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2.5 stars.

“Sometimes things that appear very different on the surface are actually exactly the same at their core.��

Disclaimers:
1. If you haven't read the book and want to, but don't want any spoilers, please don't read any further. It seems like I can't restrain myself when it comes to write a review without any single spoiler. I'm sorry, I didn't ask for this, lmao.

2. I'm sorry in advance because I tend to deviate from the main topic, like a lot. A lot.

While I was taking a shower and cutting my hair (this is what happens when you leave me alone for like 10 minutes with my own thoughts and with scissors very close), I had the time of writing my review in my mind because I'm the kind of person who has to do like 2 or 3 things at the same time or I get desperate. Multitasking? Perhaps. Let's call it like that.

So, let's begin because there's a lot to unpack.

I read a couple of reviews without spoilers saying that this book was like Knives Out and I really love Knives Out, so I picked it up and hoped for the best... Well, well, well, look how it turned out.

Avery Grambs is a common girl with a common YA life: absent parents, average girl with average appearance, a really smart student. So, everything's fine here. Until one day, she's summoned to Hawthorne House because it turns out that Avery inherits all the money that Tobias Hawthorne has in his will. A random girl with no connection or memories of Tobias Hawthorne is inheriting his entire fortune, like 100B dollar. (Holy shit, the amount of books that I'd buy with that money!)

But the thing is that everyone is asking who the hell is Avery Grambs, where did she come from? Why is Tobias Hawthorne picking her to inherit all of his money? Is there something special with this girl?

The plot:
I can't complain a lot. To be a mystery book, it was fine. Just fine. There wasn't anything special or that blew my mind and that you found me saying "holy shit, I didn't see that coming", because I honestly could guess many things, lmao. It was fast paced, which was cool. The beginning tho wasn't so gripping and interesting as I thought: it was rather boring and I really thought of dnf at chapter 13 or so, lmao.

However, there were many things that felt off for me. Like for example, how some chapters jumped to another things/situations totally different from the last chapter. Like we didn't have a proper closure or knew how things ended up. I don't know if I'm explaining myself because it seems like I suck at explaining, yikes.

The end of the book left me "???" because I had right one of my theories: Toby is alive. But, Toby being Harry was something that came out of the blue, why? Oh, because we didn't have any clue about it! I can't think of any clue that links Harry with being Toby, at all. My two theories for this (in the second book) is that he escaped to that fire to become a "regular" guy, or that he had a plan with his father, Tobias, I don't know to this point. This was really messy.

Characters:

Avery:
I don't hate her, tbh, but I'm not a big fan of bland girls. I found out that my girl over here and I share MBTI: we are INTJ. I'm not saying that I could have solved those puzzles really quick like she did, but, it doesn't seem a little bit... easy? I felt it that way, tho. (For being INTJ myself, I'm not like a smart person when it comes to numbers, that's why I picked up literature as my career, lol, but I love solving some problems) I don't know how to explain this, but I felt like everything was so easy for Avery and the Hawthorne brothers. I also want to know more of Avery, that she stands up for herself and stop being so bland. Honey, you're better than this, I know that.

Jameson:
I kind of liked him... Until I didn't. I came to totally dislike him. One moment he was okay for me and then he was being a total jerk. He was boring as hell. The only line where I agreed with thim was with this:

"Where are you going?"
"Hell, eventually".

Otherwise, I was rolling my eyes everytime he appeared. The kiss scene was really weird and awkward to me. Also, very disappointing. Jameson wasn't really thinking in Avery when he kissed her AFTER ALMOST BEING SHOT (I say almost because the Drake missed it and hit the tree). No, my dude over here was thinking about the mystery and possibly on Emily. He became grumpy towards the end just to give Grayson the space and chance to make his move with Avery.

Grayson:
I was hesitant with him being a total asshole. But I get it: he wanted to protect his family. I wanted to beat the shit out of him on the first chapters... And then, I was like "he's hot" and started to questioning myself about this fact. However, he, as his brothers and Avery, felt bland. Like, c'mon, dude, have a little more of personality. His lasts scenes with Avery, the romantic ones, were so random for me. One moment he was saying "stay away from my family" and the next one he was saying "I'm going to protect you". LIKE WHAT, HOW??

Xander; Nash:
They were actually my favorite characters, lmao. Xander is my favorite favorite (yes, x2), he's such a cutie and I kind of saw coming that he knew his grandpa's plan/game to keep them together. For me, it was very obvious since the moment that Xander said that he saw his brothers fight for win while he was close to his grandpa and ate with him. Xander is funny and charming. Nash also was okay, with his cowboy boots and his lazy smile. I can't complain of him, tho I wished he would've had some more of participation. I need more of these two boys, ok? ok.

Libby; Max:
Libby just was there. If she has a bigger purpose, then I want to know it. Just don't make her invisible or make her appear in key moments and then forget about her... Like the author did. (That's how I felt it). I want to know more of my goth girl. Max was okay, and she was totally right when she told Avery that she never asked her how she, Max, was feeling, if she was okay, etc. But that was it. We didn't see or knew anything else from Max anymore. Like, she gave her speech and then left the chat for good. The false swearing was getting into my nerves, please.

I for sure hated (in its entirety) the fact that 60% of the book was "Emily was like this...", "Emily would have done that...". Emily, Emily, Emily, and she's dead. I was getting exasperated. Is everything spinging around her?

I would have also liked to see more of the Hawthorne family, their struggles or things like that, their reasons to do what they do. Like the foundation that Zara was helping was only mentioned and explored ONCE and then, nothing. Nada. The school was not explored very well, or the kind of treats that Avery could have received there.

The romance/love triangle:
I'm not a big fan of love triangles... I'm not a fan of that trope. Period. Even more when they're not well developed and it's clear as day with whom the mc will end up with. It seemed like Jameson was pushing himself away from Avery just to give Grayson some space to make his "move", which was ridiculous and illogical. Avery was just a pawn.

I didn't feel any connection between Avery and Jameson, nor Avery and Grayson. I don't ship them because I don't think that they have chemistry or a spark. One moment, he's threatening Avery and the next one he's pinning for her. How did this happen? I was so confused by this. And I still am. The same guys who were "in love" with Emily are falling for Avery... Seriously?

Hype:
I understand part of the hype for this book, I really do. But it wasn't for me. I don't know if I am the problem or what, but I found some characters annoying and bland, or some things unbelievable. Overall was okay, nothing new, nothing that blew my mind or left me shocked, just okay.

Am I going to pick up the second book to see how things go? Perhaps, If I'm on the mood, lmao.

With that money, you can pay me therapy, because after this book, I really need it.

previous review:

i'm gonna give you a chance. let's see if the hype is worth it, lmao