Books in Order
Jennifer Lynn Barnes Books in Order
About Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (born 1980, Tulsa, Oklahoma) holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Yale and a degree from Oxford, and she applies her academic understanding of cognition, game theory, and social dynamics directly to her fiction. She began publishing YA novels in 2004 and has written across multiple genres including paranormal, contemporary mystery, and thriller. Her Inheritance Games series (2021–present) became a massive BookTok phenomenon — a puzzle-box mystery about a girl who inherits a billionaire's fortune — and cemented her status as one of the dominant voices in YA mystery. The Naturals series (FBI profiling teens) is equally beloved.
New to JLB? Start with The Inheritance Games — it is her most beloved series and perfectly constructed for readers new to her work.
The Inheritance Games
Full Series Page →BookTok's favorite puzzle mystery. Avery Grambs inherits a billionaire's estate for unknown reasons. Every chapter is a clue. Addictive.
Book 1![The Inheritance Games]()
The Inheritance Games
2021
Start hereAvery inherits Hawthorne House — but the four Hawthorne brothers aren't going to make it easy.
Get this book →Book 4![The Brothers Hawthorne]()
The Brothers Hawthorne
2024
Companion novel following Grayson and Jameson — read after Book 3.
Get this book →The Naturals Series
FBI recruits teenagers with exceptional abilities — profiling, statistics, lie detection — to solve cold cases.
Book 1![The Naturals]()
The Naturals
2013
Good alternative entry pointCassie can read people. The FBI wants her for their cold case unit.
Get this book →Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read Jennifer Lynn Barnes books?
Start with The Inheritance Games (2021) — it is her most popular series and an excellent entry point. If you prefer something with less romance and more procedural mystery, The Naturals is a great alternative first read. Both series are independent of each other.
Is The Inheritance Games complete?
The original trilogy is complete (Books 1–3). The series has since expanded with companion novels (The Brothers Hawthorne) and a new related series (The Grandest Game). New books continue to be published in the Inheritance Games world.
Why is Jennifer Lynn Barnes so popular on BookTok?
Her books are specifically engineered for the qualities BookTok rewards: fast pacing, puzzle-box plotting where every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, intensely competitive/romantic tension, and morally complex characters. The Inheritance Games is particularly structured for reading in one sitting.