Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
It took me a whole day to calm myself down enough to write this review. Say You Swear is my favorite book, but this one is right on its tail. I thought Noah Riley was book boyfriend perfection, and then I got to see more of Mason and I am not so sure anymore. I made the mistake of reading this book while waiting in lines at Disney World. I’m sure everyone thought I was insane with as much crying as I was doing. Mason was there for Payton every chance he could be after the boy she loved and the father of her baby was killed in a car crash. Payton had a lot of healing to do, and Mason was there for that too in whatever way she needed him. I loved everything about this book. Even the parts that ripped my heart up. #meaganbrandy #promisemenot #romance #romancebooks #booklover #reader
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Payton's grief was heartbreaking, but the way Mason waited for her was incredible.
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had so much hope for this story, but it fell really short. I loved Mason, and Little D was adorable, but the back and forth drove me crazy. I normally don't mind a timeline look back, but for 80% of the book. Payton was very immature and learned life lessons the hard way.
I will definitely still read anything by this author, but she did not hit the mark with this book.
I will definitely still read anything by this author, but she did not hit the mark with this book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
The timeline was very confusing, Payton was rather frustrating as a character and playing with Mason (how dare she). It has so much potential...
Meagan did it again. What an emotional roller coaster. I swear She’s out here to make us fall apart. I Loved Peyton’s & Mason’s story. Lots of loss and angsty. Be prepared is all I can say and have tissues ready. Definitely recommend.
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
when i say slow burn its SLOWWWWWW also the fmc is kind of insufferable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Pregnancy
I’ll admit it—this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. After falling hard for Say You Swear and the emotional rollercoaster that story delivered, I was eager to dive back into the Boys of Avix world. The way Meghan Brandy captured the complexities of friendships, love, and growth in that book left such a lasting impression, and I couldn’t wait to see where she’d take us next. Add in a surprise pregnancy trope (one of my absolute favorites), and I thought Promise Me Not was going to blow me away.
But… I think my expectations might have been a little too high because, while this is a beautiful story, it didn’t quite hit the emotional depth I was hoping for.
This book follows Payton, Parker’s younger sister, as she grapples with an unexpected pregnancy and the devastating loss of her boyfriend, Deaton—the ultimate supportive and perfect partner. Just as Payton starts to envision a future with Deaton and their baby, tragedy strikes, leaving her a teenage single mom to Little D (baby Deaton). Enter Mason. Protective, steady, and with a heart of gold, Mason steps up to help Payton and her son navigate life without Deaton. He loves and supports them both unconditionally, but Payton’s grief and fear hold her back. Struggling to move on, she distances herself from Mason, afraid of losing someone she cares about again.
This story tackles some heavy themes like grief, healing, and found family, which I appreciate. But for me, the emotional connection to the characters didn’t quite reach the level of Say You Swear. While Payton and Mason’s journey is heartfelt, it felt a bit contrived at times, making it harder for me to fully immerse myself in their story.
That said, I came across a great recommendation from Lillie’s Little Library on TikTok. She suggested reading the Fumbled Futures series either before or after Say You Swear, as it provides more backstory and nuance to the friend dynamics in this series. She explained that doing so made her enjoy Promise Me Not much more, so I’m planning to give that a try before the next book in the Boys of Avix series drops.
Spice Level: 🌶🌶/5
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
While this wasn’t the knockout I’d hoped for, I’m optimistic that a reread (with Fumbled Futures for context) will help me connect more deeply to the characters and their journeys. If you’re invested in the Boys of Avix world, I’d still recommend picking this one up—it has a lot of heart and a truly touching exploration of grief, growth, and love.