Inheritance Games

The ending was terrible... which made the book make no sense

This was a beautifully written story with several twists and turns. Any time I thought I had it figured out I was wrong. Barnes wrote the characters well and weaver a great story. I cannot wait to read the next installation of this series!

First sentence: When I was a kid, my mom constantly invented games. The Quiet Game. The Who Can Make Their Cookie Last Longer? Game. A perennial favorite, The Marshmallow Game involved eating marshmallows while wearing puffy Goodwill Jackets indoors, to avoid turning on the heat.

Premise/plot: Avery Grambs comes into....an inheritance in Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Inheritance Games. She has inherited an extremely large estate seemingly from a total stranger. His family was not entirely neglected, each one receives a nominal amount--at least relatively speaking. But one of the conditions is that she is to live on the estate a full year before collecting on the inheritance so to speak...and she'll be living WITH those she's 'disinherited.' There are four Hawthorne brothers....and each one will have his own way for 'handling' Avery. Some more 'hands on' than others....since two have a flirty situation-ship going on. There's puzzles, games, and riddles, etc. And Avery's life is in danger several times at least.... Who can she trust with her life? Who can she trust with her heart?

My thoughts: I kept turning pages because I--for better or worse--got caught up in the love triangle. Grayson and Jameson are the two brothers involved. It also greatly helped that the chapters are so short. Each one is just three to four pages. The pacing is excellent. It always feels right to read "just one more chapter."

An orphaned teen living with her older sister and barely scraping by is suddenly named the heir to an eccentric billionaire’s fortune, even though he has descendants who want it. But there are some catches and some games to be played before she sees the payout.

Meh. I couldn’t be arsed to care about any of the characters, but I kept with it to see if the solution to the Big Puzzle was interesting. There were, of course, some questions left unanswered at the end, but I think I’m okay not knowing, so I won’t be continuing with the series.

nheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This book is definitely over hyped that is for sure. I thought I would really love this you have a random basically orphaned teenager that inherits billions of dollars with the condition that she has to stay on this estate, seriously that is a good premises to start with but then they go down this endless weird game of having to solve puzzles and riddles to figure our why the MFC was chosen. I don't know if it was because maybe I was just not in the mindset of this book but I felt like I dragged myself to finish reading this. I'm by no means interested in continuing the series. I'll just look up spoilers to see what the conclusion is, if that intrigues maybe I will give it another shot but for now this was a disappointment. Not to say that someone else might enjoy it because like I said the plot and story are intriguing just this time it was not for me.

When Avery is told she is the recipient of a large inheritance from a man she never met, she's forced to uproot her life and move in with a dysfunctional family. One that is especially resentful to a stranger being injected into their lives and given what they had understood would belong to them alone.

Full of puzzles, intrigue, backstabbing betrayals, and a lot of distrust, Avery works to put together the clues she has collected to solve the mystery of why she was included in a very strange inheritance request.

I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and her work just keeps getting better. I can't wait to see where this one goes next!

This was a fun, quick read. I enjoy puzzles and this book is full of them. Some I could figure out, but some not. I would read the 2nd.

Read this because a friend recommended.
It was too young and focused on love triangles with rich white teens for me.

After the death of her mother, Avery is just trying to get by. Her goal is to finish high school, earn a scholarship, and move on with her life. In the meantime, she's living either in her car or with her half sister, whose boyfriend is less than ideal. Her life is completely upended when, out of nowhere, she learns that she is the primary benefactor of Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire from Texas, a man she's never met. In order to receive her fortune, however, she must live for a year in the Hawthorne mansion, surrounded by his family, who is understandably bitter to find out that their expected inheritance has been left to Avery, a virtual unknown. Once in the mansion, Avery discovers a home full of secrets, secret passageways, puzzles, and riddles, along with the four Hawthorne grandsons. Each grandson is handsome and beguiling, but which can she trust, if any of them?

Though written for a YA audience, this was a fun one, and the first in a series. It reminded me of a scaled-down, younger version of some of the Robert Langdon books by Dan Brown. With short chapters, this one was easy to race through, and I did, and have already begun book two. I've seen rumor of this being made into a TV series, and I think it would make a great one, but it seems to have stalled, so not sure if that will happen or not. But above all, a fun read for any age.

Well, well, well.
I THOUGHT I might like this puzzle mystery, thought it would be in the vein of the classic The Westing Game, but sadly, it was not.
Maybe I've become skilled at seeing through red herrings (don't think so), but I absolutely guessed, after just the first chapter, what the big cliffhanger would be.

This one is YA and while I think the teen crowd would absolutely enjoy, the premise of having 1 super smart, but poor, teen girl being forced to live in the mega mansion of 4 handsome, wealthy half-brothers, and simultaneously blowing hot and cold for almost all of them, I did not.

Avery (said teen girl) internal dialog just grated on me, sorry. For a smart girl, she does some not-so-smart things.
I did love the phone conversations of her sassy, irreverent best friend, Maxine (Max).

I see that this is a 4-book (so far) series.
Unsure if I have the patience for this soap opera for 3 more books.

High school junior Avery Grambs gets the shock of her life when she finds out that multi-billionaire Tobias Hawthorne has died and left her nearly all his fortune. The weird thing is, she’s never even met the man. According to the will, in order for her to receive the inheritance, she must live in the mysterious Hawthorne mansion for at least a year, along with the four Hawthorne grandsons, all of whom expected to receive the inheritance, and harbor a serious distrust of Avery. As things progress, she learns the deceased billionaire had a love for puzzles and riddles, and somehow, she had now become a part of his last, and most dangerous, game.

What I liked: pretty much everything! The storyline was gripping. The characters were unique and likable. The mystery continued to become more complex and interesting as the story progressed.

What I didn’t like: nothing, really. The book had a satisfying ending, but did leave with a major teaser for book 2 which I am now dying to read.

A great read.

5 out of 5 stars

This book was recommended to me. It sounded great when described---but after reading, I wasn't too impressed. It was pretty slow moving, I don’t appreciate the language and innuendo, and the ending was super unsatisfying. I get it that it's set up for a sequel---but I don't know that there was enough here to make me want to read one.

This was so good! Kept me guessing and even when I thought I had it...more clues and subversion! So good!

I loved this so much! It's a mystery, but more like a game show than anything else.

Avery Grambs is a smart teen who's determined to build a better life for herself. That means getting out of high school, winning a scholarship, entering a good actuarial science program, and hopefully starting a well-paying career. And then billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and changes all of Avery's plans in an instant when his will reveals that he left her nearly his entire fortune. The only catch is that she must live in his mansion with the family members who were just disinherited.

Avery has no idea why a billionaire with no connection to her would have left her his fortune, and most of Tobias' surviving family members are understandably less than friendly. However, there are indications that Tobias left answers behind, hidden behind a series of riddles, codes, and secret passages. Unfortunately, the ones best suited to solving the puzzles Tobias left behind are his grandsons, who are definitely keeping secrets from her and have no real reason to help her.

I started this expecting an intelligent main character with Knives Out-style rich family drama and a side of twisty puzzle-solving. Instead, I got a heroine whose brains and ability to focus were constantly hijacked by the hotness of the Hawthorne brothers, and a potential love triangle between her and Jameson and Grayson Hawthorne (brothers who really need some time away from each other, because this is not the first time they've both been interested in the same girl).

Avery was supposedly a smart girl who'd previously gotten used to using her brains to maximize her very limited resources. Then Tobias Hawthorne essentially put her in the position of having unlimited resources, and instead of turning all those brains to the puzzles he left behind, she kept getting distracted by hot guys she had zero reason to trust. It was tiresome, and it left me with thoroughly unimpressed with Avery.

I'm just intrigued enough by the puzzles to continue reading this series, but I sincerely hope Avery will be less easily distracted in the later books.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

Avery inherits $46 billion from a man she did not know. He has four grandsons. All five have received letters and must solve a puzzle. Each person has to decide what the puzzle is. Can they solve the puzzle? Why was Avery left the money?

I liked this book. I liked Avery. She is feisty. She is thrown into a game that she knows nothing about but she is up for the challenge. The four grandsons--Nash, Greyson, Jameson, and Alexander--have to decide what they think about Avery and if they'll help her. Secrets get revealed as they search for the clues. By the end of the game, they figure out why the boys' grandfather made it a puzzle and competition. The story sets up the next book in the series.

I have to get the next book. I want to know what happens next.

This is a little younger than I typically read, but it was still a fun one. I wish there had been more puzzling and searching rather than love....triangles? But still a fast mystery with an ending that left you hanging just a little. I wish there had been more explanation/reasoning behind why this random girl got to inherit a billionaire fortune, but maybe that's for the next books to explain.

The Inheritance Games was interesting and kept me engaged throughout its entirety, however this book was super hyped, and I just didn't feel like it lived up to that. Maybe because of all the hype, my expectations going into it were too high but I came away feeling a bit disappointed at the end. I gave it four stars but the more I've thought on it, I'm considering changing it to three stars. It's probably more of a 3.5 rating.

I would still recommend it however because this book is loved by many and it is fast-paced and interesting.

This was a fun, mysterious semi-crazy read. It is very reminiscent of the Westing Game but adapted for a more mature audience. We have a girl, Avery who lives with her sister, and they are barely scraping by. Avery hustles poker in order to make sure her favorite homeless man gets breakfast, she sleeps in the car when her sister’s boyfriend insists he must be with in the apartment, and she just found out that a man in a slick suit has been hunting for her. It turns out that Avery is needed in Texas to bear witness to the reading of a Will that will leave her set for life if she can survive in the Hawthorne house for a year. This isn’t a haunted house but it’s a house full of games and mysteries and hidden staircases, it’s also full of a disinherited family that isn’t exactly happy that some stranger got their billions. This book is both mystery and game. It’s got a tad bit of intrigue and a little bit of danger. It just works. It is a super-fast read that while it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger it still ends with unanswered questions. So, my current favorite thing is that all three books are all out now, so I can continue this series.

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Inheritance Games trilogy. I borrowed this on ebook from my library. It does look like there is a fourth book that is a companion to this series, "The Brothers Hawthorne", that is expected to release in August of 2023.

Thoughts: Jennifer Lynn Barnes has been a bit hit or miss for me. I absolutely adored her "The Naturals" series but didn't love her "Raised by Wolves" or "The Fixer" series. I was a bit reluctant to pick up The Inheritance Games despite its glowing reviews. However, I ended up absolutely loving this book, it was so well done and so much fun to read.

Avery is doing her best to make a better life for herself, even if it involves sleeping in her car between school hours to dodge her sister's violent boyfriend. Then she gets called to the office at school and finds out that a billionaire named Tobias Hawthorne has left her everything. The only catch is that Avery must live in Hawthorne House for the next year, which includes living with the very eccentric and talented (not to mention super attractive) four Hawthorne brothers. As Avery's life is turned upside down, she finds out that she is a piece in a complicated puzzle; the last puzzle that Tobias wanted his grandsons to solve.

This book was so much fun. You start with the crazy dream of a girl who has nothing getting everything, including all the trouble and complications that go with that... Then you add in a complex and mysterious puzzle that must be solved for Avery to figure out the why behind her being chosen for this inheritance.

Avery is a wonderful character and the Hawthrone brothers are all fascinating in their own right. The banter between them was very well done and highly entertaining to read. I like that Avery plays things smart and stands up for herself. The Hawthorn Brothers gave me a bit of a Raven Boys vibe from Maggie Stiefvater's "Raven Cycle" series.

