Book Review: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Welcome to my review of The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It's been a while since I've posted a book review, but I hope you like it. If you haven't read my review of the first book, The Inheritance Games, you can do so here.

Short Description

After the explosive ending of The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne legacy keeps the fire going. Although impossible truths have come to light, Avery is no closer to discovering why the enigmatic billionaire Tobias Hawthorne saw fit to discard his family and leave his fortune to her. Although Avery is certain she is not related to the billionaire, discoveries make her rethink her certainty. To find out the truth, she must uncover secrets that have lain dormant for over a decade, but with her life at risk from multiple enemies, will she be able to find out the truth and sort out her love life while she's at it?

(Read the official synopsis on Amazon or Goodreads)

Review

First Thoughts

So I loved this book so much! It was so much better than the first book that I'm amazed. I had so much fun reading this book that I finished it faster than I did the first.

Also, I must talk about the cover too. I love the covers for this series, they help set the tone quite a bit. They feel rich and regal when you see them if you know what I mean. I didn't notice before, but my sister pointed out that all the little odds and ends they show on the cover are actually important in the books.

Plot

So, we're still following Avery as she tries to make sense of Tobias Hawthorne's plans, but in this book, we focus more on the equally enigmatic son Toby. Secrets seem to be genetic in the Hawthorne family as Toby's clues lead everyone into further trials and tribulations. I was so engrossed in this story that I couldn't put the book down at all. Sometimes, all I received was shock after shock at what Avery and the Hawthorne brothers were uncovering. Talking about the brothers, I feel that this book did an even better job of making you love them. They actually felt real in this book compared to the often otherworldly depiction I had mentioned in my previous review. All in all, the plot was exciting, clever, and engaging. I never wanted it to end. We learned more about Avery and her family too which was just as amazing and strangely cryptic. I couldn't believe how long Tobias Hawthorne was playing his game, but secrecy runs through his blood I guess.

Characters

I actually do have some characters who I've changed my mind about while also having characters that I felt the same for as I did in my last review.

Firstly, let me get the characters I felt the same for out of the way. Avery was still clever, stubborn, and cautious, which are all things I love about her. Oren was still my favorite side character; very reliable, kind, and helpful. Libby was still the sweetest older sister, and Nash was reliable, kind, and supportive. I am obsessed with the Libby-Nash relationship.

The first character that has changed for me is Xander. We got so much more from him in this book, and I loved every second. In the last book, I felt like Xander wasn't getting enough attention and was often overlooked in favor of Jameson and Grayson, so I love his inclusion in this one. We get to see Xander's brand of genius at work a lot more, though his team is lackluster at best.

Jameson is another character who I feel differently about after this book. In the first book, I didn't like him much. I found him to be the oddest out of the Hawthorne brothers and not in a good way. I did not like how he treated Avery either, but this book has changed my mind about his character. Jameson had truly been able to move on from Emily and the trauma associated with her. He seemed more alive and carefree. His relationships with each brother seemed better too, especially with Grayson. The greatest change by far was how his behavior towards Avery changed and now he no longer thought of her as a part of a puzzle, but a real person with emotions and issues. I was on Team Grayson in the first book, but now I'm changing my mind.

Now on to perhaps the characters I didn't like at all in the previous book, the sisters, Skye and Zara. This book really sheds light on the tumultuous relationship the two had with each other. So I changed my mind about both sisters. One I was able to sympathize with, and felt she was a much better person than previously portrayed. The other sank so low in my opinion that there is no way she can be redeemed. I won't reveal which of the sisters I am referring to, it would count as a spoiler. However, I assure you that you will feel the same way if you read the book.

Grayson was an enigma in this book. There didn't seem to be enough of him, yet even when he was shown he was complicated, to say the least. I like Grayson a lot, and in this book, there were times I really felt for him, while there were others where I was wondering what he was thinking. I love that we got a glimpse into a happier brotherly relationship in this book compared to the previous one. I hope to see more of Grayson in the next book.

On to characters I didn't like in this book. I don't like Rebecca and Thea. Although, I do like Rebecca more than Thea. They don't seem to add much to the story other than being constant reminders of Emily; don't get me started on her. Moving on to Alisa, I liked her when she was first introduced. She was confident, professional, and reliable. However, she slowly became a different character to me. I couldn't believe it when she was against sending a lawyer for Libby in the last book, how unprofessional can you get?! I don't think she's changed my opinion in this book, but maybe she'll be better in the next.

Things I didn't like

Firstly, as I mentioned in my review of the first book, Avery's security detail is strangely lacking for a billionaire heiress. She sometimes gets into danger I believe could be avoided with better security.

Secondly, some plotlines seemed unnecessary (Eve), but maybe they will seem more important in the next book.

Thirdly, I just don't like Thea, Rebecca I can warm up to a little. But, I don't know why Thea just irritates me whenever she appears. I apologize to all Thea fans, it's just my opinion.

In Summation

This was a thrilling tale filled with secrecy, new locations, endearing familial relationships, and a blooming romance. I loved every second of it. If you loved the first book, you'll probably love this one even more like I did. It was fast-paced yet still had enough emotion to tie the small chapters together. I think I even cried at one point. I'm really eager to read the next one, although, I have many books to read and review, I'll try to get to it as soon as possible.

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

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I'll see you on Tuesday for another Top Ten Tuesday, where I'll be listing the books I'm planning to read and review for the next month.