“People were fundamentally predictable. If you stopped expecting them to surprise you, they couldn’t disappoint.” (Barnes 5)

Synopsis:

When Sawyer Taft is met with an irresistible offer from a grandmother that she has never met, she signs immediately. The only catch is that she must participate in the debutante season. Easy, right? Well not for Sawyer. She grew up fending for herself and her mom by working at mechanics, so dresses and makeup were not her forte. At the same time, Sawyer goes on the hunt for her elusive father who she has never met. The mystery quickly turns into a complicated situation with her new found family. As Sawyer discovers the truths that lie behind her family history, things get rocky and confusing. Friends are made. Enemies are created. Hearts are broken.

As the story unravels, Sawyer discovers secrets that probably should have remained buried.

Review:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes does such a great job creating this twisted mystery in such a detailed and unique way. Jennifer is known for her mystery writing in various series such as The Inheritance Games, or The Naturals. Her books are always laid out in such an organized way that makes the story feel so real. She has such a good knack for making the stories feel relatable to life. The feelings and the emotions felt, specifically in those certain moments of confusion, were mastered by her in this book.

I know it must be really hard writing from the perspective of an 18 year old girl while you are significantly older, but she nailed it. She really spent a lot of time describing emotions that Sawyer felt and also did such a great job describing these difficult breakthrough moments for her. The moments where Sawyer put two and two together were thoughtfully written. She did such a great job remembering who knows what and what hopes she has for the conclusion. I know that must be really difficult as a writer but it’s her talent. Some moments I actually thought the character wrote the part themselves because she took into account the adolescence and the innocence of a teenager. The recklessness in some of the family members and the drama tied into the story was surprising to me because I had no idea someone not as young as the characters could relate so deeply.

I feel like Jennifer specifically nailed the rich vs poor standards in life. In some environments today we see a large divide in economic standings and she certainly revolved the story around this. Sawyer’s grandmother left her and her mother fending for themselves before she was even born which resulted in poor income while she herself went and continued to build her family successfully in communities where Sawyer’s current conditions were frowned upon. Her grandmother completely left them in the dust while she made all the money and helped all of her children and grandchildren but Sawyer and her mother. Having this divide is what makes Sawyer’s connection with some of her estranged family members so special. I remember reading some chapters where unusual friendships are made and finding myself relating to her in so many ways.

The book definitely had me guessing in every chapter and the amount of times I was fooled was crazy. Jennifer had me triple guessing myself by the end. The plot twists were on another level in this book. At some points I found the book actually confusing when it came to memorizing the family tree. I one hundred percent recommend writing the family tree down if you’re committed to this book. 

Otherwise, this book was so entertaining and I definitely recommend it to anyone who has an interest in mystery books. The attention to detail and the engaging and thrilling plot is what prompts me to give this book 📚📚📚📚📚 (5/5)

Stay curious, B

GFB Ambassador