Different from the first book but still very good!

The development of the relationship and the angst from the love triangle kept me going. I very much recommend this book and am excited for the next one!

‘The Hawthorne Legacy’ is an amazing follow up to ‘The Inheritance Games’. Personally I loved the traditional mysterious will-reading setup from the beginning and the way Barnes has expanded on the puzzles and secrets is genius.
The story picks up right from where they left off in book one and Avery now knows for sure she is not a Hawthorne by DNA but her relationship and loyalties to the family become even more complicated. The puzzle as to why she was chosen to be heir to the Hawthorne fortune has still not been fully solved and as with all great mysteries there are more to uncover. I really enjoyed learning more about the individual characters and their pasts in this book and in a way it suffers a tiny bit by being book two in a set out trilogy but it didn’t take away any of the intricate details and excellent storytelling that kept me turning the pages.
I think what really carries the whole series is the main character of Avery because she is multi-layered and likeable and for a character whose life changes overnight the MC can become irritating but instead her need to find answers for everyone drives the plot line on.
I really cannot wait for the final installment but for now I am more than satisfied with the many intricacies and poised suspense of this novel.
PS: how has this series not been turned into a show yet???

It was so lovely to be back in Hawthorne House with Avery and the Hawthorne brothers. We finally got to know each brother more which was something I found could have been done better in the first instalment. However, I thought this one lacked in riddles a bit more despite being action-filled and a real page turner.
Don’t get me wrong, it was really good but I was hoping for a few more mind games that we got (not that I could solve them!!!). Avery is definitely taking a lot more risks and there is plenty of suspense which made this such a fast-paced read. .When is the next one out?!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @PenguinRandomHouse for this ARC in return for my honest review.
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I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of the Hawthorne Legacy since devouring The Inheritance Games, and - prior to that - her series, The Naturals. The story starts right where we left off in The Inheritance Games, so would be perfect to read back-to-back for a real ride (though waiting for the third book to come out would give the full experience) and I was immediately transported back into the world that the author had created, asking questions once again about the mystery at the heart of the book. For me, it was a little slower and less gripping than the first book, but I still really enjoyed it, and think that is probably more a case of "second book syndrome" - drawing out the story before ramping it back up to full height for the final installment - so will absolutely be here for the final book in the series when it comes out!

The Hawthorne Legacy is the gripping and addictive sequel to The Inheritance Games in which Avery Grambs, a seventeen-year-old living between her sister’s place and her own car following the death of her mother, finds out to be the heiress of a large fortune.

Following the events of the first book, someone is still threatening Avery’s life, while she is still getting accustomed to what it means being the heiress of one of the richest men in the world (i.e. attending parties, giving interviews, being chased by paparazzi). Also, she is trying to figure out the clues left by billionaire Tobias Hawthorne. With the help of the four Hawthorne brothers, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander, she finds out more about the family, about her own past, and she gets closer to solving the mystery of why Tobias Hawthorne chose her as his sole heir of Tobias Hawthorne.

The Hawthorne Legacy is sooo good! A YA novel full of twists and surprises, entertaining, fast-paced, and intriguing…I couldn’t put it down! Imagine a huge mansion with its locked rooms and full of secret tunnels. Add mysteries, puzzles, secrets, and characters who are charming, witty, and very likable. There is also a love triangle that kept me completely engrossed (and I still haven’t decided if I am Team Jameson or Team Grayson). Book three can’t come soon enough… highly recommended!

A decent sequel to the Inheritance Games with more twists and turns in the tale. A few new puzzles but mostly trying to get enough people in one room together to answer questions.
The more we learn about the originator of the puzzles, the more it makes me think old Tobias Hawthorne was a psychopath. Only the ulta-rich with time to kill plots this much in advance.
I do have to say that at one point we were getting into the Once Upon A Time Henry Mills family tree area of who is related to who and why and how and I had to go away for a little while I calmed down.
That said it did keep flowing and there were good surprises. I would have liked the end to be a bit more consistent with the overall arch but I'm willing to see what happens in the final instalment.
Knives out meets Dynasty.

