❥ 2 stars ☆

❝Looks like a great party,❞ one cop mumbles to the detective. ❝Except for the dead body.❞

Hey, Upper East Siders... Gossip Girl here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.

This is a high school drama mystery that reminds you about the world of Gossip Girl along with some Pretty Little Liars vibes. I wouldn’t say that this is a thriller book, but maybe it’s more fitting for a younger audience.

The main characters in the story are Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Torri Tasso. They are seniors at the private school Excelsior Prep, and they have been invited to become members of the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City. Being a member gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth, and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own, including their secrets.

Bernie and Isobel along with all their friends in school come from wealthy families so it’s no surprise they both were nominated as Legacies, but Torri is a scholarship student who doesn’t really fit in or know any of them and none of them knows who invited her.

The story is told from the point of view of Bernie, Isobel, and Torri, and the chapters alternate between them. There is also an “after the ball” point of view that is mixed into the book, which takes place after the murder.

Torri is the most tolerable character in the whole story. While Bernie, Isobel and most of the other characters come off as typical boring rich teenagers and people, who have never cared or worried about anything or anyone else because they’re living in their own wealthy bubble and have never had to step outside of it. All that matters are parties, other rich people and rich people’s activities, and they all just seem the same so none of them seems like an actually interesting individual.

Bernie and her boyfriend Skyler are just together because their families are friends and want them to be together and ‘that’s how it should be’, but Skyler really shouldn’t be together with anyone and he is just a very shitty person.

Bernie and Isobel are still friends even though it’s clear that they’re both frustrated with each other for different reasons. As the story progresses and before it ends, Bernie and Isobel manage to solve their differences and actually come together, showing that they are real friends to each other after all. They both also show that they can change and they do care about more than their own rich world, and they do become better people in the end.

I thought the book would be better and more interesting than it was, but I think the typical boring rich teenagers were indeed too boring for me, and it annoyed me that all of them just couldn’t be themselves and also be honest with each other if they’re supposed to be close with each other.

I didn’t predict the outcome of the murder so I will give the book that, and if I may say so, I quite liked the outcome and how the book ended.
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Thank you to netgalley for my advanced copy of The Legacies. I’ve read at least two of Goodman’s previous novels and really enjoyed them both. Unfortunately, this one did not pan out as enjoyable for me, but I pushed through to the end. I found none of the characters likable and the plot a little lackluster.

Of course, as a Jewish reviewer, I have to acknowledge the Jewish rep as I always appreciate this about Goodman’s novels. It’s dropped in there as casual and not fussy about being Jewish, they just simply exist as Jewish characters.

Regardless of my disappointment in this one, I’ll still continue to pick up and support other novels and hopefully this is just a one-off dislike for me.

An invitation to the private and exclusive Legacy Ball guarantees a charmed life for a select few. This year, the coveted invitation ends in murder. Told in alternating viewpoints between 3 main characters, Goodman keeps her readers guessing not only whodunnit but also who died to the very end. Readers who love stories about private school wealth will enjoy this mystery, even though its events revolve around the Legacy events and teen parties and mischief far from the classroom. The characters wrestle with addiction, nepotism, fraud, cheating, exclusion and although the impact of each affects some characters more than others, no one seems to care overly much. The action kept my attention, but I expected more glamor and fun and got more difficulties without a satisfying resolution.

Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill & NetGalley for providing a copy for review!

THE LEGACIES was another fun story from Jessica Goodman, a total brain candy easy read that also touches on some tougher topics like substance abuse and privilege. I enjoyed it! It wasn't a five star book from me because I definitely had unanswered questions at the end (how did Tori's mom get into Excelsior / the legacy club in the first place?! What happened in Isobel and Kendall's childhood that she ditched him once she went to Excelsior? Didn't he go there too?) and felt the multi-POV may have taken away from getting to know the characters as well as I wanted to.

I enjoyed this book, although found it a little predictable in places. It is a brilliant YA mystery though, and easy to read. The characters are well told, and fit the whole narrative perfectly, but it just wasn't particularly my kind of book. Sorry!

I've loved all of Jessica Goodman's books, so was very excited to get my hands on her new one early! This book did not let me down. A mix of Gossip Girl and Big Little Lies, I flew through it in a day. The Legacy Club is an exclusive club in NYC that equates to a lifetime of power, access, and influence. Six seniors from each of the most prestigious Manhattan schools are chosen each year to join. The process culminates with the Legacy Ball, which is supposed to be the best night in their lives, but this year, someone ends up dead. Lots of secrets, flashbacks, and multiple POVs really let each character's voice shine, and I couldn't put it down until I knew what had happened. I guessed a couple of the more minor twists, but could not have predicted the last one! Ultimately, I would definitely recommend this book when it comes out, and I can't wait to see what the author does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

While this book followed a somewhat typical pattern, it managed to keep my interest with its unique take on a murder at an elite prep school during a significant event. I found it intriguing and had a hard time setting the book aside.

It’s the summer before their senior year of high school, and the Legacy Club is ready to invite their newest nominees into their exclusive group. For some, it’s what they have always dreamed of. For some, it’s just following in their parents’ footsteps. For some, it’s what is expected of them. And for a select few, it’s their ticket into New York City’s elite class. Told in multiple voices, this book leads the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, getting entangled in the various relationships and issues surrounding the nominees, all leading up to the shocking end of the story in a classic “who done it” trope.

Loved the mystery and flawed characters. Goodman really knows how to set the scene and that's one thing I really enjoy about her books.

Jessica Goodman does suspense amazingly well. This novel is told through multiple perspectives, and across multiple timelines. Each chapter you read asks more questions than it answers until the very end.

The Legacies is a great book for teenagers looking for murder, mystery, secrets, and betrayal.

I loved how this story was told in alternating flashback style. It really helped keep readers in the dark and trying to figure things out until the very end.
I personally didn't really relate or like any of the characters but I found myself needing to know what happened next. Like a bad train wreck you can't look away from. That is the beauty of Jessica Goodman's writing. Making people you absolutely hate and despise and make you not want to look away.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is a YA thriller that has it all. Tension, intrigue and a compelling ending. The shorter chapters made this a really fast and bingeable read. This has a Gossip Girl vibe and if you loved that show, this will be a great pick for you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. A great YA book. It took me a while to guess the killer so thats a plus for me.

This was a good YA thriller with an interesting plot and twists that I didn't see coming. I don't think I was the right person for this book as some parts were a little young for me but it never bugged me enough to stop reading. I would totally pick up another book by this author in the future.

This book was wonderfully intense with a twist you don't see coming. Throughout the book we get snippets of what leads up to the murder and what happens after the murder, but we don't find out who's murdered until the end. The entire time I was thinking I knew exactly what happens, but then I got to the twist and I was so, so horribly wrong.

Goodman does an excellent job dropping crumbs to lead you to a conclusion and then sweeping the rug out from under you. The author does an excellent job creating characters with huge flaws that they have to come to terms with. It was interesting experiencing the way she wove these flaws and realizations into multiple POVs.

It was refreshing to see characters that didn't make the right choices and were out to save themselves and their reputation. I think Goodman did a great job creating choices and reactions of teenagers to the events that happened throughout the book.

"The Legacies" by Jessica Goodman is a pulse-pounding thriller set against the glittering backdrop of New York City's elite social circles. It's a tale of ambition, secrets, and deadly consequences that will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first page.

In this riveting narrative, Goodman introduces us to the Legacy Club, an exclusive and elusive organization that grants access to unimaginable wealth, power, and privilege. Membership is the ultimate dream for those born into the world of old money, an inheritance of influence that transcends prep school gates. However, there's a catch. Before securing a lifetime of opulence, one must survive a grueling week of events culminating in the extravagant Legacy Ball.

The story revolves around four central characters, each harboring their own set of secrets and desires. Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins, blessed with family legacies, seem destined for membership. But it's Tori Tasso, the scholarship kid from Queens, who shocks everyone with her nomination. Her presence disrupts the equilibrium of this world steeped in designer labels and penthouse soirées.

Goodman's narrative brilliance shines as she weaves a web of intrigue, tension, and emotional complexity among these characters. Tori's outsider perspective adds a layer of relatability, as readers can't help but root for her in a world that often feels impenetrable.

The pinnacle of this thrilling narrative is the Legacy Ball, a night of extravagance where the crème de la crème expect to revel in luxury. Yet, as secrets start to unravel, the atmosphere becomes increasingly charged with anticipation and dread. Goodman excels at creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, as readers question the loyalty and motives of every character.

One of the book's strongest assets is its impeccable pacing. Goodman expertly balances the tension, dropping just enough hints to keep readers engaged without revealing too much too soon. The narrative alternates between perspectives, providing insight into each character's inner turmoil, which adds depth to the story and allows readers to empathize with their struggles.

As the night unfolds, "The Legacies" takes a dark and unexpected turn. The luxurious facade crumbles, giving way to a world where secrets are currency, and betrayal can be a matter of life and death. The suspense reaches its peak when a shocking death occurs, sending shockwaves through the Legacy Club.

Jessica Goodman's prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the opulence and the shadows lurking beneath it with equal finesse. Her exploration of privilege, ambition, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets is both thought-provoking and chilling.

In conclusion, "The Legacies" is a thrilling rollercoaster of a novel. Jessica Goodman delivers a gripping narrative that delves into the dark heart of elite society, making us question the cost of ambition and the lengths to which one will go to maintain appearances. If you're a fan of suspenseful tales set amidst the world of the privileged, "The Legacies" is an absolute must-read. It's a novel that will leave you breathless and haunted long after you've turned the final page.

The cover of The Legacies by Jessica Goodman tells it all, "Money talks and secrets kill." In Goodman's latest tale of teenage drama invitations go out for a select group of New York City's upper echelon to join the Legacy Club. If the group is able to make it through selection week, a key to the Legacy Club will provide them a life of connections and privilege.

Skyler, Bernie, and Isobel are used to the treatment, but outsider Tori still has to prove herself to these old money snobs. While most of the kids are just going through the motions because it has been predetermined by their lineage, Tori desperately need to win the cash prize at the end of the week to save her family's diner. When the lavish events ends in a death, everyone is put on edge and it is up to the reader to determine exactly what happened to get to that point.

This is a great novel for fans of the show Gossip Girl. The plot has all the drama, elegance and outright bad behavior one would expect from a group of teens who were never told no. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the chance to read this novel.

Jessica Goodman is my "go to" author when I need a YA thriller and this one did not disappoint! All her books are good but I think this one may be a new favorite!

The Gossip Girl vibes were strong, and I loved it. This was such an entertaining YA thriller. I loved the fast pace and complex ties that bound everyone together. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Legacies is a mysterious thriller teen drama. A dual timeline and a multiple povs. It follows a high society club that is full of secrets and mystery with a glimpse of pretty little liar and gossip girl. The book focuses on the nomination of students to the said club, and how it affects their future careers. It also involves relationships that were tear apart by secrets. That all lead to a mysterious death.

I liked how diverse the characters are, and even though they are not main they are still essential to the story. The plot is great but I wish the future timeline was a bit more detailed not to the point where there are no excitement but glimpses of their interviews like that. But it was a great and fun read overall. 4/5