Oh wow this book so good!!! That is my initial reaction after finishing Say You'll Remember Me. I highly enjoy reads that run your emotions through the ringer. I think Katie McGarry is the queen of emotional dramatic stories. I have yet to read a bad Katie McGarry book and Say You'll Remember Me is no exception.
It is a story about Hendrix aka Drix a boy who just got out of a juvenile detention center program that took up a year of his life. It is a Second Chance program run by the Kentucky Governor. It is a program that is supposed to get juvenile delinquents the help they need including therapy and connections later on that will help them succeed in life. It is a program designed to help that kids that might not get the help they need and end up going to prison and in a cycle of crime for rest of their lives. Drix is the poster boy for the success of this program. Only problem is that Drix finds himself falling for the governor's off limits daughter.
I liked how emotional this story was. It is about two high school seniors that would never have met and were never meant to be together. Somehow they see down to the true heart of each other. They save each other when the feels like the pressure is getting too much. I loved how respectful Drix is of Elle's feelings. There are fights because they are in falling in love but there is not any pressure because in a good relationship the other person respects their partner's limits.
That ending wow that ending. This book had the tears rolling down my face. I definitely recommend Say You'll Remember Me if you are looking of good YA romance that will make feel the feels. I have fallen in with Drix and his unconventional family and I now need to if they will find happiness too. (less)

There is something about Katie McGarry's books that hooks you in on page one! I'm a huge fan of this author's work--I just love her writing style and her ability to share a beautiful story. And once again, Say You'll Remember Me is another fantastic read. I guarantee that you'll be invested in Elle and Drix's story. These characters maybe young, but they have been through so much and you want nothing more than a happily ever after for them.

When Drix takes the fall for a crime he did not commit, it changes his life forever. He's always had the support of his family and close friends, so when an opportunity for a new "second chance" program lands on Drix's feet, he takes it. He knows it will help him get back to his life, even though he's innocent. But he'd take the fall anytime for his family.

Elle is a young daughter of the Governor, she's lived her "perfect" life in the public eye. But the only thing she wants, is to live her life the way she wants. She's tired of being told how to look, how to dress and how to act. So when she meets Drix, she feels like she can be herself.

Drix wants nothing more than a friendship with Elle, but the more time they secretly spend together, the more they fall for each other. But Drix doesn't want his relationship with Elle effect getting his life back on track.

These to face an uphill battle--not just about their relationship, but also trying to find their own place in life. Say You'll Remember Me shows will take you through Drix and Elle's journey on growing up and standing up to what you believe in.

I liked Say You'll Remember Me and I know it's a book my students will enjoy.

When Drix is finally released from prision (doing time for a crime he did not commit) he begins a program called Second Chance which is meant to help teens turn their lives around and get back on the right path. It is there that Drix meets the governor's daughter, Elle, and an immediate connection is formed between the two unlikely pair.

Together Drix and Elle decide to find out the truth behind Drix's false conviction and find an unlikley ally in each other.

Book Review: 5 Million Stars

Say You’ll Remember Me is P E R F E C T I O N ! ! !

I really don’t have words to describe my love for this book. So I decided to share three short quotes that represents my most favorite aspects in this against-all-odds love story.

The writing is flawless

She was beautiful. She was poised. She was a cool breeze after a hot humid rain. She was that first ray of sunshine in the dark woods. She was the smell of honeysuckle in bloom. She was the first damn thing that made me forget who I am and what I’ve gotten myself into over the past year. That means she was out of my league.


The characters are realistic, lovely and amazing

“Elle is a force of nature and the smartest, most articulate and compassionate person I know. Beyond my family, she’s one of the few people who fought for my future, and she’s honestly the only person who truly fought for my innocence. Ellison Monroe saved my life.”


The romance is heartwarming

I gently kiss her lips one more time, then pull back. I don’t tell her I love her because my kiss said it all. She doesn’t say it back because the deep blue of her eyes tells me all I need to know.


The plotting is original and the ending is everything but I won’t share quotes about them because… SPOILERS!! But let me tell you this, I read Say You’ll Remember Me in 24 hours, I barely slept, or ate, or breath during that period of time: I found myself crying at 3am with the intensity of the story in the end but I didn’t care I was going to be a zombie the next day at work, because, seriously, the ending was EVERYTHING!!!

I willing you to go and read this book. If you love YA and even if you don’t, you’ll need to read this book. I assure you’ll love it as much as I do.

