The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is a YA thriller that has it all. Tension, intrigue and a compelling ending. The shorter chapters made this a really fast and bingeable read. This has a Gossip Girl vibe and if you loved that show, this will be a great pick for you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. A great YA book. It took me a while to guess the killer so thats a plus for me.

This was a good YA thriller with an interesting plot and twists that I didn't see coming. I don't think I was the right person for this book as some parts were a little young for me but it never bugged me enough to stop reading. I would totally pick up another book by this author in the future.

This book was wonderfully intense with a twist you don't see coming. Throughout the book we get snippets of what leads up to the murder and what happens after the murder, but we don't find out who's murdered until the end. The entire time I was thinking I knew exactly what happens, but then I got to the twist and I was so, so horribly wrong.

Goodman does an excellent job dropping crumbs to lead you to a conclusion and then sweeping the rug out from under you. The author does an excellent job creating characters with huge flaws that they have to come to terms with. It was interesting experiencing the way she wove these flaws and realizations into multiple POVs.

It was refreshing to see characters that didn't make the right choices and were out to save themselves and their reputation. I think Goodman did a great job creating choices and reactions of teenagers to the events that happened throughout the book.

"The Legacies" by Jessica Goodman is a pulse-pounding thriller set against the glittering backdrop of New York City's elite social circles. It's a tale of ambition, secrets, and deadly consequences that will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first page.

In this riveting narrative, Goodman introduces us to the Legacy Club, an exclusive and elusive organization that grants access to unimaginable wealth, power, and privilege. Membership is the ultimate dream for those born into the world of old money, an inheritance of influence that transcends prep school gates. However, there's a catch. Before securing a lifetime of opulence, one must survive a grueling week of events culminating in the extravagant Legacy Ball.

The story revolves around four central characters, each harboring their own set of secrets and desires. Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins, blessed with family legacies, seem destined for membership. But it's Tori Tasso, the scholarship kid from Queens, who shocks everyone with her nomination. Her presence disrupts the equilibrium of this world steeped in designer labels and penthouse soirées.

Goodman's narrative brilliance shines as she weaves a web of intrigue, tension, and emotional complexity among these characters. Tori's outsider perspective adds a layer of relatability, as readers can't help but root for her in a world that often feels impenetrable.

The pinnacle of this thrilling narrative is the Legacy Ball, a night of extravagance where the crème de la crème expect to revel in luxury. Yet, as secrets start to unravel, the atmosphere becomes increasingly charged with anticipation and dread. Goodman excels at creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, as readers question the loyalty and motives of every character.

One of the book's strongest assets is its impeccable pacing. Goodman expertly balances the tension, dropping just enough hints to keep readers engaged without revealing too much too soon. The narrative alternates between perspectives, providing insight into each character's inner turmoil, which adds depth to the story and allows readers to empathize with their struggles.

As the night unfolds, "The Legacies" takes a dark and unexpected turn. The luxurious facade crumbles, giving way to a world where secrets are currency, and betrayal can be a matter of life and death. The suspense reaches its peak when a shocking death occurs, sending shockwaves through the Legacy Club.

Jessica Goodman's prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the opulence and the shadows lurking beneath it with equal finesse. Her exploration of privilege, ambition, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets is both thought-provoking and chilling.

In conclusion, "The Legacies" is a thrilling rollercoaster of a novel. Jessica Goodman delivers a gripping narrative that delves into the dark heart of elite society, making us question the cost of ambition and the lengths to which one will go to maintain appearances. If you're a fan of suspenseful tales set amidst the world of the privileged, "The Legacies" is an absolute must-read. It's a novel that will leave you breathless and haunted long after you've turned the final page.

The cover of The Legacies by Jessica Goodman tells it all, "Money talks and secrets kill." In Goodman's latest tale of teenage drama invitations go out for a select group of New York City's upper echelon to join the Legacy Club. If the group is able to make it through selection week, a key to the Legacy Club will provide them a life of connections and privilege.

Skyler, Bernie, and Isobel are used to the treatment, but outsider Tori still has to prove herself to these old money snobs. While most of the kids are just going through the motions because it has been predetermined by their lineage, Tori desperately need to win the cash prize at the end of the week to save her family's diner. When the lavish events ends in a death, everyone is put on edge and it is up to the reader to determine exactly what happened to get to that point.

This is a great novel for fans of the show Gossip Girl. The plot has all the drama, elegance and outright bad behavior one would expect from a group of teens who were never told no. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the chance to read this novel.

Jessica Goodman is my "go to" author when I need a YA thriller and this one did not disappoint! All her books are good but I think this one may be a new favorite!

The Gossip Girl vibes were strong, and I loved it. This was such an entertaining YA thriller. I loved the fast pace and complex ties that bound everyone together. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Legacies
Written by Jessica Goodman
Publisher Penguin Group/young readers
Release Date July 25, 2023
Genre YA mystery

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Suspense: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5


This was a very well written young arguably mystery that not only I enjoyed but my 15 yr old niece enjoyed as well. Although she was a little harsher as a critic than I will be.

