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The legacies
Old money. New secrets. One killer party.
Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.
So it’s not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they're all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She’s a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?
The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip.
Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess.
No one expects their secrets to come out.
Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.
Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.
So it’s not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they're all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She’s a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?
The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip.
Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess.
No one expects their secrets to come out.
Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2023
381 people are currently reading
37255 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Goodman
6 books2,164 followersJessica Goodman is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult thrillers They Wish they Were Us, They’ll Never Catch Us, The Counselors, and The Legacies.
She is the former op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and was part of the 2017 team that won a National Magazine Award in personal service. She has also held editorial positions at Entertainment Weekly and HuffPost, and her work has been published in outlets like Glamour, Condé Nast Traveler, The Cut, Elle, Bustle, and Marie Claire.
She is the former op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and was part of the 2017 team that won a National Magazine Award in personal service. She has also held editorial positions at Entertainment Weekly and HuffPost, and her work has been published in outlets like Glamour, Condé Nast Traveler, The Cut, Elle, Bustle, and Marie Claire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,072 reviews
February 20, 2025
"Legacies" is a mysterious teen drama with vibes reminiscent of "Gossip Girl" meets "Pretty Little Liars," rather than a thriller. However, there are many intriguing mysteries perfectly blended into the main whodunit and who died theme, including big secrets that the characters are hiding from each other, a missing mother, lots of betrayal, backstabbing, cheating, and corruption that will lure you to flip the pages a little faster.
The story moves back and forth between the night of the Legacies Ball and the POVs of Bernie and Isobel, two privileged and golden girls with tons of secrets, and Tori, a scholarship student and an outsider who finds herself chosen to be part of the six Legacy students. The Legacy Ball turns into a tragedy with the death of someone, but we don’t know the victim's identity. Was it a parent from the ball committee or a student who might have accidentally fallen or been pushed from the balcony? Is it a murder, suicide, or accident investigation?
The Legacy Club in New York City gives the chosen students a lifetime access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors, providing the privilege to attend any Ivy League school they dream of, helping them not only climb but also directly fly up the ladders of corporate success like a rocket. Their high education and job safety at any industry they desire will be given by the tight-knitted connections of community members.
Bernie Kaplan is a strict, eyes-on-the-prize, mommy’s girl who is dating her childhood friend Skyler Hawkins, as their parents have planned their marriage for years. Isobel Rothcroft is an aspiring artist and party girl who always takes care of Bernie when she loses control (lately, she occasionally finds her head stuck into the toilet bowl). They are the popular girls of Excelsior Prep. When Tori Tasso, a scholarship kid from Queens that nobody knows, gets selected to the Legacy Club, the other five students start questioning who may have nominated her. But Tori gets her approval in an illegitimate way. She keeps a big secret, and she needs the prize money to pay her family's business debt, so she cannot deal with the drama between the other privileged club students.
Isobel hides something big about Skyler, and if she comes clean to Bernie, their friendship may be destroyed forever. Bernie cannot find her mother, who seems to have vanished into thin air.
Which one of them died that night? And, more importantly, which one of them is involved in a crime?
Overall, the writing style is intriguing and riveting, forcing you to keep your guesses until the end. Even though I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and I didn't care much about which one of them died, I couldn't stop reading. The execution is definitely satisfying. The ending is also well wrapped up, and all my questions are answered without any loopholes. I’m giving it four mysterious teen drama stars, and I'm looking forward to reading more works of Jessica Goodman in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story moves back and forth between the night of the Legacies Ball and the POVs of Bernie and Isobel, two privileged and golden girls with tons of secrets, and Tori, a scholarship student and an outsider who finds herself chosen to be part of the six Legacy students. The Legacy Ball turns into a tragedy with the death of someone, but we don’t know the victim's identity. Was it a parent from the ball committee or a student who might have accidentally fallen or been pushed from the balcony? Is it a murder, suicide, or accident investigation?
The Legacy Club in New York City gives the chosen students a lifetime access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors, providing the privilege to attend any Ivy League school they dream of, helping them not only climb but also directly fly up the ladders of corporate success like a rocket. Their high education and job safety at any industry they desire will be given by the tight-knitted connections of community members.
Bernie Kaplan is a strict, eyes-on-the-prize, mommy’s girl who is dating her childhood friend Skyler Hawkins, as their parents have planned their marriage for years. Isobel Rothcroft is an aspiring artist and party girl who always takes care of Bernie when she loses control (lately, she occasionally finds her head stuck into the toilet bowl). They are the popular girls of Excelsior Prep. When Tori Tasso, a scholarship kid from Queens that nobody knows, gets selected to the Legacy Club, the other five students start questioning who may have nominated her. But Tori gets her approval in an illegitimate way. She keeps a big secret, and she needs the prize money to pay her family's business debt, so she cannot deal with the drama between the other privileged club students.
Isobel hides something big about Skyler, and if she comes clean to Bernie, their friendship may be destroyed forever. Bernie cannot find her mother, who seems to have vanished into thin air.
Which one of them died that night? And, more importantly, which one of them is involved in a crime?
Overall, the writing style is intriguing and riveting, forcing you to keep your guesses until the end. Even though I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and I didn't care much about which one of them died, I couldn't stop reading. The execution is definitely satisfying. The ending is also well wrapped up, and all my questions are answered without any loopholes. I’m giving it four mysterious teen drama stars, and I'm looking forward to reading more works of Jessica Goodman in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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July 29, 2023
3.5/5⭐️ I have been all about the thrills this summer and really enjoyed this fun new YA thriller that’s so reminiscent of Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, both of which I loved. I always enjoy a peek into the world of the elite, debutant balls and all, and found myself as curious about this cast of characters as I was in the whodunit and what happened.
I am such a sucker for a dual timeline. Add in one told from not one, not two, but three points of view and I. Am. Hooked. As a result, I wound up binging this one in an afternoon on audio.
Read if you like:
•Manhattan elite
•gossip girl
•dual timelines
•pretty little liars vibes
•dark academia
•multiple povs
Thank you {partners} Booksparks, Penguin Teen and PRH Audio for my gifted copies.
I am such a sucker for a dual timeline. Add in one told from not one, not two, but three points of view and I. Am. Hooked. As a result, I wound up binging this one in an afternoon on audio.
Read if you like:
•Manhattan elite
•gossip girl
•dual timelines
•pretty little liars vibes
•dark academia
•multiple povs
Thank you {partners} Booksparks, Penguin Teen and PRH Audio for my gifted copies.
October 6, 2023
Thank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook! Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted copy to read and review.
This book and audiobook was a good story. There were suspense and mysteries. The story was told through a timeline, before the Legacy Ball and after the Legacy Ball with a few point of views. The story somewhat reminds me of Gossip Girl because of wealthy vs working class and working class infiltrating the wealthy by taking part in their school and club.
Before the Legacy Ball, Bernie who's the one with the leader mom of the Legacy club. She felt destined to be with Skyler who's mom partnered with her dad in a law firm. Isobel is good in art and best friend with Bernie. She knew a secret Skyler kept from Bernie but she needed something from Skyler so she kept quiet. Tori from the working class has ambitions and when she saw a chance to infiltrate, she jumped at it even though she didn't play by the rules to get it. After the ball, there is a view of the police investigating a death.
The story was good but I thought there were some loose ends. Looks like Tori's nomination was determined by someone else so what happened to Tori's unconventional way to get what she wanted? And the big kill, why? I didn't notice her being manipulated into anything by anyone. Also, why did that girl fainted on the street? Did she see something? Narrator did well and I enjoyed it.
This book and audiobook was a good story. There were suspense and mysteries. The story was told through a timeline, before the Legacy Ball and after the Legacy Ball with a few point of views. The story somewhat reminds me of Gossip Girl because of wealthy vs working class and working class infiltrating the wealthy by taking part in their school and club.
Before the Legacy Ball, Bernie who's the one with the leader mom of the Legacy club. She felt destined to be with Skyler who's mom partnered with her dad in a law firm. Isobel is good in art and best friend with Bernie. She knew a secret Skyler kept from Bernie but she needed something from Skyler so she kept quiet. Tori from the working class has ambitions and when she saw a chance to infiltrate, she jumped at it even though she didn't play by the rules to get it. After the ball, there is a view of the police investigating a death.
The story was good but I thought there were some loose ends. Looks like Tori's nomination was determined by someone else so what happened to Tori's unconventional way to get what she wanted? And the big kill, why? I didn't notice her being manipulated into anything by anyone. Also, why did that girl fainted on the street? Did she see something? Narrator did well and I enjoyed it.
July 3, 2023
I had high hopes for The Legacies. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed by 52% What killed it were the shallow, self-serving characters, and the party central daily atmosphere. Add in teen angst, drug use, and parents that don't really care about their teens except for the prestige of them becoming a Legacy Club member, and you have a recipe that takes away from the real mystery/murder.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view across multiple timelines. It can get confusing if you're not paying attention or if you happen to start reading the novel mid chapter after you've set it down for a few hours.
With the exception of the character of Tori, I didn't care for any of the other characters nor their respective parents. Their "holier than thou," and condescending attitudes just didn't quite sit well with me. Though one could argue that, that's the beauty of those characters if they could invoke such strong feelings.
It just seemed that with all of the teen drama, the murder just took a backseat to all of the goings on. Maybe I'll revisit The Legacies at another time. But from what I've read in the spoilers, it won't be anytime soon. One unfortunate DNF star.
I received an ARC from Penguin Teen through BookishFirst. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view across multiple timelines. It can get confusing if you're not paying attention or if you happen to start reading the novel mid chapter after you've set it down for a few hours.
With the exception of the character of Tori, I didn't care for any of the other characters nor their respective parents. Their "holier than thou," and condescending attitudes just didn't quite sit well with me. Though one could argue that, that's the beauty of those characters if they could invoke such strong feelings.
It just seemed that with all of the teen drama, the murder just took a backseat to all of the goings on. Maybe I'll revisit The Legacies at another time. But from what I've read in the spoilers, it won't be anytime soon. One unfortunate DNF star.
I received an ARC from Penguin Teen through BookishFirst. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 1, 2023
Calling all fans of Gossip Girl and Anna K, this YA murder mystery is chocked full of rich UES prep-school drama. I devoured it!
July 18, 2023
I was excited when I received a copy of this book because I love a good thriller set in a private school setting. I will admit it took me a little bit to get into the story, I think in large part because none of the characters were particularly likable, but I felt like they fit in the world created or the book. The mystery was a little bit simplistic and I was hoping for me, but I did love the general format of showing an event and then instantly going to the past to show what happened leading up to that event. The story centers around a group of prep school seniors who have been tapped to enter a secret society which will hook them up with connections for their whole lives. 3 of the kids weren’t surprised, their families are all also members, but one member is a scholarship student and there is more to her invite than meets the eye. I found this to be a pretty quick and fun read in general. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded dead up because it was such a fast read.
March 11, 2023
I’ll be honest- I am not a fan of Goodman’s writing. Her books definitely deserve all the bad ratings, and my own subsequent one star.
However.
This one, this is the one that all authors wait for. Through all the shit editing, the bad dialogue, the barely flushed out plot. It’s this moment. The moment that they FINALLY write something worthwhile.
This was intense and wild and just crazy enough to work. More twists than a Gossip Girl episode with all of the drama and glamour you can handle. I don’t want to say too much because I think it’s better to go in blind, but I do think that even if you’re also not thrilled with any of her books, or you’ve never read her before because of her less than stellar ratings, definitely try this one.
However.
This one, this is the one that all authors wait for. Through all the shit editing, the bad dialogue, the barely flushed out plot. It’s this moment. The moment that they FINALLY write something worthwhile.
This was intense and wild and just crazy enough to work. More twists than a Gossip Girl episode with all of the drama and glamour you can handle. I don’t want to say too much because I think it’s better to go in blind, but I do think that even if you’re also not thrilled with any of her books, or you’ve never read her before because of her less than stellar ratings, definitely try this one.
July 17, 2023
4.5/5 stars, a quick and fun thriller read
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Razorbill for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I've had the pleasure of reading all of Jessica Goodman's books, most of them as arcs from Penguin Teen throughout the years, and I can honestly say that they're really fun. Most of her stories are very quick reads and relatively short as well, which makes a great combination for a thriller. I don't read many thriller or mystery books anymore, especially in the young adult category, but this author always manages to create an interesting story for me to enjoy.
This story focuses on a high-society club that has a lot of secrets and mysteries surrounding some of the members, especially the new initiates. Every year there are a group of teenagers from the best schools in New York that are nominated and then accepted into this club, that's essentially secret, and then they are forever "one of them." This year seems to be the same until one of the main character's mom goes missing (and she is one to be involved with everything), there's an unexpected nomination, and some teenage drama in the mix as well. While reading about rich people drama isn't something I do too often, when I do read it every now and then it usually is interesting, but Goodman made it even more fun.
While the plotline moved fast and kept up a great pace for such a short book, I wish there had been a little more depth behind some of the actions and events that happened. It felt like the story was reaching for that but couldn't quite make it there, though on multiple levels it was still really fun to read all the twists happening, many that I admit I did not predict. Other than that, I wish there had been a bit more description of the setting to make it really feel set in New York, because it felt here that it could have just been in any big city, but it wasn't enough for me to not enjoy the story. I did also really enjoy how we got snippets of "after the murder" because it really helped build the suspense for it.
The main points of view in this book are Bernie, Isobel, and Tori though I would argue some of the other main characters include Lee and Skylar (boyfriends of Isobel & Bernie respectively). They all played an essential part in the story with a few more characters coming in later. Bernie and Tori were a lot more compelling to me, just because of the things happening in their lives, which was a lot. Isobel could have been a little more interesting if there had been more depth behind her just having mental health issues and doing drugs and alcohol all the time. While it was annoying to see her spiral, I also did not blame her because of her mental health issues, I just wish there had been more expansion on her.
[TW: underage drinking, blood, murder, death of a parent mentioned, underage drugs]
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Razorbill for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I've had the pleasure of reading all of Jessica Goodman's books, most of them as arcs from Penguin Teen throughout the years, and I can honestly say that they're really fun. Most of her stories are very quick reads and relatively short as well, which makes a great combination for a thriller. I don't read many thriller or mystery books anymore, especially in the young adult category, but this author always manages to create an interesting story for me to enjoy.
This story focuses on a high-society club that has a lot of secrets and mysteries surrounding some of the members, especially the new initiates. Every year there are a group of teenagers from the best schools in New York that are nominated and then accepted into this club, that's essentially secret, and then they are forever "one of them." This year seems to be the same until one of the main character's mom goes missing (and she is one to be involved with everything), there's an unexpected nomination, and some teenage drama in the mix as well. While reading about rich people drama isn't something I do too often, when I do read it every now and then it usually is interesting, but Goodman made it even more fun.
While the plotline moved fast and kept up a great pace for such a short book, I wish there had been a little more depth behind some of the actions and events that happened. It felt like the story was reaching for that but couldn't quite make it there, though on multiple levels it was still really fun to read all the twists happening, many that I admit I did not predict. Other than that, I wish there had been a bit more description of the setting to make it really feel set in New York, because it felt here that it could have just been in any big city, but it wasn't enough for me to not enjoy the story. I did also really enjoy how we got snippets of "after the murder" because it really helped build the suspense for it.
The main points of view in this book are Bernie, Isobel, and Tori though I would argue some of the other main characters include Lee and Skylar (boyfriends of Isobel & Bernie respectively). They all played an essential part in the story with a few more characters coming in later. Bernie and Tori were a lot more compelling to me, just because of the things happening in their lives, which was a lot. Isobel could have been a little more interesting if there had been more depth behind her just having mental health issues and doing drugs and alcohol all the time. While it was annoying to see her spiral, I also did not blame her because of her mental health issues, I just wish there had been more expansion on her.
[TW: underage drinking, blood, murder, death of a parent mentioned, underage drugs]
July 25, 2023
Gossip Girl but with murder?
The Legacies is a YA thriller set among elite high school students in New York City in the process of joining the exclusive Legacy Club. The night of the annual ball, someone is dead and we go back to uncover who, why, and the web of backstabbing and secrets that link these characters together...
Bernie's mom has talked for years about her daughter joining the ranks of the Legacy Club, but now when initiation week is here her mom has disappeared. Things have also been rocky with her best friend Isobel ever since a party on Shelter Island where something happened involving her boyfriend.
Isobel has plenty of secrets, but one she's hiding from herself is how her penchant for illicit substances has edged dangerously into addiction and she's beginning to spiral at the worst possible time.
Tori is the outsider, the scholarship student who no one really knows and she's on a mission to save her dad's diner from financial ruin. But she's hiding things from her girlfriend...
This was a solid YA thriller taking a look at the dark and petty side of the elite and the way that wealth and privilege protect them. I do think it feels a little long and I would have liked something either more propulsive or with more in-depth character work. Because the book takes place in such a discrete period of time, we don't necessarily get a deep understanding of the characters or the relationships they have with each other. Also the way it keeps the identity of the dead person a secret even in the present timeline can feel a bit manufactured. Still, I found it fairly interesting and enjoyable with a bit of a twist ending.
I keep reading Jessica Goodman books because I always like them, but so far nothing has matched the excellence of her second novel They'll Never Catch Us which was incredible. I think a lot of readers will like this one though! Note that there is some intense addiction content with Isobel which may bother some readers. I received a copy of this book for review from Penguin Teen, all opinions are my own.
The Legacies is a YA thriller set among elite high school students in New York City in the process of joining the exclusive Legacy Club. The night of the annual ball, someone is dead and we go back to uncover who, why, and the web of backstabbing and secrets that link these characters together...
Bernie's mom has talked for years about her daughter joining the ranks of the Legacy Club, but now when initiation week is here her mom has disappeared. Things have also been rocky with her best friend Isobel ever since a party on Shelter Island where something happened involving her boyfriend.
Isobel has plenty of secrets, but one she's hiding from herself is how her penchant for illicit substances has edged dangerously into addiction and she's beginning to spiral at the worst possible time.
Tori is the outsider, the scholarship student who no one really knows and she's on a mission to save her dad's diner from financial ruin. But she's hiding things from her girlfriend...
This was a solid YA thriller taking a look at the dark and petty side of the elite and the way that wealth and privilege protect them. I do think it feels a little long and I would have liked something either more propulsive or with more in-depth character work. Because the book takes place in such a discrete period of time, we don't necessarily get a deep understanding of the characters or the relationships they have with each other. Also the way it keeps the identity of the dead person a secret even in the present timeline can feel a bit manufactured. Still, I found it fairly interesting and enjoyable with a bit of a twist ending.
I keep reading Jessica Goodman books because I always like them, but so far nothing has matched the excellence of her second novel They'll Never Catch Us which was incredible. I think a lot of readers will like this one though! Note that there is some intense addiction content with Isobel which may bother some readers. I received a copy of this book for review from Penguin Teen, all opinions are my own.
December 20, 2023
Other people have McManus as their go to for YA thriller or mystery content, I have Jessica Goodman. I know that if Goodman is behind the pen then I'm in for a good time. She'll write a book that I'll want to see play out. It's never anything overly complicated, just compelling enough to spend the day with. It's the book version of a comfort movie that you can put on and have on in the background.
This time around we are following a trio of New York Prep School children chosen to be part of the elite social club. We watch as one of their parents goes missing and long buried secrets find their way to the surface.
Like the rest of Goodman's work the book doesn't overstay its welcome and I was invested from the first page. It does help that I'm a sucker for a story set in New York following children that have more money than a person should have, but even that wasn't necessarily the focus of this story. While I fully admit this won't be a five star for everyone, I do think that Goodman writes books that most people will at least enjoy and this is certainly no different.
This time around we are following a trio of New York Prep School children chosen to be part of the elite social club. We watch as one of their parents goes missing and long buried secrets find their way to the surface.
Like the rest of Goodman's work the book doesn't overstay its welcome and I was invested from the first page. It does help that I'm a sucker for a story set in New York following children that have more money than a person should have, but even that wasn't necessarily the focus of this story. While I fully admit this won't be a five star for everyone, I do think that Goodman writes books that most people will at least enjoy and this is certainly no different.
April 27, 2024
2.5⭐️
the ivies did it better
the ivies did it better
January 31, 2024
Let me start by saying there is nothing overtly wrong with this book. I just found it a little slow and it didn’t reinvent the wheel by any means. I loved the premise and the character development was decent. The story jumps time lines from present day to the past and switches POV. It was easy to follow, but nothing memorable about it. I had high hopes because the premise of an elite club revolving around money and academia is compelling! However, there wasn’t enough of the actual club for me. It centers more around the process of being a member and I wanted more of the secrecy behind closed doors once you are IN the club. Maybe it was my fault for thinking it was going to be one thing, but I was a little disappointed.
April 15, 2024
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.
This is my first book from the author and definitely not the last. I love how she describes each scenes and its just amazing how she keeps the fun and mysterious blend together.
TW: underage drinking, blood, murder, death of a parent mentioned, underage drugs
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.
This is my first book from the author and definitely not the last. I love how she describes each scenes and its just amazing how she keeps the fun and mysterious blend together.
TW: underage drinking, blood, murder, death of a parent mentioned, underage drugs
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January 1, 2025i feel like i gained nothing from reading this book
April 24, 2024
gossip girl mixed with suspense and murder???? literally right up my alley. this book is so incredibly underrated and honestly deserves as much attention as agggtm!
i had finished the reappearance of rachel price and unfortunately it just wasn’t my favorite in terms of suspense/mystery (IM SORRY it was still a good concept) 😭😭 so i needed something to fill my mystery void.
THANKFULLY I FOUND THIS??
this book had me gripping every page until the end. the flashforward scenes left me so confused and wanting to read more. it’s so fast-paced, i quite literally finished this in one day. the glamour, the suspense, I ADORED IT ALL.
tori has to be my fav character, i genuinely adored her so much. + her relationship w joss was very cute. bernie reminded me of blair waldorf but if she was a bit more empathetic haha. the development of tori & bernie’s friendship was so sweet :)
but isobel… 🤨
im confused why we got her pov at all LMFAO. she was so very irrelevant to the main plot, and i was bored throughout most of her chapters. it’s the only reason this book lost a star. most of her chapters involved ‘i’m going to be better. bernie sucks but she’s my bff… but i don’t want to live in her shadows. i actually don’t like my bf either.’ then the chapter ends w her blacking out drunk? i found it to be really unnecessary and repetitive.
lastly, the ending was SO tastefully done. i think the biggest issue i had w trorp was how unrealistically the ending was written and how all the character development was thrown away. like after all that trauma uve gotta be a bit screwed up…?? in contrast this book showcases the characters having a full arc but still grieving and though things ended happily, the world wasnt all of a sudden sunshine and rainbows 🙌🙌🙌
ugh this book was so good. the suspense was done SO AMAZINGLY & i liked tori and bernie sm. def def def recommend.
i had finished the reappearance of rachel price and unfortunately it just wasn’t my favorite in terms of suspense/mystery (IM SORRY it was still a good concept) 😭😭 so i needed something to fill my mystery void.
THANKFULLY I FOUND THIS??
this book had me gripping every page until the end. the flashforward scenes left me so confused and wanting to read more. it’s so fast-paced, i quite literally finished this in one day. the glamour, the suspense, I ADORED IT ALL.
tori has to be my fav character, i genuinely adored her so much. + her relationship w joss was very cute. bernie reminded me of blair waldorf but if she was a bit more empathetic haha. the development of tori & bernie’s friendship was so sweet :)
but isobel… 🤨
im confused why we got her pov at all LMFAO. she was so very irrelevant to the main plot, and i was bored throughout most of her chapters. it’s the only reason this book lost a star. most of her chapters involved ‘i’m going to be better. bernie sucks but she’s my bff… but i don’t want to live in her shadows. i actually don’t like my bf either.’ then the chapter ends w her blacking out drunk? i found it to be really unnecessary and repetitive.
lastly, the ending was SO tastefully done. i think the biggest issue i had w trorp was how unrealistically the ending was written and how all the character development was thrown away. like after all that trauma uve gotta be a bit screwed up…?? in contrast this book showcases the characters having a full arc but still grieving and though things ended happily, the world wasnt all of a sudden sunshine and rainbows 🙌🙌🙌
ugh this book was so good. the suspense was done SO AMAZINGLY & i liked tori and bernie sm. def def def recommend.
July 21, 2024
.....wow
February 18, 2024
Deze YA mystery is dan wel niet zo spannend als Moordgids voor lieve meisjes, maar heeft me toch aangenaam verrast.
Het begin vond ik wat aan de saaie kant, maar stilaan begon de spanning opgedreven te worden en was het moeilijk om het boek weg te leggen omdat ik gewoon moest weten wat er ging gebeurde en hoe dat alles had kunnen gebeuren.
Aanrader!
Het begin vond ik wat aan de saaie kant, maar stilaan begon de spanning opgedreven te worden en was het moeilijk om het boek weg te leggen omdat ik gewoon moest weten wat er ging gebeurde en hoe dat alles had kunnen gebeuren.
Aanrader!
June 5, 2023
a lot of people have compared this book to Gossip Girl but i think it was more similar to the famous spanish netflix show Elite in many ways. first, the setting is a private school with rich and uptight characters. second, there is a scholarship character. third, there is a murder with continuous foreshadowing of the investigation after each chapter until it leads up to the day of the murder.
i don’t have a problem with it being similar to Elite because I loved the show so much. however, when it is that similar it is almost impossible for me not to compare the two. one of the issues of this book was the pacing. there was so much focus on irrelevant details in the book and the parts that should’ve been explored more weren’t. for example, i would’ve loved to know more about the other presentations. i also think that the “character development” was poorly done. bernie’s development is so sudden and random that it doesn’t make sense. isobel didn’t really have one? and i was rooting for tori so bad but there was not enough emphasis on her character. although she had a consistent pov, it still felt like she was a background character.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
i don’t have a problem with it being similar to Elite because I loved the show so much. however, when it is that similar it is almost impossible for me not to compare the two. one of the issues of this book was the pacing. there was so much focus on irrelevant details in the book and the parts that should’ve been explored more weren’t. for example, i would’ve loved to know more about the other presentations. i also think that the “character development” was poorly done. bernie’s development is so sudden and random that it doesn’t make sense. isobel didn’t really have one? and i was rooting for tori so bad but there was not enough emphasis on her character. although she had a consistent pov, it still felt like she was a background character.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2024
4 stars ⭐️
”It’s the place that people think will make their dreams come true, where they can come to be whoever they want. But no one will tell them the truth: that there are so many people here who already have what you want, and they’ll do anything to make sure you don’t get it.”
i really liked this book. it had those fun prep school vibes and it was set in new york which i love. the only thing i didn’t like was that the ending was so rushed!
”It’s the place that people think will make their dreams come true, where they can come to be whoever they want. But no one will tell them the truth: that there are so many people here who already have what you want, and they’ll do anything to make sure you don’t get it.”
i really liked this book. it had those fun prep school vibes and it was set in new york which i love. the only thing i didn’t like was that the ending was so rushed!
November 21, 2023
"The Legacies" by Jessica Goodman was a major letdown for me. 😔 I barely even got into the book before I was completely disgusted by the content.
Can authors stop with the constant teen drinking and teens doing drugs. It's not a cute topic and never will be.