I was excited about reading SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME because of the chance to meet new characters and a new environment experience the trademarks of what I love about Katie McGarry's books. Friends as family and the lengths they will go to protect and support each other and all of the love that exists.

Through the characters Elle and Drix, SAY'LL YOU REMEMBER ME addresses the complexities of identity . Finding it. Understanding it. Claiming it. Drix and Elle are on different spectrums - Drix struggles with no longer recognizing who he is, who he is becoming or who he should be. And Elle knows who she wants to become, but is stunted by her parents, her cousin, and everyone around her who tells her who she is.

There were parts of SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME that left me saddened and stunned or infuriated. Specifically, how Elle's parents spoke to her and treated her, especially her mother, and how they were selfish and condescending and didn't really seem to understand their daughter at all. Elle just wanted to make them happy, to be perfect for them, but they couldn't see it.

I loved the friendship that grew between Elle and Drix as they began to get to know each other, understand each other, and protect each other. I love how the relationship doesn't depend on attraction and shows the depths of who they are. The attraction is there, but the substance is there too.

Favorite Quotes:

"Breathe. Focus. Find empathy within the situation. If all else fails, leave." - Drix on how to deal with his anger and aggression

"Maybe I'm drawn to you because I envy you. You know who you are. I want that. I want to know who I am, too." - Drix on how he sees Elle

I loved reading SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME. Fans of Katie McGarry's books will embrace this story and the characters, and I'm sure readers will be demand to know more about the other prominent characters - Axle, Holliday, Marcus, Dominic, and Kellen. I know I want more!

Say You’ll Remember Me is one of the most intense YA books I’ve read. And I’ve read plenty, including some of Katie McGarry’s books (if you haven’t read her Pushing the Limits series, you’re definitely missing out) but Drix’s story is absolutely amazing.
Drix has a second chance but he knows he needs to change his life, actually he’s realizing that maybe that’s not that hard because he knows he’s already different. During the year he lost, away from everyone he loves, he has changed. A lot. Still, he’s terrified of falling through the rabbit hole again, so he’s taking things slow.
Elle has an easy life. At least that’s what everyone thinks when they look at her social media and perfect pictures dressed in fancy dresses, smiling with her family and joining her father’s events while raising money to his campaign. But the truth is she’s not happy, no one really knows her or cares about what she thinks or feels except her cousin, and she’s struggling with her parents pressure and expectations.
Elle and Drix have an amazing connection and an insane chemistry. Even though they’re very much attracted to each other, Drix knows they can’t get involved: they’re too different, from two very different worlds, Elle is out of his league and she’s the governor’s daughter. But even though they have a mile long list of cons they seem to be inevitably thrown together all the time…
I loved Drix and Elle’s journey, there’s family drama, angst, self discovery, healing, second chances and twists that I didn’t see coming! It was so beautifully written, so emotional with such character growth that I couldn’t put my Kindle down (and I ugly cried at some moments), I really loved how their friendship started to grow and how they slowly fell in love not only with each other but also with the person they had the potential to become. They definitely brought the best in each other and that just made their story so much more. I’m also in love with Drix’s family, their moments together are not always perfect, but their loyalty and love for each other definitely shine through. Katie McGarry is my favorite YA author, she always tugs at my heartstrings and I love every second of it! Overall, an emotional story about self discovery, second chances, loyalty, love and family that will keep you captivated until the very last second and then you’ll be wishing there was more. Highly recommended and a must read! I won’t be missing Katie’s next book.

This book was imaginative and very well written. I did love how it flowed together and made me want to keep on reading. ! I loved reading it and I loved the characters connections with each other. A definite winner for me.

Say You'll Remember Me is yet another addictive, sexy, intense, and heartwrenching contemporary novel by Katie McGarry. When it comes to contemporary romances, I have always considered Katie McGarry a QUEEN, and this book proved that fact!

I absolutely adored the two main characters, Elle and Drix. They were both such realistic and relatable characters in so many different ways. Elle was a strong, kind, honest, and lovable character. I loved how big of a heart she had and how much she cared about the people around her. I hated it whenever people tried to control her, so it was really satisfying whenever she was able to stand up for herself. Drix was such a kind and damaged soul. He was definitely a character that I just wanted to hug and shower with love. HE WAS SO SELFLESS AND BROKEN. HE WAS SO GOOD AND LOYAL, AND HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING SO HARD TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. HE IS MY PRECIOUS BABY.

I also loved a lot of the side characters that were presented throughout this novel, especially Drix's family. I really appreciated the fact that Katie did not focus on ONLY developing Elle and Drix. I am crossing my fingers that some people from Drix's family will find love in a possible future book. PLEASE?!

The romance between Elle and Drix was such an adorable and addictive romance. I loved watching their "forbidden" romance develop. They seemed like complete opposites, but in reality, they had so much in common, which made their relationship work so well. The slow burn of their relationship was perfectly paced and oh-so-romantic. Their dedication to each other and their faith in each other warmed my heart so much. I SHIP THEM SO HARD. I WANT 5 MILLION MORE BOOKS ABOUT THEM!

Overall, this was an honest, emotional, and gripping contemporary romance novel. If you are in the mood for a good romance story or are a fan of Katie McGarry's previous book, then I would definitely recommend checking this book out!

4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

The title of this book reminded me of a Taylor Swift song and I think that's what originally drew me to the book. I'm glad it did though. This book was clever, cute and a quick read. The characters we all likable. I loved the names of Hendrix's family (Axle and Holiday). I was rooting for our main characters and their families the whole time. Even when Elle's parents weren't so super I had hope that they'd get their heads out of the sand and figure things out. Thank you for letting me read this book early. I've already added it to our new book recommendation board.

Second Chance - Young Offender Recovery Program.
This was the government program created under the administration of Governor Robert Monroe. It was his main weapon for him to continue in politics.
His second major weapon was the charisma that his daughter, Ellison, had with the voters.
And because of this, Ellison had her life guided 100% to convince voters how good her father was to them.
But she wanted to have a life of her own. Not to do something wrong, like a rebel without cause, but just to... study.

She had been accepted into a computer programming internship, but her parents did not find it important.
And as a good daughter, Ellison was still manipulated.

Until in an event she meets Drix (Hendrix).

Hendrix had spent a year behind the bars paying for a crime he did not commit. He was sure it had been his best friend, but to protect him, Drix was left to be arrested.
Upon leaving, he was chosen to be the representation of how Second Chance was effective.

This made Drix and Ellison always together, and the media took the opportunity to manipulate the news and make them a couple, which did not please Ellison's parents. But it pleased Ellison and Drix because they were, in fact, more than interested in each other.

To erase this initial fire, her parents make it appear in the news that Ellison had another boyfriend, which leaves Drix jealous. But he was involved in discovering the true story of the assault that put him in prison.

A story about friendship, family, politics, news manipulation, dream search and... second chance.
5 stars

Anyone who knows me knows that Opposites Attract novels are my jam. And if the hero is a little rough around the edges and from the wrong side of the tracks I am sold!! I thoroughly enjoyed Hendrix and Elle and their connection. I enjoyed their easy banter, friendship and chemistry and thought that their story was great.

When Hendrix ("Drix") and Ellison ("Elle") meet they had no idea how their paths would intersect on so many levels. Chosen as the face of the Governor's juvenile rehabilitation program after a crime he committed a year earlier, Drix is now faced with spending time with his dream girl - the governor's daughter. But when chemistry and feelings develop, lines get crossed and a secret about that night reveals itself to put Drix and his loved ones in danger.

While I did enjoy this story, I felt there were parts that were extremely long winded. I got lost at times in the story as it seemed to be overtly detailed. Overall I enjoyed this story. I liked that both Drix and Elle were able to see past the facades they both wear. Him seeing past the perfect image she is forced to project as the "Governor's daughter" while she sees past his stoic and detached "bad boy" persona as a result of his past. 4 stars! ~Ratula

Say You'll Remember Me was a beautiful, tragic, heartwarming story that had my emotions all over the place. I love that it reeled me in and that it felt as though I was right in the middle of their lives. I loved even more that I got to feel every single smile, hope, hurdle and soul crushing moment with them. So of course I found my heart beating faster at the tension between Elle and Drix. I wanted them to have more. So much more. Ohhh I absolutely loved Say You'll Remember Me and I can't recommend it enough!

It’s like every time we try to dig out of a hole, someone’s shoveling more crap on top of us. There will never be a way out. - Drix


Stepping into the story, I was already a goner for Drix. I always fall hard for the tortured hero, and he played the part so hauntingly well. You see, he spent the last year of his life paying for a crime he didn't commit. Which was robbing a liquor store. And he sacrificed himself to save one of those he loved. *clutches heart* When he was released back to his family, Drix was lost, broken and unsure of himself and how he fit back into his life. It wasn't until he met Elle, at the Midway, that he finally felt as though he could be himself. There was an ease between them that he wasn't able to find with his friends or family. But it was all so ironic, because Drix learned that Elle was the Governor's daughter. And Elle learned that Drix was the face and voice of the Governor’s “Second Chance” Program. They shouldn't be friends, let alone be anything more. Yet fate had other plans for them.

“Do you always grow horns when you’re mad, or do you save that for me?” Drix stretches back out, too.
I sort of hate myself that my lips turn up. “Evidently just for you.”


So even though they came from opposite worlds, they clicked. And the more time that Drix and Elle spent around each other on the campaign trail, a friendship easily formed. I loved that their friendship consisted of them being brutally honest while also throwing jabs at each other. It was impossible not to smile or laugh when they were near one other. But as time went by, we got pulled deeper into their lives. And we watched as hurt and pain bled from the pages. It all tore at my heart, and I can't even count how many times I cried or found myself sobbing. The struggles, heart ache, betrayal and revelations for both Drix and Elle rocked me to the core.

“Elle, it’s okay.”
That’s the thing— it’s not okay. I’m seventeen years old, I don’t know who I am, and I don’t have any idea how to get my parents to take me seriously. I’m trapped, and I can’t breathe. - Elle


Thankfully we got to alternate between Elle and Drix. So while I fell hard for Drix, I also found myself loving every single thing there was about Elle. Elle was honest, strong, determined, found the good in people and she definitely didn't have a problem speaking her mind. Welllllll except certain moments with her parents. And those moments hurt to watch, because while she loved so strongly, her parents idea of love didn't always line up with mine. Thankfully she now had Drix in her life, because they found solace with one another. And that only pulled them closer together. Their slow burn romance was super addicting and when you add in that they were forbidden in a way, it just upped my obsession with them! Together they were sweet, sexy and such an honest relationship to watch unfold.

“Why can’t you be both?” she asks. “The guy who wants to kiss me and the good guy?”


On top of Elle and Drix, there was side characters that I loved so much. Drix's "family" was beyond amazing. I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed that maybe someday there will be another book about his sister, brother or even best friend?! Please?? Because I'd love to hear about their HEAs! So yes. I highly recommend this book! And that's huge for me since it had one of my triggers (view spoiler). Say You'll Remember Me was such a beautiful story of love, friendship, redemption and doing what's right, no matter the price. And I absolutely loved it!

*ARC kindly provided by Inkslinger/Harlequin Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Say You'll Remember Me will suck you in from the start - a tale of opposites attract at it's base - this book is so much more. It's about growing up and finding who you are - discovering what you want and attempting to make that happen. It's about the mistakes we make, how they define us, how they change us and more importantly how we use them to learn and change.

Hendrix has gotten a second chance, a new lease on life in a way, but he's still haunted by the past - the need to know how he landed where he did and who was behind it. He's worried about being able to forgive that person and yet determined to know who he should be forgiving. He's a strong character, he wants to do well and right and make something of his second chance, but it's difficult to do when others see you as less. When he randomly enters Elle's circle - things get a little more complicated too.

Elle has always known a life of privilige, not that she's the child of a billionaire - but she's always had what she needed and more than she could want. But the price of that upbringing is parents who try to control every aspect of her life, parents who think they know best what she needs and wants instead of giving her a chance to explore her own interests. When Elle meets Drix, there's an attraction, there's a wonder there - but mostly it's about something in her life that she's finally got control over - well at least until her parents get involved and then all bets are off.

Elle and Drix both have a lot to work through as they go through their last year of "childhood", trying to figure out plans for the future, their rightful place in the world and grasp what little control they can over their selves, their time and their lives. There are a lot of obstacles in each of their individual paths, but one thing holds true for both of them - they can't fully ignore the feelings ignited in them. Say You'll Remember Me will take you on a ride full of ups and downs, a journey of two people trying to see if Love really can conquer it all - if life can work out even when it feels stacked up against you.

As with all of her books, McGarry dives deep into these characters, delivering powerful moments that not only suck you deep into the pages, but real life moments that make you feel, that make you dive into the story in a closer manner - as if you are right there seeing it all play out in front of you. There's a connection to the characters, a pull that not only has you rooting for them, but also has you deep into your feels.

This story is about second chances and what they really deliver in life, it's about discovering the truth of who you are and where you fit in. It's about finding love in unexpected ways and not knowing how to keep a hold of it or if you even can. It's about following your heart, no matter where it leads you, in all ways.

Say You’ll Remember Me

*received an arc in exchange for an honest review**

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two people from two different worlds are thrown together and will find out that maybe they aren’t so different after all. And that together they can help each other by being there for one another no matter the differences. Katie McGarry continues to take her readers into two different worlds and show them that while on the outside it might look great, but in reality it could be a bad situation. And she shows how those two people can came together and bridge their differences and make each other stronger.

Drix has been gone for a year for a crime he didn’t commit. The program he was in was a pilot program that the governor had started to give people a second chance. Now he is the face of the program and will be in the spotlight more than ever. When he goes for his first appearance a chance encounter will change his life again.

Elle just wants to be normal, but being the governor’s daughter makes that hard. And after being saved by a guy on the midway she wonders if she will ever see him again, but duty calls and she needs to meet her parents so they can introduce the face of her father’s new program. When it turns out to be Drix she finds her whole world about to change.

Drix and Elle know they need to stay away from each other, not only are they from two different worlds but it could jeopardize everything her father has worked for. But they can’t ignore what is happening between them and see that together they are better than apart.

But as time goes by things being to come forward that change everything. And when the truth about Drix not committing the crime come to light it will not only change their lives but influence her father’s career. Will they stay true to each other and fight for what is right? Or will the pressure from Elle’s family be too much to overcome?

Review, blog tour, and Giveaway can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Katie McGarry know how to pull my heartstrings with her books! She always presents young characters at the crisp of becoming adults where all the choices are laid before them with the uncertainties that follow too.

In "Say you'll remember me" Drix a reformed criminal, even if he never committed the crime, who just wants to get as many second chances as he can get through the governor's pet project. He knows that he must be at the best of his behavior and he is truly committed to being the perfect example.

And then he meets Elle, the governor's daughter who has to deal with being the perfect example of a Governor's daughter, even if it means that she has to drown in desperation, the limelight and also pressure herself in becoming something that she is not. The two of them will form a tentative friendship which evolves into romance.

I really enjoyed how good the writing was here. Katie manages to create two characters, socially different from one another and yet they couldn't be more similar. They both struggle to become something they are not and the parallel mystery behind Drix's jail-time also offered a good pacing to the plot.

The romance was bitter-sweet and at some times heart-breaking. But they do pull through both Elle and Drix and I truly enjoyed seeing their journey towards their own HEA.

Drix and Elle are your wrong-side-of-the-track love story. He was wrongfully convicted of a crime and she is the governor's daughter. He knows he should stay away from her and she knows what's expected of her as the governor's daughter. The stars couldn't be any more unaligned. They're both so young, yet, the attraction between them is so real. I had a really easy time relating to them and found myself right there alongside them the entire book. Katie has a writing style that is easy to get through, yet, so captivating and has a way of holding you enchanted. The story is filled with the innocence of young love and the gut-wrenching emotions of teenage angst. A definite must-read if you're a Katie McGarry fan and, if you have never dabbled in her novels, you'll find this a perfect book to get a taste of it!

Say You’ll Remember Me is just what I’ve come to expect to Katie McGarry. It’s the type of contemporary that makes me laugh and makes me cry and leaves me truly thinking about all the complexities of the themes. These are my favorite types of contemporaries!

What Fed My Addiction:

Elle’s Complex family dynamics.
Elle’s family life is complicated, to say the least. But I love that McGarry doesn’t give us straight-up villainous, controlling parents. At so many points through the book, they show that they truly care about Elle and think that they’re looking out for her best interests. They pressure her into a lot of things, but they really do try to give her a choice, at least from their perspective—they sit down with her and talk to her about her role on the campaign and ask if she’s okay with it. It’s not that they don’t give her a choice, it’s that they’ve made her feel like she won’t be good enough for them if she says no. As a mom, I know how hard it can be to let your kids live their lives, bad choices and all. How you want to keep them from failing that class or in that social situation, etc. I really thought that McGarry got all those complexities across and showed a family that loves each other but that’s still messed up. (And they are messed up—especially toward the end of the book.) Elle’s parents have many faults, but not loving their daughter isn’t one of them. They just often go about showing it in really wrong ways.

Drix’s inability to control his own life.
A huge theme of this book is how hard it can be when you truly have no control—this plays out in both Elle’s and Drix’s lives, but it’s especially poignant for Drix. He has spent the past year making up for a crime he didn’t commit. His life is now beholden to a political candidate and he feels like he has to go along with everything that’s given to him because he owes Elle’s dad his life. Even though he didn’t commit the crime, the program really did turn his life around, and he’s truly grateful for that. In some ways, he feels he’s better off, even with people’s negative impressions of him. Because of that, he’s constantly being pulled in different directions—how much does he truly owe Elle’s dad? Is there anything he can say no to? Will he ever get past his bad reputation for a crime he didn’t even commit? Again, the issues are super complex, and McGarry delves into them all unflinchingly. I love that!

The political side of the story.
Elle’s dad might be the most interesting character in the book. Elle loves him deeply and she believes in him. She knows his heart and his desire to truly help people through his political position. And then politics itself gets in the way. In a lot of ways, this story is an exploration of how even good people struggle to stay that way once they’re in a position of power. I thought that this was done thoughtfully, realistically, and in a way that helped you see all sides.

The romance.
Okay, this book is a romance, so I should probably mention it, right? Honestly, the romance is the main focus of the book, and I absolutely adored it—but it’s just not as interesting to think about or talk about as the other elements of the story. To me, that’s a good thing. I got a romance that made me swoon with a story that kept my brain engaged! Drix and Elle were both fabulous characters individually, as well, so that made the romance that much better.

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Not much.
I mean, sure, there were things. A few elements of the story felt a little over the top or unrealistic (for instance, the perfect Second Chance program that absolutely transformed each and every life it touched—or the fact that all of Drix’s friends were somehow musical geniuses), but those elements were really small in comparison to the things I loved.

This is a story about how difficult it can sometimes be to gain control over your own life. I think this is a theme that will resonate with a LOT of YA readers. Once again, McGarry delivers. I give this book 4.5/5 Stars.

Posted to Goodreads:
For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV7-y6f5tVw&feature=youtu.be

Drix is the poster child for the governor's new program to stop the school-to-prison pipeline. He has spent the last year going through a program to rehabilitate him after a crime he didn't commit. Ellison is the governor's daughter who has become a media darling and the state's golden girl. When the two meet they make a connection and even though they need to stay apart that may be impossible.

This is a basic Katie McGarry which will appeal to fans of the author. As with all of McGarry's book the characters are well developed and their evolution and growth believable. The book is filled with drama with a little romance and the plot plays out well also like all of McGarry's other books however I wasn't quite as drawn into the character's lives as I was with her previous novels.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read my first Katie McGarry novel in October of 2014. Even after so many years, I still remember how captivated, and engaged I felt. I devoured the book even though it was strictly YA. Since then I read more and more YA – including many exceptional books by other authors. But Katie McGarry’s books were pretty much the first young adult novels I ever gave a try.

Say you’ll Remember Me was the first book by this author I picked up in recent years and I’m glad to report, nothing has changed. I’m still as engrossed as ever before.

For me, her books are TRUE representations of the Young Adult genre. Authentic teenage troubles. Characters that struggle with real and relatable situations. And she excels at writing teenage relationships that work without immediately jumping into bed.

Her writing is fluent, smart, engaging and engrossing. I was immediately sucked in. Delighted by the characters, and falling in love with the story and cast.

I loved the forbidden aspect of the plot. The convict, and the governor’s daughter. Drix and Elle were both mature, and very aware of their responsibilities towards family and society. They both struggled to find a middle ground, a way to be themselves, while simultaneously satisfying everyone else’s expectations.

The depth of feelings between the couple was true, tangible, and a delight. Their trust in each other, as well as their never-ending faith was heartwarming and distinctively Katie McGarry. She excels in writing characters that are beyond their years and display a maturity that delights me to no end. And a good amount of angst and wonderful honest dialogues left me raw and deeply engaged.

I was very happy that I picked up this novel. It brought back memories and confirmed why I enjoyed her Pushing the Limits Series so much. I’m looking forward reacquainting myself with there work.

I really had a difficult time to finish this story. I read, then put it down and come back hoping I could form some sort of connection to the story.

Hendrix went to juvenile detention for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s taking part of a program sponsored by the governor. Elle is the governor’s daughter and should stay away from Drix.

I didn’t get emotionally invested in the characters as much as I thought I would be. Connecting to the characters is important to me. A story full of drama and angst. What didn’t work for me might do for another reader.

Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA.