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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Dramatic and romantic. The characters were the best part.
It really didn't take me very long to fall head over heels for these characters and this book. Katie McGarry always creates great characters in her books, characters with stories that make me want to see them succeed, end up together, break free of their past, whatever it is that is going on in their lives, I just always want to see them get what they want. This book was no exception. Drix just wanted to move on with his life after going to jail for a crime he didn't commit and the Second Chance Program could give him that opportunity. Elle wanted to help her father's campaign but she also wanted the chance to find out who she was instead of being viewed as the governor's perfect daughter.
Drix and Elle were completely different. He came from a part of town where people like him didn't often get second chances and he wanted to help prove that the program was successful. He lived in a small house with his older brother, who had guardianship of him, and his younger sister, and his best friend and his younger sister often sought refuge from their father. Elle came from a much more privileged side of town and was a very sheltered girl. Almost every second of her day was planned and she had to be careful about what she said or did because cameras were always watching. I liked the chemistry Drix and Elle had with each other and the relationship that developed. They could understand each other and provide support in a way that other people in their lives couldn't. They had this insta-fascination with each other, not love, but their first meeting was a perfect situation to show a peek into their personalities that would attract the other without making it seem like an insta-love situation.
Katie McGarry is always amazing at writing character dynamics and this book was no exception. From the wonderfulness of Drix and his family, Drix and his best friend, Elle and her cousin Henry, to the more tense interactions between Elle and her parents. These dynamics really pushed the story forward as they developed and we learned more about how each person fit into the lives of Drix and Elle. The relationships were what really made the book for me but there were many other great things. I really liked the idea of the Second Chance Program and how committed people were to making it work. There were a lot of tense moments as Drix tried to determine who had committed the crime he'd gone to jail for and what it meant for his relationship with the person who he thought could have done it.
I'm not sure if this is a series or a standalone but I definitely wouldn't be sad to see this as a series. I love that her series are more like companion books that follow different characters in the same group and there were definitely some supporting characters in this book that I would read as a main character. If not, it works very well as a standalone and is one I would definitely re-read.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Drix and Elle were completely different. He came from a part of town where people like him didn't often get second chances and he wanted to help prove that the program was successful. He lived in a small house with his older brother, who had guardianship of him, and his younger sister, and his best friend and his younger sister often sought refuge from their father. Elle came from a much more privileged side of town and was a very sheltered girl. Almost every second of her day was planned and she had to be careful about what she said or did because cameras were always watching. I liked the chemistry Drix and Elle had with each other and the relationship that developed. They could understand each other and provide support in a way that other people in their lives couldn't. They had this insta-fascination with each other, not love, but their first meeting was a perfect situation to show a peek into their personalities that would attract the other without making it seem like an insta-love situation.
Katie McGarry is always amazing at writing character dynamics and this book was no exception. From the wonderfulness of Drix and his family, Drix and his best friend, Elle and her cousin Henry, to the more tense interactions between Elle and her parents. These dynamics really pushed the story forward as they developed and we learned more about how each person fit into the lives of Drix and Elle. The relationships were what really made the book for me but there were many other great things. I really liked the idea of the Second Chance Program and how committed people were to making it work. There were a lot of tense moments as Drix tried to determine who had committed the crime he'd gone to jail for and what it meant for his relationship with the person who he thought could have done it.
I'm not sure if this is a series or a standalone but I definitely wouldn't be sad to see this as a series. I love that her series are more like companion books that follow different characters in the same group and there were definitely some supporting characters in this book that I would read as a main character. If not, it works very well as a standalone and is one I would definitely re-read.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I love Katie McGarry's books and this one was no different! Seriously, if you're a fan of hers, you should definitely be excited about this book! I loved the overall messages of being true to yourself and learning who you are and helping those who need it. Warning --->
I'm going to hide the rest because I'm worried it might be a little too early for a fulll review.
I wish I had loved Elle more than I did. She was very naive and trusting and spineless when it came to her parents and I had a really hard time getting behind a lot of the things her parents were making her do and didn't understand why she wasn't asking more questions earlier. I also thought the coding thing was a little random and wish I had felt more of a passion from her for it because it almost felt like just something she wanted to try rather than an actual life goal for her. Which in turn made it hard to understand why she cared so much about the program. But that wasn't a huge deal for me, just something that felt a little off. I also enjoyed watching both of them learning who they are.. And I of course loved that they saw such greatness in each other even though they were so different and without being insanely over-the-top cheesy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I loved Drix and his friends and family. I loved the way they all came back together and seeing all of their transitions after Drix came home from his program. I loved how Elle really seemed to want to help people and change the world and her optimism and hard work. I also loved how these characters highlighted the problems within our justice system and how hard it came be for people who can't afford their own lawyers and how much help teens need when their home lives are unstable and insecure. I think Katie McGarry did a really great job showing what the cycle actually looks like and how many privileged people don't see how hard it is to break.
In the end, I really loved this book and think it's a great one for people who are already fans of McGarry's and a really good place for people to jump in who haven't read any of her books yet. It felt a little less dramatic than some of her others and talked about some really important issues. And if you like swoony romances, this is definitely a good one!
Spoiler
If you don't like it when an animal is killed, you might have a hard time with this one. It's a small part but definitely emotional.I'm going to hide the rest because I'm worried it might be a little too early for a fulll review.
Spoiler
I really loved Drix and I really loved watching the relationship develop between him and Elle. It felt more natural than some other relationships that happen in YA books so it was nice to see them actually spending time together and talking and learning about each other while also being attracted to each other without just jumping right into a relationship or insta-love or anything like that. It was a nice change and I really enjoyed getting to experience that part of their relationship.I wish I had loved Elle more than I did. She was very naive and trusting and spineless when it came to her parents and I had a really hard time getting behind a lot of the things her parents were making her do and didn't understand why she wasn't asking more questions earlier. I also thought the coding thing was a little random and wish I had felt more of a passion from her for it because it almost felt like just something she wanted to try rather than an actual life goal for her. Which in turn made it hard to understand why she cared so much about the program. But that wasn't a huge deal for me, just something that felt a little off. I also enjoyed watching both of them learning who they are.
Spoiler
For Drix it was all about who he was on the other side of the program and without the drugs and drinking and fighting from before he was arrested and how to fit back into his life without falling back into the bad behavior. And for Elle it was all about discover who she was apart from her parents and making her own choices and what was important to her outside of her dad's campaign and finally learning that being herself and not always perfect was actually betterOverall, I really enjoyed this story. I loved Drix and his friends and family. I loved the way they all came back together and seeing all of their transitions after Drix came home from his program. I loved how Elle really seemed to want to help people and change the world and her optimism and hard work. I also loved how these characters highlighted the problems within our justice system and how hard it came be for people who can't afford their own lawyers and how much help teens need when their home lives are unstable and insecure. I think Katie McGarry did a really great job showing what the cycle actually looks like and how many privileged people don't see how hard it is to break.
In the end, I really loved this book and think it's a great one for people who are already fans of McGarry's and a really good place for people to jump in who haven't read any of her books yet. It felt a little less dramatic than some of her others and talked about some really important issues. And if you like swoony romances, this is definitely a good one!
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked the balance between politics and the overall storyline of the series. It talks about some very important topics and did it in a way that young adults could understand easily. I will say I would have liked this more and rated it night when I was younger. I will say, I never understand how authors write these relationships where they fall in love after seeing each other like 4 times. Makes it a little unbelievable.
This was enjoyable but it wasn't amazing. I loved McGarry's 'pushing the limits' and went into this book with high expectations of another contemporary like that but it just wasn't as good.
It was cute enough and the writing was fine, but I just know it wont be one of those books I remember. The characters were okay but I really did feel like Drix was written like a much older guy or maybe even a guy who'd time traveled from the 1980s or something - idk his dialogue felt a bit iffy to me. The romance was cute and I liked their scenes together but I definitely enjoyed their scenes before they actually got together, there's just something about the 'we can only be friends' drama I just loveee
Overall, I managed to read it pretty fast and it was a decent book, just nothing memorable. Also the side characters were just so bad - her cousin, her parents, his best friends sister idek?? I can't even remember his friends
It was cute enough and the writing was fine, but I just know it wont be one of those books I remember. The characters were okay but I really did feel like Drix was written like a much older guy or maybe even a guy who'd time traveled from the 1980s or something - idk his dialogue felt a bit iffy to me. The romance was cute and I liked their scenes together but I definitely enjoyed their scenes before they actually got together, there's just something about the 'we can only be friends' drama I just loveee
Overall, I managed to read it pretty fast and it was a decent book, just nothing memorable. Also the side characters were just so bad - her cousin, her parents, his best friends sister idek?? I can't even remember his friends
Spoiler
ALSO WHY KILL THE DOG THERE WAS NO NEED!!
Perfect YA romance - fans of Sarah Dessen will love!!
There should be warnings on books that will make you cry heads up a dog does and I cried like a baby.
This was a really good book, but towards the end, Elle and Drix’s relationship felt a little rushed and unrealistic. There were also a lot of grammatical errors that bothered me. Overall, this was a fast, enjoyable read, and I loved Elle and Drix’s early interactions and watching them grow and change.
*4 Stars*
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
This one took me a bit longer than normal for a Katie McGarry book to get into. It really ramped up for me towards the end, and I felt myself more invested at that point.
That being said though, this was a good book with a lot of hidden lessons. Drix and Elle were great characters, and the secondary characters, particularly Holiday, Axle and Marcus, were really cool too.
I found there were a lot of hidden lessons as we learned more about Drix and Elle and their lives. There is a lot of behind the scenes political nonsense for Elle, leaving her wondering who she really is, and if she can stand up to her parents and stand up for herself.
Drix is probably the more complicated one, and his life and lifestyle definitely highlight the unfortunate lives that some people are born into and how they find trouble being able to excel and the unfortunate situations they end up in. Obviously their own life choices play a part, and this determines who they are, but what they were born into certainly doesn’t help matters.
This book is about saving lives, and being given chances, and making your own way. I liked they way that Drix and Elle worked as a couple and how, even from totally different worlds, they were so well fit for each other and understood each other in their own ways.
Would recommend.
Review also on my blog - Say You'll Remember Me - Katie McGarry
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ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
This one took me a bit longer than normal for a Katie McGarry book to get into. It really ramped up for me towards the end, and I felt myself more invested at that point.
That being said though, this was a good book with a lot of hidden lessons. Drix and Elle were great characters, and the secondary characters, particularly Holiday, Axle and Marcus, were really cool too.
I found there were a lot of hidden lessons as we learned more about Drix and Elle and their lives. There is a lot of behind the scenes political nonsense for Elle, leaving her wondering who she really is, and if she can stand up to her parents and stand up for herself.
Drix is probably the more complicated one, and his life and lifestyle definitely highlight the unfortunate lives that some people are born into and how they find trouble being able to excel and the unfortunate situations they end up in. Obviously their own life choices play a part, and this determines who they are, but what they were born into certainly doesn’t help matters.
This book is about saving lives, and being given chances, and making your own way. I liked they way that Drix and Elle worked as a couple and how, even from totally different worlds, they were so well fit for each other and understood each other in their own ways.
Would recommend.
Review also on my blog - Say You'll Remember Me - Katie McGarry
Follow me on: