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Saving Me
On the outside, Ally has everything any teenager could want. She’s beautiful, popular, and athletic. She has the right friends, an adoring boyfriend, and the picture-perfect family.
Too bad it’s all a lie.
Every day she’s dying a little on the inside, drowning in everyone’s expectations and opinions, the weight of it all pulling her under.
She wants to do the unthinkable ... until a boy with shaggy hair, unusual eyes, and a lip ring changes her plans.
Too bad it’s all a lie.
Every day she’s dying a little on the inside, drowning in everyone’s expectations and opinions, the weight of it all pulling her under.
She wants to do the unthinkable ... until a boy with shaggy hair, unusual eyes, and a lip ring changes her plans.
About the author
Sadie Allen
12 books121 followersSadie Allen is the author of four novels and has several more trapped inside her head. Her dreams of becoming an author started in fourth grade when she wrote a story about a disastrous Thanksgiving where a cat jumped inside the turkey.
She currently lives in Texas with her husband and three small children but is still hopeful her Hogwarts acceptance letter will be in the mail but will settle for Camp Half-Blood. When she’s not pretending to write, she’s chasing children around the house or store or ballfield, or helping her husband do something on the farm.
YA BOOKS
Maybe Never
Saving Me
ADULT ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Always Been You
Always With Me
COMING SOON:
Deadly Magic (New YA Series)
Always Love You (Cedar Lake, #3)
Killing Devon Peters (YA Standalone)
Connect with her online:
Website: www.sadieallen.net
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She currently lives in Texas with her husband and three small children but is still hopeful her Hogwarts acceptance letter will be in the mail but will settle for Camp Half-Blood. When she’s not pretending to write, she’s chasing children around the house or store or ballfield, or helping her husband do something on the farm.
YA BOOKS
Maybe Never
Saving Me
ADULT ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Always Been You
Always With Me
COMING SOON:
Deadly Magic (New YA Series)
Always Love You (Cedar Lake, #3)
Killing Devon Peters (YA Standalone)
Connect with her online:
Website: www.sadieallen.net
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sadie...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sadie-Allen/e/...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsadie...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsadiea...
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/23818...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writersadie
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/writersadie
Join Sadie Allen’s Monthly Newsletter to Receive:
● Upcoming sales
● New releases and book news
● Exclusive content and character updates
● Sneak peeks and teasers
● Early cover reveals
● And much more!
Sign up here: http://bit.ly/2CxK1VE
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
February 19, 2018
Saving Me by Sadie Allen is a unique YA novel.
This story is centered around Ally, who is a depressed/suicidal hurdling high school student who gets severely injured in a race. Her boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend for three years, and a boy with a lip ring has a crush on her. There is endless drama on every page that makes me believe this book is the teenage version of a soap opera.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, because I think it's an intriguing story but I think there was just to much going on. I couldn't figure out what the real plot of the story was. Was it for Ally to not kill herself? Was it to showcase the craziness that can be high school? There was so much high school drama that seemed so wildly unrealistic that I wasn't sure how I felt when I finally read the last page of the book.
I did enjoy that the book moved fast and had constant action/drama. That kept me interested and I didn't want to put the book down. I also enjoyed some of the sugary sweet romance that goes down.
The things I didn't enjoy just hit to close to home for me - an (almost?) abusive parent, and some of the stupid decisions Ally made (but let's be honest, everyone made stupid mistakes in high school). I also think this book was closer to an R rating than intended. It seemed like the book was aimed at a YA audience but contained some purely adult themes. And my final part was...Sterling. He felt to perfect, despite having flaws. It was kind of the hero complex that made me question him, does Ally really need a boy to save her? That's just my own thoughts though.
Was it uplifting? In my opinion, I have no idea. It was definitely a coming of age story set in modern times. It included social media and texting as a big portion of this story. One major part of this book was how Sadie described Ally's feelings, and I think many can relate to her dark descriptions. Everyone feels lost and alone at times, so that hits a home run.
Overall, this book is well written but I'm not sure where I stand on it. I think it's fantastic and I liked it, but I'm stuck on the fence of whether this was a YA or adult novel. It honestly could swing either way.
Great novel! Three out of five stars!
I received a copy of this book from Sadie Allen in exchange for an honest review.
This story is centered around Ally, who is a depressed/suicidal hurdling high school student who gets severely injured in a race. Her boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend for three years, and a boy with a lip ring has a crush on her. There is endless drama on every page that makes me believe this book is the teenage version of a soap opera.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, because I think it's an intriguing story but I think there was just to much going on. I couldn't figure out what the real plot of the story was. Was it for Ally to not kill herself? Was it to showcase the craziness that can be high school? There was so much high school drama that seemed so wildly unrealistic that I wasn't sure how I felt when I finally read the last page of the book.
I did enjoy that the book moved fast and had constant action/drama. That kept me interested and I didn't want to put the book down. I also enjoyed some of the sugary sweet romance that goes down.
The things I didn't enjoy just hit to close to home for me - an (almost?) abusive parent, and some of the stupid decisions Ally made (but let's be honest, everyone made stupid mistakes in high school). I also think this book was closer to an R rating than intended. It seemed like the book was aimed at a YA audience but contained some purely adult themes. And my final part was...Sterling. He felt to perfect, despite having flaws. It was kind of the hero complex that made me question him, does Ally really need a boy to save her? That's just my own thoughts though.
Was it uplifting? In my opinion, I have no idea. It was definitely a coming of age story set in modern times. It included social media and texting as a big portion of this story. One major part of this book was how Sadie described Ally's feelings, and I think many can relate to her dark descriptions. Everyone feels lost and alone at times, so that hits a home run.
Overall, this book is well written but I'm not sure where I stand on it. I think it's fantastic and I liked it, but I'm stuck on the fence of whether this was a YA or adult novel. It honestly could swing either way.
Great novel! Three out of five stars!
I received a copy of this book from Sadie Allen in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2018
She seemed to have it all, a confident teen with looks, poise, talent and a strong family support bond. For Ally, it was what went on behind the face she showed the world, what happened behind closed doors that brought her to the depths of despair. She had no real control over her life, everything was decided for her and she was to perform to the exacting standards set forth. The problem? Ally is a teen in crisis with nowhere to turn until one boy came into her life and gave her a reason to find herself, to think for herself and to learn to love being alive, no matter what life throws your way.
SAVING ME by Sadie Allen is a beautiful story of finding strength, trusting in others and learning what love truly is, whether it is romantic or familial. Prepare to have your emotions twisted, to become angry, to smile and to have hope for the future of these characters.
Sadie Allen hasn’t written an angsty teen romance, she has written a tale of hope and personal salvation for a girl struggling to please everyone but herself. Relatable, bold writing that does not gloss over the many hot-button topics hit on. For those of us beyond our teens, this is going to bring back some memories of a time when we were easily overwhelmed and not equipped to handle all that was expected of us. A well written, sweet, sad and hopeful coming of age!
I received an Complimentary ARC edition from Sadie Allen!
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Sadie Allen (January 30, 2018)
Genre: YA Romance
ISBN-10: 1984121545
ISBN-13: 978-1984121547
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
SAVING ME by Sadie Allen is a beautiful story of finding strength, trusting in others and learning what love truly is, whether it is romantic or familial. Prepare to have your emotions twisted, to become angry, to smile and to have hope for the future of these characters.
Sadie Allen hasn’t written an angsty teen romance, she has written a tale of hope and personal salvation for a girl struggling to please everyone but herself. Relatable, bold writing that does not gloss over the many hot-button topics hit on. For those of us beyond our teens, this is going to bring back some memories of a time when we were easily overwhelmed and not equipped to handle all that was expected of us. A well written, sweet, sad and hopeful coming of age!
I received an Complimentary ARC edition from Sadie Allen!
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Sadie Allen (January 30, 2018)
Genre: YA Romance
ISBN-10: 1984121545
ISBN-13: 978-1984121547
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 8, 2018
I simply cannot find the right words to use in this review that will do Saving Me any justice. First I'll say that this is the first book I've read written by Sadie Allen and I loved every single moment of this story. You know that you have found the perfect book when you find that you can relate to the story and characters in such a way that it feels like the author could be retelling your own story. We are allowed access to the very soul of Ally, and we can feel her emotional despair, her hopes, desires and what will ultimately be life changing moments. I wept for her, felt anger for her, but I also felt moments of extreme happiness for her. The reflective message contained within the pages of this book will stay with readers of all ages.
{I received a copy for review purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own,}
{I received a copy for review purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own,}
August 20, 2020
Saving Me is an engaging read from start to finish. While Ally is drowning in expectations and living a life that she doesn't feel is hers, the book doesn't have a dark or depressing tone. From the moment we first meet Sterling, there's an undercurrent of hope in the narration. He stops her from doing the unspeakable in the first chapter, and after that, he says that he wants to show her that life is worth living. While he does play a large part in that, I loved that Ally saves herself. She finds her love of musical theatre and pursues this new passion. She forms new friendships with people who aren't toxic like her old friends are. She stands up for herself where it counts, not waiting for someone to save her.
That said, the romance is pretty darn cute, too 😉
That said, the romance is pretty darn cute, too 😉
February 17, 2018
“Sometimes, the bravest thing we choose is to be ourselves and live on our own terms.”
5 stars!
Wow, I love this book! A beautifully uplifting coming-of-age story with a vulnerable yet strong heroine that you cannot help but love, and an absolutely gorgeous YA romance that had my heart pounding, and a huge smile on my face. The synopsis makes this book sound super dark, which is misleading, so don’t let it turn you off! Yes, this book has some serious subject matter, but that’s just the starting point for what is a heartfelt and hopeful story that is smart, sweet, romantic, and beautifully written, and I absolutely loved it!
On the outside, Allison ‘Ally’ Everly is living the perfect life. A high school junior, she has seemingly devoted parents, is a gifted athlete, smart, beautiful and popular with the boyfriend and best friends to match. In reality, every aspect of her life is controlled, she feels trapped and weighed down by the expectations placed upon her and with nobody real in her life to turn to, she feels trapped and lost, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking.
When she hits rock bottom and feels as if she has no other choice, it is her school’s theatre bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold, Sterling Chapman, that comes to her rescue. And when a total stranger is there for her in a way that nobody else in her life is, proving again and again that he wants to be there for her, he becomes the trigger that changes everything for her.
OMG, Sterling is my latest cougar obsession, I just love this boy! The attraction between Ally and Sterling is there from the very beginning. They’ve both noticed the other, but they move in different social circles within their school, plus Ally has had the same boyfriend for years. But with Ally’s life changing, and her starting to reach out and explore what she wants, it provides the perfect opportunity for change, and Sterling is right there with her.
It’s a wonderful story of friendship, but there is also a strong romantic storyline which forms a big part of the change in Ally’s life, and Sterling’s impact on her is fantastically written. As a friend, Sterling is pure perfection with his sweet gestures, his generosity, and the way he is unwaveringly there for his girl. And as a romantic hero he absolutely stole my heart!
*swooooon!*
The romance is sweet, swoony and intense, and beautifully YA. There is some sexual content throughout the story but it’s off the page so this is a safe book for younger readers, but the feels are definitely there and I loved it!
I don’t want to give too much detail, because you just need to dive in and experience Ally’s story because the way it’s written, the way it all plays out and the emotion of the story is just fantastic. It’s dramatic and heartfelt, sweet, funny, fun and hopeful, and I honestly couldn’t get enough of it. I devoured this book in one sitting, reveling in the inspiring story of a brave young girl figuring herself out and fighting to find a better life for herself.
Ally’s story captivated me from start to finish. I loved her as a character, and I thought this was a beautifully written story of family, friendship and love, of learning who you are and fighting for what you truly want.
Absolutely beautiful – 5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars!
Wow, I love this book! A beautifully uplifting coming-of-age story with a vulnerable yet strong heroine that you cannot help but love, and an absolutely gorgeous YA romance that had my heart pounding, and a huge smile on my face. The synopsis makes this book sound super dark, which is misleading, so don’t let it turn you off! Yes, this book has some serious subject matter, but that’s just the starting point for what is a heartfelt and hopeful story that is smart, sweet, romantic, and beautifully written, and I absolutely loved it!
On the outside, Allison ‘Ally’ Everly is living the perfect life. A high school junior, she has seemingly devoted parents, is a gifted athlete, smart, beautiful and popular with the boyfriend and best friends to match. In reality, every aspect of her life is controlled, she feels trapped and weighed down by the expectations placed upon her and with nobody real in her life to turn to, she feels trapped and lost, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking.
The hollowness inside me was infinite. My heart felt heavy, like every beat was a Herculean feat. It, along with my mind and body, were sinking, too tired to fight the pull of the encroaching darkness. I wanted to slip under. I wanted the peace it would bring. To not feel a single thing ever again.
When she hits rock bottom and feels as if she has no other choice, it is her school’s theatre bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold, Sterling Chapman, that comes to her rescue. And when a total stranger is there for her in a way that nobody else in her life is, proving again and again that he wants to be there for her, he becomes the trigger that changes everything for her.
“Why? Why are you doing this?”
“What?”
… “This?” I gestured with my hand, moving it back and forth between us.
“It’s all part of my plan,” he said somewhat cryptically.
“Plan for what?” I was confused. What kind of plan did he have that involved me.
He didn’t make me wait for the answer.
“My plan for saving you.”
OMG, Sterling is my latest cougar obsession, I just love this boy! The attraction between Ally and Sterling is there from the very beginning. They’ve both noticed the other, but they move in different social circles within their school, plus Ally has had the same boyfriend for years. But with Ally’s life changing, and her starting to reach out and explore what she wants, it provides the perfect opportunity for change, and Sterling is right there with her.
It’s a wonderful story of friendship, but there is also a strong romantic storyline which forms a big part of the change in Ally’s life, and Sterling’s impact on her is fantastically written. As a friend, Sterling is pure perfection with his sweet gestures, his generosity, and the way he is unwaveringly there for his girl. And as a romantic hero he absolutely stole my heart!
“I love you, Ally. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I’ll give you time, and when you’re ready, I will be right here waiting for you.”
*swooooon!*
The romance is sweet, swoony and intense, and beautifully YA. There is some sexual content throughout the story but it’s off the page so this is a safe book for younger readers, but the feels are definitely there and I loved it!
I don’t want to give too much detail, because you just need to dive in and experience Ally’s story because the way it’s written, the way it all plays out and the emotion of the story is just fantastic. It’s dramatic and heartfelt, sweet, funny, fun and hopeful, and I honestly couldn’t get enough of it. I devoured this book in one sitting, reveling in the inspiring story of a brave young girl figuring herself out and fighting to find a better life for herself.
