I liked the premise of this mystery; teen Avery gets summoned to the reading of a philanthropist's will only to learn she has been left a huge inheritance. Tied into spending a year in the Hawthorne mansion, with the furious members of the family, much of the novel centres on Avery trying to unravel clues alongside Haethorne's four grandsons who may be helping or hindering her.

A rags to riches story that involves a quest, intrigue, riddles and love interest. I found Avery's attraction to not one, but two of the grandsons a little cliched but enjoyed the book overall. I'll be interested to read a sequel to see how the reasons behind the bequest are developed.

The World:
Okay, so it does seem kind of weird on face value to talk about the 'world' and 'world-building' in what is technically a contemporary novel, but hear me out.

Firstly, the world of the Hawthornes. This world is so unlike the world that most of us live in. They are billionaires (or the heirs to billionaires). I really liked how Barnes wrote this world that for most of us would be really strange. It wasn't portrayed in a horrible, cynical kind of way, but rather, using Avery's eyes, in a way that showed just how incomprehensible a world like this is to someone who doesn't live in it. The opulence is unreal, but believable.

The second kind of 'world-building' is the Hawthorne home. From the very start of the novel it is made clear to Avery that the house has hundreds of secret passages and unknown rooms. It is described as a labyrinth, one that even the four grandsons of Tobias Hawthorne, find hard to navigate. As the novel and Avery's investigation into the reasoning behind her being named the heir continues, the house grows and changes and develops and just becomes a kind of character on its own, a world within the world of the billionaires.

The Characters:
Avery is the main character of the novel. Her mother has died before the novel starts, her father is a drunk and she lives with her sister. What I loved about her character was her realistic reactions to her circumstances. She is faced with coming from no money to suddenly gaining a fortune and she really doesn't know how to react. What really drew me through the book was that she didn't know how to navigate the world she had been thrust into, so she instead focused on finding the answer to the one question everyone would have in her situation: why her?

The Grandsons: Nash, Jameson, Grayson and Alexander are some of the greatest characters in this book. Each of them has very different personalities. Nash, the reluctant billionaire who just wants to help people. Jameson, the sad soul who loses himself in the puzzle and the chase. Grayson, the heir to the fortune and the mini-business man. Xander, the youngest and cheekiest of the four. I loved how different each of these characters were, but also how involved they were in the story. They weren't just background hot boys, but rather fully formed characters who helped develop the story and Avery as a character.

Libby is Avery's sister. From the start of the novel she is presented as caring and kind. One of the key parts of her character is her empathy, and it is one of her characteristics that means she keeps on getting involved with her abusive ex-boyfriend (this relationship with her ex-boyfriend, for me, was done very realistically. It reminded me a lot of the experiences I've had with friends who have been in similar relationships). What I loved about her character was her relationship with Avery. She's very much supportive and will do anything for her sister.

Max... what to say about Max. She is Avery's best friend who we only ever meet through phone calls, text messages and social media DMs with our main character. What I really loved about her is that even though she is absent physically, she plays a huge role as Avery's friend being her confidant and support through the whole experience. I also really loved that even though she isn't really <em>there </em>in the story, she does actually have her own story to tell.

The Hawthorne family. This is where things get a bit twisty. The Hawthorne family (aside from the four Hawthorne grandson), play a huge role in pushing the plot, but other than that they don't really appear very much. They were more in the periphery of the story, a threat/non-threat that never really came to the forefront. I don't know whether I liked that or not. Adding them to the story more than they were would have made the story too crowded, but taking them out completely would take away from the plot. For much of the novel they just felt a bit plot-devicey to me (which I guess can't be helped).

Alisa the lawyer. She's the lawyer for Tobias Hawthorne and subsequently becomes Avery's lawyer when she becomes the heiress to the Hawthorne fortune. What's really great about her character is that she is a very realistic and believable lawyer, but also a friend. She leads and guides Avery legally, and chastises her when she does stupid things, but she's also there for her when things get hard. I really liked her.

Oren is Avery's bodyguard. He is such a great character. He's a solid persona that is always in the background, but it was when he came to the forefront in certain chapters that I found myself enjoying the book the most. He has an older brother kind of persona to Avery, caring and kind. He's always looking out for her.

Tobias Hawthorne. All I can say about him is this... he may be dead, but he plays a crucial role in this story.

Emily. Another dead character. Just know this... she's important, more than you think

The Plot:
The plot premise was what drew me to the book in the first place. The idea of someone inheriting the estate of a billionaires philanthropist they've never met is a very intriguing one. What is even more intriguing is Avery's (and the family's need) to find out the reason why. I can't say much about the plot because every detail matters in this book. What I can say is that this book is a maze, a labyrinth and an easter egg hunt all in one. There's twists and turns as Avery tries to figure out the why, and it goes in ways I could never have expected.

Every single clue in this book matters and everything leads to somewhere and something. What I will say it this... Emily... she's important.

Why Was it a 4-Star Read for Me?
Okay, so I've gushed about this book a lot and I did really really enjoy it. What made it a four-star read for me was the Hawthorne family aspect (the other Hawthornes, not the four boys). At the start of the book they were introduced and Alisa and Oren even warn Avery about them. I was waiting for them to play a larger role in the story, but they kind of fell into the background. At the start I thought the hints of the threat of the Hawthorne family might have been red herrings, but even when a certain something is revealed in the end, it didn't feel like the payoff I was expecting. This didn't, however, take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.

Overall, this book really defied my expectations. I didn't see any of the twists coming and I really enjoyed all of the unexpected turns in this story. As someone who doesn't read thrillers or mysteries I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it! I literally binged it in about six hours...

A very clever book that left me guessing right till the end. It delivers what it promised: puzzles, intrigue, death and mystery.
Throughout the whole book you think you are smarter than the characters, you follow them but you think you’ve figured it out but you haven’t.
The twist at the end was also really good but I did have an inkling about it.

The Inheritance Games is a book that I think I would have loved if I had read it along with the rest of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ books a few years back. It is a fast enough paced, engaging YA thriller, for sure. It is also not exactly what I want from my books these days.

Initially, the book reads almost scarily like Knives Out, so scarily, in fact, that there were one or two characters I felt matched entirely to characters in the film. I had to check that the book had been conceived of before the film (which it had). Thankfully, after about a sixth of the book, the comparisons drop off pretty rapidly, and it became easier for me to consider the book in its own light.

The Inheritance Games follows Avery, who is plucked from obscurity by the discovery that she has been made the heir to a billionaire’s fortune, displacing his entire family, including his four grandsons. To benefit from the will, Avery must live in his mansion for a year, else the inheritance is forfeit and all the money goes to charity.

As I said at the start, the book is pretty fast-paced and engaging. I read the entire thing only in a couple of hours, so it definitely didn’t drag and I did like it. Only, I don’t think I much more than liked it. I mean, if the ending had been spectacular — which, to be fair, it wasn’t not — then I might be less on the fence about reading the second book than I am. As it is, it just feels a little flat to me, especially compared to the endings of Jennifer Lynn Barnes other books (don’t talk to me about how The Long Game ended, I’m still not over it).

And then there’s the few things that, again, I might have not minded so much if I’d read this a few years back (I hesitate to say ‘like’ because I have never liked the love triangle trope in my life), but I did mind a bit more here. The aforementioned love triangle trope (involving two of the brothers no less!) and the fact that the male characters all seemed to be that specific type of boy you see in 2010s YA lit. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, but it’s a thing I don’t hugely enjoy. Add onto that the fact I didn’t really care for either Avery/Jameson or Avery/Grayson (also what’s with them both having -son names)…well let’s say the mystery aspect is what kept me going.

Because the mystery is what Jennifer Lynn Barnes does so well, and has done so well in every book by her I’ve read. So, yes, I guessed the twist, but that’s a symptom of me reading way too many mystery/thrillers, not an indictment of the book. The mystery is what kept me engaged and what convinced me, near the end, that maybe I might want to read book two. The only problem was, as I mentioned earlier, the ending felt, not so much a cop-out, but a little flat.