Barnes' writing was spot on throughout the book. This is an effortless book to read. The characters are engaging, the mystery and puzzles are incredibly well done and intriguing, and the description is amazing. I loved reading about the crazy exotic and lush Hawthorne house and imagining the settings there. This was just a very well-rounded read. There is a bit of romance in here as well, but it definitely isn't what drives the story.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this and immediately put the second book in the series on hold at the library. This is such a fun rags-to-riches type of story but doesn't shy away from all the complications that come with that. The characters are smart and fun to read about. I loved the mysterious puzzles they had to solve and just thought this was so much fun. I can wait to pick up the second book.

TW/CW: Death of a child, death of an elder, domestic abuse, loss of a parent, scary situations, some violence, childhood illness

REVIEW: The Inheritance Games is the story of 16 year old Avery Grambs. a nearly unhoused girl who sleeps in her car when her older sister’s abusive boyfriend is around. Then – for no reason that she’s aware of – she inherits a multibillion dollar estate. She doesn’t know the guy who died, and she certainly doesn’t know the family. but the estate is legally hers if she can remain in it for one whole year.

She accepts – because who wouldn’t? – and is soon finding strange and sometimes wonderful things out about this crazy place that she has inherited. At the same time, the family remains at the house as well, many of them trying to find ways to bring her down and take her fortune somehow.

But there are mysteries in this house…mysteries to solve and tragedies that must come out in the open before everything can be understood!

This book was a really fun, fast read, with good writing and an original premise. There were some very few parts where it dragged a little, but they were few and far between.

I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking foreard to reading the second one.

I probably would’ve have loved this book as a teen. Four intriguing brothers, three within dating age of the female lead who has just inherited billions from their grandfather for reasons no one knows; codes and puzzles and secret passages; light humor and flirting.

Alas, as a jaded adult, I was mostly annoyed by the author’s juvenile method of building suspense. So many conversations just end because, if they continued, the book’s secrets would be revealed too early. Or a character simply doesn’t answer a question or gives a cryptic answer that the main character can then ponder the meaning of in her head repeatedly instead of simply asking for an explanation or for more information.

The level of subterfuge employed by the deceased to hide the truth (to what end?) is hard to believe or envision and many of the clues get figured out way too easily.

The characters are surprisingly distinct, especially given the large number of them, and the language and style make for an easy read as long as you don’t think too closely about the plot. One of the main mysteries is pretty obvious to anyone who reads a lot of mystery novels but isn’t revealed until near the end.

No sex, profanity, or violence but some questionable morality.

Avery has been living in her car, when she is suddenly called out of class and told that she has to be present at the reading of Tobias Hawthorne's will. She doesn't know Tobias Hawthorne, so she is surprised to learn that he has left her the entirety of his fortune, but one stipulation is that she must live in the Hawthorne mansion for a year with the Hawthorne family. Avery learns that the mansion is full of secret passages and that Tobias left behind several riddles for her to solve, leaving her hoping for some answers. Her search begins with Jameson Hawthorne who has been described as a lifelong gamer, and Grayson Hawthorne who believes that Avery swindled his grandfather out of his fortune. Her attraction to the two Hawthorne brothers leads her to a mystery surrounding the death of a girl named Emily who was enamored with both brothers.

The Inheritance Games is a slow burn mystery filled with secrets and riddles that add twists and turns to the story. The characters are well developed and brought to life as this author is always able to accomplish in her books. The intricate plot brings together many characters and clues, making this an enjoyable read that never gets slow or bogs down in too much information. One negative aspect of this book is that Grayson and Jameson are fairly unlikable as male leads, but I assume both will become more agreeable as the series continues through the next two books. Also it is a bit difficult to connect with Avery as the protagonist, but overall, The Inheritance Games is a fun, page-turning mystery with lots of clues and red-herrings to keep the reader guessing.

I like the weird old guy mystery but the rich people crap was a bit much. Closer to 2.5 stars than 3 but im rounding up because i do plan on continuing the series.

You will love this book if you love mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your chair. This book is perfect for people who love romance, drama and secrets.

teen fiction - mystery/suspense, with puzzles and romance

very quick read, suspenseful and a little snarky. I thought this would be like a teen version of 39 clues (which itself was fine but maybe not a series I'd care to reread) but after reading the first few chapters of this first book in the series I immediately ordered the second and look forward to the third.

Avery Grambs likes games: the games she played with her dead mother like The Flashlight Game when the lights were cut off or the chess game with Harry, the homeless man in her neighborhood. When she wins, he must let her buy him breakfast. She lives with her half-sister, Libby, and Libby’s abusive boyfriend and is trying to get through high school by getting good grades and keeping her head down. Then she inherits a fortune from Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire whom she has never met, and becomes instantly famous. To inherit the money, she must live in Hawthorne’s estate with his four grandsons, who have been disinherited and are angry and suspicious of Avery and her motives. But she has no motives; she does not even know who Tobias Hawthorne is. What game was he playing at? Who can she trust as she is drawn to each of the brothers for different reasons but especially Grayson and Jameson? Who has been making attempts on her life and why? Whether she wants to or not, Avery must play this high-stakes game to its finish. What a fun ride of intrigue, romance, and mystery. Can’t wait for the next installment.

I received a free ebook arc from Edelweiss for an honest review. Due out September 29, 2020.

Avery is living in her car (because it's that or live with her sister's abusive boyfriend) when the lawyers find her. She's just inherited an unbelievable fortune from an eccentric billionaire. The catch? She has to go live on his estate for a year -- with the family members he disinherited in her favor. When she arrives, she meets the four charismatic, angry, grief-stricken grandsons as well as a handful of other interesting characters. As it turns out, the billionaire left behind more than family strife: there are puzzles within puzzles around the grounds of Hawthorne House. Is Avery supposed to solve them -- or is she just another clever clue for the boys to solve?

I'm glad mystery is making a comeback in YA. I can see this one being super appealing to the target audience, though I'll admit I had a couple of moments where I was just over the adolescent shenanigans, and I didn't find that the minor love triangle added to the story. However, if you enjoy YA and love mysteries, this is an enjoyable read.

Why would the enormous Hawthorne family fortune be left to Avery, a stranger? Is Avery a participant in the games set up by Tobias Hawthorne, or just one of the game pieces? This was an exciting mystery which kept me guessing, though I wasn’t super satisfied by the ending.

ok, so, i am going to give this a 3. i understand the hype, but it was a pretty average read for me. will i still be reading the next book though? yes.

i went into this book with waaayyyy too high expectations. i think i would have enjoyed it more if i hadn't expected and wanted this to be a 5 star read for me. but, here we are. the overall concept of the book is great. a small-town girl with nothing suddenly gets summoned to the will-reading of someone she doesn't know and inherits his fortune? count me in (literally, someone please find me a random rich person to give me their fortune because these college loans aren't going to pay themselves).

for me, almost all of the major plot points were predictable as soon as i met the characters. i wish it wasn't so glaringly obvious whodunit. i also found the characters started to get on my nerves (i would have loved to slap Libby). some of this might have been because i listened to the audiobook, which i do not recommend unless you want to listen to weird, mildly country accents. also, the whole love triangle was weird and unnecessary, but i can already tell it will be a major plot point of the next book.

to sum up...

what i enjoyed
~the puzzles and riddles
~overall plot and vibes
~the cliffhanger is *chef's kiss* amazing
~good pacing

what i didn't enjoy
~very predictable
~characters didn't really develop and were very annoying at points
~the love triangle that didn't need to be a thing
~wish there was more detail in the world-building. i felt lost when they were talking about the mansion, but maybe that was on purpose? who knows

~rachel♡