My The Inheritance Games Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a seventeen-year-old living a tough life with her older sister, always hustling to survive and dreaming of something better. Everything changes when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and unexpectedly leaves Avery the bulk of his massive fortune—even though she's never met him and has no idea why she was chosen. The strange catch: Avery must move into Hawthorne House, a sprawling Texas mansion full of puzzles, secret passages, and a grudgingly welcoming family that just lost everything. That family includes Hawthorne's four grandsons, each with their own secrets, rivalries, and reasons to distrust Avery. While media swarms and danger surfaces, Avery must play the inheritance game—deciphering clues and figuring out why she was picked—all while trying to stay alive in a world where everyone seems to want something from her.
Why I Love This Book
I love that this book is both a twisty puzzle box and a human story about feeling like an outsider. The house is full of strange mysteries, and the author layers one secret on top of another without making things feel impossible to follow. The story keeps me guessing from start to finish—I never know who to trust, and every time I think I’ve found the answer, the plot throws out a new clue or twist.
Avery is an easy heroine to root for—smart, practical, and skeptical, but still hopeful. I connect with how out of her depth she feels, thrown into a world of privilege and backstabbing. The Hawthorne brothers each stand out with their own personalities—some are charming, some guarded, and some just seem dangerous. I get invested in the complicated dynamics between them, and the slow-burn tension (including the love triangle) feels real without dominating the whole story.
I like how the author uses puzzles and riddles not just for the fun of solving them, but to build emotional stakes and reveal secrets about the characters. The pacing is quick, the chapters are short, and the writing pulls me forward. Deep down, it’s not just about money—it's about longing for belonging, discovering identity, and learning whom you can trust when everything is on the line. And every single time I put the book down, I was already thinking about what answers—or betrayals—might be coming next.
Who Will Like This Book
If you love YA mysteries with puzzles, family drama, and fast pacing, you’ll want to read this. This book is perfect for fans of layered secrets and love triangle tension—especially if you like rooting for a “regular” protagonist surrounded by privilege and risk. If you enjoy stories with secret passageways, witty banter, and slow-burn romance, this is for you. The tone is mostly suitable for teens and up; there’s talk of violence, toxic relationships, and some manipulation, but nothing explicit.
⚠️ Trigger warning: There are mentions of abusive relationships, manipulation, reference to death, and some moments of danger. The story handles them with a light touch, but if these are topics you need to avoid, consider checking details first.
Tagged As
young adult, mystery, rags to riches, love triangle, secret inheritance, puzzles, riddles, found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn, family drama, suspense, romantic suspense, series, billionaire family, manor house, dangerous games, absent parents, secrets, dual pov, moderate steam, coming of age, trust issues, kindle unlimited, bestseller
Steam Level
There’s romantic tension and some close moments, but nothing explicit. The romance feels mostly like strong chemistry, longing looks, and unresolved feelings—think slow burn, not graphic steam. If you’re looking for lots of spice, this won’t be your pick, but if you enjoy tension and anticipation, you’ll be satisfied.
