Who does avery end up with in the inheritance games? Avery Grambs ends up with Jameson Hawthorne, the grandson of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, in Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s young adult mystery series. Their relationship develops throughout the original trilogy and reaches its resolution in The Final Gambit, the third book, published in 2022. The ending confirms that Avery chooses Jameson over his brother Grayson, resolving the central romantic question that follows her through the Hawthorne family’s dangerous games.
The story combines romance, family secrets, riddles, and a massive inheritance. Avery enters the Hawthorne world as an ordinary teenager who unexpectedly inherits a billionaire’s fortune. Soon, she finds herself caught between two brothers with very different personalities and complicated feelings for her.
Jameson’s adventurous spirit and willingness to take risks draw Avery toward him. Grayson, meanwhile, offers a more guarded, protective presence. Both relationships matter to the story, but Avery’s final romantic choice is Jameson.
The following article explains their relationship, the love triangle, the major turning points, and what the ending means for Avery and Jameson.
Spoilers ahead: This article reveals important plot details from all three books in the original The Inheritance Games trilogy.
Why Does Avery Choose Jameson Hawthorne?
Avery’s decision to be with Jameson reflects the emotional connection they build while solving the mysteries surrounding Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. Their relationship grows through shared danger, intellectual challenges, and a mutual attraction to the unexpected.
Jameson does not treat Avery as someone who needs constant protection. He recognizes her intelligence and encourages her to take risks. Their interactions often involve puzzles, dares, and challenges that allow them to understand one another.
Several qualities make their relationship stand out.
- A shared love of puzzles: Both characters enjoy solving difficult problems and uncovering hidden truths.
- A willingness to take risks: Jameson lives for challenges, and Avery learns to navigate the dangerous games surrounding his family.
- Mutual independence: Avery develops her own identity instead of simply becoming part of the Hawthorne family.
- Growing trust: Their relationship develops as they face threats and discover secrets together.
- Emotional commitment: Jameson must confront his own insecurities and recognize that a relationship requires more than winning.
Their connection is not without difficulties. Jameson has a competitive streak, and his complicated family history influences how he approaches relationships. He sometimes struggles with the possibility that Avery might prefer Grayson.
However, Avery’s final choice makes it clear that she wants a relationship with Jameson rather than an ongoing competition between the brothers.
Who Is Jameson Hawthorne in The Inheritance Games?
Jameson Hawthorne is one of the four grandsons of Tobias Hawthorne, the wealthy patriarch whose will changes Avery’s life. He is intelligent, adventurous, charming, and drawn to challenges that other people might avoid.
His personality contrasts with Grayson’s more controlled and reserved behavior. Jameson often approaches a problem as an opportunity to test himself. He enjoys discovering secrets and pushing beyond familiar boundaries.
These traits help explain why he connects with Avery. She does not simply follow his lead. She can challenge his assumptions, solve difficult puzzles, and make decisions independently.
Jameson also carries emotional baggage. His upbringing in a wealthy and competitive family taught him to measure success through achievement. He has spent much of his life trying to prove himself, particularly in comparison with his brothers.
Avery’s presence forces him to reconsider some of those habits.
Their relationship becomes more meaningful when Jameson begins to understand that winning Avery’s affection cannot work like winning a game. She must choose him freely, and he must trust that choice.
This emotional development helps distinguish their romance from the mysteries that initially bring them together.
How Avery and Jameson’s Relationship Develops in the First Book
The first novel, The Inheritance Games, introduces Avery as a teenager whose life changes after billionaire Tobias Hawthorne leaves her his fortune. She has no obvious connection to the Hawthorne family, and the unexpected inheritance immediately raises questions.
Avery must live at Hawthorne House under the terms of the will. There, she meets the four Hawthorne brothers and begins investigating the reasons behind Tobias’s unusual decision.
Jameson quickly becomes an important part of her experience.
He recognizes that Avery may be capable of understanding the puzzles surrounding the inheritance. Instead of treating her as an outsider who cannot compete with the Hawthornes, he engages her in the intellectual challenges that define the family.
Their interactions create an atmosphere of mystery and attraction. Each discovery brings new questions, and their shared interest in solving problems draws them closer.
However, the first book does not settle Avery’s romantic future.
Grayson also develops a significant connection with her. His intelligence, confidence, and complicated relationship with his family make him another potential romantic partner.
This creates the central question that continues into the sequel: will Avery choose the brother who challenges her through adventure, or the one whose guarded personality offers a different kind of connection?
The first novel establishes the emotional foundations of the triangle without providing the final answer.
What Happens Between Avery and Jameson in The Hawthorne Legacy?
The Hawthorne Legacy, the second book, deepens the mysteries surrounding Avery’s inheritance and her place in the Hawthorne family.
Avery learns more about Tobias’s past and discovers that his decision to leave her his fortune connects to secrets that extend beyond the family’s immediate circle. A DNA test confirms that Avery is not biologically related to the Hawthornes, but important questions remain.
Meanwhile, the relationships between Avery, Jameson, and Grayson become more complicated.
Jameson continues to draw Avery into dangerous puzzles. Their connection grows through their shared experiences, and their attraction becomes increasingly difficult to ignore.
Grayson remains an important presence. He is protective, intelligent, and accustomed to carrying responsibility for his family. Avery sees a different side of him as she learns about his past and the emotional burdens he carries.
Yet the brothers approach Avery in different ways.
Jameson invites her into a world of risk, discovery, and uncertainty. Grayson often tries to maintain control over situations, partly because he believes that protecting others means keeping difficult emotions in check.
Avery must determine what she wants rather than allowing the brothers’ competing personalities to make the decision for her.
By the end of the second novel, Jameson’s place in Avery’s romantic future becomes increasingly significant. Still, the story leaves room for questions about whether their connection can survive the pressures surrounding the inheritance.
Does Avery Have Feelings for Grayson?
Yes. Avery develops feelings for Grayson, which is why readers cannot dismiss him as an irrelevant alternative to Jameson.
Grayson possesses qualities that make him a compelling romantic possibility. He is disciplined, observant, and deeply protective of the people he cares about. Beneath his controlled exterior, he struggles with grief, family expectations, and unresolved emotions.
His connection with Avery grows through their shared experiences at Hawthorne House. She sees beyond his polished behavior and recognizes that his confidence sometimes hides vulnerability.
However, Grayson’s emotional history complicates their relationship.
His previous feelings for Emily Laughlin remain an important part of his character. Emily’s death left a lasting impact on Grayson and influenced his emotional development long before Avery entered his life.
Avery cannot simply erase that history.
Grayson must confront his own feelings and determine how to move forward. His relationship with Avery becomes part of that process, but it does not automatically mean they are destined to become a couple.
The distinction matters because attraction does not always lead to a lasting relationship. Avery can care about Grayson without choosing him as her romantic partner.
Ultimately, she chooses Jameson. Grayson remains an important character whose personal journey continues beyond the original trilogy.
How The Final Gambit Resolves the Love Triangle
The Final Gambit brings Avery’s inheritance story and romantic dilemma toward their conclusions. The third book places Avery and the Hawthorne brothers in another dangerous game, with family secrets and personal relationships at stake.
Avery is close to fulfilling the conditions of Tobias’s will. Yet the approaching deadline does not mean she can relax. New developments threaten the people she cares about and force her to confront the truth about the past.
Jameson remains central to her life throughout these events.
The danger surrounding the Hawthorne family tests their relationship. Avery and Jameson must navigate uncertainty while dealing with the consequences of Tobias’s decisions and the actions of people who want to control the inheritance.
Grayson also faces difficult circumstances. His experiences force him to reconsider his identity, his expectations, and his relationship with his family.
The resulting contrast helps clarify Avery’s choice.
She does not choose Jameson because Grayson lacks admirable qualities. Instead, she recognizes that her romantic future lies with Jameson.
The ending confirms that Avery and Jameson remain together. Their relationship provides the romantic resolution to the original trilogy, even as the larger fictional universe continues to explore other characters and mysteries.
For readers who have followed the love triangle from the beginning, this is the clearest answer to the central romantic question.
Does Avery Marry Jameson at the End?
No wedding is established as the defining event of the original trilogy’s ending.
Avery and Jameson end the story together, but that does not mean the books confirm a marriage. Their relationship is the conclusion of Avery’s central romantic storyline, not a wedding narrative.
The distinction is important when discussing what happens in the final chapters. Readers can confidently say that Avery chooses Jameson and that they remain a couple at the end of The Final Gambit.
However, claims that they marry, have children, or establish a specific future beyond the confirmed events should not be presented as facts unless a published story explicitly establishes them.
The trilogy focuses on Avery’s identity, her relationship with the Hawthorne family, the mysteries surrounding the inheritance, and her decision about whom she loves.
Jameson is the person she chooses. Marriage is not the confirmed answer to that question.
What Happens to Avery’s Inheritance at the End?
Although Avery’s romance is the main focus of this article, her decision about the fortune helps explain the ending of The Final Gambit.
Avery spends nearly a year at Hawthorne House before she can fully inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. During that time, she discovers that the money brings enormous responsibility as well as opportunity.
The inheritance initially appears to offer a straightforward path to wealth. In reality, it exposes Avery to danger, manipulation, and family conflicts that she could never have anticipated.
By the end, Avery makes a major decision about the money.
She announces that she will donate 94% of the fortune to charity, with the distribution planned over five years. She also creates a substantial annual fund for her sister, Libby, to decide how to use.
This decision demonstrates that Avery does not define herself solely through wealth. She wants to use the inheritance according to her own principles rather than allowing Tobias’s money to determine her entire future.
Her relationship with Jameson also exists beyond the question of who will control the fortune. Their connection is personal, even though the inheritance and its mysteries bring them together.
The ending therefore resolves two major aspects of Avery’s story: she chooses Jameson, and she takes control of what her inheritance will mean for her life.
Avery and Jameson vs. Avery and Grayson: Who Is the Better Match?
The romantic triangle invites readers to compare the two brothers. Both have strong personalities, and both develop meaningful connections with Avery.
However, their differences help explain why the story ends with Jameson.
| Relationship factor | Avery and Jameson | Avery and Grayson |
|---|---|---|
| Shared interests | Puzzles, challenges, and adventure | Strategy, problem-solving, and family responsibilities |
| Personality dynamic | Playful, daring, and competitive | Reserved, protective, and emotionally complex |
| Main romantic tension | Trust, risk-taking, and Jameson’s competitive instincts | Grayson’s emotional history and unresolved feelings |
| Role in Avery’s story | Her chosen romantic partner | An important alternative and a character with his own growth |
| Original trilogy outcome | They remain together | They do not end up as a couple |
Neither brother is a simple villain in the romantic storyline. Their differences make the decision meaningful because Avery must choose the relationship she wants rather than simply selecting the most obvious candidate.
Jameson ultimately becomes her partner because their connection develops into the relationship she chooses to pursue.
Is Avery Still With Jameson After The Final Gambit?
At the conclusion of the original trilogy, yes. Avery and Jameson remain together.
The wider Inheritance Games universe includes companion novels, additional stories, and the spin-off series The Grandest Game. These books expand the fictional world and follow other characters through new mysteries.
The broader series also includes The Brothers Hawthorne and Games Untold, which explore events and characters connected to the original story.
The latest major addition to the wider saga is The Gilded Blade, the third book in The Grandest Game series, published in July 2026. Its release expands the franchise beyond Avery’s original trilogy, but it does not change the established answer to whom Avery chooses at the end of The Final Gambit.
Readers should distinguish between the conclusion of Avery’s original romantic storyline and the continuing stories set in the same fictional universe.
The original trilogy gives Avery a clear romantic outcome: she chooses Jameson. The larger saga continues to develop its characters and mysteries without changing that central conclusion.
Why the Ending Matters for Avery’s Character Development
Avery’s decision is significant because her story begins with circumstances she cannot control.
She does not choose to become the heir to a billionaire’s fortune. She does not choose the family’s complicated history, the dangerous games, or the attention that follows her inheritance.
At first, she must react to the choices Tobias made before his death.
Over time, however, Avery becomes more confident in making her own decisions. She learns to trust her judgment, challenge the assumptions of the Hawthorne family, and determine what kind of life she wants.
Her romantic decision reflects that growth.
Avery does not allow the size of the inheritance or the prestige of the Hawthorne name to dictate whom she should love. She considers her own feelings and makes a choice that belongs to her.
Jameson also has to grow. His instinct to treat challenges as competitions creates tension, particularly when he worries about Grayson’s feelings for Avery.
For their relationship to work, Jameson must learn that affection is not something he can win through a contest. He needs to respect Avery’s independence and trust the connection they have built.
Together, these developments make the ending about more than a love triangle. Avery and Jameson must move beyond the games that initially brought them together and establish a relationship based on their own choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who does Avery end up with in The Inheritance Games?
Avery Grambs ends up with Jameson Hawthorne. Their relationship becomes the final romantic pairing in The Final Gambit, the third book in the original trilogy.
2. Does Avery choose Jameson or Grayson?
Avery chooses Jameson. Although she develops feelings for both brothers, she ultimately decides that Jameson is the person she wants as her romantic partner.
3. Does Grayson love Avery?
Grayson develops feelings for Avery, and their relationship creates romantic tension throughout the series. However, Avery does not choose him at the end of the original trilogy.
4. Do Avery and Jameson kiss?
Their relationship includes romantic moments as their attraction develops. Their connection becomes more established as the series progresses, and they end the original trilogy together.
5. Which book confirms Avery’s final choice?
The Final Gambit, published in 2022, provides the conclusion to Avery’s central romantic storyline in the original trilogy.
6. Does Avery marry Jameson?
The original trilogy does not establish a wedding as the defining conclusion. It confirms that Avery and Jameson end up together, but readers should not treat marriage as a confirmed event.
7. Why does Avery choose Jameson instead of Grayson?
Avery and Jameson share a strong connection built through puzzles, adventure, attraction, and trust. She ultimately chooses to pursue a relationship with him, while Grayson continues his own personal journey.
8. Is The Final Gambit the last book in the entire Inheritance Games universe?
No. It concludes the original trilogy centered on Avery’s inheritance and romantic choice. Companion books and The Grandest Game spin-off series continue exploring the wider fictional universe.
9. Are Avery and Jameson still together at the end of the original series?
Yes. The original trilogy ends with Avery and Jameson together, providing a clear resolution to the central love triangle.
10. What happens to Avery’s inheritance after she chooses Jameson?
Avery announces that she will donate 94% of the fortune to charity over five years. Her decision shows that she intends to use the inheritance according to her own values.
Final Verdict: Avery Chooses Jameson Hawthorne
The answer is clear: Avery Grambs ends up with Jameson Hawthorne in The Inheritance Games. Their relationship develops through shared mysteries, growing trust, and a connection that survives the challenges surrounding Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune.
Grayson remains an important part of Avery’s story, but he is not her final romantic choice. The Final Gambit resolves the original love triangle by bringing Avery and Jameson together while allowing the wider fictional universe to continue.
What do you think about Avery’s decision to choose Jameson over Grayson? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more updates about The Inheritance Games universe.