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The Goldie Standard: A Novel
Maxie needs a husband according to her grandmother Goldie. But not just any husband...
Hilarious and surprising, this unapologetically Jewish story delivers a present-day take on a highly creative grandmother trying to find her Ph.D granddaughter a husband who is a doctor—with a yarmulke, of course.
Goldie Mandell is opinionated, assertive, and stuck in an Assisted Living Facility. But even surrounded by schleppers with walkers, pictures of sunrises and fancy fish tanks, and an array of daily activities to complement the tepid tea and stale cookies on offer, her salt-free plate is full. She’s got a granddaughter to settle, an eager love interest named Harry to subdue, and precious memories of her happy marriage to fellow Holocaust survivor Mordy to draw upon.
Maxie Jacobsen is young, brilliant, and newly single, not by choice. But she’s got her science career, a grandmother to care for, and her whole life ahead of her. When Maxie takes on the role of her grandmother’s medical advocate, she has no idea Goldie operates with the single purpose of securing Maxie with Dr. Right. Instead, Maxie is distracted by her grandmother’s unexpectedly charming long-haired, sandal-wearing, peculiarly-named driver, T-Jam Bin Naumann, definitely wrong in every way.
Hilarious and surprising, this unapologetically Jewish story delivers a present-day take on a highly creative grandmother trying to find her Ph.D granddaughter a husband who is a doctor—with a yarmulke, of course.
Goldie Mandell is opinionated, assertive, and stuck in an Assisted Living Facility. But even surrounded by schleppers with walkers, pictures of sunrises and fancy fish tanks, and an array of daily activities to complement the tepid tea and stale cookies on offer, her salt-free plate is full. She’s got a granddaughter to settle, an eager love interest named Harry to subdue, and precious memories of her happy marriage to fellow Holocaust survivor Mordy to draw upon.
Maxie Jacobsen is young, brilliant, and newly single, not by choice. But she’s got her science career, a grandmother to care for, and her whole life ahead of her. When Maxie takes on the role of her grandmother’s medical advocate, she has no idea Goldie operates with the single purpose of securing Maxie with Dr. Right. Instead, Maxie is distracted by her grandmother’s unexpectedly charming long-haired, sandal-wearing, peculiarly-named driver, T-Jam Bin Naumann, definitely wrong in every way.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2024
65 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 17, 2025
So here is what I notice. Right at the time when my I am trying to escape certain themes that are prevalent in my personal life, I seem to be choosing books with these themes all over it. What did I expect, an aging Jewish grandma trying to matchmake for her PhD granddaughter? I thought it would be fun and super fun in audio. And it was to an extent. But.. Aging, cancer, loss, alzheimers, family tension, holocaust/WWII, interfaith relationships that cause tension in a survivor of the war. Yes it was fun, but it was also that. And yet I listened to the very end, and in fact although the end was more serious, I really loved how it ended.
The narrator did a great job getting Goldie's voice and all the voices. It just made me like her less, which was totally the opposite of what I would have expected. I rather think I would have liked Goldie more in print. It was just a little over the top for me. But the Jewish references and intonation was wonderful! 3.5.
The narrator did a great job getting Goldie's voice and all the voices. It just made me like her less, which was totally the opposite of what I would have expected. I rather think I would have liked Goldie more in print. It was just a little over the top for me. But the Jewish references and intonation was wonderful! 3.5.
April 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
This is a book that you may not want to judge by its cover nor by its description. I definitely did not find it "hilarious," but I did find it " unapologetically Jewish." This will be a difficult read for anyone who is born of Jews who lived through the horror of WWII. It may feel a bit more depressing, considering the troubles in the Middle East lately.
This was an intense, sometimes depressing read that was oftentimes confusing. The language on the grandmother's (Goldies) side is a deep mix of English and Yiddish/Hebrew, and it was difficult for a goy like me to understand. I felt like I wasn't getting the full impact of the story. However, it is perfect for those who speak the language!
The story was captivating, although I had to re-read many pages to fully grasp its direction and intent.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher Sibylline Press, the author, and NetGalley.
This is a book that you may not want to judge by its cover nor by its description. I definitely did not find it "hilarious," but I did find it " unapologetically Jewish." This will be a difficult read for anyone who is born of Jews who lived through the horror of WWII. It may feel a bit more depressing, considering the troubles in the Middle East lately.
This was an intense, sometimes depressing read that was oftentimes confusing. The language on the grandmother's (Goldies) side is a deep mix of English and Yiddish/Hebrew, and it was difficult for a goy like me to understand. I felt like I wasn't getting the full impact of the story. However, it is perfect for those who speak the language!
The story was captivating, although I had to re-read many pages to fully grasp its direction and intent.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher Sibylline Press, the author, and NetGalley.
July 27, 2025
This is a Jewish Fiction. I found parts of this book funny, but I found parts boring. I loved parts, but I did not like parts. I just wanted more from this book. I felt at times this book kept saying the same thing. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
May 1, 2024
3.5/5 stars
This book is women's fiction/general fiction. It's about a Jewish grandmother named Goldie.
Goldie lives in an assisted living home in New York. Her husband is dead. But she has two daughters and a granddaughter.
I wanted to read this book because of the Jewish rep. And there is a lot of it. However this book is not what I was expecting. It's not a light funny read. Instead it deals with some serious issues. Yes Goldie does want to find her granddaughter Maxie a husband who is a doctor. But I was expecting a romcom or something much lighter.
The story goes back and forth in time. We see the 1940s, the 1970s and 2017 (the present). The book is full of lots of Yiddish words and references.
I enjoyed Harry, an older man who wants to date Goldie. That part was fun. And I did enjoy Goldie trying to find Maxie a husband. I liked T-Jam as Goldie's driver and Maxie's love interest.
The Goldie Standard looks at different generations. It is a very Jewish book featuring a wonderful and strong Jewish heroine. But the book was a difficult read. I definitely would have preferred a funnier lighter take on things.
Thanks to netgalley and Sibylline Press for allowing me to read this book.
This book is women's fiction/general fiction. It's about a Jewish grandmother named Goldie.
Goldie lives in an assisted living home in New York. Her husband is dead. But she has two daughters and a granddaughter.
I wanted to read this book because of the Jewish rep. And there is a lot of it. However this book is not what I was expecting. It's not a light funny read. Instead it deals with some serious issues. Yes Goldie does want to find her granddaughter Maxie a husband who is a doctor. But I was expecting a romcom or something much lighter.
The story goes back and forth in time. We see the 1940s, the 1970s and 2017 (the present). The book is full of lots of Yiddish words and references.
I enjoyed Harry, an older man who wants to date Goldie. That part was fun. And I did enjoy Goldie trying to find Maxie a husband. I liked T-Jam as Goldie's driver and Maxie's love interest.
The Goldie Standard looks at different generations. It is a very Jewish book featuring a wonderful and strong Jewish heroine. But the book was a difficult read. I definitely would have preferred a funnier lighter take on things.
Thanks to netgalley and Sibylline Press for allowing me to read this book.
August 16, 2024
The Goldie Standard: A Novel was a cute and endearing story that had some bittersweet moments to balance out the humor. I enjoyed getting to know Goldie and Maxie throughout the novel. I especially loved how Goldie would fabricate illnesses to get Maxie to take her to the doctor's office, where she had the chance of setting Maxie up with a nice Jewish doctor. Such chutzpah!
I also appreciated getting a glimpse into Goldie's past and learning about why she made the decisions in the present day and how she managed to harm her relationship with her daughter.
The writing style is not what I'm used to and I had to reread sentences and paragraphs a lot. It would have been helpful to have the Yiddish phrases translated on the page or as an annotation instead of in a glossary. There was also a time jump from summer to February, which seemed too big for the current action taking place.
Overall, it was an enjoyable story that held my attention throughout. I hope it will be chosen for The Jewish Joy Book Club!
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting ideas:
Goldie: Renee Taylor
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TW: Cancer, Alzheimer's, Holocaust
I also appreciated getting a glimpse into Goldie's past and learning about why she made the decisions in the present day and how she managed to harm her relationship with her daughter.
The writing style is not what I'm used to and I had to reread sentences and paragraphs a lot. It would have been helpful to have the Yiddish phrases translated on the page or as an annotation instead of in a glossary. There was also a time jump from summer to February, which seemed too big for the current action taking place.
Overall, it was an enjoyable story that held my attention throughout. I hope it will be chosen for The Jewish Joy Book Club!
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting ideas:
Goldie: Renee Taylor
Maxie: Sarah Yarkin
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TW: Cancer, Alzheimer's, Holocaust
April 29, 2024
3.5 stars - Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
The Goldie Standard is an intense, often bittersweet read. Author Simi Monheit’s debut novel follows grandmother Goldie Mandell throughout her life in a mix of present-day scenes and flashbacks while also featuring Goldie’s granddaughter, Maxie, who finds herself at a crossroads of her own.
The description of the book doesn’t truly capture what the story is like. Yes, Goldie is determined to find her granddaughter a Jewish doctor to marry and yes, Maxie ends up falling for artist/driver/adjunct professor T-Jam Bin Naumann instead. But it’s not a romcom or even a comedic novel like I expected. Rather Goldie is switching back and forth between past and present. She was a child in Nazi Germany and we see what happened to her there, her escape, and her immigration to America. We follow her marriage, children, love and loss woven throughout, and now as a somewhat crotchety grandmother in an assisted living facility. Goldie isn’t the sweet and endearing type, but she is interesting. Maxie, in turn, is a modern Jewish girl getting her Ph.D. and one who doesn’t always understand her grandmother. The two learn about each other over the course of the book and both grow in ways they probably didn’t expect.
The Goldie Standard wasn’t an easy read for me and some of what was touched on reminded me of my relatives. It also isn’t generally the kind of story I read for fun. I didn’t love the characters exactly, but I found them honest and realistic. Goldie in particular was a layered, complex character. I wished for some more of that for Maxie and the supporting cast. I’m glad I read The Goldie Standard . It’s not my usual fare but Monheit did draw me in and delivered a strong, emotionally charged tale.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Goldie Standard is an intense, often bittersweet read. Author Simi Monheit’s debut novel follows grandmother Goldie Mandell throughout her life in a mix of present-day scenes and flashbacks while also featuring Goldie’s granddaughter, Maxie, who finds herself at a crossroads of her own.
The description of the book doesn’t truly capture what the story is like. Yes, Goldie is determined to find her granddaughter a Jewish doctor to marry and yes, Maxie ends up falling for artist/driver/adjunct professor T-Jam Bin Naumann instead. But it’s not a romcom or even a comedic novel like I expected. Rather Goldie is switching back and forth between past and present. She was a child in Nazi Germany and we see what happened to her there, her escape, and her immigration to America. We follow her marriage, children, love and loss woven throughout, and now as a somewhat crotchety grandmother in an assisted living facility. Goldie isn’t the sweet and endearing type, but she is interesting. Maxie, in turn, is a modern Jewish girl getting her Ph.D. and one who doesn’t always understand her grandmother. The two learn about each other over the course of the book and both grow in ways they probably didn’t expect.
The Goldie Standard wasn’t an easy read for me and some of what was touched on reminded me of my relatives. It also isn’t generally the kind of story I read for fun. I didn’t love the characters exactly, but I found them honest and realistic. Goldie in particular was a layered, complex character. I wished for some more of that for Maxie and the supporting cast. I’m glad I read The Goldie Standard . It’s not my usual fare but Monheit did draw me in and delivered a strong, emotionally charged tale.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
February 29, 2024
I hear my grandmother speaking! Those of us with Jewish grandmothers and mothers will be smiling from the opening sentences. A book like this, your daughter should write. Kudos to the author for keeping up the Yiddish dialog and vocabulary throughout the book. It really does add flavor.
Due to the cover, I was expecting a cutesy chicklit story. And, I guess you could take it that way, except that the author brings up some difficult issues and the characters are slightly more pointed in their personalities. Some readers may have difficulty with keeping track of the storyline as it hops back and forth, but those of us who are older will probably get it. That begs the question of just who this book was written for and if Monheit has managed to capture readership from three generations.
It has great readability; I found myself unable to put it down until I reached the very end. This would be an excellent choice for a Jewish intergenerational book group, or any book group that enjoys a meaty discussion. I'd definitely serve blintzes and bagels for that!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'll be happy to sing its praises!
Due to the cover, I was expecting a cutesy chicklit story. And, I guess you could take it that way, except that the author brings up some difficult issues and the characters are slightly more pointed in their personalities. Some readers may have difficulty with keeping track of the storyline as it hops back and forth, but those of us who are older will probably get it. That begs the question of just who this book was written for and if Monheit has managed to capture readership from three generations.
It has great readability; I found myself unable to put it down until I reached the very end. This would be an excellent choice for a Jewish intergenerational book group, or any book group that enjoys a meaty discussion. I'd definitely serve blintzes and bagels for that!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'll be happy to sing its praises!
November 30, 2023
The Goldie Standard is like a world fair event. A place where you find sense surrounded by different cultures, and in the case of this book different generations as well.
Goldie is a jewish woman at the end of her life living in a facility. Her daily life takes her back and forth through memories of a well lived family life, her expectations and dreams for her two daughters and specially her beloved granddaughter, Maxie.
Her journey leaves lots of moments for us to reflect, like how we treat our older family members, how they feel in their old age, the family, religion and traditions baggage we all carry through our grandparents and parents. All is mixed in this book which actually may confuse the reader at times, to be honest. However, if you are willing to patiently allow yourself to reread some dialogues that may confuse you, then you will find a good source of insights to evaluate in your own life. If you also are looking for romance, you’ll also find different love relationships worth of reading.
Goldie is a jewish woman at the end of her life living in a facility. Her daily life takes her back and forth through memories of a well lived family life, her expectations and dreams for her two daughters and specially her beloved granddaughter, Maxie.
Her journey leaves lots of moments for us to reflect, like how we treat our older family members, how they feel in their old age, the family, religion and traditions baggage we all carry through our grandparents and parents. All is mixed in this book which actually may confuse the reader at times, to be honest. However, if you are willing to patiently allow yourself to reread some dialogues that may confuse you, then you will find a good source of insights to evaluate in your own life. If you also are looking for romance, you’ll also find different love relationships worth of reading.
January 3, 2024
They say having a weird mom builds character. Speaking from experience, I can affirm that weird grandmothers are even better. So, lucky Maxie to have such an unusual yet tremendously wonderful bubbie in Goldie, her feisty, know-it-all grandmother and the main character in Simi Monheit’s Kirkus star reviewed debut novel, The Goldie Standard.
Monheit draws Goldie with a fine and loving pen, imbuing her with a wisdom and fire that frustrates, confounds, and ultimately delights. Widowed following a long and passionate marriage, Goldie determines to arrange things for her granddaughter so that she, too, will enjoy such love. From feigned illnesses (to set Maxie up with an appropriately credentialed doctor husband), to spirited interchanges with her necessary-but-resented helpers, to her own December-December flirtation, Goldie’s late-in-life wranglings with romance prove it’s never too late for Cupid’s dart to strike home.
Monheit draws Goldie with a fine and loving pen, imbuing her with a wisdom and fire that frustrates, confounds, and ultimately delights. Widowed following a long and passionate marriage, Goldie determines to arrange things for her granddaughter so that she, too, will enjoy such love. From feigned illnesses (to set Maxie up with an appropriately credentialed doctor husband), to spirited interchanges with her necessary-but-resented helpers, to her own December-December flirtation, Goldie’s late-in-life wranglings with romance prove it’s never too late for Cupid’s dart to strike home.
May 19, 2024
tender, yet hilarious
Any book with “No chupa, no schtupa” has my heart! A warm and heartfelt love story story of a matchmaking grandma and her independent granddaughter. Both have a lot to learn, and learn they do. The book tackles the big issues of the day on a highly personal level, reminding us that the big picture is made up of each individual pixel, and that there’s both joy and grief in every decision.
Any book with “No chupa, no schtupa” has my heart! A warm and heartfelt love story story of a matchmaking grandma and her independent granddaughter. Both have a lot to learn, and learn they do. The book tackles the big issues of the day on a highly personal level, reminding us that the big picture is made up of each individual pixel, and that there’s both joy and grief in every decision.
April 22, 2024
A very Jewish book, and as I am Jewish, I must say Goldie reminded me of my own grandmother. I also live in an area with many old people and assisted living facilities, so I appreciated the viewpoints.
In alternating chapters, we hear Goldie and her opinions, full of Yiddishisms and insights. We learn her background in escaping Germany, her marriage, her daughters, and now her granddaughter Maxie.
Maxie is a wonderful character, smart and caring. Her grandmother worries about her, so she sets upon a scheme to go to many doctors,with the hope that Maxie will fall for one.
That is the basic outline, but doesn't really give a clue to how involved the reader becomes in the outcome. I laughed, and I cried, and really enjoyed Goldie.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC of this book.
