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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I watched the first season of Maxton Hall on a whim, thinking it was likely to be corny. I was completely obsessed by the end and just about cried when I found out (at the time) that the novels the series had been based on had yet to be translated into English. Now it’s 2025 and Maxton Hall has finally arrived stateside.
I couldn’t have been more pleased by this book, whether I hold it up to the screen version or if I just take it as an upper YA/new adult contemporary romance. If you hold it up to the series it practically matches up perfectly (which is usually the dream for most readers who seek out a screen adaptation of written works). As the first book in a romance series marketed towards readers in their upper teens and lower twenties, it’s hits that really sweet spot of wish fulfillment, forbidden romance, he falls first, enough chemistry to fill a lab, enough pining to fill a forest, and a light dusting of dark academia in how wealth can influence the futures of innocent people on a whim.
As a woman in her forties, I appreciate it for being exactly the kind of romance novel I wanted to read and write when I was a teenager myself but didn’t exist. I wanted to read romances that involved teenagers and acknowledged–even welcome the idea–that they aren’t perfect and that they are capable of deep love. The burn in this book is slow, and the one spice scene that occurs is open-door but not explicit. The romance between James and Ruby makes me swoon, even at my age, because the me of years ago would’ve been absolutely feral for these books and there’s something timeless about a sad, rich boy and an angry, poor girl fighting against everything and everyone to be together. 4⭐️
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Coming of Age/Contemporary Romance/Forbidden Romance/New Adult/Spice Level 1
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maxton Hall the show was such a huge hit. Everyone talked about it and was watching it. I started and got a few minutes into it but stopped. I was hoping to read the book. When I found out the original was not in English I was hoping we would get a translation and now we it is time! In the end this book is the typical high school romance. I can see why it did well as a show, and I am going to finally be watching the show after reading it! I can see why it is placed in the adult romance genre there is definitely adult themes that run throughout the book. There is spice, there is drug use, you get the picture.
While I did take German in college I do not speak or read it well enough to read this in it's original text. I would say that the translation is very good.
All said and done it was a good story. I am definetly going to continue despite the ending. Normally I would not with how it ended. I get it it with the circumstances but to me that still is not an excuse for it. I am still curious to see how this plays out and how James come back from it.
Thank you to Berkley for the complementary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While I did take German in college I do not speak or read it well enough to read this in it's original text. I would say that the translation is very good.
All said and done it was a good story. I am definetly going to continue despite the ending. Normally I would not with how it ended. I get it it with the circumstances but to me that still is not an excuse for it. I am still curious to see how this plays out and how James come back from it.
Thank you to Berkley for the complementary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
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