Avery is just living her normal life until a unknown billionaire dies and leaves all his money to her with the one condition, she must live in his house (with the family still in residence) for one year. The old man was consistently creating puzzles for his 4 grandchildren and the house is full of secret passage ways, riddles and codes. Avery and the boys embark on one final puzzle to discover why Tobias Hawthorne supposedly disinherited his family for this complete stranger.

Wow I just wanted to binge my way through this book! I was quite upset that I had to go to work rather than just sitting and reading this all in one go. My critical skills have gone completely out the window for this book and I was just there for the ride. I wanted all the answers. The ending gave us a satisfactory amount of answers while also leaving us with more needing to be discovered, Looking forward to book 2. How long do I have to wait?

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE INHERITANCE GAMES ABOUT?
We begin by meeting Avery, a high school junior on a mission. She's determined to get through high school without drawing a whole lot of attention (good or bad), to fly just under everyone's radar—but to do so in a way that'll pick up enough in scholarships to get to college and get to a stable and lucrative career (in actuarial science). Once she's there, she can take time to breathe, time to relax. But not until then—now it's about studying, working, and hopefully getting to help out the older sister that she lives with.

And then a mysterious—and obviously stinking rich—stranger shows up and tells her to get on a plane to Texas where she needs to be at the reading of a last will and testament. She knows no one in Texas, has never heard of the deceased, and can't think of why she needs to be there. But hey, it's a free trip for her and her sister (and she's curious about the will).

The deceased is Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire. With a B. He was the richest man in Texas and among the richest in the world. It turns out that he's left almost everything to Avery. If she can live in his mansion (the word mansion doesn't seem to cover it, but English doesn't have a word that'd actually describe the place) for a year.

The difficulty in that lies in the rest of the household—there's the staff who don't seem all that welcoming, Hawthorne's daughters and son-in-law who clearly resent the interloper, and Hawthorn's four grandsons (all around her age) who were the presumptive heirs before she came along.

Avery and the grandsons (and, actually, pretty much everyone in the world once the story breaks) just want to know one thing—why her?

THE CHARACTERS
I've been thinking all week about how to talk about the characters in this book, and I think the best way to get a handle on them is to think of them in three tiers (and as soon as I write that sentence, I think of a way to separate them into four, or maybe five, so admittedly, there are problems with this approach, but I'm sticking with it),

Tier One is simple: Avery and the four Hawthorne grandsons—Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander. They aren't as all well-drawn as the others (Avery, in particular), but any time they're around, the reader and the scene focuses on them over everyone else. The novel is about them, everyone else is a supporting character. More than the other Tiers, each of these characters has an obvious goal, an obvious storyline, a motive to find out what Hawthorne was doing with this will. They're three-dimensional characters (Nash could use some more definition, though). It's hard to like them all consistently, but you can't help but be curious about each of them.

Tier Two consists in Libby, Avery's sister; Oren, her security chief; Alisa, the lawyer/primary contact with Hawthorne's law firm (and Nash's ex, but that's another story); and Max, Avery's best friend (who she only communicates with via text and telephone throughout the novel). It occurs to me that this group consists of people that Avery trusts (maybe she should, maybe she shouldn't, but they haven't given her a reason not to). We know them a little better than the rest, but the focus on them isn't as great as it is on the Tier One characters. Of these, I really wanted more time with Max—and hope that the story will allow more interaction with Avery and Max in the sequels.

Tier Three is everyone else—people from their schools, consultants/employees of the estate, and well, anyone else who shows up. Most of these are little more than names and titles—some are filled out a little bit, but few are more than a two-dimensional sketch. If they get more than two dialogue lines, they're interesting, and you typically want to know more about them and hope that Barnes finds an excuse to use them some more (with the exception of Libby's boyfriend, who you just hope never to hear from again, every time he makes an appearance). Some of these may be trustworthy, but you have almost no reason to trust anyone on this Tier (Libby's boyfriend is the exception—you have absolutely no reason to trust him). This is an interesting quirk of this world—there are precious few people that the sudden-heiress can trust, everyone has an agenda dealing with her, usually a hidden one.

