**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

This book is one hell of a page turner!

It follows Avery Grambs, an extremely studious girl who one day gets pulled out of her everyday life by a stranger because it turns out she's been named in the will of Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire who she's never heard of before. Avery is brought to the family manor that she has inherited and meets the rest of the Hawthornes, including 4 grandsons who have all been left with much less than her. Or so it seems…
Tobias Hawthorne had a love of puzzles - a trait he passed down to his grandsons - so when his final letters to them all contain a riddle, the game to uncover the mystery behind the whole situation begins.

Full of family secrets, scheming and characters who love nothing more than winning, this was such an addictive read! Along with the fast pacing and layers of mystery, each individual character had a unique voice and story which made it hard to put the book down. I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the clues myself too!

Though I feel like this one works quite well as a standalone I’m interested in picking up the sequel whenever it comes along.
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars

To be honest I really think you should wait till you have the sequel in your hand before you start this one because you will go crazy waiting for it! A fast paced book with enough quirky characters to keep you engaged and a great storyline! A must read!

This was incredible from the very first page. Pulling you in with a brilliant lead character, you’re lead into a world that’s reminiscent of White Collar, Pretty Little Liars and Revenge.
I was so hooked that I read well into the early hours and that ending had me searching for it there’s a sequel. One that I’m happy to say I cannot wait to read.

4.5

Book source ~ Tour

17-yr-old Avery Grambs is barely scraping by. After her mom died when she was 15, her older half-sister took her in, but money is very tight and Avery has one more year of school to get through then she has plans, big plans, for herself. All of those plans go out the window when she receives word that she is the sole inheritor of a billionaire’s estate. Why he skipped his own daughters and his four grandsons to pass everything to Avery, she has no idea. She doesn’t even know who Tobias Hawthorne is. In order to inherit though she has to live in Hawthorne House for a year. The problem is, someone is a wee bit upset about the will because suddenly Avery’s life is in danger. A problematic oversight in that contentious document means she needs her security team more than ever now. Trying to solve the eccentric billionaire’s last riddle and find out who is trying to kill her are two problems of many Avery could do without. But she’s been thrown into the deep end and was never one to just give up. Let the race begin.

Who wouldn’t want to inherit a multi-billion dollar estate? It sounds like a fairy tale come true. Until you realize just how much work an estate that ginormous entails. Still, I know I’d be happy to take it on if it meant security for myself and my family and a chance to do real good in the world.

Avery is a unique teenager. Because of how she grew up she is resilient and she’s smart. She’s more than capable of taking on the last riddle of Tobias Hawthorne. And his four grandsons. The question is, which one of the handsome young men will she fall for? Because you know she will. Personally, I don’t like any of them though I like one better than the others and one much less so. I’ll be interested to see how they are in the next book. Avery is a great character. She keeps her head and doesn’t get all flighty. She handles herself well. Her half-sister pisses me off most of the time. However, I like her better by the end. The writing is awesome and the plot is decent. If you’re a fan of riddles (I’m not, but that’s ok) then this is a great book for you. It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle and tied with a danger bow. Grab it today!

Barnes new release is a gripping story that sits between young adult fiction and general fiction and delivers on a mystery that is built on slow building of plot without slowing the pace. This is a feat in its own right.

The novel starts out with a normal teen going through a hard time when she is notified that she is heir to billions by a man she has never met. We then start the mystery of why she was selected and her interaction with the heirs left out in the cold, the remaining Hawthorne family. This is the main plot but Barnes does an incredible job of giving us the hunky brothers straight out of a Twilight series without the fantasy element. We get a mansion with secret rooms and traps and trip wires that is hungry to be solved. This is a novel that yearns for the reader to get involve and visit.

The plot is well conceived and well handled. With its many parts, Barnes masterminds this to fit within the confines of the story. It is very fast paced and very involving. I for one could not stop reading and was deeply involved with the story. The mystery and mental games of the story are very well handled and we have a story that

The characters are well written and very three dimensional with the leading heroine very likable and strong. The Hawthorne family are interesting with great personality types and traits to keep them shrouded in mystery and intrigued. This keeps the book going at a good rate and keeps the pages turning to its finale conclusion.

The first instalment of the Hawthorne series starts out to be a winner and personally, I am keen to see how this pans out. This is highly recommended as this page turner keeps the reader involved and is a very quick read. For the most part, the story does finish leaving a few threads that will keep you keen to return for the second instalment. Excellent book.

When Avery finds out she’s inherited a fortune her life takes on a drastic change, but having never met the man who left his entire wealth to her, she is left to battle with his family to find out the truth…

Having never read a book by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I was compelled to request The Inheritance Games due to its plot. This book really is very similar to the movie of Knives Out, with a young adult and romance spin on it. I loved the rags to riches story and Avery felt like a truly relatable and realistic character. I always say that it really shows I enjoy a book by the speed that I read it and I raced through this in a day – it’s well written and engaging and fully held my interest throughout.

I really enjoyed that we never meet Avery’s best friend Max in person. Being monitored by her strict parents, Max has to edit her copious swear words (think ‘ducking’) which makes for a quirky read and endeared me to her as a character. My only critique would be that as the four central characters to the plot, the mysterious four brothers and love interests didn’t really feel that well defined as individuals. Grayson and Jameson in particular felt very interchangeable, which perhaps explains why Avery struggled to choose between them. The only one that stood out was Xander and he had the smallest part.

The plot kept all of its secrets very close to its chest throughout as new mysteries were introduced. It was paced very well though and never felt frustrating to the reader. I liked the puzzles aspect and it definitely kept me thinking to try and stay one step ahead. I had expected the book to be a standalone piece and although we get some answers, the cliff hanger sets up book two nicely. I can’t wait to read the next one when it comes out!

Overall, The Inheritance Games is a fast paced, puzzle-filled read that keeps you hooked throughout – highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House Children’s UK for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this for a blog tour.

This was really fun. Avery inherits a fortune - from a complete stranger and his family are far from happy.

There's a puzzle to solve, and it's upto Avery, and the Hawthorne boys, Grayson, Jameson, Xander and Nash, to help her solve it. Why did Tobias Hawthorne pick her to inherit almost everything?

Following a trail of clues around the Hawthorne estate, through secret passageways and the woods, will they solve the riddle or murder Avery?

I liked Avery, and felt a little sorry for her, as she attempts to adjust to suddenly being obscenely rich and having to live with people who hate her for existing. She's still dealing with her mum's death, her sister's ex-boyfriend is a scumbag, her new schoolmates are awful (well, Thea is), there's the dead girl everyone seems obsessed with and she can't even get her best friend on the phone. It's a lot.

The riddles and puzzles were fun, it reminded me of the Truly Devious books, and I love a mystery. I can't believe I have to wait a whole year for the next book and more puzzles.

The Inheritance Games is a fun YA mystery thriller. A bit tamer than what I am used to as an adult reader, but nonetheless interesting. My attention was rapt throughout, and if it wasn't for life responisibilies I probably would have read this book in one sitting. Barnes shows a good grasp of the structure of mystery, and there is definitely plenty of that in this book. It's engrossing, the search for the small details, the clues, in the hopes of gleaning what's really going on. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel as well as the television series

The final review will be on Geek Declassified September 21, 2020

I loved this book!
It was full of twists and turns and kept me on my toes thinking about all the possibilities and the ending has left me mind blown!
Avery finds out she is the sole heir to a billionaire's fortune of a man she has never met which disinherits his entire family leaving behind an angered family who don't understand and with the help of the four grandsons, they and Avery need to solve the puzzle.
Avery is a great main character, she is down to earth and never takes anything for granted (maybe her friend Max) and the money never changes her personality, although her obsession with the grandsons especially Jameson and Grayson does get boring to read about throughout the whole book.
Each Hawthorne grandson has their own distinctive personality traits so it is easy to separate each one but they all have their secrets and you can't trust anyone while reading this.
I thought that the chapters were a little too short but this actually helped me to get through the book quicker.
It is an easy read that makes your brain really think about all the options and i guarantee that the end will shock you as much as it did me!

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump recently and have had to labour through a few short stories to get myself motivated. But when this arrived, I was hooked from the beginning and read it in one sitting. Touted as Knives Out (my fave film of the year) meets One of us is Lying this is one book that ticks all of the boxes.

I could Gush. I will gush. It was awesome and I think my fave book of the year so far. My full review is available on www.brokengekdesigns.com

So many rediculously involved puzzles for what felt like no real purpose. A very unsatisfactory read!

Flew through this great YA read - having not read anything by Jennifer Barnes before, I wasn't sure what to expect. The title did lead me to think it would be a dystopian thriller like Hunger Games. It isn't at all, but there are still high stakes and interesting characters that kept me reading and now I can't wait for the next book!

The Inheritance Games is so good I just don’t know where to begin! I started reading it on a rainy day during my vacation, and it’s a good thing the weather was crap too, because otherwise I would have lost a particularly good day of being out, unable to unglue myself from the book and look at any of my surroundings even one bit.

The Inheritance Games just draws you in and you kind of don’t want to stop reading to even grab a bite.

It’s a mystery, a game and a thriller all in one – but it’s not a violent kind of horror thriller (the kind I’m too soft for) – it just sort of challenges your mind, without you having to worry for the characters’ lives too much (you should rather worry about their broken hearts!)

The Inheritance Games is kind of like Donna Tartt’s Secret History, if it was YA.

It's About...

Avery Grambs is struggling to pull herself through high school and make something of her life, after her mother died and she’s been left to stay with a sister who has an abusive boyfriend.

Life is confusing enough, when something unbelievable happens. Apparently, Avery has inherited a HUGE sum of money from a man she’s never even heard of in her life, and she has no idea why. Neither do his family members.

So Avery is whisked away into a new life that’s more confusing than ever before. And this new life will include many riddles, the biggest of which is… Why her?

Riddles All The Way Down

Probably the best thing about this book is the riddles. The whole premise is built on a family patriarch who loved riddles so much that he’d gladly disinherit his whole family just so he can make them play one last game. So it’s no wonder you’ll be solving riddles throughout the whole book.

And I mean, you don’t have to – it’s not a ‘choose your adventure’ story, you don’t have to actually solve anything. You’ll learn the story either way. But the thing is, you won’t want to let the characters solve the riddles before you do. You’ll be solving the riddle alongside them. This is what makes this book such a good thriller! (Plus, you know. Some characters ARE in danger.)

The Dynamic Between The Characters

The reason The Inheritance Games reminded me of Donna Tartt’s Secret History so much was because the character dynamic was very similar. In both stories, there are people who have always been used to the rich life, to having whatever they want, to the culture that surrounds being rich and that particular group’s interests. And then there’s the interloper, trying to solve some riddle, but always on the outside, never quite knowing what’s going on or what game is even being played.

It is similar in this story. Avery certainly benefited by the inheritance, but she also got in a huge mess. The family and the house has a lot of secrets, and none of it makes life for Avery safe – or even pleasant, for that matter.

All the people seem to have some sort of agenda, but it’s unclear what it is, and they all have something to say about each other behind one another’s backs. All of this forms a strong story, and jumbles everything up as much as it did for me when I was reading the Secret History.

The Four Brothers

The four Hawthorne brothers are really the whole charm of this book. I really loved how those characters were crafted. There’s a thing about YA and brothers, a lot of tropes that can be used that will have a big effect, if done right – and I believe they were used very nicely in The Inheritance Games.

There’s a brother who’s aloof, there’s a driven one, there’s a menacing one who’s actually something of a softie inside, and there’s one who’s just sticking to the sidelines. They’re a perfect group – they really drive the story.
Insert some unresolved emotional drama from the past and a love triangle, and we’re ready to go!

Impostor Syndrome

I also really liked Avery’s part in this story – inheriting a huge fortune is all nice and good, but for Avery, it obviously comes at a price. Not only is she shoved into a world that’s completely alien to her, there’s also animosity from all sides, and physical danger too.

Avery has to deal with having to live with the people she disinherited without any design of her own, and not only that – as she gets more and more involved with the last riddle of the old man, she keeps wondering whether her being herself even means anything.

Is she just a tool? Is she just a name? Was she chosen randomly? Does she even matter, or is she wallpaper, as she used to think of herself all her life before the inheritance?

The House Was… Pretty Incredible, Actually?!!

So the house Avery ends up in… is pretty awesome! I mean, it’s a huge mansion of a rich, intellectual old man who loves riddles. Of course you’d expect that the author would indulge the reader at least a little!

But we get more than just that. The house is full of riddles, and despite only getting to know a little of them, we are left with the feeling that THERE’S SO MUCH MORE to it that we’re not seeing – and that’s a feeling I wish more books had. But even aside from that… The Hawthorne House doesn’t just have one library. It doesn’t just have TWO either.

I’ll just leave it at that.

Overall...

It was SO amazing! Seriously, you all need to read The Inheritance Games. I am so grateful that I got on this blog tour!!! If you want adventure, a spunky main character and a fresh take on an inheritance story, you’ve got it right here. I definitely can’t wait for those sequels!

I thank the publisher and The Write Reads tours for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

I'm happy to say that the very intriguing blurb of 'The Inheritance Games' did live up to my expectations, and remained mysterious throughout the story.

The plot was quite fast-paced, with likeable, yet flawed, characters. At times, I did have to just go along with the slight absurdities, which proved successful with the YA mystery TV shows (based on books), 'Pretty Little Liars' and 'Riverdale'. However, the author did a great job at keeping me guessing as to why the main character, Avery, randomly received a stranger's billion-dollars inheritance.

Even though I'm not the target audience, I enjoyed this book as a reader, so can happily promote it to readers at my library service.

I’d seen US bloggers rave about this, so when the email dropped in my inbox I jumped at the chance to join the blog tour. What a ride this was! The Inheritance Games had me hooked from the very first page, I wanted something gripping, that would keep me guessing every step of the way and The Inheritance Games well and truly delivered. I absolutely adored it!

The concept instantly drew me in and kept me hooked from start to finish. I could not put it down. A billionaire leaving the majority of his wealth to a random teenager he’s never met, throw in riddles, a game Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are determined to solve, twists and danger and you have one hell of a book! Seriously, OMG! I don’t even know how to review this one properly, it’s that good! Every time I thought I had things worked out, another twist lurked on the next page to completely throw me off the scent.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is an incredible storyteller, the writimg, plot and characters are so well written and woven together I didn’t want it to end. I know no book is perfect, The Inheritance Games is as close to perfect as you can get. It’s just, wow! Every year I pick a book I’ve loved to gift come the holiday season and this is it, honestly I just want to push it into everyone’s hands and gush about it! I can’t put into words just how much I loved it!

The Inheritance Games is intriguing, clever and completely unputdownable! I’m impatiently awaiting the next book.

This book wasn’t one I have been able to get into therefore I will not be providing a negative review.

I read The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group.

Since her mother's death, teenager Avery Grambs has been living with her older half-sister, Libby, until she decided she would rather sleep in her car than put up with her sister’s abusive boyfriend, Drake. But one day she is summoned to the will reading of the loaded Tobias Hawthorne and is shocked to discover that he has left billions to her, in fact, his entire fortune. However, there is a catch - she has to live in his sprawling mansion, Hawthorne House, alongside his family that includes four grandsons, Grayson, Jameson, Nash and Alexander...

