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The Inheritance Games #2
The Hawthorne Legacy
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2021)Intrigue, riches, and romance abound in this thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Inheritance Games perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.
The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.
Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she's not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary.
With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, family intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike.
The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.
Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she's not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary.
With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, family intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike.
380 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2021
About the author
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
40 books39.4k followersJennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.
Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49,270 reviews
September 29, 2024
5/5 ★’s
⁀➷ ❝est unus ex nobis. nos defendat eius.❞ she is one of us. we protect her. -grayson🫦
these 5 stars are for grayson and grayson only🤰if he wasn’t in this book…i would’ve given it 4 stars. i was gonna go right down the middle for my final rating and give it a 4.5, but i enjoyed this book WAY more than the first one and that one was 5 stars for me. so i had a very hard time with the rating. why am i like this? :D
if you couldn’t already tell…i have FINALLY chosen my team. i am a grayson girly🥳jennifer did not make it easy. she had both these men playing tug of war with me…absolutely EXHAUSTING!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
i’m still recovering from the whiplash all the plot twists gave me. when i tell you guys that i have predicted absolutely NOTHING. jennifer had me confused almost the entire time until she finally pieced it all together for me to understand. the riddles and puzzles…so entertaining and addicting. this book definitely kept me on my toes and kept me wanting to turn the pages. the amount of times my jaw literally dropped and i had to put the book down and reflect on everything i just read.
❥ 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔:
again…immaculate. to me, it was written even better than the first book! i do have some complaints about the writing, but that will be in the spoiler portion of this review. jennifer lynn barnes is an absolute genius because the way she wrote all these riddles and puzzles…literally how!? she had it all figured out in her head and wrote it perfectly and then there was me confused the entire time wondering wtf was going on :D it totally sounds like a bad thing, but that’s one of the things i love most about this series so far…very unpredictable. now what is it that i loved most about this book? hm, glad you asked!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓎𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓌𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒
⁀➷ ❝no one is going to hurt you.❞
one word. mine. and yes if you were confused…he’s what i loved most about this book. this man constantly gives me the “who did this to you” vibes and that is my WEAKNESS. that’s how i knew this man was going to win me over. also he knows how to play one of my favorite games, catan, and he’s good at it!? oh to be able to play against him. gray being vulnerable🥺ugh my heart ached for him.
❥ 𝒿𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓌𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒
⁀➷ ❝heiress, you wound me.❞
he will always be such a cutie to me. jameson makes me giggle and smile while grayson makes me swoon and gives me all the butterflies hehe. jameson also being vulnerable…my heart ached for both him and gray😔the way they had to grow up…let me just say that i absolutely LOATHE their stupid mother.
❥ 𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓈
⁀➷ ❝i was a survivor. i took care of myself. and i wouldn’t let myself want or expect anything from him.❞
she will always slay💅the anxiety that i had for her the ENTIRE book omg. also her relationship with libby!? they are so precious i swear🥹everything that libby did for avery was everything<3 the only slight problem i have with avery is her decisions.
❥ 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔:
all i can say is that it was a lot to take in. the plot kept going back and forth, making me question everything that was going on and then the chaos!? jennifer knows how to make my heart RACE. i cannot wait to read the third book because i have no idea what it’ll be about. also let me apologize for saying how i wasn’t sure how i felt about xander in my first review. i adore him🤗i adore all the hawthorne brothers<3
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓈𝒸𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓈
⤷ scene one
i shot grayson a look. "sometimes, it feels like hawthornes always just know. like you're all so sure of everything."
grayson's eyes locked on to mine. "not everything."
there was something about the way he looked at me when he said those words that made me realize i might be the one person on the planet with the ability to make grayson hawthorne question himself and the decisions he'd made.
like his decision to step back from me. to be friends.
~~~their tension is crazy. all i can say is that avery is a better woman than me.
⤷ scene two
“this family breaks things.” grayson’s tone never wavered. “my grandfather knew that, and he brought you here anyway. he put you on the board.”
grayson wanted me safe, and i wasn’t. having inherited the hawthorne fortune, i might never be safe again.
“i’m not the glass ballerina,” i said firmly. “i’m not going to shatter.”
“i know you won’t.”
~~~screaming because the way this man knows she can take care of herself, but he still wants to do everything he can to make sure she’s safe🥲my MAN.
⤷ scene three
“heiress.”
i couldn’t move. couldn’t breathe. and then jameson was on the floor with me. he brought his face level with mine and cupped my head in his hands. “fireworks,” he told me. “it’s just fireworks, heiress.”
my brain registered his words, but my body was still lost in memory. jameson had been there in the black wood with me. he’d thrown his body over mine.
“you’re okay, avery.” grayson knelt beside jameson, beside me. “we won’t let anything hurt you.”
~~~they’re so caring🥺so sweet<3
❥ 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓆𝓊𝑜𝓉𝑒𝓈:
➛ ❝i’ll teach you.❞ 🦋🦋🦋
➛ ❝why,❞ he repeated crisply, stepping out of the elevator, ❝would avery be anything other than fine?❞
➛ ❝when you're ready, if you're ever ready, if it's going to be me—just flip that disk. heads, i kiss you.❞ his voice broke slightly. ❝tails, you kiss me. and either way, it means something.❞
➛ grayson gave me a look—a know-it-all, never-wrong, do-not-question-me kind of look. ❝no one is going to believe you chickened out of anything,❞ he said. from the way he phrased that, you would have thought i was fearless. HELP🦋
➛ ❝correction, darlin. we will.❞ nash & libby<3
➛ grayson smiled, and that smile cut into me, every bit as much as his kiss. gray, baby…kiss me now😩
➛ he kissed me to save me from what i'd been about to say. for a small eternity, nothing in the world existed outside of that kiss. his lips. mine. 🫦
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝓈𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃
please please please stop reading now if you haven’t read this series yet<3
*inhales deeply*
1, 2, 3.
*exhales*
okay here it goes. the romance. yes this is what i want to talk about. i have a problem with how jennifer wrote the love triangle.
so she picked jameson and i wanna cry :) the last page of this book literally killed me. i’m gonna be so honest right now…i do not feel avery and jameson’s connection at all🫣i feel that all the tension was between grayson and avery…and the only thing i got was a little kiss in front of the cameras AND THEN THEY DIDN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT?!? it’s so clear to me that grayson is in love. grayson and avery have a deep emotional connection. like they can communicate without talking, that kind of connection. like gray can look at avery and immediately know there’s something wrong. the way avery would be thinking about grayson…i’m sorry but when was she ever really thinking about jameson like how she was thinking about grayson?! also it’s the fact that jameson and avery were doing the whole no strings attached🥲where’s the connection? i don’t feel it, i don’t see it, but she still chose him😔i promise you that if grayson wasn’t so scared to lose avery like he lost emily and gray didn’t friend zone her because of it…they’d be endgame.
i, myself, don’t even feel a connection to jameson. every time avery was with jamie…i’d get a little bored and wished it was grayson she was with because those two were a mystery and that was exciting to me. but she picked jamie🥲this is kind of the reason why i’m dreading to read the last book because i want more of gray and avery😔also people keep telling me i’m gonna hate gray in the third book…so silly, be quiet<3
petition for jennifer to write a book about gray falling in love and the fmc is me🤗he deserves better and better is me<3
⁀➷ ❝est unus ex nobis. nos defendat eius.❞ she is one of us. we protect her. -grayson🫦
these 5 stars are for grayson and grayson only🤰if he wasn’t in this book…i would’ve given it 4 stars. i was gonna go right down the middle for my final rating and give it a 4.5, but i enjoyed this book WAY more than the first one and that one was 5 stars for me. so i had a very hard time with the rating. why am i like this? :D
if you couldn’t already tell…i have FINALLY chosen my team. i am a grayson girly🥳jennifer did not make it easy. she had both these men playing tug of war with me…absolutely EXHAUSTING!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
i’m still recovering from the whiplash all the plot twists gave me. when i tell you guys that i have predicted absolutely NOTHING. jennifer had me confused almost the entire time until she finally pieced it all together for me to understand. the riddles and puzzles…so entertaining and addicting. this book definitely kept me on my toes and kept me wanting to turn the pages. the amount of times my jaw literally dropped and i had to put the book down and reflect on everything i just read.
❥ 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔:
again…immaculate. to me, it was written even better than the first book! i do have some complaints about the writing, but that will be in the spoiler portion of this review. jennifer lynn barnes is an absolute genius because the way she wrote all these riddles and puzzles…literally how!? she had it all figured out in her head and wrote it perfectly and then there was me confused the entire time wondering wtf was going on :D it totally sounds like a bad thing, but that’s one of the things i love most about this series so far…very unpredictable. now what is it that i loved most about this book? hm, glad you asked!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓎𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓌𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒
⁀➷ ❝no one is going to hurt you.❞
one word. mine. and yes if you were confused…he’s what i loved most about this book. this man constantly gives me the “who did this to you” vibes and that is my WEAKNESS. that’s how i knew this man was going to win me over. also he knows how to play one of my favorite games, catan, and he’s good at it!? oh to be able to play against him. gray being vulnerable🥺ugh my heart ached for him.
❥ 𝒿𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓌𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒
⁀➷ ❝heiress, you wound me.❞
he will always be such a cutie to me. jameson makes me giggle and smile while grayson makes me swoon and gives me all the butterflies hehe. jameson also being vulnerable…my heart ached for both him and gray😔the way they had to grow up…let me just say that i absolutely LOATHE their stupid mother.
❥ 𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓈
⁀➷ ❝i was a survivor. i took care of myself. and i wouldn’t let myself want or expect anything from him.❞
she will always slay💅the anxiety that i had for her the ENTIRE book omg. also her relationship with libby!? they are so precious i swear🥹everything that libby did for avery was everything<3 the only slight problem i have with avery is her decisions.
❥ 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔:
all i can say is that it was a lot to take in. the plot kept going back and forth, making me question everything that was going on and then the chaos!? jennifer knows how to make my heart RACE. i cannot wait to read the third book because i have no idea what it’ll be about. also let me apologize for saying how i wasn’t sure how i felt about xander in my first review. i adore him🤗i adore all the hawthorne brothers<3
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓈𝒸𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓈
⤷ scene one
i shot grayson a look. "sometimes, it feels like hawthornes always just know. like you're all so sure of everything."
grayson's eyes locked on to mine. "not everything."
there was something about the way he looked at me when he said those words that made me realize i might be the one person on the planet with the ability to make grayson hawthorne question himself and the decisions he'd made.
like his decision to step back from me. to be friends.
~~~their tension is crazy. all i can say is that avery is a better woman than me.
⤷ scene two
“this family breaks things.” grayson’s tone never wavered. “my grandfather knew that, and he brought you here anyway. he put you on the board.”
grayson wanted me safe, and i wasn’t. having inherited the hawthorne fortune, i might never be safe again.
“i’m not the glass ballerina,” i said firmly. “i’m not going to shatter.”
“i know you won’t.”
~~~screaming because the way this man knows she can take care of herself, but he still wants to do everything he can to make sure she’s safe🥲my MAN.
⤷ scene three
“heiress.”
i couldn’t move. couldn’t breathe. and then jameson was on the floor with me. he brought his face level with mine and cupped my head in his hands. “fireworks,” he told me. “it’s just fireworks, heiress.”
my brain registered his words, but my body was still lost in memory. jameson had been there in the black wood with me. he’d thrown his body over mine.
“you’re okay, avery.” grayson knelt beside jameson, beside me. “we won’t let anything hurt you.”
~~~they’re so caring🥺so sweet<3
❥ 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓆𝓊𝑜𝓉𝑒𝓈:
➛ ❝i’ll teach you.❞ 🦋🦋🦋
➛ ❝why,❞ he repeated crisply, stepping out of the elevator, ❝would avery be anything other than fine?❞
➛ ❝when you're ready, if you're ever ready, if it's going to be me—just flip that disk. heads, i kiss you.❞ his voice broke slightly. ❝tails, you kiss me. and either way, it means something.❞
➛ grayson gave me a look—a know-it-all, never-wrong, do-not-question-me kind of look. ❝no one is going to believe you chickened out of anything,❞ he said. from the way he phrased that, you would have thought i was fearless. HELP🦋
➛ ❝correction, darlin. we will.❞ nash & libby<3
➛ grayson smiled, and that smile cut into me, every bit as much as his kiss. gray, baby…kiss me now😩
➛ he kissed me to save me from what i'd been about to say. for a small eternity, nothing in the world existed outside of that kiss. his lips. mine. 🫦
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥ 𝓈𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃
please please please stop reading now if you haven’t read this series yet<3
*inhales deeply*
1, 2, 3.
*exhales*
okay here it goes. the romance. yes this is what i want to talk about. i have a problem with how jennifer wrote the love triangle.
so she picked jameson and i wanna cry :) the last page of this book literally killed me. i’m gonna be so honest right now…i do not feel avery and jameson’s connection at all🫣i feel that all the tension was between grayson and avery…and the only thing i got was a little kiss in front of the cameras AND THEN THEY DIDN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT?!? it’s so clear to me that grayson is in love. grayson and avery have a deep emotional connection. like they can communicate without talking, that kind of connection. like gray can look at avery and immediately know there’s something wrong. the way avery would be thinking about grayson…i’m sorry but when was she ever really thinking about jameson like how she was thinking about grayson?! also it’s the fact that jameson and avery were doing the whole no strings attached🥲where’s the connection? i don’t feel it, i don’t see it, but she still chose him😔i promise you that if grayson wasn’t so scared to lose avery like he lost emily and gray didn’t friend zone her because of it…they’d be endgame.
i, myself, don’t even feel a connection to jameson. every time avery was with jamie…i’d get a little bored and wished it was grayson she was with because those two were a mystery and that was exciting to me. but she picked jamie🥲this is kind of the reason why i’m dreading to read the last book because i want more of gray and avery😔also people keep telling me i’m gonna hate gray in the third book…so silly, be quiet<3
petition for jennifer to write a book about gray falling in love and the fmc is me🤗he deserves better and better is me<3
November 1, 2021
Ma'am this is illegal. I thought you were supposed to make one love interest more lovable than the other NOT HAVE THEM BOTH LOVABLE. okay but that confession at the end🥺🥺
My first 5 star in months I'm so happy omg
The Hawthorne Legacy picks up where things were left off in The Inheritance Games with Avery still trying to figure out why the late billionaire Tobias Hawthorne left her his fortune. Whatever the reason, Avery knows the answer has to do with a certain person... and so the investigation begins.
It's just another normal day for Avery Kylie Grambs when the paparazzi are chasing after you trying to get the latest scoop, murder attempts are constantly happening, and your father + the daughter of a billionaire is trying to steal your fortune. And to add on to that, you're dealing with the Hawthorne brothersim jealous. *sigh* What a life to have.
I loved Avery in the first book and I loved her even more here like !! the character development !! She goes through some growth by the end of the book and just sfsdfsdfs I loved it. Still really jealous that she has the attention of both Grayson and Jameson😭 Oh and also how she can literally say "Fine, you can take one of my planes." Not jealous about the downsides of being a billionaire though.
Also I really wonder about that quote above. I feel like by the end of this series Avery will no longer be a billionaire in some way, especially with how many times she kept saying that "this life isn't meant for me" ... foreshadowing methinks.
JAMESON I LOVE YOU. In the first book, I was bit iffy with him because of the way he acted but here OMG MY LOVE FOR HIM GREW SO MUCH. He's actually so sweet and caring to Avery, like some scene I was so surprised with Avery sdfsfds he's such a precious cinnamon roll. The moments between him and Avery were everything. *HOT TUB SCENE*
THESE MOMENTS ESPECIALLY WERE SO SWEET:
You'd think because Grayson didn't have as many scenes as Jameson, I'd love Jameson more obviously, right?? HAHA NO BECAUSE THE VERY FEW SCENES BETWEEN GRAYSON AND AVERY WERE ALSO SO PRECIOUS. Like at this point?? I give up on choosing between the two boys, it's impossible. I just want both of them to be happy by the end of this series😭
LIKE GRAYSON TAUGHT HER HOW TO SKI AND USE A LONGSWORD?? plz I love him so much and the way he's hurting so much over what happened in the past *sobbing*
Also I just loved the side characters so much, Xander and Max especially AHH IM SHIPPING THEM. He made her a life-size recreation of the most lovable droids in Star Wards, how is that not so sweet?? Nash and Libby omg I ship too. I was pretty sus about Nash at first but methinks he's alright now, especially after reading the B&N chapters. Also Thea and Rebecca <333 Bex needs all the happiness in the world. Skye can go die🙂
OH AND HANNAH AND HARRY?? Their love is so tragic, I actually got really emotional over some of the lines😭😭
They deserved more cri curse certain people.