I am fairly sure that this series was meant to be a duology, but then a third book was added to the deal and The Hawthorne Legacy is the result. If you've ever heard of the second book syndrome, this one perfectly fits that definition, because while it concludes the subplots of book one, there's still something missing. I also have NO idea how there's gonna be a third book in the series, since this one is a perfect conclusion (or, not perfect as in a perfect book, but as I said it is a conclusion and the subplots are dealt with).
Anyways, I was hoping for something more. I didn't like the whole romance storyline, which I found heavier in this book than it was in the first one, and which wasn't all that engaging. The mystery plot was interesting, but not as thrilling as the first book, sadly. I liked bits of it and it is not a *bad book*, but it could have been better and I would have preferred if it was actually a duology. But, alas.
I liked that in this one the side characters were more involved, but at times it felt like too much. Too many people knew too many things and too many things were happening at random times, while at other times nothing really happened and we only had romance scenes, which weren't necessary, in my opinion.
Some things also reminded me of other books, especially We Were Liars and The Cousins, which are already pretty similar to one another.
Anyways, I am curious to know what the author will think for book three, and I didn't hate this one. Just not my favourite and I was expecting more.

Last year I picked up the absolute rollercoaster that was The Inheritance Games (you can watch my full rave review on my Booktube channel if you're interested!) and I immediately needed the sequel. As is the way with book publishing, I had to wait a full year for The Hawthorne Legacy to be released, and it was TRAGIC. Thankfully, I wrote a recap for The Inheritance Games so I didn't have to reread it once The Hawthorne Legacy finally released and I could dive straight into the sequel I had been craving for months.

The Hawthorne Legacy was a RIDE from start to finish. I didn't get to read it in one sitting like I wanted because of Real Life, but every time I picked it back up I was absolutely hooked and I didn't want to put it down. I flew through this book. Jennifer Lynn Barnes has really found her niche with this series - and her previous one, The Naturals - as I think she truly shines with these fast paced thrillers. She knows exactly how much information to trickle through to the reader to keep you on the edge of your seat and blasting through until the end.

I think I mentioned in my previous review that I didn't ship any of the ships, and I was a bit worried that Barnes was going to introduced a strange love pentagon. Thankfully, that wasn't the case, although there is a love triangle. I thought we were over those in YA. In fact, I thought I was over those, but it turns out I really enjoyed this one??? Who am I.

So while I didn't LOVE the romance, I did enjoy reading about Avery and her feelings towards the brothers and what was leading her to feel those things. I don't mind who she ends up with, really, although I am leaning towards Jameson AS LONG AS he gets a bit more character development in the next book. I feel like he was just kind of there and looking cute and being nice, and we didn't really get to see any raw emotional moments from him or between him and Avery. Maybe in the next book?

What I particularly liked about this one was how much of the mystery was resolved... or unresolved. Like I said at the beginning, Barnes has a way of feeding you just the right amount of information to keep you hooked and interested, and then gives you a little more at the end and then WAIT WHAT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE. I like that some pieces of the puzzle were wrapped up but there's clearly more to be discovered.

I also really enjoy reading about Avery's journey into the world of billionaires. Like a lot of people, it's my dream to win the lottery, so imagining being in Avery's place (without all the assassinations and games, of course) was a lot of fun for me. I should probably start actually playing the lottery, though...

The Hawthorne Legacy is a SOLID sequel and an epic ride. I'm giving it 4 stars because it's not an all time favourite, but it's so much fun and it kept me on my toes. I will probably end up rereading both The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy before the third book comes out so I can properly get my head down and try to figure out some of these mysteries. I think they'd work really well as a marathon reading session!

The Hawthorne Legacy is an outstanding follow-up to The Inheritance Games. The setting and characters are the star here, but the mysteries present are still a hook. The love triangles manage to be swoon-worthy as opposed to tropey. The writing is fast-paced and addictive. If you enjoyed Knives Out, this series is a solid follow-up. Highly recommended to readers looking for a solidly entertaining YA mystery series. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

I loved The Inheritance Games so was really excited to get stuck into book 2.

