Book Review #86: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Hello Dear Reader!

Welcome to another book review! I’d been in an overall slump, but I’m back and ready to give my thoughts on the second book of The Inheritance Games Trilogy, The Hawthorne Legacy.

But before I get into that, here’s the back-cover summary: (from Goodreads)

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.

Now, on to the review!

Like the first book, The Hawthorne Legacy follows the story of Avery Kyle Grambs and continues right at the ending of the previous story. This time, the late Tobias Hawthorne has a new game involving yet another late member of the Hawthorne family… or so everyone thought. This story is just as mysterious, but much more high stakes a the last, involving even more paparazzi, not-so-subtle death threats, and enemies’ attempts at taking Avery’s life.

Avery still remains one of my favorite protagonists to this day. She is just as smart, quick-witted, and observant as she was in the first book, and the surrounding cast of characters were a joy to get to know as well. Of course, we have the four very different but ever-charming Hawthorne brothers, her older sister Libby, and past characters turned friends! I was especially overjoyed at the fact that her best friend, Max, received way more screen time in this sequel.

While the Hawthorne Mansion remains a main setting of The Hawthorne Legacy, Avery’s adventures take her to places outside of the estate, including one of the Tobias Hawthorne’s vacation homes and a location I will not mention due to spoilers. This time, Avery’s private school is also given a bit more screen time, which was nice to see. Quite a few major plot points occur there, along with a lot of drama.

This book was just as enjoyable as the previous one, and I was simply impressed by the complexity of the puzzles and clues left to solve them. While Avery, her past, and her relationship with certain Hawthorne brothers remain at the forefront, the puzzles remain at the center of the story, points that the story always returns to.

So, The Hawthorne Legacy rating:

5/5 and recommend if you like big mysteries that involve solving puzzles and discovering sad family history.

Thanks for reading!