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Book Review

Audiobook Review: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Edition: ALC
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (September 7, 2021)
Genre: YA, Mystery

Synopsis

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.

Related: My review of The Inheritance Games

My review of The Hawthorne Legacy

The Hawthorne Legacy is a solid sequel that heightens the stakes and mystery without compromising on the character drama we love.

I received a free ALC by the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

High Stakes and Bigger Mysteries

The Inheritance Games left us with a lot of questions and Avery wants answers. And she’s about to get more mystery and danger than she bargained for! One of my favourite aspects of this book was how Jennifer Lynn Barnes manages to up the stakes and make everything feel just as urgent as in book one. Sure, Avery has the inheritance, but her year at Hawthorne house isn’t over and despite what the boys think, neither is the game Tobias Hawthorne left them to play. The Hawthorne Legacy also adds a sprinkle of international adventures. While I would sell my soul for more time exploring Hawthorne house, it was super fun to visit different places, too!

I’m also very fond of the sense of continuity Barnes creates. Oftentimes sequels can feel a little disconnected and issues from previous books seem forgotten. Not with this one, though! Elements from book one come back into play and Avery’s (traumatic) experiences evidently shape her reactions.

In general, Avery remains my absolute favourite character. She’s just so cool and resourceful! Now if only she could focus on the mystery instead of certain boys…

A Hit-and-Miss Romance

Unfortunately, I still didn’t vibe with the developing romance. I just don’t care about either Jameson or Grayson and whatever they’ve got going on with Avery. On the upside, after rereading the first book and finishing the sequel, I can now finally tell those boys apart. That’s a win for me because as you might remember from my review of The Inheritance Games, they felt way too similar and flat for me to have an opinion on either. Admittedly, they’re still a little vague in my mind, but at least I can tell them apart now!

Your mileage may vary, but I felt that the romance/love corner didn’t add anything to the story and I found myself rolling my eyes repeatedly. Come on Avery, solving a mystery or teenage boys who can’t make up their minds about you? That seems like an easy choice.

Suspenseful Narration With an Edge

Narrator Christie Moreau perfectly captures the drama and mystery that comes with this book. Her portrayal of Avery is witty and smart – with an edge. I already loved Avery as a character on the page, but hearing Moreau bring her to life with her incredible performance really made her personality shine.

I find that a sense of rhythm and suspense matters a lot when it comes to mystery books and Moreau absolutely crushes it in that department. Additionally, I had a blast listening to her embodying different characters with wildly different personalities – something the Hawthorne family sure has a lot of. If you enjoy audiobooks with a narrator that brings suspense and character to the table, The Hawthorne Legacy might be for you!

Overall…

The Hawthorne Legacy was a sequel I enjoyed greatly despite its flaws. And there’s still enough open questions to have me eagerly waiting for book three…

This book is for you if…

…you like mysteries with lots of family drama and love corners
…you are looking for a book with quirky characters, a clever and cool heroine, and insufferable/hot boys.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A post you might also enjoy: My Review of I Killed Zoe Spanos

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