The Legacies
Written by Jessica Goodman
Publisher Penguin Group/young readers
Release Date July 25, 2023
Genre YA mystery

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Suspense: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5


This was a very well written young arguably mystery that not only I enjoyed but my 15 yr old niece enjoyed as well. Although she was a little harsher as a critic than I will be.

The exclusive Legacy Club is sought after by parents due to the privileges that you receive once you become a member. So, scoring an invitation.gives you a lifetime of access to power, wealth, and security. Those who are members not only stay members but they take care of each other. However, you must pass the grueling week of events leading up to the ball. But, this club has many secrets and will do whatever needs to be done to keep them that way. Each year at the Grand Legacy Ball someone is chosen to receive the prestigious award in the amount of 25k.
Since birth three teens have had a place secured for them due to their families pedigrees, at Legacies. Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are all in the run for the big cash grand prize which in all honesty is not much to them. There is a surprise nominee though, Tori Tasso. She is not from money nor is she one to carry expensive bags or wear expensive clothes. So how did she get nominated? The parents have their own secrets and if they were to get known, their reputation would be destroyed. In order to keep a secret someone is murdered but who would have taken that step? This book is all about how those with money sometimes feel as though there will be no punishment and about how far someone will go to keep a secret.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This is a story about nepotism… even when you think it’s not.

I really liked elements of this book- the POVs were interesting & the author is talented at differentiating voices so you never forget who is narrating the chapter. I liked the look into the school & the anxiety I felt hoping they would make better choices… buuuut it got a bit convoluted for me & I didn’t feel super invested by the end as a result. I’ll continue to buy everything the author writes since even my least favorite my her was still pretty good!

Thank you so much @netgalley & @razorbillbooks for the eArc.

this gave me serious gossip girl and pretty little liars vibes! i enjoyed it a lot based on that alone. i think there are better YA thrillers but this is still enjoyable! i think everyone should give it a chance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🖊️ dual timelines
🖊️ multi-POV
🖊️ short chapters 🩷🩷
🖊️ high schooo friends who-dun-it

A group of Ivy League college hopefuls get caught up in a murder in this dual-timeline tale of spoiled brats and the lies and deception that come with competing over a few spots.
I absolutely love everything I’ve read by Jessica Goodwin and I was so excited to read her newest mystery!
I really enjoyed most of the characters in this one and it kept me guessing until the end.
I did not see the end coming! That is what I appreciate most in a murder mystery 🤪
This wasn’t my absolute favourite out of all of Godwin’s books, but it was a very enjoyable read none-the-less.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman - 4.5/5
Teens & YA
Publication - July 25, 2023

When one scores an invitation to an exclusive Legacy Club you may get more than you bargained for. This YA book is filled with twists & turns, suspense, relatable characters, and an ending that I did not see coming. I highly recommend this book because it is an easy read, there are multiple POVs, and gives off Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl vibes.


Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group for the eARC.

I really enjoyed how this story was told by different viewpoints! I was very pleasantly surprised by the ending because it wasn’t what I’d expected! The twists and turns just kept coming and it was easy to get sucked in by the story and the characters!

I am a big fan of Jessica Goodman and this did not disappoint! Another one of her clever YA mysteries that you can read in one sitting.

Thanks Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was like if gossip girl met pretty little liars and y’all I was here for it. This book was everything and I will for sure be reading more by this fantastic author.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is an quick and easy YA mystery set in a private school setting. After a bit of a slow start as the characters, timelines, and perspectives were established, this mystery picks up speed through the middle of the book and makes for an enjoyable easy read. The character development is slim, and none of the characters are particularly likeable, but would recommend this story to readers who like multiple POVs and private school/Manhattan elite settings. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨ 5 STARS ✨

this was easily a 5 star read for me. gossip girl + pretty little liars vibes and i ate it up.

the legacy club is a club of elite, wealthy members of society. but as with most things, the club holds lots of secrets and the means to keep them hidden and covered up. each year at the grand legacy ball, one nominee is chosen as the winner for $25k, which is basically nothing for most nominees, but this year is different. the story follows the 6 nominations from one school during the week leading up to the legacy ball, switching between the events before and the perspective of what’s happening after the ball, where someone has mysteriously died. it also switches perspectives between bernie, isobel, and tori. bernie is a shoe in for the club - a well known name - a perfect girl who’s life has been handed to her. isobel is her best friend, and tori is the girl who doesn’t belong in their world.

a lineage of secrets / a scholarship receiver / a high society secret / break ups / a missing mom / a mysterious murder / sabotage and manipulation

A glitzy YA thriller set in New York City elite social circles, filled with backstabbing and blackmail, twisty secrets, and a dead body, from New York Times bestselling author Jessica Goodman.

The Legacies is a typical YA mystery. I found the book to be engaging despite the characters being very cliche. I did enjoy the time jumps and the couple of surprises throughout the book. Overall, I hoped for more but it's still definitely worth the read.

Thank you to @natgalley and @penguinusa for allowing me to read and review The Legacies.

While this book wasn't horrible, it wasn't great either. I really wanted to enjoy this, but it just fell flat for me. And the big secret.. didn't really feel like a big surprising secret in any way. I found myself skimming more than actually enjoying what I was reading.. and the characters weren't very likeable at all, so I didn't really enjoy reading them from any of their view points.
There were a few good parts, but the story mostly fell flat.

I have a massive soft spot for YA mysteries and thrillers and this was no exception. While it was t the best one I’ve read- it was an absolute blast from beginning to end.

I don’t really get around to reading YA that much anymore and I’d forgotten how much of that teen angst I’d missed! Especially with this book that quite honestly gives Pretty Little Liars a run for it’s money.

Secret societies, a group of wealthy kids, MIA parents, one girl on a scholarship who desperately wants the jerky rich kids to accept her, and a dead body?! I don’t know about you but that checks all the boxes and then some.

Overall this was a fun book that gave me all the gossip girl vibes. Fast paced and with a few twists thrown in.

It gives gossip girl meets pretty little liars but make it a thriller.
This was definitely one of my least favorite book by this author. The plot was interesting but if just didn't give, it wasn't executed properly but it had a lot of potential to be better.

Very Pretty Little Lairs meets Gossip Girl. Was a very standard Y A thriller. The twist were not shocking. I did like the end how the girls got passed everything and were able to be friends.

I'd rate this book between a 2.5 and a 3.

I think this style of story is always popular. The blend of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars is always liked however, I found the structuring to be odd and clunky with almost three POVs. The characters are vibrant and intriguing though and I'd recommend this if you like character driven stories.

Thank you NetGalley and PGP for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Book Review

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman
@JessicaGoodman
Pub date: July 25, 2023

I’ve read all of Jessica Goodman’s books and they are always page turners for me. The Legacies is a thrilling look into the lives of students at an elite prep school in NYC, focusing on the uber wealthy and the not so privileged, and the lengths they (and their parents) will go to gain membership into the exclusive Legacy Club.
Mayhem and murder, conspiracy and lies all culminate in one night; a night that is supposed to be all about the glitz and glam and happy smiles of acceptance. What leads up to that night was a fun twist to untangle, as is all of Jessica’s twisty YA thrillers.

One thing that I think that Jessica does exceptionally well is the emotional aspect of being a teenager and all the stressors that come with this; specifically, substance abuse, sexual trauma, grief and loss along with economic and racial diversity. Incorporating these things into a young adult thriller while keeping these issues valid and in the forefront is noteworthy.

As usual, I’ll be looking forward to what Jessica writes next.

My thanks to @PenguinTeen for this gifted copy!

We picked around 60 pounds of blueberries on Monday! What’s your favorite summer fruit/veg? Any favorite recipes?

Stay bookish, my friends

#PenguinTeenPartner #TheLegacies #JessicaGoodman #ReaderOfTheWrittenWord #YAThrillers #July2023Release #IReadYA #YAMystery #BooksBooksBooks

These "rich people with dark secrets that span generations" books are an utter addiction for me and this one was a great example. Rich like dark chocolate and compulsively readable.