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The Heirs
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the investigation into his murder.
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.
These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.
These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
17 people are currently reading
23625 people want to read
About the author
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
22 books5,901 followersFaridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, International bestselling, & Award-winning author of ACE OF SPADES and WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE. In 2024 she was a world book day author with her title THE DOOMSDAY DATE and she also has a Marvel Spider-Verse story coming out this year where she writes a new Spider-Verse character known as Spider-UK/Zarina Zahari. Faridah is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs, and a graduate from a university in Scotland where she received a BA in English Literature. She also has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney channel original movies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
wow. this was amazing and i am so incredibly grateful that i was given an opportunity to read it! this was an amazing thriller with twists and turns and the dark secrets of an affluent family of geniuses🤭 deffo recommend
do u want to know what these rich ass bitches do in their free time? read this!!!
𝓯𝓸𝓾𝓻 .5 𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓪𝓯𝓯𝓵𝓾𝓮𝓷𝓽-𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂-𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓪, 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼
𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰: the greatest by billie eilish
𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼🧸
i am well acquainted with the burning, torturous, agonizing pain of perfection. it’s all i’ve ever wanted to be in my life. if i’m not perfect, if i’m not the greatest, what is the point of doing it? and the deep, deep, shame of not being the best. i know this won’t be relatable to some; i am sure there are many who will be perfectly happy with a 94% on a test and not burst into tears.
but for those who force themselves to be the absolute best at everything, this is the book for you.
also if you love the drama of rich people and geniuses and murder mysteries of the upper echelon.
whichever appeals to you more. also can we just admire the diverse main characters for a second 🙏🙏 we have main characters that are lesbian, bisexual, gay, african, indian, and more like okay sooo marry me 😍
this was an insanely entertaining read and this author has become an auto buy author. i was so absolutely exhilarated to have received the arc, and i cannot thank the author/netgalley/the publisher enough!!
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽🎖
can i just say i adore the writing style? the perfect mix of easy to read yet slightly pedantic, witty yet not overly full of mundane jokes, and descriptive so i can see all the events clearly in my mind? chefs kiss!!
so i would recommend reading the blurb instead of consulting me, but basically rich rich guy adopts 4 kids from random orphanages, for the intent and purpose of seeing nurture vs nature in genius. so: are you born with the genius gene, or can it be acquired?
nurture is the case with fola, octavius, bilal, perdita. and poor romeo… well. nurture didn’t work on him. blah blah let’s get to the point.
their wildly famous and rich father dies.
and it’s murder !!
dun dun dunnnnn!!
so yeah.
i ADORED the plot and the clever plotting was lovely. absolutely wonderful. this is the book version of knives out (which i love more than my family itself) and i lived for it. and, like knives out, i was right about many thing, but the actual twist i can never seem to perfectly nail. i feel like this was written perfectly to give us middle class normal people a glimpse into the life of the rich.
and i LOVED it.
button manor genuinely was written so well i could see it in a way that i could almost feel it viscerally.
𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
these were some of the best, most complex, layered, interesting, lovable characters i have ever read abt. i fell in love with all of them. i will never forget them. the toll that being a genius takes on someone.
goodness.
this was such a good idea and i love how fleshed out every character was.
my fav has to be romeo 🥹 he’s not special or a genius but i love him.
genuinely love everyone and i am very easily annoyed by book characters 💕
𝓲𝓭𝓴 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓼𝓸 𝓭𝓸 𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓬 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼?
100000000000% yes!!!!! i was feeling exceptionally bored lately and this book got me thru it <3
do u want to know what these rich ass bitches do in their free time? read this!!!
𝓯𝓸𝓾𝓻 .5 𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓪𝓯𝓯𝓵𝓾𝓮𝓷𝓽-𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂-𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓪, 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼
𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰: the greatest by billie eilish
𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼🧸
i am well acquainted with the burning, torturous, agonizing pain of perfection. it’s all i’ve ever wanted to be in my life. if i’m not perfect, if i’m not the greatest, what is the point of doing it? and the deep, deep, shame of not being the best. i know this won’t be relatable to some; i am sure there are many who will be perfectly happy with a 94% on a test and not burst into tears.
but for those who force themselves to be the absolute best at everything, this is the book for you.
also if you love the drama of rich people and geniuses and murder mysteries of the upper echelon.
whichever appeals to you more. also can we just admire the diverse main characters for a second 🙏🙏 we have main characters that are lesbian, bisexual, gay, african, indian, and more like okay sooo marry me 😍
this was an insanely entertaining read and this author has become an auto buy author. i was so absolutely exhilarated to have received the arc, and i cannot thank the author/netgalley/the publisher enough!!
𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽🎖
can i just say i adore the writing style? the perfect mix of easy to read yet slightly pedantic, witty yet not overly full of mundane jokes, and descriptive so i can see all the events clearly in my mind? chefs kiss!!
so i would recommend reading the blurb instead of consulting me, but basically rich rich guy adopts 4 kids from random orphanages, for the intent and purpose of seeing nurture vs nature in genius. so: are you born with the genius gene, or can it be acquired?
nurture is the case with fola, octavius, bilal, perdita. and poor romeo… well. nurture didn’t work on him. blah blah let’s get to the point.
their wildly famous and rich father dies.
and it’s murder !!
dun dun dunnnnn!!
so yeah.
i ADORED the plot and the clever plotting was lovely. absolutely wonderful. this is the book version of knives out (which i love more than my family itself) and i lived for it. and, like knives out, i was right about many thing, but the actual twist i can never seem to perfectly nail. i feel like this was written perfectly to give us middle class normal people a glimpse into the life of the rich.
and i LOVED it.
button manor genuinely was written so well i could see it in a way that i could almost feel it viscerally.
𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
these were some of the best, most complex, layered, interesting, lovable characters i have ever read abt. i fell in love with all of them. i will never forget them. the toll that being a genius takes on someone.
goodness.
this was such a good idea and i love how fleshed out every character was.
my fav has to be romeo 🥹 he’s not special or a genius but i love him.
genuinely love everyone and i am very easily annoyed by book characters 💕
𝓲𝓭𝓴 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓼𝓸 𝓭𝓸 𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓬 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼?
100000000000% yes!!!!! i was feeling exceptionally bored lately and this book got me thru it <3
October 26, 2025
I can honestly say I’ve been eagerly anticipating this one ever since I devoured Where the Sleeping Girls Lie and Ace of Spades. Both were brilliant, daring, and refreshingly layered, so when I heard that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé was releasing another YA mystery — this time about five prodigious siblings and their billionaire father’s shocking murder — I jumped right in without hesitation.
From the very first pages, The Heirs of Button Manor had me intrigued. The blood-freezing opening scene sets the stage for a story that feels like a cross between Umbrella Academy (if the superpowers were replaced with pure genius) and The Inheritance Games, with a touch of Knives Out’s dark family intrigue. Each of the five adopted siblings is a prodigy in their own right: Octavius the musical maestro, Fola the mathematical brain, Bilal the Olympic athlete, Perdita the artistic dreamer, and Romeo, the so-called “failure” who can’t seem to measure up.
Together, they are the carefully crafted experiments of their father, Leontes Button — a larger-than-life billionaire obsessed with his own “Button Method” for manufacturing brilliance. But when Leontes is found dead during his grand annual Prodigy Ball, the glamorous event quickly turns into a claustrophobic crime scene. Everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and every prodigy — no matter how perfect — has something to hide.
While the premise promises a classic locked-room mystery, what unfolds is also a deeply emotional, slow-burning family drama filled with tension, secrets, and betrayal. The first half focuses on the siblings’ inner worlds: Octavius’ heartbreak over his ex-boyfriend Anwar, Perdita’s forbidden love with Torin Philips (a modern Romeo & Juliet twist), Bilal’s loss of purpose after a career-ending injury, and Fola’s mysterious connection to Evie — the gardener’s daughter returning from Italy. Meanwhile, Romeo, the “failure,” struggles under the crushing weight of expectation, making him one of the most relatable characters for anyone who’s ever felt like the odd one out.
There were moments when the pacing slowed — especially early on, when the emotional introspection outweighs the mystery — but I never felt bored. Instead, I found myself drawn into the Button siblings’ unhappiness and dysfunction. It’s not just about solving a murder; it’s about understanding how genius and trauma can coexist under the same roof, and how love and resentment can intertwine in families built on impossible expectations.
Then comes the second half — and that’s where the real fireworks begin. Secrets unravel, alliances shift, and the revelations hit hard. The story tightens beautifully, delivering a series of satisfying twists that remind readers why Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of the boldest voices in YA mystery today.
