This one was probably more of a high 3 star, but I was engaged to keep reading so I'm going with 4 stars. I think the biggest problem people have with this book is that they expect it to be fast paced and have lots of mystery elements. It isn't really either. The inciting force definitely starts off quickly, setting up our main plot focus and getting to know our main characters quickly. Plot developments do happen periodically, but I wouldn't say it is a fast paced. Part of that is because each plot point happens singularly, and most of them don't raise the stakes. So while I won't say it is a slow pace, I'd say it is more of a fast walk moving from point to point. There is also a fair bit of filler of reminding and re-reminding the reader of the themes of the books through Avery's internal monologue, and drawing the mysteries out by having a character make a vague ominous statement and then leaving before Avery can ask the follow up questions any sane person would ask.
In terms of the mystery, it isn't really something that is full of puzzles and riddles. There are about 5 mystery clues to discover throughout the course of the book in relation to the will. Of course we are still left in the dark about the bigger "why" and some of the interpersonal drama that happened to the Hawthorne family prior to Avery joining the household. Not many of the mysteries can be figured out by the reader.
I would say this book is equal parts puzzles, relationship drama (meaning the love show more triangle , past relationships and history of the hawthorne family, and simply the events the main character has to do like go to school, etc. It read more like a realism genre more than a mystery.
The relationship drama didn't really click for me (probably doesn't help that I'm not a teen/tween.) I don't really understand the reason Avery likes each boy. Jameson is the bad boy who takes an interest in her, and Grayson is the one who can match her wit and is confident in being her provider. But it isn't much deeper than that on either front. Of course everyone is in to the person that shows an interest in them first, but I didn't get any reason beyond that why Avery specifically liked each of these boys. And why not Xander too then??
I definitely think there are some unanswered questions at the end and I'm curious to keep reading to find out more, but I'm certainly not at the edge of my seat. show less
In terms of the mystery, it isn't really something that is full of puzzles and riddles. There are about 5 mystery clues to discover throughout the course of the book in relation to the will. Of course we are still left in the dark about the bigger "why" and some of the interpersonal drama that happened to the Hawthorne family prior to Avery joining the household. Not many of the mysteries can be figured out by the reader.
I would say this book is equal parts puzzles, relationship drama (meaning the love show more triangle , past relationships and history of the hawthorne family, and simply the events the main character has to do like go to school, etc. It read more like a realism genre more than a mystery.
The relationship drama didn't really click for me (probably doesn't help that I'm not a teen/tween.) I don't really understand the reason Avery likes each boy. Jameson is the bad boy who takes an interest in her, and Grayson is the one who can match her wit and is confident in being her provider. But it isn't much deeper than that on either front. Of course everyone is in to the person that shows an interest in them first, but I didn't get any reason beyond that why Avery specifically liked each of these boys. And why not Xander too then??
I definitely think there are some unanswered questions at the end and I'm curious to keep reading to find out more, but I'm certainly not at the edge of my seat. show less