Of course, looming over everything is the specter* of Tobias Hawthorne. As he's dead, I don't count him as a character. But his personality, his achievements, his machinations govern everything. As Xander notes (and Avery frequently remembers), even if she'd manipulated Tobias into this, she'd find he was manipulating her all along.

* Not literally, this isn't that kind of book.

You take the large cast of characters that this represents, using them all (particularly Tier Three) as pieces of the puzzle themselves--and all of them providing multiple clues of various quality to the big question, and the word "complex" almost doesn't cover the nature of this puzzle.

A THOUGHT ABOUT GENRE
I keep seeing references to this as a thriller. It is absolutely not a thriller. There are moments that could be seen as belonging to that genre, but they're so brief that they don't count.

This is a puzzle, this is a mystery, this is a mental exercise, a riddle. It's practically a cozy (closer to one than it is a thriller, anyway).

That's not a criticism of anything but the marketing. But anyone walking into this should not be expecting pulse-pounding tension, breakneck speeds (although it is generally fast-paced), and nail-biting action. This novel about the characters, it's about figuring out motives, and the meaning of various acts.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE INHERITANCE GAMES?
I picked this up just to read a chapter or two in order to get a flavor for it, then I was going to put it down for the evening, and pick it up again the next day. I ended up reading 30% of it before I had to stop—and read almost another 20% that night. It's engaging, it's smooth, it's so, so, readable.

The pages just melt away and you get swept up in the story—as outlandish as it is. Without any effort, you not only suspend your disbelief, but you put a gag on it and stuff it in a closet somewhere.

There's a definitive end, a puzzle is solved, and there's a sense of resolution. Which is immediately replaced with the next puzzle and a promise of more to come in the sequel. So while I don't think you can call it a cliff-hanger, you can definitely see the cliff just ahead on the path.

I'm a little annoyed that I saw The Westing Game referenced a few times in the marketing for this book. Because I really wanted to talk about the way that this had a similar feel to The Westing Game and be able to come across as insightful to do so, Instead, I'm just part of the echo chamber. Still, there's a very Westing Game-vibe to The Inheritance Games, and as there are few books that I consider as clever, as well constructed, and as readable as Raskin's book, that's a high compliment.

This is just a fun, fun read. Pick it up.

Avery Grambs’ life is a mix of ups and downs. After the death of her mother, she moved in with her half-sister Libby. It wasn’t perfect but Avery isn’t the kind of girl that will complain all the time. She finds her routine and tries to survive until she will be able to get out from there. Her life goes on until the Hawthorne family appears in her life. A billionaire Tobias Hawthorne included her in his will. The weirdest part is that she didn’t even know him before he passed away. However, the biggest surprise is that he left her his entire fortune. She can keep it under one rule; she needs to move into the Hawthorne manor and live there for a year. It’s not as easy because the house is occupied by Tobias Hawthorne’s daughters and grandsons.

From the time she moves in, she becomes a public person followed by media, which also brings danger to her life. She cannot live like this without knowing why a stranger leaves her everything instead of leaving it to his family. She decides to investigate and tries to find the missing puzzle.

Avery is a hard-skinned girl, who’s hard to break. She’s also very humble, which in my opinion is also why she was chosen by Hawthorne, but I see that this book is more complex than that. Moreover, she was always good at games. She saw the answers that other people don’t notice. When she moves into Hawthorne’s house she immediately starts digging. She wants to know why she was chosen. Why he didn’t leave the money to his family as everyone was expecting. Thankfully she wasn’t the only one who wanted to find the answers.

Hawthorne boys cannot be trusted. Everyone repeats it throughout the book. However, it’s so easy to fall in love with each of them. Their personalities are completely different but at the same time in the same level attractive. They’re not bad people. They are lost and Avery happens to be their way out. A person who they can focus on. I don’t have a favorite in this group. They are all special in their own way. However, I like Xander and Grayson slightly more than Nash and Jameson. Grayson is very secretive, however; this mystery makes you like him even more. Besides he has his ways with words. He can be a jerk but on the other side, he’s the cutest guy in this book. Xander is a Brainiac. He’s the smartest in the group and the most underestimated. He covers a feeling of being left out with confidence, which I think is just an act.

This book is a rollercoaster. There isn’t a moment when you think that the book is boring. Something happens all the time but at the same time, it isn’t overdone. Everyone in the house is a suspect and a threat so you don’t know from which side comes a danger. I tried to guess all the way through the book why Avery was chosen, and I was partly correct. Firstly, when the mystery was solved, I was mad because it wasn’t special. I felt that I was waiting for something big, but it turned out to be nothing special. I even wanted to lower the rate because I was so disappointed. However, the last four pages hit me, and I went back to loving this book! I cannot wait to read a sequel to this book! The ending was everything I wanted it to be.

I would like to thank TheWriteReads for including me in this tour! I am so grateful for being able to read this book and share my love and thoughts it with you all! This book deserves to be known and loved! I will definitely buy a copy for myself this month so I can experience this story once again.

This book said in its description that it was for fans of Knives Out. I was down for a good mystery thriller, but I personally didn’t love Knives Out. It was definitely a good movie with good acting, and the mystery part was fun, but I felt so awkward watching most of the scenes. This book kept the good mystery in and took out the awkward watching part that I disliked. I was so excited to read it, and flew through it!

Avery has a very complicated life. Her father is always missing so she lives with her sister and tries to get her to break up with her toxic boyfriend. At the same time, she is trying to ace school so she can get into a good college to make a better life. This seems like a lot for one teen girl to handle, but she has her best friend Max to vent to. Then, a strange boy shows up at her school, inviting her and her sister out of the country for a will reading. Turns out, she has gone from being broke to being an heiress of billions of dollars overnight. And she has to live in the house with the family of this old man she’s never met for at least a year, even though they hate her for “stealing” their money. Why did Tobias Hawthorne give his wealth to a girl he’d never met? What was the real reason he would cut his family off this way?


I have to say, the romance, I didn’t love it. I felt like there wasn’t much chemistry between the characters that had the most romantic scene in this novel, and I feel like it didn’t add much to the mystery. It just confused me a little, and made me worried for the characters.

Everything else about this novel was great! The mystery, although the clues seemed to be placed randomly, was really good. I feel like there was a high chance they would have missed a clue just by accident since the house was so large, but all the clues linked to one another leading the characters on a pretty large hunt. The action scenes in this book also kept me on the edge of my seat. I never knew what was going to happen from one scene to the next.

I liked the relationship between Avery and her sister. Avery tried so hard to protect her sister, but her sister had to make the decision of whether or not to leave in the end. I feel like this reflected those in real life trying to lead friends and loved ones out of toxic relationships.

I don’t want to say too much about the side characters, but they were all unique. I see that this book seems to be the first in a series (at least according to Goodreads) so I can’t wait to see how these characters flesh out in future installments.

The ending of the book felt a tad anticlimactic? I feel like the end had been leading up to so much more than what it was. But I know that there are more secrets to be revealed since this is not a standalone book, so I am definitely excited to see what is to come in future.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good YA mystery novel.

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

Avery is used to living the hard life. Cared for by her older sister since her mother dies, working as many hours as she can in a local diner and juggling achieving at school with staying invisible – Avery is shocked when she is invited to a will reading in Texas from a billionaire (Tobias Hawthorne) she has never met and she has no idea why. Neither do the family. And so it begins, the race to figure out why Avery has been chosen and solve the mystery.
This book is so much fun and uniquely entertaining and the plot is refreshingly different from anything I have seen. It made addictive reading and moved at such a fast pace. Once I began it was hard to stop.
Avery is a fabulous character and I love how intelligent and down to Earth she is throughout the whole book. She has no idea why she is part of the inheritance or what her link to Tobias is however there are various puzzles and clues leading her towards the answers they all desperately crave.
The Hawthorne brothers and Avery are such well-developed characters that balance and complement each other perfectly. Each one brings a different personality to the table and adds dimension to the plot with their banter. As with all good mysteries there's a less savoury character but the identity is well hidden behind a plethora of twists, turns and misdirection.
The tension builds until the big reveal at the end, but I love that there is a sequel in the works, and I cannot wait to continue the story and find more answers. The mystery is very cleverly plotted and really draws the reader in. It's almost like playing a game!
A very clever, YA mystery that is highly entertaining and a whole lot of fun.

THIS BOOK!!!

Oh my gosh! I was in SUCH a reading rut, but the second I picked this up that went straight out the window!

The simplicity of Jennifer's writing style weaved in so perfectly with the complexity of the mystery at the heart of its plot. The result? Pure Magic!

I'm here for this book and so much more like this!!

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 STARS⁣
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𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Avery, Grayson & Xander ⁣
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𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦: When I heard this book was the YA version of Knives Out, I knew I had to read it. I was so glad by the end that I picked it up. ⁣
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I’m a big fan of mystery books, particularly YA mystery (you can see my love for the Truly Devious series) and The Inheritance Games has secured a place on my favourites list. ⁣
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Filled with twists and mind-games, you join Avery on this journey to discovering why she was left a massive inheritance by a man who she does not. Couple that with three good-looking heirs who the money should’ve gone to and you’ve got a heart-racing book. ⁣
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I was beyond excited and nervous when I realised this was part of a series. I was worried I’d be given now answers. However, the author does a wonderful job of solving your on the surface questions but leaving you needing more. You’re fully immersed in Avery’s and the Hawthorne’s lives, learning their past through rumours and confessions. The riddles were intriguing and the reveal at the end will leave you gasping. ⁣
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All in all, this was a fantastic mystery read and a brilliant debut for a future series.⁣
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𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦: The romance! I love when romance and mystery are entangled. I personally loved Grayson, I’m sure others will love Jameson more. Both were starkly different and intriguing in their own ways. It’s almost impossible to choose. But there’s something alluring about Grayson’s quiet, almost lethal, power that makes you want to learn more about him. In comparison, Jameson is chaos personified. All his emotions are worn on his sleeve, his heart pours out of him. It’s difficult not like both of them.⁣
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𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥: readers looking for their next murder mystery

This is not fully my usual genre of books, but the mystery aspect definitely intrigued me enough to want to read it. I’m so glad that I did. This is a lovely winding mystery that takes you on a interesting journey. The main character, Avery, was well written and I enjoyed watching as the events played out before her. She’s got that smartass-ness that you would expect of a teenager but she’s got enough common sense that I didn’t get frustrated by her decisions. I will be honest, I put this on my kindle and read it in one sitting.

Putting this down would be a mistake that I don’t suggest you make. I think the best part about this is the mystery that has to be solved. It was well put together to certainly keep you guessing the entire time. I adored the Hawthorne family on a whole. Each with unique personalities that you knew a lot of thought went into each one. They gave the air of wealth, some more than others.

The moments that Avery gets to experience, as she gets closer to unraveling the mystery and also learning to embrace this new life that she’s been pushed into, are wonderfully written and expressed. There is a sense of her feeling lost but also that you can be a part of her growth as well.

I liked that while romances were hinted and there was even some tension it was not the primary focus of the book. Everything about this book hooks you in and frankly if you didn’t finish this in one go, I’d be surprised. It’s a book to read, and I hope that there is more to come not only from these characters but also from this author.

I highly recommend The Inheritance Games to anyone that loves YA, Mystery with a hint of romance. Definitely a must read!

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The book in the picture in this post I purchased myself.

She came from nothing. Avery has a plan: keep her head down, work hard for a better future. Then an eccentric billionaire dies, and leaves her almost his entire fortune. And no one, least of all Avery knows why.

They had everything. Now she must move into the mansion she’s inherited: Hawthorne House. It’s filled with secrets and codes, and the old man’s surviving relatives – a family hellbent on discovering how Avery got ‘their’ money.

Once I had this book in my hands I just had to read it immediately and I couldn’t put it down once I started it. I love stories like this and when a YA book is marketed as ‘Cinderella meets Knifes Out’ I am always going to pick that book up. What a book!


This book has one of those mysteries weaved throughout the pages that you just have to know the answer to. It consumes your mind when you aren’t reading and is all you can think about when reading. The plot just keeps twisting and turning and the narrative keeps you as a reader constantly guessing.

