The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I was looking forward to this book for so long!! I loved the main books that made up the trilogy and fell in love with the characters, so seeing a book based on the Hawthorne boys - yes please!! While I was not at all disappointed in this read, I still feel that the core books of the series are far superior to this book.
Let me explain! This book primarily followed Jameson and Greyson as they engage in two individual “challenges.” Jameson finds himself with Avery in Europe and Greyson finds himself alone in Phoenix (my home!!) Jameson is propositioned by his father to find a way to get accepted into an impossible game that is part of a secret club that no one is supposed to talk of. Clearly, nothing is impossible for the Hawthorne boys. Greyson, on the other hand, finds himself trying to protect a family that doesn’t know he is part of while also trying to protect Avery and manage the unpredictable Eve. There is a lot going on in this book!
The characters stayed true to themselves, and I was glad to see that. Nash and Xander made their appearances when needed in a way that highlighted their unique traits. No matter what they do, they always have each others’ backs and that is one of my favorite things about the four brothers. They have a bond that has stayed solid throughout all the books. Avery took a back seat in this book, but still had an important role in the game she played with Jameson.
Let the rest of the players think I’m dealing with daddy issues. Hawthornes have grandaddy issues instead.
What threw me off a little was that you see a more vulnerable side of the two guys. They both portray an intense desire for acceptance by the families connected to their fathers. It was so intense at times as their driving motivation that I was a little put off by the character change it displayed. It at times seemed a little ungenuine of who they have been up to this point. And, it was probably more Jameson than Greyson. I was satisfied in the end, however, with where both brothers ended up with their side families, and there is space there for new developments to come about in the next book.
The puzzles, riddles and games were spot on. Barnes has a true talent in the creativity she produces in this aspect of her books. Jameson’s storyline pretty much had two clear parts - getting into the game and the game itself. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the game scenes. The setup, the clues, the urgency, the manipulation and the conclusion were perfectly done. This was probably my favorite aspect of the entire book. I was actually disappointed when a chapter would end, and she would take us back to Greyson for a spell. However, The first part of Jameson’s adventures wasn’t as engaging to me as the start of Greyson’s.
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.
I absolutely loved the first half of Greyson’s story. (It worked out - I liked Greyson’s beginning and Jameson’s ending). His arrival in Phoenix and meeting Savannah and Gigi was just fun. Gigi completely stole the show for me. She was my favorite new character. Her personality was larger than life and a perfect contrast to Greyson’s formality. I mean, the party scene made me uncomfortable for him!
While the book allowed us to see these two Hawthornes deal with family issues on their father’s side, we see get more insight into the influence that their grandfather had on them. There are flashbacks to when they were younger to some emotional scenes. Seeing how they interacted as siblings and a family with Tobias Hawthorne directly connected to how they were mentally and emotionally progressing through their present circumstances.
The ending was effective in establishing the next book and building up the conflict between the Hawthornes and Avery and Eve.
Where does this land on my bookshelf?
While I don’t feel that it lived up to the same level as the original three books of the trilogy, I would still put this on my top shelf. I loved getting back into the lives of these characters, and I can't wait to do it again next summer. The creativity of these books never ceases to amaze me, and the character driven approach to the series is what has me coming back. Well, that, and the crazy fun of the games, riddles and puzzles. I can’t recommend this series enough!
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