The Brothers Hawthorne Book Review
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
In a sequel to the original Inheritance Games series, Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes a compelling new adventure with the four brothers, two missions, and even higher stakes.
The story follows Grayson and Jameson on their journey through life after Avery Grambs decides to give away most of her fortune. In the aftermath, Grayson has to determine what he's willing to risk, and Jameson has to decide who he is without the Hawthorne name.
Grayson Hawthorne, the heir apparent of the Hawthorne fortune, has always been taught by Tobias Hawthorne to put family first. So when his step-sisters find themselves in a heap of trouble, Grayson does what he does best: he takes care of the problem– effectively, efficiently, and quietly. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to protect his family, even at the risk of betraying those he feels the need to protect.
Jameson Hawthorne has always been a risk taker, an adrenaline junkie, and a player of all games. So when his mysterious father appears, offering him a chance to partake in an almost impossible game, Jameson can't resist the challenge. Now, he must infiltrate one of London's most exclusive gambling clubs, impress the Proprietor, and win an impossible game of risk. Luckily, Jameson Hawthorne lives for beating the impossible.
Grayson and Jameson must complete their two missions on opposite sides of the globe before it's too late. With the help of Nash and Xander Hawthorne and Avery Kylie Grambs, the girl who inherited their grandfather's fortune, they must come together and decide who they want to be and what each will sacrifice to win.
Was this my most anticipated read of the year? Yes. Did it live up to the high expectations that I had? Unfortunately not. But despite my hopes for The Brothers Hawthorne, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love all the characters and hold the Inheritance Games universe close to me, but this book was harder to get through than the first three.
The pacing was very slow, and there wasn't as much action as in the original trilogy, so there were no explosions or other near-death experiences. The biggest risk in the book was the loss of an ancestral home and the loss of a sisters' love. There were no threats of death or maiming, just a slow pace in which Jameson and Grayson set out to complete their mission.
A few characters from the original series were missing, leaving the book feeling like it was missing something. Libby, Avery's sister, did not appear, nor did Max, Avery's best friend. Nash and Xander, the other Hawthorne brothers, were also not as prominent characters as I had hoped. However, it made the entire chapter better when they did make their appearance ever so often. Avery was also not a significant character like in the previous books. However, for the Jameson and Avery shippers, this does not mean they did not interact or have any chemistry. They had a few amazing scenes that ignited the bond even more than in the previous books. The Brothers Hawthorne really showed how Jameson has changed and matured, willing to do anything to protect Avery, even if it meant losing.
For the Grayson and Avery lovers, they had their moments, too, which unfortunately had lots of chemistry, playing into the famous love triangle. Grayson has proved that he is willing to do anything to keep Avery safe, even if it means betraying those who trust him. The way Grayson describes Avery throughout the book, even when thinking about her in passing, is top-tier. Even though they didn't end up together, it's clear how much Grayson still loves her. However, we meet a mysterious girl over the phone, and we can only hope that Grayson will have the love story he deserves in the next book.
I was hesitant about the two different storylines, especially considering the book is called The Brothers Hawthorne and Grayson and Jameson are on two different continents. Still, it tied up nicely in the end. Throughout the book, we receive numerous flashbacks that allow the readers to step into the childhood of the Hawthorne brothers and what it was like living with someone like Tobias Hawthorne.
The ending was a bit underwhelming because I expected to be left on a cliffhanger that would leave me screaming, but that wasn't the case. However, the ending we got was all four Hawthorne brothers and Avery uniting against a common enemy that threatened their family. With that in mind, I loved the ending and how it set up for the next book.
There were many moments where the book seemed slow, and there was too much detail, but at the same time, the amount of detail was perfect. The way Jennifer Lynn Barnes describes the scenery and the people makes the story pop out, and you can almost picture the scenes playing out like a movie in your head. And the number of amazing quotes incorporated into the book was perfect. The Brothers Hawthorne has by far the most complex and in-depth dialogue than the rest of the books. Some of my favorite quotes from the series came from this book.
The Brothers Hawthorne is definitely not my favorite of Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Inheritance Games books. Still, it is by far one of the best in terms of romantic scenes, tension, and dialogue. I would definitely recommend reading it to be prepared for her new book, The Grandest Game, which is coming out in 2024!
Written by Carlie Renee
