RACHEL HAWKINS DOES IT AGAIN - Reckless Girls was one of my favorite reads of 2022. This is up there with the feeling that book gave me. I love the southern conservative old money take down.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

I have to say that I LOVE Rachel Hawkins writing style and her plots have yet to disappoint me as a reader. The Heiress is no exception and I very much enjoyed everything about this book.

This is a story that really hinges on characters that are dynamic and complex and all utterly unknown and somewhat untrustworthy. Every time I thought I had something figured out in this story, a perfectly timed twist would appear and prove me wrong all over again.

The type of book that would make for a VERY good screen adaption, it has flavors of Knives Out with a little soap opera Dynasty-like drama just for fun.

Truly one for your winter reading lists, it's hugely entertaining and not to be missed!

I've really liked the author's previous books, so was very excited to get my hands on her new one early! This book did not let me down. The Heiress was a fast paced, unpredictable story that I flew through because I couldn't put it down! I loved the different points of view throughout the story, though I definitely enjoyed Ruby's sections way more than Jules's or Cam's. I also loved the newspaper clippings scattered throughout. The pacing was little off and a couple of the characters were deeeeply unlikeable (which I guess was the point?), but all the secrets, flashbacks, and dysfunctional family dynamics kept me turning pages. I guessed a couple of the more minor twists, but could not have predicted the last one, and I appreciated how everything came together! Ultimately, I would definitely recommend this book when it comes out, and I can't wait to see what Rachel Hawkins does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

****Publishing January 9, 2024****

I loved the quote “Without a Trace,” by Bill Naracott, Outside, May 2017 included at the beginning! It really sets the tone for the book! How many go missing on the Appalachian trail that are never accounted for or are found? Have they died from a fall or succumbed at the hands of an animal looking for a meal? Just chilling!

This book begins with Ruby Ann, a 3-year-old, from the wealthiest family in NC, going missing while on a family picnic! She was kidnapped, but reunited with her family after 8 months! This is just the start of life’s tribulations for Ruby. She had four husbands, but all died for various reasons, giving her the nickname “Mrs. kill-more”, although she was never charged with their deaths. When she dies at 73 as an Heiress, her adopted son, Camden, inherits her wealth and house, which is thought to be 8 figures. This causes an uproar with the rest of the family due to Camden’s lack of contact with the family for the past 10 years because of complicated family dynamics. Will it further drive them apart, or will it help fix the rift between them? As the story unfolds, this book will have you shaking your head at times!

This book definitely has an ending I didn’t see coming! I loved how each chapter was narrated by a different character : Camden, Ruby’s letters, and Jules. This kept the pages turning! Also, I loved all the twists and turns! Made for an entertaining read! A great book to add to your TBR list if you love a great mystery/thriller!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, I was provided an ARC of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

Another Rachel Hawkins that does not disappoint. Perfectly paced and a good balance of twists. Also loved the little ‘The Villa’ cameo on there!

Quick and Dirty⁣
-Domestic thriller⁣
-Alternating POVs and timelines⁣
-Epistolary flashbacks ⁣
-Fast-paced read with short chapters⁣
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Swipe for the full synopsis!⁣
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Thoughts ⁣
Domestic thrillers are not my go-to genre, but I do like them. In particular, I seem to be drawn to stories that have some flashback aspects, especially those with bold, unforgiving women with nothing left to lose. In The Heiress we find exactly that, though we have to wait to see which of our female protagonist is the most ruthless. Ruby, the deceased wealthy heiress has secrets to share with her beloved adopted son, Cam. Jules, his wife, has secrets of her own. And Cam, the good little boy that he is, has a few himself. As the book progresses we find out more and more about the state of affairs at the MacTavish estate, chiefly the not-so-secret loathing for Cam and his having inherited the family fortune despite his pedigree. The best part of this book were the letters Ruby left for Cam detailing the lives and deaths of all four of her husbands (Evelyn Hugo, anyone). Over the course of the book we start to realize things are not exactly as they appear, with Ruby’s role as innocent widow being the first thing called into question. The twists and turns in this book will keep you guessing, down to the last pages, which is exactly what I want from a thriller. Was anything super shocking or jaw dropping? Not really. But it was thrilling enough to keep my attention and keep me flipping pages to find out what everyone was hiding, what lies they were weaving, and what secrets would be unearthed in the end. Overall this is a solid domestic thriller that kept me engaged and guessing until the end.