I enjoyed all the characters in this book. Yes they are your generic YA ‘rich’ characters and the generic ‘rich’ family dynamic but I loved it so much. The relationships between the characters are so complex and intriguing and I was a huge fan. Avery is so smart, determined and resourceful and I want to read more about Avery because she is an excellent main character. You feel the emotional upheaval that Avery feels and the shock she feels too. Personally, I was a huge fan of the secondary romance storyline between Avery and Jameson and I would have loved to see more of that. I’m really hoping that this is covered more in the sequel.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is an author who I just want to read so many more books by because her writing is addictive. As soon as I picked this book up I didn’t want to put it down. I could go on about the plot and the mystery in this book forever but just know that it is out of this world. There were points when I thought I knew what was going to happen next but then the page after I was second guessing myself. Even when it gets to the epilogue, there are questions we still need the answer to. Questions I’m still trying to work out and I just cannot wait to read book 2 when it is out.

Overall, this book in incredible and addictive. I will be putting it into the hands of everyone I can for a long while. If you like mysteries and the idea of a book where Cinderella meets Knives Out then this is the book for you. It is extraordinary and I cannot recommend it enough!

One of my favorite tropes in mystery stories is one that involves puzzles or games. Such kind of plot keeps my interest throughout the story and I love using my brain. And as far as the ‘game’ is concerned in this book, it was very well-executed. The ‘game’ which takes up the story was really enjoyable to read and I loved how the clues and riddles were presented and used. The ‘game’ itself made me want to have Tobias Hawthorne a living character in the book. Still, of course, the book is better with him dead and living most of his wealth to a seemingly random girl and making her play and solve a game he’s so fond of.

I found Avery a very likable character. When she was first introduced I thought the story would be full of drama especially that this is kind of a cinderella story and she’s been through sad things and now living with her sister and her sister’s manipulative on-and-off boyfriend. But I soon saw her strength and intelligence. I loved reading her thoughts and seeing her act, especially when she’s already in the Hawthorne estate and playing the ‘game’ I was cheering for her the whole time and I really wished she got what she deserves. Though nearing the end I don’t think I liked the way Avery’s character turned out to be just kind of a pawn. I just think she deserves more purpose. Hopefully, I get more of her in the sequel though considering the ending, I’m not sure what will happen.

The side characters are not terrible but I wouldn’t call them unforgettable. In fact, most of them turned out to be just stereotypes of characters we already met in other books. I wished there’s more depth in their characters and I would’ve connected to them more but for sure, their existence makes the story more interesting. There is also a hint of a love triangle between Avery, Jameson, and Grayson. I love romance in all my reads but in this book, I kind of don’t want it. If there will ever be a romance, I hope in the sequel, I see more connection between Avery and whoever she likes. More chemistry because I certainly didn’t see any romantic chemistry in this book.

Despite my little issues here and there, The Inheritance Games is a very enjoyable read. It’s also fast-paced. It’s very entertaining, filled with secrets, intrigues and of course, riddles. And Avery, as I said, is a very likable character. I’m excited to see how the story will play out in the next book.

I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy plots with puzzles, games and riddles elements. This book is worth reading.

Have you ever read a first book in the series with genre outside your cup of tea but that book was so amazing it blew your mind away until you can’t think of anything else but the need to read the sequel of the spectacular, jaw-dropping story?

That’s how I feel about The Inheritance Games.

The first time I stumbled upon this book is when I was browsing through NetGalley. I’ll be honest and say that the title kinda reminds me of a Korean drama called The Inheritors or The Heirs and that’s the sole reason why I read click on the cover and read the synopsis. As someone whose favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi, I don’t know what made the synopsis sounded so intriguing that I felt the need to read it right away. When I heard about the blog tour, of course, I couldn’t miss the opportunity!

And so here I am, trying to put into words how this book turned me into a wreck and a total mess.

First, the clues were so interesting and fun to follow! I never considered myself as someone who loves to solve a puzzle but I found that I’m enjoying myself reading Avery’s journey with the Hawthorne brothers and the mystery surrounding them. I thought I knew what’s gonna happen but then I was knocked off of my feet again and again by the plot twists. It was fascinating albeit a bit scary wondering through the halls of a huge mansion owned by a man who loved riddles as much as Mr. Crab loves money.

