Reviews - Say You Swear | The StoryGraph

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7.74k reviews for:

Say You Swear

Meagan Brandy

4.19 AVERAGE

carinaxchr's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-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: Yes

I don't know if I will ever come back from this. This was brilliant in a heart-wrenching way. I made me feel a lot of feeling I'm not sure if this review can even do it justice... the long time on my TBR didn't.

For years, I've dreamt of what college life could bring and while some things changed, there was always one constant.
It didn't matter how wild I allowed my imagination to run, my future was clear, and he was it.
Until suddenly, he wasn't.
Now there's a new man in my life, one who isn't afraid to go after what he wants, and what he wants ... is me.
They say first loves last forever... I hope they're wrong.

I will put a big spoiler over everything as there is no way I can be neutral in this review. It's an emotional rollercoaster but so worth it.

Where to start? With my new book boyfriend. To quote the author in her acknowledgements:

And holy shizz, our boy Noah???!!! MY GAWD THAT MAN! *DIES* (p.516)

A very fitting summary. Honestly, that man is so perfect, I was waiting the whole time for something to happen to de-perfect him. But it didn't, lucky us. I was a fan from the first second on. Also he is so good at communicating, it's refreshing. The greenest green flag.

"I don't want to leave you here."
I love the way he says what he means. He never leaves me to wonder, and if I ever do, he sees it and answers my concerns without a question asked. (Arianna, p.263)</spoiler

I mean, this was a love triangle but just really unfair for poor, little Chase. But it's his damn own fault. The first few chapter were okay with him but the second Noah was there, it wasn't even a question. For Arianna it was and I understand her struggle when her childhood crush finally gives her attention like she ever wanted. Until he is checked out because of her brother. (Honestly man???)

"I don't want to be seen anymore, Chase." [...] "I want to be loved." (Arianna, p.319)

Period, girl. Know your worth. Also cue Noah:

"How are you going to be half the man she needs if you can't even admit what you want out loud?" (p.417)

That man... uiii. Chase so deserved it in that moment. I appreciate the love triangle and I also appreciate Chase's role in it even though I did not like him. For the first part I was really afraid that Ari would chose him and then this would have been a rage review. I have the tendency to chose the "other" guy in a love triangle (why do I still like it so much?) so I'm just so glad about this choice.
But this book is more than its love triangle. It (the second part) also destroyed my emotional wellbeing repeatedly and I suffered with Noah. That man just has the worst of luck with everyone around him dying or almost dying. He didn't deserve it but he handled it pretty well and gave Arianna to come back to him. That man is strong, Chase could not.
After Arianna lost her memory, forgot all her memories with Noah and though she was with Chase... that shit was hard, had to close the book for a second to breathe. Also, I kind of understand why Chase took that chance but I also hate him for it.
On another note, I really enjoyed the first part (like with positive feelings): the friendship group (until Chase did his thing), her best friend Cam, the little overbearing sometimes rather annoying brother (but also he was against Ari and Chase and pro Noah so can I really be annoyed?), the flirting with Noah ... I was smiling very much and could reread it this second again. Pure vibes.
All in all, the mixture of everything really amde it for me. Great charcters (I feel like I haven't meantioned that I really like Arianna too), a lot of different emotions and a happy end in a tragic story. Will definitely reread.

ks75's review against another edition

4.75

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Noah Riley!!!! It took me far too long to finally meet you, but every moment of the wait was worth it. This story delivers a sweeping, emotional journey filled with love, heartbreak, and healing. It’s about new beginnings, confronting the weight of history, and the bittersweet ache of letting go.

The romance is tender yet passionate, layered with depth and vulnerability that makes the characters feel achingly real. It’s not just a love story...it’s a reminder of how beautiful, messy, and transformative love can be.

SPICE: 3🌶, RATING: 4.75⭐️

Content Warnings

hsullivan621's review against another edition

5.0

This was honestly one of the best reads of the year for me. I loved their slow burn but obvious interest in each other and the drama between the three in the triangle. Honestly, I was ready to throw the book when we got to the part where she gets into an accident and everything goes to crap, but I'm glad I stuck with it because the ending was perfect, even if it was a little open ended.

mmaharries's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

samgamreads's review against another edition

2.0

DNF’d @23%

im only giving it 2 stars for the hypothetical character development of Noah Riley bc I DO trust and believe that he’s wonderful and I would’ve loved him

however - one character cannot carry an entire 500+ page book for me im sorry!!

the first 20% of this book was absolutely nonsensical and SO cringe and unnecessary. I wanted to DNF it like 4 chapters in but I tried to push thru

I could see the vision for where the book was gonna go and while it did get infinitesimally better, it wasn’t good enough for me to justify spending minimum 8 more hours reading it (and I even had the audio)

main reasons I’m DNF-ing:
• not a single character had a personality outside of Noah
• very very cringe (biatch? biznatch? waka flockas?)
• felt EXTREMELY juvenile and mostly focused on “teehee boys” with no outside b plots whatsoever
• many things were completely unrealistic and unexplained???

to all my friends who love this book, just know I LOVE THAT for you but this one was not it for me at all