But if you have liked Barnes’ books before, or if you are looking for an intriguing mystery, with characters that you can sympathise with and (probably, if you’re not me) love, then this is one you won’t want to miss.

This was a whirlwind one-sitting read for me... which doesn't happen very often! The premise drew me in and from the first the moment Avery met the mysterious and fascinating Hawthorne family, I was completely engrossed. The puzzles, twists and turns were great, but the best part for me was the cast of fun, unique characters.

I am often nervous about reading a first in a mystery series before the others are out because I like resolution and don't like massive cliffhangers. So if you're like me, rest assured that this fast paced mystery does have a satisfying ending, with just a hint of intrigue for what's next.

Highly recommended for contemporary mystery fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children's UK for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found The Inheritance Games incredibly tedious to read, I didn't feel as though I could relate to any of the characters, or that any of the characters were actually appealing. The Inheritance Games was an interesting concept, although it felt ridiculously far-fetched and nothing interesting actually happened until the last 25% unfortunately.

This book is "Perfect for fans of Riverdale and Knives Out" according to reviewers, the only similarities I can find with Knives Out are an inheritance is left to someone - although under very different circumstances to Knives Out and the comparisons with Riverdale are how completely nonsensical the storyline is.

To be honest, I just didn't enjoy this book, I didn't feel engaged and there were multiple times when I thought I was going to have to just stop reading it because I wasn't interested - but I pushed through just to see how this book would end, which was also disappointing, there were answers but the answers were bland and disappointing, there was no REAL mystery in this book in my opinion and I don't see how this book can have a sequel/sequels in the future.

I thought this was highly original,with a great lead character.The plot was intriguing and kept me page turning as fast as I could read.I really had no idea where this was going and the author certainly has a fertile mind .I don't do spoilers but would have great difficulty trying to describe the book if I did, its very different, in a good way.If you enjoy books that keep you guessing and great characters this is going to be high on your list of must read books.Really enjoyed it, good book.

What a thrilling, intriguing. twisting and absolutely satisfying read! i spent far too much of my weekend reading because i needed to know how it ended.
Out of the blue teenager Avery Grambs finds that she is an heiress to a multi billion fortune. The only stipulation is that she must reside in the family mansion with the family who have just discovered that they have been disinherited..
With the deceased billionaire leaving puzzles for Avery and his grandsons to solve, this story has some very tense moments.
Whilst written for the young adult market, I think its a shame that adults may miss out on the many res herrings contained in this multi layered read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an early copy.

I loved this SO MUCH!!!

In fact, it would totally have been a five-star read if not for the slight disappointment of the ending. I wasn’t aware it wasn’t a stand-alone novel and looked apprehensively at the number of pages left and the number of questions unanswered.
Waiting for the sequel will be very frustrating!

Apart from that, the book was exactly what I loved.
Filled with humour, to start with. An exciting set of characters, too, that you’ll quickly learn to love or hate – and believe me, it’ll often change throughout the book!

As a fan of espace rooms/games, I obviously really enjoyed that this novel was basically an escape game in a book form. It was so exciting to see characters figuring things out!

There’s one sign that shows for sure how good a mystery is, and that’s how invested you get in the story. I feel like the fact that I read through it extremely quickly, as well as how frustrated I was at the ending, are very good indications that this is one hell of a good mystery.

Also, even though there’s romance (it is, after all, YA), it doesn’t feel forced nor too awkward.

A great book, no doubt, but please: give me the sequel!

An interesting YA mystery. Avery is left a significant inheritance by a man she’s never heard of, and all she must do to receive it is live in his house for a year... except his family still live there, and they are not happy about being disinherited. There were several different threads of intrigue in the book and I was interested to see how they all came together, and to watch the puzzle unfold.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**
A rags-to-riches story with some twists along the way. Predictable holiday reading with a long and convoluted storyline leading to the eventual reveal of why Avery inherited in the money. I found the "game" more interesting than the truth.
Enjoyable but not challenging in any way.

