“It’s a beautiful June day, the kind that Vivi writes about. In fact, all thirteen of Vivian Howe’s novels—beach reads set on Nantucket—start in June.”

Vivi and Hilderbrand share several similarities, and these are apparent as soon as the story begins: Both are novelists who reside in Nantucket, with all of their “beach reads” set on the island. More so than most of her books, Hilderbrand has infused many autobiographical elements into Golden Girl, especially in crafting Vivi’s character. Vivi echoes this in the book as her novel, also titled Golden Girl, is also based largely on her life.

“Vivi is spooked. This song brings back such intense memories of high school that she feels if she turns her head, she’ll see Brett Caspian standing in the middle of Kingsley Road. She nearly pushes the skip button, but she does love the song, despite her complicated history with it, and it’s been so long since she’s heard it.”

Vivi listens to a song that reminds her of her high school boyfriend, Brett Caspian, shortly before she is killed. This is an instance of symbolic foreshadowing: The last memory Vivi has before she dies is of Brett; after her death, the last novel her readers receive is also about Brett, as Golden Girl is based on their high school romance.

“Vivi can’t miss taking Leo to college. And she has a grandchild on the way. […] Then there’s Carson, who seems to need a mother now more than ever. Vivi can’t leave her kids down there by themselves. They’re her kids. She’s their mother. Dying isn’t an option, sorry.”

As Vivi ascends to the “Beyond,” she thinks about how her children still need her. Vivi’s concern for her children frames the theme of Growing Up After Parental Loss in Adulthood. Her concern leads her to closely follow her children’s lives during her viewing window. Additionally, this passage outlines the specific challenges each of her children faces after her death: