What do you think?
Rate this book
Not If I Save You First
Bestselling author Ally Carter returns with an exciting stand-alone novel, about a girl stranded in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness with the boy who wronged her . . . as an assassin moves in.
Maddie and Logan were torn apart by a kidnapping attempt when they were young. They were only kids -- Logan's dad was POTUS and Maddie's father was the Secret Service agent meant to guard him. The kidnappers were stopped -- but Maddie was whisked off to Alaska with her father, for safety. Maddie and Logan had been inseparable . . . but then she never heard from him again.
Now it's a few years later. Maggie's a teenager, used to living a solitary life with her father. It's quiet -- until Logan is sent to join them. After all this time without word, Maddie has nothing to say to him -- until their outpost is attacked, and Logan is taken. They won't be out of the woods until they're . . . out of the woods, and Maddie's managed to thwart the foes and reconcile with Logan.
Maddie and Logan were torn apart by a kidnapping attempt when they were young. They were only kids -- Logan's dad was POTUS and Maddie's father was the Secret Service agent meant to guard him. The kidnappers were stopped -- but Maddie was whisked off to Alaska with her father, for safety. Maddie and Logan had been inseparable . . . but then she never heard from him again.
Now it's a few years later. Maggie's a teenager, used to living a solitary life with her father. It's quiet -- until Logan is sent to join them. After all this time without word, Maddie has nothing to say to him -- until their outpost is attacked, and Logan is taken. They won't be out of the woods until they're . . . out of the woods, and Maddie's managed to thwart the foes and reconcile with Logan.
297 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2018
627 people are currently reading
16.9k people want to read
About the author
Ally Carter
48books17.5kfollowersAlly Carter writes books about sneaky people and movies about Christmas. She is the New York Times Best-selling author of the Gallagher Girls, Heist Society, and Embassy Row series for teens as well as WINTERBORNE HOME FOR VENGEANCE AND VALOR for younger readers. Her books have been published all over the world, in over twenty languages.
She encourages you to visit her online at allycarter.com and embassyrowbooks.com.
She encourages you to visit her online at allycarter.com and embassyrowbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,128 reviews
June 16, 2018
this was quite a short book, so i will keep my review brief, as well. this was good for what it was - it was a quick, enjoyable survival story filled with action, adventure, and romance. whilst it had its highs (exciting premise, easy writing, decent pacing), it also has some lows (shallow character depth, some unrealistic moments). even though i didnt think this was perfect, i would still recommend it to anyone looking for an effortless, entertaining story!
3 stars
3 stars
April 2, 2022
This was a cute escape novel where Maddie, daughter of a secret service agent, and Logan, son of the president, are off in Alaska, when Logan is suddenly threatened, and Maddie’s survival smarts must save them both. Easy-to-follow plot, and perfect if you’re looking for something light and easy. I enjoyed Maddie’s sass, and bedazzling 😊.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
May 4, 2018
This is a cute and adventurous YA story and I really enjoyed it.
Six years ago, Maddie, the daughter of a secret-service agent, and Logan, the son of the President of the United States were both ten and best friends. Then, something happened and Maddie moved to Alaska with her father.
Fast-forward six years and Maddie is still in Alaska. She has been living with her father, home-schooled, and learning survival skills. All gets disrupted when Logan is sent to Alaska to spend some time with them and just when he is starts getting settled ends up kidnapped. This is the beginning of the story and the rest is an adventurous journey.
The story takes place in an isolated region of Alaska and the characters are likable. I found the novel to be entertaining, romantic, and fun.
Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to readers of YA and contemporary fiction.
Six years ago, Maddie, the daughter of a secret-service agent, and Logan, the son of the President of the United States were both ten and best friends. Then, something happened and Maddie moved to Alaska with her father.
Fast-forward six years and Maddie is still in Alaska. She has been living with her father, home-schooled, and learning survival skills. All gets disrupted when Logan is sent to Alaska to spend some time with them and just when he is starts getting settled ends up kidnapped. This is the beginning of the story and the rest is an adventurous journey.
The story takes place in an isolated region of Alaska and the characters are likable. I found the novel to be entertaining, romantic, and fun.
Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to readers of YA and contemporary fiction.
December 10, 2024
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️�
This was such a sweet and easy read.
Maddie was a girly girl who can survive in the worst possible wilderness situation. I know it doesn’t sound as badass as you would think, but this book put a new spin on being your best self without compromising who you are.
Maddie grew up being best friends with the son of the president of the United States but an unfortunate event split them apart, when they found each other, their friendship wasn’t as rosy as it was in the past. It took a life and death situation to bring them back together.
It is a love story about friendship, trust, survival and loyalty. It was a fantastic read.
This was such a sweet and easy read.
Maddie was a girly girl who can survive in the worst possible wilderness situation. I know it doesn’t sound as badass as you would think, but this book put a new spin on being your best self without compromising who you are.
Maddie grew up being best friends with the son of the president of the United States but an unfortunate event split them apart, when they found each other, their friendship wasn’t as rosy as it was in the past. It took a life and death situation to bring them back together.
It is a love story about friendship, trust, survival and loyalty. It was a fantastic read.
June 3, 2018
This is entertaining, and quippy, and a standalone. My immediate reaction was three stars. It's the best thing Ally Carter has written in years.
And then I started, you know, actually thinking about the story, and its inherent political implications, and none of it makes any sense to me. I'm knocking off a star for that.
Every single way in which you could possibly be spoiled is behind this spoiler cut.
I'm sure I'm being overly persnickety. But goodness: if you're going to write a book involving politics, keep an eye out for political implications. And cliches.
And then I started, you know, actually thinking about the story, and its inherent political implications, and none of it makes any sense to me. I'm knocking off a star for that.
Every single way in which you could possibly be spoiled is behind this spoiler cut.
I'm sure I'm being overly persnickety. But goodness: if you're going to write a book involving politics, keep an eye out for political implications. And cliches.
June 13, 2018
Just what I wanted from that synopsis!
A cute, quick read that you'll probably enjoy if you like survival stories. There is also a good dose of friends-to-hate-to-attraction.
Only downside was that Maddie could be super annoying. She was acting that way on purpose, but let's just say she excelled at it.
Content warning: Russian terrorists, being taken hostage, falling, violence, injury, survival in wintry wilderness.
A cute, quick read that you'll probably enjoy if you like survival stories. There is also a good dose of friends-to-hate-to-attraction.
Only downside was that Maddie could be super annoying. She was acting that way on purpose, but let's just say she excelled at it.
Content warning: Russian terrorists, being taken hostage, falling, violence, injury, survival in wintry wilderness.
January 8, 2018
Galley provided by publisher
I'd be the first to admit that I wasn't all that impressed by the last book Ally Carter released. I would even go so far as to say that I was a bit disappointed. This one, on the other hand, is a welcome return to how good her previous output had been.
Maddy Manchester is the daughter of the (former) head of the Secret Service. Following the attempted kidnap of the First Lady, Maddy's father moves them to the wilderness of Alaska, cut off from human civilisation, for reasons unknown. In doing this, she leaves behind her best friend Logan, the son of the President. Six years later, Logan is sent to Alaska following a string of misdemeanours to find Maddy completely changed from the girl he knew, and hating his guts.
What follows is typical Ally Carter. And it's great.
I have to say, Maddy Manchester might be one of my favourite Carter heroines. After Kat Bishop, of course, but I might even go so far as to say she's better than Cammie Morgan. I loved her so much, even despite the slight "not like other girls" thing going on at the start (which, maybe fair enough, I wouldn't know many girls who could survive alone in Alaska myself, let alone throw a hatchet with accuracy into a tree trunk so). I think one of the problems I had with Embassy Row was that I didn't really connect with Grace that much, or even like her really, in the way I had with Cammie and Kat. Maddy is a lot more like those two, and it's like returning to something familiar (imagine thinking I wouldn't die for Maddy Manchester).
Normally, I also really like the love interests. However, the thing that slightly irritated me about Logan was that he never seemed to realise how capable Maddy was, not even really at the end. It was all him being like "no, Maddy, don't do this!!" like this isn't a completely different Maddy than the one he knew aged 10. There's also the whole thing where whenever one of the bad guys so much as looks at Maddy, he pretty much jumps them and starts yelling "don't even look at her!!", like, my dude, chill. I know your masculinity has been impugned on and you want to make up for it because Maddy is clearly more capable than you could ever wish to be but please. Just chill.
There was also the small matter of the twist at the end being a little out there, but I kind of expect that with Ally Carter so, while a bit strange, it wasn't like it brought me out of the story any.
I'd be the first to admit that I wasn't all that impressed by the last book Ally Carter released. I would even go so far as to say that I was a bit disappointed. This one, on the other hand, is a welcome return to how good her previous output had been.
Maddy Manchester is the daughter of the (former) head of the Secret Service. Following the attempted kidnap of the First Lady, Maddy's father moves them to the wilderness of Alaska, cut off from human civilisation, for reasons unknown. In doing this, she leaves behind her best friend Logan, the son of the President. Six years later, Logan is sent to Alaska following a string of misdemeanours to find Maddy completely changed from the girl he knew, and hating his guts.
What follows is typical Ally Carter. And it's great.
I have to say, Maddy Manchester might be one of my favourite Carter heroines. After Kat Bishop, of course, but I might even go so far as to say she's better than Cammie Morgan. I loved her so much, even despite the slight "not like other girls" thing going on at the start (which, maybe fair enough, I wouldn't know many girls who could survive alone in Alaska myself, let alone throw a hatchet with accuracy into a tree trunk so). I think one of the problems I had with Embassy Row was that I didn't really connect with Grace that much, or even like her really, in the way I had with Cammie and Kat. Maddy is a lot more like those two, and it's like returning to something familiar (imagine thinking I wouldn't die for Maddy Manchester).
Normally, I also really like the love interests. However, the thing that slightly irritated me about Logan was that he never seemed to realise how capable Maddy was, not even really at the end. It was all him being like "no, Maddy, don't do this!!" like this isn't a completely different Maddy than the one he knew aged 10. There's also the whole thing where whenever one of the bad guys so much as looks at Maddy, he pretty much jumps them and starts yelling "don't even look at her!!", like, my dude, chill. I know your masculinity has been impugned on and you want to make up for it because Maddy is clearly more capable than you could ever wish to be but please. Just chill.
There was also the small matter of the twist at the end being a little out there, but I kind of expect that with Ally Carter so, while a bit strange, it wasn't like it brought me out of the story any.
April 28, 2019
3.5 Stars
Dear Logan,
Remember when we were friends?
I do. But sometimes, honestly, I’d give anything to forget.
Maddie
Maddie and Logan were best friends when they were 10 but due to some incident, they were separated from each other. Maddie didn’t forget her best friend and kept writing him letters for quite a while but she never got an answer, so she finally stopped and forgot about the boy she thought was her friend until one day she met him again.
You can probably guess the incident when I mention that Logan is the President’s son and Maddie is the daughter of the head of security.
So, yes I opened the ebook for no reason and the reason I had it on my laptop was because someone repeatedly told me it was a good book. I read the start and I didn’t want to read more of it. It wasn’t the kind of book I was in mood for then but then again, Maddie was so cute and innocent and I loved her so so much. So I read on and before I knew it, I had read one-third of it. It was really really good especially the first half but the last one-third kinda took away a star. It just didn’t seem realistic and they seemed too lucky for everyone and I was disappointed a little. But it was still good. It kinda reminded me of THE MAYBE BOYFRIEND but the premise was completely different. I think the end came off a little meh? There were many twists but still it felt like too many twists were being forced into those pages and I think it would’ve made for a much better end if it was kept somewhat simple.
Also I guess I needed some more detail about the end telling me what would happen for them next but guess not. I hate it when the book has potential but falls flat in the end.
The writing was good. The characters were fine. I guess Maddie was the best! I would like to read more of her books but in the summer.
If you’re looking for a fun read this is it. Fun and a little adventure.
My Thoughts as I Read:
Pg 12
It better not be an attack on the White House! Though I admit it would be good to hear it with the children being the protagonists.
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
--After this, I didn’t stop to think. I just kept reading.
Dear Logan,
Remember when we were friends?
I do. But sometimes, honestly, I’d give anything to forget.
Maddie
Maddie and Logan were best friends when they were 10 but due to some incident, they were separated from each other. Maddie didn’t forget her best friend and kept writing him letters for quite a while but she never got an answer, so she finally stopped and forgot about the boy she thought was her friend until one day she met him again.
You can probably guess the incident when I mention that Logan is the President’s son and Maddie is the daughter of the head of security.
So, yes I opened the ebook for no reason and the reason I had it on my laptop was because someone repeatedly told me it was a good book. I read the start and I didn’t want to read more of it. It wasn’t the kind of book I was in mood for then but then again, Maddie was so cute and innocent and I loved her so so much. So I read on and before I knew it, I had read one-third of it. It was really really good especially the first half but the last one-third kinda took away a star. It just didn’t seem realistic and they seemed too lucky for everyone and I was disappointed a little. But it was still good. It kinda reminded me of THE MAYBE BOYFRIEND but the premise was completely different. I think the end came off a little meh? There were many twists but still it felt like too many twists were being forced into those pages and I think it would’ve made for a much better end if it was kept somewhat simple.
Also I guess I needed some more detail about the end telling me what would happen for them next but guess not. I hate it when the book has potential but falls flat in the end.
The writing was good. The characters were fine. I guess Maddie was the best! I would like to read more of her books but in the summer.
If you’re looking for a fun read this is it. Fun and a little adventure.
My Thoughts as I Read:
Pg 12
It better not be an attack on the White House! Though I admit it would be good to hear it with the children being the protagonists.
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
--After this, I didn’t stop to think. I just kept reading.
April 14, 2018
Enjoyable teenage/YA tale full of action, suspense and some great, sharp narrative. All the boxes are ticked here for a good, no nonsense escapist read with decent characters and great location. It's a fast paced read following the story of Logan and Maddie on the run in cold Alaska from Russian agents.
Overall I enjoyed as I like Ally Carter and her teen spy books. But it was not fantastic, just a good read.
Overall I enjoyed as I like Ally Carter and her teen spy books. But it was not fantastic, just a good read.
May 24, 2020
I read this book for school which will probably surprise most because this is not an academic book. It's a long story but basically, my school does this thing called service-learning projects. This year our project was to read a book and then send a copy to an eighth grader along with a letter. I won't go into it here but I hated the project for many reasons.
