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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not a huge contemporary romance reader by my college-aged daughter insisted I watch Maxton Hall and I did binge it in two days and really enjoyed it. The story and book did not reinvent the romance or enemies to lovers wheel, but nonetheless, it is highly readable and enjoyable. The show followed the book almost exactly (and wow those actors nailed these characters) but since the book offered both Ruby and James’ POV you really get to see another side of James that the show could not totally explore, which gave the book more depth. The translation here is beautifully done. If there are any librarians on the fence about whether or not this series is worth it, believe me when I say your romance readers will devour it.
～4 stars
i watched (and loved) the maxton hall show before reading save me, so it’s no surprise i had a great time with the book too! it gave me major wattpad flashbacks - i was giggling and kicking my feet like i was 15 again.
the writing is simple but very bingeable, filled with teen drama, romance and angst that keeps you hooked.
i love elite private school settings and i really liked that it’s told in dual pov - we get to see both ruby and james’ sides as their relationship shifts from 'enemies' to friends to something more. they come from completely different worlds, but they still see and understand each other in a way no one else does and i really love their dynamic.
ruby’s ambition and determination to chase her dreams really stood out to me, and james… james "how do you want me" beaufort??? i was ready to bite something when i read that.
i’m starting the second book immediately!
～thank you to berkley and netgalley for the arc!
i watched (and loved) the maxton hall show before reading save me, so it’s no surprise i had a great time with the book too! it gave me major wattpad flashbacks - i was giggling and kicking my feet like i was 15 again.
the writing is simple but very bingeable, filled with teen drama, romance and angst that keeps you hooked.
i love elite private school settings and i really liked that it’s told in dual pov - we get to see both ruby and james’ sides as their relationship shifts from 'enemies' to friends to something more. they come from completely different worlds, but they still see and understand each other in a way no one else does and i really love their dynamic.
ruby’s ambition and determination to chase her dreams really stood out to me, and james… james "how do you want me" beaufort??? i was ready to bite something when i read that.
i’m starting the second book immediately!
～thank you to berkley and netgalley for the arc!
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
So I went into Save Me having already watched and loved the adaptation, Maxton Hall. I was one of the people who finished the first season and immediately went looking for the English translation of the books, only to discover they didn’t exist yet. It’s safe to say when I saw this come up on the request form for July, I was all over it!
Save Me did not let me down! The adaptation is very true to the source material, but with the book we connect with the characters better and have more insight into the motivation behind their actions. I’m obsessed with the chemistry and tension between Ruby and James, and the forbidden different worlds conflict that stands between them.
This is a series so keep that in mind in regards to an HEA, and this is your warning to check your triggers because it’s not always pretty, but it’s SO bingeable! I forgot how intense the ending was going to be and now I’m running to read Save You so I can see what happens next!
**Thank you to @berkleyromance for providing me an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.**
Save Me did not let me down! The adaptation is very true to the source material, but with the book we connect with the characters better and have more insight into the motivation behind their actions. I’m obsessed with the chemistry and tension between Ruby and James, and the forbidden different worlds conflict that stands between them.
This is a series so keep that in mind in regards to an HEA, and this is your warning to check your triggers because it’s not always pretty, but it’s SO bingeable! I forgot how intense the ending was going to be and now I’m running to read Save You so I can see what happens next!
**Thank you to @berkleyromance for providing me an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.**
Honestly, I love the tv show and I’m just gonna enjoy that medium. I forgot that I don’t really like YA. Even though it does teter., but this is a purely me thing.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 Stars.
🏰 The vibes:
- Fancy private school
- Good girl / bad boy
- Book 1 in trilogy
- Rich kids behaving badly
- New adult
- Open door
🏰 My thoughts:
Welcome to Maxton Hall. We have studious Ruby who is organized and focused on getting into Oxford. All she wants is to blend in and be invisible. Then we have James who is co-captain of the school lacrosse team. He’s set up to take over his dad’s massive clothing business (regardless of what he wants); he’s popular and is a major party boy at school. When James takes a prank too far, he’s kicked off lacrosse and forced to help Ruby in her school events club. It’s very much the good girl and the bad boy who meet and both are forever changed.
🏰 Wow. So many feelings. First of all, I was very entertained and couldn’t put this down. There are so many teenage train wrecks that you can’t look away from. I LOVED this story. I don’t agree with the choices of the characters, but I really loved this story.
🏰 The author wrote these characters well because they are deeply flawed (specifically James and his group of friends) but I was still rooting for James. I so badly wanted James to do the right thing, and at almost every turn when it really counted- he chose wrong. And somehow I still loved the guy. That’s good writing. It was gut wrenching to see what he dragged Ruby through, but having James’ pov was so necessary and a strong part of the writing. His POV was where you see his intentions and where his mind is at, and that’s where you feel so much for the guy and just want him to have a win.
🏰 I loved Ruby so much. She had such grace and class at almost every turn. She brought out the best in others, and I wanted to give her a big hug the entire time.
🏰 There’s a situation involving a student and a teacher, and I felt extremely uncomfortable with that entire storyline. It wasn’t necessarily romanticized, but it wasn’t frowned upon as it should have been by the peers involved. It gave me the major ick.
🏰 Overall- this was an entertaining read, and I completely devoured it and immediately dove into book 2.
🏰 Book is set in the UK, so their age for drinking is different from the US, but lots of highschool parting involving alcohol, drugs, and sexual activities mentioned. This book is labeled New Adult - not YA, which I appreciated.
Note- open door (1 scene); language
Release date: July 1, 2025.
Thank you so much to Mona Kasten, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.