Opposites attract romance with some enemies to lovers. Ruby is a scholarship student at an elite academy and James is a rich jerk she’s forced to work with.

I am almost 35 but I love teenage drama. It’s so ridiculous but oh so fun. Especially when there’s rich people involved. I loved both characters. I loved the slow burn. I didn’t realize this wasn’t a stand alone so the end has me reeling. I can’t wait to continue Ruby and James’s story in book

ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 4.5 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

So - I know there's a tv show for this series but I couldn't really get into it. But I saw the arc pop up on NetGalley and I thought ehh let's just give it a try and see. Omg I loved every single page of this book! When I tell you my expectations were on the floor - I really thought this was going to be a little stale and a little cringe lol. But it's so so good!

We follow our FMC, Ruby a scholarship student who's finishing up her studies at super posh and private school, Maxton Hall. Ruby is super studious and very driven and determined to graduate and further her studies at Oxford.

Ruby does not dally. She is very goal oriented and always busy with school functions and events. A bit of a wall flower and not many friends, but she prefers it that way. Less distraction from her dream of getting accepted to Oxford.

Our MMC, James is the quintessential rich, posh bad boy. His family owns a clothing design company that's been in business for decades and his family name holds quite a bit of weight around the community. He's the lacrosse captain, the life of the party and ofc every girl swoons after him.

Ruby's 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.

Ooooh wee! I loved this story so much! I knew it was going to leave me on a major cliffhanger around 60% lol I could just feel the weight of it coming and yes I'm screaming and I need the second book right now - thankfully books two and three will be released this year in English as well so we won't have to wait too terribly long.

I really didn't expect to love this one as much as I did - I picked it up the other night at random after accepting the widget from Berkley and thought oh, let's just see how a couple of chapters go - when I tell you, I could not put this thing down!

I enjoyed the writing, it felt very natural and comfortable.. The pacing was done very well, I didn't feel that the chapters very overly long or anything. The story is told in mainly Ruby's POV for about 2/3 of the book, but we do also get chapters from James's POV. Which I thought was nice, I liked jumping into his head and hearing his thoughts, but I also like the tension that was created not hearing from his as often as Ruby.

I loved Ruby, I think she's a great character- there's a few things that annoyed me, nothing significant enough to really call out. I thought she was super empathetic and caring. Such a good listener and an all-around good person. Something I always love seeing in any kind of story, but especially in one that has younger characters is female characters that are girls' girls. I love that and Ruby is such a freaking girls girl that my heart squeezed - I absolutely loved they budding friendship between her and Lydia.

Speaking of a compelling side character - I'm very interested in finding more out about Lydia and how she'll grow more as a character. It really seems like her and James are good deep down and just carry so much baggage due to their name and the way their father is.

The whole time reading this book I really got a lot of Cruel Intentions vibes - I definitely don't think it's as 'graphic' as Cruel Intentions was in this first installment. But the whole feel of it really just brought me back there... The elite school, the rich, the hard-working student, the high stakes games that get played.

If you enjoyed the show, I think you'll enjoy the book as well. And if you didn't vibe with the show like me lol I think you'll appreciate the book more. I'm super excited for the next one later this year! Highly recommend! Super bingable and addictive!

Expected Pub Date - 07/01/25

💚Enemies to Lovers
💚Academia
💚Rich MMC x Poor FMC

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Many thanks to Berkley Pub for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐

Goddamnit.

Don’t read this until all 3 are released in English later this year!!!

It’s so deeply bingeable but AGH CLIFFHANGER. You WILL be aching waiting for the next one.

It was crazy to see how the show was so true to the book. If you loved the show, you’ll love the book. I’m about to buy Amazon Prime literally right now and watch it over again because my withdrawals are so intense.

This book would be a YA absolute banger if they just cut that one sex scene. New Adult rating is a bit iffy because the themes are very high school.


This book is the epitome of guilty pleasure. Think Gossip Girl but it’s British and also enemies-to-lovers.

Absolutely loved this! I was thrilled to find the book captured the essence of the Prime Video series so faithfully. But even better, the book offered so much more – richer emotional depth, beautifully detailed scenes, and a deeper dive into the characters. Each page was a delight, and I'm already eagerly anticipating book two!

I couldn't put this book down! Ive been in such a reading slump and this book just cured it. It was nicely paced and decently written. ill have to watch the show now.

A great story perfect for reading after watching the show Maxton Hall. I’m looking forward to the next book.

A well plotted and gripping novel.
Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

This book is pure, delicious angst wrapped in elite academia, and I ate up every second of it. Definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next!

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!

3.5 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!

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?