This book was so swoon worthy. I love a high school sweet heart, small town romance kind of love story. Adam and Madeline are meant for each other and loved one another so deeply. You have to read it till the end to find out but I really didn't expect the plot twist at all, I was kicking my feet and screaming when I found out. I can't wait for the sequel to learn more about Ian and Josie's love story!

Is this a romance or a mystery ? A bit of both with some great characters. A great read
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Sometimes, as a young adult, you’re suddenly ripped from your familiar environment, and then it’s completely normal not to see the future in a very rosy light. Your friends and all the plans you made are brushed aside, and you’re nearly convinced your life is over. You fear you’ll feel like a fish out of water and that no one will feel compelled to let you into their friend group.

But what Madeline never dared to dream, happens to her. Her first day at her new school is so much more than just that. It’s the first day of the beginning of her life, and she can hardly believe her luck. Until the day the rug is pulled out from under her feet again—and this time, the consequences are far more serious...

Completely captivated, I read the story of Madeline and Adam and their blossoming love. I found it so beautiful and sweet that I read those passages with a soppy feeling and a smile on my face.

When Madeline’s world fell apart, my heart broke, and I wished I could have comforted her, but I was glad to see she had a good friend by her side who took on that role.

I felt with Madeline and supported her when she followed her heart. I completely understood why she did what she did. That was also the moment when the realization began to dawn that things were happening—or had happened—that weren’t entirely above board, and suspicion started to grow.

I was right about certain things, but the author still managed to surprise me—and delight me—with several unexpected revelations.

I’m truly thrilled that there’s going to be a sequel, because I can hardly wait for some much-needed answers.

Not a single word in this book was unnecessary. Every one of them served a purpose and together formed a fantastic and emotional story.

If you enjoy this genre and you’re looking for a book that will move and captivate you from beginning to end, then I wholeheartedly recommend this story 100%. I didn’t need a single second to think about how many stars it deserves from me: 5!

Thank you.

5⭐️. Absolutely loved this book. It gave me all the feels and had a twist I NEVER saw coming. I can not wait for the next to one to come out. Highly, highly recommend reading. I love Garret and Maddie so much.

Madeline’s life feels like it’s on steady ground — engaged to Jason, her fiancé and Adam’s best friend, she’s built a future that seems safe. Then that one video changes everything. It shows a man saving children, and there’s something about him that pulls at memories Madeline thought were gone forever. It wasn’t just curiosity — it was like a door she thought was locked suddenly creaked open, and everything she believed started to feel uncertain.
I could feel the weight of her confusion and hope as she wrestled with what to believe and what to hold onto. It’s rare to find a story that digs into that complicated space between past and present without forcing the drama. The way Madeline balances her loyalty to Jason with the questions that keep creeping up felt real — like someone trying to protect herself while also chasing a truth that won’t leave her alone.

The man in the video — he’s not just a mystery to solve. There’s something in the way he’s written that made me pause. He felt layered, quiet, and strangely comforting in the middle of all the tension. Madeline’s reactions, her hesitations, her moments of doubt and longing — all of that felt raw and believable.

The story didn’t rush anything. Instead, it let emotions simmer, letting me live through those moments where nothing is clear but everything matters. I was caught between wanting Madeline to find answers and knowing that some questions might change everything about her life, whether she wanted them to or not.

This wasn’t a story with neat edges or quick fixes. It reminded me how complicated love and loss can be, how the past can reach into the present in ways we don’t expect. Madeline’s journey felt like watching someone slowly open herself to possibilities she never imagined again — painful but full of quiet strength.

I don’t know how I’m just now discovering Melissa Wiesner. Her writing has such emotional depth—tender, reflective, and quietly powerful, with a poetic touch that really stays with you.

“All the Ways You Saved Me” was a compelling blend of second‑chance love, grief, and suspense. The story followed a high school romance and tragedy when Maddie fell in love with Adam their senior year of high school in the seaside town of Sandy Harbor, while Jason served as their close-knit best friend. Their idyllic trio crashed into disaster when Adam died in a horrific accident. His body was never recovered and left Maddie and Jason heartbroken. Fast forward ten years, Maddie and Jason became engaged. But everything unraveled when she saw a viral rescue video of a man who looked exactly like Adam. His name was Garrett. Maddie abandoned her wedding plans and followed Garrett back to Sandy Harbor in search of answers. As she was investigating what happened to Adam and secrets start to emerge, Maddie secrets surface, Maddie had to confront reality: Was Adam ever truly gone? And what does this mean for the life she’s trying to build?

I was drawn in by how the story blended heartfelt romance with a subtle, lingering mystery—making each element more compelling together than they would’ve been on their own. I especially appreciated Wiesner’s choice to structure the novel around dual timelines and multiple perspectives. This approach added emotional richness and a steady sense of suspense. The shifts between past and present gradually revealed the characters’ motivations, while the alternating viewpoints offered meaningful insight into each central figure, making their relationships feel layered and real. The structure kept me fully engaged, and I loved how each reveal added depth and clarity to the characters’ decisions and the consequences that followed.

One piece of constructive criticism I have for this novel is the occasional disorientation caused by the frequent shifts between timelines. At times, the transitions felt slightly disjointed, which disrupted the story’s momentum. Additionally, some timelines and perspectives were more emotionally layered than others, leading to an imbalance in the narrative’s emotional weight.

Overall, “All the Ways You Saved Me” was an emotional and well-paced story that blended romance and mystery in a really compelling way. I enjoyed the dual timelines and how each perspective added depth to the characters. It was heartfelt, easy to get lost in, and kept me immersed the whole way through. My only small critique is that a few timeline shifts felt slightly disorienting, but overall, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'All The Ways You Save Me' by Melissa Wiesner - expected release date of 08/19/2025

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

Ive read a few of Wiesner's books and they've been romance but this was romance + mystery. Even though she used cliché, cheesy lines (EX: his eyes darken... my chest cracks open), I was invested in this story and all the characters, I was rooting for them, especially Madeline. The reveals at the end were predictable, (I had the big ones figured out pretty early) but it was still an enjoyable read. I wish she would've tied out the storyline about why the family moved so abruptly to PA but I'm hoping that comes into play with book 2. I will definitely read book 2 when it comes out!

Melissa Wiesner’s All the Ways You Saved Me is a deeply emotional, dual-timeline novel that masterfully blends romance, tragedy, and a quiet, lingering mystery. I love how seamlessly Wiesner navigates between timelines and perspectives.

Melissa’s writing is lyrical and immersive. The mystery element, centered around the truth of what happened all those years ago is understated but powerful, driving the emotional stakes rather than simply serving as a plot twist.

I must say I am left with so many unanswered questions all I hope will be answered in later book.

Overall a fantastic read one I would high recommend so pleased to have had the chance to read and advanced copy of this book.

Madeline a 17 year old girl has to move to a town her senior year. She meets Adam and Jason. Jason houses Adam in the basement after he lost his parents. One day, his car goes over and is in the river. He doesn’t know how to swim nor was his body ever found.Madeline, now an English teacher 10 years later, spots Adam—alive—in the background of a live broadcast. This revelation shatters her past assumptions and propels her into a desperate search for answers, uncovering secrets that will keep any reader on the edge of their seat.

Thanks NetGalley. I loved the ending

Well this was cute. I liked the characters and the premise. I didn't even mind the insat-love meet cute that happened. In high school, that's common enough. Without spoilers - Toward the end of the book, things suddenly felt rushed with a few unanswered questions. Overall, a good read and I'll look into what else this author has to offer!

All the Ways You Save Me by new to me author Melissa Wiesner, published by Bookouture, is book one on the Sandy Harbor Series.
Suspenseful, emotional, a slow burn with some twists and turns tells the book Madeline, Adam and Jason's story.
Madeline is a school teacher who at the age of 17 lost her love, Adam, in an accident. Years later she believes she recognizes Adam in a video. That's the start to a wonderful second chances story, well written with some lengths, but all in all a good novel, 4,5 stars.

All the Ways You Save Me, the first in the Sandy Harbor series by Melissa Wiesner, will tear your heart up and heal it all at the same time.

Dual timeline, 10 years apart - allowing the reader to glimpse at the teenage love between Madeline and Adam. After Madeline’s mother suddenly moves their family away from Sandy Harbor during her senior year of high school, Madeline is prepared to hate every day in her new home until she can make her way back to the ocean. Then she meets Adam and her life changes forever.

Adam, best friend Jason, and Madeline form a perfect trio until trouble comes along and rips them apart. Adam, dead. Jason and Madeline heartbroken. It’s a wound that will never fully heal, even after Jason’s persistence wears Madeline down and ten years after Adam’s death, she finds herself planning their wedding.

After Madeline watches a horrifying video of a man saving children from drowning in her hometown of Sandy Harbor, she is shook. Because the savior looks just like Adam, and unless he has come back to life, that can’t be possible. She drops everything, including her engagement to Jason, to chase after a ghost.

And that’s just the beginning.

All the Ways You Save Me is romance and thriller blended to perfection. It’s a page turner with more than one twist that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

I was left with a ton of unanswered questions, BUT the next book will provide the answers I’m craving.

Thanks to @melissawiesnerauthor , @bookouture , and @netgalley for the advance copy!

3.5+ , overall premise of the book was good, I enjoyed my read and I flew through it. It was fairly predictable. However, I did enjoy reading about the FMC's experience to pulling herself out of comfort and finding something that brought her happiness. While under the premise of finding out whether her deceased high school boyfriend was alive, she actually finds herself falling in love with a charismatic Garrett.

When everything begins to unravel while learning of Adam's death, things sped up so quickly that it felt rather rushed for the last 15-20%? Which is why I gave it a 3.5 rating. The romance aspect was kind and sweet for Adam and Maddie, then Garrett and Maddie.

Thank you, Melissa, Bookouture, and Netgalley for a copy of an e-arc!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ARC!

5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

First of all holy shit! I thought Love and Other Lost things couldn’t top any of Melissa’s books but I was wrong! So wrong!! This one did it. It had me hooked from the first page. I had to know if Garrett was Adam! I loved reading “Adam” and Madeline’s love story and their second chance romance!

This book read like a young adult novel at first—so I was surprised to find it wasn’t labeled as one. The writing felt underdeveloped, like the author had a list of plot points and then tried to force connections between them without much flow or logic. Many moments felt overly convenient and unrealistic, and the dialogue was stiff and robotic. I don’t know anyone who talks like these characters did.

Both of the major twists were easy to see coming, which took away any real sense of surprise or tension.

Another thing that pulled me out of the story was the way the author handled intimacy. Every time something sexual was referenced, it came immediately after a heavy or emotional conversation—grief, trauma, or some other serious topic. It felt jarring and uncomfortable, like the emotional beats were being used as a setup for something that didn’t belong in that moment.

What really gave me the ick, though, was the explicit scene involving 17-year-olds. It felt unnecessary and completely out of place. That scene especially left a bad taste in my mouth and made me question why it was included at all.

4.5 stars
In this emotional and suspenseful romance, Madeline loses the love of her life, Adam, at the young age of seventeen to a tragic accident. Years later, she thinks she sees him in a video shot in her beachside hometown. While there to investigate, she is saved by a mysterious man who she thinks looks just like Adam. In fact, she thinks he might be Adam. What really happened that night ten years ago?

I love Melissa Wiesner’s writing. Both her romances and romantic comedies always keep me turning pages. This book was no exception! It masterfully combines romance, mystery, intrigue, and drama to create a powerful story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I hate to say much about the story because it’s best to go in blind and discover the plot twists for yourself, but know that it’s going to keep you fully invested in the story from start to finish. The only thing keeping this from being a five star read for me was a few remaining unanswered questions. I’m hopeful this might indicate a followup book for Josie, Madeline’s sister, but it did leave some things unresolved for me. However, the rest of the book was highly entertaining and a wonderful escapist read.

Thank you to Melissa Wiesner and Bookouture for the gifted early copy.

Welllll sheesh I was up till 3am with this book because the spin was spell binding good I loved this read awesome job it’s a book that will have you gripping your seat asking if you just read what you thought you were reading

Madeline pensó que había dejado atrás el pasado. Diez años después de la trágica muerte de Adam, el amor de su vida en la adolescencia, ha construido una vida estable como profesora, está comprometida con su mejor amigo de la preparatoria, Jason, y se prepara para un futuro que parece tranquilo y seguro.

Pero todo cambia cuando, al final del ciclo escolar, Madeline ve un video viral de un hombre rescatando a unos niños en el mar. El hombre, con su figura, sus gestos y sus inconfundibles ojos azules… es idéntico a Adam.

Confundida, Madeline se ve arrastrada por una marea de emociones y recuerdos del pasado. ¿Es posible que Adam haya sobrevivido al accidente del que nunca se recuperó su cuerpo? ¿Y si lo ha hecho, por qué nunca volvió con ella?

A medida que busca respuestas, la historia se despliega entre dos líneas temporales: el presente lleno de incertidumbre y el pasado que revela cómo nació y se transformó su vínculo con Adam y con Jason.


-



Estuve tentada a buscar si Garrett era Adam o si solo era una coincidencia.
Me intriga saber qué pasó para que se fueran de su pueblo; ¿Cuál será el secreto de Josie?

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

This is the second book of Melissa Wiesner's that I've read and I adore her writing! There were so many twists in this book and my mind never stopped racing about what was going to happen next. I appreciated the dual timelines as well as the dual POVs. I thought the pacing was pretty okay, but I wish we had gotten a bit more development in certain parts of the story - Maddie and her grief, Maddie's relationship with Jason and how it began to evolve, etc.

Also,
1. Why DID Madeline and Josie's mom suddenly upend their lives and move? Whether or not Josie knows the reason, it really seemed like there was more to this.
2. The creepy man at the bar - what IS his relationship to Maddie and her family? There's clearly some kind of connection.

It looks like we're getting a second book in this universe, revolving around Josie and Ian, and I can only hope my questions will be answered in that book! I don't feel like we got closure in either area so I'll be very disappointed if Melissa kept bringing those points mentioned above for no reason at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Melissa Wiesner for the arc!
4.5 stars.
I went into this one fully blind. It was the perfect mix of romance, mystery and a touch of a thriller. I was hooked immediately from chapter one. I mean come on - girl falls in love with boy in high school. Becomes best friends with his male best friend and they're a cute friendship trio. Boy dies tragically and then girl ends up with the best friend. Then ten years later randomly sees a video and thinks a man looks like the boyfriend who died!? So obviously she goes on a hunt for this man to figure out who he is and why she believes it's her high school love.
I enjoyed the dual timeline and the breadcrumbs scattered throughout leading to twists and turns. The only reason I didn't give this five stars is because one large plot point was never resolved. There's a storyline about why Madeline and her family suddenly left the small beach town they lived in growing up. When Madeline is back in that town a man questions her weirdly a few times but there's never any resolve to who he was or why he was asking her anything. I'm hoping maybe there's a second book coming that explores this?
I would love to read it if there is. The story definitely isn't finished and I need to know what happens next!