REVIEW: The Inheritance Games Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Kaitlyn‘s review of The Inheritance Games Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Young Adult Romantic Suspense published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers 01 Sep 20 – 30 Aug 22

I gave each book either an A or A-, so on the whole I’d say this is a five-star series. The mysteries, puzzles, and games were all so much fun.

Eccentric billionaire Tobias Hawthorne disinherits his family (that conveniently includes four handsome grandsons 😋) and leaves his entire fortune to a seemingly random 17-year-old girl across the country. He appears to also leave behind a few final games for his grandsons and heiress. Hoping to figure out why Tobias made the choices he did, they set out to solve the crazy puzzles, games, and riddles.

I normally don’t love YA books without fantastical elements, but this series is such a good time. I read all three books in five days, because I just couldn’t put them down. Each reveal is awesome, and I really wish someone wanted me to go live in a crazy, giant mansion riddled with secret passageways and puzzles.

I do think the love triangle is completely unnecessary and doesn’twork to further the plot. But because it’s so unnecessary, I could ignore it and the story remained amazing. If this had been an adult series with the silly, angsty love triangle, it probably would have affected my rating. But I can be forgiving with young adult books.

I’m so glad the series isn’t over and we get more of the Hawthorne brothers at the end of this month. If you haven’t read these yet, I definitely recommend making the time for them!

Grade: A

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 conwoman, 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.

No excerpts available.

Other books in this series: