Say You’ll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
Publication Date: January 30th, 2018 by Harlequin Teen
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Find: Goodreads | Amazon
Goodreads Summary
When Drix was convicted of a crime—one he didn’t commit—he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the new Second Chance Program, the governor’s newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society.

Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor’s daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn’t may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle’s parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix’s messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can’t imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves—Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence—and each other to finally get what they deserve.

Katie McGarry is a perfect cure for book slumps. There’s always an addictive quality to her writing that keeps you coming back for more. As with most McGarry books, Say You’ll Remember Me is a perfect balance of hard struggles, hope, and growth.

The book follows a dual narrative of two individuals who are worlds apart on paper but are closer in heart and spirit. We have Drix, the new face of the Governor’s Second Chance Program. While innocent of the crime he was charged for, the program did give Drix some perspective on his life, and of the mistakes, he made prior to the arrest. Upon his release, he vows to not go back to being the arrogant man he was before and strives to make a better life for himself, even if that means being the Governor’s poster boy. It’s easy to root for Drix. He’s had a tough upbringing and made some questionable choices along the way, but his heart is in the right place. When we meet Drix he’s a lot more reserved and quiet than he was prior to his arrest. His readjustment into his family felt like walking on eggshells for a time, but there is no denying the bond between them. They would go to the end of the earth for each other. They’re by no means a perfect family, they all have their faults and fears, but the love between them is real, even if they struggle to say so. Drix is determined to follow the straight and narrow path and his resolve and strength to see it through shines from the start. At the end of the day, Drix is a guy that is full of passion and hope but has to fight the social hierarchy and judgments of the world in order to see his dreams come to fruition.

We also meet Elle. She’s the Governor’s daughter and has long been accustomed to life in the spotlight. To the world, she is an American sweetheart, but what they don’t see is just how stifling her life is. Her parents have planned every moment of her life for her, from her appearance to her education, even to who she spends time with. They have the best intentions for her, but what they fail to do is listen to her. They take no consideration for her own desires, and while Elle respects her parents, there is a growing sense of frustration and resentment coming from how little freedom and respect they give her in return. Elle’s journey stems from her need to break free from the chains her parents have around her, and in doing so, find her own strength and determination to chase after her dreams.

Drix and Elle come from two separate worlds, but they both long for that freedom to chose their own paths. The second chance program brings these two together, and while a romance between them is forbidden, they can’t fight the growing connection between them. The attraction between them was instant, but because of the nature of both their positions they took their time to establish a friendship before giving into their feelings. It’s a beautifully developed romance and they compliment each other so well.

Katie McGarry has done it again. With a strong blend of romance, friendship, and family, Say You’ll Remember Me is a book that will tug at the hearstrings. It’s endearing, emotional, and full of hope. It’s a book that sees these two trapped souls find their inner strength and fight for what they love.

What’s your favourite Katie McGarry book?