This book actually destroyed me. The cheating trope is not my fave but I think it’s for character development in this book since they are in high school. I loved the addition of ember and Lydia’s pov and the character development with Lydia. The cliffhanger really caught me off guard and now I cannot wait to see how it plays out in book 3. I hope James and Ruby are end game, I absolutely love them! Also the drama of the side characters was infuriating! I so wish they didn’t get the forgiveness so quickly and I hope it comes back to them in book 3!

✨ARC Review✨

4⭐ for Save You by Mona Kasten

While I absolutely adored Save Me (and annotated it like crazy), I felt like this one didn't quite live up to the first book, though I still enjoyed it.

It picks up right where the first book ends, and if you've never watched the show or read the first book I won't spoil anything, but it's a time of emotional turmoil for a few characters.

I love that we get Lydia's POV in this one, as well as Ember's, on top of James and Ruby; it was nice to see a bit more of their stories alongside the main characters's. It's hard to go into detail without giving the story away, so I'll just say the back and forth worked a bit less for me in this one, though I'm excited for the third book because the ending had me gasping out loud.

Very much looking forward to see how they'll adapt this book for season 2 of the show!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group, Mona Kasten, and NetGalley for the ARC of Save You in exchange for an honest review.

Another Mona Kasten book delivers and exceeds expectations! Save You is the second of three books in the Maxton Hall Series. It follows additional point of views of young adults through navigating changing life circumstances. Ruby's relationship with James is put in peril to end the book over photographs that tie us back to the first book. Throughout this book, we see the inner workings between Ruby and her sister and between James and his sister. Lydia and Ruby develop an unbreakable bond that does not revolve around James, which makes him fall even harder for Ruby, the one that got away. She has lost all of her future goals right at the point there were in her grasp. A whole life of devotion to following all the rules, dotting all the I's and crossing her T's are gone in a blink of an eye to end the book. Cliff hanger anyone?

I am completely obsessed with this trilogy! Save You picks up right where Save Me left off and takes the drama, romance, and emotional intensity to a whole new level. Ruby and James have that addictive slow-burn tension that made it impossible to put down, and the stakes feel even higher this time around. Mona Kasten nails the elite school vibes, the heartbreak, and the quiet moments that hit you right in the feels. I was swooning, yelling at the characters, and flipping pages like my life depended on it.

As the second book in the Maxton Hall trilogy, Save You sets things up perfectly for an explosive finale—and that ending? Absolutely cruel in the best possible way. I need book three immediately. This series is full of angst, heart, and characters you can’t help but root for (even when they mess everything up). Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—I am all in with Ruby and James!

WHAT was that ending ??? Let my girl Ruby catch a break... What frustrated me the most wasn’t even the ending - it was how her mom reacted. Like… do you not know your own daughter? The way Ruby's family has been portrayed so far, that reaction felt totally out of character and made no sense to me.
I’m all for angst and drama, but I felt like this book was a lot of misery and not enough romance. Ruby and James keep getting upset with each other, refusing to communicate, and it’s starting to get tiring. Also, I cannot stand James’s friends. Get him out of there pls.
That said, I really enjoyed the new POVs from Ember and Lydia and I'm curious to see where their stories go! Ruby and Lydia’s friendship was honestly my favorite part of the book and I loved seeing them grow close. And the scene where James and Ruby play Jenga with her family? So cute I nearly cried.
I'm looking forward to the last book!
～Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

After binge watching Maxton Hall months ago I was so excited that the books are being translated to English!

I literally devoured this book and was shocked at how much the show did it justice.

We get the rich behaving badly, old family money and a girl just trying to stay under the radar.

The relationship between Ruby and James came to life and off the page....I felt like another student on the planning committee just observing it all go down. The banter....the pining (mostly by James 😉). This was a quick fun and fast paced New Adult/YA romance ❤️

I can't wait to start book two ASAP!

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲 ⠀ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟷
𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟸⠀
ᴍᴀxᴛᴏɴ ʜᴀʟʟ sᴇʀɪᴇs ⠀
by Mona Kasten ⠀
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I loved the television series on Prime. I have been patiently waiting for the books to be translated. Book 1: 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲 is out now. Book 2: 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 comes out 9/2/2025 and book 3: 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗨𝘀 comes out 11/4/2025. ⠀
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I binged both book 1 & 2 back to back. Although, it was fun to be back at Maxton Hall this series for me is better as a show. That might be because I watched it first or the cast or I already know whats happening. If you haven't watched the show, I would recommend the drama of it all (ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴀɴᴅʏ.) I would even go as far to say skip the books and watch it. ⠀⠀⠀

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇʀᴋʟᴇʏ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴄ ᴏғ "𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪" ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ.
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📗 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲 on kindle
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📕𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 from NetGalley. ⠀⠀
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Book Review: Save You by Mona Kasten

Teenagers have one of the hardest jobs—trying to make good decisions for themselves without dragging others down in the process. And when your brain isn’t even fully developed, that’s a nearly impossible task. Save You captures this struggle so well, especially through James and Ruby’s story.

Their love is real and deep, but like so many young couples, they’re constantly battling secrets, missteps, and the heavy weight of family baggage. It’s not just their relationship that’s tested—friendships bend under the pressure of new romances, shifting loyalties, and the pain of past decisions.

What stood out to me most was the theme of showing up for the people you love, even when they’ve messed up or hurt you. Save You reminds us that forgiveness, growth, and loyalty are rarely easy—but always worth fighting for.

While I enjoyed this reading this book, especially after the cliffhanger of the first book, I'm not sure I enjoyed it as much as that one.
I definitely liked being able to see Lydia's point of view as it really added a lot to the story to make it feel more well rounded. Ember's POV was interesting at times, if not a little annoying and maybe even unnecessary besides slowly introducing more secret drama that I'm sure will unfold in the last book.
Sometimes Save You came off as a bit of filler, lots of drama to move the story along, while nothing really seemed to actually happen. Most of what we actually saw in real time was the school parties, and of course it ended in yet another intense and almost silly cliffhanger.
I absolutely want to read the next installment to see how everything ends, especially when it comes to Mortimer Beaufort, but unfortunately if it weren't for dramatic cliffhangers, I'm not sure if I'd have kept reading this series.
3.75 Stars

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

Another really quick read but not as good as the first book. It felt mostly like filler. Hopefully the next book really rounds everything out.

Would still recommend the series.

Ruby and James start the year off in a rough patch. Will they find their way back to each other, even with all they are going through?

Alright, this second book pulled me more into the world of Maxton Hall. I still get frustrated at Ruby and James because they would be so much better off if they just talk to each other! That being said I think I am starting to root for them. Probably the best thing about this book is the inclusion of Lydia's POV. She has the most interesting story in my opinion. I want to like Ember too, but at least for this book I didn't feel like there was much to her story. Maybe in the next book.

3.5 stars

4.5 ⭐

Wow. this book was almost as good as the last one. I also love how immersed in the story you feel when you read this book. the plot is so so good, and the FRICKIN CLIFF HANGER HELLOOO!!

I love the depth these characters have, and can say with my full chest that Lydia is in fact my favorite.

I need the next book in my hands asap.

Book 2 was amazing! I can't wait until book 3. This is one of my most anticipated releases and it hit!

This book is even better than the first! I loved the character development from Ruby and James. They both navigated the drama and grief while growing for the better. Their story took me on an emotional rollercoaster in the very best way. And yet again, my jaw was on the floor with that ending. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. I highly recommend this book and it's predecessor!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! The ending really threw me for a loop as I did not see that coming. I love the different POVs throughout. Having Ruby and James find their happiness again was great. I just hope it stays that way! Looking forward to reading the 3rd one.

Okay wow that plot twist was crazy!

I found this instalment of this series was a little on the immature side. I felt that Ruby's dilemma for most of this book was ridiculous. Knowing James' character then learning about why he acted that way almost completely absolved him for me. It felt very surface level for Ruby to be talking more about why she was upset than her being understanding.

I liked the introduction of new point of views (mainly lydia), but I am very nervous for Embers story in the next book. Obviously I want to give Wren the benefit of the doubt but based off of his and his friends previous behavior I can only imagine this being a mess. I am surprised at how short this was and how little time it covered. Technically it was a few months but it really felt like less since we are still so far away from Ruby going to oxford. I hope the final book is on the longer side because this installment added in SO MANY new plot lines and there are so many loose ends.

I am frustrated that we are ending the book with Ruby and James broken up right after rekindling AGAIN, but I understand how it plays into the Mr Sutton situation and Cyril. I just know that Ruby is going to be so stubborn even though James had dropped the ill intentions with those pictures sooooo long ago. I don't even know why Cyril did that he did not need to do that to help Lydia that was crazy. I was hoping Lin and him would work it out, but now I hope he stays far far away.

I received a free copy of, Save You, by Mona Kasten, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book two in the Maxton Halls series. This book was not for me, I did not like the characters at all, they were so depressing, too much drinking and drugs will do that.

eARC review
4/5 stars

Save You by Mona Kasten
Maxton Hall Part 2

Publishing in the USA on 09.02.2025

Did I read like no one’s business it? Yes of course I did. I liked the book and the in the series so far. I did enjoy the multiple pov’s but not so much as Embers. Could have done without and that’s all I am going to say about that.

The second book was just emotional damage and heartbreak from Ruby, James and Lydia.

Ruby doesn’t want to forgive and for good reason… Ruby is fedup with James. James is a messed up and can’t get his life together to see what he is doing to himself and Ruby. Will he ever learn? Probably in the 3rd book.

Actually Lydia’s pov was probably my favorite part. She is pregnant but of course we know this from the first book but I couldn’t get enough of what was playing in her head. Would have read a whole book with just her pov. Her love for Graham is heartbreaking at times but I did love reading about her’s and Cyril relationship between each other and need more of that!

We have the drama, second chances, slow burn and a shit load of their own current and past traumas. I actually can’t wait for book 3 and probably would eat it up just as fast.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley & NetGalley for the eARC. This review is my own thoughts and opinions about this book.

I am fully invested in Ruby and James and their messy, emotional, slow-healing love story. Save You picks up right where Save Me left off and brings even more tension, heartbreak, and growth.

This book takes its time. It leans into their grief and guilt and all the complicated feelings that come with trying to rebuild trust. I loved how vulnerable both characters were, even when they didn’t have the words for it yet. This book is slower and more introspective, but I loved being inside their heads as they try to figure out who they are and what they want. James broke my heart with his self-destructive behavior. And Ruby's heartbreak was so palpable and relatable. This book really got me right in the feels. 💔

What I loved even more in this installment is that we get multiple POVs, including James’ twin sister Lydia and Ruby’s sister Ember. Their perspectives added so much depth to the story and gave a broader view of everything happening behind the scenes

The ending wasn’t as gut-wrenching as the first book’s, but it still made me gasp and immediately start praying to the ARC gods for book three.

Tropes:

🖤 Second-chance vibes
💔 Emotional angst
🔁 Miscommunication
🧠 Mental health and grief
📚 Academic pressure
🏫 Elite private school setting
💬 Vulnerable conversations
🛑 He’s trying to earn her trust back
👀 Slow, messy healing
🔥 That undeniable chemistry

Ready for book three, let’s gooo 💕 (Begging for book 3 🙏🏽🥺)

Save You
We’re back at Maxton Hall for part two of the series and pick up right after the ending of Save Me.
It was so easy to get sucked back into the story and so hard to put this book down to go to sleep last night! I love James and Ruby’s stories and this time we get more of Ember (yay!) and Lydia. I can’t wait to read the third installment.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."