Onto the actual review.
I tried to read this a lloooonngggg time ago but couldn't get into it. This time, I had a much easier time. This was a very quick and easy read. It's a unique cross between thriller and romance.
Also, I have to admit that there were a couple of very cliche cliches sprinkled throughout this novel but somehow they added to my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a short, enjoyable treat of a novel! Even so, I probably won't read any other books from this author.
--------
I had to read this for school (Long story that I'll explain in my full review) but I really enjoyed it! Review to come!
| | | | | |
Onto the actual review.
I tried to read this a lloooonngggg time ago but couldn't get into it. This time, I had a much easier time. This was a very quick and easy read. It's a unique cross between thriller and romance.
Also, I have to admit that there were a couple of very cliche cliches sprinkled throughout this novel but somehow they added to my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a short, enjoyable treat of a novel! Even so, I probably won't read any other books from this author.
--------
I had to read this for school (Long story that I'll explain in my full review) but I really enjoyed it! Review to come!
| | | | | |
April 1, 2018
The novel was good. The synopsis (...the part with the president and special forces) raised my expectations. I expected more action, guns, bombs and so on. An Alaskan forest as the main setting took the pizzazz out the novel.
July 11, 2022
This was a good read. I loved the back and forth between Maddy and Logan. The last half of this book.. everything hits the fan and gets crazy! Loved how it kept me wanting to read and figure out what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the ending ALOT. So glad it turned out the way it did. Great writing style that flows effortlessly while you're reading it.
March 31, 2024
Eeee, def one of my faves <3. I didn't think I would like it, but honestly, I LOVED IT!.
TW:
- Barely has any violence, but just a heads up that there is some in this book :)
TW:
- Barely has any violence, but just a heads up that there is some in this book :)
Read
October 27, 2018Mini review:
Trigger warning: Attempt at kidnapping, blood, and gun violence up until the point I read.
DNF
As a long time Ally Carter fan I was looking forward to this book! I didn't like her other series and was hoping to enjoy this standalone. Unfortunately I didn't.
It saddens me to say that I've outgrown Ally Carter. Upon starting this book I found the writing style not for my tastes. Somewhere between MG and YA. The romance wasn't enjoyable either. Nor did I like any off the characters.
Overall this wasn't for me. I still recommend.
Trigger warning: Attempt at kidnapping, blood, and gun violence up until the point I read.
DNF
As a long time Ally Carter fan I was looking forward to this book! I didn't like her other series and was hoping to enjoy this standalone. Unfortunately I didn't.
It saddens me to say that I've outgrown Ally Carter. Upon starting this book I found the writing style not for my tastes. Somewhere between MG and YA. The romance wasn't enjoyable either. Nor did I like any off the characters.
Overall this wasn't for me. I still recommend.
October 10, 2018
Actual Rating: 2,5
Too much whinning and even though it had some surprises it still had some boring parts and not a lot really happens. Some parts are not well developed either and things that happens are sometimes really childish... Like... Really....
Too much whinning and even though it had some surprises it still had some boring parts and not a lot really happens. Some parts are not well developed either and things that happens are sometimes really childish... Like... Really....
June 14, 2018
Cute, quick read. More or less it was a story of friendship that gets lost and gained to move to love. Kind of found Maddie to be a bit obvious sometimes but overall an enjoyable read about two friends who get thrown back together after growing apart. However, they were thrown back together in Alaska which adds to the story for me because I love reading books based in Alaska.
My quick and simple overall: cute YA friendship book.
My quick and simple overall: cute YA friendship book.
June 17, 2018
Mmmhhmm 3.5 stars? It definitely wasn't perfect but I liked much more than All Fall Down.
It was entertaining and full of action.
It was entertaining and full of action.
April 19, 2018
For a standalone, this somehow managed to capture all of Ally Carter's strengths from her previous series! Political intrigue, high-stakes survival and hidden backstories, 'Not If I Save You First' would be a great starting point for people that wanted to discover Ally's books, without being intimidated by a whole series.
This felt the most real and gritty of her books, with people having guns shoved in their faces or rolling off cliffs left, right and centre. Of course, I had to suspend my disbelief that nobody died of concussion, blood loss or hypothermia, but still. Maddie and Logan wouldn't give up no matter what and they're determination to rescue each other kept me turning the pages non-stop.
A fast paced, adrenaline pumping read, perfect for fans old and new!
This felt the most real and gritty of her books, with people having guns shoved in their faces or rolling off cliffs left, right and centre. Of course, I had to suspend my disbelief that nobody died of concussion, blood loss or hypothermia, but still. Maddie and Logan wouldn't give up no matter what and they're determination to rescue each other kept me turning the pages non-stop.
A fast paced, adrenaline pumping read, perfect for fans old and new!
May 7, 2020
Not sure why I keep waiting so long to dive into books that I fall in love with. This book is no different and I should be kicking myself for waiting 2 years to dive into it.
