🖤 🤍 💛 The Legacies by Jessica Goodman🖤🤍💛

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 /5

I enjoyed this one! I completely agree with those that have referenced Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liar vibes. I’d also throw in vibes of that movie, The Skulls, with Joshua Jackson.

I’d categorize this one as a YA thriller, set around a prestigious school in NYC, where the alumni/parents have too much power and secrets of their own.

The story begins “after the ball” where we learn someone has been murdered, and alternates back and forth between the week leading up to the ball, from the perspectives of Bernie, Isobel and Tori, and the events after it.

We don’t find out who was actually murdered until late in the book, though the story kept a good pace.

If you’re a fan of YA, definitely give this one a read. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed it. Extra points from me for all of the NYC and Long Island references, as it’s my home too!

The Legacies is a story of intrigue and hidden secrets. We open with the knowledge that a body has been found at the Legacy Ball, and the story takes us through the days building up to the event.
In this exclusive school community becoming part of the Legacy Group is a sure fire way of getting success. Only a select few are chosen, and it is a key to a better life. Nobody questions it, and those who benefit from its existence are more than happy for it to be maintained.
Our story focuses on some key characters - teens who have been invited to join the group this year. We gain an insight into their lives, the ups and downs of their families and quickly realise that the impact of the group can be long-reaching.
From start to finish this is the kind of story that you get caught up in. The characters, naturally, have their flaws but it was most interesting to see how what had come before it continued to impact on those we were watching. The final twists and turns were quite captivating, and the closing scene suggested Theresa very real chance we could get a return visit.

YA suspense is one of my favorites and The Legacies does not disappoint. There were a few plot holes/mistakes that surprised me (phone broken overnight then she uses it the next day) in this late of a copy, but hopefully those are fixed by publication. I wish the ending had wrapped things up a bit more. I didn’t feel like some of the characters got quite what they deserved. Overall a fun read.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is a non-stop thriller that kept me desperate to know what would happen next. The interpersonal high-society drama with a dash of potentially deadly twists hooked me right from the start. I went into this book already a fan of Jessica Goodman, having read and loved her three previous books, and The Legacies was not only as good as but surpassed what I've already read by her. I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of high school thrillers and dramas. This book gives you a little bit of everything-- from discovering secrets about money and corruption to rooting for the underdog. Definitely check out The Legacies by Jessica Goodman.

I never felt like I became submerged in the story. I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley to write a fair review. The story is written in first person, but it feels like it is in third person. The narration has a way of distancing you from the story. The dialogue never felt genuine to me. The setting is very Gossip Girl but the characters didn’t strike me that way. I think it is safe to say this wasn’t the book for me.

"The Legacies" was a fast-paced psychological thriller set in the upper echelon of Manhattan. Its characters and setting are reminiscent of the "Gossip Girl" series or "Pretty Little Liars." The story had an intriguing premise that tackled issues like multi-generational trauma and social class bias. The fast-paced plot was easy to read and entertaining.

I truly enjoyed this read. It was a quick read that kept you on your toes. While I kept guessing I was never actually sure what was going to happen. Who is dead? Who is involved? Who does have secrets? Who doesn’t? Who belongs and who doesn’t? So many questions and it is wrapped up so nicely.

As a fan of Pretty Little Liars the show this book reminded me of it a lot. You have these teens who are the top of the top at their special private school and now they are being nominated to become members of the Legacy Club. It's a very hush, hush club to those on the outside but on the inside everyone at their school seems to want in for what that club can do for their futures. However Tori could care less until her family is faced with financial issues that could leave them to lose their family business. The friends you thought you had you don't and even their parents have them second guessing all they thought they know. Can mistakes from others cause issues with the future Legacies? Also is becoming a Legacy important enough to kill?

This story was full of twists, turns, surprises, and secrets!

It follows members of a high society as they are preparing to be accepted into the Legacy Club. Only those who get an invitation after being nominated get a chance to become a member of such an elite club. It's all about who you know and the connections they have. But not everything is as it seems. Secrets, hidden betrayals, and lies surround them. Will they all make it into the Legacy Club, or will what's been hidden be brought to the surface and cause issues for one or even all of the potential legacies?

I really enjoyed this story as it kept my attention while I tried to figure out what was going to happen!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group-Penguin Young Readers Group and Jessica Goodman for this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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

I have now read three books by this author and somehow I have given all three books the same rating. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not good - because they definitely are. I always have an enjoyable time reading them… they’re just not very memorable.

Every time I pick up a YA thriller, I struggle with how I feel after finishing the book. I heard this one being compared to Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, so I was delighted when I was sent an early review copy.

I always love following a whodunit story, and this one has three POVs - each being very interesting. There’s also a dual timeline.

I was able to predict most of the twists early on, but I do think they were quite enjoyable. I didn’t really care for the characters and I do feel like the story itself got repetitive at times.

Also, I did go into this expecting the mystery side to be more shown, however, I feel like most of it was just teen drama… which I didn’t care for too much.

Without a doubt, this was such a fun YA story. Some moments I really enjoyed - especially the Manhattan Elite vibes. This author writes some fun summer thrillers, but I don’t think I’ll ever love one too much… they always feel forgettable. I do think other readers will enjoy this, especially if you’re looking for a teen drama with a mystery aspect.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the review eARC and PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

YA Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars. Rich kids, secrets, murder, and mystery! I wouldn’t classify this as a thriller but suspense. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. The pace at the beginning was a little slow for me. It didn’t pick up until closer to the end.

This book has the suspense, the characters, the plot structure, and that great dark academia vibe we’re all going ga-ga for right now. Sadly, what it doesn’t have is charisma or any ability to hold my interest. I saw the bones of a great book, but the book itself was boring enough to me that I had to keep asking people in the house to stop bothering me because I kept looking for excuses to put the book down and be diverted into something more interesting.

Maybe it’s my age. Maybe it’s how many suspense novels and thrillers I’ve already read this year. Maybe I’m simply too picky. Who knows? Simply put: There are so many great authors out there doing this same thing right now and they’re doing it better that this book just came across as a wet noodle, save that author Jessica Goodman has a knack for building suspense and knowing when to stop with one character’s POV and move onto another’s in order to keep that suspense blooming (this book has three present-day narratives told from first-person POV and then small interludes interspersed from third-person POV that occur after the book’s climatic events).

I wished for something more, since books like these are usually my jam. I just didn’t get what I had hoped to get out of this one.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you. Personal policy dictates this review will not appear on any social media or bookseller website due to receiving a rating of three stars or lower.

Tori Tasso is the surprise nominee for the Legacy Club, being a scholarship student suddenly introduced to a world of wealth, power, and privilege. Now she’s coming into constant contact with students who have previously ignored her, and quickly learning they’re not as perfect as they first appear. As the Legacy Ball approaches, everyone’s secrets start to spill, leading to a death.

The writing of this book is really effective. Goodman cuts back and forth from after the ball to before, so readers know someone dies-and start collecting clues-but don’t know who the unlucky character is or the exact details of their death. Goodman also uses multiple female povs to let readers into the heads of the most important characters.

This book was very suspenseful and went down smooth. I would recommend this book.

#NetGalleyARC Another great YA novel by Goodman. This one has a Gossip Girl feel, mixed with some reminiscence of Diana Peterfreund's Secret Society Girl. Another YA book full of multiple POVs and time hops, but this one was pretty manageable. A great thriller for the upcoming fall season.

Oooh, I really liked this one. I just was on the edge of my seat the entire time while reading this book. It managed to suck me in completely and just not let me go. I really liked the kind of dual time line we got in this book. It really helped with keeping the intrigue, in my opinion. I also quite liked the cast of characters. I mean, they are all really unlikeable but their dynamics together are just so full of drama and it was amazing to read. Honestly, rich people drama is my guilty pleasure, and this delivered really well. I also liked all the different reveals throughout this book. I did see some coming but I thought it was still really well executed. I don't really know how to talk about this book properly without talking about any spoilers, but just know I had an amazing time reading this book, and I definitely recommend it if you like rich people drama, and vibe with an elite club setting as well. I am a big fan!

If you really like the show gossip girl, then this book is meant for you!

I genuinely couldn't put this book down, I really wanted to know whodunit. I liked the way the first few pages really grasped my attention.
This book dives into the life of rich kids and their problems and as they try to make it to the Legacy Ball. That Ball grants you "for life" privileges in the society that is why so many people are trying to make a perfect presentation. Unfortunately the events don't unfold as they expected as someone didn't survive.

My favorite character was Tori, I liked her little bubble chapters with her family out of the rich drama.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me this e-arc.

This book was giving Gossip Girl and I’m here for it.
It’s no secret that I love Jessica Goodman. I have all her books and I’ve enjoyed them all.

There are many character POVs from the past as well as current day when the events are happening. That was super helpful in not getting confused. I’m usually not a fan of multiple POVs but the characters were all different so I never had any issues.

I sped through this one so quick. I was intrigued the entire time. From the start you know there’s a death but we don’t know who. Trying to solve who the killer and victim are was so fun!

I absolutely loved this one and I think anyone who enjoys YA mysteries will love it.

Jessica Goodman's books have such interesting plots and premises, and I love a little bit of rich people drama. I do think there are some sections of this book that just serve to make it longer, and I think that overall this is not the strongest YA thriller I've ever read. But it is fun and kind of ridiculous. I think people who loved gossip girl specifically for the drama will love this book. It doesn't have as likeable characters as gossip girl, but the rich people infighting is definitely solid.

I couldn't put this down. I loved the Gossip Girl-esque drama/mystery. Rich kids and adults behaving badly is one of my favorite genres. So much betrayal and lying, cover ups and blackmail....all of my favorite things, especially when I have no skin in the game.

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Jessica Goodman is back with another phenomenal teen thriller! If you enjoy Holly Jackson then you will like Jessica Goodman. The Legacies is quite the page-turner! I would recommend to teen and adult thriller readers alike! A very satisfying read.