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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been dying to read this since watching the show last year, and when I saw the English translation pop up on NetGalley about I lost it! And once I had my hands on it, I finished this book in one sitting.
Since I had already seen the show, I knew what I was in for and the book did not disappoint. The pacing was great and the MCs were even more incredible than I expected. I mean, Ruby is such a force to be reckoned with. While, I didn’t think James could be more sensitive than he is in the show, but man his POVs are brutal. And that ending…that cliffhanger. I knew it was coming, but still. 🫠 I am going to need that next one rn.
Would I recommend this? Uh, duh. What’s not to like about a spicy, forced proximity romance based at a rich private school in the UK? Uh, nothing. Just promise me to have the show queued up on Amazon because this series is easily going to become your newest obsession.
Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to give my candid feedback.
Since I had already seen the show, I knew what I was in for and the book did not disappoint. The pacing was great and the MCs were even more incredible than I expected. I mean, Ruby is such a force to be reckoned with. While, I didn’t think James could be more sensitive than he is in the show, but man his POVs are brutal. And that ending…that cliffhanger. I knew it was coming, but still. 🫠 I am going to need that next one rn.
Would I recommend this? Uh, duh. What’s not to like about a spicy, forced proximity romance based at a rich private school in the UK? Uh, nothing. Just promise me to have the show queued up on Amazon because this series is easily going to become your newest obsession.
Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to give my candid feedback.
fast-paced
★★★
Romance: 3 || Plot: 4 || Characters: 3.5 || Writing: 3 || Pacing: 4 || Enjoyment: 3
Pub date: July 1, 2025
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely ADORED the Maxton Hall show, so I picked this up in the hopes that it would give me the same feeling.
What I liked: A bit more of an in-depth look into the characters and their headspaces that we didn't get in the show. A couple of extra scenes that are not present in the show.
What I thought could be improved: The writing. It was hard to determine if the writing suffered as a result of translation or if it was originally this way. I thought there was way too much telling instead of showing. I didn't feel connected to the characters because I was told everything. Naturally, this meant the romance suffered. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters.
All in all, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the book, and I don't have any particularly strong feelings toward it.
Romance: 3 || Plot: 4 || Characters: 3.5 || Writing: 3 || Pacing: 4 || Enjoyment: 3
Pub date: July 1, 2025
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely ADORED the Maxton Hall show, so I picked this up in the hopes that it would give me the same feeling.
What I liked: A bit more of an in-depth look into the characters and their headspaces that we didn't get in the show. A couple of extra scenes that are not present in the show.
What I thought could be improved: The writing. It was hard to determine if the writing suffered as a result of translation or if it was originally this way. I thought there was way too much telling instead of showing. I didn't feel connected to the characters because I was told everything. Naturally, this meant the romance suffered. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters.
All in all, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the book, and I don't have any particularly strong feelings toward it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ruby Bell is a scholarship student at the elite Maxton Hall, where she tries to keep her head down and focus on her dream of getting into Oxford. When she accidentally uncovers a scandal involving James Beaufort, the school’s wealthy, arrogant golden boy, her quiet world is turned upside down. Forced into his chaotic orbit, Ruby finds herself drawn to a side of James that no one else sees. However, the closer they get, the more tangled their lives and secrets become.
Save Me has all the ingredients of a story I should have fallen for: an ambitious heroine and an aloof rich boy, featuring a classic enemies-to-lovers/opposites-attract setup. I was intrigued by the premise and ready to be swept up into Maxton Hall.
Ruby is a refreshingly focused and determined protagonist. I appreciated her ambition and the way she stayed true to herself in a world filled with privilege and manipulation. James, the broody, damaged love interest, exhibited flashes of complexity that kept me curious, especially when his walls started to come down. The world-building surrounding Maxton Hall was immersive.
That said, the emotional connection between the characters felt a bit rushed at times. I wanted more build-up, more internal struggles, and more tension. Instead, I noticed that the pacing occasionally skipped over opportunities for deeper development, particularly regarding James’ backstory. Some scenes seemed to set up drama for its own sake.
Still, I recognized a definite promise here. The writing is clean and accessible, and I’m curious enough about where the story goes and am contemplating continuing with the series. I just wish the first installment had gone a little deeper.
If you’re into a fast-paced YA romance with a splash of prep school scandal, Save Me might be your thing. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
Save Me has all the ingredients of a story I should have fallen for: an ambitious heroine and an aloof rich boy, featuring a classic enemies-to-lovers/opposites-attract setup. I was intrigued by the premise and ready to be swept up into Maxton Hall.
Ruby is a refreshingly focused and determined protagonist. I appreciated her ambition and the way she stayed true to herself in a world filled with privilege and manipulation. James, the broody, damaged love interest, exhibited flashes of complexity that kept me curious, especially when his walls started to come down. The world-building surrounding Maxton Hall was immersive.
That said, the emotional connection between the characters felt a bit rushed at times. I wanted more build-up, more internal struggles, and more tension. Instead, I noticed that the pacing occasionally skipped over opportunities for deeper development, particularly regarding James’ backstory. Some scenes seemed to set up drama for its own sake.
Still, I recognized a definite promise here. The writing is clean and accessible, and I’m curious enough about where the story goes and am contemplating continuing with the series. I just wish the first installment had gone a little deeper.
If you’re into a fast-paced YA romance with a splash of prep school scandal, Save Me might be your thing. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
emotional
lighthearted
sad
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
I really enjoyed reading this book! I must admit that I first watched the tv series before starting this book and I think they did an amazing job in bringing it to screen! What I did not expect was this ending as it is different from the tv show. However, the ending of the book was much more of a cliffhanger and it made me immediately pick up the second book!
Ruby is such a relatable and sympathetic character and quite the opposite of James, who is such as ass at the beginning of the book. James’ character development was very enjoyable though and I really liked reading the story from dual pov. The tension between Ruby and James was great and I loved seeing how their relationship developed. This made the ending all the more heartbreaking, though! The book was paced perfectly and I’m curious to see what the next book will bring!
Ruby is such a relatable and sympathetic character and quite the opposite of James, who is such as ass at the beginning of the book. James’ character development was very enjoyable though and I really liked reading the story from dual pov. The tension between Ruby and James was great and I loved seeing how their relationship developed. This made the ending all the more heartbreaking, though! The book was paced perfectly and I’m curious to see what the next book will bring!
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Habe die Hörbücher mal gehört aber gefühlt alles vergessen. Wirklich gutes Buch, aber leider mag ich die Serie noch einen Ticken mehr.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes