DNF at 23%

It was fun to be reminded of the tv series, and get some background info behind some of the characters. And it was fun to have James’s pov.

HOWEVER, the writing was cheesy and did a lot of telling instead of showing. And Ruby is sooo different in the book (and frankly annoyed me). I found that reading the book was ruining the tv show for me, so I’m done.

This was good, some of the text/translation felt like it was verbatim from the tv series on Amazon which took me out of it a bit - there was just some parts that were a bit cringe, but overall it was a fun story, with well rounded characters and a good plot. I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

this was SUCH a fun, juicy, immersive, dramatic story—all the vibes of Maxton Hall plus even more immersion in the characters' minds! couldn't put it down!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the English copy! (I had been so eager to read this, I was about to learn German from Duolingo)

This book gives you so much nostalgia. It feels like you are a teenager again reading Wattpad at 3am!!! It gives you the Wattpad feels in the best way!!
I really recommend the story. It is full of cliches but it is very well done. It was so much fun and addictive! I cannot wait to read book 2.

In case you live under a rock and do not know what the story is about (lol): Save Me by Mona Kasten is the first book in the Maxton Hall series, a German romance novel with strong enemies-to-lovers and elite school themes. The story follows Ruby Bell, a hardworking scholarship student at Maxton Hall, an elite private school where she tries to stay unnoticed. Her life changes when she accidentally witnesses a secret about Lydia Beaufort, the sister of James Beaufort, the arrogant and wealthy golden boy of the school. James is determined to keep Ruby quiet, and he starts interfering in her life. However, as their interactions intensify, their mutual dislike turns into undeniable attraction. It’s a drama-filled, enemies-to-lovers story with school romance.

P.S. The book made me want to watch the show so here I go.

This was a lovely, fun read. I am a sucker for anything 'boarding school' related and this absolutely filled that want! I also read that this was translated? Beautifully done.

I’m so grateful for the ARC of Save Me! This book completely consumed me—addictive, emotional, and full of moments that made me squeal out loud. I can’t wait for more!

I normally structure my reviews by gushing about the positives first, but I’m flipping things around this time to talk about the only two minor critiques I could come up with.

Minor Gripes (But Not Really)
1️⃣ This was my first time reading a translated book, and while the translation was well done, there were moments where I could tell it wasn’t originally written in English. Did this bother me? Not at all. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment, and I definitely wouldn’t dock points for it—just something to note if you’re unfamiliar with translated fiction.

2️⃣ That ending. MONA KASTEN, WHY?! What the heck was that?? She did apologize for it in the acknowledgments, so I guess I’ll trust her to make things right in book two. 😆 (Cliffhanger alert!)

Now, Let’s Talk About How Much I Loved This Book
This was perfect brain candy in the best way possible—fun, dramatic, and completely addicting. I may be biased because I love Ruby & James, but this book was so entertaining and full of swoon-worthy, squeal-inducing moments.

I wouldn’t necessarily call this a fast-paced book, but it kept me engaged from start to finish. I could NOT put it down… except when I physically had to because I was squealing too hard to keep reading. The chemistry, the tension, the drama, the ROMANCE—it had me grinning like an idiot. The writing is clean and simple, which made it effortless to binge, and I genuinely laughed and smiled multiple times throughout.

Final Thoughts
If you love high-drama, angsty romance with characters you just can’t get enough of, Save Me is an absolute must-read. It’s the kind of book that takes over your brain, leaving you desperate for the next installment. I’ll be impatiently waiting for book two!

Mona Kasten’s Save Me is an amazing, emotional story that grabs you from the start and keeps you hooked. The characters are real and their chemistry is so strong, making every moment between them feel special. The book beautifully mixes heartbreak and hope, with unexpected twists that keep you guessing. I loved seeing the characters grow and change throughout the story, and I found myself cheering for them the whole time. Save Me is a powerful, emotional read that stays with you long after you finish. It's a must-read for anyone who loves deep, gripping stories. This was one of my most anticipated reads and did not disappoint!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I watched Maxton Hall season 1 and loved it which is what prompted me to pick up this book. I can’t believe how spot on the show is to the book. I loved reading dialogue and scenes that were adapted for the TV show. It was so fun!

I love the angst, yearning, and heartbreak we feel in this story. It starts off very lighthearted with Ruby and James at each others throats, but turns into this utterly romantic story of two people from different worlds trying to hold onto each other. Something I particularly love is seeing the distinct differences of James and Ruby's families. Ruby doesn't have much financially but has so much love and support from her family. James has all the money in the world but no support or love from his parents. It's a brutal and heartbreaking difference between the two that is shown so well here.

James has my whole heart. I already knew this going in, but my love was solidified here. He has already gone through so much with his dad and then he decides to engage in this relationship with Ruby which makes things even worse with his family. My heart was aching for him the whole time.

One thing I liked about the show better than the book is how many more details we get. We see more of James with the Beaufort company, and see motivations behind Lydia trying to be more involved with Beaufort and work out her future. In general we see more progression in the relationships and explanations as to why people are doing what they are; why James is the way he is. I would have liked more of this context and background in the book. And who knows, maybe more of this is coming in the following books, but I would have liked to see more of it in book 1.

Overall, an incredibly enjoyable read from someone who is already a huge fan of the TV show. I'll be eagerly awaiting book 2!

As someone who loved the Maxton Hall television adaptation, I could not wait for this book to be translated into English, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

Ruby Bell dreams of getting into Oxford and attending Maxton Hall is the stepping stone she needed. She flies under the radar, and no one really notices her, until she comes across a secret that threatens the Beaufort family. James Beaufort then becomes entangled with Ruby as they are forced to work together and co-exist.

The translation was very well done and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the TV adaptation accurately depicted the book

I absolutely devoured this book and I can’t wait for the release of the English translation so everyone else can enjoy this story.

This book was everything. Ruby and James were strong characters apart and together they were explosive. I loved the growth they had throughout and how certain scenes of emotion were handled. The ending gutted me. I couldn’t have prepared. Can’t wait for book 2

Maxton Hall was top tier television for me and one of my favorite TV shows last year. When I found out it was a popular foreign book series, I immediately sought it out. Imagine my surprise to discover it wasn’t published in english. Cue the tiny violins. But fear not! Berkley came to my rescue and blessed me with an early copy of Save Me’s American release.

Honestly, I had a fantastic time reading this. They did a great job adapting this for a show format because it was very true to the book. Now for an unusual occurrence: I actually loved the show more. Don’t get me wrong, the source material is great but the way stuff played out on TV was straight magic. The yearning and longing… it was just far superior on the screen. To see two of my favorite moments of the show reduced to just a couple sentences was a true tragedy.

However, if you loved the show then you will most likely enjoy this and vice versa. I would’ve eaten this up in high school (ehm ehm, the targeted audience) so mission accomplished there.

Now, where’s book 2?

I enjoyed "Save Me" more than I thought I would! I have not seen Maxton Hall, so I went into this blind but was hoping for a private school drama a la "Boys Over Flowers" - this book is different but scratched that itch.

This story is told in dual POV of our main characters Ruby and James, but we spend the most time in James' head. The main story is not groundbreaking (indifference/hate to lust) but the side plot that gets us there really hooked me in. The ending definitely has me excited to read the next installment.

I obviously can't speak on the writing of the book in the original language, but I think the translation is well done.

Rated 4 stars. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

OH I AM SICK STOP 😭

I LIKE DONT EVEN KNOW IF I HAVE THE WORDS? JAMES MORTIMER BEAUFORT COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY YOURE LITERALLY NOT REAL BC IF I WERE RUBY I WOULDA DROWN YOUR ASS RIGHT THEN AND THERE OH MY GOOOODDDD 😭 IDECCCCC THAT IK WHY HES LIKE THIS AND RUBY DOESNT LORD THIS FEELS WORSE THAN BJ BALLANTINE?!

DEAD ASS I FEEL THE NEED TO LEARN GERMAN ASAP SO THAT I CAN READ THE NEXT TWO BOOKS RIGHT THE HELL NOW BC WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT CLIFFY????

i am like so insanely happy now that i was firm in my decision to not watch the show until i was able to read the book bc like this would not have hit as good as it did if i had any prior context god i am SICK. i need to go start the show now so i can boo this man, every god damn time this man stopped being a fucking prick and i started to like him he went and fucked it up 😭

how is it that im SO mad right now and yet this is a five star read LLOLLLLL I HAVE NO ONE TO TALK ABOUT THIS WITH

ahhhh after watching the show, this was an absolute treat!!! the drama, romance, and setting really added to this atmospheric almost 2000s feel in terms of tea and i was eating up every second 🙂‍↕️ i need the sequel one immediately if not sooner 💫

Ruby Bell and James Beaufort come from different worlds and couldn’t be more opposite. Ruby is a scholarship student at their posh private school Maxton Hall. James is the heir apparent to a family fortune and business empire along with it. When Ruby accidentally sees something she shouldn’t, James is determined to keep her quiet. He’s quickly blown away by her incredible intelligence, her integrity, and the way she stands up for what’s right. James never expected someone like Ruby Bell to turn his entire world upside down.

Save Me is book one in the trilogy that the Amazon Prime series Maxton Hall is based off of. I’ve watched the show more times than I can count and I think I’ve even learned a little German from it! The books and show are originally in German, and this release is the first time the books have been officially published in English. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and it did not disappoint!

Ruby and James are one of my favorite enemies to lovers opposites attract pairings of all time. I first watched the show because a friend recommended it for Dramione vibes and I was instantly obsessed. Ruby and James definitely do have Dramione vibes but they also have something else that’s all their own.

I love Ruby’s determination and grit, the way that she is so sure of herself and of the world around her. James is a bit like a wounded little boy who hides himself behind a mask of bravado and arrogance. Their connection is undeniable, and the way that they push each other out of their comfort zones is top notch.

I didn’t love the ending of this book even though I knew it was coming, but that’s mainly because I can’t read book two right away. I love this universe and these characters and can’t wait to head back to Maxton Hall soon!

I loved it! I was so pleasantly surprised to find the Prime Video series wasn’t all that different from the book. I loved all the additional details, emotions and scene the book has. I really enjoyed all the characters and will be waiting to dive into book two!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

I ate up 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭 on Amazon Prime, so of course I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of the English translation!

Reading 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘦 is a guilty pleasure. Is it great literature? Absolutely not. Is it entertaining? You bet it is!

I'll admit I was hoping to like it more than I did - somehow the show took the yearning and chemistry and multiplied it. It shaped the dialogue into slightly more mature interactions, and it provided more context outside of the POVs included in the book, making the story feel more developed. I was surprised that the book read heavily YA, with the addition of NA content. I'd recommend this for fans of the show or readers looking for a Wattpad-vibe in their next read.