"i wrapped my arms around his neck. i pressed my lips to his. and this time, the joke was on me-because i wasn't playing. this wasn't nothing. this was the beginning-and i was ready to be bold."

okay i know the quote at the top is romance-y and that's actually just a subplot of the book but i can't help it, i just love avery and jameson so much <3333 i've decided team jameson forever lmao. anyways, jennifer lynn barnes did it again!!!! i'm so glad the hawthorne legacy didn't have second book syndrome; i was every bit as interested in this book (the plot, the characters, the mystery, the romance!!!) as i was the first one in the series. the plot twists were so good and i was so invested. i really liked seeing avery's character development, and how for so long she forced herself to not need anyone, to not depend on anyone, not love anyone deeply, but then jameson, along with other things, sort of changed that which is the significance of the quote above. they spent the first book telling themselves whatever was between them wasn't real and was just part of the game, but now they've realised it's not and what they have is real and it means something. she's realised that it's okay to need someone, to not be okay by yourself all the time. literally fantastic, i love it so much and i literally cannot wait for the next one to come out later this month i need to read it ASAP!!!!!