The exclusive Legacy Club is sought after by parents due to the privileges that you receive once you become a member. So, scoring an invitation.gives you a lifetime of access to power, wealth, and security. Those who are members not only stay members but they take care of each other. However, you must pass the grueling week of events leading up to the ball. But, this club has many secrets and will do whatever needs to be done to keep them that way. Each year at the Grand Legacy Ball someone is chosen to receive the prestigious award in the amount of 25k.
Since birth three teens have had a place secured for them due to their families pedigrees, at Legacies. Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are all in the run for the big cash grand prize which in all honesty is not much to them. There is a surprise nominee though, Tori Tasso. She is not from money nor is she one to carry expensive bags or wear expensive clothes. So how did she get nominated? The parents have their own secrets and if they were to get known, their reputation would be destroyed. In order to keep a secret someone is murdered but who would have taken that step? This book is all about how those with money sometimes feel as though there will be no punishment and about how far someone will go to keep a secret.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This is a story about nepotism… even when you think it’s not.

I really liked elements of this book- the POVs were interesting & the author is talented at differentiating voices so you never forget who is narrating the chapter. I liked the look into the school & the anxiety I felt hoping they would make better choices… buuuut it got a bit convoluted for me & I didn’t feel super invested by the end as a result. I’ll continue to buy everything the author writes since even my least favorite my her was still pretty good!

Thank you so much @netgalley & @razorbillbooks for the eArc.

this gave me serious gossip girl and pretty little liars vibes! i enjoyed it a lot based on that alone. i think there are better YA thrillers but this is still enjoyable! i think everyone should give it a chance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🖊️ dual timelines
🖊️ multi-POV
🖊️ short chapters 🩷🩷
🖊️ high schooo friends who-dun-it

A group of Ivy League college hopefuls get caught up in a murder in this dual-timeline tale of spoiled brats and the lies and deception that come with competing over a few spots.
I absolutely love everything I’ve read by Jessica Goodwin and I was so excited to read her newest mystery!
I really enjoyed most of the characters in this one and it kept me guessing until the end.
I did not see the end coming! That is what I appreciate most in a murder mystery 🤪
This wasn’t my absolute favourite out of all of Godwin’s books, but it was a very enjoyable read none-the-less.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman - 4.5/5
Teens & YA
Publication - July 25, 2023

When one scores an invitation to an exclusive Legacy Club you may get more than you bargained for. This YA book is filled with twists & turns, suspense, relatable characters, and an ending that I did not see coming. I highly recommend this book because it is an easy read, there are multiple POVs, and gives off Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl vibes.


Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group for the eARC.

I really enjoyed how this story was told by different viewpoints! I was very pleasantly surprised by the ending because it wasn’t what I’d expected! The twists and turns just kept coming and it was easy to get sucked in by the story and the characters!

I am a big fan of Jessica Goodman and this did not disappoint! Another one of her clever YA mysteries that you can read in one sitting.

Thanks Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was like if gossip girl met pretty little liars and y’all I was here for it. This book was everything and I will for sure be reading more by this fantastic author.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is an quick and easy YA mystery set in a private school setting. After a bit of a slow start as the characters, timelines, and perspectives were established, this mystery picks up speed through the middle of the book and makes for an enjoyable easy read. The character development is slim, and none of the characters are particularly likeable, but would recommend this story to readers who like multiple POVs and private school/Manhattan elite settings. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨ 5 STARS ✨

this was easily a 5 star read for me. gossip girl + pretty little liars vibes and i ate it up.

the legacy club is a club of elite, wealthy members of society. but as with most things, the club holds lots of secrets and the means to keep them hidden and covered up. each year at the grand legacy ball, one nominee is chosen as the winner for $25k, which is basically nothing for most nominees, but this year is different. the story follows the 6 nominations from one school during the week leading up to the legacy ball, switching between the events before and the perspective of what’s happening after the ball, where someone has mysteriously died. it also switches perspectives between bernie, isobel, and tori. bernie is a shoe in for the club - a well known name - a perfect girl who’s life has been handed to her. isobel is her best friend, and tori is the girl who doesn’t belong in their world.

a lineage of secrets / a scholarship receiver / a high society secret / break ups / a missing mom / a mysterious murder / sabotage and manipulation

A glitzy YA thriller set in New York City elite social circles, filled with backstabbing and blackmail, twisty secrets, and a dead body, from New York Times bestselling author Jessica Goodman.

The Legacies is a typical YA mystery. I found the book to be engaging despite the characters being very cliche. I did enjoy the time jumps and the couple of surprises throughout the book. Overall, I hoped for more but it's still definitely worth the read.

Thank you to @natgalley and @penguinusa for allowing me to read and review The Legacies.

While this book wasn't horrible, it wasn't great either. I really wanted to enjoy this, but it just fell flat for me. And the big secret.. didn't really feel like a big surprising secret in any way. I found myself skimming more than actually enjoying what I was reading.. and the characters weren't very likeable at all, so I didn't really enjoy reading them from any of their view points.
There were a few good parts, but the story mostly fell flat.