Book Review :: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
ISBN: 0316480770
Series: The Inheritance Games #4
Also in this series: The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit
on 29 August 2023
Goodreads

Grayson Hawthorne was raised as the heir apparent to his billionaire grandfather, taught from the cradle to put family first. Now the great Tobias Hawthorne is dead and his family disinherited, but some lessons linger. When Grayson’s half-sisters find themselves in trouble, he swoops in to do what he does best: take care of the problem—efficiently, effectively, mercilessly. And without getting bogged down in emotional entanglements.

Jameson Hawthorne is a risk-taker, a sensation-seeker, a player of games. When his mysterious father appears and asks for a favor, Jameson can’t resist the challenge. Now he must infiltrate London’s most exclusive underground gambling club, which caters to the rich, the powerful, and the aristocratic, and win an impossible game of greatest stakes. Luckily, Jameson Hawthorne lives for impossible.

Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, Grayson and Jameson—with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.

Last updated on 17 June 2024

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What is The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes about?

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows (predominately) Grayson and Jameson Hawthorne, and they’re both starting a new game …

Grayson Hawthorne, raised as the billionaire heir by his late grandfather Tobias, is all about family loyalty. When his half-sisters face trouble, he steps in to handle it efficiently and mercilessly—no room for emotions. (Ha ha.) As he and the girls drive to unravel the past and figure out what’s going on, Grayson’s learns there’s a lot more to family than just the Hawthornes.

“When words are real enough, when they’re the exact right words, when what you’re saying matters, when it’s beautiful and perfect and true—it hurts.”

Meanwhile, Jameson Hawthorne, the risk-taker, can’t resist a challenge. Tasked by his absent and somewhat mysterious father, he dives into London’s elite underground gambling scene for the ultimate game of stakes. Avery is with him, and the two partake in a game unlike no other … where the stakes are high, but so is the reward.

My thoughts on The Brothers Hawthorne

I really love the Inheritance series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I read the first two over one week in lockdown – The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy – and then the third book, The Final Gambit,  also immediately when it was released. I loved them.

The Brothers Hawthorne is the fourth instalment, and rather than following along from the original trilogy, it’s a little in the future, and there are more games afoot. Grayson and Jameson are definitely my favourite characters (although all four brothers in this series are absolutely brilliant, and the characters in general are partly why I love these stories so much), so when I saw that book four was basically about them, I was pumped.

“Some of us exist just a little too loudly for the comfort of those who would prefer we did not exist at all”

However … And there is a however … 

I soaked up Jameson’s storyline in this book. We follow him and Avery as they head into this underground betting arena, all to make it through and show they’re worthy enough to play the ultimate game. This story was more like the original books – there were twists and turns and puzzles and clues, and things that they needed to do in order to get to the next round or find the next thing that would lead them on. It was a ride. And it was brilliant.

But scattered throughout that story was Grayson’s story. The two sort of line up, one brother getting a few chapters then the other. And while Grayson’s storyline was okaaaaaay and I did enjoy Gigi, his half-sister, I just got bored. Which is a big shame because I love Grayson’s character and I think I liked him more than Jameson in the past books. But in The Brothers Hawthorne? Meh A big meh.

So that’s why I’ve given this book a 3.5/5 stars. I loved Jameson’s story but was disappointed with Grayson’s.

What I am excited about though, is another book in the series. Book five, entitled Games Untold is being released in November 2024.

Have you read any of these books? This one in particular? Let me know what you think in the comments!