Also shoutout to Oren and Alisa for all the damage control and protecting they had to do for Avery when she screwed upa lot. They definitely deserve a raise in pay. altho they most likely get a lot anways lol
I know a lot people found THL to be super boring and no plot progression whatsoever but honestly I absolutely adored everything in this book. This is the most invested I've been for a book in literally over 3 months. The mystery was so addicting and the tension !! I'm in love and now cannot stop thinking about this book so THANK YOU JLB <33
I'm so hyped for the finale and really sad that soon I'm going to have part from these guys😭 Pleasee don't break any of the Hawthorne boys' hearts, JLB.
___
Reviews:
The Inheritance Games: ★★★★���
The Hawthorne Legacy: ★★★★★
My first 5 star in months I'm so happy omg
The Hawthorne Legacy picks up where things were left off in The Inheritance Games with Avery still trying to figure out why the late billionaire Tobias Hawthorne left her his fortune. Whatever the reason, Avery knows the answer has to do with a certain person... and so the investigation begins.
"I couldn't shake the feeling that this life was never meant for me."
It's just another normal day for Avery Kylie Grambs when the paparazzi are chasing after you trying to get the latest scoop, murder attempts are constantly happening, and your father + the daughter of a billionaire is trying to steal your fortune. And to add on to that, you're dealing with the Hawthorne brothers
I loved Avery in the first book and I loved her even more here like !! the character development !! She goes through some growth by the end of the book and just sfsdfsdfs I loved it. Still really jealous that she has the attention of both Grayson and Jameson😭 Oh and also how she can literally say "Fine, you can take one of my planes." Not jealous about the downsides of being a billionaire though.
Also I really wonder about that quote above. I feel like by the end of this series Avery will no longer be a billionaire in some way, especially with how many times she kept saying that "this life isn't meant for me" ... foreshadowing methinks.
“The trick to being abandoned was to never let yourself long for anyone who left.”
JAMESON I LOVE YOU. In the first book, I was bit iffy with him because of the way he acted but here OMG MY LOVE FOR HIM GREW SO MUCH. He's actually so sweet and caring to Avery, like some scene I was so surprised with Avery sdfsfds he's such a precious cinnamon roll. The moments between him and Avery were everything. *HOT TUB SCENE*
THESE MOMENTS ESPECIALLY WERE SO SWEET:
“Grayson Hawthorne was arrogant enough to consider himself bulletproof—and honorable enough to see a promise through to its end.”
You'd think because Grayson didn't have as many scenes as Jameson, I'd love Jameson more obviously, right?? HAHA NO BECAUSE THE VERY FEW SCENES BETWEEN GRAYSON AND AVERY WERE ALSO SO PRECIOUS. Like at this point?? I give up on choosing between the two boys, it's impossible. I just want both of them to be happy by the end of this series😭
LIKE GRAYSON TAUGHT HER HOW TO SKI AND USE A LONGSWORD?? plz I love him so much and the way he's hurting so much over what happened in the past *sobbing*
Also I just loved the side characters so much, Xander and Max especially AHH IM SHIPPING THEM. He made her a life-size recreation of the most lovable droids in Star Wards, how is that not so sweet?? Nash and Libby omg I ship too. I was pretty sus about Nash at first but methinks he's alright now, especially after reading the B&N chapters. Also Thea and Rebecca <333 Bex needs all the happiness in the world. Skye can go die🙂
OH AND HANNAH AND HARRY?? Their love is so tragic, I actually got really emotional over some of the lines😭😭
"Hate me, if you can, for all the reasons I deserve. But don't hate me for leaving while you sleep. I knew you wouldn't let me go, and I cannot bear to say good-bye."
They deserved more cri curse certain people.
Also shoutout to Oren and Alisa for all the damage control and protecting they had to do for Avery when she screwed up
"There are no rules that matter more than winning.”
I know a lot people found THL to be super boring and no plot progression whatsoever but honestly I absolutely adored everything in this book. This is the most invested I've been for a book in literally over 3 months. The mystery was so addicting and the tension !! I'm in love and now cannot stop thinking about this book so THANK YOU JLB <33
I'm so hyped for the finale and really sad that soon I'm going to have part from these guys😭 Pleasee don't break any of the Hawthorne boys' hearts, JLB.
___
Reviews:
The Inheritance Games: ★★★★���
The Hawthorne Legacy: ★★★★★
August 23, 2021
UPDATE: ok so after much thought and consideration i did over all end up liking this book however my excitement did get the best of me. i believe it’s worth picking up but the book does fall into the 2nd book out of 3 syndrome.
you can tell from the beginning that this whole book is just setting up ground work for book 3 so i’m excited to see how things turn out but not gonna lie all the action happened in the last 40 pages of the book. there was a lot of filler writing
i was hoping to get that excitement rush feeling i got reading book 1 but i didn’t really get that in book 2 but it’s not something i’m mad about since i did end up enjoying this
the description gave me a vibe that there would be more romance in this book than the first one but the believe book 1 and 2 had equal amount of romance as it’s sub plot
kinda confused on who’s team i’m on but at the same time my heart belongs to my mans grayson hawthorne 🙄
you can tell from the beginning that this whole book is just setting up ground work for book 3 so i’m excited to see how things turn out but not gonna lie all the action happened in the last 40 pages of the book. there was a lot of filler writing
i was hoping to get that excitement rush feeling i got reading book 1 but i didn’t really get that in book 2 but it’s not something i’m mad about since i did end up enjoying this
the description gave me a vibe that there would be more romance in this book than the first one but the believe book 1 and 2 had equal amount of romance as it’s sub plot
kinda confused on who’s team i’m on but at the same time my heart belongs to my mans grayson hawthorne 🙄
September 27, 2021
While I loved the first book, the sequel unfortunately turned convoluted rather than clever, the protagonist was too wishy-washy with her love interests, many likable characters faded to the background, and the romantic development didn’t make sense with everything that the first book had set up. (I’m very salty about that ending!)
December 16, 2021
jameson’s annoying
November 18, 2021
honestly toby, if my family tree was this confusing i’d wanna disappear forever too
January 19, 2022
men should apologize for not being jameson hawthorne
November 4, 2024
jameson and grayson have as much flavor as boiled chicken
October 5, 2021
This book was so bad it hurts me. To be so excited after reading
The Inheritance Games
and its thrilling mystery and puzzles and delicious hints of romance, only to read... this? This mess of truly stupid plot twists, slow pacing, underwhelming puzzles, and lack of characterisation. Oh, how my heart sunk.
How did Jennifer Lynn Barnes fuck up so bad? Let me count the ways:
➼ Trying too hard to be clever and losing the literal plot. I'll always stand by the fact that it's better to write a realistic and satisfying twist, even if it's expected, than aiming to sucker punch the reader out of nowhere just for the "shock" value. The ending of this book made absolutely no sense: multiple red herrings, twists about minor characters (and a character never even mentioned before!) that had no emotional impact, and glossing over important plot threads to tie them up in a messy, quick knot.
➼ Writing the heroine to be cerebral and clever... at the expense of making her feel like a robot. I couldn't connect to Avery at all in this sequel. I guess I was hoping that, though Avery was really guarded and unemotional in the first book, the author would peel back some of her layers later. Nope.
➼ Not putting in the effort to add complexity to the characters. It's not enough to just introduce a cast of morally grey characters and then... leave it at that. I loved the ambiguity of the Hawthornes when we first met them. Unfortunately, the only character who has a drop of depth in this book is Jameson. It's not enough for a character to be all ~mysterious~ with ~deadly cheekbones~. (I know, I can't believe I'm saying this when I've been thirsting over Grayson all this time. But those cheekbones need to be paired with some actual characterisation y'all.)
➼ Relying too much on the romance to hook the reader. By the end, I was just annoyed. It was clear that the love triangle was there to disguise the fact that nothing much really happens with the puzzles and plot. Do I still think that Avery and Grayson are endgame? Yes, and they'll be the only reason I read the final book (if I do). (Avery met Grayson first... so by love triangle logic this means they'll end up together lol.)
➼ Reducing the best friend to a prop to remind Avery how hot the Hawthorne boys are. I was so disappointed by this. Instead of investing in Max's characterisation and the friendship she has with Avery, apparently the author time-travelled back to the early 2000s when girls couldn't interact in media unless they were solely talking about boys.
➼ Recycling puzzles from the first book and just having an altogether disappointing mystery. I think of my excitement reading book one with sweet longing. The same tricks like invisible ink and secret passages are re-used and I just... got bored.
