Scan barcode
artemisvlassi's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Car accident, and Death
blewballoon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I think I would have appreciated this more if I had been closer to the target demographic. I was really excited for this, but I think I underestimated how much the love triangles with the Hawthorne brothers would be part of Avery's internal monologue. As a teen, I probably would have been more into that drama and understood the allure of the brothers. I also found the puzzles to be a little over-explained, but again I think the explanations are probably necessary for a less experienced reader who doesn't have as much exposure to different kinds of puzzles/riddles. I am not sure if I will continue with the series or not. Also, while my rating is a little low, I do think the book was fun, intriguing, and suspenseful! I can see why the series is popular, and I think it's deserved. It just wasn't quite what I wanted it to be.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Car accident and Gun violence
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Alcohol, Death, and Suicide
koistyfishy's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 I'm Sorry Stars ⭐
I do not see the hype of this book at all. I clearly arrived late to the party and missed the Kool-Aid they were passing around, and now I'm staring at a bunch of people that absolutely adore this book...And I have no idea why!
If it wasn't for the fact that I did this as a buddy read, I probably would have DNFed this... (I say with the premise of I will probably pick up the rest of the books just to see where the story goes if she wants to read the rest of the books with me 😬.
The thing is that I don't give a crap about the brothers. I don't give a crap about how they look. The love triangle that was going on was tedious. Everybody in this book needs fucking therapy. There is so much undiagnosed trauma, no character development, and most of the characters are just awful people. AND everything is so surface level it hurts!
This is almost the epitome of Young YA (which might be why I am the wrong target audience). You're not going to this book for people's growth and development, you're going in for COULD BE A MOVIE plot, excitement, and drama with the flashy lights, secret hallways, sexy men and money thrown at our girl for seemingly "no reason".
Avery is stupid and for somebody that is immediately thrust into the cliche of "she's not like other girls" (and not because she's been given the inheritance if you take the money out of the picture) we're introduced to her as this really statistically analytical-minded person who is logical, smart and incredibly book-smart. And then she moves into the house with four boys and poof - she's stupid now. Yes, she can solve a couple of puzzles (but they weren't exactly that complicated, to begin with). I don't get it. Why? Why set her up to be this incredibly smart person to just make her so stupid?
There is no character growth in this book. The only person that has an inkling of character growth is Libby. And that's basically the only character that I cared for. All I want to know about is what the fuck is happening between Libby and Nash and why the flip is everything between them behind closed doors??? Gimmie a book about Libby and Nash and how she heals through her abusive relationship and trauma and I'd read it in a heartbeat!!!
ANOTHER frustrating thing about this book is half of the aspects of the plot are not explained. I understand leaving "carrots dangling" at the end of a story to make you want to read the next book, but it felt like everything was just left dangling or not really cleaned up. OR just cleaned up in a very messy way. Basically, it left me frustrated, unsatisfied and annoyed!
If I had to choose one of the boys right now, it will be Jackson. Grayson is a dick. And quite frankly, I don't care what he looks like in a suit.
If I have to think of tropes?
▶ Mystery Puzzle Solving
▶ 4 Hot Brothers
▶ Ordinary Girl becomes Billionaire
▶ Love Triangle
▶ Dark Secrets
▶ Fast Paced Plot
I do not see the hype of this book at all. I clearly arrived late to the party and missed the Kool-Aid they were passing around, and now I'm staring at a bunch of people that absolutely adore this book...And I have no idea why!
If it wasn't for the fact that I did this as a buddy read, I probably would have DNFed this... (I say with the premise of I will probably pick up the rest of the books just to see where the story goes if she wants to read the rest of the books with me 😬.
The thing is that I don't give a crap about the brothers. I don't give a crap about how they look. The love triangle that was going on was tedious. Everybody in this book needs fucking therapy. There is so much undiagnosed trauma, no character development, and most of the characters are just awful people. AND everything is so surface level it hurts!
This is almost the epitome of Young YA (which might be why I am the wrong target audience). You're not going to this book for people's growth and development, you're going in for COULD BE A MOVIE plot, excitement, and drama with the flashy lights, secret hallways, sexy men and money thrown at our girl for seemingly "no reason".
Avery is stupid and for somebody that is immediately thrust into the cliche of "she's not like other girls" (and not because she's been given the inheritance if you take the money out of the picture) we're introduced to her as this really statistically analytical-minded person who is logical, smart and incredibly book-smart. And then she moves into the house with four boys and poof - she's stupid now. Yes, she can solve a couple of puzzles (but they weren't exactly that complicated, to begin with). I don't get it. Why? Why set her up to be this incredibly smart person to just make her so stupid?
There is no character growth in this book. The only person that has an inkling of character growth is Libby. And that's basically the only character that I cared for. All I want to know about is what the fuck is happening between Libby and Nash and why the flip is everything between them behind closed doors??? Gimmie a book about Libby and Nash and how she heals through her abusive relationship and trauma and I'd read it in a heartbeat!!!
ANOTHER frustrating thing about this book is half of the aspects of the plot are not explained. I understand leaving "carrots dangling" at the end of a story to make you want to read the next book, but it felt like everything was just left dangling or not really cleaned up. OR just cleaned up in a very messy way. Basically, it left me frustrated, unsatisfied and annoyed!
If I had to choose one of the boys right now, it will be Jackson. Grayson is a dick. And quite frankly, I don't care what he looks like in a suit.
If I have to think of tropes?
▶ Mystery Puzzle Solving
▶ 4 Hot Brothers
▶ Ordinary Girl becomes Billionaire
▶ Love Triangle
▶ Dark Secrets
▶ Fast Paced Plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gun violence and Death of parent
passionatereader78's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a great adventure! It's full of mystery and riddles. Avery inherits a fortune. The only stipulation, she has to live in the family mansion for a full year. Soon Avery finds out she is the key to helping four brothers solve the last puzzle their grandfather has left them. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse
bookish_dreamery's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this book and I bought the second and third one the day after I finished the first. It really captured my attention and had me staying up late in the night to finish it. This book was one of my first mystery book and it won’t be my last! As much as I loved this book I do wish there was just a little more romance between the main characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Stalking
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Mentions JKR (HP)s_copeland22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
emmaegerb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent
itsmemiana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this.
I feel like I knew what was going to happen and then it wouldn't be that. and there were things that I was like "I feel like this person or thing is going to be important" and then I would be like "oh nvm, maybe it's not" AND THEN IT WOULD BE. and there were parts where I couldn't even put the book down because it got so interesting. I think this was a really good book.
I'm also low-key in love with Grayson and Jameson (and pretty much all the Hawthorne brothers but specially Grayson hehe).
I loved Avery although I do think she wasn't that good of a friend (specially to Max) through a lot of the book but I have a feeling she's gonna get better.
and I also think the grandfather of the boys was a lil creepy and weird lmao but that didn't affect my experience with this book at all.
ALSO THAT ENDING?????
can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I feel like I knew what was going to happen and then it wouldn't be that. and there were things that I was like "I feel like this person or thing is going to be important" and then I would be like "oh nvm, maybe it's not" AND THEN IT WOULD BE. and there were parts where I couldn't even put the book down because it got so interesting. I think this was a really good book.
I'm also low-key in love with Grayson and Jameson (and pretty much all the Hawthorne brothers but specially Grayson hehe).
I loved Avery although I do think she wasn't that good of a friend (specially to Max) through a lot of the book but I have a feeling she's gonna get better.
and I also think the grandfather of the boys was a lil creepy and weird lmao but that didn't affect my experience with this book at all.
ALSO THAT ENDING?????
can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship