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brynhayes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Gun violence, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Car accident, and Grief
bringmybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Notes: My first Rachel Hawkins book, but I know it won't be my last! The pacing could have been a bit tighter at points (lost my interest and had to get it back with a couple of well placed twists!). Speaking of twists, there were a couple in here that I was 100% expecting, but at least one of the larger ones that hit me upside the head so hard when I got there! Made the end of the story so hard to put down! Excited to try The Villa and Reckless Girls soon, I've heard such good things about those.
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 3.38
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★★
Pacing ★★
Dialogue ★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Moderate: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Classism, Violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Blood, and Physical abuse
emma_sky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Bullying, and Gaslighting
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: January 9, 2024
I received a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Ominous • Entertaining • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she's not only North Carolina's richest woman, she's also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family's estate high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
But in the aftermath of her death, her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.
Ten years later, his uncle's death pulls Cam and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but the legacy of Ruby is inescapable.
Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what's written in a will––and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have certainly seen all of the hype and love for Rachel Hawkins, yet I had never been inclined to pick one up for myself, until now. Why now? There was an intense discussion about her books at one of my in-person book club meetings that piqued my curiosity. Not really knowing where to start I decided to go with her most recent The Heiress.
Told in multiple POVs, this novel read like it was trying to be The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo's (a book I loved) suspenseful cousin. Because of this fact nothing felt original and it was easy to predict the twists and turns. The characters were all kind of icky and engaged in questionable behaviour.
My favourite aspect of the book were the letter from Ruby. This element allowed me to get a glimpse into Ruby's mind, despite her being dead. Additionally, the audiobook narrated by a full cast of Dan Bittner, Eliza Fossn John Pirhallan and Patti Murin, added so much personality to the characters. The standout in the narration was Ruby's voice. I will say the pacing of the narration is very slow and one that will likely need to be sped up.
In my opinion, The Heiress was yet another run-of-the-mill domestic suspense that was entertaining while reading, yet nothing really shocking happens and it's not something I will remember a week or two from now. I would definitely give this author another chance and can understand why there is so much love for her books.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• isolated settings
• gothic elements
• inheritance plot lines
⚠️ CW: kidnapping, toxic relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcohol, death, death of parent, violence, gun violence, murder, fire/fire injury, adoption, cursing, suicide, classism, mental illness, alcoholism, drug abuse, injury/injury detail, pregnancy
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There should be some kind of warning when your life is about to change forever."
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Classism, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
adoptionginnygrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Suicide, Gun violence, Murder, Death, and Abandonment
amalauna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Classism
crdostaler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Kidnapping, Infidelity, Car accident, and Gun violence
carissa230's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Our secondary POV is Ruby. She was married four times and all four men died in different manners. She is telling her story through letters throughout the book. Ruby's life was interesting, but clearly she is mentally unstable.
The story is fast-paced, but I am honestly not sure if I will remember it in a month.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Murder
prairieraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, Ableism, Cursing, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Stalking, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Cancer, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Classism, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Infertility, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Car accident, and Child death
julierambaeck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy and Child death