The first half of the book was decent and I was enjoying myself moderately. But I quickly realised... as these errors cropped up... that I was only invested in Avery's interactions with Grayson (and to some extent, Jameson). I was cringing at things like Jameson's shrug being "devastating" and the secret love letters starting with "Dear Hannah, the same forwards as backwards" (apparently, pointing out that your lover's name is a palindrome is superrr romantic).
And then that truly stupid end happened. Yikes.
~~~
Grayson: "let's just be fRieNds"
me, in gleeful anticipation: sureee 😉😉 just friends 😉😘 totally platonic pals 😏
~~~
i finally have this book and i'm dying to start it, but fuck me if i remember anythingexcept that grayson looks hella fine in a suit
~~~
i just want me more of grayson hawthorne and some sexy puzzles
Book Blog | Writer Website | Twitter | Instagram
How did Jennifer Lynn Barnes fuck up so bad? Let me count the ways:
➼ Trying too hard to be clever and losing the literal plot. I'll always stand by the fact that it's better to write a realistic and satisfying twist, even if it's expected, than aiming to sucker punch the reader out of nowhere just for the "shock" value. The ending of this book made absolutely no sense: multiple red herrings, twists about minor characters (and a character never even mentioned before!) that had no emotional impact, and glossing over important plot threads to tie them up in a messy, quick knot.
➼ Writing the heroine to be cerebral and clever... at the expense of making her feel like a robot. I couldn't connect to Avery at all in this sequel. I guess I was hoping that, though Avery was really guarded and unemotional in the first book, the author would peel back some of her layers later. Nope.
➼ Not putting in the effort to add complexity to the characters. It's not enough to just introduce a cast of morally grey characters and then... leave it at that. I loved the ambiguity of the Hawthornes when we first met them. Unfortunately, the only character who has a drop of depth in this book is Jameson. It's not enough for a character to be all ~mysterious~ with ~deadly cheekbones~. (I know, I can't believe I'm saying this when I've been thirsting over Grayson all this time. But those cheekbones need to be paired with some actual characterisation y'all.)
➼ Relying too much on the romance to hook the reader. By the end, I was just annoyed. It was clear that the love triangle was there to disguise the fact that nothing much really happens with the puzzles and plot. Do I still think that Avery and Grayson are endgame? Yes, and they'll be the only reason I read the final book (if I do). (Avery met Grayson first... so by love triangle logic this means they'll end up together lol.)
➼ Reducing the best friend to a prop to remind Avery how hot the Hawthorne boys are. I was so disappointed by this. Instead of investing in Max's characterisation and the friendship she has with Avery, apparently the author time-travelled back to the early 2000s when girls couldn't interact in media unless they were solely talking about boys.
➼ Recycling puzzles from the first book and just having an altogether disappointing mystery. I think of my excitement reading book one with sweet longing. The same tricks like invisible ink and secret passages are re-used and I just... got bored.
The first half of the book was decent and I was enjoying myself moderately. But I quickly realised... as these errors cropped up... that I was only invested in Avery's interactions with Grayson (and to some extent, Jameson). I was cringing at things like Jameson's shrug being "devastating" and the secret love letters starting with "Dear Hannah, the same forwards as backwards" (apparently, pointing out that your lover's name is a palindrome is superrr romantic).
And then that truly stupid end happened. Yikes.
~~~
Grayson: "let's just be fRieNds"
me, in gleeful anticipation: sureee 😉😉 just friends 😉😘 totally platonic pals 😏
~~~
i finally have this book and i'm dying to start it, but fuck me if i remember anything
~~~
i just want me more of grayson hawthorne and some sexy puzzles
Book Blog | Writer Website | Twitter | Instagram
September 14, 2021
”The trick to being abandoned was to never let yourself long for anyone who left.”
this book had me crying.
crying tears of pain.. from reading such a fucking shit book.
i had to send my best friend a long ass voice message of me ranting about this book before i wrote my review because it was THAT BAD.
ok look, i get why people may like this but i will not ignore the fact that :
⤷ 1. the characters suck except oren (her head security dude)
⤷ that ending was fucking shit
⤷ the 5829955 plot twists at 70% mark??
⤷ the romance is unnecessary and cringe
like?? the first book was good. i tolerated the characters but i liked the writing and the plot but this?? what the fuck was this??
the first half of the book was just boring and slow. then like a section of the book was avery trying to figure out if she wants jameson or grayson. like bitch. this isnt a fucking episode of the bachelor here please stop.
PLOT ˎˊ˗
i cant say without wither spoiling or getting mad so… just know that its a shit ton of mystery duh and uhhh good plot twists but it was all crammed at the ending and was too much that it got messy
i thought how everything related to each other was cool but like it was so rushed that it was underwhelming. at this point if avery was a fairy, i would believe it -_-
if everything was spaced out it wouldve been a lot better but like our girl avery was having boy problems so all the real problem had to be put on hold for little miss heiress
ROMANCE ˎˊ˗
this book wouldve been so much better without romance.
ive said it and ill say it again. LOVE TRIANGLES ARE NOT CUTE. THEY SUCK. THEYRE ANNOYING. THEYRE STUPID. and if anyone was to write a love triangle at least make the characters likeable. AT LEAST ONE.
also, what was with the hot tub scene like.. what in the ”to all the boys i loved before” is this?? please spare me from any scary flashbacks thanks ;-;
i personally prefer avery and grayson just cause jameson is a fucking annoying little bitch and if i have to hear him say ”heiress” one more fucking time i might just have to go to jail for his murder
just why exactly did this book feel like half of it was avery trying to figure out what boy she wanted. im still confused like…. you have all this crazy shit going on and people are trying to kill you and youre trying to figure out who you see standing on a cliff with you when you close your eyes??
bitch. imagine me. pushing you off the cliff <3
CHARACTERS ˎˊ˗
avery : i hate her. theres nothing much to say. she reminds me of a pick me girl. she’s annoying, stupid, and all things bad so, i really dont fucking care about her oops??
grayson : shouldve gotten the girl. kinda a closeted simp. idk i liked him till i kinda didnt.
jameson : just… die. im sick of seeing his face. i hate him. he’s annoying. i would probably puke if i saw his face lol
libby : why is she still relevant?? someone ship her away cause she keeps pulling the ”i will protect you” card like… youd be the first one crying hun
oren : my favourite. man deserves everything. he should take a vacation cause protecting avery isnt worth it
ummm and the rest either were annoying or just not relevant enough for me mention or both <3
CONCLUSION ˎˊ˗
i regret reading this book. its ruined the whole series for me and when the third book comes out i will have to remember this very moment so rip to me ;-;
ok bye <3
Read
March 27, 2022DNF @ 45%
I just don't really care tbh. I really liked the first book but I've come to realize I just have outgrown reading series unfortunately. So I didn't not like this, but I found myself not wanting to pick it up.
I just don't really care tbh. I really liked the first book but I've come to realize I just have outgrown reading series unfortunately. So I didn't not like this, but I found myself not wanting to pick it up.
May 16, 2021
2021 come sooner
EDIT:
WE HAVE A TITLE AND A RELEASE DATE OMG HAWTHORNE LEGACY IM SO EXCITED HOW AM I GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER
EDIT:
just.....a mess idk what was going through the authors head when she wrote this
EDIT:
WE HAVE A TITLE AND A RELEASE DATE OMG HAWTHORNE LEGACY IM SO EXCITED HOW AM I GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER
EDIT:
just.....a mess idk what was going through the authors head when she wrote this
September 27, 2021
I made my decision
Grayson
I love u ❤️💖
But Jameson
Ily too but Grayson is >>>
Grayson
I love u ❤️💖
But Jameson
Ily too but Grayson is >>>
September 19, 2021
Finished this one just to finish it.
I just felt like Barnes couldn't keep the exciting puzzle-solving tension going through this book. The plot became convoluted and messy, and I found it harder to suspend disbelief for. Also, I'm over both Grayson and Jameson at this point.
I just felt like Barnes couldn't keep the exciting puzzle-solving tension going through this book. The plot became convoluted and messy, and I found it harder to suspend disbelief for. Also, I'm over both Grayson and Jameson at this point.
August 1, 2024
﹒ zᶻ ┆ 4.75 stars – no spoilers ☆ ₊ 📘
wow, because this was a wild ride. i mean, jameson and avery in the hot tub, grayson and avery during the interview, and the end!! i can't wait for tfg because of the spoilers i heard!
↝ “est unus ex nobis. nos defendat eius. she is one of us. we protect her.” ⑅ ꒱
wow, because this was a wild ride. i mean, jameson and avery in the hot tub, grayson and avery during the interview, and the end!! i can't wait for tfg because of the spoilers i heard!
September 20, 2022
lets be real - this sequel is complete and total filler. but its fun filler, so that helps.
the plot doesnt really progress much in this (see the line above), but there are more clues and puzzles and secrets. so if you were drawn to the quirky mysteriousness of tobias hawthorne and his family in ‘the inheritance games,’ then i think you will enjoy this installment. just expect more questions than answers.
and i think thats why i didnt quite love this one as much. the first book ends on a massive cliffhanger with a certain goal in mind. however, that goal isnt met and the cliffhanger isnt resolved until the very end of this book. i just found that to be too long of a wait. sure, theres stuff in between - like i said, more puzzles and clues - but i found the pacing to be very slow in that regard.
overall, a lot more of the same for this sequel. i think if you pick this up with the mindset of just going along for the ride, rather than expecting results (like i did), then this will be an enjoyable book!
↠ 3.5 stars
the plot doesnt really progress much in this (see the line above), but there are more clues and puzzles and secrets. so if you were drawn to the quirky mysteriousness of tobias hawthorne and his family in ‘the inheritance games,’ then i think you will enjoy this installment. just expect more questions than answers.
and i think thats why i didnt quite love this one as much. the first book ends on a massive cliffhanger with a certain goal in mind. however, that goal isnt met and the cliffhanger isnt resolved until the very end of this book. i just found that to be too long of a wait. sure, theres stuff in between - like i said, more puzzles and clues - but i found the pacing to be very slow in that regard.
overall, a lot more of the same for this sequel. i think if you pick this up with the mindset of just going along for the ride, rather than expecting results (like i did), then this will be an enjoyable book!
↠ 3.5 stars
November 10, 2024
**4.5-stars**
The Hawthorne Legacy is the second installment in the hugely popular Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
This rags-to-riches inheritance mystery offers Readers a lot of riddles, a lot of intrigue and a lot of romantic drama. It's like a tiny bit The Princess Diaries meets a lot of Knives Out.
This story follows Avery Grambs, who after the death of her mother, really struggled to get by. She moved in with her half-sister and was working hard just to complete high school. She dreams of a better life.
In an unbelievable turn of luck, Avery received word that eccentric billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne, has just passed, leaving Avery the vast majority of his fortune. The strangest part is, Avery has no idea who Tobias Hawthorne is. She's never even met him.
The kink is that Tobias had a pretty big family that he has snubbed with his surprise bequeathment to Avery.
Now poor Avery has to live in Hawthorne Manor with the very same grandsons who were all but cut out of the elder Hawthorne's will. That isn't awkward at all.
While the first book, The Inheritance Game, gets you up to speed on all that, this second book builds on the mystery of Avery's windfall, as well as a building of the relationships within her new world.
And keep in mind, this is an entirely new world for Avery. She is now in the realm of the uber-rich; the jet-setting elites who she has never interacted with before. With this comes a new set of challenges, including PR-issues, something Avery never would have thought of before.
If only that were her biggest issue though. Someone out there isn't happy with Avery's new found fortune and is willing to try anything to get her out of the picture. Permanently.
There's also a bit of a love triangle happening. The Hawthorne family is full of handsome and charming young men, such a plus for our Avery.
Two of the boys in particular, Grayson and Jameson, are attracting a lot of her attention and thanks to the power of DNA-testing, it's not creepy at all.
I had a lot of fun with this continuation. The Hawthorne Legacy may not be perfect, but it's pretty freaking fun.
I need answers; so excited for the next book. Where's this going from here!?
I am so intrigued with what the truth is behind this family. I love the continuation of the use of riddles and games, as well as Avery getting the chance to team up with the brothers to solve different aspects of the mystery.
I know a lot of Readers aren't fans of love triangles, but I think this one is great. It's not overplayed. It feels natural. There's no catty fighting, or behind the scenes backstabbing. Avery is genuinely feeling a connection to both boys.
Girl, I get it.
I'm so excited for August so I can get my hands on the third book. I need answers!!!
If you haven't picked up this series yet, and love a fast-paced, fun-filled YA Mystery, you should absolutely start this series now. It's completely addicting!
The Hawthorne Legacy is the second installment in the hugely popular Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
This rags-to-riches inheritance mystery offers Readers a lot of riddles, a lot of intrigue and a lot of romantic drama. It's like a tiny bit The Princess Diaries meets a lot of Knives Out.
This story follows Avery Grambs, who after the death of her mother, really struggled to get by. She moved in with her half-sister and was working hard just to complete high school. She dreams of a better life.
In an unbelievable turn of luck, Avery received word that eccentric billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne, has just passed, leaving Avery the vast majority of his fortune. The strangest part is, Avery has no idea who Tobias Hawthorne is. She's never even met him.
The kink is that Tobias had a pretty big family that he has snubbed with his surprise bequeathment to Avery.
Now poor Avery has to live in Hawthorne Manor with the very same grandsons who were all but cut out of the elder Hawthorne's will. That isn't awkward at all.
While the first book, The Inheritance Game, gets you up to speed on all that, this second book builds on the mystery of Avery's windfall, as well as a building of the relationships within her new world.
And keep in mind, this is an entirely new world for Avery. She is now in the realm of the uber-rich; the jet-setting elites who she has never interacted with before. With this comes a new set of challenges, including PR-issues, something Avery never would have thought of before.
If only that were her biggest issue though. Someone out there isn't happy with Avery's new found fortune and is willing to try anything to get her out of the picture. Permanently.
There's also a bit of a love triangle happening. The Hawthorne family is full of handsome and charming young men, such a plus for our Avery.
Two of the boys in particular, Grayson and Jameson, are attracting a lot of her attention and thanks to the power of DNA-testing, it's not creepy at all.
I had a lot of fun with this continuation. The Hawthorne Legacy may not be perfect, but it's pretty freaking fun.
I need answers; so excited for the next book. Where's this going from here!?
I am so intrigued with what the truth is behind this family. I love the continuation of the use of riddles and games, as well as Avery getting the chance to team up with the brothers to solve different aspects of the mystery.
I know a lot of Readers aren't fans of love triangles, but I think this one is great. It's not overplayed. It feels natural. There's no catty fighting, or behind the scenes backstabbing. Avery is genuinely feeling a connection to both boys.
Girl, I get it.
I'm so excited for August so I can get my hands on the third book. I need answers!!!
If you haven't picked up this series yet, and love a fast-paced, fun-filled YA Mystery, you should absolutely start this series now. It's completely addicting!
June 26, 2023
absolutely mindblowing
JAMESON WINCHESTER HAWTHORNE
edit: the best brother is xander hawthorne I said what I said
JAMESON WINCHESTER HAWTHORNE
edit: the best brother is xander hawthorne I said what I said
May 28, 2023
♧ Reread #1:
Omg I had such a fun time rereading this!! 💙💙 This was my favorite the first time round and after rereading it, I definitely understand why 🤩🤩 There are SO many good scenes in here- THE INTERVIEW SCENE 🤭🤭- and the mystery is just so entertaining ✨ The Grayson content in this book tho >>>>>
If you've read this series and enjoyed it, I would highly recommend you give it a reread bc it is such a great time!! 💙💙💙
~~~~~~~~~~~
Rereading 💙💙 Going back to this series has literally been SO fun so far, so i'm excited to reread this one too! 🤩
~~~~~~~~~~~
Original review:
Oh my gosh, that was SO GOOD. THAT’S how you write a sequel!! 😩😩🤌🤌
“Est unus ex nobis. Nos defendat eius."
She is one of us. We protect her.”
The Hawthorne Legacy is the sequel to The Inheritance Games- which I read earlier this year and really enjoyed- and continues the storyline after that shocking ending. I can’t really explain much without spoilers, but there’s loads of twists, lots of development in the romance and many challenges Avery and the Hawthornes have to face.
When I started this book, I was quite worried that it was going to fall into second book syndrome and end up being a big disappointment. For some reason, the enjoyment The Inheritance Games gave me felt like a one-time thing and I wasn’t sure if this book could replicate that. But I’m so glad that I was proved wrong and that The Hawthorne Legacy turned out to be even more entertaining than its predecessor! 🤩🤩😏😏
Starting with the characters. Obviously our main circle of characters is Avery and the Hawthorne brothers, as well as others like Alisa, Libby, Max, Thea, Rebecca, etc. There’s so much to unpack in terms of characters, so I’m gonna try and go through them separately.
~ Avery: Avery isn’t my favourite heroine ever- there are better ones out there- but she’s still a nice character to follow! Her motivations are always reasonable, she’s pretty well-developed and it’s easy to root for her. I also feel like she went through lots of development in this sequel, which was nice to see. So, not my favourite character ever but I still like her! 😁👍
~ Grayson: Okay, Grace, CALM DOWN. Sorry, trying to get too overexcited here. BC I FREAKING LOVE GRAYSON 😍😍❤❤ He basically checks all my boxes in terms of book boyfriends:
Hot ✔
Cold demeanour ✔
Super intelligent ✔
A businessman ✔
Ruthless ✔
HOT 🔥🔥 ✔
I LOVE his interactions with his brothers and Avery- ESPECIALLY Avery- and I love how we get to see a bit of his cold demeanour stripped away in the book. AAAAAHHHHH he’s just amazing. #TeamGrayson FOR LIFE!! 👊
Some amazing Grayson quotes:
“This was the Grayson I’d met weeks ago: dripping power and well aware that he could come out on top in any battle. He didn’t make threats, because he didn’t have to.” ~ fangirling!!! 😩😩
“Grayson was Not Pleased - and no one did Not Pleased like Grayson Hawthorne.” ~ hehehehe
“Grayson Hawthorne was arrogant enough to consider himself bulletproof—and honorable enough to see a promise through to its end.” ~ 😏😏
~ Jameson: Okay, I didn’t like Jameson in Book 1- like, at all- BUT he’s definitely grown on me since then. He’s no way near Grayson in terms of amazingness, but he’s still hot, okay??? 🤭🤭 Definitely an interesting character and he and Grayson compliment each other as brothers. Soooo, I still don’t love him, but I’m getting there.
~ Xander: I really like Xander! A fun character who definitely balances out Grayson’s coldness and Jameson’s cheekiness. He always adds some much needed humour, and I can also imagine him being super cute hehehe 😏😏🤣🤣
~ Nash: eh. Not really a fan of Nash tbh. I saw potential in him in TIG, but he hasn’t really grown as a character or anything since then. Also, he didn’t play a HUGE role in this book, so I just haven’t really grown to love him. We’ll see if that changes in The Final Gambit 😕😕
So overall, definitely a great cast of characters who I have come to really like!
Secondly, the writing. Ahhhh, it’s so good. JLB’s writing is SO fun and easy to read and it just makes you want to devour the book in one sitting. Imo there was definitely an improvement in her writing from TIG, and I’ve just grown to love it sm. If you need an author whose writing is super fun and will help you fly through books, then I would definitely recommend JLB’s work!! 😁😁💕💕
Next, the plot. IT WAS AMAZING Y’ALL 🤩🤩🤌🤌 There were SO MANY twists and turns that I was just left reeling so many times!! It was paced PERFECTLY- fast enough that you were still invested, but slow enough that you could still keep up. Honestly, I was just frantically turning the pages to see what happened next, and if I could’ve stayed up all night reading it, I totally would’ve (but I do need my sleep, unfortunately). So yes, LOVED that!! 🎊🎊
Lastly, the romance. The romance was just SO GOOD. In Book 1, i wasn’t an ENORMOUS fan, but it got so JUICY in this one. I honestly think this is one of the best love triangles I’ve ever read- if I hadn’t been spoiled, I would literally have no idea who she’d end up with. If y'all are wondering… STILL #TEAMGRAYSON. ILY GRAYSON <333
“Your silence on the issue of people trying to kill you is deeply disturbing.”
Overall, LOVED THIS. It was SUCH a good sequel and even better than The Inheritance Games imo!! If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to pick it ASAP. It’s just so good 😩😩🤌🤌
~ 4.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ahhhh this was SO GOOD 😩😩🤌🤌 Honestly even better than The Inheritance Games!! 🎊🎊 RTC!
Omg I had such a fun time rereading this!! 💙💙 This was my favorite the first time round and after rereading it, I definitely understand why 🤩🤩 There are SO many good scenes in here- THE INTERVIEW SCENE 🤭🤭- and the mystery is just so entertaining ✨ The Grayson content in this book tho >>>>>
If you've read this series and enjoyed it, I would highly recommend you give it a reread bc it is such a great time!! 💙💙💙
~~~~~~~~~~~
Rereading 💙💙 Going back to this series has literally been SO fun so far, so i'm excited to reread this one too! 🤩
~~~~~~~~~~~
Original review:
Oh my gosh, that was SO GOOD. THAT’S how you write a sequel!! 😩😩🤌🤌
“Est unus ex nobis. Nos defendat eius."
She is one of us. We protect her.”
The Hawthorne Legacy is the sequel to The Inheritance Games- which I read earlier this year and really enjoyed- and continues the storyline after that shocking ending. I can’t really explain much without spoilers, but there’s loads of twists, lots of development in the romance and many challenges Avery and the Hawthornes have to face.
When I started this book, I was quite worried that it was going to fall into second book syndrome and end up being a big disappointment. For some reason, the enjoyment The Inheritance Games gave me felt like a one-time thing and I wasn’t sure if this book could replicate that. But I’m so glad that I was proved wrong and that The Hawthorne Legacy turned out to be even more entertaining than its predecessor! 🤩🤩😏😏
Starting with the characters. Obviously our main circle of characters is Avery and the Hawthorne brothers, as well as others like Alisa, Libby, Max, Thea, Rebecca, etc. There’s so much to unpack in terms of characters, so I’m gonna try and go through them separately.
~ Avery: Avery isn’t my favourite heroine ever- there are better ones out there- but she’s still a nice character to follow! Her motivations are always reasonable, she’s pretty well-developed and it’s easy to root for her. I also feel like she went through lots of development in this sequel, which was nice to see. So, not my favourite character ever but I still like her! 😁👍
~ Grayson: Okay, Grace, CALM DOWN. Sorry, trying to get too overexcited here. BC I FREAKING LOVE GRAYSON 😍😍❤❤ He basically checks all my boxes in terms of book boyfriends:
Hot ✔
Cold demeanour ✔
Super intelligent ✔
A businessman ✔
Ruthless ✔
HOT 🔥🔥 ✔
I LOVE his interactions with his brothers and Avery- ESPECIALLY Avery- and I love how we get to see a bit of his cold demeanour stripped away in the book. AAAAAHHHHH he’s just amazing. #TeamGrayson FOR LIFE!! 👊
Some amazing Grayson quotes:
“This was the Grayson I’d met weeks ago: dripping power and well aware that he could come out on top in any battle. He didn’t make threats, because he didn’t have to.” ~ fangirling!!! 😩😩
“Grayson was Not Pleased - and no one did Not Pleased like Grayson Hawthorne.” ~ hehehehe
“Grayson Hawthorne was arrogant enough to consider himself bulletproof—and honorable enough to see a promise through to its end.” ~ 😏😏
~ Jameson: Okay, I didn’t like Jameson in Book 1- like, at all- BUT he’s definitely grown on me since then. He’s no way near Grayson in terms of amazingness, but he’s still hot, okay??? 🤭🤭 Definitely an interesting character and he and Grayson compliment each other as brothers. Soooo, I still don’t love him, but I’m getting there.
~ Xander: I really like Xander! A fun character who definitely balances out Grayson’s coldness and Jameson’s cheekiness. He always adds some much needed humour, and I can also imagine him being super cute hehehe 😏😏🤣🤣
~ Nash: eh. Not really a fan of Nash tbh. I saw potential in him in TIG, but he hasn’t really grown as a character or anything since then. Also, he didn’t play a HUGE role in this book, so I just haven’t really grown to love him. We’ll see if that changes in The Final Gambit 😕😕
So overall, definitely a great cast of characters who I have come to really like!
Secondly, the writing. Ahhhh, it’s so good. JLB’s writing is SO fun and easy to read and it just makes you want to devour the book in one sitting. Imo there was definitely an improvement in her writing from TIG, and I’ve just grown to love it sm. If you need an author whose writing is super fun and will help you fly through books, then I would definitely recommend JLB’s work!! 😁😁💕💕
Next, the plot. IT WAS AMAZING Y’ALL 🤩🤩🤌🤌 There were SO MANY twists and turns that I was just left reeling so many times!! It was paced PERFECTLY- fast enough that you were still invested, but slow enough that you could still keep up. Honestly, I was just frantically turning the pages to see what happened next, and if I could’ve stayed up all night reading it, I totally would’ve (but I do need my sleep, unfortunately). So yes, LOVED that!! 🎊🎊
Lastly, the romance. The romance was just SO GOOD. In Book 1, i wasn’t an ENORMOUS fan, but it got so JUICY in this one. I honestly think this is one of the best love triangles I’ve ever read- if I hadn’t been spoiled, I would literally have no idea who she’d end up with. If y'all are wondering… STILL #TEAMGRAYSON. ILY GRAYSON <333
“Your silence on the issue of people trying to kill you is deeply disturbing.”
