4.25 stars

A juicy familial soap opera, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed The Heiress. Having read Rachel Hawkins' previous novel, The Villa (which I did like, just that it was nowhere near the thrill it was being advertised as), I had my expectation set low, ready for another slow-burn drama, with the lightest dash of mystery. To my delight, while the core elements remained the same, they were dialed in perfectly this time around, with the right amount of gothic atmosphere, larger-than-life moments, and snarky humor. The way the plot unfold was its strongest strength: multiple POVs and epistolary format really kept the experience fresh, even if most of its reveals were not overly surprising on their own—I was here for the journey, not necessarily the outcome.

While I cannot fully vouch for this comparison (since I've not read any novels from this author), but The Heiress has the vibe of what I expect from a V. C. Andrews story (themes of family secret, old family money, emotional manipulation, etc.). As an easy pick-me-up that's a little formulaic, but well executed, The Heiress hits the spot.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**