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A review by kaitlynnnng
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.5
This entire review contains spoilers. I have too many thoughts and feelings, and I don’t have time to mark each spoiler individually.
Let me start by saying that I have been Team Jameson™️ since day one, and I love that he and Avery were endgame. I do like Grayson, and I wouldn’t have been furious if he and Avery ended up together, but I’m so glad it was Jameson. I love that man!
Speaking of Grayson…he deserved a happy ending (romantically), even if it wasn’t with Avery, but I do think that he got a different kind of happy ending. Toward the end, I feel like he finally let go of Emily, and he was finally free of the immense pressure other people always put on him (and that he put on himself).
Speaking of characters who deserved better: JUSTICE FOR TOBY! I know he did what he did to protect Avery because he loves her, and he doesn’t want her to suffer, but I wish he would’ve found a loophole or something and got a happier ending :/ I’m legitimately upset about it!
Vincent Blake is my arch nemesis. Although he is a fictional character, if I ever meet someone with the same name as him, it’s on sight. Can Eve just poison him? That way she gets his money and Toby can be free.
I like that we got to see more of Xander, Nash, and Rebecca in this book. I especially enjoyed seeing more of Xander and Avery’s friendship. I wish Max and Libby were there more, though!
I appreciate that we got to see the flaws of Tobias. His reason for picking Avery was messed up and made me mad, but I can’t say I blame him.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The first book in the series was life-changing, which is something I wouldn’t say about this one. However, it kept me on my toes, and, even though I knew Eve or Toby were going to show up at the beginning, every other time I thought I knew what was happening, I was proven wrong. There were moments where I shook, where I cried, where I couldn’t stop looking over my shoulder, where I laughed, where I swooned…it had everything.
The ending was not what I expected, but I don’t hate what Avery did with the money and assets.
While I have some unanswered questions, this book did a good job of tying everything together. There were so many references to the previous books, so many prior hints and games that were drawn into this book, and I loved it.
Let me start by saying that I have been Team Jameson™️ since day one, and I love that he and Avery were endgame. I do like Grayson, and I wouldn’t have been furious if he and Avery ended up together, but I’m so glad it was Jameson. I love that man!
Speaking of Grayson…he deserved a happy ending (romantically), even if it wasn’t with Avery, but I do think that he got a different kind of happy ending. Toward the end, I feel like he finally let go of Emily, and he was finally free of the immense pressure other people always put on him (and that he put on himself).
Speaking of characters who deserved better: JUSTICE FOR TOBY! I know he did what he did to protect Avery because he loves her, and he doesn’t want her to suffer, but I wish he would’ve found a loophole or something and got a happier ending :/ I’m legitimately upset about it!
Vincent Blake is my arch nemesis. Although he is a fictional character, if I ever meet someone with the same name as him, it’s on sight. Can Eve just poison him? That way she gets his money and Toby can be free.
I like that we got to see more of Xander, Nash, and Rebecca in this book. I especially enjoyed seeing more of Xander and Avery’s friendship. I wish Max and Libby were there more, though!
I appreciate that we got to see the flaws of Tobias. His reason for picking Avery was messed up and made me mad, but I can’t say I blame him.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The first book in the series was life-changing, which is something I wouldn’t say about this one. However, it kept me on my toes, and, even though I knew Eve or Toby were going to show up at the beginning, every other time I thought I knew what was happening, I was proven wrong. There were moments where I shook, where I cried, where I couldn’t stop looking over my shoulder, where I laughed, where I swooned…it had everything.
The ending was not what I expected, but I don’t hate what Avery did with the money and assets.
While I have some unanswered questions, this book did a good job of tying everything together. There were so many references to the previous books, so many prior hints and games that were drawn into this book, and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Stalking, and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy