I love author Rachel Hawkins and will read anything she writes. This book didn’t let me down! An intricate family drama filled with mystery, plot twists, and some questionable characters. I became invested in the story and everyone involved, rooted for some, hoped others would disappear. All in all, an entertaining read!

Ruby's adopted son, Camden, is the heir to all the family money, but when the novel opens, he's rejected that and made an entirely new life across the country, barely communicating with any relatives. When Ruby dies, though, he's pulled back to the estate that's technically his and the drama around Ruby's life, death, and all her money.

Camden's adopted mother Ruby is pure Southern Gothic. She's been widowed four times, becoming wealthier each time. But Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was already famous (and Southern-gothic) from childhood. She was kidnapped as a child, and then returned, a fictional arc that felt a lot like the historical case of Bobby Dunbar.

Most of Ruby's life of wealth, notoriety and secrets takes place within Ashby House, the family estate in North Carolina's Blue Ridge mountains. Every inheritance drama needs the isolated old family estate, full of treasures and secrets.  So good.

You guys know I love family stories, and I love thrillers with double-crossing and secrets, so of course I loved this one. I also loved how Ruby's parts of the story had her telling all kinds of dramatic secrets while being super shady about the big one. 

I enjoyed the setting and the overall vibes so much, and like I said, I wanted every major character to succeed, so it was a page-turning drama. So many over-the-top secrets (FOUR husbands all dying tragically, Ruby? That's not subtle! ) meshed with reasonable, believable family dynamics.  Even the jerks felt reasonable! And that worked so well with the wild secrets of this modern gothic.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!

If you like the "Rich people behaving badly" trope, and a generational family mystery, this book is for you!

I'll admit I did predict most of the twists before they happened, but that didn't take away my enjoyment of the story.

Absolutely no one is doing southern gothic “can’t put it down” titles like Rachel Hawkins. I adore her writing style—as a southern woman, she makes me laugh out loud with her characters and I love all the little southern quirks and nuance that she writes into her books and characters.

The Heiress is no exception. And, honestly, might be her best work yet. So twisty, so interesting. The MacTavish family is a hot (literally? figuratively? both?) mess. Jules is a delight and sweet Cam is…Cam. But, Ruby, she is the shining star.

I loved the epistolary style that was included in the book. What a nice way to get deeper looks into the story. And the epilogue was exactly what I needed! 5/5, all the stars to The Heiress. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked this book! The beginning seemed a little tedious, but I was hooked by the end. I wish there had been a bit more character development, as I walked away not truly feeling like I knew any of them well.

I’ve read all other Rachel Hawkins books and I think this was my least favorite. Although it seems like it’s such a fast-paced, quick read, it fell short for me in the story telling and character development. I also wouldn’t say it was a page turner but does get suspenseful at the end. Overall it’s a three- star read for me as I did enjoy the twist ending. There was a bit of similarity with the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I also enjoyed. 3⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this title via NetGalley.

With this being my first introduction to Rachel Hawkins's work, I enjoyed the multiple points of view from Ruby, Camden, and Jules. The way each character had their own voice and perspective enriched the story. I didn't like the constant profanity, but I made it through.

The Heiress isn't a book I'd recommend as it didn't hold my attention, nor was the story as developed as it could've been. It was a slow read. You had to really trudge through with irritated characters that were more annoying than intriguing. It may also be because it is an ARC and still needs some touching up, but it wasn't well organized. The newspaper excerpts felt thrown in out of nowhere, making for an odd read. My rating throughout the book was two stars, but the ending picked up, and I enjoyed how everything tied together, bumping it up to three stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an arc of this book for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Content Rating:
Profanity: Adult
Drug + Alcohol Use: Mild
Sex + Nudity: Mild
Violence: Adult

#TheHeiress #NetGalley

So many twists and turns, which doesn’t always work in a book. But it definitely does in this one. As you are reading you feel like the characters are talking directly to you. Her description of the area and Ashby House were very vivid and allowed the reader to really feel like they are there.

Cam McTavish, the adopted son of North Carolina's richest woman, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, was once described as "the luckiest boy in the world". That's why everyone is shocked when after her death, Cam walks away from everything she had left him to inherit - a multi-million dollar fortune and Ashby House, the family’s Blue Ridge mountain estate. But Cam isn't interested in the money, the house or anything else to do with being a McTavish. Because Ruby and the rest of the McTavish family have already proven to him that money doesn't buy happiness.

THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins is a brilliantly crafted psychological suspense with characters that are never exactly who they appear to be. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore is a daunting larger than life presence in the town of Tavistock and over Ashby House. Her letters are at the heart of the narrative but it is only in combination with the alternating voices of Cam and his wife, Jules does the story catch fire.

Secrets and ulterior motives lurk beneath the surface, and a cloud of questions and rumors envelops "THE HEIRESS" from the very first page to the last. Everyone has a secret (or two) and no one's motives are pure. There are so many questions and rumors running through THE HEIRESS from the first page to the last: How can one woman be so unlucky as to be widowed four times? Why is Cam estranged from the McTavish family and why hasn't he claimed his inheritance? How much does Jules really know about her husband's background? Why did Rudy adopt Cam in the first place?

While Ruby's letters provide some answers, Cam, Jules, and the other surviving McTavish family members each contribute their own revelations. The dysfunction within this family makes for a truly entertaining spectacle when they brought together again under the same roof. "THE HEIRESS" is a brisk, captivating, and immensely gratifying read, its limited cast of characters ensuring a tightly focused narrative. Rachel Hawkins forges an intimate connection between readers, characters, and the unfolding mystery, drawing the audience in. The attraction lies not only in discovering what secrets will be unveiled next but also in observing how each revelation reshapes our perceptions of these characters, whom we believed we were beginning to understand.

I strongly recommend THE HEIRESS for fans of psychological thrillers and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and the author, Rachel Hawkins for access to the ARC in consideration for a objective review.
Pub. date: January 9, 2024.

Ruby McTavish was the heiress to the McTavish fortune - all the money one could ever need, and the famous Ashby House. Ruby isn’t just the richest woman in North Carolina, she’s also the most notorious. She’s been in headlines her whole life - starting from when “Baby Ruby” went missing during a family picnic and was found a year later, all the way through the unfortunate and unexpected deaths of her four husbands. After she has died, she leaves her fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Camden wants nothing to do with the McTavish life, family, or money, and decides to leave for the west coast. Years later, Cam and his wife, Jules return to Ashby House for unfinished business and is drawn back in to the world of McTavish secrets, lies, and betrayals.

I LOVED this book! It felt very “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”-esque to me, but with a darker and more twisted plot. Some of the twists were a little predictable, but others I never saw coming (especially the last chapter!!). I loved the characters, even if the villains were just that - villains. I also loved that the chapters switched between Cam’s POV, Jules’ POV, Ruby’s letters, and news articles/headlines throughout the years.

Overall I thought this book was amazing and couldn’t put it down or stop thinking about it. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Rachel Hawkins for the eARC!

Jules and Camden have been married for a decade, and this is the first time she is meeting his family. His adoptive, cold, and extremely rich family that live in a giant and historic mansion, and he hasn't seen in years. As Camden's family's secrets are revealed, he feels his choice to go no contact has been proven right. But Jules has gotten a taste of the good life and wants her husband to claim the legacy left by his late mother. As secrets from his mother's past come to light, both Jules and Camden realize there is more to his estranged family than they realized.

I loved this book! I sat down to read it and I didn't stop until I'd finished it! The writing kept me captivated throughout the book and it was so easy to get into and so hard to put down.

The characters in this book were equal parts infuriating and lovable. I loved that the book was told from multiple characters points of view and that it contained artifacts from the family's past to give you a better understanding of them.

Ruby McTavish died the richest woman in North Carolina and left her fortune to her adopted son. Married four times, widowed four times. Kidnapped as a child and returned eight months later, Baby Ruby was a celebrity. But she always wondered… Was she Ruby?

Cam and Jules love their life in Colorado, but Cam gets called home to NC to deal with his inheritance. His family has something up their sleeve, though. They’ve never been happy that Ruby left ALL the money to someone not blood related.

Secrets are revealed and nobody is left untouched.

Such an amazing read! I’d give more than five stars if I could! Rachel Hawkins is such a phenomenal storyteller.

The McTavish house (more like mansion) is as well known for its opulence as its tragedy. Baby Ruby goes missing when she’s 3, and they don’t get her back until a year later. When she grows up, she’s followed by bad luck- 4 dead husbands. There’s no way it could be a coincidence but money buys secrecy. Before she dies, she adopts and raises a young boy named Cam so that she can leave her entire inheritance to him and not her leeching sister and her family. When Ruby dies and Cam is forced to face his family again, this time with his wife Jules, the stakes are even higher.
💭Thoughts💭
I can’t say enough about Hawkins’ writing. I flew through this book and was so entranced with the story. While I could figure some plot points out, there were many that I couldn’t pinpoint. Ruby was such a dimensional character, as was Jules. The conversational nature of Hawkins’ books just really reels you in.
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⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
All of the letters about Ruby’s husbands and the news articles interspersed added to the story big time. You got points of view from Cam, Jules, Ruby, and the general public/news.
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🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
Jules loves having coffee on the front porch. Sip some coffee from a gorgeous view and write a letter to someone you love.

BOOK REVIEW: ✨💚🏯 The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Wowza! What did I just read?This is my favorite Rachel Hawkin’s book yet. I loved the pace and multiple points of view. None of the characters were all that likable and everyone was a big fat liar, but it worked for me. 😝 I never knew where this book was going and I couldn’t possibly guess all of the twists/lies.

I really did enjoy it but there was so much going on. I sometimes had to pause to be like wait, what?! A kidnapping of a baby, a heiress that has had five dead ex-husbands (by her hand or by really bad luck?), family rivalries, beautiful scenery, and SO MUCH DRAMA.

I ate it up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress @ladyhawkins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Add this one to your TBR coming to a bookseller near you January 2024!

I wasn’t sure going into this book what it would be. What originally drew me into this book was the cover. For me this was Rachel Hawkins' best book. I absolutely loved this book. The twists and turns were incredible. I did find it slightly slow at the start, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this book, finished it super fast !
I loved the different point of views and the story was very interesting ! Definitely recommend !

A solid suspense that I can see being popular with book clubs.
Thanks for the ARC to the publisher and NetGalley.

This was such a binge worthy book! I read it in one day! This was my first book by the author but I can’t wait to read more by them! If you love family drama, slow burn and suspense with gothic vibes then you will love this! It opens up with a bang and kept me entertained the whole book. I loved the alternating POVs and all the letters. There were also some great twists! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and the amazing author, @ladyhawkins for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my honest review! The Heiress is available for preorder now and will be published January 9. Do yourself a favor and preorder your copy right MEOW!

Ruby McTavish lived a life bathed in luxury and scandal. Four husbands that all met their demise under suspicious conditions. A media darling after her supposed kidnapping and return to her affluent parents. But now her adopted son, Camden, is left to pick up the pieces and reconcile the tainted past in the wake of her death. But as the sole heir of her estate, Cam wants nothing to do with any of it - the legacy, the estate, the money, and especially the family. When he’s called home to help handle repairs to Ashby House in the wake of his uncle’s passing he and his wife, Jules, pack up and head to Tavistock. Once there it doesn’t take long for Jules to poke around and pick at the loose threads of the past. Will Jules find the answers she’s seeking or will she unearth secrets that are best lest buried?

OMG! This was everything I hoped for in a new Rachel Hawkins book. It had the intrigue of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the cutthroat family shenanigans of Not A Happy Family. I did suspect the big twist coming but it was so satisfying to be proven right and see it all playing out. I’d kill to be in that Waffle House meeting. IYKYK. I highly recommend for those who love vigilante shit and thrillers.

TW: murder, poisoning, bl@ckmail, kidnapping, @buse, coverup

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in less than 24 hours because I just could not out it down! I even caught myself thinking about while I was working. I immediately picked up after work and finished the last 200 pages in 3 hours! Do yourself a favor and read this book!