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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
sad
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
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
emotional
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
The Maxton Hall adaptation is very faithful to the book, but that ending?!?!
Esta novela juvenil me ha parecido muy entretenida y divertida. Los protagonistas son tan diferentes que las situaciones que se dan entre ellos provocan muchos sentimientos en el lector. Ruby y James son geniales, se complementan y entienden a la perfección. Es la pareja imposible, pero al mismo tiempo comparten muchas cosas en común y cuando están juntos, esos momentos son tiernos y profundos. Es una historia que muestra cómo las circunstancias pueden unir a dos personas cuyos caminos jamás se habrían cruzado, si ciertos eventos no hubieran ocurrido. Hay muchos momentos divertidos, los primeros encuentros entre los protagonistas son hilarantes, igual que ser testigo de los intentos de Ruby por pasar desapercibida. Me ha gustado mucho cómo la autora describe la forma de vida de la clase social elevada a la que James pertenece y cómo el dinero parece dirigir la vida de muchas personas. El final deja al lector al borde de la angustia por saber más, así que leeré la segunda parte en cuando salga a la venta.
Normally, I will read a novel before watching a TV series or film adaptation. However, obviously in Save Me’s/Maxton Hall’s case, the novel wasn’t available in English before the TV series’s release (and my German proficiency is incredibly limited, even after living in Heidelberg for a semester). Therefore, I read Save Me with a preconceived notion of what each character looked like and hoped that the series had remained faithful to the plot.
While I will touch a bit on the translation of the novel to the screen, my review will consider Save Me separate and on its own merits.
First, had I read the novel before seeing any media related to it, I don’t think I would have connected to the characters, or cared about their story as much as I did. Kasten’s writing flows easily, but there is an element of gravitas that is absent throughout the novel until the very end. For example, the account of the accident and the entire pool scene lacks the emotional depth, despite the description being parallel to what was shown on screen. So too is Ruby’s drive/motivation to attend Oxford lacking (though the TV series does little to remedy this issue too). Therefore, Save Me seemingly disappears into the background of other mediocre YA literature, alongside many other books that were never given a second glance. Perhaps this is due to the translation— indeed, many translations lose their spark.
That said, James’s POV was a welcome change to the traditional narrative structure that the TV series adopted. However, in my opinion, there should have been a few more chapters from his perspective, especially one after the twist at the end. Perhaps that chapter was held for the second novel. Ruby and James’s chemistry also came across well in the novel, but only once James decided to pursue her. Before that point, it was as if the moments of tension were there for the sake of needing to build tension— not because the tension actually existed.
The extra attention on Ruby’s home life felt unnecessary at times, as her dynamic with Ember (and her parents, to an extent) fell very flat on the page. I rather would have enjoyed reading more about James’s family and been given something to make me/the reader feel more of a connection between him and his mother (especially given the ending).
I did, however, think it was prudent to end the novel with a bit more story after the twist (which I assume the TV series chose to end on to make their future more ambiguous). This decision definitely created more momentum for the second novel and the assumed conflict in Ruby and James’s relationship.
Given the fact that the second and third installments in the series will be published before the second season premieres, I look forward to turning the tables on my analysis of the two interpretations, as I believe the TV series clouded my judgment of the novel more than it should have.
While I will touch a bit on the translation of the novel to the screen, my review will consider Save Me separate and on its own merits.
First, had I read the novel before seeing any media related to it, I don’t think I would have connected to the characters, or cared about their story as much as I did. Kasten’s writing flows easily, but there is an element of gravitas that is absent throughout the novel until the very end. For example, the account of the accident and the entire pool scene lacks the emotional depth, despite the description being parallel to what was shown on screen. So too is Ruby’s drive/motivation to attend Oxford lacking (though the TV series does little to remedy this issue too). Therefore, Save Me seemingly disappears into the background of other mediocre YA literature, alongside many other books that were never given a second glance. Perhaps this is due to the translation— indeed, many translations lose their spark.
That said, James’s POV was a welcome change to the traditional narrative structure that the TV series adopted. However, in my opinion, there should have been a few more chapters from his perspective, especially one after the twist at the end. Perhaps that chapter was held for the second novel. Ruby and James’s chemistry also came across well in the novel, but only once James decided to pursue her. Before that point, it was as if the moments of tension were there for the sake of needing to build tension— not because the tension actually existed.
The extra attention on Ruby’s home life felt unnecessary at times, as her dynamic with Ember (and her parents, to an extent) fell very flat on the page. I rather would have enjoyed reading more about James’s family and been given something to make me/the reader feel more of a connection between him and his mother (especially given the ending).
I did, however, think it was prudent to end the novel with a bit more story after the twist (which I assume the TV series chose to end on to make their future more ambiguous). This decision definitely created more momentum for the second novel and the assumed conflict in Ruby and James’s relationship.
Given the fact that the second and third installments in the series will be published before the second season premieres, I look forward to turning the tables on my analysis of the two interpretations, as I believe the TV series clouded my judgment of the novel more than it should have.
thank you to berkley for the arc!
the plot of save me can be summarized as: james does something to hurt ruby; ruby is heartbroken; james explains how he only acted that way because he's just such a sad, tortured rich boy; ruby forgives him - rinse and repeat about 5 times. nevertheless, i would be lying if i said that i didn't eat it up.
i picked this book up mostly because i've seen so much buzz online about the tv show maxton hall and was curious to read the actual source material. i watched only a few episodes of the show, and i'm not quite sure if i'm going to finish the show or this book series. i've enjoyed my time with both though!
the plot of save me can be summarized as: james does something to hurt ruby; ruby is heartbroken; james explains how he only acted that way because he's just such a sad, tortured rich boy; ruby forgives him - rinse and repeat about 5 times. nevertheless, i would be lying if i said that i didn't eat it up.
i picked this book up mostly because i've seen so much buzz online about the tv show maxton hall and was curious to read the actual source material. i watched only a few episodes of the show, and i'm not quite sure if i'm going to finish the show or this book series. i've enjoyed my time with both though!
fast-paced
I’ve been dying to read this series since watching Maxton Hall last year. I was impatiently waiting for the English translation to be released & it was worth the wait.
Due to watching the series I knew most of the story but loved to read it in its originally form. I’m excited to pick up book 2!
Due to watching the series I knew most of the story but loved to read it in its originally form. I’m excited to pick up book 2!
medium-paced
slow-paced