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by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Recommended Age: YA (13+ years and above)
Lexile: 640L
Content Warning(s): Abuse, death, (attempted) murder, violence
Book Summary
"Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why--or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch--and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.
Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive."
My Thoughts
The Inheritance Games is a book that will definitely be at the top of my 2022 favourites list. I had no intention whatsoever of reading it, with no prior knowledge of how extraordinary a book it would be. I just stumbled upon it in a quaint little bookshop and it seemed interesting enough. Part of my initial interest is due to the gorgeous, mysterious, eye-catching cover. This novel was such a memorable read – days after finishing the book, I still found myself trying to comprehend what I had exactly learnt throughout the course of the book. I don't think I ever imagined one of my favourite books would be a mystery/thriller.
When I started reading this book, the plot of inheriting billions from a man you didn’t even know is probably not the most realistic, ordinary thing to happen. But I guess that’s the whole point of the series – why Avery?
The Hawthorne family is complicated. They're a complex group of individuals who have had an expectation since birth that they would be the ones inheriting billions. They have their own personalities that make them unable to just blend into the background. Each Hawthorne commands attention, especially the four Hawthorne grandsons: Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander.
The Inheritance Games Series
As I neared the end of the book, I was unhappy to let this book finish. As I turned the final page, however, I found out that a sequel had already been released, much to my delight! I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book in the series, The Hawthorne Legacy.
Next up!
Coming July 29th, 2025: Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game, # 2)
