I enjoyed this book! Like another reviewer on Goodreads, I would characterize this book as 'Gossip Girl' meets 'Pretty Little Liars'. The book is set amongst the New York City high elite rife with nepotism and wealth. There are multiple POVs from the characters Bernie, Isobel, and Tori, soon-to-be seniors at a prestigious high school who have all been nominated for the coveted Legacy Club. The layers of mystery are well-blended wondering who died and who did it amongst cheating, backstabbing, gossip, money, and lies.

I think that the synopsis speaks for itself in terms of how interesting the story is to read. This was a quick and enjoyable read due to the suspense laced throughout and the short chapters. While I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters, I think that is part of the allure; in the same way that we want to know what celebrities are doing because they are completely unrelatable. I think that this was well reflected in some of the language used throughout the book as well because there were terms that I was unfamiliar with simply because of the affluence tied to them.

My only concern with the book is that the beginning is a bit leading with no reward at times. A perfect suspense novel balances giving readers just enough to make them want to keep reading, but doesn't give too much or too little because in both situations the reader loses motivation to continue reading. Toward the beginning of the book, I didn't feel I was given enough to keep going. However, I am glad I continued to read because the second half was much faster-paced and struck that balance of suspense perfectly.

The ending wraps up everything nicely and has a satisfying ending that I appreciated. Unsettling enough to think about why there are still some threads to pick at, but well-rounded in that everything is addressed. One last thing to add is that I wasn't expecting there to be so much discussion of substance abuse by one of the characters especially since they're so young, so keep that in mind as well!

Overall, I think this was a fun, quick, and engaging read. I would definitely recommend to those who are looking for an older YA suspense/mystery book that is easy to read.

This book is a solid 3.5 out of 5 star rating! Think Gossip Girl meets true crime. "The Legacies" by Jessica Goodman offers an intriguing read with notable character relationships and a murder that has you guessing from the beginning. The concept of exploring power and privilage is intruiging especially for those who don't get to experience it first hand makes this book compelling.

I believe the charater development was really well done, I could have used a little more but I did feel like I knew the characters well enough. The relationships in the book were intriguing, adding depth and complexity to the story. Additionally, the sense of justice for Tori throughout the narrative was fantastic, creating a satisfying and empowering experience. I love a great underdog success story.

In summary, "The Legacies" presents an interesting read with captivating character relationships. While it falls short in terms of character development and pacing, it remains a worthwhile choice for fans of mysteries and those who are intruiged by the sagas of the ultra privilaged.

rating﹕★☆☆☆☆
｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ
Finally finished this! Awhile ago, I read a little bit before putting it on hold. I wanted to dnf this so many times, but didn't. I kept hoping that it would get better but it didn't, I was really underwhelmed.

This story is told in three POVs: Bernie, Isobel and Tori. I was bored throughout the whole book. The entire book was really slow in my opinion, I had no idea what was going on or what the plot is. Even now that I've finished the book, I still haven't fully understood the plot... it was all really confusing to me. There are scenes from the night of the Legacy ball scattered throughout the book, but that just confused me as I somehow didn't realize they were scenes from the night of the Legacy ball until I was halfway through the book. When it finally got to the night of the Legacy ball where we find out what happened, it was kind of a let down. Honestly the death wasn't who I expected to be and the killer was a surprise as well, but I didn't particularly care about what happens...

This book ended on a cliffhanger, which lays the groundwork for a possible sequel. I like mysteries and thrillers, but this book wasn't it.

🗝 Thank you Penguin Young Readers for accepting my Netgalley request for this E-ARC!

Notes: The review is posted today (22/06/23) on my Goodreads account and on my Twitter page.
Links to the posted reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5482079808
https://twitter.com/linasimplyreads/status/1671973682942451730

Oh my gosh the way I absolutely devoured this. And I mean in a stay up all night, cancel my workout class even though there will be a fee to pay kind of devoured it. This was twisty and fun and even though I ultimately guessed what was going on, I still really enjoyed the journey to get there because of Goodman's writing and the universe we were transported into. I just love YA thrillers!

A highly enjoyable book that reads like a cross between Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. Fast paced, with unexpected plot twists. A mysterious death, a missing parent, four life long friends and an outsider in their world, all come together because of a Manhattan, super elite Legacy Club. Entry for the chosen few is all about who you know and not what you thought you knew about them.

This is Jessica Goodman’s best yet! The glitz. The drama. The elite club. The mystery. The Legacies has it all.

An elite group of New York high schoolers are looking for nominations in to a lifelong elite club and the night of the big Legacy ball someone is dead. It’s like Gossip Girl with a murder. I‘m a big fan of Jessica Goodman and couldn’t have loved The Legacies more.

The story was fun and so fast paced I couldn’t put it down. I needed to find out what happened at the ball.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is easily my favorite Jessica Goodman book yet. Gossip Girl meets Big Little Lies set in an illustrious NYC club for the rich? Sign me up!

This book is told from 4 POVs, 3 first person narrations from 3 of the year’s nominees to the club and 1 omniscient POV from after the “ball” where the crime is committed. I loved the way the timeline jumped around and the way the reader doesn’t know the details of the crime until the very end.

All of the characters have motive and opportunity and I thought the mystery here was so well done.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So… this author. I have read her other books, and I just couldn’t get into them. I always tried anyway because they got so much hype. They never lived up to it… until this book. I was actually able to finish one of her books. It had me hooked from the start. This one almost felt like a completely different author wrote it, so if you like her style of the other books, beware. (I’m not saying I think someone else wrote it, just that it feels like a different style which is a great thing- she’s improving as a writer)

4.5 ⭐️

I have read every book that Jessica Goodman has ever written and loved them all. So when I saw this on NetGalley, it was a no brainer for me to request it.

Jessica Goodman does YA thrillers SO well. They’re always entertaining, suspenseful, about the rich (I love books like that) and dark academia! She is a fantastic author and the stories flow. This one is no different.

I loved the 3 POV’s and getting to see the workings in each of the girl’s head. While I did figure out how the deceased was before the end, I didn’t work out how it was all going to end.

Fast paced and great!

2.5 stars rounded down

This was one of my most highly anticipated mystery releases of July and I'm incredibly sad to say that I didn't enjoy my time reading this. There was nothing enjoyable about reading from the perspective of Tori, Isobel, and Bernie. Isobel and Bernie were both impossibly unlikable characters to follow. They're wealthy, privileged high schoolers who are completely out of touch with reality and don't understand anything about the real world. They consistently made poor choices and their inner monologues were painful to read. Sometimes reading about wealthy people can be super entertaining, but in this case, it was just kind of miserable.

Tori was an okay perspective to read from. Obviously she was much more relatable, being from a middle class family and being on scholarship to the fancy school, but her perspective was just boring. The story was just happening to her instead of her really being involved in solving any of the problems and mysteries. She just existed for her story to be a main conflict for the Bernie character.

This just makes me sad, but I still have hope for other novels by this author since I really loved The Counselors. I just need more fun out of the story compared to how I felt reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an Arc in exchange for my honest review.

(Full review to come on YouTube)

The Legacy Club is a secret society for New York's elite - think even more exclusive than SoHo House. Every year the club chooses 6 seniors from each prestigious NYC prep school to join the club, and at the end of the initiation week, there's a $25,000 prize (that of course none of these rich privileged teens actually need). However, this year a scholarship kid was nominated to be part of the club, and she really needs that prize money. The Legacies is told from the perspectives of her and two of the rich teen girls she's competing against for the money. As the week unfurls, it's revealed that they're connected to each other in more ways than you think and that this week ends with death of one of the new members.
I LOVE a rich unsupervised teen trope and nobody does it better than Jessica Goodman. This is Gossip Girl but someone dies at the end!! I found this book riveting, and probably would've finished it in a day, had work not gotten in the way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book in 3 words: Devious. Cryptic. Immersive. 

If you're a fan of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, or dark academia, this book is for you. 

This is my first read by Jessica Goodman and it feels like I've been missing out. The Legacies is written from both the past and present, spread across different perspectives. I thought the voices were unique to each character and the execution was spot on. 

I never had this figured out. There were a few things I had a hunch on but I wouldn't call this book predictable at all. I love when a book twists and turns and surprises you along the way. 

All I know is this book kept calling my name. Every time I had a free 15 minutes, I could feel it demanding to be read. I wanted to get through it so badly. It was an enjoyable experience and I can't wait to get caught up on Goodman's other books. 

I think this is a solid thriller/mystery and will get some hype when it's released. Definitely will recommend.

Ok, I love books about rich people being bad and realizing that their richness is bad, so I'm always going to read a Jessica Goodman novel. I didn't love this one as much as THEY WISH THEY WERE US, which had a more believable (lol, somehow) setting and plot, but I did enjoy reading about these terrible teens with all their sad problems. The plot twists are twisty, the vibes are mysterious, the stakes are theoretically big but also I wasn't terribly invested in anyone's outcome, so I was more just along for the ride!

This follows high school seniors, Bernie, Isobel, and Tori, as they prepare to join one of NYCs most exclusive and wealthy social clubs, The Legacy Club. Part of NYCs elite, Bernie and Isobel have expected their membership nomination for as long as they can remember, but Tori, a scholarship student at Excelsior Prep, is an outlier. This should be a joyous occasion, but the week does not go as each girl expected—Bernie’s mom is missing, Isobel is keeping a secret that is eating her up inside, and Tori is paranoid someone will discover that she really doesn’t belong in this million-dollar world.

I adored Jessica Goodman’s debut, They Wish They Were Us, but I haven’t picked up any of her other novels until now. If I’m being honest, this one left me feeling just kind of…meh. None of the characters were likeable in my opinion, and the mystery itself wasn’t all that interesting—the buildup itself felt more intense than anything that was actually going on. This starts off with a flash-forward to the Legacy Ball where a horrific event has just taken place leading the reader to wonder what exactly happened and who is responsible. If it hadn’t been for these glimpses into the final night sprinkled throughout the book, I am not sure if I would have continued to be invested. Overall, it was an entertaining read but I think it could have been executed better.

Wealth, influence, legacy. A missing mother, an early summer party that led to secrets and divided loyalties. An outsider, somehow with a spot among the elite.

There are a lot of things going for this book. The look into a privileged society, generations of opportunities and legacies. School traditions, and the coveted induction to the Legacy Club. An unknown dead body discovered on the night that was supposed to change their lives forever.

Told from the point of view of three girls: BERNIE - the it girl. The one everyone knows, destined to follow in her mother's powerful footsteps. The one whose life is all together, everything in place. Until her mother disappears, just when she needs her the most.
ISOBEL - Bernie's best friend. Or at least, she was, until the party. Now Isobel doesn't know how to act around Bernie, now that she's keeping something from her. She drowns her uncertainty with pills and alcohol.
TORI - the scholarship student who shouldn't be there. Who no one noticed, until suddenly she was nominated to be one of them.

Everyone has secrets and a story to tell. Can they make it through the week without their lives imploding irrevocably? If they even make it through the week alive.

There were a lot of things I really liked about this story. However, the characters fell a little flat. Their personalities didn't manage to shine through, and really make me connect with them. The plot kept me involved and got me through.

This made my 2007 high school freshman self so HAPPY. It gives all the Gossip Girl vibes, mixed a bit with those How to Get Away With Murder flashback asides. While I definitely wasn't surprised by the ending, I appreciated the foreshadowing that got us there (and understand that I'm not the target audience). The idea of a legacy club that can get you ins for the rest of your life is delectable and pretty feasible in this day and age. The only downside was not being able to see more of an epilogue for the characters because Tori Tarros can do no wrong.

*Thank you to Razorbill and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

My thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for my e-ARC.

Excelsior Prep, an exclusive school with students and alumni from the crème de la crème of society. The Legacy Club, where the privileged network and make valuable connections. A coveted prize. And…a murder? At THE event, The Legacy Ball, the culmination of a week of activities for the chosen : students from elite prep schools.

So many suspects. So many motives. Secrets. Lies. Deception. Anybody could be the culprit.

From outward appearances, these students and their families have it all. Their lives are perfect. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Everything from the genre(dark academia), setting(New York’s upper class), plot, characters(that they are unlikable makes them all the more intriguing), and alternating points of view appealed to me. Also, it kept me guessing.

The Legacies is a juicy thriller about rich teens behaving badly in NYC, giving me Gossip Girl vibes and leading to such a fun read!

The Legacy Club is an exclusive club, and students are nominated for membership hen they are rising seniors. This year, Bernie, her best friend Isobel, and their boyfriends are shoo-ins for spots, leaving two spots open at their school. One of the spots goes to a girl on scholarship at their ritzy school, and everyone is shocked since the Legacy Club is often about who you know. Secrets from the past will be revealed, and someone will be dead before the Legacy ball can occur.

The tone of this book was deliciously juicy, with the POV of the three female teens being inducted into the club. They have very distinct personalities, and each girl has her own worries and secrets. The problems they are facing made me very happy that I don’t have to be a teenager in today’s super connected world, where everything you do can immediately be broadcasted to everyone you know. I had sympathy for the girls and the massive pressure they were under.

You find out at the very beginning that someone has died at the ball, but who died isn’t revealed until close to the end, as one by one the main characters are spoken about during the chaos of finding a body and the police trying to question the guests. It was a fun touch to keep the reader guessing not only who the killer was, but also who the victim was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the entertaining ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was very good.

The action is non stop, which I think is crucial for a book, especially in the first few chapters - in order to capture us and make us want to read more.

A touch of "soap opera" basics propel the story forward and make it fun to read.

The writing is not amazing though. Lots of fluff dialogue and even a bit cringe worthy at times, but the story itself is worth reading.

Some people are born into money and power, and people would say that this makes them lucky for the young people in this book when their eyes are open to the Darkside any ignorance in that power, they see just how dangerous it all can be. Bernie and her friends have finally made it into the renowned Legacy club, now all she has to do is win the coveted final prize, and she will have sealed her Birthright. But when a young woman who no one really knows and there’s a competition, everything begins to unravel, and Bernie and her friends will all have to come to grips with some uncomfortable truths about their lives. This book had me hooked from page one and I flew through it, engaging read for sure.