Content warning:
Language: F***, and S***
Teen drinking
Drugs (main character was secretly getting Xanax from her bf. )
Can authors stop with the constant teen drinking and teens doing drugs. It's not a cute topic and never will be.
Content warning:
Language: F***, and S***
Teen drinking
Drugs (main character was secretly getting Xanax from her bf. )
April 25, 2025
3,75⭐️
Une petite enquête ado bien comme je les aime : c’est addictif, bien mené avec du suspens jusqu’à la fin et des rebondissements comme il faut, avec des intrigues prenantes pour chaque personnage… il n’y en a qu’un qui m’a laissée un peu sceptique, j’avouuuue, autant dans sa construction que dans son arc narratif mais dans l’ensemble, j’ai beaucoup aimé cette lecture !
Une petite enquête ado bien comme je les aime : c’est addictif, bien mené avec du suspens jusqu’à la fin et des rebondissements comme il faut, avec des intrigues prenantes pour chaque personnage… il n’y en a qu’un qui m’a laissée un peu sceptique, j’avouuuue, autant dans sa construction que dans son arc narratif mais dans l’ensemble, j’ai beaucoup aimé cette lecture !
July 17, 2023
I’m such a sucker for exclusive societies, and Goodman does a fantastic job with this story!
Review to come.
Review to come.
July 20, 2023
3.75 - Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for the advance copy!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary copy!
This book will be published on July 25.
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
This is not my first Jessica Goodman book and every time there's a new release I always find myself being drawn her books solely for the covers. Plus growing up in the days of Gossip Girl, messy, rich, high school kids are always a fun ride.
I am conflicting on how I feel about this because I was drawn to the premise and wanted to know who died & who the killer was. I had previously done audio only for Goodman's prior work and I got about 40% in before I received access to the audio and until then it was a struggle for me to read. Once I got the audio and did them in tandem, it was just a better experience for me (also the narrators were great). I will say this was probably my favorite out of the ones I read.
I love the way Goodman was able to put us in the space of an elite high school and how status and who you know is everything. I like the way she broke the story up between the present (at the crime scene) and leading up to the Ball. We could speculate who was the victim and who caused the death and naturally I was wrong as always. These high schoolers in this book felt so much more wiser beyond their years. I know I definitely wasn't has poised and smart as these kids are.
It is hard to say the things I want to say without giving away spoilers but there was a certain character whose actions really bothered me. And those who read may feel the same way??
I will probably continue to check out Goodman's future work because I do get invested into the storylines and I need to see how it ends.
I recommend this if you love multi POVs, unreliable narrators, messy, rich, high school students with messy parents.
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary copy!
This book will be published on July 25.
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
This is not my first Jessica Goodman book and every time there's a new release I always find myself being drawn her books solely for the covers. Plus growing up in the days of Gossip Girl, messy, rich, high school kids are always a fun ride.
I am conflicting on how I feel about this because I was drawn to the premise and wanted to know who died & who the killer was. I had previously done audio only for Goodman's prior work and I got about 40% in before I received access to the audio and until then it was a struggle for me to read. Once I got the audio and did them in tandem, it was just a better experience for me (also the narrators were great). I will say this was probably my favorite out of the ones I read.
I love the way Goodman was able to put us in the space of an elite high school and how status and who you know is everything. I like the way she broke the story up between the present (at the crime scene) and leading up to the Ball. We could speculate who was the victim and who caused the death and naturally I was wrong as always. These high schoolers in this book felt so much more wiser beyond their years. I know I definitely wasn't has poised and smart as these kids are.
It is hard to say the things I want to say without giving away spoilers but there was a certain character whose actions really bothered me. And those who read may feel the same way??
I will probably continue to check out Goodman's future work because I do get invested into the storylines and I need to see how it ends.
I recommend this if you love multi POVs, unreliable narrators, messy, rich, high school students with messy parents.
April 25, 2023
I am so SO thrilled with how this book played out.
I fucking love Jessica Goodman. Thank you, bookish first for the ARC ! I already bought the hardcover copy for July.
I think I audibly yelled “good, die” when the murder victim was revealed, and the motive, and the killer. Every time I thought there wasn’t more to the story, I was so pleasantly surprised to find out there was so much more to it than that. This was my favorite book of hers yet, more so because it was about rich snobs getting what they deserve and less about the “murder mystery”. I do always love a murder mystery, don’t get me wrong, but I LOVE these prep school thrillers with perfect little rich kids finding out that maybe their entire life is a lie and that their families aren’t so perfect as they thought. I eat it up EVERY time.
Finished in one sitting, like always. Now I need about five to ten business days to recover. Glad I have a platform to talk about this with.
