A review by shelfrighteous_books
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

Avery Grambs, a struggling teenager, unexpectedly inherits a fortune from billionaire Tobias Hawthorne. To claim her inheritance, she must move into Hawthorne House—a sprawling mansion filled with secret passages, puzzles, and riddles. As Avery navigates the mysteries of her newfound wealth, she becomes entangled with the enigmatic Hawthorne family, forming unlikely bonds and uncovering dark secrets.

When I explained this book to my husband, he called the Hawthorne brothers “The Four Hot Little Riddle Boys,” which basically sums up the entire book. This was quick and cozy with a sort of humor I really enjoy. I picked up book two today because I’m excited to read more after being left on a cliffhanger.

The Hawthorne brothers are all charming, witty, and unavailable in their own ways. I really enjoyed the whole scone situation throughout the book. I don’t know why I’m like this about scones. I really fixated on the scone scenes in Belladonna too. 😂 The dynamic between Avery and the brothers is what had me eating this up so quickly. I’m on the edge of my seat for some full-blown romance over here.

The banter is witty. The riddles are intriguing, and the characters—flawed as they may be—are extremely lovable. I would definitely recommend this, especially if you enjoyed anything akin to Knives Out. This is less farcical, but the humor is still there along with an intriguing set of mysteries.