Overall, LOVED THIS. It was SUCH a good sequel and even better than The Inheritance Games imo!! If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to pick it ASAP. It’s just so good 😩😩🤌🤌
~ 4.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ahhhh this was SO GOOD 😩😩🤌🤌 Honestly even better than The Inheritance Games!! 🎊🎊 RTC!
October 9, 2020
I need the sequel right now ... is there a date already?
Ps: i love Grayson hawthorne and i really want then to end up together
Ps: i love Grayson hawthorne and i really want then to end up together
May 16, 2022
Ahhh such a good sequel to The Inheritance Games! I will be not so patiently waiting for the third book to come out in August
September 27, 2022
This book was all over the place. The mystery just keeps on getting worse. Every plot twist was underwhelming and predictable. The story dragged, but at the same time, I felt like too much was happening. The only thing worse than the mystery is all the romance. I loathed that ending. I don't know what the author is trying to do here, but they're failing in my opinion. I'm reading the finale when it comes out, but I'm going to make sure I go in with low expectations.
Also, just so we're clear, averygrayson>>> averyjameson because Jameson is so irritating to me for reasons I cannot explain, and Grayson isn't. Plus the former has more chemistry in my opinion? But JLB is obviously not on the same page so I'm not going to delude myself into thinking Grayson has an actual chance considering the pitiful way he was sidelined in this book and the fact that there is only one book left in the series.
Also, just so we're clear, averygrayson>>> averyjameson because Jameson is so irritating to me for reasons I cannot explain, and Grayson isn't. Plus the former has more chemistry in my opinion? But JLB is obviously not on the same page so I'm not going to delude myself into thinking Grayson has an actual chance considering the pitiful way he was sidelined in this book and the fact that there is only one book left in the series.
August 27, 2022
4.25 ⭐️ no because why did i tear up? “i have two” GOODBYEEEE!!! also i do be feeling really stupid w this series when i can’t figure out a single riddle or puzzle 🤡 we love being a whole clown.
if jameson isn’t endgame, i might just lose my mind.
side note.. the thing i’d do for a nash & libby book <3
if jameson isn’t endgame, i might just lose my mind.
side note.. the thing i’d do for a nash & libby book <3
Want to read
April 5, 2021edit: THIS! COVER! LOOKS! AMAZING!!!!
everyone else: Grayson or Jameson, that is the question…
(ShaKespEare iS shOoK~)
Yall fight over them all you want...
Xander is mine anyways~
Xander > Grayson > Jameson > Nash (almost forgot about him heh)
✨it's Xander for me✨
everyone else: Grayson or Jameson, that is the question…
(ShaKespEare iS shOoK~)Yall fight over them all you want...
Xander is mine anyways~
Xander > Grayson > Jameson > Nash (almost forgot about him heh)
September 28, 2022
Right from the beginning we had tension tension and more tension.
I loved the new riddles this story had as well as how we got more of Xander in this book. I could tell how much Avery had changed and how much she started loving solving these riddles and I really liked it. Jameson and Grayson were... there. They were self destructive like in the first book but still important to the story.
I am still team Jameson for anyone wondering.
Okay so since I really loved the story and plot line I was expecting a few plot twist like the last time during the their act of the book.
Let me just tell you that there were one too many plot twist in the end and somehow everyone was related and no one was related and now I need a family tree drawn out because I am confused.
Oh and I hated Max for saying "fax" instead of fuck.
Also: I think this book could have definitely been the end of the story since the main big riddles were solved but during the plot twist more things were revealed that were not part of the main story to build up the third book.
I loved the new riddles this story had as well as how we got more of Xander in this book. I could tell how much Avery had changed and how much she started loving solving these riddles and I really liked it. Jameson and Grayson were... there. They were self destructive like in the first book but still important to the story.
I am still team Jameson for anyone wondering.
Okay so since I really loved the story and plot line I was expecting a few plot twist like the last time during the their act of the book.
Let me just tell you that there were one too many plot twist in the end and somehow everyone was related and no one was related and now I need a family tree drawn out because I am confused.
Oh and I hated Max for saying "fax" instead of fuck.
Also: I think this book could have definitely been the end of the story since the main big riddles were solved but during the plot twist more things were revealed that were not part of the main story to build up the third book.
November 23, 2021
4.5/5
“Allow me to let you in on a Hawthorne trade secret, Heiress: There are no rules that matter more than winning.”
This book was in the same vein as the first one- a fun mystery with lots of drama and hints of romance. It’s a light book and honestly really cozy. It has a certain feel of safety in it if that makes any sense…
The plot was as good as the first book. With more secrets and riddles and plot twists I loved how every level of the mystery was slowly unraveled and how we actually had to travel to places this time to figure it all out. It was engaging and really fun to read. I admit the plot does add a lot without totally progressing, but it’s so fun I can’t help but love it. I hope the third book does have a clear finale type direction but either way I suspect I’ll enjoy it.
But what was up with the disk?????
“Close your eyes. Picture yourself standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The wind is whipping in your hair. the sun is setting. You long, body and soul, for one thing. one person. You hear footsteps behind you. You turn. Who’s there?”
Avery is the same as she was in book 1. She’s cool I guess but she’s somewhat indecisive and her romantic choices are less than ideal I shall say (getting into that all later). I admire her courage and all but I’m still pretty indifferent towards her I suppose.
The side characters, like Libby, Nash, Max, Xander, and Oron were perfect. I wish we had more of Xander as he’s sidelined a lot and he’s such a cinnamon roll but alas. They aren’t fully developed but I truly enjoy how they still are all unique and have their own separate personalities. It’s fun to have a larger cast.
Jameson…… no. I used to really like him but I can’t get behind him now. There’s something about how he acts that I really can’t stand now and he just seems so off to me? He truly annoyed me and we got far too many scenes with him in this book for my health 😕
“Good.” Grayson Hawthorne actually smiled—and then he caught himself smiling, like it was forbidden for his lips to do that in my vicinity.
GRAYSON MY FAVOURITE BROTHER WOW. He was so sidelined in this book for absolutely no reason and I despise that fact. He clearly is a better match for Avery and all around a much better character. Plus the B&N exclusive chapters from his POV????????? HE DESERVES SO MUCH BETTER. Currently sobbing because he truly deserves the world and I adore him. also he taught Avery how to use a long sword guys HE TAUGHT HER HOW TO SWORD FIGHT C’MON. Superior ship from that scene alone.
He also just is very complex and has many layers and is the most realistic character or most lifelike to me, and I feel like the author really didn’t spend as much time with him in this book as she should have to make him get even more depth. That being said he’s still mysterious and I adore him <3
I am in desperate need for the finale because this series is just so much plain old fun :))
The Inheritance Games ★ ★ ★ ★ .5
“Allow me to let you in on a Hawthorne trade secret, Heiress: There are no rules that matter more than winning.”
This book was in the same vein as the first one- a fun mystery with lots of drama and hints of romance. It’s a light book and honestly really cozy. It has a certain feel of safety in it if that makes any sense…
The plot was as good as the first book. With more secrets and riddles and plot twists I loved how every level of the mystery was slowly unraveled and how we actually had to travel to places this time to figure it all out. It was engaging and really fun to read. I admit the plot does add a lot without totally progressing, but it’s so fun I can’t help but love it. I hope the third book does have a clear finale type direction but either way I suspect I’ll enjoy it.
But what was up with the disk?????
“Close your eyes. Picture yourself standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The wind is whipping in your hair. the sun is setting. You long, body and soul, for one thing. one person. You hear footsteps behind you. You turn. Who’s there?”
Avery is the same as she was in book 1. She’s cool I guess but she’s somewhat indecisive and her romantic choices are less than ideal I shall say (getting into that all later). I admire her courage and all but I’m still pretty indifferent towards her I suppose.
The side characters, like Libby, Nash, Max, Xander, and Oron were perfect. I wish we had more of Xander as he’s sidelined a lot and he’s such a cinnamon roll but alas. They aren’t fully developed but I truly enjoy how they still are all unique and have their own separate personalities. It’s fun to have a larger cast.
Jameson…… no. I used to really like him but I can’t get behind him now. There’s something about how he acts that I really can’t stand now and he just seems so off to me? He truly annoyed me and we got far too many scenes with him in this book for my health 😕
“Good.” Grayson Hawthorne actually smiled—and then he caught himself smiling, like it was forbidden for his lips to do that in my vicinity.