It got a bit haunting when one tragedy from the past is mentioned. At this point, I’m scared for real. I mean, I knew there’s something wrong with the Hawthorne family, I sensed it right when Avery stepped into the mansion. I thought it was just a rumor. This family is super-rich and famous so it’s only natural rumors followed them everywhere. Then it’s revealed the tragedy is real and I think my mind went wild.

Second, I loved the writing in this book. I was hooked from page 1! IMO, it succeeded in capturing the atmosphere of the story so I was totally engrossed in no time. Also, the pace was perfect. Things were happening so fast, little did I know I was halfway through the book. There were no unnecessary details so I was able to dive into the middle of the problem without having to wait too long. This is one of those quick reads that’s super addicting but you don’t want it to end too soon so you have to slow down even though all you want to do is keep reading.

Third, the characters were unique and memorable. I liked their characterization, each has a distinct personality that fits perfectly into the story. Avery Grambs, she was a curious and determined person plus a loving sister. Aside from being the main character, unfortunately, I can’t find anything that I really like about her. I hope she’ll get a better arc in the sequel. Next is Avery’s sister, Libby. I loved her so much, she deserved all the love! She was so kind, strong, and the best older sister you could ask for. No one is going to hurt her ever again because I’m going to come for them.

Now, let’s talk about the Hawthorne brothers. The fact there were four of them and I could never forget that they were rich, they reminded me a bit of F4 from the Taiwanese drama “Meteor Garden”. Nash is the oldest and he was the only one I can trust in this book. I’m lucky not all of them were suspicious or else I’d have trust issues by now. He was the most relaxed and chilled out of all of them about the riddles his grandfather left for them around the house. Then there’s Grayson, the heir apparent. He was the opposite of Nash, he wore a suit in every chance he got. Stiff, strict, and say hurtful things to Avery but I didn’t worry much about him because he didn’t seem like a person who has an agenda.

Next is Jameson, probably the most charismatic brother because of his particular behavior Grayson called “sensation-seeker”. He was this emo Tumblr boy who seemed to be the most passionate about the riddles. Behind his easy demeanor, I could sense there’s something deeper and dark behind it. At last, there’s Xander. I don’t know if it because he was the youngest or it was in his nature, but Xander was carefree and all-smiley, unlike the other brothers. But behind his bubbly personality, I couldn’t trust him completely. So Jameson and Xander were both on top of my suspect list. List for what, you may ask. I didn’t know tbh, there was just this feeling when you read this book that you couldn’t trust anyone.

Overall, The Inheritance Games stunned me with its gripping and addicting story, earth-shattering plot twists, thrilling mystery with riddles that’ll keep you up all night to solve them! I liked how the romance is written. I think it added up to the complexity of the relationship between the Hawthorne brothers. If you’re looking for a newly released YA mystery that’ll not disappoint, I really recommend this book.

This was a young adult book but it kept me interested. A young girl down on her luck finds out she has been left an inheritance of billions of pounds by a man she has never met, and his family was left nothing. So begins a puzzle, why was she left the money, has there been a murder, and why is she drawn to the handsome grandsons.

I marked it down a star as I was a little befuddled by the ending, I wasn’t quite sure what it meant.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynne Barnes is a roller coaster mystery, with a plot that is addictive. A story that is gripping with every turn of the page.
We are thrown into a world in which Avery finds unsettling after her plan to work hard and keep her head down are upturned. Avery becomes the sole beneficiary to an eccentric billionaire who has died. I mean, who is this man that she has never met?
The situation becomes uncomfortable when Avery has to move into the mansion she has inherited with the family of the billionaire, who are bitterly disappointed that they have received very little of the fortune. The bizarre situation becomes even more mysterious with clues, codes and secret passageways in the mansion and grounds that could reveal the reason why Avery may have inherited the fortune. A dangerous game is played by the family and Avery but it’s all about one winner, so just how far will the family go to keep their fortune?
This is a story with a It is a novel that you will devour as you hungrily journey with Avery as she deciphers the clues in this inheritance game.
A remarkable original story that is written with a clear plot but keeps you guessing. It flows along at a perfect pace, with a strong narrative.

