Say You'll Remember Me

Right from the start, I knew this book was going to steal my heart...and it TOTALLY did.

Drix is a great character, right out the gate, and though when we are first introduced, he is a little broken, there's no doubting the well of strength that dwells within. Though convicted of a crime with more shadows than truth, I never once feared his character. He was clear on his convictions, put family first, fought for the greater good, and while yes, some of that grew from the program he was forced to go through, the seeds had to be there in order to take root. He lives a hard life, but it is a life lived and worth living...even more so now that he's found his way out of the darkness that was pulling him under.

Elle is a force of nature all show more her own. What she lacks in street smarts, she more than makes up for in heart, the strength of convictions, and letting her moral compass be her guide. What can I say...mommy and daddy taught her well, and though it's gonna break a million hearts when things go south, they can only blame the supposed flaws in her character on themselves. GASP! Imagine that...a kid that actually LISTENED when growing up? *smirk* Seriously though, Elle may live in a higher class society wise, but she's just as much a puppet on invisible strings as Drix...maybe even more so since he at least KNEW (for the most part) what he was getting into; she was simply trusting those that borne her to have her best interests at heart. I was right there my her side cheering her on when all heck broke loose and it brought a mighty big smile to my face when she laid out exactly what was to be. (YOU GO GIRL!)

All in all, I was glued to each page and enjoyed the slower progression of the story. It's in those little moments, the small choices that add up to the big picture, that we really get to know these characters and feel that much closer to them. It's not a book to rush through, but rather savor...and word to the wise, bring tissues.


**ARC received for review show less

I loved Say You’ll Remember Me so much! Easily one of my favorite reads this year! I read it in a little over two days, and I would have read it in one if I hadn’t stopped and willed myself to savor every page! It was over before I knew it. I wish there were a sequel, perhaps even a prequel, or at least an extra two hundred or so pages I could stick into the back of the book to keep Drix and Elle’s story going! Why must good things always come to an end?

I enjoy seeing books with families who stick together through everything, in spite of everything, and the Pierce family was just that. Drix struggled to be what a brother and friend should be, battling his issues and either overcoming them or learning from them. Axle strived to show more give the best he could to his younger siblings. And Holiday was the strong little sister who was stubborn and never backed down (seriously, I kept thinking “though she be but little, she is fierce” should be her motto throughout the entire book). They were perfect in the fact that they were imperfect, and I loved that.

Drix and Elle and all the other characters felt so real – I found myself wishing I could live in this book and celebrate my own birthday with them, and bake a sheet cake with Holiday and, well, I save that part of the book for you to read. Drix’s and Elle’s birthday celebration was one of my favorite scenes! I laughed so hard and wanted to disappear into the pages and join in the family fun! Nearly every character was relatable in some form, flawed yet loveable.

And then there was the romance. The tension, the heartbreak, the secrets, the fact that this wasn’t some cheap insta love story – it was so good!

The message in this book was very important: everyone deserves a second chance at life, and everyone needs a path, a guide, a friend to help make that chance count. Apologies don’t erase what happened, but they still mean something. Forgiveness can be slow, and that’s alright. Say You’ll Remember Me was so true to life, so well-researched, so heartfelt. And though the message was clear, it was not so pressed that it was shoved down your throat which, to me, is the mark of a good story.

There is a playlist, too, in the back of the book, and I was happily surprised to see some familiar Christian songs in the list. It was unexpected, something I don’t often see, but pleasantly accepted nonetheless. All the songs seemed to fit very well with the story too. When I do a reread (when not if, because this book certainly deserves a reread!), I’m going to read along with the playlist.

The one thing about this book that I didn’t quite get was the title: Say You’ll Remember Me. Perhaps I missed something, but it didn’t seem to fit perfectly with the book. It sort of fit in some parts of the book when I think about it, but as a whole, it wasn’t quite obvious how the title fit. Still, with a beautiful cover and story like this, a title shouldn’t matter too much.

I hope Katie McGarry writes more books like this one in the future – I will definitely auto buy!

***

Mild cussing throughout, violence, some innuendos, etc…I’d recommend this book for 16+ show less

Katie is one of a handful of authors whose books I pre-order the minute I hear about them. In this one, she creates a new cast of characters, but keeps the chemistry and tension between Drix and Elle at that high level she does so well. Diix tries to resist the almost immediate attraction when he steps in to help Elle avoid a couple very unpleasant college guys. Given the constraints on him following his selection for a new program designed to interrupt the path from high school to incarceration, he really has no choice. Neither does Elle, thanks to the near fascist control her parents exert on her.
Following them as they figure out ways to be together without blowing everything to pieces, as well as figuring out who really did the show more robbery Drix took the fall for, makes this a nearly impossible book to set down. It's another top notch story that deserves a place on many library shelves. show less

In between reading Katie McGarry novels, I tend to forget the emotional impact they always have on me--Say You'll Remember Me was no exception. At one point I actually sobbed--not quite The Boy in the Striped Pajamas -level of sobbing (OMG, that ending), but sobbing nonetheless.