This is my honest review, and I hope you will read it.
In alternating chapters, we hear Goldie and her opinions, full of Yiddishisms and insights. We learn her background in escaping Germany, her marriage, her daughters, and now her granddaughter Maxie.
Maxie is a wonderful character, smart and caring. Her grandmother worries about her, so she sets upon a scheme to go to many doctors,with the hope that Maxie will fall for one.
That is the basic outline, but doesn't really give a clue to how involved the reader becomes in the outcome. I laughed, and I cried, and really enjoyed Goldie.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC of this book.
This is my honest review, and I hope you will read it.
October 2, 2024
Goldie is at the end of her life and knows it. But first she has to get her granddaughter settled with a good Jewish doctor for a husband. Only the best for her granddaughter! So she invents illnesses to get Maxie to meet doctors but none are right. Well if you look hard enough you find medical problems and she has one. This is not a funny book except in a very Jewish sardonic way. Her worldview is that of a Holocaust survivor. She doesn’t trust outsiders. Goldie also is living more in the past missing her husband. How will things work out? What to do when her granddaughter falls for someone not Jewish? There is a warning here for those unwilling to change.
This author wrote an interesting debut. It will be interesting to see where she goes from here.
This author wrote an interesting debut. It will be interesting to see where she goes from here.
July 5, 2024
This book is brimming with love. And humor. Wisdom. Some sadness. But mostly humor and love.
May 10, 2024
Very funny, and sad, book. Great character and true to life as a Jewish Senior.
February 29, 2024
Goldie Mandel, octogenarian and widow, resides in a New York Jewish assisted living facility. She is a woman who has definite views on things, including the other residents (old and trying too hard,) her daughters (Esti fusses too much, Tamar moved across country to California-God forbid,) and Tamar's daughter Maxi, a research PHD candidate who moved back to New York for a job at the hospital. Maxi is the light of Goldie's life-she's beautiful, brainy, and dearly loves her bubbe. She's also unlucky in love. But Goldie knows how to remedy that-she cooks up a plot with Harry, another resident who is starting to pay attention to her, to find as many unmarried Jewish doctors as she can, make appointments for herself accompanied by Maxi as her "advocate" and see if sparks fly. She likes the cute young driver of the assisted living van but not the van itself, so she hires the driver to get her and Maxi to the doctor's offices, and as the saying goes, "Man plans, God laughs."
The stories are told in alternating chapters by Goldie and Maxi. While Maxi navigates her successful work life and her rocky love life, she begins to deviate from the path that her Jewish heritage sets her on. Goldie and her beloved late husband Mordy were holocaust survivors and saw too closely the results of assimilation and the false sense of belonging to countries that turn on you. Goldie wants to make sure that before she dies and rejoins her husband, that Maxi's future is secure-and that her great-grandchildren remain Jews.
This is a beautifully written book, that while very humorous, also digs into issues of life, death, mourning, and carrying on. Monheit is definitely one to watch.
The stories are told in alternating chapters by Goldie and Maxi. While Maxi navigates her successful work life and her rocky love life, she begins to deviate from the path that her Jewish heritage sets her on. Goldie and her beloved late husband Mordy were holocaust survivors and saw too closely the results of assimilation and the false sense of belonging to countries that turn on you. Goldie wants to make sure that before she dies and rejoins her husband, that Maxi's future is secure-and that her great-grandchildren remain Jews.
This is a beautifully written book, that while very humorous, also digs into issues of life, death, mourning, and carrying on. Monheit is definitely one to watch.
Read
May 19, 2024I was really excited about the premise-older-person romance as well as a more traditional "20 something romance" all in one book! 3 generations of Jewish women interacting with one another, with special focus on the grandmother/granddaughter relationship. Meddling relative trying to fix up another single relative. These are all tropes I enjoy.
But I didn't like where the story ended up.
But I didn't like where the story ended up.
December 28, 2023
Goldie’s cutting humour and poignant flashbacks kept me somewhere between laughing out loud and crying at all times. I’m making all my friends read this.
December 8, 2024
Just absolutely loved this character driven novel. So many good things in here. Highly recommend it.
July 18, 2024
Tonight is the night! Simi Monheit TAKES OVER Jewish Women Talk About Romance Books! She’ll be hosting a Facebook Live on 7/18/24 at 7:00 PM eastern AND giving away a copy of her amazing book, THE GOLDIE STANDARD. All YOU have to do to win a copy is show up and ask a question and/or leave a comment! She’ll draw at random from amongst all the entries at the end of the night.
With that out of the way, I want to tell you about The Goldie Standard. This fun, heartwarming, and sometimes bittersweet tale tells the story of Goldie Mandell. Goldie is a feisty and complex octogenarian living in an Assisted Living Facility. Not content to spend her days “surrounded by schleppers with walkers” she sets out on the monumental task of finding her granddaughter a nice Jewish doctor to settle down with before she dies.
Some Reasons I Loved This Book:
*The voice in this book is truly astounding. Goldie, especially, leaps off the page. (Did I mention how much I loved Goldie?) Yet, despite the fun premise of this book, there’s A LOT of complexity. Goldie is a Holocaust survivor Because of her own trauma, she mistakenly and out of love (and/or a need for control) inflicts trauma on her children and grandchildren. This is handled in such a soft, and beautiful way, that even when Goldie does things that are imperfect... we understand her. I understood her.
*I loved the rich dynamic between three generations of Jewish women. Also, I really appreciated that this book dealt with caretaking of aging and elderly parents.