The Inheritance Games was such an intriguing story. Set in Texas, Jennifer Lynn Barnes really showed her talent through her remarkable characterisation. Protagonist Avery navigated a tricky situation with aplomb making her a wonderful central character for a young adult novel. The Hawthorne brothers were shrouded in mystery and were excellent at keeping secrets, though initially they seemed more like caricatures than people. However, they were developed brilliantly as Avery learned more about them and I was soon completely invested in them all. The descriptions of Hawthorne House and the surrounding estate with its hidden rooms, passages and doorways were tremendous, so much so that they boggled my mind and the house was like a character in itself. As Avery continued her quest to establish why she she was chosen as Tobias' heir, other mysteries cropped up and every one of them kept me guessing.

A special thank you to Penguin Random House Children’s UK, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Regular readers will know that I am a sucker for a good mystery. Add an army of brooding, enigmatic brothers and a curiously acquired billion dollar fortune and it was inevitable that this book would find its way into my life.

Avery Grambs is desperate to get out of high school and build a better life for herself and her beloved older sister, Libby, who is entangled in an abusive on-off relationship. But when it transpires that Avery is the heir to the fortune of dead billionnaire, Tobias Hawthorne, she has absolutely no idea who he is or why he has left her the vast majority of his assets. To make it worse, in order to get her inheritance, Avery must move into Hawthorne House for a year… with the entire family that Tobias has just disinherited. Cue a mind-bending puzzle with danger around every corner to discover the secrets at the heart of such a bizarre situation.

The Hawthorne brothers all have a very strong magnetic field, which I know would have completely captivated me as a teenager. I still found myself a little taken with Greyson in particular but all four of them had a certain appeal and I completely understood why Avery and other girls before her seemed to fall head over heels with them. There is a real air of magic about the boys, their grandfather and the very odd house that gave the mystery a slight otherworldly aura.

Avery falls pretty hard for Jameson and there is a moment when they share a kiss. However, I was a little scared for her because I didn’t wholly trust any of the Hawthornes. I really felt that Jameson had other less-than-cute reasons for getting close to Avery and couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all about to unravel. She was repeatedly warned that the Hawthorne boys break everything they touch but she still allowed her heart to be stolen. On the whole, Avery comes across as an intelligent, no-nonsense girl but I guess we’re all powerless to a beautiful, mysterious boy.

The mystery itself was one of the most intriguing and addictive that I’ve ever read. I was completely absorbed in figuring out who Avery was and what connection she had to the Hawthorne family, as well as how all of these other threads from the past fed into what was going on. I’m afraid that I was disappointed towards the end when the answer seemed to be revealed because I just wanted something a little more substantial. Then the final few lines hit and I found I was still piecing things together and to be honest, I’m still not sure I’m right about who Avery actually is.

The Inheritance Games is a claustrophobic, clever suspense that will definitely keep you on your toes. The plot is reminiscent of the excellent Christie-esque film Knives Out and it’s equally as gripping. Pick this up for a fast compelling read this autumn.

One of my favorites so far this year! The inheretance games has a strong plot with strong characters. Can't wait to read the second book!

Avery walks into the Principal’s office. As she enters she sees Libby present there. Also sitting there is Grayson Hawthorne. What comes next out of his mouth, shocks the sisters out of their wit – Tobias Hawthorne, the wealth billionaire has named Avery in his will. The sisters need to fly to Texas to visit the Hawthorne House.

The will gets read and it leaves everyone flabbergasted. The tables have turned now and no one has any idea how or why. The most taken aback is Avery.

Why is Avery named in the Will?
What is the puzzle to unraveling this truth?
Will Avery survive at Hawthorne House?
Will the puzzle be solved?
What are the odds of survival?

Rating – 5/5 Stars
Recommendation – Super High

Conclusion,
This book has been my most favorite read for the year. Right from page one till the end I was hooked. An absolute page turner right till the very end. The character development is brilliant. I fell in love with Avery’s strong character. The plot development was brilliant. Not to mention the ingenious puzzle that the five solve. A perfect master piece with perplexing and most unexpected twists and turns. Words fall short to review this paragon book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and can’t wait for the next book in this captivating series.

Trigger Warning – Mild mention of domestic violence.