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debhawkins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug use, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
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, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
adoptionamalauna'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, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism
enzopudge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
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: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dulcyj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
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: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
shesflippinpages'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
kenziburke'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
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
avidreaderandgeekgirl'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
4.25
While I saw some twists coming, others surprised me. I like how the book was paced as it kept me engaged. As well as the mix of narrative POVs, letters, and articles.
The characters weren't particularly likable, but just likable enough for you to care about them.
Narrator(s) Rating: 5 stars
The narrators did an excellent job, and the constant change of narrators as you went from each part kept me engaged instead of my attention wandering.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury