Once again Ally Carter SLAYED

3.5

This is such a high stakes read that is perfect for this time of year! It’s also set in Alaska, and lately I’ve been loving the Alaskan setting! It’s a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that’s super quick and easy to read! I definitely recommend!

Probably more of a 3.5 than a straight 3. Definitely a good book and a fun read. Not a ton of depth and definitely some holes in how characters should act (in my opinion at least) but if you’re looking for a fun book with some adventure and romance and a little bit of danger it’s definitely a good read! Is it the best book ever? No. Is it a fun, fast paced read that kept me entertained? Definitely!!

So I was looking forward to reading this book from the moment that I heard about, and I was really disappointed. The book wasn't bad, per se, but it just left me feeling very underwhelmed because of the expectations I had for this book. Not If I Save You First is about Maddie, who is the daughter of a former secret service agent, who needs to rescue the son of the President when he comes to stay with her and an assailant shows up to take him. What I loved about this book was that it was a quick read, and it was very light-hearted; something a little less intense than some of the novels I have been reading lately. I also loved that this novel was set in Alaska. I was expecting to really love Maddie. I thought she was going to be this kick-butt girl and a strong female character, and she failed to be both. I was just expecting more of a rescue from Maddie, and it just wasn't like that. It was more of a mutual working together to survive between Maddie and Logan. Even though I didn't love Maddie, I did like her character and her personality, especially how smart she was. Logan annoyed me a lot (there were also parts when Maddie annoyed me), and it just made me not able to stand his character at all. I just couldn't bring myself to like him, especially when some of the things he does and says throughout the novel. And don't get me started on the romance in the novel. So yes, I picked this book up because I thought it was going to have a cute romance, and I just don't feel like the author sold it. This could also be because I didn't like Logan, and just wasn't able to see the chemistry between the two of them. Overall, I'm not disappointed that I listened to the audiobook, but it's not a book that I would reread or would really recommend. I still plan on reading more by Ally Carter, and see if there is still hope that I might like one of her books.

** spoiler alert ** “his chest was broad, oh so very broad” - pg whatever (also idk if that’s exact but very similar) i really tried to give this book the benefit of the doubt. it had great promise but after the first couple chapters i was zooming through it just to be done with it. there was so much betrayal that it became overdone and cliqué. the ending was uneventful and boring and the book overall didn’t really have much action, but then again I prefer more adult books and this one felt like it was meant more for preteens. the book just got super monotonous and boring, the characters just saying variations of the same line and doing the same stuff. plus the girl (already forgot her name) kept using her being a girl to outsmart the boys which got very annoying after what seemed like the fifth time. we get it! you’re a girl. wow. and if that didn’t remind you, she was constantly provoking her captor by being “girly” and honestly, being a girl myself, i would’ve turned and smacked her still because no one actually acts like that. also the dude had no excuse for not answering her letters. his excuse of “it hurt too much” or whatever crap he was saying was weak and pathetic. and then for them both to claim they love eachother after SIX YEARS apart, ummmm no. that’s not how that works. they keep saying they’re not the same as they were but come on. they never ask eachother about themselves (which ig is understandable bc they’ve been kidnapped and everything) the story itself is super weird too. i honestly couldn’t follow till the very end and even then, it makes very little sense. it was very pointless and we didn’t see much buildup until the last couple chapters. overall idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ the book was garbage and the lines were super cheesy and not for me.

* I got this book from scholastic for my honest thoughts*** I loved this book so much. I really loved how we got the duel POV in this novel of both maddie and Logan. I really loved how this book was both survival story but also had elements of adventure and mystery. I thought the both the setting of the alaskan wilderness was such a unique place to set a novel. The highlight of this novel was def the relationship between Logan and Abby. I also normally love books about presidents kids and this book was no different. It was so easy to fly through this novel. These characters have become my top favorite characters of all of ally's characters. I know we are heading into spring/summer but this would make a great winter read!

That ending. Gag. Every single bit of this story stretched the suspension of disbelief miles past its breaking point. Ridiculous. I don't feel like wasting any more words on this "book."

Boss ass girl trying to save the President's son (a.ka. her childhood best friend) and in the middle of Alaska! Great story line: action, revenge, love, and hate!

Alaska can kill you in so many ways so Maddie still isn't quite sure why her father made them move to the harsh wilderness. Sure, his job as a Secret Service agent meant he was almost killed protecting her, the President's wife, and her best friend and first kid Logan, but bears are just as dangerous as Russian kidnappers right? Now sixteen and a wilderness bad-ass, Maddie has come to terms with her life even though she's so bored she's bedazzled her favorite throwing axe and she hasn't heard one word from Logan for over six years. Not one letter. So, when Logan is suddenly air-dropped back into her life as a punishment, Maddie is determined to keep him frozen out. But Logan is now kind of hot. And kind of really happy to see her. And also, kind of kidnapped, again. Super fun and tight YA thriller that was a true delight to read. I loved all of the details about making it in the wild and loved Maddie's sparky, hard core character. While the romance was a *bit* insta love (I wish Logan would have had a week or two with Maddie before being kidnapped), I still found it believable and sweet. Remember kids, control top pantyhose can save your life!

Not If I Save You First is the story of Maddie (Mad Dog) Manchester whose father is the head of the President's Secret Service detail. At the beginning of the book, Maddie's father is shot when he saves the First Lady from a Russian kidnapping attempt. In the same incident, the President's son, Logan, is also shot. Then the story shifts to Alaska where Maddie and her father have taken up residence. Logan is being shipped there by his parents because he has had a tendency to give his Secret Service security detail the slip. There are parts of this story that I do like. At the beginning of each chapter, we get to read the letters that Maddie has written to Logan, all of which have gone unanswered, as they become more and more sarcastic. Some parts of the story, however, especially after Logan arrives in Alaska, stretch believability beyond the limit. Carter is known for her stories that develop a teenage team that readers get to watch steal or spy. Believability isn't necessary in those stories, but this one is meant to be more realistic. Otherwise this is a good story built on the loneliness of the two main characters and the distinctive skills that they have developed in the six years they have been apart. Overall an enjoyable read. (I received a copy of this book as an uncorrected proof through Scholastic Publishers, but was not asked to provide a review.)

I have never read a book so fast , so much giddy moments I laughed I cried , this book was a fast and sweet read I highly recommend .

3.5 stars. Cute and fun. I really liked he dynamic between Maddie and Logan. Maddie was kind of amazing and Logan was adorable and I really liked them. Those pesky Russians though.