Personally, my heart belonged to Romeo and Octavius. Maybe I just have a soft spot for outsiders and musical prodigies, but their arcs felt the most emotionally resonant and beautifully flawed. The author does a wonderful job portraying them not as caricatures of genius, but as wounded, yearning humans trying to reclaim their sense of self beyond their father’s shadow.
While The Heirs of Button Manor didn’t reach the emotional perfection of Where the Sleeping Girls Lie for me (which I still consider one of the best YA mysteries of recent years), it’s undeniably a rich, ambitious, and thought-provoking story. The character depth and family dynamics are gripping, and the tension never truly lets go.
This is a book about brilliance, ambition, and the cost of being exceptional — and it asks the chilling question: Who are we, when our worth isn’t measured by our achievements?
I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4 for its ambition, complexity, and unforgettable cast of prodigies.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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From the very first pages, The Heirs of Button Manor had me intrigued. The blood-freezing opening scene sets the stage for a story that feels like a cross between Umbrella Academy (if the superpowers were replaced with pure genius) and The Inheritance Games, with a touch of Knives Out’s dark family intrigue. Each of the five adopted siblings is a prodigy in their own right: Octavius the musical maestro, Fola the mathematical brain, Bilal the Olympic athlete, Perdita the artistic dreamer, and Romeo, the so-called “failure” who can’t seem to measure up.
Together, they are the carefully crafted experiments of their father, Leontes Button — a larger-than-life billionaire obsessed with his own “Button Method” for manufacturing brilliance. But when Leontes is found dead during his grand annual Prodigy Ball, the glamorous event quickly turns into a claustrophobic crime scene. Everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and every prodigy — no matter how perfect — has something to hide.
While the premise promises a classic locked-room mystery, what unfolds is also a deeply emotional, slow-burning family drama filled with tension, secrets, and betrayal. The first half focuses on the siblings’ inner worlds: Octavius’ heartbreak over his ex-boyfriend Anwar, Perdita’s forbidden love with Torin Philips (a modern Romeo & Juliet twist), Bilal’s loss of purpose after a career-ending injury, and Fola’s mysterious connection to Evie — the gardener’s daughter returning from Italy. Meanwhile, Romeo, the “failure,” struggles under the crushing weight of expectation, making him one of the most relatable characters for anyone who’s ever felt like the odd one out.
There were moments when the pacing slowed — especially early on, when the emotional introspection outweighs the mystery — but I never felt bored. Instead, I found myself drawn into the Button siblings’ unhappiness and dysfunction. It’s not just about solving a murder; it’s about understanding how genius and trauma can coexist under the same roof, and how love and resentment can intertwine in families built on impossible expectations.
Then comes the second half — and that’s where the real fireworks begin. Secrets unravel, alliances shift, and the revelations hit hard. The story tightens beautifully, delivering a series of satisfying twists that remind readers why Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of the boldest voices in YA mystery today.
Personally, my heart belonged to Romeo and Octavius. Maybe I just have a soft spot for outsiders and musical prodigies, but their arcs felt the most emotionally resonant and beautifully flawed. The author does a wonderful job portraying them not as caricatures of genius, but as wounded, yearning humans trying to reclaim their sense of self beyond their father’s shadow.
While The Heirs of Button Manor didn’t reach the emotional perfection of Where the Sleeping Girls Lie for me (which I still consider one of the best YA mysteries of recent years), it’s undeniably a rich, ambitious, and thought-provoking story. The character depth and family dynamics are gripping, and the tension never truly lets go.
This is a book about brilliance, ambition, and the cost of being exceptional — and it asks the chilling question: Who are we, when our worth isn’t measured by our achievements?
I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4 for its ambition, complexity, and unforgettable cast of prodigies.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
November 24, 2025
Take the umbrella academy sprinkle a little bit of the inheritance games and you have the recipe for this great book.
This book is about five adopted kids, that were a project of a billionaire to "make" prodigies. As you can probably imagine, that didn't go well. Fast forward several years, their father is found dead in a ball and they are suspects of his murder.
The heirs is a mystery impossible to put down. These characters sunk their claws in me almost immediately, I care about all of them deeply.
I love a murder mystery where I can try to guess the culprit, and the heirs gave me exactly that. It kept me in my toes until the very ending, and I absolutely adored the direction the author took with that resolution.
There's a little romance, a lot of childhood trauma and complex characters. I loved it.
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for the ARC!
This book is about five adopted kids, that were a project of a billionaire to "make" prodigies. As you can probably imagine, that didn't go well. Fast forward several years, their father is found dead in a ball and they are suspects of his murder.
The heirs is a mystery impossible to put down. These characters sunk their claws in me almost immediately, I care about all of them deeply.
I love a murder mystery where I can try to guess the culprit, and the heirs gave me exactly that. It kept me in my toes until the very ending, and I absolutely adored the direction the author took with that resolution.
There's a little romance, a lot of childhood trauma and complex characters. I loved it.
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for the ARC!
November 1, 2025
i love this kind of book that mixes murder mystery with family drama and it’s even better when there’s an inheritance involved. this one totally exceeded my expectations! i got hooked right from the first few chapters (which almost never happens) and i loved the sibling dynamics so much. the only thing i didn’t love was the ending but not that it was bad, just a bit anticlimactic. overall though, it was such a fun and fast read!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 stars
wow. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! it was soooo good! I loved (almost) all the characters and it was just so interesting! it's kind of like inheritance games mixed with the secret history (the characters just imagine them less crazy). the writing was really good and some of the metaphors were like beautiful. I really enjoyed the ending. there wasn't really to plot twists per se (except for a few) but more so reveals of things that it has been leading up to.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
salvatore- lana del rey
0:09 ━●────────── 2:47
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
-------˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹ 𐦍 ˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹-------
characters:
octavius 'the maestro' button: I loved tavi. he was my favorite sibling. was he insane? yes. but he was also broken.
fola 'the brain' button: I have mixed feelings about her. I liked her but at the same time I didn't.
bilal 'the olympian' button: he was my 2nd favorite sibling. I loved billy so much.
perdita 'the artist' button: she was just meh for me. didn't love her, didn't hate her
romeo 'the failure' button: he was so cute. he's such a sweetie.
evie gray: I liked her.
anwar shah: I liked him so much too.
henry xu: love him
mr button: no we don't like him.
wow. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! it was soooo good! I loved (almost) all the characters and it was just so interesting! it's kind of like inheritance games mixed with the secret history (the characters just imagine them less crazy). the writing was really good and some of the metaphors were like beautiful. I really enjoyed the ending. there wasn't really to plot twists per se (except for a few) but more so reveals of things that it has been leading up to.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
salvatore- lana del rey
0:09 ━●────────── 2:47
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
-------˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹ 𐦍 ˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹-------
characters:
octavius 'the maestro' button: I loved tavi. he was my favorite sibling. was he insane? yes. but he was also broken.
fola 'the brain' button: I have mixed feelings about her. I liked her but at the same time I didn't.
bilal 'the olympian' button: he was my 2nd favorite sibling. I loved billy so much.
perdita 'the artist' button: she was just meh for me. didn't love her, didn't hate her
romeo 'the failure' button: he was so cute. he's such a sweetie.
evie gray: I liked her.
anwar shah: I liked him so much too.
henry xu: love him
mr button: no we don't like him.
Want to read
August 21, 2025For fans of The Inheritance Games written by the author of Ace of Spades?????? 26’ looks promising!
December 20, 2025
I think that this may be Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's weakest book.
This was still well written and fast paced with lots interesting characters and great queer rep, but overall it felt like trying to do too much in too little pages so everything felt a bit shallow.
There are five main POVs: one for each of the children that billionaire Mr Button adopted to raise to become geniuses. The story follows the Button heirs when they are seventeen as they are all brought back together for their father's annual gala which he is then murdered at. The Button heirs are then held at their father's manor whilst the police investigate and all of their trauma and secrets come to the surface.
Five POVs was just too many - and that's without counting the one off extra POVs from Henry and Evie and all the POVs time jumping backwards. The constant POV switching means that you never fully explore each character so each of their arcs and backstories don't feel fleshed out enough. I think that this really would have benefitted from having only one main POV as so much about each character just felt underdeveloped by the end. Octavius and Romeo were my favourite POVs (the "Maestro" and the "Failure") as Octavius was such a drama queen and his relationship with Fola was so sweet and then it was hard to not feel for Romeo who just could not catch a break. All of the Button heirs were likeable and interesting but I really wish that we'd got more about each of their back stories and individual struggles (like at what point Romeo became the failure, more about Bilal's accident, and more about both sisters' romances - it felt like we were just told these things and not shown them because there wasn't the page space).
One a smaller level there were a few things which I found odd/distracting like the many nicknames for each person, how (despite the fact that all five Button heirs are the same age) they call each other older/younger sibling, and that there aren't many character physical descriptions - other than the brothers' heights and the sisters' outfits I had no idea what most of the protagonists looked like for the first 100 pages which bugged me SO much!
Overall this felt like it was trying to do too many POVs and too many subplots in too little pages so nothing was done in depth enough. This resulted in an underwhelming ending as it felt a bit anticlimactic and almost unearned. However it was interesting and the characters (although not fleshed out as much they could have been) were fun so if you want a book with the vibes of Umbrella Academy meets Inheritance Games then you may enjoy this.
Thank you to Usborne YA for a proof copy of this book
This was still well written and fast paced with lots interesting characters and great queer rep, but overall it felt like trying to do too much in too little pages so everything felt a bit shallow.
There are five main POVs: one for each of the children that billionaire Mr Button adopted to raise to become geniuses. The story follows the Button heirs when they are seventeen as they are all brought back together for their father's annual gala which he is then murdered at. The Button heirs are then held at their father's manor whilst the police investigate and all of their trauma and secrets come to the surface.
Five POVs was just too many - and that's without counting the one off extra POVs from Henry and Evie and all the POVs time jumping backwards. The constant POV switching means that you never fully explore each character so each of their arcs and backstories don't feel fleshed out enough. I think that this really would have benefitted from having only one main POV as so much about each character just felt underdeveloped by the end. Octavius and Romeo were my favourite POVs (the "Maestro" and the "Failure") as Octavius was such a drama queen and his relationship with Fola was so sweet and then it was hard to not feel for Romeo who just could not catch a break. All of the Button heirs were likeable and interesting but I really wish that we'd got more about each of their back stories and individual struggles (like at what point Romeo became the failure, more about Bilal's accident, and more about both sisters' romances - it felt like we were just told these things and not shown them because there wasn't the page space).
One a smaller level there were a few things which I found odd/distracting like the many nicknames for each person, how (despite the fact that all five Button heirs are the same age) they call each other older/younger sibling, and that there aren't many character physical descriptions - other than the brothers' heights and the sisters' outfits I had no idea what most of the protagonists looked like for the first 100 pages which bugged me SO much!
Overall this felt like it was trying to do too many POVs and too many subplots in too little pages so nothing was done in depth enough. This resulted in an underwhelming ending as it felt a bit anticlimactic and almost unearned. However it was interesting and the characters (although not fleshed out as much they could have been) were fun so if you want a book with the vibes of Umbrella Academy meets Inheritance Games then you may enjoy this.
Thank you to Usborne YA for a proof copy of this book
December 1, 2025
sensational.
faridah NEVER misses
faridah NEVER misses
October 6, 2025
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for this e-arc in return for my honest review.
This book is a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for posting.
Let me also add that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé writes books specifically for the teenager in me who loved to get lost in a tangled mystery. I fully enjoy her work, and it satisfies a space in me very few others can even speak to.
The Heirs, in my opinion, was another triumph for her, and it read as a YA mix of The Glass Onion and The Umbrella Academy. It is a cleverly worked whodunit, based in a billionaire family, built on one man’s desire to create geniuses rather than wholesome humans.
We meet the main characters, all from their own POVs, and quickly get a hold of their personalities and what makes them tick. The immersion into who they are is quickly done and reads effortlessly. The book starts just before the murder of the family’s patriarch and guides us hour by hour through the build-up to the crime. It continues in this manner, slipping us bits and pieces, even taking us back in time, all the while the tension builds and we unearth even more family secrets and questions to be answered.
Honestly, the hardest part of reading this book was simply not having the time to just finish it in one go. It draws you in with shortish chapters and vibrant, real-feeling situations and personalities. Even though most of us will never be that wealthy, too many of us know what it is like to have parental expectations weighted on our shoulders. And when those expectations flowed into the public arena with the accompanying scrutiny, you immediately felt the pressure placed on these young MCs.
Then there was the mystery to solve. There was some misleading foreshadowing, together with side characters who were injecting their own twists and turns. I thought I knew, but I was never really sure. Which made me want to read even more and faster! My curiosity drove me until the wee hours.
Ultimately, it came to a justified, satisfying ending that left my soul lighter and happier for having read the book. It was a perfect standalone story.
Butttttt I would not be mad if she wrote a follow-up with a new adventure about the siblings and their friends… I’m just saying! Lol!
Add this one to your TBR and try to sneak some time just to sit, read, and enjoy it.
It is Faridah doing what she does best; capturing our imaginations and hearts with realistic characters in chaotic situations. Excellent stuff!
This book is a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for posting.
Let me also add that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé writes books specifically for the teenager in me who loved to get lost in a tangled mystery. I fully enjoy her work, and it satisfies a space in me very few others can even speak to.
The Heirs, in my opinion, was another triumph for her, and it read as a YA mix of The Glass Onion and The Umbrella Academy. It is a cleverly worked whodunit, based in a billionaire family, built on one man’s desire to create geniuses rather than wholesome humans.
We meet the main characters, all from their own POVs, and quickly get a hold of their personalities and what makes them tick. The immersion into who they are is quickly done and reads effortlessly. The book starts just before the murder of the family’s patriarch and guides us hour by hour through the build-up to the crime. It continues in this manner, slipping us bits and pieces, even taking us back in time, all the while the tension builds and we unearth even more family secrets and questions to be answered.
Honestly, the hardest part of reading this book was simply not having the time to just finish it in one go. It draws you in with shortish chapters and vibrant, real-feeling situations and personalities. Even though most of us will never be that wealthy, too many of us know what it is like to have parental expectations weighted on our shoulders. And when those expectations flowed into the public arena with the accompanying scrutiny, you immediately felt the pressure placed on these young MCs.
Then there was the mystery to solve. There was some misleading foreshadowing, together with side characters who were injecting their own twists and turns. I thought I knew, but I was never really sure. Which made me want to read even more and faster! My curiosity drove me until the wee hours.
Ultimately, it came to a justified, satisfying ending that left my soul lighter and happier for having read the book. It was a perfect standalone story.
Butttttt I would not be mad if she wrote a follow-up with a new adventure about the siblings and their friends… I’m just saying! Lol!
Add this one to your TBR and try to sneak some time just to sit, read, and enjoy it.
It is Faridah doing what she does best; capturing our imaginations and hearts with realistic characters in chaotic situations. Excellent stuff!
October 9, 2025
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was just fine. It’s a cute, young murder mystery with lots of promise but kind of fizzles after 50%
Decent read though!
This book was just fine. It’s a cute, young murder mystery with lots of promise but kind of fizzles after 50%
Decent read though!
December 7, 2025
4.25 stars, rounded down
Overall I really loved this book! It’s one of my favorite reads of the year!
Was it a perfect read? No, it wasn’t. But I had so much fun reading this story. I kept trying to guess who the murderer was, and all the different revelations with the siblings were so fascinating to learn about!
I will say that I didn’t love the big reveal in regards to Mr. Button’s death. (That’s one of the reasons it wasn’t a 5-star read for me.) But I think the story made up for it with the overall ending.
The characters were my favorite part of this book, hands down. The siblings all had their distinct personalities, and it was so great to see how they all loved each other while still squabbling with each other. I don’t even know that I can pick a favorite sibling, as I loved them all so much! I also thought the side characters were really great and well fleshed out. (Henry Xu is a favorite for side characters!) And Mr. Button was the cold, calculating billionaire father that I was expecting, so he was a great antagonist.
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and this story made me want to go and read their backlog soon! I can’t wait for more people to read this novel once it comes out next year (in 2026)!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
Overall I really loved this book! It’s one of my favorite reads of the year!
Was it a perfect read? No, it wasn’t. But I had so much fun reading this story. I kept trying to guess who the murderer was, and all the different revelations with the siblings were so fascinating to learn about!
I will say that I didn’t love the big reveal in regards to Mr. Button’s death. (That’s one of the reasons it wasn’t a 5-star read for me.) But I think the story made up for it with the overall ending.
The characters were my favorite part of this book, hands down. The siblings all had their distinct personalities, and it was so great to see how they all loved each other while still squabbling with each other. I don’t even know that I can pick a favorite sibling, as I loved them all so much! I also thought the side characters were really great and well fleshed out. (Henry Xu is a favorite for side characters!) And Mr. Button was the cold, calculating billionaire father that I was expecting, so he was a great antagonist.
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and this story made me want to go and read their backlog soon! I can’t wait for more people to read this novel once it comes out next year (in 2026)!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
November 20, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Button family is nuts. The patriarch, a rich eccentric Elon/Gates/Frankenstein decides to prove that it’s nurture over nature that produces genius. He adopts five kids from all over the world and beats genius into them by making them practice 28 hours a day on whatever monopoly piece they picked when they were 2 years old. There is not enough flashbacks of this IMO. I needed just a little.
Fast forward and they are all about to turn 18 and they are all as totally messed up as you would expect (actually they are less messed up than I think would realistically happen). We get a nice locked room mystery that is pretty good for a teen or novice mystery reader. There are some nice nods to classic detective fiction.
My problem is that it could have been better. The fact that Mr. Button was a game designer obsessed with games and chess was never fully utilized. Honestly it would probably be best without that at all since it makes it too similar to other books.
Ultimately this is a fine story that’s just missed out on being great though I did enjoy the ride.
The Button family is nuts. The patriarch, a rich eccentric Elon/Gates/Frankenstein decides to prove that it’s nurture over nature that produces genius. He adopts five kids from all over the world and beats genius into them by making them practice 28 hours a day on whatever monopoly piece they picked when they were 2 years old. There is not enough flashbacks of this IMO. I needed just a little.
Fast forward and they are all about to turn 18 and they are all as totally messed up as you would expect (actually they are less messed up than I think would realistically happen). We get a nice locked room mystery that is pretty good for a teen or novice mystery reader. There are some nice nods to classic detective fiction.
My problem is that it could have been better. The fact that Mr. Button was a game designer obsessed with games and chess was never fully utilized. Honestly it would probably be best without that at all since it makes it too similar to other books.
Ultimately this is a fine story that’s just missed out on being great though I did enjoy the ride.
January 14, 2026
*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
I was so psyched for this book as a fan of Ace of Spades, Umbrella Academy and The Inheritance Games. However, it didn't resonate with me. You have a whole bunch of affluent teens, a murder of someone nobody really liked, and not a whole lot of tension. I thought this was going to read like Westing Game, but sadly it didn't.
It just didn't work for me, but might work for someone else.
I was so psyched for this book as a fan of Ace of Spades, Umbrella Academy and The Inheritance Games. However, it didn't resonate with me. You have a whole bunch of affluent teens, a murder of someone nobody really liked, and not a whole lot of tension. I thought this was going to read like Westing Game, but sadly it didn't.
It just didn't work for me, but might work for someone else.
October 10, 2025
The Heirs dives into the chaos left behind after an unhinged billionaire’s death, unraveling the twisted lives of his brilliant, overachieving children. It sets up a sharp, intriguing mystery — part family drama, part whodunit — and definitely kept me guessing about who could be trusted.
But while the premise is strong and the tension simmers early on, the momentum fades midway. A few character arcs lose their spark, and the ending feels more anticlimactic than explosive. Still, it’s an entertaining read if you like dysfunctional family mysteries with a dark, psychological edge.
But while the premise is strong and the tension simmers early on, the momentum fades midway. A few character arcs lose their spark, and the ending feels more anticlimactic than explosive. Still, it’s an entertaining read if you like dysfunctional family mysteries with a dark, psychological edge.
December 11, 2025
3 1/2 ⭐️
Our tale starts off following accounts from multiple POVs to record the origin of Leontes Button’s experiment to turn his five children (Bilal, Fola, Octavius, Perdita, and Romeo) into prodigies using his own “Button Method”. From there, time goes back and forth revealing a mysterious death that occurred on the night of the 10th Annual Prodigy Ball held on the Button’s private yacht, where unfortunately everyone who was attending the private event by personal invitation is now a suspect for murder!
'The Heirs' blends elements of Mysterious Benedict Society as well as an Agatha Christie novel to give you a fresh YA thriller that is sure to leave you guessing until the very end.
I appreciated the themes of family, loyalty, nurture vs nature, heartbreak, vulnerability, perseverance, and sacrifice that were woven throughout the story. The Button children were well written and had lots of depth to their character. The drama whenever multiple Heirs were together was delightful and made me hungry for more interactions between them. I appreciated getting to have POV chapters from all the Heirs plus a few other notable characters at strategic points throughout.
I certainly failed to properly predict that ending! I was impressed with the way the author led me on a journey with the characters. There were some characters I started off wary of, then grew to feel for and sympathize with and then there were characters I thought at first were charming, then increasingly grew suspicious of. It took me all the way until the end, with the mystery finally solved, for me to lay my paranoia to rest.
There were a few grammatical errors throughout, none too glaring except for the word ‘Jambiya’ that at one point was missing the ‘j’.
I was confused for a bit early on when the murder was first announced, there’s a couple sentences roughly stating 'what happened before wasn’t too interesting, it’s what happened after that is'. But then the next chapter is in the past before the time of the murder but to me, that wasn’t real obvious based on the opening/title of that chapter and took me a while to find my footing.
Besides that, I did find a couple sections/chapters that felt clunky to me, where I felt the characters were telling me more information instead of showing me with actions/discoveries, etc. Also, I wished for there to be more puzzles/clues to encounter earlier on, as the plot and pacing felt out of sync and like it took a while to get going.
While for me personally this book did not reach 5 star status, overall “The Heirs” is a solid murder mystery with a generous helping of family dysfunction thrown into the mix!
*Please note, while there are depictions of teenage relationships (straight & gay) there is nothing explicit on page and nothing further than kissing is described. There are also multiple depictions of minors drinking alcohol in varying amounts (some excessive) as well as mentions of self-inflicted harm (occurred in the past off-page).
**I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Our tale starts off following accounts from multiple POVs to record the origin of Leontes Button’s experiment to turn his five children (Bilal, Fola, Octavius, Perdita, and Romeo) into prodigies using his own “Button Method”. From there, time goes back and forth revealing a mysterious death that occurred on the night of the 10th Annual Prodigy Ball held on the Button’s private yacht, where unfortunately everyone who was attending the private event by personal invitation is now a suspect for murder!
'The Heirs' blends elements of Mysterious Benedict Society as well as an Agatha Christie novel to give you a fresh YA thriller that is sure to leave you guessing until the very end.
I appreciated the themes of family, loyalty, nurture vs nature, heartbreak, vulnerability, perseverance, and sacrifice that were woven throughout the story. The Button children were well written and had lots of depth to their character. The drama whenever multiple Heirs were together was delightful and made me hungry for more interactions between them. I appreciated getting to have POV chapters from all the Heirs plus a few other notable characters at strategic points throughout.
I certainly failed to properly predict that ending! I was impressed with the way the author led me on a journey with the characters. There were some characters I started off wary of, then grew to feel for and sympathize with and then there were characters I thought at first were charming, then increasingly grew suspicious of. It took me all the way until the end, with the mystery finally solved, for me to lay my paranoia to rest.
There were a few grammatical errors throughout, none too glaring except for the word ‘Jambiya’ that at one point was missing the ‘j’.
I was confused for a bit early on when the murder was first announced, there’s a couple sentences roughly stating 'what happened before wasn’t too interesting, it’s what happened after that is'. But then the next chapter is in the past before the time of the murder but to me, that wasn’t real obvious based on the opening/title of that chapter and took me a while to find my footing.
Besides that, I did find a couple sections/chapters that felt clunky to me, where I felt the characters were telling me more information instead of showing me with actions/discoveries, etc. Also, I wished for there to be more puzzles/clues to encounter earlier on, as the plot and pacing felt out of sync and like it took a while to get going.
While for me personally this book did not reach 5 star status, overall “The Heirs” is a solid murder mystery with a generous helping of family dysfunction thrown into the mix!
*Please note, while there are depictions of teenage relationships (straight & gay) there is nothing explicit on page and nothing further than kissing is described. There are also multiple depictions of minors drinking alcohol in varying amounts (some excessive) as well as mentions of self-inflicted harm (occurred in the past off-page).
**I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
From the start of this book I was drawn in! It's giving umbrella academy just without super powers. It starts out with a young boy named Octavius that is cosplaying as a homeless person playing the piano in the setting of NYC when his chess playing, mathematician, older sister, Fola finds him and they go to the "Button Manor" named after their father himself Leonte Button. There they meet up with the rest of the siblings being Bilal the Fencer, Perdita the Artist, and Romeo the "Failer" as he has no talent. While reading, you will unravel Mr. Buttons experiments- the children, and what he does to make them prodigies. All the children are formed and taught through a harsh environment to become the best at there talents, and yet they all have nearly grown up and have little to nothing to do with each other and do not take kindly to Mr. Button, but always rely on Henry, Mr. Buttons secretary.
Octavius was my favorite to read about out of all the prodigies. He is a hilarious and spontaneous character and stands out from the crowd. His back story is dark which he shares with Bilal. It seems like it took forever to get to their back story but it did not disappoint. I did not expect Adams death to be like that at all and how Bilal took part in it and to unravel how Octavius took part?!?! This was very shocking.
Evie was my least favorite character until the end. Don't get me wrong, what Mr. Button did to cover up Adams death and shoving hush money to the Grays is horrible, but the children couldn't have known Mr. Button would have covered it up like he did nor did the children want any part in it. I was definitely getting in my feels when she tried calling out the prodigies for "murdering" their father and after seeing that it was all a freak accident, it made it all the worse. Towards the end of the book when Evie goes to Shanghai is when I felt respect and more understanding of her. She was grieving for her brother and wanted revenge that she could not get.
Henry Xu is BY FAR MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!!!
He would do anything for those children and was the longest secretary to stay had already sad enough from the start, although I had my doubts after Mr. Button was mysteriously murdered.
Of course I thought Henry murdered Mr. Button. He was the closest too him, the children where to go to him for any and everything, even call him before anyone else in an emergency. Henry acted more as a Father than Mr. button did. He checked on Bilal and Octavius, even when they got short and irritated with Henry, he still cared for the children and understood them. He confessed for the children! Enough said! I wanted him to soooo badly go to Shanghai and live with his mother again ( I saw it coming) and it happened because the children came in clutch and executed a plan to save Henry Xu!!!!!!
Overall, this was such a good read. The events that took place was such a tragedy and yet had a somewhat happy ending. :,) just wish Henry and the children could still be with each other.
Octavius was my favorite to read about out of all the prodigies. He is a hilarious and spontaneous character and stands out from the crowd. His back story is dark which he shares with Bilal. It seems like it took forever to get to their back story but it did not disappoint. I did not expect Adams death to be like that at all and how Bilal took part in it and to unravel how Octavius took part?!?! This was very shocking.
Evie was my least favorite character until the end. Don't get me wrong, what Mr. Button did to cover up Adams death and shoving hush money to the Grays is horrible, but the children couldn't have known Mr. Button would have covered it up like he did nor did the children want any part in it. I was definitely getting in my feels when she tried calling out the prodigies for "murdering" their father and after seeing that it was all a freak accident, it made it all the worse. Towards the end of the book when Evie goes to Shanghai is when I felt respect and more understanding of her. She was grieving for her brother and wanted revenge that she could not get.
Henry Xu is BY FAR MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!!!
He would do anything for those children and was the longest secretary to stay had already sad enough from the start, although I had my doubts after Mr. Button was mysteriously murdered.
Of course I thought Henry murdered Mr. Button. He was the closest too him, the children where to go to him for any and everything, even call him before anyone else in an emergency. Henry acted more as a Father than Mr. button did. He checked on Bilal and Octavius, even when they got short and irritated with Henry, he still cared for the children and understood them. He confessed for the children! Enough said! I wanted him to soooo badly go to Shanghai and live with his mother again ( I saw it coming) and it happened because the children came in clutch and executed a plan to save Henry Xu!!!!!!
Overall, this was such a good read. The events that took place was such a tragedy and yet had a somewhat happy ending. :,) just wish Henry and the children could still be with each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé returns with another razor-sharp YA mystery, and “The Heirs” is every bit as layered, ambitious, and addictive as the author’s previous books were. This story delivers a gripping whodunit wrapped in a deeply emotional family drama.
The premise hooks you immediately: five adopted siblings, each a carefully molded prodigy designed to showcase their billionaire father Leontes Button’s controversial “Button Method,” reunite for the annual Prodigy Ball. Octavius the musical genius, Fola the mathematician, Bilal the athlete, Perdita the artist, and Romeo, who is the “failure” who never quite fit the mold, are all scarred by their father's obsessive quest to manufacture brilliance. When Leontes is found murdered, the mansion locks down into a claustrophobic crime scene, and every sibling and every guest becomes a suspect.
What sets “The Heirs” apart from typical locked-room mysteries is its emotional depth. The first half of the story spends meaningful time inside each sibling’s inner world: heartbreaks, forbidden romances, shattered futures, and the lingering trauma of being raised as experiments rather than children. The pacing was a bit slow in the early chapters, as the introspection occasionally overshadows the murder plot. But this deliberate simmer pays off because once the second half hits, the tension snaps into place. Secrets unravel, alliances twist, and the plot tightens into a series of sharp, satisfying reveals.
Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting characters who feel painfully real despite their extraordinary circumstances. Romeo and Octavius, especially, stand out with one buckling under the weight of being “not enough,” the other quietly unraveling behind his polished façade. Even amid the wealth and grandeur of Button Manor, the central conflicts like parental expectations, sibling rivalry, the yearning to be seen for who you are rather than what you can achieve feel deeply relatable.
The mystery itself is clever and skillfully constructed. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, interspersed with flashbacks that drip-feed clues and red herrings. By the time the final twist lands, it feels both justified and thematically resonant with a bold, satisfying ending.
But what lingers most after closing the book is not just the solution to the mystery; it’s the emotional journey of five prodigies trying to untangle who they are in the aftermath of a childhood dictated by someone else’s ambitions.
Overall, “The Heirs” is a sharp, heartfelt, addictive mystery that balances tension and character work with impressive finesse. Short, propulsive chapters make it easy to binge, while the complex sibling dynamics give the story a depth that elevates it beyond a simple whodunit.
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé returns with another razor-sharp YA mystery, and “The Heirs” is every bit as layered, ambitious, and addictive as the author’s previous books were. This story delivers a gripping whodunit wrapped in a deeply emotional family drama.
The premise hooks you immediately: five adopted siblings, each a carefully molded prodigy designed to showcase their billionaire father Leontes Button’s controversial “Button Method,” reunite for the annual Prodigy Ball. Octavius the musical genius, Fola the mathematician, Bilal the athlete, Perdita the artist, and Romeo, who is the “failure” who never quite fit the mold, are all scarred by their father's obsessive quest to manufacture brilliance. When Leontes is found murdered, the mansion locks down into a claustrophobic crime scene, and every sibling and every guest becomes a suspect.
What sets “The Heirs” apart from typical locked-room mysteries is its emotional depth. The first half of the story spends meaningful time inside each sibling’s inner world: heartbreaks, forbidden romances, shattered futures, and the lingering trauma of being raised as experiments rather than children. The pacing was a bit slow in the early chapters, as the introspection occasionally overshadows the murder plot. But this deliberate simmer pays off because once the second half hits, the tension snaps into place. Secrets unravel, alliances twist, and the plot tightens into a series of sharp, satisfying reveals.
Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting characters who feel painfully real despite their extraordinary circumstances. Romeo and Octavius, especially, stand out with one buckling under the weight of being “not enough,” the other quietly unraveling behind his polished façade. Even amid the wealth and grandeur of Button Manor, the central conflicts like parental expectations, sibling rivalry, the yearning to be seen for who you are rather than what you can achieve feel deeply relatable.
The mystery itself is clever and skillfully constructed. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, interspersed with flashbacks that drip-feed clues and red herrings. By the time the final twist lands, it feels both justified and thematically resonant with a bold, satisfying ending.
But what lingers most after closing the book is not just the solution to the mystery; it’s the emotional journey of five prodigies trying to untangle who they are in the aftermath of a childhood dictated by someone else’s ambitions.
Overall, “The Heirs” is a sharp, heartfelt, addictive mystery that balances tension and character work with impressive finesse. Short, propulsive chapters make it easy to binge, while the complex sibling dynamics give the story a depth that elevates it beyond a simple whodunit.
October 27, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for the advanced copy. My thoughts and opinions stated here are my own.
~~~~~
The Heirs is the kind of young adult mystery that sinks its claws in, even if it takes a minute to get going. Think a mix of The Inheritance Games and Netflix's The Residence, swapping superpowers for pure, manufactured genius. The setup is fantastic: five adopted prodigies—Octavius, Fola, Bilal, Perdita, and Romeo—who were all viciously trained by their billionaire father, Leontes Button, to prove his "Button Method" for creating child geniuses.1 When dear old dad is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball, everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and it turns into a locked-room mystery full of family secrets and trauma.
The book excels at character depth and creating a tense, dysfunctional family dynamic. You really feel the weight of expectation on all the Button siblings, especially Romeo, the "failure" who just can't measure up. I cared about them all, and the book spends a good amount of time peeling back the layers of their inner lives—their heartbreak, forbidden romances, and loss of purpose.
Honestly, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the first half. While I was intrigued by the premise and the sibling drama, the pacing felt pretty slow at times. The emotional introspection and heavy focus on the characters' unhappiness occasionally outweighed the murder mystery, which made it a little difficult to commit to the read. I felt myself picking it up and putting it down, and it took me longer than usual to make real progress.
Once you hit the second half, though, things really pick up, and it made the slow start completely worth it. It's like the author flips a switch; the story tightens, the alliances shift, and the twists start hitting hard. Suddenly, that slow-burn family drama feeds directly into the mystery, and the secrets start unraveling at a rapid-fire pace. I was completely hooked, kept on my toes, and couldn't put it down until I figured out who did it. The resolution was very satisfying, too—a bold choice that fits perfectly with the themes of the book.
If you enjoy a murder mystery where childhood trauma, complex characters, and impossible expectations are as central to the plot as solving the crime, then you'll love this. Just know that you might have to push through some slower emotional build-up early on. Trust me, the payoff in the second half is fantastic and delivers the gripping, twisty read promised by the premise.
Rating: 4/5 stars. Recommended for fans of character-driven YA mysteries with high-stakes family secrets.
~~~~~
The Heirs is the kind of young adult mystery that sinks its claws in, even if it takes a minute to get going. Think a mix of The Inheritance Games and Netflix's The Residence, swapping superpowers for pure, manufactured genius. The setup is fantastic: five adopted prodigies—Octavius, Fola, Bilal, Perdita, and Romeo—who were all viciously trained by their billionaire father, Leontes Button, to prove his "Button Method" for creating child geniuses.1 When dear old dad is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball, everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and it turns into a locked-room mystery full of family secrets and trauma.
The book excels at character depth and creating a tense, dysfunctional family dynamic. You really feel the weight of expectation on all the Button siblings, especially Romeo, the "failure" who just can't measure up. I cared about them all, and the book spends a good amount of time peeling back the layers of their inner lives—their heartbreak, forbidden romances, and loss of purpose.
Honestly, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the first half. While I was intrigued by the premise and the sibling drama, the pacing felt pretty slow at times. The emotional introspection and heavy focus on the characters' unhappiness occasionally outweighed the murder mystery, which made it a little difficult to commit to the read. I felt myself picking it up and putting it down, and it took me longer than usual to make real progress.
Once you hit the second half, though, things really pick up, and it made the slow start completely worth it. It's like the author flips a switch; the story tightens, the alliances shift, and the twists start hitting hard. Suddenly, that slow-burn family drama feeds directly into the mystery, and the secrets start unraveling at a rapid-fire pace. I was completely hooked, kept on my toes, and couldn't put it down until I figured out who did it. The resolution was very satisfying, too—a bold choice that fits perfectly with the themes of the book.
If you enjoy a murder mystery where childhood trauma, complex characters, and impossible expectations are as central to the plot as solving the crime, then you'll love this. Just know that you might have to push through some slower emotional build-up early on. Trust me, the payoff in the second half is fantastic and delivers the gripping, twisty read promised by the premise.
Rating: 4/5 stars. Recommended for fans of character-driven YA mysteries with high-stakes family secrets.
November 13, 2025
The Heirs is a wildly addictive YA mystery that blends the chaotic sibling dynamics of The Umbrella Academy with the high-stakes puzzles of The Inheritance Games. The result is a tense, character-driven whodunit that’s impossible to put down.
The story follows five adopted siblings—each once part of their billionaire father’s grand (and morally questionable) experiment to “create” prodigies. Predictably, that kind of pressure leaves scars, and years later the siblings are still coping with the trauma of a childhood engineered rather than nurtured. When their father is found dead at a lavish ball, all five become prime suspects, forced to confront not only the mystery of his death but the twisted legacy he left behind.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its cast. Told through multiple POVs, each sibling’s voice is clear, compelling, and layered. I felt myself caring about every one of them within just a few chapters. Their flaws, fears, and fierce loyalties make them feel human, even amid the extraordinary wealth and pressure surrounding them.
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting mysteries that feel both intricate and emotionally grounded, and The Heirs is no exception. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, while flashbacks slip in clues and secrets that kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had a suspect pinned down, another twist or misleading clue sent me in a new direction. It’s the kind of mystery that makes you want to cancel plans just so you can keep reading.
There’s a touch of romance, plenty of family tension, and a strong exploration of the lasting impact of parental expectations—especially when those expectations are amplified on a very public stage. Many readers won’t relate to the wealth, but almost everyone can relate to the pressure of being molded into someone else’s idea of “success.”
The short, punchy chapters make the book incredibly bingeable, and the final reveal is satisfying, justified, and leaves you with that warm, “worth it” feeling when you close the last page. It works beautifully as a standalone, though I wouldn’t complain if we got a sequel following the siblings into their next chaotic adventure.
Overall, The Heirs is another triumph from Àbíké-Íyímídé—vibrant, twisty, heartfelt, and full of unforgettable characters. If you love clever mysteries with emotional depth and found-family dynamics, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows five adopted siblings—each once part of their billionaire father’s grand (and morally questionable) experiment to “create” prodigies. Predictably, that kind of pressure leaves scars, and years later the siblings are still coping with the trauma of a childhood engineered rather than nurtured. When their father is found dead at a lavish ball, all five become prime suspects, forced to confront not only the mystery of his death but the twisted legacy he left behind.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its cast. Told through multiple POVs, each sibling’s voice is clear, compelling, and layered. I felt myself caring about every one of them within just a few chapters. Their flaws, fears, and fierce loyalties make them feel human, even amid the extraordinary wealth and pressure surrounding them.
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting mysteries that feel both intricate and emotionally grounded, and The Heirs is no exception. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, while flashbacks slip in clues and secrets that kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had a suspect pinned down, another twist or misleading clue sent me in a new direction. It’s the kind of mystery that makes you want to cancel plans just so you can keep reading.
There’s a touch of romance, plenty of family tension, and a strong exploration of the lasting impact of parental expectations—especially when those expectations are amplified on a very public stage. Many readers won’t relate to the wealth, but almost everyone can relate to the pressure of being molded into someone else’s idea of “success.”
The short, punchy chapters make the book incredibly bingeable, and the final reveal is satisfying, justified, and leaves you with that warm, “worth it” feeling when you close the last page. It works beautifully as a standalone, though I wouldn’t complain if we got a sequel following the siblings into their next chaotic adventure.
Overall, The Heirs is another triumph from Àbíké-Íyímídé—vibrant, twisty, heartfelt, and full of unforgettable characters. If you love clever mysteries with emotional depth and found-family dynamics, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2025
First I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of the book. This book features a set of young adults, The Button children, who are each child prodigies in their own way. Octavius the musician, Bilal the fencer, Fola the math whiz and Perdita the artist. They were ‘adopted’ by a researcher as very very young children and then brought up in a lab type of environment working them nonstop to develop their talents and abilities. They were basically slaves to their ‘father’s’ ideas of being able to create prodigies. There was also another son, Romeo who was his biological son by another woman. He was raised there but not as a prodigy. Thus he always felt like a failure. Additionally there were two other kids (son and daughter) of the woman who cooked for Mr. Button and his kids.
As you might expect they were very mixed up young adults by the time the main part of the book gets going. After all their father is one of the richest people in the world and they have wanted for nothing. Any issues that have happened get ‘taken care of’ right away so they can focus on their talent. This includes trouble with the law or similar things.
At the 10th annual Prodigy Ball, the Button kids have each reached their breaking point. Manifesting in different ways, it seems all want to break free of Mr. Button and each other. During the over-the-top ball, Mr. Button dies and chaos begins. The Heirs, the faithful assistant Henry and all party goers are shocked.
It becomes clear that he did not die of natural causes and then the investigation begins. All the Button heirs, invited child prodigies from around the world including their guardians, distinguished guests and reporters were there- now to figure out who did it?
I enjoyed reading this story even if the Heirs were very whiny and spoiled. After all, their lives were destined and decided before they were even 5 years old by a horribly evil man. He did not love them but rather loved his research and the idea that he could prove one could ‘create a prodigy’ given the right conditions from any baby. We learn lots about the Heirs and how they each have learned to cope with the challenges and problems Mr. Button created through the years.
I thought the ending was a nice twist and honestly I did not see the complete picture until right before it. I liked the ending as I felt better about all of the characters then.
Overall it was a good read even if the writing felt a bit clunky or simple at times.
As you might expect they were very mixed up young adults by the time the main part of the book gets going. After all their father is one of the richest people in the world and they have wanted for nothing. Any issues that have happened get ‘taken care of’ right away so they can focus on their talent. This includes trouble with the law or similar things.
At the 10th annual Prodigy Ball, the Button kids have each reached their breaking point. Manifesting in different ways, it seems all want to break free of Mr. Button and each other. During the over-the-top ball, Mr. Button dies and chaos begins. The Heirs, the faithful assistant Henry and all party goers are shocked.
It becomes clear that he did not die of natural causes and then the investigation begins. All the Button heirs, invited child prodigies from around the world including their guardians, distinguished guests and reporters were there- now to figure out who did it?
I enjoyed reading this story even if the Heirs were very whiny and spoiled. After all, their lives were destined and decided before they were even 5 years old by a horribly evil man. He did not love them but rather loved his research and the idea that he could prove one could ‘create a prodigy’ given the right conditions from any baby. We learn lots about the Heirs and how they each have learned to cope with the challenges and problems Mr. Button created through the years.
I thought the ending was a nice twist and honestly I did not see the complete picture until right before it. I liked the ending as I felt better about all of the characters then.
Overall it was a good read even if the writing felt a bit clunky or simple at times.
October 19, 2025
Five prodigies, a dead father, and a mansion full of suspects....
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the Brain
Bilal, the Olympian
Perdita, the Artist
Romeo, the Failure
The five adopted heirs of the illustrious billionare Leontes Button, and viciously trained and raised with his so called "Button method" to produce prodigies and child geniuses...set to ridiculously high standards ... forced to be brilliant from a young age...
Each year the five gather at their father's so-called Prodigy Ball to recognize child geniuses such as them...until their father is murdered at the seventh Prodigy Ball...
And now all who attended the ball are suspects. Forced to stay within the mansion as the police investigate...and the police truly have their work cut out for them...
Each of the siblings has secrets that they wish to hide.
And Leontes Button?
Well... he was excellent at making enemies.
This is my first work by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and I have to say, I am quite surprised at how much I loved it. While there are a few noticeable errors, mistakes with names... and a rather noticeable slowdown between the first and the second half of the book, this was still quite the enjoyable read, and the perfect blend of "whodunit?" and intense family drama.... full of intrigue, twists and turns... and plenty of options for who exactly offed Mr. Button...
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the Brain
Bilal, the Olympian
Perdita, the Artist
Romeo, the Failure
The five adopted heirs of the illustrious billionare Leontes Button, and viciously trained and raised with his so called "Button method" to produce prodigies and child geniuses...set to ridiculously high standards ... forced to be brilliant from a young age...
Each year the five gather at their father's so-called Prodigy Ball to recognize child geniuses such as them...until their father is murdered at the seventh Prodigy Ball...
And now all who attended the ball are suspects. Forced to stay within the mansion as the police investigate...and the police truly have their work cut out for them...
Each of the siblings has secrets that they wish to hide.
And Leontes Button?
Well... he was excellent at making enemies.
This is my first work by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and I have to say, I am quite surprised at how much I loved it. While there are a few noticeable errors, mistakes with names... and a rather noticeable slowdown between the first and the second half of the book, this was still quite the enjoyable read, and the perfect blend of "whodunit?" and intense family drama.... full of intrigue, twists and turns... and plenty of options for who exactly offed Mr. Button...
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is a sharp, addictive YA murder mystery that feels like a perfect blend of The Inheritance Games and The Umbrella Academy. With its wealthy setting, brilliant but deeply flawed characters, and a dark central mystery, this novel pulls you in from the very first chapter.
The story follows the adopted children of billionaire Mr. Button, each raised with the expectation of becoming a genius in their own right. When the heirs are seventeen, they are summoned back to their father’s manor for his annual gala,an event that quickly turns deadly when Mr. Button is murdered. With the estate locked down and the heirs kept inside while the police investigate, tensions rise as long-buried trauma and dangerous secrets begin to surface.
Told through multiple points of view, the novel allows readers to piece together the mystery alongside the characters. Each heir feels distinct, complex, and emotionally layered, making the suspense as much about their relationships and pasts as it is about solving the murder. The confined setting heightens the tension, turning the manor into a pressure cooker where trust is fragile and everyone is a suspect.
Àbíké-Íyímídé masterfully explores themes of privilege, control, and the lasting impact of childhood manipulation, all while maintaining a fast-paced, twist-filled plot. The Heirs is a compelling YA mystery that balances intrigue, emotional depth, and sharp storytelling, making it a must-read for fans of clever puzzles, ensemble casts, and high-stakes secrets.
The story follows the adopted children of billionaire Mr. Button, each raised with the expectation of becoming a genius in their own right. When the heirs are seventeen, they are summoned back to their father’s manor for his annual gala,an event that quickly turns deadly when Mr. Button is murdered. With the estate locked down and the heirs kept inside while the police investigate, tensions rise as long-buried trauma and dangerous secrets begin to surface.
Told through multiple points of view, the novel allows readers to piece together the mystery alongside the characters. Each heir feels distinct, complex, and emotionally layered, making the suspense as much about their relationships and pasts as it is about solving the murder. The confined setting heightens the tension, turning the manor into a pressure cooker where trust is fragile and everyone is a suspect.
Àbíké-Íyímídé masterfully explores themes of privilege, control, and the lasting impact of childhood manipulation, all while maintaining a fast-paced, twist-filled plot. The Heirs is a compelling YA mystery that balances intrigue, emotional depth, and sharp storytelling, making it a must-read for fans of clever puzzles, ensemble casts, and high-stakes secrets.
December 7, 2025
I love this book so much!
It had everything I was looking for—a compelling mystery. An intriguing cast of characters. Rich kids doing “bad” things. It was such a delicious story to eat up!
I personally really connected to the Button siblings all being burnt out child prodigies (specifically the talented and gifted aspect of that). I thought it was written in both a believable and relatable way.
Speaking of the siblings, I loved them all so much! They all had such distinct personalities that all meshed well (and clashed against) each other in the best ways! And seeing how they interacted after the death of their father (and before, really) was such a highlight! The whole cast of characters was great, to be honest.
Obviously Mr. Button himself was an abusive man—mentally more than anything. Those poor kids were put through the ringer growing up. And so it was interesting to see not only the results of all their hard work, but the suffering they go through to try and be perfect and make their father proud via the “Button Method”.
The mystery was super compelling, and I liked how the timeline was jumbled up in an understandable way, so that nothing was given away about who the murderer was until towards the end. It kept me guessing, which was really fun!
This author has become one of my new favorites, and I can’t wait to see what they put out next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for allowing me to read the e-ARC!
It had everything I was looking for—a compelling mystery. An intriguing cast of characters. Rich kids doing “bad” things. It was such a delicious story to eat up!
I personally really connected to the Button siblings all being burnt out child prodigies (specifically the talented and gifted aspect of that). I thought it was written in both a believable and relatable way.
Speaking of the siblings, I loved them all so much! They all had such distinct personalities that all meshed well (and clashed against) each other in the best ways! And seeing how they interacted after the death of their father (and before, really) was such a highlight! The whole cast of characters was great, to be honest.
Obviously Mr. Button himself was an abusive man—mentally more than anything. Those poor kids were put through the ringer growing up. And so it was interesting to see not only the results of all their hard work, but the suffering they go through to try and be perfect and make their father proud via the “Button Method”.
The mystery was super compelling, and I liked how the timeline was jumbled up in an understandable way, so that nothing was given away about who the murderer was until towards the end. It kept me guessing, which was really fun!
This author has become one of my new favorites, and I can’t wait to see what they put out next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for allowing me to read the e-ARC!
January 15, 2026
Five prodigies. One murdered billionaire. Zero exits. 🕯️🏛️
Meet the Button siblings—each adopted, each molded, each pushed to brilliance by their ruthless father’s infamous training:
🎼 The Maestro
🧠 The Brain
🏅 The Olympian
🎨 The Artist
❌ The “Failure”
Their reward for perfection? An inheritance… and a body.
When Leontes Button is killed during his lavish Prodigy Ball, every guest is locked inside the mansion while police investigate. Secrets surface. Alibis crack. And it turns out genius runs right alongside motive.
Everyone had a reason.
Everyone has something to hide.
This was a wild one...to be raised to be "perfect" only to be turned into a murder suspect is not something I would desire to be. Five siblings, raised to be the top of the tops, only to fall in a very dramatic way, is not what these five signed up for. This was a slow burn mystery...one that had me keep guessing. Never doubt the resourcefulness of teenagers, especially those who are way smarter than the average adult and throw in the "unofficial" sibling, raised with the fab 5, only to be the one who could be their demise. And then throw in Henry, the loyal right hand man to the man who irresponsibly "raised" these five to be perfect, you have a book that will have you reading late into the night.
