The Grandest Game

pre-review ᝰ.ᐟ
JENNIFER LYNN BARNES I KNOW YOU DID NOT NOT JUST END THAT BOOK LIKE THAT…

i am proud to say that we have moved out of our 
✨ emily laughlin era ✨ and into our ✨ eve era ✨

Jennifer Lynn Barnes has done it once again! I didn’t know that this book wouldn’t have any original character’s POVs, so I was a bit nervous. But I loved it ❤️! This book can be read alone but you should read the original trilogy and The Brothers Hawthorne for some context and stuff. And this cover is stunning. The book’s summary:

Get caught up in the puzzles, games, danger, romance, and riches of this lush new chapter in the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games saga.

Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers a brand-new series in the world of The Inheritance Games, where fan-favorite and new characters collide in a game you’ll never forget.

Do you have what it takes to play?

The plot was craazzyy! I had so many theories through out the whole book. And those riddles were really good. I guess a few….more like one. I’ll let you see the one I guessed:

88 Locks.

Wait, that’s not right.

At least the answer’s black and white.

The answer took me a minute (nay, a few hours) to realize. And I loved the subtle mentions to other books. The book was a tad bit confusing but after putting the story in order in my mind, I understood it. And that cliffhanger? Oh my gods, Jennifer! What. Did. You. DO?! 😭

Characters:

❥ Gigi: I love Gigi so so so much 😍 She is so fun and bubbly despite everything she has gone through. Her quotes throughout the book, I was highlighting like a mad woman (we don’t talk about that)… And the way she wanted to make sure that Brady got enough money to take care of him mum regardless of if he won was just so sweet of her. Also is it bad that I’m still shipping her with Slate? ‘Cause I am… Have been since The Brothers Hawthorne.

❥ Lyra: I have been impatiently waiting for Lyra to make an appearance since the second she was introduced in The Brothers Hawthorne, but no one could have prepared me for how much I love her. She is so sarcastic and witty and literally everything I could ever want in a fmc 🥰 But I didn’t get why the Calla lily struck her too close to home?

❥ Rohan: TBH I liked him from The Brothers Hawthorne. But now, I love him like 10x more. Idk why I originally thought that he would be terrible at solving all the riddles and his only talent was gambling (what was I thinking…🤦‍♀️. He’s obviously not dumb) so I was pleasantly surprised by every choice he made and how clever/cunning it was. And his banter with Savanah was just so cutee! I can’t wait to get more of him in Glorious Rivals ❤️❤️ (gods I need that book right nowwww) Also can we talk about he brought the knife into the shower? like sir that was psycho behavior thank you very much. But you’re still great.

❥ The Hawthornes + Avery: I needed more Xander, honestly! I loved his dramatics but still. I need mooooore! Also I wish we got more Jameson and Avery. They’re super cute. Also, LIBBY’S A MOM!? NASH IS A DAD?! THEY HAVE KIDS!? PLURAL!? WHAT!?!?!? And How did Rohan find out about this? Knowing Nash, they probably didn’t have it splattered all over the news.

❥ Other Characters: I have so many mixed opinions on the other characters… Knox kinda annoyed me but then again when you learnt about his backstory I felt so so bad for him.

Brady: I HATE HIM LOWKEY?? LIKE HELLO DONT YOU DARE LIE TO MY GIRL, GIGI like this ain’t the hunger games sit down – proud to say I never liked him though…

Calla *cough* Emily 2.0 *cough* need I say any more? 🙄. She’s ruined the relationship between two boys. Sound familiar? That’s what Emily did to Jameson and Grayson. I did like Savannah but pls don’t continue your plan for revenge, girl. 😭 But I thought Odette was Alice Hawthorne. But she’s not. So who is she? I can see that other people figured it out but I cannot. I need help. If you know who she is, please tell me!! I need to know!

SLATE: OKAYYY A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY HATE HIM SINCE HES WORKING FOR EVE OR WHATEVER BLAHBLAH BUT HES JUST MISUNDERSTOOD!

Romance:

❥ Grayson + Lyra: I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT! Grayson has finally found someone! Their dynamic was just so perfect and OMG when Gray helped her with her flashbacks to the past. 😭 I CAN’T WAIT to get more of them in Glorious Rivals!🥰

❥ Savannah + Rohan: I’M SCREAMING! I love these two so much!🫠 Before going into the Grandest Game I did have my predictions that perhaps we were going to get a romance between these two and I’m SO HAPPY I was right. Their banter is EVERYTHING. And the way Rohan would call Savannah, Savvy was so cute!

❥ Avery + Jameson: I needed more. I wish we had something form their point of view but I do understand that they aren’t the centre of the series anymore 🥲🥲 I CAN’T WAIT to get more of them in Games Untold 🤭🤭

Beside Avery, Jameson was looking at her like she was the sun and the
moon and the stars and eternity, all rolled into one.

I died of cuteness overload!❤️

⁀➷ Quotes 

“I excel at multitasking, and last year, when I told you to stop calling—I didn’t mean it.”

“I’m not wheezing.” Gigi gave herself a little pep talk. “I’m breathing in an almost musical manner.”

“I’m not in this class,” Lyra repeated. “I fell asleep in the prior lecture.”

꒰ ⟡ ꒱ “the world just loves women who try. unless and until we try too hard.”

GIGIIIIIIII NOOOOOOO WHY ALL THE CLIFFHANGERS JLB???? 

But serious, Jennifer. WHAT HAPPENED TO (SPOILER ALERT) GIGI! Why was she KIDNAPPED? Also…SLATE’S BACK?! So that means EVE’S BACK! Listen girl: If you play with Grayson’s heart, I will enter that book world, find you, and kill you myself. So Back off! My initial reaction:

THE FUDGE?! YOU CAN’T JUST END THERE!!! YOU JUST WAIT MRS. BARNES. YOU. JUST. WAIT…

Now about this next book: Glorious Rivals. It’s coming out July 29, 2025! That’s too far away! But Games Untold comes out this November. One Last Thought: The FMC’s in this book are so smart. They’re brilliant. Gigi, Savanah and Lyra are crazy smart!

“In the grandest of games, there are no coincidences.”

I’m so sorry guys, this review was kinda all over the place. But to be fair my other reviews are also this way…so…yeah.

“Xander Hawthorne’s House of Riddles, Xander speaking. Answer correctly and move on. Answer incorrectly, and I can only hope that you appreciate the truly undervalued art of yodeling.”

(Last one, promise). Yess Xander. You are famous for yodeling (actually he’s infamous for it)… I needed more Xander. He’s the sweetest little (ok, not little. More like 6’3” tall) guy. He’s so quirky. He’s like Gigi that way. They’re both a little quirky but both are very brilliant. Though I’d say Xander is more brilliant than Gigi (no offense, Gigi).

I leave you with that thought. Now excuse me while I go cry in my room about the fact I have to wait a whole year until I find out what happened to Gigi and why Slate’s back. It’s ok. Right? Gigi will be fine? Right?… *Let’s out choked sob* Oh my gods, Juliet?! 😭 Where have you gone?

XOXO

Aaradhyaa

PS: Well, I know I said that I already had my last thought(s) but this is the last one. Cross my heart and hope to die, this is the last one. Who’s this new Watcher person?