The Heiress is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. Rachel Hawkins does an amazing job of not only bringing the characters to life but also pulling you into the story and not letting you go until you reach the end.
I loved both Camden and Jules, I thought they were the perfect couple flaws and all.
There is mixed media in newspaper clippings, and letters sprinkled throughout the story and they really added something extra to the story. This story is full of twists and turns and I just ate up all of the family drama!
This is a book I will definitely read again.

This book was.. odd. It reminded me of The Only One Left but not in the best way? The story was told through letters and newspaper clippings, as well as the grandson's POV. It was difficult to follow at times to understand the point of the book. There was a nice twist at the end that was surprising, but it wasn't one of the better thrillers that I have read.

I really liked this! Though the pacing felt a bit off, I was really in the North Carolina mountains with the characters - the effervescent descriptions really flew off the page and made up for anything else. I loved the multimedia writing; it added a lot of depth to the story. I was reminded of Truly Devious and the Lindbergh case, along with all those changeling horror stories. I’ll definitely be recommending this one!

A little disappointed with the latest Rachel Hawkins. Thought the premise was really interesting, but the novel was quite disjointed and it didn't feel like complete? The story was a little rushed. The twist ending was great, though!

Looking forward to the next novel!

I love Rachel Hawkins, will read anything she writes. I also love toxic families and family reunions. I loved that the main female character got her way in the end, that so rarely happens, especially when the main male character is directly involved in the drama. This was very twisty and I was here for it.

This is my first Rachel Hawkins book and now I want to go back through her backlog! This was a super fun and captivating book. I was definitely drawn in from the start, which I appreciate!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Hawkins for the advanced copy of The Heiress in exchange for my honest review!

I have read every book Hawkins has put out so far, and I have to say I think this one is my favorite! Her signature style of alternating point of views and timelines is expertly executed in this book.

While there were one or two small things I predicted, Hawkins expertly pulled the rug out from under me on a couple big plot twists. I found myself thinking about this one for quite a bit after I finished it because I was so impressed with how the wool had been pulled over my eyes.

I can't wait to see what Hawkins comes up with next!

The Heiress will be on US bookshelves January 9!

This is my fourth book by Rachel Hawkins and it was one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded; alternating POV's and letters from Ruby. This is a slow burn that gave you breadcrumbs to piece together trying to figure out who this family really is knowing they'll stop at nothing to get what they think is theirs and out anyone they think doesn't belong. But who belongs and who doesn't?! At one point I thought I figured out a twist, I wasn't totally correct, but I was close enough and it certainly changed the rest of the book. Fans of Hawkins should add The Heiress to their TBR.
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Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ruby McTavish has always been famous. The richest woman in North Carolina, she was kidnapped as a child and later became the widow to 4 husbands. When she dies in 2013, she leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden. But he doesn't want anything to do with the family, the home, or the 9 figure inheritance. Now 10 years later, Camden is going back home to settle things with his family. But what he learns is more than he bargained for.

The Heiress is a mix of the book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the movie Knives Out. We learn the history behind all of Ruby’s hisbands, but we also see a fight over inheritance. With that being said, part of the story did not feel all that original to me.

I enjoyed the mixed media used - reading news articles and letters in the mix of the story. It felt like two stories were being told at once - Ruby’s past and Camden and Jules present. At times, I didn't know how these stories would feel cohesive. However, I enjoyed how everything came together in the end.

I felt like this book was one of my favorites by Rachel Hawkins. It was a quick read. I really enjoyed all of the characters; they felt unique and diverse. I really got a kick out of Jules’ humor. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Camden and Jules.