The Hawthorne Legacy picks up where book 1 left off and we're thrown straight back into the web that Tobias Hawthorne has left for Avery and his grandsons. I found this one to be a little slower than the previous, however I was intrigued to find out more and more about the secret histories of the Hawthorne family.

Another really compelling book and will definitely look out for a 3rd!

I really loved the first book but this one was kind of a letdown for me. Whilst the characters felt the same, the plot wasn't as exciting and i wish it had taken several moments in a different direction. It's a shame this isn't like the first one as i loved that one so much. The drama and mystery were still there but it just felt like it was lacking compared to first book in the series.

This series is so much fun. I'm so so glad I joined that blog tour last year, because I might not have gotten into this series otherwise.

It's such a twisty mystery - and not just one mystery, but a half dozen stacked on one another. The characters, particularly the brothers, are a all jagged edges and tangled emotions after betrayals. Money and privilege has done nothing but ruin the family. And everyone around them.

THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY spends more time on Thea, Rebecca, and Max. After the first book being heavily about the brothers (who are still VITAL to this book), it was so nice to balance the scales and bring the girls to greater prominence. Thea and Rebecca's relationship is rocky, full of guilt and the chaos the Hawthornes gave wrought on them. Max steals scenes every time she enters the page.

It's so hard to put these books down as I want to keep reading to find out what happens next - and what the solution to the mysteries are. The chapters are so short (only a handful of pages) and each end on some sort of new revelation, unsettling event, or new problem. It's a brilliant design for keeping you hooked.

And the mysteries! This book is about the missing uncle, who everyone thought was dead until the end of the previous book. You're kept guessing the whole way through, and truths turn out to be false thanks to great twists that fit the feel of the book perfectly. As everything you think you understand about the family is upended (again), it isn't irritating, but rather in keeping with everything that's come before.

One last book to come!

YOU’LL LOVE ‘THE INHERITANCE GAMES’ IF YOU LOVE…

Mystery
Intrigue
Heirs and Heiresses
Super Rich Families
Games/Clues/Sherlock style discoveries
Cliffhangers
Romance(ish)/Well done love triangles
MY THOUGHTS:

This was exactly the sequel I wanted for The Inheritance Games. The main focus of this book is the mystery surrounding Tobias Hawthorne’s son and Avery trying to find him to try and figure out why she was the one who was chosen to inherit the fortune of the Hawthorne family.

Avery, as always, was such a great main character to read. She really feels everything, and her emotions come across in every page. She’s so realistic in the way that she responds to situations and the twists and turns of the plot. She gets angry and sad and frustrated, which comes across so clearly in the writing. As with the first book, Avery is dealing with a lot of change in her life. Danger to her person because of her sudden inheritance. Social events she has to navigate as a brand new heiress, and challenges to her claim to the Hawthorne fortune. Her reactions and feelings to these events throughout the book were so realistic and really had me feeling a lot for her (and along with her).

I really liked that we get to learn more about Grayson and Jameson in this book. There’s a lot more of their brotherly bond and also a bit more about their pasts in this story which added really nice detail to the plot and to the overall world of the story. I especially loved how much we saw of Jameson as he kind of fell into the backdrop of the first book. I don’t think I’m going to survive the love triangle that’s going on with Grayson, Jameson and Avery though.

The real jewel of this story without a doubt is the almost completely absent figure of Toby Hawthorne. He is the key figure behind all of the mystery in this book, as he is the only person who could potentially claim the fortune instead of Avery. I really liked how Toby connected so much of Avery’s story before The Inheritance Games to Tobias Hawthorne and the Hawthorne family and fortune. It really felt like I was discovering so many easter eggs throughout this book as I connected all the little threads that Jeniffer has woven into this book.

WHY IT WAS A 4-STAR READ FOR ME:

I do feel like this book fell prey to a little bit of the second-book syndrome we all fear. It wasn’t a boring read, and it certainly delivered on the mystery front. However, at times I felt like there were too many details being held back, presumably because they will be discovered in the final book. It just meant that this read was a bit frustrating at times, and not necessarily in the good ways. However, there were also a lot of times where I was literally jumping about when reading this because I thought I was figuring something out and then it would go off in a completely different direction. I cannot wait to see where the cliff hanger at the end of the book will lead.

I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't quite as good as the first one hence the four stars but still a fun romp. Definitely good for fans of knives out

A brilliant twisty follow up to "The Inheritance Games", Barnes has solidified her position as a formidable writer with this gorgeous second look into the lives of the Hawthornes. I loved spending more time with this family and Avery, and seeing their relationships continue to evolve. A brilliant second act that has me desperate for the conclusion!

Absolutely loved this book. Keep me guessing to the end has no idea how it was going to play out and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend

I loved Inheritance Games and all the twists and turns it offered. So I was really excited to read the sequel and see how the mystery got resolved. Unfortunately this book was a but of a mess. I could see direction in which the author wanted to take this story but getting there involved too many unwanted convoluted plot twists that didnt really offer anything to add to the story or characters. It felt like the plot was going around in circles trying to provide the answer when it was obvious and predictable. The love triangle also didn’t help matters. So overall this book was a big disappointment.

I read and adored The Inheritance Games last year and I was looking forward to its sequel. There were still some unanswered questions to be tied up in this book and I’m glad we got to the bottom of those mysteries.

Avery Grambs is the heir to the Hawthorne fortune, much to the dismay of his family. But she still needs to find the man who might be able to tell her exactly who she is and why she has been left with everything. There are still more puzzles to solve, deadly threats to dodge and Avery is still being pulled between Grayson and Jameson Hawthorne -two of the brothers who dominate her headspace.

I really enjoyed being back at Hawthorne House. It suits the enigmatic, cerebral Hawthorne family perfectly and it almost definitely has as many secrets as they do. The corridors seem to go on forever and every wing is steeped in history. It seems that there’s a mystery around every single corner and doorway and for someone who craves intellectual stimulation, it’s a complete haven.

Avery also has to deal with figures from her past wanting something from her now that she is a billionaire -namely her deadbeat father Ricky Grambs. Avery is smart enough to know what his game is but he certainly tries his best to appeal to her softer side. I guess this is part of the reality of being rich and powerful and adds to the dramas that Avery now has to endure.

There are also multiple violent threats thrown Avery’s way. Skye Hawthorne, the brothers’ mother, is chief suspect for a lot of these but I doubt she was behind all of them. Avery learns how important public image is now that the whole world knows who she is and evidently, there are a lot of people who hate how she got her money and by extension, want to bring her down.

Of course, we’re treated to the wonders of the Hawthorne brothers again. I’m still not decided between Grayson and Jameson over who is my favourite. In fact, I even saw the appeal of Xander in this book too, so now I’m at a complete loss when it comes to picking my favourite. I suspect the only reason that Nash isn’t in the running is because we didn’t really see enough of him in this instalment. The brothers are easily my favourite part of this series and I love seeing them tease and interact with each other.

The Hawthorne Legacy is a book full of new mysteries and revelations. It wasn’t anywhere near as gripping as the first book and I was getting a bit tired of the romance(s). However, I do still enjoy the characters and the setting. It did feel like a filler book in the series and set up a lot of ground work for a third book, which I’m sure will be great. If you enjoyed The Inheritance Games, don’t expect as much drama or as many shocking reveals in this one.

Having read the first book I was worried that this second instalment wouldn’t match up.. How wrong was I. This is a fabulous follow up. Continuing the story of Avery who has just become a billionaire after the death of a stranger. There are so many clues that she follows to unravel why she was the beneficiary and not his family. Complete with a love triangle thrown in.
I would love to see these books made into a TV series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an arc

I loved the first book so i was so excited to read this book. I wasn't disapointed at all!!

This book was a rollercoaster from the start right until the end. I love a book where i cn't work out how things are going to turn out!

I'm not usually a fan of love triangles but i actually enjoyed the one in this book so much.

I'm still in shock over the ending!! Overall this book was so enjoyable to read!