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The Grandest Game
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★Buddy/Group Read Retirement★
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The Grandest Game (June 2025) Buddy Read Discussion - Peyton & Sarah-Vanessa, Brianna
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Prologue - Chapter 12I am so excited for this one! I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes books, so I have big hopes here…
And I‘m loving it so far. Competitions and plots about games always get me excited. So far I‘m trying to link the contestants to the Inheritance Books. Gigi and Savannah I definitely remember them. Rohan also sounded familiar until they mentioned he was the one fighting Jameson and working at the Mercy when Avery and Jameson went there. I feel like even Odette was involved in the fourth book, but I don’t really remember.
through end of chapter 12: I know I've read the original trilogy of The Inheritance Games but I have not picked up The Brothers Hawthorne which I think is a prequel to The Inheritance Games so I don't think that would matter a whole lot. I feel like I recall the name Kane but not sure why but also don't really remember the twins (Gi-Gi and Savannah). When did Avery and Jameson go to the Mercy? I don't remember her going to London? I thought she had to stay at the original estate?
I am hoping that my lack of memory from The Inheritance Games series doesn't hurt too much in picking up what is happening in this one.
Can’t wait to read this I’ve been in such a slump with this series since I feel like she comes out with books so quickly. Can’t wait to spend the day catching up on the chapters since I didn’t see this thread lol
@Peyton Now that you mention it, she does indeed. Most of them though are on the thinner side, in terms of page count. Any reason you’re in a slump with this series? I devoured every book. Although the first one, so far was the best.@Brianna I think the fact that you didn’t read Hawthorn Brothers and thus don’t know some of the contestants doesn’t matter too much. It’s helpful to know the backstories but I believe you‘ll be able to follow nevertheless. Jameson and Avery went to the Mercy in the book The Hawthorn Brothers. Gigi and Savannah also appear in Hawthorn Brothers I believe.
Chapter 13-24Know seems like he’s hiding something behind that mean act. I wonder if it has something to do with Brian and Calla. And how come they’re participating a second time? Actually is there a book about the first game?
And who is the eight player? I‘m hooked.
@Sarah-Vanessa I’m really not sure I love every book and devour them. I just think the pace at which she comes out with books discouraged me a little bit because I felt like I could never catch up before a new one came out
through end of chapter 24I am fairly confused about how these characters know each other from before. I am still going with it to see how everything comes together though. I am super intrigued by who the 8th player is! And do we know yet who is on which team just yet? I know Rohan and Savannah, right?
Gigi is potentially with Brady or Knox?
Then that leaves Odette and....? I don't know who else I am missing?
@Peyton I definitely get that. @Brianna Yes, excited as well to read further today. I guess Odette would be with either Brady, Knox, Lyra or player 8. Let‘s find out 😜
Chapter 25-36Well, that was somehow disappointing. The 8th player is Greyson, why? I thought Avery created that game to give something back. Why do we have so many family members being part?
What’s your opinion?
And there’s definitely romantic tension between Lyra and Greyson, as well as Rohan and Savannah. I‘m not feeling these two couples. I definitely root for Gigi and Brian or Gigi and Knox though.
through end of 24Okay so the groups we have are:
Lyra, Greyson (8th player but like why?!), Odette
Savannah, Rohan
Gigi, Knox, Brady (?)
I like Gigi the best so far I think. Overall I am hoping for no romance in general or fingers crossed the romance stays minimal in this one and that it doesn't become a huge focus. I am intrigued by this first puzzle and am curious to see where we go next!
through end of chapter 60 <\b>Finally all caught up and I’m really enjoying it so far but I feel like a lot is happening with very little substance and it’s not quite making sense and connecting yet but nonetheless I’m enjoying trying to solve the puzzle.
I agree with everything you guys are saying so far. While I’m enjoying the romance I’m definitely hoping it stays minimal in this book to focus on the game but I know that probably won’t happen entirely. I also agree it’s a little strange that Greyson is a part of the game given the purpose of them. However I think he is there purely because his half siblings are playing and so that someone with the direct Hawthorne perspective is included. He’s also the only brother besides Xander who hasn’t had a love story outside of his past hence the romantic tension between him and Lyra
through end of chapter 60I have been enjoying the puzzles and the solving of them but it is a bit difficult jumping between the three groups since they all have different puzzles. Knowing this is a series also makes me wonder just where this installment is going to end and what will happen throughout the rest.
through end of bookSo this didn't end quite the way I imagined and I like that there are a fair amount of things that we will still get to figure out in the next installment. It feels like there is still way too much unknown still and not a fan overall of the romance plots that are starting.
through the endAll I can say is I was really hoping for a more thrilling ending but here we are with a cliffhanger. Definitely fell a little flat for me and probably a little rushed so I definitely can’t wait for the next book
Chapter 37 - 60Sorry Ladies, I‘m behind, but catching up with planning to finish it today….
@Peyton @Brianna I agree with your points. It’s sort of confusing switching between the different groups. And I honestly somewhere lost the overview which group solved which puzzles. From the reader perspective it would have been easier to follow one group then the other. But from the author perspective I agree it somehow contributes to the tension switching between the groups. As it gives more of a race feeling and you as a reader are in the middle of it.
Overall I really enjoy the puzzles, but as @Peyton mentioned it lacks a bit of substance. The chapters and puzzles are so fast paced and every puzzle gets solved in such a hurry, that even I feel like I‘m racing and I can barely keep up.
Chapter 61 - The End Oh well…. I agree with both of you. The Ending was disappointing. It feels like the book ended, when it wasn’t even finished entirely yet. So many things stayed in the dark and what Odette and Brady revealed left me even more confused.
Overall the plot was really thrilling. The puzzles and the whole game were lots if fun to read. The arising new romances felt sort of forced and I‘m not feeling them, but let’s see in the next installment. If it wouldn’t have been for the somehow abrupt and rushed ending, that left so many things unclear, it would be a 5 star. Now it’s a solid 4.
I'm glad that it wasn't just me who was a bit disappointed by the ending. I normally LOVE Jennifer Lynn Barnes books so was kind of a bummer that I didn't love it as much as I expected. I will probably still give the sequel a try and may try to fit in Brothers Hawthorne before picking that one up to see what I may have missed in regards to this one and how they were all connected.
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Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:
Week of 06/01
June 1 Prologue – 12
Week of 06/02
June 2 Chapters 13 – 24
June 3 Chapters 25 – 36
June 4 Chapters 37 – 48
June 5 Chapters 49 – 60
June 6 Chapters 61 – 72
June 7 Chapters 73 – Epilogue
PARTICIPANTS
~ Peyton
~ Sarah-Vanessa
~ Brianna