GRAYSON MY FAVOURITE BROTHER WOW. He was so sidelined in this book for absolutely no reason and I despise that fact. He clearly is a better match for Avery and all around a much better character. Plus the B&N exclusive chapters from his POV????????? HE DESERVES SO MUCH BETTER. Currently sobbing because he truly deserves the world and I adore him. also he taught Avery how to use a long sword guys HE TAUGHT HER HOW TO SWORD FIGHT C’MON. Superior ship from that scene alone.
He also just is very complex and has many layers and is the most realistic character or most lifelike to me, and I feel like the author really didn’t spend as much time with him in this book as she should have to make him get even more depth. That being said he’s still mysterious and I adore him <3
I am in desperate need for the finale because this series is just so much plain old fun :))
The Inheritance Games ★ ★ ★ ★ .5
November 17, 2022
“In the past six weeks, I’d been shot at, blown up, kidnapped, and paraded around as the living, breathing embodiment of Cinderella stories. To the world, I was a scandal, a mystery, a curiosity, a fantasy.”
so I know a lot of y’all didn’t like this book.
HAH.
I LOVED THIS TWISTY, MYSTERIOUS, FRUSTRATING BOOK WITH ALL MY BOOKISH HEART.
you’re welcome :))
buddy read with le bestie Booktastically Amazing! ❤️
let’s start with the plot.
(the publisher’s blurb is absolutely pathetic so i've gotta do actual writing *gasp*)
It’s been three weeks since Avery Grambs and the four Hawthorne brothers have solved Tobias Hawthorne’s puzzle. The grand riddle that involved Emily Laughlin, knives, and glass ballerinas, the one that made the brothers face their past and pull their broken pieces back together.
They think the games are over.
But Tobias Hawthorne isn’t done with his grandsons.
Not by a long shot.
In Xander’s final letter, he lays out the next puzzle: Find Tobias Hawthorne II. At first glance, it seems impossible. Everyone thinks Tobias Hawthorne II, the Hawthorne brothers’ wayward uncle, has been dead for twenty years. But if he’s dead, why does Avery remember playing chess with him? Betting him for breakfasts every other morning? Why does his name keep showing up in her past?
Avery and the Hawthorne brothers give in and decide to play one last time.
Can they find Tobias Hawthorne II, when Tobias Hawthorne II doesn’t want to be found?
*inhales deeply*
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
YES. A MILLION YESES. I LOVE IT ALL.
ESPECIALLY YOU GRAYSON. LOVE YOU SM. AVERY X GRAYSON FOREVER. <3
*exhales cause oxygen unfortunately is a thing*
soooo we’re gonna just break my traditional review structure and just mash everything together because 1) I can’t say a lot without serious spoilers (i’m literally not joking there is so much mystery and drama that MUST NOT be spoiled) and 2) I have no self control when it comes to my dark, cold, businesslike Grayson Hawthorne 😍
I know a lot of y’all are #TeamJameson (don’t worry, we can still be friends), but can we just talk about Grayson for un momento.
“This was the Grayson I’d met weeks ago: dripping power and well aware that he could come out on top in any battle. He didn’t make threats, because he didn’t have to.”
“Grayson Hawthorne was arrogant enough to consider himself bulletproof—and honorable enough to see a promise through to its end.”
“Grayson was Not Pleased - and no one did Not Pleased like Grayson Hawthorne.”
I need every Grayson Hawthorne quote on my Quote Wall.
I NEED this man.
PLEASEEEEEE-
alright, alright, I’ll shut up now.
The rest of the characters (even Jameson 🙄) were all well developed and very enjoyable. Libby x Nash are still an absolutely adorable example of older-siblings-fall-for-each-other, Zara is still furious at Avery for inheriting everything, Skye and Ricky are still characters I’d love to punch in the face, and Xander is still brilliant and the only sane Hawthorne.
also, Xander X Max??
wasn't expecting it, but HECK YEAH am i down for that.
The Avery/Grayson/Jameson love triangle. I love the drama. Very angsty. A+. And I do kinda understand the direction that went. I get it. I really do.
BUT MY FINGERS ARE STILL CROSSED THAT THAT ALL CHANGES MS. BARNES THANK YOU.
anyways. now i have to wait way too many days for the Final Gambit.
*sighs sadly*
i look forward to fangirling with y’all when the Final Gambit comes out <33
My reviews on Goodreads for the trilogy:
Inheritance Games review
Hawthorne Legacy review
Final Gambit review
Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★★
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: PG
Recommendations If You Liked This Book:
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Cousins by Karen McManus
so I know a lot of y’all didn’t like this book.
HAH.
I LOVED THIS TWISTY, MYSTERIOUS, FRUSTRATING BOOK WITH ALL MY BOOKISH HEART.
you’re welcome :))
buddy read with le bestie Booktastically Amazing! ❤️
let’s start with the plot.
(the publisher’s blurb is absolutely pathetic so i've gotta do actual writing *gasp*)
It’s been three weeks since Avery Grambs and the four Hawthorne brothers have solved Tobias Hawthorne’s puzzle. The grand riddle that involved Emily Laughlin, knives, and glass ballerinas, the one that made the brothers face their past and pull their broken pieces back together.
They think the games are over.
But Tobias Hawthorne isn’t done with his grandsons.
Not by a long shot.
In Xander’s final letter, he lays out the next puzzle: Find Tobias Hawthorne II. At first glance, it seems impossible. Everyone thinks Tobias Hawthorne II, the Hawthorne brothers’ wayward uncle, has been dead for twenty years. But if he’s dead, why does Avery remember playing chess with him? Betting him for breakfasts every other morning? Why does his name keep showing up in her past?
Avery and the Hawthorne brothers give in and decide to play one last time.
Can they find Tobias Hawthorne II, when Tobias Hawthorne II doesn’t want to be found?
*inhales deeply*
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
YES. A MILLION YESES. I LOVE IT ALL.
ESPECIALLY YOU GRAYSON. LOVE YOU SM. AVERY X GRAYSON FOREVER. <3
*exhales cause oxygen unfortunately is a thing*
soooo we’re gonna just break my traditional review structure and just mash everything together because 1) I can’t say a lot without serious spoilers (i’m literally not joking there is so much mystery and drama that MUST NOT be spoiled) and 2) I have no self control when it comes to my dark, cold, businesslike Grayson Hawthorne 😍
I know a lot of y’all are #TeamJameson (don’t worry, we can still be friends), but can we just talk about Grayson for un momento.
“This was the Grayson I’d met weeks ago: dripping power and well aware that he could come out on top in any battle. He didn’t make threats, because he didn’t have to.”
“Grayson Hawthorne was arrogant enough to consider himself bulletproof—and honorable enough to see a promise through to its end.”
“Grayson was Not Pleased - and no one did Not Pleased like Grayson Hawthorne.”
I need every Grayson Hawthorne quote on my Quote Wall.
I NEED this man.
PLEASEEEEEE-
alright, alright, I’ll shut up now.
The rest of the characters (even Jameson 🙄) were all well developed and very enjoyable. Libby x Nash are still an absolutely adorable example of older-siblings-fall-for-each-other, Zara is still furious at Avery for inheriting everything, Skye and Ricky are still characters I’d love to punch in the face, and Xander is still brilliant and the only sane Hawthorne.
also, Xander X Max??
wasn't expecting it, but HECK YEAH am i down for that.
The Avery/Grayson/Jameson love triangle. I love the drama. Very angsty. A+. And I do kinda understand the direction that went. I get it. I really do.
BUT MY FINGERS ARE STILL CROSSED THAT THAT ALL CHANGES MS. BARNES THANK YOU.
anyways. now i have to wait way too many days for the Final Gambit.
*sighs sadly*
i look forward to fangirling with y’all when the Final Gambit comes out <33
My reviews on Goodreads for the trilogy:
Inheritance Games review
Hawthorne Legacy review
Final Gambit review
Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★★
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: PG
Recommendations If You Liked This Book:
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Cousins by Karen McManus
September 19, 2021
I need this book. NOW.
How will I survive till 2021 without Jameson Winchester Hawthorne?
This man could kill me and I'd say thank you.
How will I survive till 2021 without Jameson Winchester Hawthorne?
This man could kill me and I'd say thank you.
August 31, 2023
This series is SO EASY TO BINGE wow obsessed extra points for the short chapters
May 11, 2022
they can never make me hate you prince grayson
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