Was it the best written book ever? No. Did I stay up all night reading it? Yes. It took me a bit to get into and then I was hooked and couldn't stop until I finished it. I really like Ruby and how she stood up for herself. I had a love/hate thing with James. I think most people will. I really liked Lin and Lydia. I could not stand the other guys in this book. I found them to be completely immature and annoying. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced read.

5/5

HELLO. Me giving 5 stars to a contemporary romance?! Literally unheard of so that is how you know how good this novel is. Jaw dropped on the floor good, smiling in public while reading it good. Thank you ETERNALLY to Berkeley and NetGalley for giving me this e-arc because this book!!!!! (Also I cannot believe I have to wait for book 2 IT IS NOT OUT UNTIL SEPTEMBER).
This novel is romance perfection. The pacing is top tier, the characters are stellar, and the chemistry literally jumps off of the page. Incredible and HUGE kudos to the translator for making sure the soul of the og German book was so well preserved in this.
Ruby Bell deserves the world. MY GIRL. Her softness and ability to always see James as he is, her strength in refusing to be treated poorly, her love for him…..I could say so much more but will stop here. Ruby is not only a phenomenal main character, she is well developed and has growth throughout the book that is soooo well done.
James Beaufort MY MAN 🥹🥹🥹 Guys when I say I love him….I love him. The emotional depth of his character is incredible and so well captured by Mona. His struggles are so heartbreaking but his love for Ruby transcends everything. His POV was so well done and I know his journey is just starting.
The romance. Y’all…..I will be so honest and say I was getting BJ and Magnolia vibes from this (if you don’t know, BJ and Magnolia are literally in my top 5 favourite book couples ever. They own my heart and soul) which made my heart soar. The push and pull?! The giving in to their desires, the mess ups and arguments and fights?! The insane chemistry?! The sex scene was also so well written I was shocked. AND ALL THE TENSION FILLED SCENES I MEAN THE VICTORIAN CLOTHES FITTING?? Need I say more. And don’t get me started on the ending (I knew it was going to be that!!!! Will admit the ending of magnolia parks remains the second most heartbreaking ending a romance book has ever had, right behind the long way home because Jessa Hastings loves pain…but I digress) which I knew was coming but still ripped me up a little.
The side characters on Ruby’s side were so well done - her family and Lin. Meanwhile omg James NEEDS new friends his current ones are such bastards guys they actually all need to be slapped for their attitude in this novel. Ridiculous behaviour.
Also the setting - give it up for a private school in England y’all!!!!! Atmospheric in the best way I could see Maxton Hall and Oxford so well in my mind’s eye.
So I need all of you reading this review to put this book on your TBRs NOW because this was bloody fantastic.

I was so excited when I saw that this book was being published in English! I watched the German show dubbed in English and I was so obsessed. Save Me delivered exactly what I hoped it would: private school drama, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a smart, grounded heroine who didn’t get lost in the glitter of privilege. Ruby Bell was the kind of protagonist I rooted for from page one—sharp, ambitious, and refreshingly self-aware. Her single-minded focus on Oxford and her refusal to be dazzled by the wealth of Maxton Hall made her stand out in a world full of designer uniforms and curated façades.
James Beaufort was everything a brooding rich boy should be: emotionally guarded, infuriatingly charming, and hiding more depth than he lets on. Their chemistry built gradually, and while the setup followed some familiar tropes, the emotional payoff felt genuine. The secret that pulls Ruby into James’s world was juicy enough to raise the stakes without getting melodramatic, and the forced proximity of planning the gala gave us some delicious tension.
Some parts felt a little repetitive and over the top, but the balance of angst, heart, and intrigue kept the story compelling from beginning to end.
Perfect for fans of Elite, Gossip Girl, or anyone who loves watching a smart girl unravel the golden boy. I'm definitely picking up book two whenever it comes out—Maxton Hall still has secrets left to spill.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

thank you so much to netgalley and publishers for the e-arc!!

i had a lot of high hopes entering this series (mainly because i really did enjoy the tv adaption and wanted to see where the story goes) but i feel like the characters here lacked so much depth that the adaption makes up for in waves.

ruby and james felt so one dimensional and lackluster. i wonder if translation had anything to do with it because i do think meaning/intention can get lost. it just felt more weightless than i was expecting. i do think it follows beat by beat what you see in the show though, so story-wise you still get that pull to want to know what happens next. except that last third because WHAT?! definitely a direction i wasn’t expecting. interesting to see how that would unravel in the rest of series (since it strays from the show!)

i think there’s a lot that could be explored about social status and wealth gaps but something’s a romance book is just a fun little romance book. i do think there are a few heavier topics here though with both of ruby’s and james’ families.

if you are looking for a quick romance read that’s enemies to lovers/opposites attract, this is the story for you! i think it can get addicting really fast for the right reader. unfortunately, it just was not for me!

I absolutely adored Save Me. It’s a very easy read, the chemistry between Ruby and James was undeniable, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. While I was already obsessed with the show, the book added so much more depth, especially with the dual POVs. It gave me a deeper look into both Ruby and James' minds, especially James.

The ending, though—wow! It hit so much harder in the book than the show. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say it was gut-wrenching, and I couldn't stop thinking about it long after I finished the last page. I am counting down the days till the next book is released.

💗 Private school
💗Enemies to lovers
💗Dual POV
💗Miscommunication
💗Wealthy MMC + Poor FMC

I was obsessed with season one of Maxton Hall, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed this book. I liked how closely the TV adaptation stayed true to the book. The translation does seem a bit awkward at times and may come off as a bit cheesy, but I expected that since some phrases can be harder to translate. I do think that the adaptation was more fleshed out, which helped with the buildup of chemistry and tension between Ruby and James. The book had time jumps between chapters, making it harder to see a deeper connection between the two of them. Regardless, I think anyone who really enjoyed the adaptation will likely enjoy this book, and vice versa.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been dying to read this since watching the show last year, and when I saw the English translation pop up on NetGalley about I lost it! And once I had my hands on it, I finished this book in one sitting.

Since I had already seen the show, I knew what I was in for and the book did not disappoint. The pacing was great and the MCs were even more incredible than I expected. I mean, Ruby is such a force to be reckoned with. While, I didn’t think James could be more sensitive than he is in the show, but man his POVs are brutal. And that ending…that cliffhanger. I knew it was coming, but still. 🫠 I am going to need that next one rn.

Would I recommend this? Uh, duh. What’s not to like about a spicy, forced proximity romance based at a rich private school in the UK? Uh, nothing. Just promise me to have the show queued up on Amazon because this series is easily going to become your newest obsession.

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to give my candid feedback.

3.75 stars, 1.5 spice

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the e-arc.

I am a die hard Super fan of the Maxton Hall show on prime - as in I’ve watched it 15 times, the first 12 being in the first couple weeks of the shows release. And I have been BEGGING for this English translation.

I was actually surprised how accurate the show was to the book. There are of-course some differences around hair color, or which character catches someone else in the act and so on, but mostly it was in line.

Just a heads up to the other Dramione loving girlies, James is a redhead in the books haha. Also the dress isn’t ‘Hermione pink’ in the book either - but I think they did make great choices in the show.

I wasn’t as swept away with the characters in the book as I was the show. Though I definitely still saw elements of myself in ruby. I don’t think the secondary relationships were highlighted as much (especially Ruby with her dad or James with his mom).

I also don’t think the emotion between James and Ruby read as strong, this is the first of 3 books though so they definitely have room to grow. And they definitely feel younger in the book than in the show as well. Looking forward to seeing how their arc is developed over the series though.

Ending beware - CLIFFHANGER (I was warned about the ending by a German reader on TikTok) there is something that happens beyond what we see in the show. And I know some of you are gonna be Pisseedddd. But I am here for the Drama.

If you want a Dramione-esc, high school, gossip girl vibe - look no further!

I LOVED the show adaptation, and while I still enjoyed this read for the most part, I felt like the translation wasn't the best. I loved the addition of James' POV. The prep-school, slow burn, enemies to lovers vibes were great! Thanks to Berkley for an eARC.

3.5☆ rounded up

Okayyy, I NEED the second book NOW! Holy cliffhanger!!!!

I will admit that the first 30% of this book is pretty slow going. But, I didn't mind. I am a sucker for slow-burn, angsty, romances where the MMC and FMC bicker and pine and slowly get to know each others' quirks. For characters still in high school, this book did not read YA to me at all (which is a major plus).

I LOVED the FMC -- Ruby is unapologetically herself. She's smart, driven, mature, funny, and incredibly loyal. She was not afraid to stand her ground and say what is on her mind. And her relationship with her family was so genuine and pure. You can't help but fall in love with them all!

As far as the romance, there's a touch of enemies to lovers which was done perfectly. They have polar opposite backgrounds and family dynamics so there's a strain there and is what most of the storyline is centered around. Once the romance picks up towards the end, I had non-stop butterflies. I physically could not put my kindle down until it was over.

Read if you're looking for:
-academia setting
-slow burn
-angsty, pining
-"we come from different worlds"
-great characters

The ending of the book reminded me a lot of Saving 6/Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh which is the highest compliment coming from me! I'm not lying when I say I cannot wait long for this second book. I need to know when it's coming LOL

Thank you so much for allowing me to be an early reader!! I will post my review on my bookstagram page a little closer to pub day.

4.5/5 stars

Ruby Bell just wants to make it through school, get into Oxford, and avoid unnecessary attention. Unfortunately the last one fails when she walks into a class to see the richest girl at school, Lydia Beaufort, kissing a teacher. Afraid she'll use that information to blackmail their family, Lydia's twin brother James decides to pay Ruby off. However, when Ruby refuses the money, James' suspicion grows until he's determined to know everything about her. The two are from totally different worlds, but maybe they're not so different.

This book is not especially well-written, or breaking any records on being the most creative story, but the show is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine so it bumped my rating up to 4 stars. I absolutely cannot wait for the english versions of the next two books to come out, because while it is definitely meant for younger audiences, I will be devouring those as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC of the English edition. Projected publishing date: July 1st, 2025

I got so excited when I saw this on Netgalley because I watched the show when it first premiered and became OBSESSED!!!! I got so happy when I saw that the books were being released in English because I always love reading the original content the show or movies are based on. Save Me gave me more insight into James and Ruby which I really really loved! It was so fun seeing all the differences or things that were in the book but no in the show. I loved all the school backgrounds we got and all the drama, tension, and buildup for James and Ruby!! I can't wait until book 2 and season 2 releases!!

Thank you to Berkley for the e-ARC!

I was so excited to jump into this book because I watched the show and was OBSESSED!! I loved getting a deeper dive into the story and see what wasn’t shown in the show. James and Ruby just have my whole heart.!! I’m so excited for the rest of this series to get released so I can see more of them!

I absolutely loved the Amazon show of this, and was thrilled to see the book being published in the US. This did not disappoint, and I was fascinated by how strong the show adaptation is. Like that, it’s light and quick-paced, a fun read with Dramione overtones. I will eagerly be awaiting book 2.

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

I was not expecting this from a ya book. Its a bit spicy for teenagers actively in high school, regardless of the fact that one of them turns 18 in the book. Also the conflict between the male main characters friend group and the female main character just up and disappeared out of nowhere about two thirds of the way into the book. The plot devices where just a bit cliched and I found the book overall kind of boring. Every time it got interesting the author seemed to deviate away from the interesting part. The MMC has to plan a party as punishment and its supposed to be for the whole year that he party plans? Well he did one successfully so lets have the FMC end his punishment so he can go back to his precious sports. The bar is literally in hell and this book is an example of just how extremely low the bar is for guys. It pissed me off and bored me.

I watched the show first, so a lot of this book was familiar to me, but I liked reading about it, especially about what was going on in the main character's head during the book. Just like the show, this is basically a British college prep school romance with enemies-to-lovers. The fmc catches the daughter of one of the richest families in the UK making out with a teacher, which catches the eye of the mmc as he tries to get her to not say anything. AS the main characters get closer through forced proximity, there is drama, partnership, and rich people stuff that makes the story interesting. It's a slow burn with some steam towards the end and lots of push and pull between the characters. Thanks to Berkley for this arc.

Save Me by Mona Kasten is a drama filled romance that perfectly blends elite private school glamour with an irresistible enemies to lovers dynamic. Originally an international bestseller, this first installment in the Maxton Hall series is now available in English—and I couldn’t be more excited to finally read the book that inspired the show I absolutely love!

Ruby Bell is a hardworking scholarship student at Maxton Hall, a school full of the ultra rich and entitled. She wants nothing more than to keep her head down and secure her future at Oxford. James Beaufort, on the other hand, is the epitome of privilege. He is handsome, arrogant, and used to getting his way. Their worlds collide when Ruby uncovers a scandalous secret about James’s family, putting her directly in his crosshairs. What starts as an unwilling partnership on the school’s gala soon turns into undeniable chemistry, forcing both of them to question their preconceived notions about each other.

Kasten does a fantastic job weaving tension, slow burn romance, and high society drama into a compelling narrative. Ruby is a relatable, determined protagonist, while James’s character development makes him more than just a brooding bad boy. Their interactions are filled with banter, frustration, and longing, making their romance all the more satisfying.

Having loved the Maxton Hall show, I was thrilled to dive into this English translated version of the book, and it did not disappoint! The story captures all the angst, glamour, and heart I adored on screen, while offering even more depth to Ruby and James’s relationship. The novel ends on a cliffhanger that will have you desperate for the next book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Save You!

If you love books with Gossip Girl-esque vibes, forbidden romance, and emotional depth, Save Me is perfect!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mona Kasten, and Berkley for the eARC of this book.

📖 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣

“𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴,” 𝘐 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.”

I fell in love with Ruby & James’ story in the Amazon tv series adaptation of Mona Kasten’s book Save Me! Seriously, this story hooked me from the first episode and by then end I had so many questions! I was beyond excited to hear that this series was getting an English translation and screamed when Berkley allowed me to read an early copy of it.

After reading this book I can safely say that Amazon did a great job of sticking to the books original plot, but as always, THE BOOK WAS BETTER! 🤣❤️‍🔥

I freaking adored Ruby. She’s such a determined and strong woman. She knows exactly what her goals are and is giving literally everything she has to make them a reality. The initial angsty tension between her and James was PERFECT. They come from polar opposite walks of life but complete each other.

James may look like he has the world at his feet but what he’s missing is the freedom to do what he truly wants to do with his life. His whole future has always been mapped out and Ruby is the one who helps him understand he can be more than just the Beaufort name.

The villain of this story will have you absolutely raging by the end of the book. The ending had me literally bawling because the cliffhanger is seriously something else. 😭🫠

I can’t wait for the next book, Save You, to come out in September!

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
❤️‍🔥 𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
🫶🏼 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵
💰 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘉𝘰𝘺 𝘹 𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭
📚 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦
💋 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵
✨ 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴
👀 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 & 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴
🔥 𝘚𝘓𝘖𝘞 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘯

Came here after watching Prime's Maxton Hall TV show. LOVE THE BOOK EVEN MORE!!! I am so happy this series by Mona Kasten is being translated into English. Truly a wonderful enemies to lovers story!

*Review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon!*

📖Boarding School Setting
⚔️Enemies to Lovers
💕Contemporary Romance

If you haven’t heard of the very popular series Maxton Hall on Amazon Prime, girlie, I’m going to need you to run, not walk, to watch. Save Me is the original novel that Maxton Hall was based off of, however, the original language is German so it is now being translated and will be available for release this upcoming July!

With that being said, I absolutely loved the Maxton Hall series when I watched it. Of course once I realized it was based on a novel, I ran to read it, only to find out it was not in English. So the second I saw this available for review, Immediately requested it. Big thank you for penguin for gifting me this copy to read and review!

Maxton Hall is an elite boarding school where all the rich, socialites go to for high school before going on to other prestigious universities. Our main FMC is Ruby. Ruby, unlike, most students at Maxton Hall does not come from an affluent family. In fact, she had to earn her way into Maxton Hall with lots of hard work to get a scholarship. Her family is rather poor, but very close and loving. Ruby has one main goal/dream — Oxford. She wants to keep a low profile free of any high school drama, study hard, and earn her place into Oxford. However, when Ruby accidentally walks in on her teacher making out with Lydia Beaufort — Sister to James Beaufort (Maxton Hall’s IT boy)and daughter of one of the school's most affluent families, Ruby’s plan to remain in the shadows is no longer possible and the one person making her life harder? James Beaufort

Going into this, I had no expectations on how much the show truly followed the book. Usually with most series, the shows either follow the books very closely or very loosely. One thing I was really pleasantly surprised to find out, is that this book was a dual POV of Ruby and James. In the show, we don’t really get to see a lot of Jame’s inner thoughts, we see mainly everything from Ruby’s perspective, so getting to hear the inner thoughts of James was really fascinating. It really makes it that much more real having both sides. The book in the beginning, was very true to the show, but I was very surprised by the ending as it was not anything we saw in the series!

If you are someone who loves an international boarding school setting, enemies to lovers and a good coming of age contemporary romance, you will love this book. Also, if you loved the show and really wanted to dive deeper into the story you will also love the dual POV’S that give the story so much more depth than what we see on screen with a surprise ending! I can’t speak for the German version of this novel, but I have to give props to the translator of this novel because nothing is lost in translation when it comes to the overall realness and feelings of this story!