16kneidels's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Child death, and Death
marissasa's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This mystery book was actually really quick to get through, as the writing was short and snappy to match the fast-paced plot and it kept me interested enough at the end of each chapter to want to just keep reading. However, I feel that I'm not the target audience and couldn't enjoy it as much as if I was (YA, teen girls attracted to egotistical rich white boys) because I found myself not caring about either of the brothers engrossed in the main character's love triangle and actually thought many of the character interactions and dialogue were cringey. I was so over the way the brothers called Avery by her last name or a dumb nickname like "Mystery Girl" and "Heiress", and thought that each of the brothers wasn't really fleshed out more than their initial one-note character traits - the carefree and aloof eldest, the cunning business-minded one, the reckless charmer, and the energetic and goofy youngest brother. Maybe in the following books they will get more development, since this first part is really Avery's story. I was also really annoyed with her sister throughout this whole book and wish Avery had better support than what she was given. I didn't really connect with the entire Emily and Rebecca subplot either and it mostly left me confused more than emotionally connected to the family's struggles. The most interesting parts and the reason I kept reading was all the mystery, riddles, puzzles, and elaborate descriptions and hidden secrets of the Hawthorne House. Although this book could've been better, I can see myself reading the sequels someday to get closure and know what happens after that cliffhanger ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
izzyttt's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
sammiesreadathon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Stalking
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Car accident and Domestic abuse
maggies's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kind of like an updated The Westing Game (though I read that years ago, so forgive my memory), and thoroughly enjoyable. Totally intrigued by the characters, would probably be really easy/interesting to adapt to the screen. Will keep reading the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This was not exciting or entertaining at any point and because of this book I'm finally going to give up on reading things just because they're popular, ya'll have questionable taste.
This read like a middle grade, not a young adult novel, but a very boring middle grade novel with terrible dialogue. It was also predicable in some parts, and then the ending was really lack luster.
I'm giving this one out of five stars, I did not enjoy this at all.
I listened to this for free on libbyapp.com
This read like a middle grade, not a young adult novel, but a very boring middle grade novel with terrible dialogue. It was also predicable in some parts, and then the ending was really lack luster.
I'm giving this one out of five stars, I did not enjoy this at all.
I listened to this for free on libbyapp.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Infidelity, Death of parent, Child death, Lesbophobia, and Cursing
passionatereader78's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
4.5
This was a great adventure! It's full of mystery and riddles. Avery inherits a fortune. The only stipulation, she has to live in the family mansion for a full year. Soon Avery finds out she is the key to helping four brothers solve the last puzzle their grandfather has left them. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse
itsmemiana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this.
I feel like I knew what was going to happen and then it wouldn't be that. and there were things that I was like "I feel like this person or thing is going to be important" and then I would be like "oh nvm, maybe it's not" AND THEN IT WOULD BE. and there were parts where I couldn't even put the book down because it got so interesting. I think this was a really good book.
I'm also low-key in love with Grayson and Jameson (and pretty much all the Hawthorne brothers but specially Grayson hehe).
I loved Avery although I do think she wasn't that good of a friend (specially to Max) through a lot of the book but I have a feeling she's gonna get better.
and I also think the grandfather of the boys was a lil creepy and weird lmao but that didn't affect my experience with this book at all.
ALSO THAT ENDING?????
can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I feel like I knew what was going to happen and then it wouldn't be that. and there were things that I was like "I feel like this person or thing is going to be important" and then I would be like "oh nvm, maybe it's not" AND THEN IT WOULD BE. and there were parts where I couldn't even put the book down because it got so interesting. I think this was a really good book.
I'm also low-key in love with Grayson and Jameson (and pretty much all the Hawthorne brothers but specially Grayson hehe).
I loved Avery although I do think she wasn't that good of a friend (specially to Max) through a lot of the book but I have a feeling she's gonna get better.
and I also think the grandfather of the boys was a lil creepy and weird lmao but that didn't affect my experience with this book at all.
ALSO THAT ENDING?????
can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
emmajh91's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Child death, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, and Blood
dev921's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Child death, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse