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.

I usually find books with high school characters lacking since I'm older but this had me intrigued from the start. Love Ruby's determination and James's arrogance. She humbled him and he showed her how to enjoy. Love it.

I really enjoyed this book, it was cute at times, but sometimes infuriating, and one of those novels that sucks you in with its complex characters. lookingforward to the next one!

This was so fun to read and felt so self-indulgent in the best way possible!! I was waiting until the books got published in english before watching the show, and omg it didn't disappoint!! I am so hyped to finally watch the show but also continue this series!! There was something so nostalgic in the writing and plot that i loved so much! I have personally not been in the reading mood due to school, but this reminded exactly why I love reading!! I had so much fun and can't wait to read the sequel!! Now i have to study for finals, but i keep thinking about ruby and james !!

Ruby was character i saw so much of myself in and seeing her stronghold personality never falter was such a heartwarming feeling to read! i love her so much and gosh i hope she gets into Oxford!! SHE DESERVES IT!!!

James is such an interesting character and i hope we get to see more of his layers unfold!! but i am so happy that when we did get to see glimpses of him, it was with ruby!! gah my heart melted!! ALSO that ending was cruel, but I am excited to see how it continues </33

also I loved seeing the side characters and their stories slowly unfold as well!! it really does feel like a complete universe at maxton hall, and it has me so intrigued on what's going to happen next!!

I will always love people from opposite backgrounds falling in love but this one just made me feel like a young teen again reading late at night!! love love love and highly recommend picking it up before watching the show's season 2!! i can't wait to read the second book in the series!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

5 stars: OMG i absolutely loved this book. I watched the show prior to being able to read the book due to the fact it hadn't been published in english. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. Not only was it so much like the show but it had so much more. Please please please love this. I am so obsessed and I need the second one right now.

I saw the tv show and immediately had to read this book becuase I loved Maxton hall so much and the books just made me even more excited for this series and the second season!

4-4.5⭐️ Ruby Bell lives two lives - one at her elite prep school and the other at home - each vastly different from the other. She is determined that the two shall never mix; that is until she uncovers a scandal that will change her life and force her to go toe-to-toe with James Beaufort, the head of the lacrosse team and ringleader of the school’s party boys.

I had no idea this was a newly adapted series, nor an international hit. But when I saw a couple of intriguing reviews, my interest was piqued. I ran and downloaded it on NetGalley and never looked back. I found myself completely enthralled, disappointed any time I needed to put it down.

If To All the Boys and Gossip Girl had a baby, it would be this series. While there was nothing especially new about this story, it still felt fresh and fun and had me completely hooked from the go. Each of the characters felt fully fleshed out, with a good amount of backstory presented. I found myself connecting most with our FMC and her family, thought I was incredibly intrigued with the subplot that is at the center of the story, and would love to see a little more focus on it in the second book (I do love me a good scandal after all).

The writing felt more YA than new adult; however, the themes are definitely on the mature side, and there is a bit of spice, though not overly descriptive or frequent in nature. I noticed there were occasional issues with the verbiage, mainly stylistic, but I think that may be due to the fact that this is translated from the original, which was written in German. Even with that, this book is very easy to become completely absorbed in, which, as it turns out, is just what I needed. I now anxiously await the second book in the series.

Read if you like:
▪️new adult
▪️prep school
▪️rich behaving badly
▪️enemies-to-lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️opposite sides of the track
▪️ensemble cast
▪️moderate spice

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy.

It wasn't necessarily bad, but it feels like I've read this a ton of times before and there was ultimately nothing that distinguishes this book from the multitudes