This was so good! I am so so glad we finally get to have the book. I had so much fun reading it and loved that the series sticks true to the book. I need book 2 ASAP!!!

I was super excited to read this since I loved the show. This is perfect for fans of gossip girl and the after series. It follows Ruby Bell who comes from a completely different world from the rest of her school. She has a scholarship, she doesn’t have designer clothes, and has to work hard to everything she has. In comes James who is the schools it guy. He comes from a notable family, doesn’t have to work for anything, and gets a pass whenever he is causing trouble. When fate puts them together they see that they have more things in common than they thought! I will say the ending to this is completely different from the show and it ruined me!

As someone who went feral for the TV series adaptation of this book and watched it over and over again, though I don’t understand a word of German, I couldn’t wait for an English version to be published of the book.

Having watched the show, I think it did me a disservice in reading the book. Reading felt more like a script of the show than a show based on this book. There was very little of the book that wasn’t included in the show. Also having this book be a translation, the flow of the story felt choppy and a bit robotic.

I still enjoyed reading this book, but I did think the show was better at bringing Ruby and James to life. The book is both heartfelt and emotional, but between the drama there were moments of humor which I appreciated. I think those who haven’t wanted the show and love romance will really enjoy this book and I think those of us who loved the show may or may not enjoy the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC

Save Me by Mona Kasten was exactly the kind of addictive, drama-filled read I didn’t know I needed. I got completely pulled into Ruby’s world. She’s smart, driven, and trying to survive in this elite school full of rich kids and ridiculous expectations. And then there’s James, the golden boy with a whole mess of issues who somehow manages to be both frustrating and completely swoony.

Their dynamic is total opposites attract, and I loved the slow build between them. It’s not just romance either. There’s family tension, secrets, and social pressure that made it feel deeper than I expected going in. The drama is so extra at times, but honestly, I was here for every bit of it.

If you're into romantic tension, big feelings, and characters you want to shake and hug all at once, Save Me will suck you in fast. I already grabbed book two because I need to know what happens next.

3.5 stars

I had such a love-hate relationship with this book. I loved Ruby Bell with all her color coded planner glory. I loved Ruby's background and her family - they made her feel very relatable. Ruby's goal for the majority of her life was to get into Oxford. She got a scholarship to attend an elite high school, Maxton Hall. Her mission was to keep her home life and school life completely separate.

James Beaufort, on the other hand, was a little harder to like. He's a party boy who enjoys sex, alcohol, fighting and drugs. His family owns a multi-million dollar clothing company. His future is already planned for him - attend Oxford then join the board for his family's company. You would get a glimpse of the sweet James (like when he got Ruby the leather backpack for her birthday), but then the dude would make a horrible decision and I would be back at not liking him. Almost to the point where I didn't want to root for him anymore.

Ruby and James are forced together after James conducts a prank at one of the events Ruby planned. James is now kicked off the lacrosse team and must be an active member of the events committee. Tension and tempers flare as Ruby and James figure out how to work together.

The ending scene will make it very difficult for me to want to see where this goes. I don't know how Ruby will be able to forgive him (again) after the situation he put himself into (yes, I know that there were extenuating circumstances that got him in that situation, but still not an excuse for those decisions).

BBBUUUUUUTTTT will I be picking up the next book? Absolutely.

Something that confused me about the storyline was James and his twin sister, Lydia. At the beginning of the book, it says they are extremely close and talk daily. Lydia runs to James when she is caught (by Ruby) making out with a professor at the high school. But Lydia and James never really seem close throughout the book. He never actually talks to her about his thoughts and feelings. Lydia never seems to want what is best for James.

The scene that made me cringe and wish it was taken out was when Ruby yells at James in front of all the other interviewee students at Oxford. The things she says in front of all these students are embarrassing. You would think this would affect her getting into the school with the type of outburst she had. It also seemed out of character as she is usually very good at keeping her feelings in check in public. She has spent years staying under the radar and trying to not make a scene. I wish this outburst could have happened in semi-private.

This book is considered Young Adult as the main characters are 17-18 years old. Highly recommend this book for only mature teens as their is sex, drugs, and alcohol throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for providing me an advanced copy for an honest review.

3.5/5 - 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 is a dual POV following Ruby, a scholarship student, and James, a high-class rich boy, both of whom are in their “upper sixth” year at Maxton Hall. Ruby tries everyday to be invisible, but that all changes when she stumbles on James’ sister, Lydia in a compromising position with at teacher. In an effort to ensure Ruby doesn’t spill Lydia’s secret, James promises Lydia to keep an eye on her. Soon their mutual dislike changes into attraction.

James is very hot and cold as he knows his family expects him to marry someone wealthy and also from a high-standing family. Ruby is a smart, tenacious girl who works very hard to ensure her life is organized, filling lots of her time on the event committee as co-head chair. For the past two years she has made sure to keep her home life separate from her life at Maxton Hall but slowly blends the two as she lets James in a bit more each day. Eventually, she even lets her best friend even come over to her house for her 18th birthday.

Overall I give this 4.75 stars but the next book needs to drastically need to make up for that heartbreaking ending.

I read the uncorrected translated English version, so I hope there are a few corrections that had me confused I have to read them again to make sure I understood what was going on. I tried to even Google if this was how things are spoken in British English, but was not successful in getting answers. For example, it is said, “He rubs the back of his nose, where it was broken last year.” People don’t really rub the back of your nose, as that is considered to be in the nasal cavity. The bridge of the nose is what is usually broken. Another example, “I noticed at the weekend that he’s got more than just a quick tongue, he’s intelligent.” Americans don’t say “at the weekend” we would say “this weekend” or “on the weekend.” Again this could be me not understanding British English or just be a direct translation that wasn’t caught.

If you were a fan of Maxton Hall (which I absolutely was), you will most likely end up loving Save Me! The tv adaptation followed so closely along with the books and I love that for us! I'm excited to read the next book in the series (and not gonna lie the next season of the series as well!).

When I watched Maxton Hall last year, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the English translation. I'm so happy that it lived up to all my expectations! The adaptation is so close to the book, with only minor tweaks. I really enjoyed that aspect! It's no surprise that since I loved the show, that I love the characters, the world and the storyline in Save Me. I think so many will enjoy this translated version. Now I'll eagerly anticipate picking up the next book (and watching the second season!).

I’m honestly surprised the show was that strong of an adaptation, there were only minor changes!

I will say there were some scenes I preferred in the book vs some o preferred in the show but they kind of cancelled out.

I did not like the language used in the sex scene, it felt very amateur pornish and made me physically cringe. I also CAN NOT believe that ending 😭😭 WHY JAMES WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT.

All the same I love this show/story/book

oh ALSO I loved Lydia’s character in this. I hope her and Ruby become closer friends

First of all, I am SAT!! While I was introduced to the setting of this story via the tv show, the book (as always) was so much better. There was so much more to James and Ruby’s relationship with each other and also so much more going on when they were apart.
The book puts you through an emotional roller coaster. Reading this was such a big reminder as to why I love first love romances, as well as coming of age of sorts. The complexity of those years and the emotions and pressure young adults go through is such a beautiful thing to read and relate to.
Another aspect of this story that I adore is that for once, while James is the one with the money, Ruby isn’t the one who needs saving.
This isn’t the first translation I’ve read but I felt like the translator did a great job of making the book cohesive and there weren’t a bunch of oddly put together phrases like I’ve dealt with in the past.

I love the two of them way too much. I’m fully aware this probably isn’t the most well-written book I’ve ever read, but I just can’t give it less than 5 stars—sue me.

First of all, I literally devoured the book in one sitting. There wasn’t a single moment where I felt like doing anything else or putting the book down; it kept me hooked the entire time. Secondly, they made me smile so much and gave me so many butterflies that they definitely earned the highest rating from me.

And as someone who watched the first season of the show last year (and is now desperately waiting for the next one), I had no doubt I’d love the book just as much. And as much as I want to praise the author and the book itself, I have to give credit to the show too. It’s so rare to see a book adapted so perfectly for the screen, but that’s exactly what happened here. They did such a great job that I couldn’t stop picturing the characters as the actors from the series.

I really liked the writing style—it’s light and easy to “consume.” The chemistry between the characters is off the charts—like I said, they gave me butterflies more than once. I also genuinely liked the characters themselves; they’re three-dimensional, with their own struggles and emotional depth.

As for the side characters, I absolutely loved Lydia the most and I’d really love to see more of her and Ruby as friends. As for Mortimer, I’ve wanted to set him on fire ever since I finished the tv show. Disgusting characters like him don’t even deserve to exist.

I’m so happy I finally got the chance to read the books now that they’ve been translated into English—it’s been on my wishlist ever since I watched the show.

From me, it’s a wholehearted recommendation. You won’t regret it.

SO FUN. As a fan of the show, I'm delighted to see an English translation of the source material. I hope to see more in English from this author in the future and can highly rec this both to fans of the show and newbies.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

A huge fan of the show Maxton Hall, I could not wait for the books to be published in English. Save Me is the story of Ruby and James, two opposites who fall for each other and are constantly torn apart. The show is a faithful adaptation and I need the sequel immediately. Angsty romance perfection.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As an avid lover of the tv show adaptation, this book was everything I needed it to be! I was able to play out the book in my mind using the real life cast. Any time a scene played out different than the show, I felt like I just got bonus scenes! I’m so glad this was translated to English and we got to get inside the mind of James Beaufort.

I don’t know how to rate the book alone, but it was a 5✨ experience because of I already watched the show and got to visualize all of the “looks from across the room,” the devilish smirk by James, and the soundtrack in my head as various scenes played out. Oh! And I read it in one sitting.

As a fan of the Amazon show, I was so excited to see this book and series finally published in English! There's a lot to love about this romance. It showcases one of my favorite romantic tropes, class and economic dynamics. Rich vs Poor. Nerd vs Popular Jock. I'm a complete sucker! Its a well done, fun read and I can't wait to recommend this to my teen and adult patrons. Now I just have to read the second one!

I loved this! Ruby is a relatable protagonist-- her quiet, serious determination and academic focus are the perfect contrast to the extravagant lifestyle of Maxton Hall. James initially fills the typical "rich bad boy" mold but Ruby brings out his vulnerable side, making his character arc genuinely compelling. The chemistry between them sizzled with every interaction, keeping me eagerly turning the page. I enjoyed seeing more of James’ internal dialogue in the book. Their journey is filled with moments that are equally heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The novel did an excellent job of exploring themes of wealth and ambition, and the Maxton Hall setting serves as a backdrop to both the opulence and the pressures faced by its students. Friends and family (especially Ember and Lydia) play pivotal roles in pushing Ruby and James toward their realization that they might be more alike than they initially thought. The dramatic ending left me feeling satisfied but yearning for more of Ruby and James's world! I’m so glad I read this before the Season 2 premiere. I’m looking forward to more of the English translations from Mona Kasten!

This book would have absolutely devastated me at age 16 and not surprisingly is also devastating me at age 30. I need the rest of this series ASAP! Having watched the series first and now read the book, I am so happy with how the series is a very well done adaptation of this novel. I can't believe it took the Amazon Prime series to get these translated into English! Since this is a translation, there definitely were a few words here and there that felt a bit awkward and words were chosen that made sentences feel a bit off. But it overall didn't take away from the stories and characters that we have come to know and love on the screen.

I will add the caveat that his is definitely a YA book and reads as such, except for about the last 15% that was incredibly spicy and well-written (we all know THAT scene from the show) and that would have made my 16 year old self definitely blush.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Gallery for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

the classic rich popular boy x poor nerdy girl trope, along with enemies to friends to lovers!! how can you not have fun reading this!

so thrilled the english translation is finally here for this novel!! after watching the show, i have been itching to read rubyjames!! reading this book, you get a deeper look into ruby and james as characters, where you get a better understanding of ruby's determination and james's emotions especially towards ruby eekk!! love seeing his jealousy and yearning side!!!

i noticed that the adaptation stayed true to the novel (which i love) until the ending. clearly, that was not the ending i was expecting while reading the book. wow that ending was definitely a SURPRISE and i need the next book ASAP also curious to see how season two will go since the adaptation took a different direction with the ending

This was a pretty quick and fun read with all the typical tropes and cliches. I liked the wealthy academic setting with the whole popular rich boy x unpopular girl trope, even though it was fairly predictable. The story is exactly what you would expect: we have a scholarship student and a boy who is insanely wealthy with a complex family. Circumstances bring them together and once they are in each other’s orbits, they can’t stay away. I liked Ruby for the most part. She acted too perfect sometimes and didn’t have huge flaws but I admired her dedication to always do what is right. She knows how to hold her ground and her relationships with her family were very wholesome. I would like to see more depth to both her and James’s characters, where the latter was interesting but made very questionable choices.

I got more attached to the story at the halfway mark and that’s when I really breezed through it as their relationship developed over time. Admittedly, some of the moments really had me grinning. The plot was pretty predictable but I won’t be surprised to see some underlying darker themes later on. The romance itself was slow at first and the chemistry was paced quite well because I was suddenly invested. Since there are two more books, however, I’m expecting more drama and intrigue between all the characters.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the way it was translated, but the writing style and dialogue was very juvenile. I would have been obsessed with this 24/7 if I read it ten years ago, but I think I’ve just outgrown all the high school romances by now. It very much reads like a Wattpad story but it was still fun and very bingeable if you ignore some of the cringey parts since they’re all still high schoolers.

I’m very invested now and I definitely need Book 2 because I was NOT expecting the book to end like that. I’m curious as to how they’ll navigate things in the next book and definitely looking forward to continuing the series.

When I first heard that the tv show was based on the German books, there weren’t any English translations at the time. So I’m glad I was able to read this first and I’m hoping the show will be better since I haven’t actually watched it yet.