Truth be told, i had never heard of this book or its author before seeing it on Netgalley. The blurb is what got me and thank goodness i requested it because i thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The premise is greatly entertaining, so much so that I read this book in pretty much one sitting. An eccentric billionaire dies, and leaves Avery almost his entire fortune. We follow her as she tries to navigate the Hawthorne family and work out why exactly she was bequeathed so much money.

I'm really happy with how the book ended, so often authors try to cram an unrealistic plot twist in purely for shock value but the best thing about the reveal here is its simplicity. It feels totally on brand for Tobias Hawthorne and was done really well.

Genuinely intriguing premise so has a great start but quickly moves into predictable fish-out-of-water/teen thriller territory although with frustratingly few answers in this first volume! Set for sequel

Grab a plate of lemon scones and strap yourself in for this incredible roller coaster ride! I devoured this book in a couple of sittings, not wanting to drag myself away from the twisted puzzle trail which is 'The Inheritance Games'. My copy states that it is already in development as a series with Amazon - it is going to be a surefire hit for them and I cannot wait to watch.

At the beginning, we join Avery whose mother has died and left her in the custody of her half sister Libby. Avery works in a diner, does just enough to get by in school and sometimes needs to sleep in her car to get away from Libby's abusive boyfriend Drake. This all changes when Grayson Hawthorne appears and drops the bombshell that Avery is included in the will of Tobias Hawthorne, Grayson's grandfather and a man she has never met. She is apparently the heir to billions but to find out why she will need to solve puzzles left behind and team up with Tobias' nefarious relatives, including his four dashing grandsons...

The plot is driven by the central mystery and layers of intriguing puzzles (which were a delight to try and solve before the characters). Imagine 'Ready Player One' set in the real world and you have the right level of twists, turns and thrills readers will experience throughout this book. The Hawthorne family are completely bonkers and I enjoyed following ordinary girl Avery's exposure to the world of wealth and adjusting to the level is scrutiny she is under as the billionaire heiress.

I cannot wait to recommend this to my students as I see another phenomenon about to hit. As for the sequel, I hope it is released soon but I am not sure how I will survive following that cliffhanger!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you love puzzles, and putting your wits against seemingly random clues, then you will love The Inheritance Games.
Our story has as its main character a young girl called Avery Grambs. Smart but living in poverty, Avery has not had things easy. When we first meet her she’s been accused of cheating on a school test. Determined to prove herself she retakes the test so when she’s called out of class we assume the events are linked.
We, like Avery, are stunned when we are met with a very strange occurrence. She is asked to attend the reading of the will of Tobias Hawthorne, a man she says she’s never met. Very quickly we learn that Tobias was the head of one of the richest families in the country - wealthy beyond most people’s imaginings - and that she has been made heiress to the majority of his wealth. The only stipulation is that she must live in Hawthorne House for a year, and if any of the family contest the will they get nothing.
Naturally, everyone is curious about Avery. She, like any of us would be in her situation, is quite taken aback by her new-found wealth. While this is a life-changing event you have to love Avery for not being satisfied with this. She wants to know why she’s been put in this situation, so when it seems the letter each of the four grandsons was left holds a clue she is determined to play the game and solve the riddle.
I got completely absorbed in the mission to solve these clues and trying to work out which of this huge cast of characters could be trusted, and which was responsible for the attempts to kill Avery. We get everything here, including hints of romance, but at the fore is the puzzle set by this elderly gentleman who wants to teach a lesson to his family.
As things draw to a close and the puzzle gets solved, it felt a little disappointing. Thank goodness Barnes kept a little something up her sleeve, because the moments when Avery finds her final puzzle pieces suggest things are far from over. They get even more interesting when we see this is simply another part of the bigger picture.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this in advance of publication, and I can’t wait to get my hands on part two...

I've missed Jennifer Lynn Barnes' writing. We got off to a rocky start with her paranormal books, but as soon as she switched to writing mystery and thriller books I knew that she was going to be an author that I love.

The Inheritance Games is about a poor girl called Avery who inherits billions from a stranger, but she also has to play a game. The book is fast paced and a complete page turner from start to finish. I read it in just a couple of days, and I could barely put it down.

I looove rags to riches stories, especially when it's a surprise or a gift, so that was the first trope that ticked the box for me. I also love puzzles and games, so that's another one!

I don't think the relationships in this book are very strong, but since it's the first in a series I'll probably find a ship to get behind eventually. I just think all the guys had way too much baggage and Avery had too much going on with her windfall and the puzzles to really focus on relationships. That isn't to say that there weren't some cute-ish scenes that readers will enjoy though.

I got such VIBES from this book. It reminded me a lot of The Lying Game and Pretty Little Liars, and also a smidge of Truly Devious (the first book, not the rest of the series because those books went downhill FAST). If you like any of those books, then I think you'll love this. And yes, the comparisons to Knives Out are accurate. I'd highly recommend The Inheritance Games, in case that wasn't obvious!

#TheInheritanceGames #NetGalley

This book is one of my favourite books that I have read in a while. Reading it, you don't want to put it down; as it leaves you each chapter with more questions, so you read on to get them answered only to get more. The twists and turns in the book I didn't see coming especially at the end. WOW!

The only thing is now I have to wait for this book to be published so I can read it again when I buy the book. This copy I reviewed was from NetGalley so it is a digital copy. Then I have to wait god knows how long for the next book in the series to arrive to find out what happens next.

Overall I found the book a fantastic read. Pacing was great and want to read more from this author in the future.

Trigger Warnings: off-page physical/domestic violence, attempted murder/shooting, drunk driving

I'm reeling. This was wonderful.

Despites Barnes' extensive catalogue, this is the first novel of hers that I have picked up to read. Having enjoyed the film Knives Out, I was instantly sold on reading this. It warrants the comparison, but it is stands wonderfully on its own without.

The Inheritance Games follows Avery Grambs, a teenager trying to survive high school, her sisters abusive boyfriend, and the grief enveloping her from the passing of her mother. The story begins with Avery working hard at her job to make enough money to help her sister with rent, being accused of cheating on a test for her 'impossible' high score, and sleeping in her car to avoid her sisters (Libby) boyfriend. And then suddenly, a man shows up and whisks Avery and Libby to Texas to be present of the reading of the will of his Grandfather, who also happens to be the 9th richest man in the world, and the richest man in Texas . . .

And then the will is read, and suddenly Avery is the heiress to the Hawthorne family fortune, given to her by Tobias Hawthorne, man she has never met. Suddenly she is surrounded by lawyers, people wanting to kill her, the press, all while trying to figure out why she was chose for this inheritance & why everyone else was left out.

What ensues is an adventure as Avery tries to figure out which one of the Hawthorne siblings she can trust (if she can trust any of them) not just with her life and the future, but also to help her figure out the clues left behind by Tobias Hawthorne. I found the dynamics between the siblings to be interesting & the relationship Avery began to develop with all of them.

I was not a big fan of the romance & the love triangle, especially not with those awkward incest jokes made predominantly by Jameson. I also didn't like that there was always such a big comparison to Emily, a character that was off page (comparing the romantic relationship, and just her general behaviour, etc). I feel like a lot of the story revolved around Emily's impact on the character, yet the more we got to know about her, she just felt really one-dimensional. So while we got to know the other characters on the page and I cared in that retrospect, I was so fed up of the Emily drama / mystery. I also feel like if she stuck to just one love interest, it could have been better developed.

I enjoyed the clues and trying to work them out with Avery, making theories about which each one meant. I'm glad to say I did but some of the pieces together, yet I was still *gasping* at the end when it was revealed that I was right / that think I had an inkling about was completely true!! And the way it ended?? With that reveal?? Which gave answers but gave more questions?? I don't mean to be demanding but SEQUEL NOW PLEASE??

I'm very excited for the sequel and I hope it expands on more of the characters - particularly with the Hawthorne boys. I feel like there was a lot left unsaid about a lot of them / still had a bit of a way to go to make them distinguishable / separate relationships (ones they had outside of Avery) had more to be explored. It wasn't a massive problem in this book, but I did find myself yearning for just a bit more (especially with the page count).

Overall, I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense of this novel. I would have liked a few more clues / reveals earlier on / characters actually working through more of the stuff (like something dramatic happen, it would be 'oh shit' and then . . . it was sort of brushed over. I feel like there was reaction, but no reaction?? Probably because the book was dealing with a lot of moving factors - all the different characters/potential rivals/villains, schooling, Emily, fake dating, brother drama, sister drama, parent drama, paparazzi . . .)

So, 4 stars for this one & I can't wait to see what the sequel brings and WHAT ANSWERS IT WILL GIVE ME ABOUT YOU KNOW WHO BEING YOU KNOW WHO AND YOU KNOW WHO KNOWING YOU KNOW WHO AND DOING YOU KNOW WHAT. AHHHHHHHHH. I HAVE MANY THEORIES. AHHHHH.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Teenager Avery Grambs has been living with her older half-sister Libby since her mum died, that was until she stormed out and decided she would rather sleep in her car than put up with her sister’s obnoxious on-off boyfriend Drake.

One day she receives an invitation to the will reading of Billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, whom she has never heard off before but has been left something, she doesn’t have a clue what and being underage her sister has to attend the will reading with her at the exquisite Hawthorne house estate.

The Hawthorne family including his two daughter and his grandsons plus staff are already in attendance and they are all wondering who the stranger is and what she has been left, no-one expected it to be Tobia’s house, businesses, charity foundations, and nearly all his money, especially not Avery. There is one catch though, she has to live in the house for a year and the family is to stay too.

Some of them are not bothered by the news, others see her as a gold-digger and will stop at nothing to get the fortune for themselves. With everyone under one roof, can Avery discover why she was chosen, keep her new-found wealth, and stay alive?

The Inheritance Games is a YA mystery book that had me hooked from the very beginning, even if I did find the writing a little on the young side as I began my journey with Avery and the Hawthornes.

The plot is not something I have read before, it felt refreshing, even to Avery’s best friend Max who she communicates via phone calls only and is always in trouble with her mother and refuses to swear so we are hit with lots of hilarious alternative swear words throughout their chats.

Avery is a head-smart young girl who wants to know why she has been left all of Tobia’s fortune and properties. What makes her special to him? It will take plenty of searching and puzzling to even begin to understand why and for that she needs the help of the Hawthorne grandsons who are used to working out puzzles and riddles.

Grandson’s Nash, who doesn’t want the money and comes and goes, Alexander (Xander), who is more interested in stuffing his face than helping. Grayson, who distrusts Avery and is searching for ways to discredit her and Jameson, who is the puzzler in the family, as well as the family drunk. He likes Avery and is hell-bent on the two working out the last puzzle his grandfather has left for them. But it will take all of them to get to the truth.

This is the first book in a planned series and whilst it ends with a knowledge of where book two is heading, it isn’t a cliff-hanger, in fact, I had worked out this part already a good few chapters back.

Overall, it is a fascinating read that contains characters you want to get to know, a plot that has you puzzling along with, and a billionaires estate you wish you were at. I just didn’t want to put this book down and now I can not wait for book two.

Not really sure about this one, it was good but a little repetitive, and ended on a tricky cliffhanger - perhaps I was just disappointed because I didn't realise it would have a sequel.

Avery lives with her half sister Libby and Libby's abusive boyfriend. She goes to school and has a job, and is pretty intelligent - good at logic and puzzles. One day, it is revealed that the richest man in Texas has left her almost everything he has and she is now the owner of Hawthorne House. Only problem is, the old man basically cut out his whole family, including 4 grandsons, so they get only a small amount of his fortune.

The book reminds me a little of The Raven Boys. Nash, Grayson, Jameson and Xander all have secrets, and there was a mystery girl, Emily, in their past. History starts to repeat itself with Avery, Jameson and Grayson. There are many puzzles the five have to sole to get answers about where Avery came from - they are seemingly random but all link back to Avery in some way.

This is good, but didn't completely blow my mind. I was surprised by the end but elements were definitely predictable. Who knows where the second book will go, but I am definitely curious.