Thank you to Razorbill, Penguin Random House for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is my second read from Jessica Goodman, and she continues to draw me in with these storylines. As a longtime fan of Gossip Girl and a New Yorker myself, I especially loved the plot and setting for The Legacies. The Legacy Club is like the more established and respected iteration of the Players from They Wish They Were Us, so Goodman definitely has a niche for writing about elite teenagers and all that comes with the lifestyle. I really enjoyed how the story jumped between Bernie, Isobel and Tori's perspectives and to the night of the ball. I kept thinking I knew who was going to end up dead in the end, but my guess shifted a few times throughout which kept me on my toes and had me enthralled to keep reading into the late hours of the night. I think the ending could have used a bit more color and context to bring things full circle, but overall, I really enjoyed this book and will continue to read Goodman's novels.

One of my favorite book tropes is "rich teens behaving badly" and Jessica Goodman nails the trope every time! I really enjoyed The Legacies; it had all the makings of an enticing YA thriller; prep schools, family secrets, high stakes event, and a few plot twists. I liked that the book gave us just enough information to keep the plot moving without really hinting at what the twist was because I definitely didn't predict it. I could have used a bit more substance towards the end to give more context to the ending, but overall it's a solid and enjoyable read if you like this genre!

Three girls: Bernie, Isobel, and Tori. Each with too many secrets that prevent them from taking their rightful places amongst The Legacy Club. All nominated, but only one can win the scholarship of her choice. Bernie wants it because it's expected of her. Isobel is just there for the experience. But Tori... she'd give anything to become part of The Club - not to mention, have access to every resource a Legacy could ever want and everything she's ever been denied.

Three girls hellbent on collecting their prize - and even destroying each other (or themselves) in the process.

This is yet another winner for me from Jessica Goodman. I love her stories of dark academia sprinkled with family secrets and friend-group drama. This one especially had some Gossip Girl vibes (in the best way!) but the characters in this were more cunning, and the plot more ruthless. I really found myself rooting for Tori the most, but Bernie and Isobel were also incredible characters in their own right. And those little intermissions of The Legacy Ball that were scattered amongst the chapters really had me gripping my Kindle so tight! They really heightened the intensity and kept me reading. Didn't see the twist or the ending coming, and I was also so blown away with how it all played out. Would highly recommend!

This is not my favorite Jessica Goodman book, but it's an ok YA book. The story reads like an episode from Gossip Girl, but the characters don't feel fleshed out. Even when I finished the book I didn't really know who to root for. The story didn't captivate me as much as otherbooks from this author. I enjoyed reading it, but I'm afraid it's not the most memorable YA.

| a well crafted thriller with a lot of plot twist, that keeps you guessing the hole entire time.

this was one of my mostly highly anticipated books for 2023, and was very exited to see a mail from netgalley that I was approved to read advanced copy. and wow what was this good, I only read they'll never catch us. what was really good but not my cup of Thea. but this one let me start first I love when the is a secretly society and rich girls and boy's in school. also the writing style is very quick and it's not hard to understand what is going on. the charters were well crafted and the three point of views were really well done and I enjoyed it. with only 30% to go a lot of twist came what I really loved and even made me say what the * (curse word) a few times, if that happens for me I am really invested into the story, the ending was good maybe a little bit rushed I would have loved to see a few more chapters to wrap this story up, but overall it was a good ending and a very good thriller book for young adults (but adults could love this too)

Thank you Jessica Goodman , Net Galley and Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC of this book!

"The Legacies" was a fast paced entertaining YA Thriller. The cover and description initially gave me a Gossip Girl vibe and the storyline delivered plenty of hidden secrets, lies and drama to match it.

I would recommend giving this book a read!

Strong Gossip Girl vibes and twists with memorable characters - what can be more entertaining?

I loved small and obnoxious details like brand names or some phrases that shrimp cocktail is served if hosts are too cheap to get oysters. It is like a separate fantasy world of uber rich which get destroyed by lies and betrayals.
Very distinctive interesting and not bland characters - you won’t have a problem when you half way through the book and still cannot tell a difference. Secrets from the past, hidden motives make excellent twists, I mean you are not even sure who is the victim till the very end .

The falls solidly in the middle ground of Jessica Goodman's books. She created a fun world within NYC, but the characters were a bit one-note. It was hard to follow some nuances of the plot because of the number of people involved and the unclear timeline. (Were any days of the week ever mentioned after the first few chapters?) The ending felt a bit dragged out, only to have a few lackluster reveals.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I tried at least five times to restart and pick this one up over and over again.

Maybe it was the elitest teenage culture I could not get into, but had a hard time finishing. Just not my thing.

3.5 stars

I read this book in a day and it kept me entertained all throughout. I loved reading about rich people drama while also trying to rule out what happened at the Ball. The characters were fleshed out very well, and seeing how they develop throughout the novel and become aware with the problems among the elitist society was so refreshing. My only qualms with the book was that the mystery was predictable and the plot twists didn’t follow through as well as I’d hoped. Some povs were also kind of boring and I just wanted to skip them, mainly Isobel’s. Regardless, this was a solid read and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun and drama filled time.


Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE LEGACIES by Jessica Goodman in exchange for my honest review.***

4.5 STARS

Six seniors from the prestigious Excelsior school are tapped to join THE LEGACIES. The best, brightest and most talented. Future leaders, judges, politicians, award winning artists. Many of their hotshot parents belong. Bernie, her best friend Isobel, their boyfriends and scholarship student Tori are among the new members. THE LEGACIES have secrets. Their parents have bigger ones.

Jessica Goodman is a writer whose books I preorder and eagerly anticipate because her stories live up to their blurbs. She creates interesting, unique characters set in plots unlike other mysteries and thrillers in YA lit. Goodman’s word building keeps me glued to her books, which I often read in one setting.

Told in the points of view of Bernie, Isobel, Tori and the police investigation, THE LEGACIES is unputdownable. Though a number of characters are horrid, Bernie and Tori gave me characters to embrace through their imperfections.

The beginning was a bit slow, but once the secrets started spilling I my heart was pounding. I can’t wait to see what Goodman writes next.

Pretty solid YA thriller, as always from this author. Definitely my favorite from Goodman so far. Recommended to both young and adult audiences.

Do you remember that movie from the 90's where a guy doesn't have money to tip his server so he promises her half of his lottery winnings if he hits it big? So, but, he wins and they go off on an epic adventure of, like, sharing their newfound wealth and falling for one another while the guy's wife starts buying everything she can think of? And, like, it's cute and everything, but the amount of money they won would have been gone in hours with the way they were spending so the whole movie just seems kinda ridiculous? Yeah, well, this book was like that.

A elite society, secrets, betrayal, and more. You can only get a membership at the Legacy Club in New York City if you are invited and nominated.... it gives you a lifetime access to power, wealth, connections and so much more. Every year new members are picked at the Legacy Ball and the winner receives money, not that they need it.... but this year’s ball ends with a dead body... time to figure out what happened. Students at Excelsior Prep are nominated as Legacies, their families pedigree assuring their membership since birth.... but these students: Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft and Skyler Hawkins all have their own secrets that could destroy everything. Another nominee is the scholarship student Tori Tasso.... and she’s the surprise one, because no one from her “world” has been picked before and now she is dropped into a world of wealth and secrets. Each of these students has a secret, and each of them will be connected to one another and the dead body by the time the Legacy Ball is over... but who died and was it an accident or a murder? This was a fun read! I liked the mystery and I liked the cut from past and present. I really liked Bernie the most out of all the characters. Her main concern throughout the book is finding out where her mother disappeared and what happened to her, but her friends are all hiding secrets and everything she knew about her mother might be wrong. Overall, a really fun read if you like mysteries with an elite school/society setting!

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Joining the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is nearly impossible, but those who make it gain unparalleled power and wealth. The club only inducts students in their senior year of high school, following a grueling week of events. Berine, Isobel, and Skyler are not surprised as they come from families with ties to the club, but they're shocked to learn that a scholarship student they don't know has also been nominated. As the week draws to a close with a lavish black tie ball, lives are about to change forever, and tragedy is looming.

This story is a thrilling ride, a cross between Gossip Girl and The Thousandth Floor. The glamorous and treacherous world it depicts is the perfect summer read, complete with glittering events where wealth is a game, and the elite keep their secrets close. The unexpected twists and juicy scandals that unfold are like little bombs that explode within the reader. The multiple points of view and the palpable tension that runs throughout the book, combined with the sense that time is running out, make it impossible to put down. I had no idea who the victim would be, or what motivated the killer, and was completely hooked until the very end. I only wish a few of the details were a little more fleshed out.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is almost unheard of. But membership gives you a lifetime of power and wealth beyond your imagination. People can only be inducted going into their senior year of high school and only after a rigorous week of events. It's no surprise when Berine, Isobel, and Skyler are nominated. Their families have a history with the club and they've been a shoe-in since birth. What they aren't expecting is that a student they've never heard of on scholarship will also be nominated. As the week culminates with a black tie ball, everyone's lives are about to change and someone isn't going to make it out alive.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for letting me read this early!


This is hands down one of my favorite YA thrillers now. Each chapter keeps you guessing and you don’t know which characters are telling the truth. Goodman teases you with secrets as you read and the ending will leave you completely suprised.

This is hands down my favorite thriller from Goodman! What wild ride this was. Gossip Girl meets The Thousandth Floor, everything about this glamorous, dangerous, twisted world is exactly what summer is all about. Complete with a glittering ball at the end where wealth is a game and the elite carry their secrets in gold, this is so full of unexpected plotlines and some very juicy scandals! I loved every secret that was revealed, like little bombs that go off inside you, and the different POVs. The whole book was laced with tension and the feeling that time was running out, especially because every few chapters were interspersed with what was going on after. I had no idea who was the dead body, or what the motive might be and I simply could not put it down.