Not If I Save You First was an adventure I will probably never forget. In it, you will meet Maddie and Logan. They were the best of the friends when they were little but things drastically changed when an unexpected event occurs.
It kind of seemed like she moved to Alaska overnight with her dad. She was so little and didn't quite understand why they moved so far away. So she took to writing her best friend letters every day. Unfortunately, she never received one back and had no idea why.
Years later, they have reunited. Logan is in Alaska now trying to live on the downlow. Of course things get dramatic rather quickly. They are attacked, kidnapped, and betrayed right and left. The one thing these Russian dudes didn't count on: Her. Maddie was such a bad ass little ninja.
Not going to lie, she reminded me of the girl in the movie Hanna. That's how bad ass she was and she was definitely underestimated throughout the book. These two had earn each other's trust again and rebuild their friendship. I was definitely glad that I wasn't shoved into the romance light that much. It was still cute to see them getting closer together out in the wilderness.
Not If I Save You First was an adventure I will probably never forget. In it, you will meet Maddie and Logan. They were the best of the friends when they were little but things drastically changed when an unexpected event occurs.
It kind of seemed like she moved to Alaska overnight with her dad. She was so little and didn't quite understand why they moved so far away. So she took to writing her best friend letters every day. Unfortunately, she never received one back and had no idea why.
Years later, they have reunited. Logan is in Alaska now trying to live on the downlow. Of course things get dramatic rather quickly. They are attacked, kidnapped, and betrayed right and left. The one thing these Russian dudes didn't count on: Her. Maddie was such a bad ass little ninja.
Not going to lie, she reminded me of the girl in the movie Hanna. That's how bad ass she was and she was definitely underestimated throughout the book. These two had earn each other's trust again and rebuild their friendship. I was definitely glad that I wasn't shoved into the romance light that much. It was still cute to see them getting closer together out in the wilderness.
June 11, 2018
I didn't expect this to be that good. I absolutely loved it! The pace was perfect for me. I never got bored and was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading it.
I wasn't a huge fan of the characters at first, but the more I read, the more I loved the characters. Maddie is the type of character you shouldn't underestimate. She may seem girly (and she is), but she won't hesitate to protect herself and the people she cares about.
I also really liked Logan. I wasn't a huge fan of him in the beginning but he grew on me. Also, I think I might like Stefan (the assailant) almost as much as I like Maddie and Logan. Oops.
I liked the writing style. It was simple and it was easy to grasp the situation. The humor was also one of my favorite parts. I couldn't help but giggle at all of the bickering and sarcasm going on.
Overall, Not If I Save You First was not at all what I was expecting. I expected it to be slow and, well, bland. If you are looking for a fast and fun read, I definitely recommend this book.
10/10 would recommend.
I wasn't a huge fan of the characters at first, but the more I read, the more I loved the characters. Maddie is the type of character you shouldn't underestimate. She may seem girly (and she is), but she won't hesitate to protect herself and the people she cares about.
I also really liked Logan. I wasn't a huge fan of him in the beginning but he grew on me. Also, I think I might like Stefan (the assailant) almost as much as I like Maddie and Logan. Oops.
I liked the writing style. It was simple and it was easy to grasp the situation. The humor was also one of my favorite parts. I couldn't help but giggle at all of the bickering and sarcasm going on.
Overall, Not If I Save You First was not at all what I was expecting. I expected it to be slow and, well, bland. If you are looking for a fast and fun read, I definitely recommend this book.
10/10 would recommend.
April 14, 2022
I NEED to re-read this again because the ending was kinda confusing. (partly because I was rushing through this bc I wanted to finish it before the new year and I was exhausted. So... yeah) I get the main point of the last 50 pages but not the tiny details. I should probably re-read the last part at least. I had this really weird feeling that I had read the first chapter somewhere. not the rest of the book but just the first chapter. i have no idea where I would have done that. lol This was a really good book! I loved Logan and Maddie!!! :) Definitely recommend!
P.S. Thanks for this book, amazing friend!! :)
Ok, the second time around. I LOVE THIS BOOK!! Maddie and Logan are so sweet together! :) The plot was awesome and yes, i kinda like the bad guy. XD
P.S. Thanks for this book, amazing friend!! :)
Ok, the second time around. I LOVE THIS BOOK!! Maddie and Logan are so sweet together! :) The plot was awesome and yes, i kinda like the bad guy. XD
September 18, 2020
2 stars.
Have I read all of Ally Carter’s YA/MG books now? I think so. She has become a guilty pleasure author and writes strong YA girls with unique plots.
This plot was definitely unique. It should be noted that I am so not a wilderness or outdoorsy girl, so the plot line of surviving in the Alaska wilderness truly didn’t interest me much. Some elements of this book are probably unrealistic or exaggerated, but it was all to show how tough Maddie is. A little corny, but it comes with the YA Contemporary field.