“Sometimes, the bravest thing we choose is to be ourselves and live on our own terms.”
Ally’s story captivated me from start to finish. I loved her as a character, and I thought this was a beautifully written story of family, friendship and love, of learning who you are and fighting for what you truly want.
“Life rarely turns out how we plan it … It’s funny that way. How well it turns out depends on how you accept those changed plans and live the life you’re meant to, not the one you expected.”
Absolutely beautiful – 5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2018
On the outside Allison’s life seems perfect but it far from perfect. One fateful night Allison meets Sterling and things are never the same again. I liked the story and it’s message but I had a little difficulty connecting to the characters. Don’t get me wrong the writing was good but something was missing on my end. I did like how as the story progressed Allison does a complete 180. She finds her passion, new friends and became more confident as a person. Sterling was a good support system but I felt she needed more help given her situation. Sadie Allen is a new to me author who I will definitely be reading more of! This book discussed a tough but important subject matter and I applaud the author for writing this book.
*ARC REVIEW*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
January 12, 2018
I don't usually leave reviews for books I've proofread...but I had to for this one.
This was my first read from Sadie Allen, and I have to tell you, I absolutely loved it!
A remarkable story of young love, second chances, fear, overcoming obstacles, life...
An incredibly sweet, funny, and emotional story with a very profound message.
5 stars!
This was my first read from Sadie Allen, and I have to tell you, I absolutely loved it!
A remarkable story of young love, second chances, fear, overcoming obstacles, life...
An incredibly sweet, funny, and emotional story with a very profound message.
5 stars!
September 12, 2021
✯✯✯☆☆ 𝚂𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙳 𝚂𝚃𝙰��𝚂
Hm...I have kinndaaa mixed feelings about this one
𝙻𝙴𝚃'𝚂 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚂 👏
𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙊𝙉 aka Ally looks like the perfect girl with everything anyone can ever ask from the Outside. Has Rich Parents, Handsome Boyfriend, A Friends-circle which has Girls with high status, good Grades and is also one of the stars of the Track team.
Seems like a Dream right?🥴
When actually it's not....
Ally's life was never in her hands. She was just like a Puppet in her life whose strings were always controlled by Derek Everly, her Dad. She has no say on whatever happened in her life. Her Dad decided everything for her. From what should she eat or wear to whom should she be hanging out with. (𝑀𝑒 𝑟𝑛-🙂🔪) It's always been like that.
Her life among her friends and Bf was not great either. Her Bf has been cheating on her for past 3 years with her so called "bestie" (🍑-𝒉𝑜𝑙𝑒🔪) & the girls were just a bunch of mean witchy-bitchy girls with no personality to hold onto 🌚💣💥
It was all too much for her and at one Sunset she decided to end her life........but then she met Sterling Chapman.
𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙇𝙄𝙉��� was a Charming, Caring and one-of-the-kind type of guy with usually beautiful eyes and lipring, in this story. Basically out of Ally's reach (🤦🏻♀️𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝒉𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑! 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑚𝑒🙅🏻♀️). He decides to Help out Ally and Save her from herself. He does sweet simple things like sending her snaps with tags that told her some reasons to stay. He introduces her to his own Friends who are REALLY Good Friends and show her the meaning of True Friendship (♥️). Then shows her sunsets and also comes at her window during Night and seeks her out to spend time with her near the lake on Pier.
𝙽𝙾𝚆 𝙻𝙴𝙼𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙺 𝙰𝙱𝙾𝚄𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈✌️
• Starting from the start ...At first I kinda felt like the story is sort of rushing...I was like "Am I not able to catch up or something?" I was that way almost till the end..Maybe it's just me idk.
For eg- I still couldn't understand why Sterling suddenly started singing "Body like a Backroad" to Ally in the cafeteria JUST the NEXT DAY after he had saved her from ending herself. Not that I minded but....It was so out of blue 🔵👄🔵
• There were also some times when I found the Characters s-t-o-p-i-d.
For eg- There was this scene where Sterling told Miles (𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑦'𝑠 𝑒𝑥) IN FRONT OF Ally "Do u want her to know?" And that made Miles shut up. Ally obviously curious asked "What?!" And Sterling just went like "Nothing"
➖👄➖....
BRUH WHAT?! Like...Why did u say it in the first place IN FRONT OF her if u didn't what her to know?!
Then when Ally asked he just went line "Blah blah Trust me. Blah blah nothing for u to worry about Princess"...I swear If it were me.. I would have gone crazy on him cause I don't like secrets left unsaid 🌝🔥
• Third Thingy is that...some places this book was way too Sweet for me. I both loved it♥️ and also sometimes thought it was too chessy for me...Does that make sense?👁️👄👁️💧
"𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗲. 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗵, 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲; 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝘄"
Soo Yep! That's it. I gave 3 stars cause well..I give 4-5 stars to those books which I might re-read in future...I most probably won't for this book so.... Anyways it was a Noice book😙👌. Has a Sweet happy ending with Ally's life changing and her relation with her Mom improving with the help of Sterling and her Friends who help her become a New her and At the End... She's Thankful that she stayed ♥️💜
Hm...I have kinndaaa mixed feelings about this one
𝙻𝙴𝚃'𝚂 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚂 👏
𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙊𝙉 aka Ally looks like the perfect girl with everything anyone can ever ask from the Outside. Has Rich Parents, Handsome Boyfriend, A Friends-circle which has Girls with high status, good Grades and is also one of the stars of the Track team.
Seems like a Dream right?🥴
When actually it's not....
Ally's life was never in her hands. She was just like a Puppet in her life whose strings were always controlled by Derek Everly, her Dad. She has no say on whatever happened in her life. Her Dad decided everything for her. From what should she eat or wear to whom should she be hanging out with. (𝑀𝑒 𝑟𝑛-🙂🔪) It's always been like that.
Her life among her friends and Bf was not great either. Her Bf has been cheating on her for past 3 years with her so called "bestie" (🍑-𝒉𝑜𝑙𝑒🔪) & the girls were just a bunch of mean witchy-bitchy girls with no personality to hold onto 🌚💣💥
It was all too much for her and at one Sunset she decided to end her life........but then she met Sterling Chapman.
𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙇𝙄𝙉��� was a Charming, Caring and one-of-the-kind type of guy with usually beautiful eyes and lipring, in this story. Basically out of Ally's reach (🤦🏻♀️𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝒉𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑! 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑚𝑒🙅🏻♀️). He decides to Help out Ally and Save her from herself. He does sweet simple things like sending her snaps with tags that told her some reasons to stay. He introduces her to his own Friends who are REALLY Good Friends and show her the meaning of True Friendship (♥️). Then shows her sunsets and also comes at her window during Night and seeks her out to spend time with her near the lake on Pier.
𝙽𝙾𝚆 𝙻𝙴𝙼𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙺 𝙰𝙱𝙾𝚄𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈✌️
• Starting from the start ...At first I kinda felt like the story is sort of rushing...I was like "Am I not able to catch up or something?" I was that way almost till the end..Maybe it's just me idk.
For eg- I still couldn't understand why Sterling suddenly started singing "Body like a Backroad" to Ally in the cafeteria JUST the NEXT DAY after he had saved her from ending herself. Not that I minded but....It was so out of blue 🔵👄🔵
• There were also some times when I found the Characters s-t-o-p-i-d.
For eg- There was this scene where Sterling told Miles (𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑦'𝑠 𝑒𝑥) IN FRONT OF Ally "Do u want her to know?" And that made Miles shut up. Ally obviously curious asked "What?!" And Sterling just went like "Nothing"
➖👄➖....
BRUH WHAT?! Like...Why did u say it in the first place IN FRONT OF her if u didn't what her to know?!
Then when Ally asked he just went line "Blah blah Trust me. Blah blah nothing for u to worry about Princess"...I swear If it were me.. I would have gone crazy on him cause I don't like secrets left unsaid 🌝🔥
• Third Thingy is that...some places this book was way too Sweet for me. I both loved it♥️ and also sometimes thought it was too chessy for me...Does that make sense?👁️👄👁️💧
"𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗲. 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗵, 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲; 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝘄"
Soo Yep! That's it. I gave 3 stars cause well..I give 4-5 stars to those books which I might re-read in future...I most probably won't for this book so.... Anyways it was a Noice book😙👌. Has a Sweet happy ending with Ally's life changing and her relation with her Mom improving with the help of Sterling and her Friends who help her become a New her and At the End... She's Thankful that she stayed ♥️💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2018
***5 ‘Sticky Notes’ Stars***
I almost passed Saving Me up...almost.
I read the description (The original, the new one is a much better representation of the story) and waffled. I admit it. I didn’t know if I wanted to put myself in that kind of emotional head space because it would be a conscious and deliberate choice to do so and trust in the author, not because of triggers or having a hard limit on the topic, but one never knows how something will affect them at any moment in time. But as soon as the waffling started (I’m a Libra, we waffle often) it ended and I gave myself a mental slap (or two) and remembered how much I adored Maybe Never and went for it and from the opening chapter I was hooked! It brought out all the feels and had me wishing that there were more words to read because I didn’t want to say goodbye.
I adored Ally, she frustrated the hell out of me at times, but when she did I had to remind myself that not only is she a teenager, but one that has had her world turned upside down in more ways than one. But I enjoyed watching her figure things out, whether it was on her own or with a little help from those around her (both those who were good and not so good for her) and how she not only became stronger but happier as the book progressed.
When it comes to romance reviews I have a set way I do them, but for Saving Me I’m changing it up a bit because you, as the reader, need to go into it blind, or at least as blind as possible, so I’m keeping it as vague and simple as possible. The romance was sweet and very honest when it comes to teenagers and how they view love and sex. Do we get full blown details? No, but things are talked about. As for the very eclectic cast of characters that Ally has relationships with, some I absolutely adored and others I wanted to gut with a spoon, but they gave depth to the world and made it feel real and regardless of which side of the coin they fell on for me I can honestly say I wouldn’t mind finding out more about all of them.
I have to say that Saving Me is truly an excellent read, and one I am very happy I didn’t pass up (and won’t pass up another book by this author in the future) Ms. Allen approached and handled the topic of depression and teen suicide with respect, honesty and compassion. And while the teenagers that populate this story do very teenage things that may frustrate and irritate, the author balances it out with showing that they are capable of stepping over the line into the adulting realm when looking at situations in a making a more mature decision. I really can’t say enough good things about this book and highly recommend it to everyone.
~ Copy provided via Enticing Journey & voluntarily reviewed ~
January 26, 2018
Received from Author
I'm having really good reading year, every book I've read so far is better than the previous. Saving Me might just be my favourite contemporary book ever, definitely top 5. :)
Ally is living perfect life, on the outside. She is star of track team, one of the most popular girls in school with a lot of friends.
Reality is far from perfect. She lives in very controlling household. Everything is picked for her, her clothes, friends, training schedule, food she may or may not eat and training schedule. Down to every little aspect of her life. She has no say in anything. that kind of life could bring anyone to its knees. After she hurts her leg and can't run anymore, she decides to end it all.
There are people that come in you life and the right moment. And Sterling is one of those people for Ally. He helps her see, that life is worth living. Little by little she heals. She makes new friends, finds love and most importantly, she finds herself. With every problem facing her, she becomes stronger and life becomes worth living.
Saving me is not light romance, is the story that shakes you, touch your every emotion, the story that brakes your hearth and still makes you feel hopeful in the end.
It's very relatable and ... real. There are some very hard issues addressed, like suicide, racism, homophobia, teenage pregnancy, in a way that is very realistic, but still hopeful in a way.
And the writing is so beautiful.One of those books that everyone should red.
Highly recommend it!
I'm having really good reading year, every book I've read so far is better than the previous. Saving Me might just be my favourite contemporary book ever, definitely top 5. :)
Ally is living perfect life, on the outside. She is star of track team, one of the most popular girls in school with a lot of friends.
Reality is far from perfect. She lives in very controlling household. Everything is picked for her, her clothes, friends, training schedule, food she may or may not eat and training schedule. Down to every little aspect of her life. She has no say in anything. that kind of life could bring anyone to its knees. After she hurts her leg and can't run anymore, she decides to end it all.
There are people that come in you life and the right moment. And Sterling is one of those people for Ally. He helps her see, that life is worth living. Little by little she heals. She makes new friends, finds love and most importantly, she finds herself. With every problem facing her, she becomes stronger and life becomes worth living.
Saving me is not light romance, is the story that shakes you, touch your every emotion, the story that brakes your hearth and still makes you feel hopeful in the end.
It's very relatable and ... real. There are some very hard issues addressed, like suicide, racism, homophobia, teenage pregnancy, in a way that is very realistic, but still hopeful in a way.
And the writing is so beautiful.One of those books that everyone should red.
Highly recommend it!
February 21, 2018
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Saving Me was an emotional and great 5 star read.
You get pulled in right from the beginning when Ally is getting ready to make a drastic and life changing move. Luckily someone shows up and makes the decision for her, which will send her life in a totally different direction. It's the boy (Sterling) who she has seen around that has captured her attention and stirs something inside of her.
Wounds to the soul didn’t just bleed, they ate at your very being. They fed on everything good, everything right until you were hollow.
Ally is like any teenager, she’s dealing with a lot of emotions and to top it off a boyfriend who is cheating on her and a father who is so controlling that he even controls what she eats.
Ally decides to make some changes that help her feel like she has a load lifted off her shoulders. And she also starts to get to know a whole new group of friends including Sterling.
Will these new friends help Ally find what she is looking for?
All I can say is this was a great read with a lot of different emotions. I really loved Sterling, he was super sweet and was great for Ally. The secondary characters added a great element to the story. And this also took me back to my high school years and just how catty girls could be. This is my first read from Sadie Allen and I loved it and look forward to reading more from her. If your looking for a great YA this is the one for you.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
Saving Me was an emotional and great 5 star read.
You get pulled in right from the beginning when Ally is getting ready to make a drastic and life changing move. Luckily someone shows up and makes the decision for her, which will send her life in a totally different direction. It's the boy (Sterling) who she has seen around that has captured her attention and stirs something inside of her.
Wounds to the soul didn’t just bleed, they ate at your very being. They fed on everything good, everything right until you were hollow.
Ally is like any teenager, she’s dealing with a lot of emotions and to top it off a boyfriend who is cheating on her and a father who is so controlling that he even controls what she eats.
Ally decides to make some changes that help her feel like she has a load lifted off her shoulders. And she also starts to get to know a whole new group of friends including Sterling.
Will these new friends help Ally find what she is looking for?
All I can say is this was a great read with a lot of different emotions. I really loved Sterling, he was super sweet and was great for Ally. The secondary characters added a great element to the story. And this also took me back to my high school years and just how catty girls could be. This is my first read from Sadie Allen and I loved it and look forward to reading more from her. If your looking for a great YA this is the one for you.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
February 17, 2018
"Sunsets over the lake. 1 reason to stay"
Ally Everly is just looking for a way out, a way out of her unhappiness and everything that brings her down. Just when she thinks she's found the solution fate intervenes, but can the change really make a difference? Or is it too late to make a play for true happiness? Saving Me is a beautifully written novel about perseverance, finding your own voice and learning to love life and yourself. It's a must read! This is my first Sadie Allen book and I am so impressed, I look forward to her next book. I was fortunate enough to win an arc copy of this book, although I was not asked to do a review.
Ally Everly is just looking for a way out, a way out of her unhappiness and everything that brings her down. Just when she thinks she's found the solution fate intervenes, but can the change really make a difference? Or is it too late to make a play for true happiness? Saving Me is a beautifully written novel about perseverance, finding your own voice and learning to love life and yourself. It's a must read! This is my first Sadie Allen book and I am so impressed, I look forward to her next book. I was fortunate enough to win an arc copy of this book, although I was not asked to do a review.
February 12, 2018
Saving Me is a great read. It's a beautiful written story. I was hooked from beginning to end. Ally is great character. Ally felt like a true and real character. Looking from the outside Ally looks like she is put together and she has it all but Ally really is struggling. When she has hit bottom, Sterling shows up at the right time. Sterling is a great guy. He just what Ally need in her life. This one is a bit of an emotional read and it touches on a couple of tough topics. I really loved this. The epilogue was great too but I so would have read more of Ally and Sterling.
March 12, 2018
Saving Me by Sadie Allen is a unique YA novel.
This story is centered around Ally, who is a depressed/suicidal hurdling high school student who gets severely injured in a race. Her boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend for three years, and a boy with a lip ring has a crush on her. There is endless drama on every page that makes me believe this book is the teenage version of a soap opera.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, because I think it's an intriguing story but I think there was just to much going on. I couldn't figure out what the real plot of the story was. Was it for Ally to not kill herself? Was it to showcase the craziness that can be high school? There was so much high school drama that seemed so wildly unrealistic that I wasn't sure how I felt when I finally read the last page of the book.
I did enjoy that the book moved fast and had constant action/drama. That kept me interested and I didn't want to put the book down. I also enjoyed some of the sugary sweet romance that goes down.
The things I didn't enjoy just hit to close to home for me - an (almost?) abusive parent, and some of the stupid decisions Ally made (but let's be honest, everyone made stupid mistakes in high school). I also think this book was closer to an R rating than intended. It seemed like the book was aimed at a YA audience but contained some purely adult themes. And my final part was...Sterling. He felt to perfect, despite having flaws. It was kind of the hero complex that made me question him, does Ally really need a boy to save her? That's just my own thoughts though.
Was it uplifting? In my opinion, I have no idea. It was definitely a coming of age story set in modern times. It included social media and texting as a big portion of this story. One major part of this book was how Sadie described Ally's feelings, and I think many can relate to her dark descriptions. Everyone feels lost and alone at times, so that hits a home run.
Overall, this book is well written but I'm not sure where I stand on it. I think it's fantastic and I liked it, but I'm stuck on the fence of whether this was a YA or adult novel. It honestly could swing either way.
Great novel! Three out of five stars!
I received a copy of this book from Sadie Allen in exchange for an honest review.
This story is centered around Ally, who is a depressed/suicidal hurdling high school student who gets severely injured in a race. Her boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend for three years, and a boy with a lip ring has a crush on her. There is endless drama on every page that makes me believe this book is the teenage version of a soap opera.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, because I think it's an intriguing story but I think there was just to much going on. I couldn't figure out what the real plot of the story was. Was it for Ally to not kill herself? Was it to showcase the craziness that can be high school? There was so much high school drama that seemed so wildly unrealistic that I wasn't sure how I felt when I finally read the last page of the book.
I did enjoy that the book moved fast and had constant action/drama. That kept me interested and I didn't want to put the book down. I also enjoyed some of the sugary sweet romance that goes down.
The things I didn't enjoy just hit to close to home for me - an (almost?) abusive parent, and some of the stupid decisions Ally made (but let's be honest, everyone made stupid mistakes in high school). I also think this book was closer to an R rating than intended. It seemed like the book was aimed at a YA audience but contained some purely adult themes. And my final part was...Sterling. He felt to perfect, despite having flaws. It was kind of the hero complex that made me question him, does Ally really need a boy to save her? That's just my own thoughts though.
Was it uplifting? In my opinion, I have no idea. It was definitely a coming of age story set in modern times. It included social media and texting as a big portion of this story. One major part of this book was how Sadie described Ally's feelings, and I think many can relate to her dark descriptions. Everyone feels lost and alone at times, so that hits a home run.
Overall, this book is well written but I'm not sure where I stand on it. I think it's fantastic and I liked it, but I'm stuck on the fence of whether this was a YA or adult novel. It honestly could swing either way.
Great novel! Three out of five stars!
I received a copy of this book from Sadie Allen in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2018
*
Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot
*
It has taken me several days after finishing this story to sit down and write my review because this story has a personal meaning to me. Growing up I witnessed my sister struggling with her depression and sometimes it's difficult to read something dealing with that subject. However, I must say that this is such an important topic that needs to be brought to light.
Saving Me is a story with that emotional punch in the gut feeling that will leave readers in a trance. My heart ached for Ally and I just wanted to reach through my kindle and give her a big hug. It is said that there are certain people in our lives that can change their whole world and for Ally it was Sterling and her brand-new group of friends. Her life drastically changed one fateful day and suddenly she was living for herself and nobody else.
This story was beautiful written with a lot of heart and soul. This was my very first Sadie Allen read, but it will certainly NOT be my last! The author did an incredible job with this story and you could see how much work she put in to give readers a real experience. Depression and suicide is a hard subject, but she took a chance and shared with her readers an extraordinary story!
It has taken me several days after finishing this story to sit down and write my review because this story has a personal meaning to me. Growing up I witnessed my sister struggling with her depression and sometimes it's difficult to read something dealing with that subject. However, I must say that this is such an important topic that needs to be brought to light.
Saving Me is a story with that emotional punch in the gut feeling that will leave readers in a trance. My heart ached for Ally and I just wanted to reach through my kindle and give her a big hug. It is said that there are certain people in our lives that can change their whole world and for Ally it was Sterling and her brand-new group of friends. Her life drastically changed one fateful day and suddenly she was living for herself and nobody else.
This story was beautiful written with a lot of heart and soul. This was my very first Sadie Allen read, but it will certainly NOT be my last! The author did an incredible job with this story and you could see how much work she put in to give readers a real experience. Depression and suicide is a hard subject, but she took a chance and shared with her readers an extraordinary story!
Currently reading
February 22, 2018NOW AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE!
Get yours today!!
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2EQCcuT
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2CxKX7Y
iTunes: https://apple.co/2Hx9qhh
February 22, 2018
The cast of characters in this book was amazing. So much depth in so little pages. All characters were dynamic, and some comparisons were made between different cliques that I liked to see, showing that mean people were in all walks of life, just as good people were. At one point, Ally, the female protagonist, calls attention to this and shames someone on their biased opinion. It was one of the best, most profound moments in this book.
The book starts with Ally about to do something really horrible. Her dad was such a jerk. OMG, I did not like that man at all. If that was my dad, I would have throat punched him. Her mom didn’t help, didn’t really seem to see a problem with Ally’s dad’s behavior told her. However, her mom started to kick some major butt as the book progressed. I liked her mom a lot!
Anyway, something, or I should say someone, happens to make Ally stop. That someone was amazing. So down to earth, so in tuned with who they are. Sterling, that someone, gave Ally reasons to live, and I loved how inventive Allen was with this! So sweet, cute, and funny.
Ally goes through a transformation throughout this book. It gets pretty weepy in some areas, but oh so funny in others. Mixed in with that is a whole lotta drama, from teenage sex to mean girl snark. This book has a lot of everything a teenage girl goes through.
What I like most is that, though Ally was popular and beautiful, her inner self was just as beautiful. She wasn’t petty, she didn’t bring people down to build herself up, and when she said something, it was important, wise beyond her years. Saying that, I know people are going to say, “If she was so wise, why would she try to kill herself?” Well, how others treat you can break you down. The old sticks and stones saying is BS. Words hurt as much as actions, and Ally had both of those beaten into her, among other issues.
A dramatic and uplifting read, I know Saving Me is going to stay with me for a while.
The book starts with Ally about to do something really horrible. Her dad was such a jerk. OMG, I did not like that man at all. If that was my dad, I would have throat punched him. Her mom didn’t help, didn’t really seem to see a problem with Ally’s dad’s behavior told her. However, her mom started to kick some major butt as the book progressed. I liked her mom a lot!
Anyway, something, or I should say someone, happens to make Ally stop. That someone was amazing. So down to earth, so in tuned with who they are. Sterling, that someone, gave Ally reasons to live, and I loved how inventive Allen was with this! So sweet, cute, and funny.
Ally goes through a transformation throughout this book. It gets pretty weepy in some areas, but oh so funny in others. Mixed in with that is a whole lotta drama, from teenage sex to mean girl snark. This book has a lot of everything a teenage girl goes through.
What I like most is that, though Ally was popular and beautiful, her inner self was just as beautiful. She wasn’t petty, she didn’t bring people down to build herself up, and when she said something, it was important, wise beyond her years. Saying that, I know people are going to say, “If she was so wise, why would she try to kill herself?” Well, how others treat you can break you down. The old sticks and stones saying is BS. Words hurt as much as actions, and Ally had both of those beaten into her, among other issues.
A dramatic and uplifting read, I know Saving Me is going to stay with me for a while.
February 21, 2018
5 Stars!
“It’s all part of my plan.”
“Plan for what?”
“My plan for saving you.”
Just reading that quote hurts my heart. I love that Sadie Allen can take something so tragic and turn it into a beautifully written story. This is the first book I’ve read of hers and it completely blew my mind. I know for a fact I can’t give Saving Me anything less than 5 Stars! I loved the main characters. Blake and Elodie brought so much to the story, and I will be having a high school crush on Sterling for awhile. He was perfect; with the most genuine heart and the most uplifting words.
“Your beauty isn’t just on the outside; you have this light inside you that you don’t even realize you have. You’re beautiful on the inside. I don’t know how it all got twisted inside your head, but you are. Your beauty shines so bright that you practically glow.”
As for Ally, I’m sure there are many girls out there that can relate to her story. After hitting rock bottom, I’m sure it’s hard to move on. I’m so happy Ally had Sterling to show her the beauty in life. I hope that any girls that are going through what Ally did, find their Sterling. Everyone can use someone like him. He truly saved her; in more ways than one. I don’t think there’s anything better than that.
“His love was my anchor. My lifeline. He didn’t realize this, but after that day, Sterling just kept on saving me … and I hoped he never stopped.”
-Juls
February 21, 2018
5 Stars!
“It’s all part of my plan.”
“Plan for what?”
“My plan for saving you.”
Just reading that quote hurts my heart. I love that Sadie Allen can take something so tragic and turn it into a beautifully written story. This is the first book I’ve read of hers and it completely blew my mind. I know for a fact I can’t give Saving Me anything less than 5 Stars! I loved the main characters. Blake and Elodie brought so much to the story, and I will be having a high school crush on Sterling for awhile. He was perfect; with the most genuine heart and the most uplifting words.
“Your beauty isn’t just on the outside; you have this light inside you that you don’t even realize you have. You’re beautiful on the inside. I don’t know how it all got twisted inside your head, but you are. Your beauty shines so bright that you practically glow.”
As for Ally, I’m sure there are many girls out there that can relate to her story. After hitting rock bottom, I’m sure it’s hard to move on. I’m so happy Ally had Sterling to show her the beauty in life. I hope that any girls that are going through what Ally did, find their Sterling. Everyone can use someone like him. He truly saved her; in more ways than one. I don’t think there’s anything better than that.
“His love was my anchor. My lifeline. He didn’t realize this, but after that day, Sterling just kept on saving me … and I hoped he never stopped.”
-Juls
February 22, 2018
Original review: A Novel Glimpse
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Ally has always been the best. She’s popular. She’s the best hurdler on the track team. She has the the boyfriend every girl desires. Life should be easy, but it’s not. Her life is driven by the pressure of her peers and parents — until an injury sidelines her from the track team. The carefully crafted life she was living falls apart in one big swoop. Tired of living a life she doesn’t want, Ally makes some desperate decisions.
I was impressed when I read Sadie Allen’s début novel. I am even more impressed by her second novel, Saving Me. It was beautifully written and packed with emotion. Being a teenager is hard. Sadie Allen showed just how hard it can be. She also showed how the kindness of others can change the course of a life, and how important having supportive friends (and family) is.
The only thing I would have liked to have seen in Saving Me was a greater focus on the feelings Ally felt at the beginning of the book. She was being so drastic, but those feelings seemed to greatly lessen so quickly.
Overall, Saving Me was a great YA novel. It was so much more than just another contemporary romance. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy books by Tijan, Ginger Scott or other authors who tackle deep issues.
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Ally has always been the best. She’s popular. She’s the best hurdler on the track team. She has the the boyfriend every girl desires. Life should be easy, but it’s not. Her life is driven by the pressure of her peers and parents — until an injury sidelines her from the track team. The carefully crafted life she was living falls apart in one big swoop. Tired of living a life she doesn’t want, Ally makes some desperate decisions.
I was impressed when I read Sadie Allen’s début novel. I am even more impressed by her second novel, Saving Me. It was beautifully written and packed with emotion. Being a teenager is hard. Sadie Allen showed just how hard it can be. She also showed how the kindness of others can change the course of a life, and how important having supportive friends (and family) is.
The only thing I would have liked to have seen in Saving Me was a greater focus on the feelings Ally felt at the beginning of the book. She was being so drastic, but those feelings seemed to greatly lessen so quickly.
Overall, Saving Me was a great YA novel. It was so much more than just another contemporary romance. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy books by Tijan, Ginger Scott or other authors who tackle deep issues.
February 22, 2018
What a great story! This is the story of Ally who seems like she has the perfect life. But in reality she hates her life and is so lonely. The book starts out with her attempting to end her life and a stranger by the name of Sterling stops her. He saves her from herself. Sterling and Ally are opposites in school. She is the popular athlete. He is the misunderstood theater bad boy. But he was there for Ally when no one else was. And a relationship blossoms from new friendship to more. He shows her what it's like to be truly cared about.
I loved every moment of this story. It is an emotional read. But it will also make the reader smile. I felt myself totally invested in Ally's life like I knew her personally. I hated the people in her life: cheating boyfriend, fake friends, selfish parents... Then Sterling enters and I fell head over heels for him. He is the opposite of what Ally should love. But he is what she needs. A great lesson that in life we need to focus on those that truly care about us. And also that not everyone is as they look. The people that look like they have it all may not and those that look like they have nothing to offer have more than anyone thinks.
I highly recommend this story. It's a great read for anyone. But it does deal with the subject of depression and suicide as a warning for readers. But I promise this is a happy story. Even an inspirational story.
I loved every moment of this story. It is an emotional read. But it will also make the reader smile. I felt myself totally invested in Ally's life like I knew her personally. I hated the people in her life: cheating boyfriend, fake friends, selfish parents... Then Sterling enters and I fell head over heels for him. He is the opposite of what Ally should love. But he is what she needs. A great lesson that in life we need to focus on those that truly care about us. And also that not everyone is as they look. The people that look like they have it all may not and those that look like they have nothing to offer have more than anyone thinks.
I highly recommend this story. It's a great read for anyone. But it does deal with the subject of depression and suicide as a warning for readers. But I promise this is a happy story. Even an inspirational story.
February 25, 2018
Saving Me takes you back to high school and how difficult it is to deal with all the issues that we, as adults, forget. The pressure from parents, peers, and teachers. The inner struggles of coming of age and insecurity. The negative and positive effects our families have.
Ally had just reached the edge of the burden she felt she could carry. Pressures of her dad, grades, track and dating the right boy. Dressing a certain way, acting appropriately. She never got to be herself or even discover who she was until her ill fated decision that changed everything.
Sterling was her saving grace. Just a boy that was at the right place at the right time and saved her from herself. He slowly showed her how to find herself. A boy with wisdom beyond his young years.
There are numerous heavy issues in this book and adult situations. I would suggest it for a mature young adult or any adult romance reader.
Sadie digs deep with this story and it’s eye opening and brings back all the hardships of growing up. If you didn’t struggle with at least one of the issues then you were a truly blessed teen.
Well written moving story.
I was gifted and arc in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Becky for JoandIsaLoveBooks
Ally had just reached the edge of the burden she felt she could carry. Pressures of her dad, grades, track and dating the right boy. Dressing a certain way, acting appropriately. She never got to be herself or even discover who she was until her ill fated decision that changed everything.
Sterling was her saving grace. Just a boy that was at the right place at the right time and saved her from herself. He slowly showed her how to find herself. A boy with wisdom beyond his young years.
There are numerous heavy issues in this book and adult situations. I would suggest it for a mature young adult or any adult romance reader.
Sadie digs deep with this story and it’s eye opening and brings back all the hardships of growing up. If you didn’t struggle with at least one of the issues then you were a truly blessed teen.
Well written moving story.
I was gifted and arc in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Becky for JoandIsaLoveBooks
June 4, 2018
"Most of us are imprisoned by something. We’re living in darkness until something flips on the switch." -Wynonna Judd
SYNOPSIS
On the outside, I look like the All-American teenage dream. I’m pretty, popular, and athletic. I have the right family, the right boyfriend, the right kind of friends. If you only knew…
Every day I die a little on the inside. I’m drowning in everyone’s expectations and opinions. I can never be myself. I’m never free. I feel the weight of it all pulling me under.
If I can’t find freedom in life…
I guess I’ll find it in death.
MY REVIEW
Ally is tired. “Tired of life. Tired of being used and abused”. When she thought she had the solution, Sterling saved her. Her life starts turning around. Her controlling, narcissistic father is gone, she breaks up with her “douchebag” boyfriend, her so-called girlfriends are gone, she no longer has to watch her weight and live and breath track anymore, and who knew she would love theatre and become the lead in the school musical. But most of all, she has a purpose in her life, she is loved, she matters, and “she is reason enough to stay”.
I love a lot of things about this book. The characters are well-developed and the subject matter is real. Allen brings the teenage years to life with serious teen situations such as depression, love and self-preservation. As one who was in theatre in high school, I love the references to music and movies as well as the musical Grease which was a big part of my life as a teen. I also enjoyed the strong supporting roles of Blake and Elodie.
In addition, Allen lists contacts for organizations if you know someone who is struggling with depression. Her message rings true, “We don’t know what battle someone is fighting today, so be kind. Always be kind.”
Thank you to Ms. Allen for giving me an opportunity to voluntarily review her book provided to me for free.
See more eclectic reviews on my blog at https://eclecticreview.wordpress.com/.
SYNOPSIS
On the outside, I look like the All-American teenage dream. I’m pretty, popular, and athletic. I have the right family, the right boyfriend, the right kind of friends. If you only knew…
Every day I die a little on the inside. I’m drowning in everyone’s expectations and opinions. I can never be myself. I’m never free. I feel the weight of it all pulling me under.
If I can’t find freedom in life…
I guess I’ll find it in death.
MY REVIEW
Ally is tired. “Tired of life. Tired of being used and abused”. When she thought she had the solution, Sterling saved her. Her life starts turning around. Her controlling, narcissistic father is gone, she breaks up with her “douchebag” boyfriend, her so-called girlfriends are gone, she no longer has to watch her weight and live and breath track anymore, and who knew she would love theatre and become the lead in the school musical. But most of all, she has a purpose in her life, she is loved, she matters, and “she is reason enough to stay”.
I love a lot of things about this book. The characters are well-developed and the subject matter is real. Allen brings the teenage years to life with serious teen situations such as depression, love and self-preservation. As one who was in theatre in high school, I love the references to music and movies as well as the musical Grease which was a big part of my life as a teen. I also enjoyed the strong supporting roles of Blake and Elodie.
In addition, Allen lists contacts for organizations if you know someone who is struggling with depression. Her message rings true, “We don’t know what battle someone is fighting today, so be kind. Always be kind.”
Thank you to Ms. Allen for giving me an opportunity to voluntarily review her book provided to me for free.
See more eclectic reviews on my blog at https://eclecticreview.wordpress.com/.
February 12, 2018
I did enjoy this well written YA story with a subject matter that is very current. I think this book dealt with the subject matter very well and the characters are well written and connected extremely well.
A girl whose life is falling apart and she doesn't know how to pick up the pieces. A boy who may just turn out to be her saviour in the midst of her despair.
I loved all the characters in this book, even the ones I shouldn't. Sterling, in particular, was a favourite of mine, he was so loyal and passionate about in his quest to help Allison. They all had a purpose which highlighted the problems these teenagers were experiencing in their lives and the effects it had on them. It certainly made me stop and think.
This is an enjoyable story that flowed well but for me was just a little too mild, in my opinion, a little more passion and angst would have gone a long way to making this story more invigorating. I felt the subject that this book revolves around could have been delved into deeper, it was brushed over slightly when it should have come to the forefront and looked into more. Apart from that, it is a really good read.
A girl whose life is falling apart and she doesn't know how to pick up the pieces. A boy who may just turn out to be her saviour in the midst of her despair.
I loved all the characters in this book, even the ones I shouldn't. Sterling, in particular, was a favourite of mine, he was so loyal and passionate about in his quest to help Allison. They all had a purpose which highlighted the problems these teenagers were experiencing in their lives and the effects it had on them. It certainly made me stop and think.
This is an enjoyable story that flowed well but for me was just a little too mild, in my opinion, a little more passion and angst would have gone a long way to making this story more invigorating. I felt the subject that this book revolves around could have been delved into deeper, it was brushed over slightly when it should have come to the forefront and looked into more. Apart from that, it is a really good read.
February 22, 2018
I did enjoy this well written YA story with a subject matter that is very current. I think this book dealt with the subject matter very well and the characters are well written and connected extremely well.
A girl whose life is falling apart and she doesn't know how to pick up the pieces. A boy who may just turn out to be her saviour in the midst of her despair.
I loved all the characters in this book, even the ones I shouldn't. Sterling, in particular, was a favourite of mine, he was so loyal and passionate about in his quest to help Allison. They all had a purpose which highlighted the problems these teenagers were experiencing in their lives and the effects it had on them. It certainly made me stop and think.
This is an enjoyable story that flowed well but for me was just a little too mild, in my opinion, a little more passion and angst would have gone a long way to making this story more invigorating. I felt the subject that this book revolves around could have been delved into deeper, it was brushed over slightly when it should have come to the forefront and looked into more. Apart from that, it is a really good read.
A girl whose life is falling apart and she doesn't know how to pick up the pieces. A boy who may just turn out to be her saviour in the midst of her despair.
I loved all the characters in this book, even the ones I shouldn't. Sterling, in particular, was a favourite of mine, he was so loyal and passionate about in his quest to help Allison. They all had a purpose which highlighted the problems these teenagers were experiencing in their lives and the effects it had on them. It certainly made me stop and think.
This is an enjoyable story that flowed well but for me was just a little too mild, in my opinion, a little more passion and angst would have gone a long way to making this story more invigorating. I felt the subject that this book revolves around could have been delved into deeper, it was brushed over slightly when it should have come to the forefront and looked into more. Apart from that, it is a really good read.
February 22, 2018
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction Book Blogs
I really enjoyed this book but it was an emotional rollercoaster!
Alley is living an almost perfect life to everyone around her it seems as she’s on the track team and is really popular in school with lots of friends. But behind closed doors her life is different as she lives in a controlling household. Everything is choosen for her right down to the food she can eat and this is getting her depressed and you could really feel her pain and despair.
Sterling meets Ally just at the right time and is such a sweet and thoughtful guy and so patient with Ally and helps her slowly heal and find herself.
Saving me though is not a romance that’s an easy read the story leaves you feeling every emotion possible and breaks your heart and rebuilds it slowly throughout the book.
The author has added some things that are relatable to young adults and some of these are hard issues such as suicide, homophobia and teenage pregnancy but is done in a way that is realistic.
I really enjoyed this book but it was an emotional rollercoaster!
Alley is living an almost perfect life to everyone around her it seems as she’s on the track team and is really popular in school with lots of friends. But behind closed doors her life is different as she lives in a controlling household. Everything is choosen for her right down to the food she can eat and this is getting her depressed and you could really feel her pain and despair.
Sterling meets Ally just at the right time and is such a sweet and thoughtful guy and so patient with Ally and helps her slowly heal and find herself.
Saving me though is not a romance that’s an easy read the story leaves you feeling every emotion possible and breaks your heart and rebuilds it slowly throughout the book.
The author has added some things that are relatable to young adults and some of these are hard issues such as suicide, homophobia and teenage pregnancy but is done in a way that is realistic.
February 18, 2018
I have read a few books by this author and absolutely loved them so I had high expectations going into this book, it really doesn’t disappoint! I really was drawn in from the first page and spat out at the end, I read this in one sitting and was left with a huge book hangover. This book was full of twists and turns, some I really didn’t see coming! I laughed, cried, swooned and shouted at my kindle while reading this, I really was taken on an emotional roller coaster, which I have come to expect from this author. The story flows beautifully, it isn’t rushed, the reader is taken on a sweet, yet sad, journey that by the end of the book leaves you feeling uplifted and with a smile on your face. This book stayed with me long after I finished it, another amazing read from this fabulous author.
*** reviewed for sweet & spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review ***
*** reviewed for sweet & spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review ***
February 21, 2018
4.5 stars
Read and reviewed for 3 Degrees of Fiction.
My mind is still a bit of a mess after reading Saving Me.
The content was painfully accurate and beautifully so.
I really connected with Ally. I understand her stress. So many people underestimate the inner workings of the youth. She had grown so much through this story.
Her mom also turned out to be awesome! I loved her transformation.
Sterlin was just every girls dream. He was perfect. I enjoyed his efforts in helping Ally save her self.
All of the characters were well written and you could fully grasp their personalities.
My only issue is 1 tiny miss of an inconsistency. Its my hold out for the .5 of a star. In the beginning of the book Ally's dad say they have an appointment the next day...it doesn't happen for more like 2 days.
Minor detail I know but it stuck with me.
Read and reviewed for 3 Degrees of Fiction.
My mind is still a bit of a mess after reading Saving Me.
The content was painfully accurate and beautifully so.
I really connected with Ally. I understand her stress. So many people underestimate the inner workings of the youth. She had grown so much through this story.
Her mom also turned out to be awesome! I loved her transformation.
Sterlin was just every girls dream. He was perfect. I enjoyed his efforts in helping Ally save her self.
All of the characters were well written and you could fully grasp their personalities.
My only issue is 1 tiny miss of an inconsistency. Its my hold out for the .5 of a star. In the beginning of the book Ally's dad say they have an appointment the next day...it doesn't happen for more like 2 days.
Minor detail I know but it stuck with me.
February 21, 2018
Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster ride this story is! This is a new author to me, but I am so pleased to have the chance of reading this novel. Ally appears to have the perfect life on the outside anyway, but internally, things could not get any worse, and at the lowest point in her life, the options are limited for her. School bad boy Sterling, comes to her rescue, and with his huge heart, is just what Ally needed. No spoilers; this is a definite must read, you will not be disappointed! I am in awe of this authors’ amazing talent, and the way in which she wrote about an extremely sensitive topic, and in turn developing this into a sweet, raw, gritty, and powerful storyline, which had me totally captivated throughout. I look forward to reading more of this authors’ work, and she has certainly earned her place in my favourites and 1-click lists!
March 10, 2018
So sweet and Inspiring
Overcoming obstacles in life is a learned experience. Some of us do it with flying colors acing the test as we go, others of us stumble their way through the storms tripping over every rock before finally looking down to see the path. Reading Ally’s story was very inspiring because she persevered through the darkness and came out on the other side. She had stumbled for so long but was given a second chance to see a life worth living. Sterling was every girls fantasy; the loving, caring, doting boyfriend so many of us wanted in high school who could save us from ourselves. He and Ally were souls united, and I would love to see more of their story. I don’t feel like they are finished yet.
Overcoming obstacles in life is a learned experience. Some of us do it with flying colors acing the test as we go, others of us stumble their way through the storms tripping over every rock before finally looking down to see the path. Reading Ally’s story was very inspiring because she persevered through the darkness and came out on the other side. She had stumbled for so long but was given a second chance to see a life worth living. Sterling was every girls fantasy; the loving, caring, doting boyfriend so many of us wanted in high school who could save us from ourselves. He and Ally were souls united, and I would love to see more of their story. I don’t feel like they are finished yet.
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