Inheritance

Hypothesis #7

by Penny Reid

Sam just received a wedding invitation. . . to her own wedding.

Samantha Jarlston doesn’t talk about her past and she has no interest in a long-term romantic relationship with anyone. As a 28-year-old genetics Ph.D. student living in New York City with three roommates and two part-time jobs, Sam doesn’t have much time to do anything other than run sequencing experiments, grade lab reports, and avoid handsy assistant professors. She definitely doesn’t have time or means to plot revenge against the evil charlatan who destroyed her family fifteen years ago, let alone think about her former childhood best friend and current chess grandmaster, Andreas Kristiansen.

But then she receives an invitation to her own wedding and Andreas is the groom. This absurdity sets off a series of (unfortunate?) events complete with corporate fraud, academic threats, and a very particular kind of contract relationship, one which explicitly forbids any and all physical contact. Before Sam knows it, she’s living with Andreas in his penthouse apartment. She’s also sleepwalking again, something she hasn’t done since she was a teenager.

Big problem: she keeps waking up in the wrong bed.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2025

About the author

Sign up for the newsletter of awesome: www.pennyreid.ninja/newsletter

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

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Reviews

[Penny Reid]

This is not a drill, the wait is finally over! INHERITANCE is available on all platforms! Go forth and read the nerdy goodness.

Tropes
Fake Dating
Plot with multiple twists
Women in STEM
She's morally grey
He's morally grey too...
Forced Proximity
Former childhood friends to lovers

Read INHERITANCE Now: https://geni.us/InheritancePR

[Cassandra Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I drop my current read when this landed in my BookFunnel account? Yes, yes I did. And 100% worth it.

Penny is a favorite of mine for a reason, her humor, the way she delves into subject with precision and then writes them into her books in a way that reader can read and grasp.

This first part really sets up everything, and though we are left with a lot of questions, you can definitely feel the tension and chemistry between Sam and Andreas.

I’m so excited for the next two installments, and so very glad I ordered them from her shop!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Releasing this in parts is cruel 😭😭😭

Laws of Physics is my favorite Penny Reid book / series so I’ve been foaming at the mouth since this was announced

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this in a few hours and cannot wait for the next installment!! I am here for this revenge plot! Also, I think I have a stoic chess grandmaster fetish since reading Ali Hazelwood's Check & Mate, so I am definitely team Andreas.

Although Penny calls her Hypothesis series her least popular (her words, not mine) these are some of my favorite books/characters. So if you enjoy this, definitely read the backlog. You will not be disappointed and those two other trilogies are already finished. So, no waiting!

Don't forget to buy this one from Penny's store and get their first meeting in Andreas's POV. Very enlightening!!

[NB Reads Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that feeling when you crawl under the covers into a warm bed (and cold pillow) after a long day. That’s what it’s like everytime I open up a Penny Reid book.

So let me say Sam has intrigued me ever since I read Elements of Chemistry and although her and Eric were cute, it is nothing compared to her and Andreas.

Inheritance is just a teaser of what is to come in Reproduction and evolution. I tried my hardest to wait until all three were out but the minute I read the first three chapters I was done for. And when I did finally pick it up I couldn’t put it down but wow… where it went I NEVER SAW THAT COMING.

I can’t wait until to see what unfolds in part 2 and 3 and I am desperate for more of Andreas point of view

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooo good
mcs are so lovable
H is wow <3 i love a man who is willing to set the world on fire to avenge his beloved
and i love a h who is brave enough to claim what is hers

[Vaishali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think there's a single person on this planet who's more excited for this series release than me!! I saw this on Penny's website almost a year ago and since been waiting desperately. I was worried she might have dropped the project. or worse I thought i hallucinated the title.

but We FINALLY have an announcement!!!!

SO EXCITED.

edit: Omg is this about Sam from elements of chemistry? Parker's BFF. yess!!! I knew she'd get a book.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

pure genius!!!

I’m in so deep!!!! I’m not gonna make it til mid October!!!!! Every character Penny creates pulls me in and makes me never want to leave! So many books I find myself skipping large sections of text to get to conversation and it never matters much to the storyline but I read EVERY SINGLE WORD of Penny’s books (most of them 2-3 times and then listen to the audio book!!) because all the details weave intricate individuals that I can’t get enough of! Hats off to another marvelous story and I’m already going insane waiting for the next one!!!!

[Roksolana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss this universe SO MUCH. When I found out Penny was coming out with another book in this series and the motivation behind it was to give a big F U to all the science deniers and racist fascists out there, I bought this e-book faster than you can say vaccines save lives.

Anywho, I will be diligently waiting for part 2 to release because I crushed this book in less than 24 hours. Samantha is our STEMinist queen who doesn’t take shit from anyone! Andreas is our favorite broody chess grandmaster who doesn’t know how hot he is (as it should be). Their love story has been a bananapants one, and knowing Penny, we wouldn’t want it any other way. Extra brownie points for the cameo of Kaitlyn and Martin.

Counting down the days to October 16th!

[Katie O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start!

Looking forward to the rest of this trilogy! Great characters and chemistry by the truckload. My only regret is not having the self restraint to wait for the whole story to be available to devour all at once.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Sam in Elements of Chemistry so glad she has her own story.

Enjoyed this but not a fan of trilogies or the price it will cost to read the full story.

Next book release on 16th October.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoony

Penny Reid creates such likable, relatable heroines! I just fall right into her stories and don’t want to come back out. And Andreas, can’t wait to find out more about him-he already seems mag nif i cent! This story is like having a favorite dessert. Savor it.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read slowly to make the book last longer

Penny Reid is a fabulous writer. I love, love, love the quirky characters and situations she conjures up. My only complaint is that the book ended. Which it had been longer and included the entire story.

[Kimberly Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Smart Reid, so Good!

You had me at the dedication! I loved it, all the angst and smarts of a Great Reid! A few lovable side characters and an interesting story that I can't wait to get the rest of.

[Sharron M · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a salacious beginning. It’s going to be torture waiting for the next installment. What’s going to happen when Sam wakes up 🫣

[Wangari · Rating 3 out of 5]

That ending was so abrupt!! I didn’t know it would be in parts 😓

[Alicia Meza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew chess players would be hot?

Omg! I love it! Its quick and smart! I love Sam! Andreas is smart, sweet and hot. I am ready for the next one!

[Yin Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read more about Andreas prowess as a chessman.