Meet the Button siblings—each adopted, each molded, each pushed to brilliance by their ruthless father’s infamous training:
🎼 The Maestro
🧠 The Brain
🏅 The Olympian
🎨 The Artist
❌ The “Failure”
Their reward for perfection? An inheritance… and a body.
When Leontes Button is killed during his lavish Prodigy Ball, every guest is locked inside the mansion while police investigate. Secrets surface. Alibis crack. And it turns out genius runs right alongside motive.
Everyone had a reason.
Everyone has something to hide.
This was a wild one...to be raised to be "perfect" only to be turned into a murder suspect is not something I would desire to be. Five siblings, raised to be the top of the tops, only to fall in a very dramatic way, is not what these five signed up for. This was a slow burn mystery...one that had me keep guessing. Never doubt the resourcefulness of teenagers, especially those who are way smarter than the average adult and throw in the "unofficial" sibling, raised with the fab 5, only to be the one who could be their demise. And then throw in Henry, the loyal right hand man to the man who irresponsibly "raised" these five to be perfect, you have a book that will have you reading late into the night.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I hadn't had the pleasure of reading Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's work before, and I will absolutely be seeking out more! The Heirs hooked me right from the start with its unconventional, unethical social experiment on the children's lives, and it kept me enthralled with the mysteries and characters that unfolded from there. The characters feel archetypal but never artificial; each is dealing with their own very real concerns (and, sometimes, secrets...).
I had fun navigating the twists and turns of the mystery at the heart of this twisted high-net-worth world, and the things that caught me by surprise felt well earned: my "of COURSE!" reactions meant that the clues had been planted well, and I was pleased to see how I'd overlooked them. And when I did spot certain revelations coming, I chalked it up to my perspective as a genre-savvy adult; I suspect I wouldn't have anticipated them as readily if I were still a teen in the target audience.
Great fun for readers who enjoy mysteries, puzzles, literary references, and characters who are far from perfect but trying their best.
[Note: I won a digital ARC through the Publisher's Weekly Grab-a-Galley sweepstakes. All opinions are my own.]
I had fun navigating the twists and turns of the mystery at the heart of this twisted high-net-worth world, and the things that caught me by surprise felt well earned: my "of COURSE!" reactions meant that the clues had been planted well, and I was pleased to see how I'd overlooked them. And when I did spot certain revelations coming, I chalked it up to my perspective as a genre-savvy adult; I suspect I wouldn't have anticipated them as readily if I were still a teen in the target audience.
Great fun for readers who enjoy mysteries, puzzles, literary references, and characters who are far from perfect but trying their best.
[Note: I won a digital ARC through the Publisher's Weekly Grab-a-Galley sweepstakes. All opinions are my own.]
January 25, 2026
I am a huge fan of this author. They are someone I am constantly recommending to my students and I have given out more copies of ace of spades then I can count. This book felt like a little bit of a departure from their normal books, and so I was a little thrown off guard initially. That being said, I really enjoyed this book and kind of the old school murder. She wrote, Agatha Christie, type murder mystery. Mr. button has decided to determine whether it is nature or nurture which makes geniuses and so he picked five babies, from adoption, places around the world, and has raised them to be geniuses in their fields. However, in the course of doing this, he seems to have left out a few life experiences, the ones that make people happy, and so when Mr. button mysteriously dies, the investigation begins. I really liked the commentary around genius and what makes someone a genius and really just how much people that are in these fields are in these rules have to give up of their everyday lives and the pressure that they constantly feel. I read this book in a day. I really enjoyed it definitely a departure from some of her other books that felt as though they had more of our social commentary, but nonetheless excellently well written and executed.
October 7, 2025
I have read and enjoyed all of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's books, so I was very excited to read this ARC of The Heirs. The story centers around five teens who are the children of billionaire Leontes Button. He adopted the children as babies and experimented on them with the "Button Method" to prove that nurture was stronger than nature. Each of the five children became a prodigy in some area. The reader is able to see how that method turned out for each baby as they are now teens, living their own lives. The story comes to a point when Mr. Buttons is murdered on the night of his annual prodigy ball, and everyone is a suspect. The story has some side characters that were not fully flushed out, and some of the main characters had more plot development than others, but that did not prevent a solid mystery. Also some may read the book description as a good one for people who like Inheritance Games, but there are far less "games" in this book than unravelling plot points to figure out who murdered Mr. Buttons. Overall, however, still a solid YA mystery. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.
October 13, 2025
The Heirs-I received this as an ARC
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel! These orphaned children are taking him by an eccentric billionaire who wants to perfect his method at producing prodigies in an experiment of nurture over nature. His “children” are forced into grueling study sessions to turn them into these prodigies. Four of the five are “successful” experiments, and your heart breaks for each and every one of the five children in the absence of their childhood. Every year they are required to go to a ball to exhibit themselves. Then at the ball to show off their father’s “fine work” he is murdered. He is found the next morning, leaving everyone to wonder who did it and how did it happen.
The Heirs is reminiscent of a version of the Umbrella Academy if they were all geniuses instead of having supernatural powers, mixed with clue. I enjoyed getting to know the siblings and did not anticipate the ending (which is unusual for me.) Tavi is probably my favorite. The brokenness of these overworked yet “privileged” heirs is heartbreaking. Seeing them come into their own though was truly wonderful. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel! These orphaned children are taking him by an eccentric billionaire who wants to perfect his method at producing prodigies in an experiment of nurture over nature. His “children” are forced into grueling study sessions to turn them into these prodigies. Four of the five are “successful” experiments, and your heart breaks for each and every one of the five children in the absence of their childhood. Every year they are required to go to a ball to exhibit themselves. Then at the ball to show off their father’s “fine work” he is murdered. He is found the next morning, leaving everyone to wonder who did it and how did it happen.
The Heirs is reminiscent of a version of the Umbrella Academy if they were all geniuses instead of having supernatural powers, mixed with clue. I enjoyed getting to know the siblings and did not anticipate the ending (which is unusual for me.) Tavi is probably my favorite. The brokenness of these overworked yet “privileged” heirs is heartbreaking. Seeing them come into their own though was truly wonderful. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
November 7, 2025
This book got me so excited! An inheritance murder mystery meets The Umbrella Academy? I couldn't wait! And maybe that was the problem for me. I built this one up far too much in my mind. I could not get into this book and returning to read it felt like homework. The adopted children had strange names (and multiple nicknames) and even though they were specifically labeled as very different prodigies it all boiled down to the same kind of messed up character. All rich and successful yet super depressed with poor self-esteem and secret romantic relationships. I couldn't keep track of them and didn't really care to try. The murder takes place too late in the story. The ending wasn't terrible, but it took too long to get there with far too many flashbacks and time skips and too many tacked on endings once we got there. I never truly got a sense of urgency or dread. I wanted to love this book but in the end I was just happy to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this book for an honest review.
content: brief descriptions of violence and death, lots of language
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this book for an honest review.
content: brief descriptions of violence and death, lots of language
November 9, 2025
4.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 Heirs, 1 murder, who is guilty? Perfects for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus!
We follow 5 adopted, billionaire siblings each trained with their father's "Button Method" to become perfect prodigies.
Romeo, the failure (or is he really?)
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the brain
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita, the artist
Until Leontes Button is murdered. Who is the killer?
WHAT I LOVED:
First of all, WOW. I was not expecting the ending -- the plot twist! When I thought I'd solved it, Faridah proved me otherwise.
Second, the writing! Splendid. Lots and lots of plot twists and mysteries! Definitely will read it again and see what I missed because AHH. It is so good!
I loved the ending as well! (Can't say much because spoilers!) It was so sad and yet heartbreaking.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
The only problem however is that it was so unnecessary to write so many gay characters. It felt like that was forced into the book a lot, without playing a huge role in the book...
Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommend it!
*thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for the ARC!*
5 Heirs, 1 murder, who is guilty? Perfects for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus!
We follow 5 adopted, billionaire siblings each trained with their father's "Button Method" to become perfect prodigies.
Romeo, the failure (or is he really?)
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the brain
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita, the artist
Until Leontes Button is murdered. Who is the killer?
WHAT I LOVED:
First of all, WOW. I was not expecting the ending -- the plot twist! When I thought I'd solved it, Faridah proved me otherwise.
Second, the writing! Splendid. Lots and lots of plot twists and mysteries! Definitely will read it again and see what I missed because AHH. It is so good!
I loved the ending as well! (Can't say much because spoilers!) It was so sad and yet heartbreaking.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
The only problem however is that it was so unnecessary to write so many gay characters. It felt like that was forced into the book a lot, without playing a huge role in the book...
Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommend it!
*thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for the ARC!*
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