Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133826-say-you-ll-remember-me 

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Katie McGarry has a talent when writing young adult novels. She knows how to push the limits (yes that was a pun seeing as she has a series called that and if you haven't read that series or the Thunder Road series you are seriously missing out!!) and break the barriers of hard to talk about subjects. She writes about real issues teens face. She writes about real issues in the world. And she turns it into a beautiful story that is raw and real and powerful and that makes you think. That inspires you to change something in your life or get involved with things you never really thought about before. She doesn't do fluff stories. They are emotional and real and though the journey is tough she gives you hope for a happily ever after that is quite possible no matter the issues. And hope is better than nothing and is absolutely everything. 

Her main characters Drix and Elle are some of my favorite that she has written. Drix has returned from the Second Chance Program that was created by Elle's dad for teens who had been in trouble with the law, rehabilitated, and sent back into the society for a chance to get to their life back on track. Drix is innocent of the crime he committed but circumstances of the legal system not able to handle his case and fear that the person who really did the crime was someone he loved, he takes the blame. However, though he was innocent of this crime, his life was anything but innocent. Drix recognizes that his life was spiraling out of control and though he was pushed into spending almost a year of it in juvie, he is grateful for the program because believe it or not, it worked. He comes out a different person and it is someone he wants to remain as and not go back to his old life. However, he also knows that he still needs to figure out who he is. He came out a better person but the road to keeping the change and finding the balance of who he is, is something to continue to work on. 

While Drix is on the road to find himself once more, Elle is losing herself bit by bit every day. Her goal to be perfect at every moment for her parents is slowly killing her. Every disappointing thing she does in her parents' eyes, is a slash to her mind and self-esteem. She knows they love her and that everything they do is to better her future, but in reality it's a way of controlling her and it takes her a bit to realize that. When she meets Drix, she realizes that she gets to be herself around him. She never has to put on the mask her parents forced her to make. It takes a while for Elle to break from the chains that her parents have placed on her, but the explosion is one that has you cheering for her. She is a strong character that in the end will always follow her heart no matter the consequences, because she knows what is right. 

A relationship between them is impossible thanks to society and politics but the connection between them is real and raw and emotional. They make one another better and they show each other that they can be who they are without the masks. Their story isn't just about them falling in love, it's about how important it is to be who you are and fight for what you want. The story shows that society can be corrupt and that the pressures of teens is real. 

Action and plot twists. Love and heartbreak. This story has your emotions going up and down, relating to so many different characters that are introduced. I absolutely loved reading it and was hooked. Katie McGarry doesn't shy away from the real issues and the stories she tells are important. I've never been disappointed in a story written by her before and after this one it is I'm still not. If you loved her Pushing the Limits series and Thunder Road series, then you will love Say You'll Remember Me. And crossing my fingers that there will be more stories to follow! We are introduced to such a cast of characters that I strongly believe they all need to have their stories told.