Neither Maddie nor Logan were my favorite characters (either from this author’s books or just in general), so that affected my rating. Logan did some things/some actions that bothered me (such as: trying to strangle/attack the kidnappers, yelling “Don’t look at her� multiple times to the kidnappers, etc.).
Because I didn’t know that this book is completely about surviving the Alaskan wilderness and running away from the kidnappers, I was a little disappointed. It should have been suspenseful and exciting, but I found it a little boring and somehow the ending still felt rushed?
I can now cross this book off my TBR and hope that this author’s next book will be more of my cup of tea.
Content:
Blood/Bleeding, Injuries, Pain, Guns being shot & aimed, Kidnappings/Hostages, & Fighting/Attacking (semi-detailed); Thinking someone is dead; Threats & Being threatened; Curses, 'dumb', 'idiot', 'freakin'', 'oh my gosh', 'screw up', 'shut up', 'stupid', and 'what the--' are all said.
Kisses (up to semi-detailed); Logan is fascinated with Maddie's lips; Touches & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); A man searches Maddie's body (for weapons, but seems to enjoy touching her); A couple mentions of puberty; a 'sexy';
Have I read all of Ally Carter’s YA/MG books now? I think so. She has become a guilty pleasure author and writes strong YA girls with unique plots.
This plot was definitely unique. It should be noted that I am so not a wilderness or outdoorsy girl, so the plot line of surviving in the Alaska wilderness truly didn’t interest me much. Some elements of this book are probably unrealistic or exaggerated, but it was all to show how tough Maddie is. A little corny, but it comes with the YA Contemporary field.
Neither Maddie nor Logan were my favorite characters (either from this author’s books or just in general), so that affected my rating. Logan did some things/some actions that bothered me (such as: trying to strangle/attack the kidnappers, yelling “Don’t look at her� multiple times to the kidnappers, etc.).
Because I didn’t know that this book is completely about surviving the Alaskan wilderness and running away from the kidnappers, I was a little disappointed. It should have been suspenseful and exciting, but I found it a little boring and somehow the ending still felt rushed?
I can now cross this book off my TBR and hope that this author’s next book will be more of my cup of tea.
Content:
Blood/Bleeding, Injuries, Pain, Guns being shot & aimed, Kidnappings/Hostages, & Fighting/Attacking (semi-detailed); Thinking someone is dead; Threats & Being threatened; Curses, 'dumb', 'idiot', 'freakin'', 'oh my gosh', 'screw up', 'shut up', 'stupid', and 'what the--' are all said.
Kisses (up to semi-detailed); Logan is fascinated with Maddie's lips; Touches & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); A man searches Maddie's body (for weapons, but seems to enjoy touching her); A couple mentions of puberty; a 'sexy';
February 13, 2019
I don't quite know what to say about this one. It was enjoyable for a few hours of my life, but I also wasn't all that into it. I couldn't seem to get truly invested in these characters. Still, the story is entertaining enough, and the charcters are likable and intelligent. The main issue is that there was no suspense here. There was no danger. I couldn't fully dive into it because, in the end, I knew how it was going to end.
I think if I'd read this a few years ago I might have liked it a bit more.
I haven't read any of Aly Carter's books but I know she writes YA spy novels and things of that nature. This one follows that same type of story and if that's what you're into, then I definitely recommend it.
I think if I'd read this a few years ago I might have liked it a bit more.
I haven't read any of Aly Carter's books but I know she writes YA spy novels and things of that nature. This one follows that same type of story and if that's what you're into, then I definitely recommend it.
February 10, 2021
Yikes.
Be warned. There will be spoilers. Oh, yes. There will be spoilers.
I am officially dumber for having read this book. Granted, I am not a twelve-year-old girl, so I'm really not the right audience for this one. And I have a number of students who loved it. So, I am fully aware that other people have reasons to enjoy this ridiculous drivel.
Here's what I disliked most:
1. "Mad Dog." Ugh. I completely and total despise this nickname. It's absurd. And overused. It's also equally as long as the already-in-use nickname Maddie. It sort of made sense when her father worked for the president. It's a code name. Got it. But we've moved on from that. We're years away from that time. Why does Maddie insist that Logan call her Mad Dog? It's so irritating! This nickname became a wrinkled sock rubbing a blister on my foot inside my shoe.
2. Maddie and Logan were generic and inconsistent. Here's what we know about Maddie: she's angry at her dad, she's angry at Logan, she's like super great at living in Alaska, she's like super great at being girly and caring about her appearance. Aaaaaaand that's all we get. She waffles between being angry at Logan and not angry at Logan for about 75% of the book while wanting to kiss him the entire time. Oh, and she also inexplicably has a set of survival skills that Liam Neeson might have used to retrieve his daughter after she was Taken. Logan is angry and self-absorbed for the first chapter and a half and then he's totally fine and completely devoted to his deep and unending love for the girl he just ran into again after ignoring her for years. So, there's that.
