Book Review: The Inheritance Games
The Basics: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (2021)
Genre: YA Mystery
Avery is at rock bottom. Her mom is dead, her sister/ guardian just took back her abusive ex, and now Avery is living out of her car. Then a mysterious (and cute) guy shows up at her school, informing her that his billionaire grandfather (a total stranger to Avery) left her money in his will. Turns out, Tobias Hawthorne didn’t just leave Avery money- he left her everything. And disinherited his entire family in the process. In order to receive her inheritance, Avery must live on the Hawthorne estate for one year, along with the entire Hawthorne family and their secrets. As Avery and the Hawthorne grandsons dig for answers, it becomes clear that this is Tobias Hawthorne’s last game, and to play the game, they must dig into their pasts.
I listened to this on audio and could not stop. Avery is whip-smart and determined, and the four Hawthorne brothers drew me in with their charm, couching the wisdom of the game in proverbs only a southern gentleman would utter. Joining the compelling cast are the boys’ airheaded mother Skye, Avery’s steampunk doormat of a sister named Libby, a host of Hawthorne family and friends, and Orin, Avery’s stalwart security guard who I couldn’t help but picture as Joe from the Princess Diaries.
Each character has a stake in the game and a secret to hide. Unlike some YA mysteries, the connections between characters are almost never predictable, and while Barnes draws out some of Avery’s “aha” moments, she does so in order to pull readers to the edge of our seats.
In addition to being a delightfully addictive mystery-romance, the book asks big questions about wealth, power, and perception. Avery will soon hold the purse strings to immense personal funds as well as a charitable foundation. How will she take control of the narrative being written about her, her relationships, her choices? What is her financial responsibility to the world and to the people she loves? Is she a player in the game, or merely a pawn?
The rest of the Inheritance Games series is definitely going on my TBR, and you can bet I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for more news about Amazon’s TV adaptation. In the meantime, I’ll keep riding in the mystery machine. Mona Awad’s Bunny is on my bedside table, and my hold for The Secret History audiobook is finally ready on Libby! Stay tuned for more reviews…
I LOVE this series so much! And am so happy she is continuing beyond the original trilogy.