Holy f*ck! 🚨Sound the Pee-Wee Herman alarm because that’s the secret word!🚨 Okay, I’ll cut it out. But that was every character’s favorite expletive and clearly I enjoyed that 😂.
I have read The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins and this if BY FAR my favorite book from her. It was so uniquely and addictively laid out. There were 2 present day POVs from Cam (the heir) and Jules (his wife) that alternated with each chapter. After most chapters there was a letter from Ruby (the infamous heiress) discussing the most notable events from her life. Heavy spotlights on her past controversial marriages. These letters felt very “Evelyn Hugo” if that book went 🗣️ dark. I ate them up!! After the letters, there were articles from the media that were written during the time period of the events Ruby had discussed.
Every single character had secrets. And I couldn’t forget that prologue that forced assumptions into my head that I didn’t know what to do with! I was collecting puzzle pieces as the story unfolded but found myself hanging by a mere thread with each of my theories. I absolutely devoured this book to get the answers!

Smart, fast paced, twisty, and addictive! This is a must read for every thriller lover out there. Brava, Ms. Hawkins! 😘👌🏼

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
This is one I considered not finishing but I'm glad I did read the whole book. Hawkins style is one you need to become accustomed to and this book is no different. Told from three POVs - Jules, Camden, Ruby. By the time covered in the book, Ruby has been dead ten years so her story is told through her letters and through the connections to other characters. The first third of the book sets up the characters and is a bit stilted in how they are presented. None are particularly likeable but that sets up the rest of the plotlines. From the start, hints are offered that no one is exactly as they seem. No spoilers in this review but do stay with the book as the last chapters reveal so many family secrets and weave everything together. By the end, readers have more knowledge than either Cam or Jules and, in a bit of a warped way, see how much they do love each other.

Cam and Jules live a relatively meager life. He, a schoolteacher and she, a worker on a farm. They have a true love for one another and are happy with their situation. Jules knows a bit about Cam’s past, that he left his family and inheritance behind, but not a lot of detail behind the why. Over the years, various family members have reached out to Cam, asking him to return to Ashby House, his family’s estate - and those requests have gone ignored by Cam.

However, Cam receives correspondence from Ben, describing the state of disrepair of Ashby House and requesting that Cam come home. The family fortune has been left in inheritance to Cam, so it is a cumbersome process for others to try to use that money to do things like restore Ashby House to its past glitz and glam.

After conversation with Jules, they decide to go. Jules is excited to see where Cam came from, to meet his family, and see the glory of Ashby House.

The story actually starts off centered around the matriarch of the family, Ruby McTavish. As a 3 year old child, Ruby was lost in the woods surrounding Ashby and was presumed dead (though no body was found). A few years later, Ruby was found in the home of a worker of her father’s and returned to the family. Ruby doesn’t remember much of her time with the Darnell’s (the family that abducted her), as she was so small.

After Cam and Jules arrive at Ashby, we learn that Ruby left Cam some letters outlining/describing parts of her life; her four marriages, the deaths of each of her husbands, and why she came to adopt Cam.

The question is - are Jules’ intentions pure in her wanting to learn about where Cam came from or is there something else she’s seeking? What is this family hiding behind the dilapidated doors of Ashby House?

I LOVE Rachel Hawkins books and this one did not disappoint. A dysfunctional, very wealthy family with so many secrets and lies and betrayals that it makes your head spin!!!

This story captivated me from page one until the final line. I haven’t seen so many twisted and greedy characters in quite awhile!!!

5 BIG stars for this delicious tale of a crazy family!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review this book!!!

This is the kind of book that grabs you from the first sentence, and before you know it, you’ve lost yourself in a world of wealth and drama. One of the many reasons I adore this author is the seamless flow of her writing. You can easily pick up the book and lose track of time—a true testament to the art of storytelling.

Enter a world where the characters aren’t just obscenely rich; they’re deliciously horrible people. Who can resist the allure of drama among the elite? The problems money brings add an extra layer of excitement, making every page a thrilling journey into the complexities of the affluent.

And the twist at the end! It caught me off guard in the best way possible. A well-executed surprise that adds that extra spice to an already captivating tale.

The Heiress is an escape into a world of wealth, deceit, and unexpected turns. The writing style is a breeze, the characters are delightfully despicable, and that twist at the end? Pure brilliance. If you’re a fan of drama, decadence, and jaw-dropping surprises, this one’s a must-read!