The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Summary
Overview of The Naturals
Cassie Hobbes reads people like books. Now the FBI wants her gift to solve cold cases. With over 1 million copies sold and a cult TikTok following, this YA thriller is "Criminal Minds for teens" that keeps readers awake until dawn.
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A Game of Deadly Minds
Cassie Hobbes has always been able to read people with uncanny precision. Working at Romano's diner, she can predict exactly how customers like their eggs, whether they'll want extra napkins, and what they'll order before they open the menu. This talent isn't supernatural-it's observation, pattern recognition, and intuition working in perfect harmony, a complex dance she's known all her life. These abilities are a painful reminder of her mother, Lorelei, who built a career claiming psychic abilities while actually possessing the same natural profiling skills as her daughter. One unremarkable Tuesday, a well-dressed teenage boy leaves her a twenty-dollar tip alongside an FBI business card after she correctly guesses not just his breakfast preference, but also that he's left-handed and recently started playing tennis. When Cassie reaches out-hoping for news about her mother's unsolved murder-she discovers Agent Tanner Briggs wants to recruit her for a specialized program because she's a "Natural"-someone with an innate ability to read people that peaks during the teenage years. The program's dual purpose: to educate participants while honing their natural skills, and to use those abilities to assist the FBI with cold cases. For Cassie, whose mother was brutally stabbed five years earlier-her body never found-the opportunity resonates deeply. "I need to do this," Cassie tells her resistant grandmother, "For her. For all the other mothers and daughters who might never get to make memories like we did."
The House of Extraordinary Teenagers
Secrets That Cut Like Knives
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
The Face Behind the Mask
When Gifts Become Burdens
The Thin Line Between Understanding and Becoming
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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