July 25, 2023
I have read every book by this author. They Wish They Were Us, They'll Never Catch Us, and the Counselors. It has been slowly going downhill since they wish they were us. I probably should have stopped at the counselors. If you're new to young adult thrillers, or you just REALLY like the genre, I would still recommend this. I just feel like I've been reading the same young adult thrillers over and over, and this one didn't even capture my attention.
July 29, 2023
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Penguin Teen and Razorbill.
Old money. New secrets. One killer party. Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.
So it is not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they are all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She is a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?
The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip. Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess. No one expects their secrets to come out. Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.
The Legacies is a YA murder mystery that was reminiscent of Gossip Girl. I am conflicting on how I feel about this because I was drawn to the premise and wanted to know who died and who the killer was. I love the way Goodman was able to put us in the space of an elite high school and how status and who you know is everything. Goodman's writing style is also engaging and fluid, with descriptions that set the atmospheric backdrop for the events. I also liked how she broken the book into present day and leading up to the Ball. I also felt like the characters all stayed surface level and unlikeable. I was also waiting for a big twist/reveal which never came. This book is great if you need a super easy read, something light and not too serious. I was kinda happy that they did not reveal who was killed until the end, because that is what kept me motivated me to finish the book. The book was a quick read and some plot twists felt predictable and boring. I would however, recommend reading if you like young adult high school dramas.
Old money. New secrets. One killer party. Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.
So it is not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they are all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She is a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?
The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip. Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess. No one expects their secrets to come out. Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.
The Legacies is a YA murder mystery that was reminiscent of Gossip Girl. I am conflicting on how I feel about this because I was drawn to the premise and wanted to know who died and who the killer was. I love the way Goodman was able to put us in the space of an elite high school and how status and who you know is everything. Goodman's writing style is also engaging and fluid, with descriptions that set the atmospheric backdrop for the events. I also liked how she broken the book into present day and leading up to the Ball. I also felt like the characters all stayed surface level and unlikeable. I was also waiting for a big twist/reveal which never came. This book is great if you need a super easy read, something light and not too serious. I was kinda happy that they did not reveal who was killed until the end, because that is what kept me motivated me to finish the book. The book was a quick read and some plot twists felt predictable and boring. I would however, recommend reading if you like young adult high school dramas.
July 30, 2023
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.
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.
August 2, 2023
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE LEGACIES by Jessica Goodman in exchange for my honest review.***
4.5 STARS
Six seniors from the prestigious Excelsior school are tapped to join THE LEGACIES. The best, brightest and most talented. Future leaders, judges, politicians, award winning artists. Many of their hotshot parents belong. Bernie, her best friend Isobel, their boyfriends and scholarship student Tori are among the new members. THE LEGACIES have secrets. Their parents have bigger ones.
Jessica Goodman is a writer whose books I preorder and eagerly anticipate because her stories live up to their blurbs. She creates interesting, unique characters set in plots unlike other mysteries and thrillers in YA lit. Goodman’s word building keeps me glued to her books, which I often read in one setting.
Told in the points of view of Bernie, Isobel, Tori and the police investigation, THE LEGACIES is unputdownable. Though a number of characters are horrid, Bernie and Tori gave me characters to embrace through their imperfections.
The beginning was a bit slow, but once the secrets started spilling I my heart was pounding. I can’t wait to see what Goodman writes next.
4.5 STARS
Six seniors from the prestigious Excelsior school are tapped to join THE LEGACIES. The best, brightest and most talented. Future leaders, judges, politicians, award winning artists. Many of their hotshot parents belong. Bernie, her best friend Isobel, their boyfriends and scholarship student Tori are among the new members. THE LEGACIES have secrets. Their parents have bigger ones.
Jessica Goodman is a writer whose books I preorder and eagerly anticipate because her stories live up to their blurbs. She creates interesting, unique characters set in plots unlike other mysteries and thrillers in YA lit. Goodman’s word building keeps me glued to her books, which I often read in one setting.
Told in the points of view of Bernie, Isobel, Tori and the police investigation, THE LEGACIES is unputdownable. Though a number of characters are horrid, Bernie and Tori gave me characters to embrace through their imperfections.
The beginning was a bit slow, but once the secrets started spilling I my heart was pounding. I can’t wait to see what Goodman writes next.
August 16, 2023
✨ 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
[read through an arc through netgalley]
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
[read through an arc through netgalley]
September 8, 2023
4.5 stars. I usually enjoy these elite school/society YA thrillers very much. This one, I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it as much because it wasn't set during the school year/actually in a school setting. Luckily, I still enjoyed the story, the betrayal, the privileged little kids, and everything else that comes with money and being taught you are elite. The scandal that came to light at the end and the turn the book took was just the icing on the cake.
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