You've probably seen that iconic green cover of The Inheritance Games everywhere—on TikTok, at the airport, or maybe tucked into your friend’s backpack. Jennifer Lynn Barnes has this weirdly specific superpower: she makes you feel like you're the smartest person in the room until the very last page, when she proves you were actually looking at the puzzle upside down the whole time.
Honestly, it’s not just luck. She’s a literal doctor of psychology who studied why people love fiction. She knows exactly how to hook your brain. But with over 20 books out, figuring out the jennifer lynn barnes books in order is kinda like trying to solve one of Tobias Hawthorne’s riddles. You’ve got secret cheerleading spies, teenagers who profile serial killers for the FBI, and a girl who inherited billions from a man she never met.
If you’re trying to dive into her world in 2026, you need a roadmap that isn't just a boring list. Here is how her books actually break down, from the massive hits to the early hidden gems.
The Inheritance Games Universe (The Heavy Hitter)
This is the big one. Most people start here, and for good reason. It’s basically Knives Out meets Cinderella with a heavy dose of "what is happening?" The series actually split into two distinct arcs recently, plus a few extras that you definitely shouldn't skip if you want the full picture.
The Original Avery Grambs Trilogy
- The Inheritance Games (2020) – Avery inherits $46 billion. The Hawthorne grandsons are mad. Chaos ensues.
- The Hawthorne Legacy (2021) – This one digs into Avery’s family tree and why she was chosen.
- The Final Gambit (2022) – The big payoff. The game ends, but the fallout is huge.
The Expansion and The Grandest Game
After the main trilogy, the world got a lot bigger. You’ll want to read these in this specific order to avoid spoilers, especially since the newest 2025 and 2026 releases lean heavily on what happened before.
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- The Brothers Hawthorne (2023): Think of this as Book 4. It shifts to third-person and follows Grayson and Jameson on two separate, globe-trotting missions.
- The Grandest Game (2024): This kicks off a brand new trilogy. Avery is now the one running the game, and we get new players with their own messy secrets.
- Glorious Rivals (2025): The second book in the Grandest Game trilogy. If you thought the first competition was intense, this one raises the stakes.
- The Gilded Blade (2026): The massive finale to the Grandest Game arc. It finally closes the loop on some of the biggest lingering Hawthorne mysteries.
Don't forget the "extras." Games Untold (2024) is a collection of novellas and short stories that fill in the gaps between the books. If you’re a die-hard fan, it’s essential. Also, look out for The Same Backward as Forward (2025), a prequel that goes back to when Tobias Hawthorne II was young.
The Naturals: If You Like Criminal Minds
Before Avery Grambs, there was Cassie Hobbes. This series is basically "Teen FBI Profilers," and honestly? It’s arguably more intense than The Inheritance Games.
- The Naturals (2013)
- Killer Instinct (2014)
- All In (2015)
- Bad Blood (2016)
- Twelve (2017) – This is a shorter novella, but it’s basically the "where are they now" ending everyone needed.
The "I Can't Believe She Wrote This Too" Series
Jennifer Lynn Barnes has been writing since she was 19. Her back catalog is deep. Some of these are being reissued in 2025 and 2026 because of her recent fame, so keep an eye out for those "new" covers of old favorites.
The Fixer Duology
If you like political scandals and high-stakes D.C. drama, read these. Tess Kendrick is like a teenage Olivia Pope.
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- The Fixer (2015) (Sometimes titled The Ruling Class in newer editions)
- The Long Game (2016) (Look for Lessons in Power as the updated title)
The Debutantes
Imagine Gossip Girl but with more murder. Sawyer Taft is a total badass who infiltrates the world of Southern debutantes to find her father.
- Little White Lies (2018)
- Deadly Little Scandals (2019)
The Squad
This is the "cheerleader spy" series. It’s fun, fast, and a bit more lighthearted than her newer stuff.
- Perfect Cover (2008)
- Killer Spirit (2008)
Raised by Wolves
Yes, she even did werewolves. And she did them well. It’s more urban fantasy than mystery.
- Raised by Wolves (2010)
- Trial by Fire (2011)
- Taken by Storm (2012)
Standalones and Early Works
If you just want a one-and-done read, The Lovely and the Lost (2019) is incredible. It’s about search-and-rescue dogs and a girl who grew up in the woods. It’s haunting.
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Then you have her very early stuff:
- Golden (2006) and Platinum (2007) – Her first series.
- Tattoo (2007) and Fate (2009) – More supernatural vibes.
- Every Other Day (2011) – A girl who is only a demon-hunter every other day. Super cool concept.
- Nobody (2013) – About people who are literally invisible to the rest of the world.
Why Everyone Gets the Order Wrong
The most common mistake people make with jennifer lynn barnes books in order is assuming you can jump straight into The Grandest Game without reading the original trilogy. You technically can, but you'll miss 80% of the emotional weight. The Hawthorne family is a tangled mess of trauma and inside jokes. If you don't know why Grayson is so broody or why Jameson is obsessed with winning, the new books won't hit the same.
Another thing? The title changes. Publishers love to rename things. The Fixer and The Ruling Class are the same book. Don't buy both by accident!
Your Next Steps
If you're new to JLB, start with The Inheritance Games. It’s the easiest entry point. If you’ve finished that and want more of that "brainy mystery" vibe, move to The Naturals.
For the seasoned fans: double-check that you've grabbed The Gilded Blade (2026). It’s the definitive end to the latest arc and ties up everything Avery and the Hawthorne brothers have been building since that first will was read.
Go ahead and clear your weekend. Once you start one of these, you aren't getting anything else done.