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The Hawthorne Legacy

 Hello everyone! Here's the review for a sequel I have been awaiting for a long time: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. SPOILER - this series is a confirmed TRILOGY. The third book is called The Final Gambit. 

SUMMARY

First a little recap of the first book in this Hawthorne series presented by September Hallie's review of the first one - 

"One day Avery is barely making ends meet, the next she is on a plane to the Hawthorne House, the mansion and estate of Tobias Hawthorne the Texas billionaire. One day Avery doesn't have a house, the next she is the beneficiary of the late Tobias Hawthorne's fortune. The list of questions/'catches' is long. (1) Avery doesn't know and has never known a Tobias Hawthorne in her life. (2) Hawthorne's extended family is vast and each member was close to the late billionaire. Why didn't he leave his fortune to them?"

Avery is back at it again with another mystery. Or, rather, the same mystery, different goal: find Tobias Hawthorne. But not Tobias Hawthorne the Texas billionaire who handed his whole fortune down to Avery. Avery must find Toby Hawthorne, her benefactor's son. 

Thanks to a DNA test, she knows that she is not a Hawthorne by blood. There is a new clue at every turn; however, they lead in all different directions. Speaking of different directions, Avery is certainly being pulled in two ways by Tobias Hawthorne's two most dynamic grandsons: Jameson and Grayson. With money and fame comes threats from those who will attempt to get rid of Avery by any means necessary. It becomes very clear that Avery must look out for herself while looking for someone else. 

REVIEW

The Hawthorne Legacy has a bad case of 'second-book-in-a-trilogy' syndrome. This book fell flat, like dinner rolls whose yeast did not activate properly. After the dynamism of The Inheritance Games, I expected this book to have just as many or more twists and turns while still upholding the upper-class, almost royal elegance that its 'older sibling' provided. Instead, this book was convoluted, scattered, and indecisive. Just when I thought Barnes was going to pursue a specific storyline and finally get down to the business of the novel, another plotline was added or a possibility was ruined by a random fact, and the story was blown up again. While you can expect more travel in this book, the more exotic places only added to my confusion during the majority of the book. 

The Inheritance Games has a complicated romantic storyline; however, the integrity of the book is upheld as, in the end, the "love" part of the story is resolved. This is not the case in The Hawthorne Legacy, as Avery switches between liking Grayson and his brother, Jameson as often as Barnes switches Avery's bloodline. I found myself asking questions constantly instead of getting to enjoy the book. Who is Avery kissing again? I thought she was with Jameson. Who is Avery's sister? Oh, Libby isn't, but she is...? 

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. I bought a hard copy (I meant business.). I am disappointed; however, I am anticipating the third book. 


Age Range: 13+

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Tags: mystery, YA mystery, rags to riches, Halloween, fall vibes, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, winter, cozy

Format: hardback

*TW: familial tension, death/grief, abusive relationship (alluded to), series*


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