I loved Drix and Elle's story. Besides being one heck of an emotional read, it really made me think about so many topics that seem more relevant today than ever--our legal and prison systems, class and income differences, the media, and the motivations and ultimate goals of our politicians. Obviously this is a fictional story, but Ms. McGarry's writing not only made her characters feel real, it immerses her readers into a world that feels absolutely true to show more life.

After finishing this one I just wanted to sit quietly for a bit and think, still wrapped up in the world of the characters Ms. MsGarry created here. Sadly, life has other ideas--no worries, though, because this is definitely one that will go on my keeper shelf and that I'll be bringing out again...and again.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. show less

SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME was a hard book to read. I was so emotionally involved that I just ached for Elle and Drix. The two kids couldn't be more different. Elle is the daughter of the Governor of Kentucky. She is groomed and prepped to help her father in his campaign for Senator. She sees her Dad as her hero and really supports his goals but she is having trouble following all the rules and putting her own wants before the needs of the campaign. She has the idea, fostered by her parents, that she has to be perfect to win their approval.

Drix is poor. He accepted a plea bargain after being arrested for an armed robbery which he did not commit. The plea bargain puts him in the Governor's new program that aims to derail the path from high show more school to prison. The program included therapy and education and really changed Drix's life. Before he was on a path of self-destruction, he was drinking, drugging and getting into fights for fun. He's a talented musician but got the idea from his absent father that musical talent made him a god who could do whatever he wanted.

Elle and Drix meet when he rescues her from a couple of college age guys who are harassing her at a fair when all she wants to do is have fun and play some Whack-a-Mole. They are attracted but Drix doesn't get her number because he sees her as being out of his class. They meet again the next day when he comes to the Governor's to learn what his obligations are to the Governor's program. He needs to make a number of campaign appearances and talk about the program. Elle is also involved in the campaign charming donors and pushing her dad's agenda. Despite being told to keep away from each other because her parents have decided that a romance would change the focus of what they need the kids to do, Elle and Drix do spend time together getting to know each other.

Both kids have all kinds of hurdles to overcome. Drix doesn't know who he can trust. He thinks he took the fall for his best friend and keeps waiting for him to say he was sorry. He is also concerned about his younger sister's dependence on a boyfriend who isn't at all good for her. He's also afraid to go back to music because he fears that he'll be swept back into the self-destructive pattern he was in before. Elle is gradually coming to realize that all the compromises her parents are pushing on her, from the stylist and the lack of support for her desire to accept an internship to foster her talent for programming, have caused her to almost lose herself. It takes quite a while to realize that her parents are using emotional abuse and even longer to stand up to them.

This was another emotionally wrenching title from an author known for them. I enjoyed this story and this romance and recommend it to fans of the genre. show less

I love these books, but I get so frustrated with the MC's relationship with their parents. I know parents want the best for their kids, but they always go way overboard in Katie McGarry's books. In this one, Ellison's parents control pretty much her whole life. They decide who she can be seen with, what she looks like, including her mom making her dye her hair and get colored contacts which INFURIATED me. How are you going to tell your daughter that her hair and eye color isn't pleasing enough to people and you need to change?! I would've flipped out, but Ellison is this perfect daughter who does what she's told, until she meets Hendricks and begins to change. I loved that he thought she was perfect and wanted her for her real self. He show more was such a good guy, taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit and doing the best he could for his family. Their love story was sweet and adorable. Ellison and Hendricks really brought out the best in each other.
This was a fun story and I enjoyed listening to it. show less

Once again Katie McGarry delivers a swoon worthy YA contemporary about two teens finding themselves, battling their demons, and falling in love.

Say You’ll Remember Me was a great addition to McGarry’s backlist of emotionally fueled novels, making me laugh, cry, and generally feel all the feels. I’ve read all of Katie’s other books, and two things I’ve noticed she consistently does well are character development and pacing. Her characters are always vivid and real, dealing with actual problems that can change and shape the course of their lives. Elle and Drix are no different, both battling their pasts and present circumstances and navigating a way through the dark and into the light. The pacing of the novel is also quite nice. show more There is definitely insta-attraction between Elle and Drix, but the relationship gets time to develop and actually turn into something. I also really appreciated how they were able to work through their problems and struggles together, instead of enduring the middle of the book break-up trope that is so prevalent in YA literature.

Overall, this was a great read that I really enjoyed, and of course I’ll be picking up Katie’s next book as soon as it’s available!

*Thank you to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.* show less