*I simply couldn’t get enough of the Assisted Living scenes. The relationships between patients, and especially, Goldie’s on snark is simply laugh out loud funny. However, my most favorite part of this book is the loving relationship that develops between Goldie and Harry, an elderly suitor with a slight gambling problem who refuses to take no for an answer. I honestly read books upon books about Jewish nursing home love if Simi Monheit wants to write it. (Please write it! I will buy it!)
*This is a book that sticks with you. It’s different. It’s unique. It’s a compelling and rich tapestry of experiences and characters, a well-rounded look at generations of Jewish women—each living in their own time—yet influencing the other. All of which to say, even though I read this book a few months back, I remember in great detail the scenes and arcs of this story. I always think that is the true test of a great book. Do I remember it?
*This is a book that will make you feel. And laugh. And cry. And while bad things happen in this book—as they do in life—good things happen, too. I don’t want to give too many spoilers on this one, but it will surprise you.
The Goldie Standard by Simi Monheit is a delightful and rich tale that is sweet enough to be read while sitting on the beach, but complex enough to be discussed in book clubs. I think anyone who has had a wonderful relationship with their bubbe, and now misses them, will love this book. Or, if you simply like stories of octogenarian love, and need a laugh, you do not want to miss this fantastic and heartfelt tale.
With that out of the way, I want to tell you about The Goldie Standard. This fun, heartwarming, and sometimes bittersweet tale tells the story of Goldie Mandell. Goldie is a feisty and complex octogenarian living in an Assisted Living Facility. Not content to spend her days “surrounded by schleppers with walkers” she sets out on the monumental task of finding her granddaughter a nice Jewish doctor to settle down with before she dies.
Some Reasons I Loved This Book:
*The voice in this book is truly astounding. Goldie, especially, leaps off the page. (Did I mention how much I loved Goldie?) Yet, despite the fun premise of this book, there’s A LOT of complexity. Goldie is a Holocaust survivor Because of her own trauma, she mistakenly and out of love (and/or a need for control) inflicts trauma on her children and grandchildren. This is handled in such a soft, and beautiful way, that even when Goldie does things that are imperfect... we understand her. I understood her.
*I loved the rich dynamic between three generations of Jewish women. Also, I really appreciated that this book dealt with caretaking of aging and elderly parents.
*I simply couldn’t get enough of the Assisted Living scenes. The relationships between patients, and especially, Goldie’s on snark is simply laugh out loud funny. However, my most favorite part of this book is the loving relationship that develops between Goldie and Harry, an elderly suitor with a slight gambling problem who refuses to take no for an answer. I honestly read books upon books about Jewish nursing home love if Simi Monheit wants to write it. (Please write it! I will buy it!)
*This is a book that sticks with you. It’s different. It’s unique. It’s a compelling and rich tapestry of experiences and characters, a well-rounded look at generations of Jewish women—each living in their own time—yet influencing the other. All of which to say, even though I read this book a few months back, I remember in great detail the scenes and arcs of this story. I always think that is the true test of a great book. Do I remember it?
*This is a book that will make you feel. And laugh. And cry. And while bad things happen in this book—as they do in life—good things happen, too. I don’t want to give too many spoilers on this one, but it will surprise you.
The Goldie Standard by Simi Monheit is a delightful and rich tale that is sweet enough to be read while sitting on the beach, but complex enough to be discussed in book clubs. I think anyone who has had a wonderful relationship with their bubbe, and now misses them, will love this book. Or, if you simply like stories of octogenarian love, and need a laugh, you do not want to miss this fantastic and heartfelt tale.
Read
October 7, 2024Heat Factor: There’s a little hint of something and then a hand wave
Character Chemistry: It’s not that kind of book
Plot: Goldie wants to make sure her granddaughter is taken care of by a good Jewish man, so she hatches a plot to make little meet cutes at her doctor appointments
Overall: This book is really compelling, and it’s about love, but it’s not a romance
This book is primarily from the eponymous Goldie’s perspective, a perspective that jumps non-linearly through her lifetime based on whatever else is happening in her life at a given moment. Sometimes, there is also a 3rd person POV from her granddaughter, Maxie, who is a PhD student dealing with all the tribulations of figuring her single self out at thirty-ish. The book opens with Goldie meeting a new resident at her Assisted Living facility, Henry, who convinces her to dance, but they both use walkers, so Goldie falls and ends up at the hospital. All of this hullabaloo—by which Goldie is completely mortified and would like everyone to ignore—ultimately leads Goldie to hatch a plan to get Maxie a husband by making Maxie her medical advocate and taking her to all her doctor appointments. Young, male, Jewish doctors, of course.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
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Character Chemistry: It’s not that kind of book
Plot: Goldie wants to make sure her granddaughter is taken care of by a good Jewish man, so she hatches a plot to make little meet cutes at her doctor appointments
Overall: This book is really compelling, and it’s about love, but it’s not a romance
This book is primarily from the eponymous Goldie’s perspective, a perspective that jumps non-linearly through her lifetime based on whatever else is happening in her life at a given moment. Sometimes, there is also a 3rd person POV from her granddaughter, Maxie, who is a PhD student dealing with all the tribulations of figuring her single self out at thirty-ish. The book opens with Goldie meeting a new resident at her Assisted Living facility, Henry, who convinces her to dance, but they both use walkers, so Goldie falls and ends up at the hospital. All of this hullabaloo—by which Goldie is completely mortified and would like everyone to ignore—ultimately leads Goldie to hatch a plan to get Maxie a husband by making Maxie her medical advocate and taking her to all her doctor appointments. Young, male, Jewish doctors, of course.
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August 3, 2025
An enjoyable read, but I think there was too much going on here.
The main story is that Goldie is a senior citizen living in a nursing home, who decides to schedule doctors visits in order to engage in some matchmaking for her granddaughter, Maxie. But little does she know, the doctors’ visits actually yield some serious results. :/
Written out like that, maybe you’d assume this is a sad story. But Monheit doesn’t focus on the depressing parts, even when it comes to Goldie’s history as a Holocaust survivor. (Goldie’s entire adult history comes up in this novel in bits and spurts, which arguably could feed into her dementia plot.)
Elsewhere Goldie has two daughters, so I kind of thought this would turn into a present-day family drama, maybe about old wounds, maybe about reconciliation, maybe about resentment regarding Maxie’s heightened role as Goldie’s caretaker. (We got kinda close with that one.)
But instead, Goldie and Maxie both get involved in love affairs, which technically don’t do much for me. Especially Goldie’s, which seemed like it existed for plot purposes. (And maybe also vibes, which is more forgivable. :P) Maxine gets involved with Goldie’s driver, a decidedly non-Jewish character, meaning the end of this novel is about Goldie having to come to terms with changing times, and the reality that her granddaughter’s generation doesn’t feel the need to round the horses around the Jewish people for their own safety.
Speaking of Judaism, listening to Dina Pearlman narrate the audiobook with a bunch of ethnic accents was delightful. :P Maybe I should seek out more of her work as well!
Of course, the writing, particularly in Goldie’s voice, must be credited to Monheit. Here’s how we are introduced to her:
“Used to be, get up, shower, get dressed. Make the coffee, pour the cereal, get the kids out the door, put the dishes in the sink. I didn’t even exhale until I was sitting in the car, but even then, the shopping lists, the meals, the appointments. At work was when I could breathe. Now the big event? Counting minutes between pills.
This they call the Golden Years.”
The story is also peppered with representations of emails and text message streams, which don’t work quite as well on audiobook. Ah well.
Among the other subplots, Goldie has past baggage with her two kids, particularly Maxie’s mother, Tamar, to work through. Waiting in the wings is her antagonistic relationship with the nursing home busybody, Bernice. Then there’s her parsing through the love affair and long life she shared with her husband, Morty.
Maybe there’s too much going on, and the main plotline never feels quite complete. But this is a story to read for the atmosphere and for the protagonist.
“Goldie is an opinionated and headstrong but lovable character,” Miriam Bradman Abrahams agrees in her Jewish Book Council review. “Due to her widowhood and new living situation, [she] must confront her past mistakes and fixed ideas in order to move on and deal with the realities of this next challenging stage of life.”
This is the type of cozy, amusing, semi-romantic contemporary (women’s) fiction that appeals to me.
The main story is that Goldie is a senior citizen living in a nursing home, who decides to schedule doctors visits in order to engage in some matchmaking for her granddaughter, Maxie. But little does she know, the doctors’ visits actually yield some serious results. :/
Written out like that, maybe you’d assume this is a sad story. But Monheit doesn’t focus on the depressing parts, even when it comes to Goldie’s history as a Holocaust survivor. (Goldie’s entire adult history comes up in this novel in bits and spurts, which arguably could feed into her dementia plot.)
Elsewhere Goldie has two daughters, so I kind of thought this would turn into a present-day family drama, maybe about old wounds, maybe about reconciliation, maybe about resentment regarding Maxie’s heightened role as Goldie’s caretaker. (We got kinda close with that one.)
But instead, Goldie and Maxie both get involved in love affairs, which technically don’t do much for me. Especially Goldie’s, which seemed like it existed for plot purposes. (And maybe also vibes, which is more forgivable. :P) Maxine gets involved with Goldie’s driver, a decidedly non-Jewish character, meaning the end of this novel is about Goldie having to come to terms with changing times, and the reality that her granddaughter’s generation doesn’t feel the need to round the horses around the Jewish people for their own safety.
Speaking of Judaism, listening to Dina Pearlman narrate the audiobook with a bunch of ethnic accents was delightful. :P Maybe I should seek out more of her work as well!
Of course, the writing, particularly in Goldie’s voice, must be credited to Monheit. Here’s how we are introduced to her:
“Used to be, get up, shower, get dressed. Make the coffee, pour the cereal, get the kids out the door, put the dishes in the sink. I didn’t even exhale until I was sitting in the car, but even then, the shopping lists, the meals, the appointments. At work was when I could breathe. Now the big event? Counting minutes between pills.
This they call the Golden Years.”
The story is also peppered with representations of emails and text message streams, which don’t work quite as well on audiobook. Ah well.
Among the other subplots, Goldie has past baggage with her two kids, particularly Maxie’s mother, Tamar, to work through. Waiting in the wings is her antagonistic relationship with the nursing home busybody, Bernice. Then there’s her parsing through the love affair and long life she shared with her husband, Morty.
Maybe there’s too much going on, and the main plotline never feels quite complete. But this is a story to read for the atmosphere and for the protagonist.
“Goldie is an opinionated and headstrong but lovable character,” Miriam Bradman Abrahams agrees in her Jewish Book Council review. “Due to her widowhood and new living situation, [she] must confront her past mistakes and fixed ideas in order to move on and deal with the realities of this next challenging stage of life.”
This is the type of cozy, amusing, semi-romantic contemporary (women’s) fiction that appeals to me.
June 25, 2025
3 stars for the first 2/3rds of the book, and 5 stars for the rest … thanks to the author for being brave in voicing what many Jewish parents and grandparents will shy away from or just won’t care anymore to discuss with their Jewish children, the heritage and importance of marrying into your own tribe, what matters in preserving the identity of Jewish family, or at least try to explore the alignment of cultures…the book made me wish my own grandma who had big influence on my Jewish upbringing would be still alive and there for me when I was choosing my life partner, sure she would have seen much clearer than me… Maxie is a lucky one to have such passionate, assertive and caring grandma by her side … The book also made me think about Goldie’s arrangement for Tamar with the mother of the Italian boyfriend, and while I am not sure what I would have done in the situation, I tend to be on Goldie’s side for doing something about it, procuring the solution as well as keeping it a secret … I could not understand how European Yiddish speaking grandparents ended up being called Safta and Saba (which would be understandable if we talked about Israeli family), but that is minor. I enjoyed this unapologetically Jewish book, it was easy for me to relate, but I can see how it might be difficult for someone not familiar with the intricacies of Jewish culture and history of Holocaust … The story of Harry and Goldie’s relationship in the assisted living was touching, and of course her love and outmost mutual respect between her and her husband Marty is very special, a true gem of a relationship. I listened to the book on Audible, the narrator is fabulous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 16, 2025I'm not sure how to review this book.
1) I listened to the audiobook, and the reader was excellent. So many Jewish books have terrible acting where Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino words and names are entirely mispronounced. This is exactly the opposite. Kudos!
2) Goldie herself is vividly brought to life. And her life, her foibles and strengths--these are genuinely interesting. I was also interested in the character of Tamar. I wish the other daughter had had as much exploration.
3) The set up is rom-com. The marketing is rom-com. This is not a rom-com. This is a book about Goldie. I never felt like I truly got to know Maxie and T-Jam. I didn't feel their chemistry. If you want us to root for them, you've got to make them seem like they belong together. The beats are wrong for a rom-com, the feeling of longing, hurdles to overcome, payoff--these are not there. Thus, the book felt unsatisfying.
4) There are many books portaying intermarriage/multifaith relationships. This topic is not well investigated here--it lacks depth and is disrespectful to both sides of the issue. Nor is the issue of Jewish-Muslim relations handled well. This is an important topic deserving of deep exploration. And it's almost offensive in its presentation here. We should indeed go deep about these topics, but not as a slap-dash ending to a book that's really about something else altogether.
1) I listened to the audiobook, and the reader was excellent. So many Jewish books have terrible acting where Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino words and names are entirely mispronounced. This is exactly the opposite. Kudos!
2) Goldie herself is vividly brought to life. And her life, her foibles and strengths--these are genuinely interesting. I was also interested in the character of Tamar. I wish the other daughter had had as much exploration.
3) The set up is rom-com. The marketing is rom-com. This is not a rom-com. This is a book about Goldie. I never felt like I truly got to know Maxie and T-Jam. I didn't feel their chemistry. If you want us to root for them, you've got to make them seem like they belong together. The beats are wrong for a rom-com, the feeling of longing, hurdles to overcome, payoff--these are not there. Thus, the book felt unsatisfying.
4) There are many books portaying intermarriage/multifaith relationships. This topic is not well investigated here--it lacks depth and is disrespectful to both sides of the issue. Nor is the issue of Jewish-Muslim relations handled well. This is an important topic deserving of deep exploration. And it's almost offensive in its presentation here. We should indeed go deep about these topics, but not as a slap-dash ending to a book that's really about something else altogether.
December 7, 2023
Not a traditional romance novel -- more an amazing work of fiction that flashes back between Goldie's youth and present. It's dual POV with Goldie and her granddaughter, Maxie.
Goldie is living in an assisted living facility and decides that her granddaughter needs a good Jewish doctor as a husband - since Maxie is now single. Goldie schemes with Harry (another assisted living facility resident) to research and schedule appointments with Jewish doctors and have Maxie as her medical advocate. Goldie and Maxie meet T-Jam who is a Syrian refugee and adjunct professor of art --- and becomes Goldie's driver. Where will this scheme take Goldie?
The book is filled with memories that Goldie has of fleeing Germany as a child and what she endured as a Jewish girl -- and then as a Jewish mother trying to keep her children on the straight and narrow under their religion. The push and pull of the generations and how Goldie handles her family is interesting.
I felt sad after reading this book; it was just so many emotions and there was a definitive HEA. Worth the read but not a traditional romance story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simi Monheit for an ARC for an honest review!
Goldie is living in an assisted living facility and decides that her granddaughter needs a good Jewish doctor as a husband - since Maxie is now single. Goldie schemes with Harry (another assisted living facility resident) to research and schedule appointments with Jewish doctors and have Maxie as her medical advocate. Goldie and Maxie meet T-Jam who is a Syrian refugee and adjunct professor of art --- and becomes Goldie's driver. Where will this scheme take Goldie?
The book is filled with memories that Goldie has of fleeing Germany as a child and what she endured as a Jewish girl -- and then as a Jewish mother trying to keep her children on the straight and narrow under their religion. The push and pull of the generations and how Goldie handles her family is interesting.
I felt sad after reading this book; it was just so many emotions and there was a definitive HEA. Worth the read but not a traditional romance story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simi Monheit for an ARC for an honest review!
December 28, 2023
What a beautiful, poignant read. Following Goldie's well-intentioned but misplaced machinations to get her granddaughter paired off in a suitable relationship can be awkward and challenging at times, but also warm, touching, and from an obvious place of caring. Goldie just wants for Maxie what she herself had with her husband Mordy: The love of her life.
The complication is that Maxie's person is not the one Goldie would choose, which forces the older woman to reassess her world view in a way that is uncomfortable, yet admirable. There is pathos and genuine emotion woven into the assured writing, tempered with respect and, most importantly, humor. Because what is life if we can't cry, laugh, and laugh ourselves to tears? "The Goldie Standard" does all of this and more.
I cannot wait to share this book with my mother-in-law and her avid reader friends. It will ring all sorts of cultural bells with them. Ultimately, it feels to me like one last long, warm hug from my partner's beloved Jewish grandmother, and for that, I am grateful.
Happy to have received the ebook version from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
The complication is that Maxie's person is not the one Goldie would choose, which forces the older woman to reassess her world view in a way that is uncomfortable, yet admirable. There is pathos and genuine emotion woven into the assured writing, tempered with respect and, most importantly, humor. Because what is life if we can't cry, laugh, and laugh ourselves to tears? "The Goldie Standard" does all of this and more.
I cannot wait to share this book with my mother-in-law and her avid reader friends. It will ring all sorts of cultural bells with them. Ultimately, it feels to me like one last long, warm hug from my partner's beloved Jewish grandmother, and for that, I am grateful.
Happy to have received the ebook version from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 30, 2024
4.75 rounded up on Goodreads since there aren’t partial star ratings and I can’t stop at a 4 for this book
What a story!
I feel like I know Goldie. But I feel like I know her better than I would if she was a real person. Because we never know this much about a real person, do we?
This is a story about a life filled with love, with family, and with sadness and adversity.
Goldie is in assisted living. She still seems very alert and definitely still capable of meddling in her family’s life.
Goldie is lovable enough that even when she oversteps and makes bad choices, she does them with the best intentions and you’re able to forgive her.
Goldie’s granddaughter Maxie is the other main character in this book.
Goldie decides to find Maxie a nice Jewish doctor. This results in her hiring a driver T-Jam who Maxie actually winds up falling for. But T-Jam is but Jewish and that will be a problem for Goldie.
I hope I’m not rambling. I just loved this book and I hope I’m describing it well. It’s beautifully written. The characters feel real. The story is sad at times, very sad at times, and very happy at others. It’s definitely the story of a very interesting life.
What a story!
I feel like I know Goldie. But I feel like I know her better than I would if she was a real person. Because we never know this much about a real person, do we?
This is a story about a life filled with love, with family, and with sadness and adversity.
Goldie is in assisted living. She still seems very alert and definitely still capable of meddling in her family’s life.
Goldie is lovable enough that even when she oversteps and makes bad choices, she does them with the best intentions and you’re able to forgive her.
Goldie’s granddaughter Maxie is the other main character in this book.
Goldie decides to find Maxie a nice Jewish doctor. This results in her hiring a driver T-Jam who Maxie actually winds up falling for. But T-Jam is but Jewish and that will be a problem for Goldie.
I hope I’m not rambling. I just loved this book and I hope I’m describing it well. It’s beautifully written. The characters feel real. The story is sad at times, very sad at times, and very happy at others. It’s definitely the story of a very interesting life.
May 7, 2024
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*
DNF 23%
I could finish reading this book but I'm simply not enjoying the reading experience and I know that in the end it won't be a more than 2 stars book.
My big problem with this book was the author's writing, at first I thought it was just a lack of editing due to this being an advance copy of the book, but as I read it I realized that it was actually the author's writing style and that I was not really liking and had difficulty reading and connecting with the story.
Also the story had several problematic lines even though I read only the beginning of the book (and I even though I understand that we have a old lady as the protagonist who will have old-fashioned worldviews, so to speak) but it bothered me a lot while I was reading.
So I decided that I don't have much time to read anymore so I prefer to read things that are at least good reading experiences!
DNF 23%
I could finish reading this book but I'm simply not enjoying the reading experience and I know that in the end it won't be a more than 2 stars book.
My big problem with this book was the author's writing, at first I thought it was just a lack of editing due to this being an advance copy of the book, but as I read it I realized that it was actually the author's writing style and that I was not really liking and had difficulty reading and connecting with the story.
Also the story had several problematic lines even though I read only the beginning of the book (and I even though I understand that we have a old lady as the protagonist who will have old-fashioned worldviews, so to speak) but it bothered me a lot while I was reading.
So I decided that I don't have much time to read anymore so I prefer to read things that are at least good reading experiences!
May 24, 2025
Listened to the first part of this as a book on tape (audiobook) and read the second half. There are definitely moments of amusement and lightness. However, overall, I found Goldie to be overly stereotyped. The "confrontation" scene regarding let's say the clash of cultures (trying to avoid any spoilers) seems unrealistic. And the ending seemed abrupt - it did not provide enough closure for me. The book is a reasonable jumping off point for a number of questions regarding aging, family relationships, inter-ethnic couples/relationships, tradition, and to some extent immigration. Also questions about what it means to do the best for your children (or even grandchildren). All of these through a Jewish lens as well. The early parts of the book led me to expect romance and perhaps I would have liked to see those romance themes carried through a little more.
May 8, 2024
First, this is not a rom com, or lighthearted novel, with a Jewish grandmother engaged in silly behavior while she seeks a husband for her granddaughter. The cartoon cover and the description of the plot is misleading. THE GOLDIE STANDARD is a visit with a Holocaust Survivor, living in an Independent Living Community, struggling with loneliness and moving back and forth in her memories and present time. The characters are all realistic and struggling in their daily lives and the plot is well-developed and engaging. Just be prepared to experience a full range of emotions while you read about Goldie’s life and her growth and development along the way. I received my copy from the publisher through edelweiss.
September 16, 2024
I loved The Goldie Standard for the way it portrayed real emotions of real people - complicated, exasperating at times, disappointing at others…and always full of love and good intentions. Not being Jewish, I did not experience the difficulties other readers had with the stories of Goldie’s past. Rather, I appreciated being exposed so viscerally to the experiences of a strong woman who had survived tragedy and loss and come through with her heart scarred but intact.
Yes, The Goldie Standard is about a Jewish grandmother trying to find a nice Jewish doctor husband for her granddaughter, but it’s also about the complicated and ultimately heart-warming dynamic between three generations of female family members.
Yes, The Goldie Standard is about a Jewish grandmother trying to find a nice Jewish doctor husband for her granddaughter, but it’s also about the complicated and ultimately heart-warming dynamic between three generations of female family members.
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