3.5

Surprisingly I enjoyed all the characters in this book, they were all unique but not in a way that felt too on the nose. The mystery of it all and how fast-paced it was kept me intrigued and I like that they weren't just 'rich' - They were insane, what the hell, excuse me why I pause to daydream what I would do with all this money, rich. But the brothers weren't spoiled, they were rude but they weren't spoiled and that made them easier to relate too... or at least like.

It did lull a little in the middle which is why I couldn't give this a 4, as I got impatient with all the clues on top of clues, and I did wish Avery had a bit more of a backbone - or at least remembered and therefore acted like she was the one with all the power.

The whole Cinderella meets Knives Out description is spot on, and like any good mystery, we were left with just enough to make us want more.

When I am choosing a book to read I will question whether or not I have time for it. By that I mean if it is part of a series do I have the capability to commit over the long term? And do I want to start a series when it could be another year (if not longer) before the sequel is released?

I decided to take a chance with The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and man alive I am glad I did. It is a rags to riches story in which protagonist Avery goes from living in her car to being bequeathed a fortune from a mystery benefactor. The only problem is that the old adage proves to be true: where there is a will there is a family.

The fortune comes with some conditions that Avery has to follow if she wants to keep her inheritance but this will prove much more difficult with a scorned family to contend with.

The Inheritance Games is one of the best YA books I have read in a long while. IT is a total page turner and great for anyone who loves a good mystery. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released but as I said before I am going to have to. Sad times.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is available now

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Adored this pacy take on a family dynasty and how they react to the will of an eccentric, hard to manipulate billionaire. Why was the savvy, born on the wrong side of the tracks, teenager Avery the sole heir to inherit his billions? What is her relationship to his four grandsons? What happened to the billionaire's missing, assumed dead son? How safe is Avery living in the family home with the late billionaire's daughters? I raced through this very very clever novel.

Omg, I flew through the pages! The Inheritance Games hooked me from the very first page and just didn’t let me go. I stayed up till 4am to finish this book! So maybe plan carefully when you start it ^^

When I told my mom about the plot she said: Oh, so like these spam emails you always get where someone wants to send you 4 million dollars? And yes, exactly … only that for Avery, it is actually true!

I loved how this all started, with Libby (her older half-sister) never showing her the letters because … doesn’t really sound legit now, does it? But it is! And it’s a whirlwind of new (and dangerous) experiences.

Avery is a great main character to follow, she is clever, determined and quite funny in a dry type of humour. She had a lot to come to terms with, because even though it sounds like a fairytale … suddenly being the heir to a billionaire is not all roses and sunshine. People (understandably) want to know why. Only problem is, no one knows why. She is suddenly in the limelight. People notice her and study her every move.

Actually, all the characters are extremely well written. I loved that they all had their unique motivations, not that we get to know them all … but you can always see them shimmer right under the surface. You can feel how real these characters are. It was a delight to follow them. You could never be sure who would do what next. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time (or pacing the room … with the book in my face).

Even the side characters, like Sky and Zara, were intriguing. They were just as well developed as the rest, with their own fears and desires. And I’m sure some of them will play a bigger role in the sequel (that I’m already desperately waiting for!!)

I loved the Hawthorne brothers, all four of them. Because I wanted to like them (just like Avery) but I never knew if I could trust them. One minute I thought I had one of them figured out and then the next paragraph changed that in a second. I absolutely adored that!

The setting was just as vivid as the characters. The Hawthorne house has just as many secrets as the brothers and Tobias. Speaking of Tobias, I loved all the little tidbits we got to know about him only through his letters and his riddles. That was such a unique and intriguing way to get to know a person.

It’s been a few days since I finished this book but I’m already itching to reread it just to experience this astonishing and exhilarating ride again with all its secrets and twists and turns.


All in all … the only thing I can say is: READ THE DAMN BOOK but be prepared to hate me after because you can’t read the sequel yet … Enjoy!

Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in a couple of days becuase I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
Avery Grambs inherits a fortune from a man she doesn't know and with it comes mystery, adventure, death threats, and of course illicit romance. I loved Avery and I loved the four Hawthorne bothers. The whole book felt like a treasure hunt mixed with riddles mixed with so many questions. Brilliant.
Thank you to Penguin and to Jennifer Lynn Barnes for the opportunity to read and review.
I will definitely be looking at Barnes' other books to read now too.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for providing this eARC as part of a blog tour with The Write Reads in exchange for an honest review.

One day Avery is a normal teenager, living in her car, just waiting to get through high school, and the next, her life is turned upside down when Tobias Hawthorne, billionaire and philanthropist, dies and names her the heiress to most of his enormous fortune. Which would be great, except he has disinherited his two daughters and four grandsons in the process – oh, and Avery doesn’t have a clue who he was. As required by the Will, Avery moves into Hawthorne House where she must live for the next year in order to receive her inheritance, right alongside the disgruntled relatives. Grayson, who was considered the presumptive heir, is convinced she is a con-artist of some kind, but his brother Jameson is certain she is their grandfather’s last puzzle that they are meant to solve using the cryptic letters each of them received. In this new world of luxury, Avery can trust no one, and yet, the only way to get some answers seems to be to play the game laid out by the billionaire.

This was a late addition to my 2020 TBR, but an instant one, since I just had a really good feeling about this book the minute I heard about it. I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed. I haven’t had so much fun reading a book in such a long time! The author has come up with such a captivating series of puzzles and twists, and combined with the gripping plot, it’s impossible to look away as the mystery unfolds, one layer at a time. I binge read this in under three hours and I literally could not put it down.

I absolutely loved the series of riddles and puzzles and of course, the maze of secret passageways and hidden surprises that is Hawthorne House. I think I’d love to live there, if only for the massive libraries it holds! It was great how the house and estate were so intrinsic to solving each of the puzzles in the most unexpected ways. Setting wise this was amazing, but the characters are the far more interesting part of this story. Avery made for a great central character and I loved how strong she was and wouldn’t let anyone walk over her. Her portrayal was extremely realistic, from suddenly having more money than she knows what to do with, to living in a house where nearly everyone has both motive and the means to kill her. Amidst the mystery and grandeur of Hawthorne House and its inhabitants, Avery is the one refreshingly normal figure as she tries her best to remain focused on the puzzle throughout, given the abundance of distractions around her.

All four of the Hawthorne grandsons are equally intriguing – attractive, yet dangerous in their own ways. They’re characters you can’t help but like, yet as a reader, I was largely unsure how trustworthy any of them were – in fact, I still am. They each clearly have their own agendas, not to mention what seems to be a boatload of secrets to go with it, even as they reluctantly teamed up to solve the puzzles. Grayson is definitely my favourite of the four since it felt like his motivations were the most straightforward throughout. Jameson is quite the enigma and I found him to be quite a fascinating character. We don’t see as much of the other two brothers, but I get the feeling that Nash, and Xander especially are going to be important to the plot going forward, since Xander clearly knows more than he is letting on.

The Inheritance Games was a fantastic read and that ending was completely shocking. Just how far ahead has Tobias Hawthorne planned this little game – and whatever for? That was one plot point I never expected to come back into play and I need the next book yesterday! I don’t know how I can manage to wait a year to find out what happens next!! To be honest though, this could have been wrapped up as a standalone and it would have been just as good, but I’m not complaining about more time with these characters. I’m definitely looking forward to finding out what further twists are in store after the bombshell this book ended on! If you read one puzzle solving thriller this year, make it this one. Highly, highly recommended!

This is my first time reading Jennifer Lynn Barnes but certainly not my last. I’ve immediately begun her Fixer books and lets just say the woman draws you into her from the first page and won’t let you go.

I absolutely adore Avery!!! I love seeing a well written, strong female lead who doesn’t crumble under all of the bad things life throws at her. What I love even more is that shes no 2D character with no depth. There are many layers to her and you see that the things she goes through affect her, hurt her, scare her, but she battles through anyway. She is intelligent and holds her own with a group of people who have had far more advantages than her in life.

I loved the Hawthorne boys a lot! Xander is hands down my favourite but I’m rooting for Avery and Grayson to get together eventually.

I saw the final reveal coming but it in no way diminished my love of this book. I could not put it down, I ended up being sleep deprived and happy for it. The worst thing about this book is having read it before it is officially published means that the wait for book 2 is infinitely longer.