3. All the stupid quips. Maddie threatens a Russian kidnapper with Taylor Swift perfume. Yup. That happened. Every interaction with the Russians was so full of "witty" banter. It was A) not that funny and B) completely unrealistic. I don't care how clever and sarcastic you are, when facing someone who wants to kill you/dying of hypothermia/being kidnapped by a maniac there are times when you feel something other than confidently quippy.
4. Why is hypothermia not a real concern? I think the author might have done a bit more research. No one who knows anything about Alaskan survival would eat a "frozen berry" in the middle of a terrible winter storm. The number one survival concern should have been staying warm and dry. Instead, it was having good hair and walking in circles for no apparent reason.
5. I'm sorry, a bedazzled what now? Was any other woman deeply insulted that this girl "bedazzled" her hatchet? Carves a design into the handle? Cool. Bedazzles it? *Women the world over take a step backward in shame*. Why would this girl who lives in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness and can't even get books have bedazzling supplies on hand (let alone lip gloss and hair conditioner)? And, if memory serves me right, the official Bedazzler was a way to staple sparkles onto fabric. That wouldn't work on a hatchet. And how would you throw it? Wouldn't the sequins come off on your hand or get in the way? So stupid.
6. Which brings to mind how deeply annoyed I was by Maddie's talk about having good hair and keeping moisturized and being cute. It's frankly insulting. A teenage girl can be totally awesome and feminine at the same time without being shallow and moronic. I would have been on board if Maddie had regretted leaving those things behind. That would make sense and be a normal thing to do. Talking about them in EVERY chapter makes Mad Dog shallow and insipid.
7. The Russian kidnapper steps in a bear trap and walks away. From a bear trap. He walks away. And later that day rescues his sister. With the leg that got chomped by a bear trap. Yeah, okay.
8. "The whole world turned black...absolutely no one was standing... [A]ny disaster that large could only mean one thing: Maddie was still alive." (p. 281). From inside the cave, there's a huge explosion. "No one" is left standing. But this is good news! Maddie's in that cave. So she must be alive. Because huge explosion +Mad Dog inside the cave that kills everyone = Maddie is still alive. Wow, Logan. You're great at math on top of everything else!
9. Oh, and guess what? The bad guy is bad for a good reason. He's not so bad after all! Sure, he shot at us, beat us, threatened us, and terrorized us, but we sprang a bear trap on him. And, at the end of the day, he was just doing it to save his sick sister. Let's be best friends and go bedazzle crap together!
I think time stood still and I was forced to slog through Purgatory in order to finally finish this monstrosity and arise, gasping and horrified into the world again. The writing attempted to be clever and failed. The story line made no sense. The author didn't take the time to show us why these kids were friends or why they were people worth reading about.
Some books are meat and potatoes. Some are cotton candy. This one was stale Peeps on sale in October because on one wants them.
Be warned. There will be spoilers. Oh, yes. There will be spoilers.
I am officially dumber for having read this book. Granted, I am not a twelve-year-old girl, so I'm really not the right audience for this one. And I have a number of students who loved it. So, I am fully aware that other people have reasons to enjoy this ridiculous drivel.
Here's what I disliked most:
1. "Mad Dog." Ugh. I completely and total despise this nickname. It's absurd. And overused. It's also equally as long as the already-in-use nickname Maddie. It sort of made sense when her father worked for the president. It's a code name. Got it. But we've moved on from that. We're years away from that time. Why does Maddie insist that Logan call her Mad Dog? It's so irritating! This nickname became a wrinkled sock rubbing a blister on my foot inside my shoe.
2. Maddie and Logan were generic and inconsistent. Here's what we know about Maddie: she's angry at her dad, she's angry at Logan, she's like super great at living in Alaska, she's like super great at being girly and caring about her appearance. Aaaaaaand that's all we get. She waffles between being angry at Logan and not angry at Logan for about 75% of the book while wanting to kiss him the entire time. Oh, and she also inexplicably has a set of survival skills that Liam Neeson might have used to retrieve his daughter after she was Taken. Logan is angry and self-absorbed for the first chapter and a half and then he's totally fine and completely devoted to his deep and unending love for the girl he just ran into again after ignoring her for years. So, there's that.
3. All the stupid quips. Maddie threatens a Russian kidnapper with Taylor Swift perfume. Yup. That happened. Every interaction with the Russians was so full of "witty" banter. It was A) not that funny and B) completely unrealistic. I don't care how clever and sarcastic you are, when facing someone who wants to kill you/dying of hypothermia/being kidnapped by a maniac there are times when you feel something other than confidently quippy.
4. Why is hypothermia not a real concern? I think the author might have done a bit more research. No one who knows anything about Alaskan survival would eat a "frozen berry" in the middle of a terrible winter storm. The number one survival concern should have been staying warm and dry. Instead, it was having good hair and walking in circles for no apparent reason.
