Beginning of the Story: Avery Kylie Grambs, your average wallflower, has a distressing life. She lives with her stepsister, Libby, who has a personality as wide as the ocean, with bright blue hair. Avery’s Mom had died carrying a secret. Her father had left both Libby and herself with no money but the wages that Libby makes. Every day is the same for Avery. She plays chess with Harry, a homeless man in a park, and goes to school with her best (and only) friend, Max. After she comes back home, Libby comes home from her job at a hospital and argues with her boyfriend, Drake. Avery thinks that this is how her life will always be, until she goes to collage with a scholarship. (And only a scholarship because she won’t be able to pay for an average collage or university experience.
During school one day, Avery is called to the school office. Libby, along with a rich looking stranger await Avery. Avery is informed that she needs to go to Texas, to the reading of a billionaire’s will. It’s not Libby, the outstanding, kind, smart person who’s in his will. It’s Avery. Apparently, she’s been included in his inheritance.
Along with all of Tobias Hawthorne’s properties, Avery got 46.2 Billion dollars, getting the most of all of the people that were supposed to inherit.
Journalist’s Review: This book was very enticing, with twists and turns that had me reading this novel every chance I got. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes or has read the Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This book does have parts of romance in it which was a painfully slow burn for me, though it was appealing. The characters are quite down to Earth in the sense that Jennifer Lynn Barnes has created people that I think readers could relate to in different ways. Jennifer Lynn Barnes created lots of drama, a perfect puzzle for readers to solve, and lovable characters that the audience will be able to sympathize.
Notice: While this book is quite the appetizing read, there are some instances that include foul language. As well as this, there is a scene in the book where Avery is shot at and is near an explosion caused by a bomb. These two events are described thoroughly and clearly and the recovery requires stitching and casts. There are mentions of smoking and other dangerous habits like alcoholic consumption, as one of the characters gets drunk. There is kissing in this book but it is strictly managed.
