The Finer Things Club: The Summertime Chronicles of a Yellowstone Housekeeping Employee

by Lauren Erickson

As a 20-year-old college student and devout people pleaser, Lauren spent most of her young adult life doing everything she was supposed to do-studying, testing, and job hunting. One empty summer day, she decided to travel 1,300 miles to work for two seasons in the most desolate region in the United Yellowstone National Park.
With zero connections or internet service, Lauren ventured off into the Wyoming woods in search of the confidence she needed to become her truest self. Told with wit and style, The Finer Things Club captures the intimate moments of a life in the world's very first national park.

Genres: Nonfiction

326 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2023

Reviews

[McKinley Aspen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story with beautifully written highlights of the value of nature in our life experiences. I cannot wait to see what this author will bring to the table in the future - eloquent, captivating and unique!

[Allie Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the experiences in this book were likely more transformative and entertaining to *experience* than they were to read about. The book was fine, but a lot of Lauren’s time at Yellowstone felt very “you had to be there”. The author described every (important, funny, horrific, scary, impactful) moment well enough that I wished I *had* been there for some of the fun memories! But as someone that’s experienced nothing even close to similar I couldn’t connect. I actually found the descriptions of this odd job (Housekeeping in Yellowstone National Park) to be surprising and interesting, but I’m not sure I would’ve thought the world *needed* 300+ pages about it. Again, I appreciate the importance of getting these stories immortalized for *her*, but I didn’t personally gain much as a reader. I think this would be a good one for anyone more familiar with Yellowstone, or, anyone wanting motivation to take their own risk by jumping into a new and scary environment. (Thanks to Red Clover Digital for this advanced copy!)

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longing for adventure, twenty-year-old college student Lauren Erickson sets off from her family home in Missouri to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, to work for the summer. She shares her coming-of-age memoirs in “The Finer Things Club: The Summertime Chronicles of a Yellowstone Housekeeping Employee.” Lauren spent two seasons working at this park. She shares her experiences from both adventures. She was hoping to find a connection with others and find herself.

She quickly discovers that the working conditions are extremely demanding. Initially, she makes new friends but most often feels like an outsider. Her need to be a people pleaser puts her in an awful position when she reluctantly volunteers to help clean up an overflowing toilet. She gets her first boyfriend and in turn her first kiss. Unfortunately, he was not worthy of being her boyfriend, but she still learned from the experience. She takes advantage of opportunities to go hiking and has some wonderful experiences being able to connect with the majestic beauty of this place. When Lauren returns for the second season, she comes back more confident and finds herself continuing to grow, even though she was faced with some difficult situations.

I completely enjoyed immersing myself in this wonderful memoir. I found myself relating to so much of who Lauren is despite being born almost twenty years before she was born. The feelings of social awkwardness, insecurity, need to please, and desire for connections are timeless. In my case, I took off in my Pinto to move from New Jersey to California. I never went back. The people that Lauren worked and bonded with were also interesting characters from all over the United States. I enjoyed her vivid descriptions of them and seeing how they played a role in her life.

I found “The Finer Things Club” to be engrossing, especially when Lauren went back for the second season because she had more confidence and was able to feel more connected. Her experiences helped her evolve, and I found it relatable that the growth that came with these adventures also caused her to outgrow the friends that she left behind in Missouri.

While I believe readers of all ages will enjoy this book, I think young adults will be especially impacted by it. Teachers should encourage their students to read “The Finer Things Club: The Summertime Chronicles of a Yellowstone Housekeeping Employee” by Lauren Erickson in hopes that they will also feel the need to answer the call of a summer adventure somewhere outside of their comfort zone so that they too can have an amazing opportunity for personal growth.

[Literary Titan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Finer Things Club, Lauren Erickson invites readers on an exploration of courage, determination, and self-discovery as she recounts her travels over 1300 miles to face fears and challenges in the pristine wilds of Yellowstone Park. Inspired by her father's similar experience three decades earlier, Erickson chronicles her three-month tenure working as a maid in this breathtaking location, stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing the unknown.

Throughout the pages, Erickson delves into her quest to understand previously unexplored aspects of her life - such as freedom, the autonomy to make personal decisions, and the courage to move forward. Surrounded by the extraordinary natural beauty of Yellowstone, she confronts the self-doubt that once convinced her of her inadequacy or compelled her to conform to others' expectations.

Spanning two contrasting seasons in Yellowstone, the book eloquently narrates Erickson's growth through new beginnings and uncertainties. Readers will find themselves immersed in vivid descriptions of her daily routine as a housekeeper, the enriching experiences of hikes, stargazing, and campfire conversations, as well as the cultivation of meaningful friendships. Equally poignant are Erickson's reflections upon returning home, where she grapples with the disparity between her transformed self and the life she once knew.

The Finer Things Club serves as an inspiring reminder that the courage to step beyond our comfort zones can lead to the most remarkable adventures, revealing our true selves in the process. This beautifully written account is not only a must-read for nature enthusiasts but also for anyone seeking to embrace life's challenges and discover their inner strength. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

[Stefanie]

The trees towered above her as she made her way along the rocky trail. The sunlight dappled through the outstretched limbs of the pines, lighting her way as she continued along the path. The air was crisp, clean, invigorating. Being out here was a soothing balm for her soul.

The Finer Things Club is a memoir detailing Lauren’s two summers working at a camp in Yellowstone National Park. She talks about her job, navigating relationships, making and maintaining friendships, and exploring the beauty of Yellowstone. She also is able to discover things about herself as she spends those two summers out in nature.

It was neat to read and get details about the camp Lauren worked at and to read about the beauty of Yellowstone National Park, but the writing was very repetitive and spent more time talking about housekeeping and her job then it did about the beauty of the place she was in. I would have loved more details about her hikes and being outside in nature than the details about cleaning rooms. This also read very juvenile and similar to YA fiction in style, with a lot of immature judgmental moments.

I do enjoy reading others’ stories and was glad to read about Lauren’s experience at the camp, so if you like summer camp stories, you may enjoy reading this memoir.

CW: Anxiety/Depression, Misogyny, Underage Drinking, Drug Use, Sexual Harassment.

*No rating for nonfiction.

Thank you Red Clover Digital for a gifted copy.

[caitlin king · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book as an avid traveler with a love for National Parks, especially Yellowstone. I enjoyed reading all the behind the scenes details of how summer employees in housekeeping and a few other departments get hired, then live and work in the park. I've always fantasized about working in a National Park and this book disabused me of that notion! The paperwork, miscommunication and antiquated processes are things I can do without.

There were a few sentences and passages that struck me as very poetic and wise throughout the book. I related to the author as an introvert who has had trouble fitting in during school and in social situations as a young adult. There were other parts of the book that struck me as immature and better suited to have remained in her personal journals such as some of the name-calling and descriptors of people she encountered. Certain situations she described seem to still bother her and it came through in the writing in a negative way. Perhaps if she had more distance from the situations she could write about them more objectively.

Lastly, I would have liked reflection in the final few chapters instead of ending with only stories of her final days working in Yellowstone because it felt abrupt. Overall, I highlighted several moving sentences and passages, and would definitely read the author's future writing if she publishes anything else.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicole reading_with_nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in need of a memoir to read and this one was good- Lauren at the age of 20 leaves Missouri to work in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. ⁣
Lauren writes about her time working at the park - the conditions she had to work in- her shy awkwardness to make new friends and in some was go out of the way to please people.. She is very detailed in writing about her duties of cleaning the camp and the beauty of Yellowstone Park to the point that you feel like you are right there with her.. That was awesome because you get the full effect of what she is conveying.. ⁣
It was nice also reading how she was able to get more in touch with herself while working at the camp for two summers.. ⁣
This would be a great book for a young adult thinking about making any type of journey out in the world.. ⁣
⁣

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. I thought I was getting a travel memoir, but it’s much more of a new adult memoir that happens to take place someplace unique. Had I read this in my early 20s, I suspect I would have felt connected to the author and her struggles. As a middle aged woman, however, I wanted her to find her voice. To accurately express her feelings and to not wait for the rest of the world to read her mind. I would be interested to hear how the author reflects on her experiences detailed in this book after experiencing a lot more life. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul searching under starry skies
We discover ourselves while navigating relationships.
‘I felt torn between who I was and who I was supposed to be.’

To quote the Norwegian Cruise Line commercial, “It’s just different out here”:
Some of the young adults “upgraded” their reading material to classics, ‘poetry and journal entries by philosophers and explorers’. Just being in such a huge and open environment make one think about the universe and our place in it.

Sometimes, we just gotta disconnect in order to reconnect.


What do you consider to be your “finer things” in life?

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a cool concept of the author storytelling events of working in Yellowstone over two summers of her college years. I liked that it was almost like a diary entry, the authors voice was like your friend telling you the story over coffee. Most of the stories were “you had to be there moments,” but it was an easy read and enjoyable.