The Legacy by Dylan Allen

Series: Rivers Wilde*

Release Date: October 28, 2018

Format: Kindle

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

The Legacy is a complicated book to review as there are so many facets to its plot, which I believe resulted in quite a few of these plot points being underdeveloped… or not as fleshed out as they could have been. However, what I appreciated about the novel was Allen’s unique spin – and realistic interpretation – of a “billionaire romance novel.”  

The Legacy is about a girl named Confidence who meets the hero at a wedding in Italy. After quite a rocky start, they decide to continue their relationship when they get back to the States.

Their beginning was unique as it was the worst-case scenario for both of the main characters: Hayes thought Confidence was another golddigger after his fortune, and Confidence believed Hayes was a richer version of her asshole ex-boyfriend. However, the wedding allowed them to get over their preconceived notions… well, that and a life-or-death scenario.

The issues in their relationship became evident once Confidence was exposed to Hayes’s family. For me, though, the issues weren’t the crazy drama and nefarious plans that emanated from Haye’s family (primarily his step-mother and his uncle), but the lack of support Confidence received from Hayes (like her being relegated to the end of the table during a dinner party – in which she knew no one – because that’s how it’s always been done).

Hayes was so used to the status quo of crazy that he didn’t even acknowledge how unsafe (emotionally and physically) his house was for Confidence. Also, perhaps my biggest issue was the couple’s arguments: whenever Hayes realized he was in the wrong, he never apologized. Instead, he would say, “you’ll feel better after we have sex” (I’m obviously paraphrasing and trying to limit vulgarities).

Sex is obviously an important part of a relationship, but it’s unhealthy to not talk about your problems because, as was evident in The Legacy, they’ll be constantly repeated. In fact, during a portion of the book, the main characters split up for this reason.

When Confidence brings up what Hayes did wrong (see spoiler below), he never really apologized for it (even though it was horrible as it made her second guess the kind of person he is)… he kept saying that “it wasn’t him.” Not “I’m no longer that person,” just flat-out denial. 

Another huge point of contention between the main characters was of course money. Now interestingly enough Confidence doesn’t seem to have any bias – at least not immediately – about Hayes. But Hayes definitely has some about poor people: he insinuates because Confidence is poor (i.e. not as wealthy as him), she’s cheap, easy, has no morals, etc. (this is what he assumed when they first met).

What annoyed me throughout The Legacy was how both Confidence’s best friend and Hayes call her a hypocrite and biased when it comes to rich people. The hypocrite part is her friend trying to give her advice during her separation with Hayes, saying that if Confidence is willing to do anything to protect her legacy (protecting people whose lives are destroyed by natural disasters), why wouldn’t she accept Hayes doing everything to protect his legacy, which was protecting his family – and their money.

What annoyed me was that the two legacies don’t even compare because Hayes didn’t even know what protecting his family even meant. His actions suggest it meant keeping up with the status quo and making sure that money kept being made. Therefore, protecting the reputation of the vipers – abusers – in his family is what Hayes’s legacy is. This leads into my biggest issue with The Legacy: it’s all about protecting your legacy for the next generation, but Hayes never really stops to think if his family’s legacy, as it currently stands, should be preserved. Just because that’s how it’s always been done doesn’t mean that’s how it should be done. I would’ve loved to see some of that realization and change within the story told, not just the allusions to it in the epilogue.

Finally, Hayes calling her biased when it comes to rich people wasn’t even true! Allen tries to make Hayes’s point correct by suggesting Confidence has an unconscious bias towards rich people. However, if this were true, Confidence’s first reaction towards Hayes would’ve been much different. Also, Confidence’s judgments of the rich people – key point – in Hayes’s life were all on point; she also didn’t judge blindly or she would’ve snubbed her boss (she gets a job towards the end of the book) and the other people at the dinner party. If she was biased, she would also make snap decisions before the “rich people” spoke to her. In hindsight, if Allen wanted to solidify this narrative, she should’ve had at least one nice “rich person” in the book… but there were none to be found. 

In Conclusion

So, while I appreciated the natural disaster focus and the strong and confident woman the heroine was, the inconsistencies and unnecessary drama detracted from the romance to such an extent that I didn’t even like Hayes. For someone who was so focused on getting back, “his queen” (which I usually find endearing) just elucidated his lack of understanding. He couldn’t comprehend (and didn’t even seem to take seriously) what he had done wrong. But hearing someone completely slam you, from a loved one, someone you chose to love and trust and keep you safe, makes you question who they even are as a person.

All the drama with his family and Hayes being:

I make decisions that I think are best for myself and my family. Sometimes they mean I will have to hurt people I love. Not be candid with them. Move them around like pawns.

Hayes in The Legacy

Made me incredulous because I can’t understand how his family’s legacy was so important it would trump the feelings of his loved ones (a rich man’s logic or a broken one?). 

Now, The Legacy is 3-stars because without the unnecessary drama I liked the cute romance. But, Hayes’s “billionaire personality” just emphasized the fact that Confidence cares for him, while he’s simply possessive of her.

Buy The Legacy

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