A review by islandgeekgirl
Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

4.0

It really didn't take me very long to fall head over heels for these characters and this book. Katie McGarry always creates great characters in her books, characters with stories that make me want to see them succeed, end up together, break free of their past, whatever it is that is going on in their lives, I just always want to see them get what they want. This book was no exception. Drix just wanted to move on with his life after going to jail for a crime he didn't commit and the Second Chance Program could give him that opportunity. Elle wanted to help her father's campaign but she also wanted the chance to find out who she was instead of being viewed as the governor's perfect daughter.

Drix and Elle were completely different. He came from a part of town where people like him didn't often get second chances and he wanted to help prove that the program was successful. He lived in a small house with his older brother, who had guardianship of him, and his younger sister, and his best friend and his younger sister often sought refuge from their father. Elle came from a much more privileged side of town and was a very sheltered girl. Almost every second of her day was planned and she had to be careful about what she said or did because cameras were always watching. I liked the chemistry Drix and Elle had with each other and the relationship that developed. They could understand each other and provide support in a way that other people in their lives couldn't. They had this insta-fascination with each other, not love, but their first meeting was a perfect situation to show a peek into their personalities that would attract the other without making it seem like an insta-love situation.

Katie McGarry is always amazing at writing character dynamics and this book was no exception. From the wonderfulness of Drix and his family, Drix and his best friend, Elle and her cousin Henry, to the more tense interactions between Elle and her parents. These dynamics really pushed the story forward as they developed and we learned more about how each person fit into the lives of Drix and Elle. The relationships were what really made the book for me but there were many other great things. I really liked the idea of the Second Chance Program and how committed people were to making it work. There were a lot of tense moments as Drix tried to determine who had committed the crime he'd gone to jail for and what it meant for his relationship with the person who he thought could have done it.

I'm not sure if this is a series or a standalone but I definitely wouldn't be sad to see this as a series. I love that her series are more like companion books that follow different characters in the same group and there were definitely some supporting characters in this book that I would read as a main character. If not, it works very well as a standalone and is one I would definitely re-read.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.