The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Quick Info:
Book type: Chapter Book—Series
Target age: 13+
Recommended age: None
Plot: Avery Grambs is just trying to get by and make a better future for herself by winning a college scholarship. Her luck changes when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne mysteriously leaves her his whole fortune. The only catch is that she must move into the mansion with Tobias’ now disinherited family and attempt to solve the riddles left to her by the billionaire.
Review:
I was honestly expecting this to be a fun mix between Knives Out and an Agatha Christie novel. I was wrong and most of the focus of the book was about the relationships between the characters. I lost interest the instant the beloved, dead “manic pixie dream girl” was introduced. She turned out to be an awful person—shocker. I didn’t like any of the characters, especially the male leads that are represented as heartthrobs. One had no boundaries and didn’t respect the main character at all, constantly getting too close and not respecting her requests. Another love interest is at a weird age gap where the main character is a junior in high school and he is a sophomore in college. Even the guy represented as “good” admits he just has a problem with a savior complex—which is its own form of manipulation.
There’s a lot of Western ideologies that are just weird to read about as a Muslim. For example, how someone can fathom even being a billionaire. Or constantly being surrounded by alcohol and parties. A character, who is a mother freely speaks about her past lovers to her sons. The list goes on and on.
Opinion:
This isn’t a book I would recommend to anyone not just because of the content but because it also just wasn’t a good read, honestly. I was really hoping the main character would have an eye opening moment when she realizes how toxic the guys around her are so I could recommend this book as a way of getting away from men like them but she decides to date the worst one.
Content:
Romantic & Sexual tension between characters (The female main character is constantly checking out the male leads’ bodies. She speaks about her awareness between “the space between them” a lot as well. Excessive flirting and crude jokes. Not all advances are appreciated but that does not stop the boys)
One kiss (A bit long and mentioned multiple times in the book. My biggest issue with it is how the male lead knew the main character was in shock and not in the right headspace to make any smart choices and still initiated.)
Censored cursing from a character (saying words similar enough to curse words for you to understand what she means)
Characters drinking alcohol (Some adults and some minors. A minor is depicted as drunk twice)
The main character’s sister has an abusive boyfriend (He also refers to the main character as “jailbait”)
Dating and hooking up culture is prevalent
Poker, gambling and bets
Cursing
Tarot card and Astrology
Revenge porn mentioned
Referring to a character as “god” twice
Two female characters have a secret lesbian relationship that eventually becomes integral to the plot
An woman bathes in a tub while speaking to her adult son and main character (This whole character is problematic with her concept of sexual liberation)
Excerpts:
Excerpts from books are a glimpse of the content that is found and are not every instance of un-Islamic and/or “iffy” content.
Due to the excessive content in this book it was difficult to share excerpts of this book in an Islamic way. If you have any specific questions about this book please email me.
