivy League University. While I can definitely understand dreams of roaming around NYC seeking out a writer's career, I couldn't help but want to WIN that scholarship and then choose a major more aligned with her new aspirations. I mean, free rides to college aren't necessarily something you can come by every day! (hide spoiler)]. I can't say that I agreed with all of Parker's decisions in the end, but I think her processes that got her there were something that will appeal to many fans of contemporary young adult fiction. 
 (view spoiler)[ I wasn't entirely thrilled with the ending of the story, to be honest. On the one hand, things almost came together *too* nicely -- with Josh having pined away for ten years for this woman, and Julianna allegedly having contacted him at the last minute for a reunion. I would have liked to see this be either a bit more open ended -- in that Parker realizes she has taken a risk and has learned lessons despite her failure -- or a bit more perfectly finalized (if one is to take a more fairy tale approach), in that Parker knows *for SURE* that she has risked everything for what *did* definitely turn out to be the ultimate fairy tale. It just felt a little odd for the story to wrap up with Parker deferring college and hoping that the mysterious couple really did live happily ever after -- although, I can't deny, this may have been the most realistic and fitting ending for the novel as a whole. (hide spoiler)] 
 I think the author did a wonderful job with GOLDEN and I look forward to seeing what else she writes in the future. GOLDEN will be a sure *hit* for anyone who adores contemporary young adult coming of age stories with a fun bit of mystery thrown in for entertainment. 
 Thanks you to PULSE IT for featuring GOLDEN this week!