5. I'm sorry, a bedazzled what now? Was any other woman deeply insulted that this girl "bedazzled" her hatchet? Carves a design into the handle? Cool. Bedazzles it? *Women the world over take a step backward in shame*. Why would this girl who lives in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness and can't even get books have bedazzling supplies on hand (let alone lip gloss and hair conditioner)? And, if memory serves me right, the official Bedazzler was a way to staple sparkles onto fabric. That wouldn't work on a hatchet. And how would you throw it? Wouldn't the sequins come off on your hand or get in the way? So stupid.
6. Which brings to mind how deeply annoyed I was by Maddie's talk about having good hair and keeping moisturized and being cute. It's frankly insulting. A teenage girl can be totally awesome and feminine at the same time without being shallow and moronic. I would have been on board if Maddie had regretted leaving those things behind. That would make sense and be a normal thing to do. Talking about them in EVERY chapter makes Mad Dog shallow and insipid.
7. The Russian kidnapper steps in a bear trap and walks away. From a bear trap. He walks away. And later that day rescues his sister. With the leg that got chomped by a bear trap. Yeah, okay.
8. "The whole world turned black...absolutely no one was standing... [A]ny disaster that large could only mean one thing: Maddie was still alive." (p. 281). From inside the cave, there's a huge explosion. "No one" is left standing. But this is good news! Maddie's in that cave. So she must be alive. Because huge explosion +Mad Dog inside the cave that kills everyone = Maddie is still alive. Wow, Logan. You're great at math on top of everything else!
9. Oh, and guess what? The bad guy is bad for a good reason. He's not so bad after all! Sure, he shot at us, beat us, threatened us, and terrorized us, but we sprang a bear trap on him. And, at the end of the day, he was just doing it to save his sick sister. Let's be best friends and go bedazzle crap together!
I think time stood still and I was forced to slog through Purgatory in order to finally finish this monstrosity and arise, gasping and horrified into the world again. The writing attempted to be clever and failed. The story line made no sense. The author didn't take the time to show us why these kids were friends or why they were people worth reading about.
Some books are meat and potatoes. Some are cotton candy. This one was stale Peeps on sale in October because on one wants them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
Not if I save you first. By ally Carter
I just discovered ally cater this year and she is slowly becoming to one if my most liked authors.
Not if I save you first follows two teenagers Maddie and Logan. Maddie's father is the best secret service agent that a president could ask for. Logan is the son of well the president.
Six years ago they were 10 years old and best friends. Until something awful happened. Now Maddie is in Alaska home schooling herself learning survival skills and wishing she had her best friend again.
Logan is now in Alaska and when he finally gets almost settled things turned upside down.
Raiting: 4 stars 🌟
I just discovered ally cater this year and she is slowly becoming to one if my most liked authors.
Not if I save you first follows two teenagers Maddie and Logan. Maddie's father is the best secret service agent that a president could ask for. Logan is the son of well the president.
Six years ago they were 10 years old and best friends. Until something awful happened. Now Maddie is in Alaska home schooling herself learning survival skills and wishing she had her best friend again.
Logan is now in Alaska and when he finally gets almost settled things turned upside down.
Raiting: 4 stars 🌟
June 17, 2019
Maddie and Logan were best friends when they were kids. Granted, it was under slightly unusual circumstances: Logan's dad was President, and Maddie's dad was one of his Secret Service agents. So when something happens that causes Maddie's dad to move the two of them to an isolated cabin in the middle of Alaska, everything in Maddie's life changes. She has no contact with the outside world beyond letters--no Internet, no phone, no anything. Just a tiny cabin, a few library books, and her Dad. Maddie learns to become self-sufficient, and she learns to be alone. Then, suddenly, six years later, Logan turns up at her door. In Alaska. Before she knows it, someone attacks Maddie and Logan. Maddie has no choice but to put her wilderness skills to the test to save them both. Maddie's pretty angry that she hasn't heard from Logan in the past six years, but she's going to have to get over it for a bit, while the two cling for life in the cold.
"She was through with waiting for letters, for phone calls, for people and friends. Maddie was absolutely through with looking back."
So this is a totally crazy and wild book (just read that plot summary), but it's also really fun and an enjoyable read. I've never read anything by before, but this book inspired me to grab a couple others by her. It's exactly what it claims to be.
Even though they are tramping through the Alaskan wilderness, trying to save their own lives, Maddie and Logan's banter is pretty great. The story is dramatic at times, but also romantic and cute at others. It's complete and utter escapism, but that's what I wanted when I picked it up.
Overall, a really fun, quick read. I felt transported to Alaska, and I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Maddie and Logan. 3.5 stars.
I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, , where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"She was through with waiting for letters, for phone calls, for people and friends. Maddie was absolutely through with looking back."
So this is a totally crazy and wild book (just read that plot summary), but it's also really fun and an enjoyable read. I've never read anything by before, but this book inspired me to grab a couple others by her. It's exactly what it claims to be.
Even though they are tramping through the Alaskan wilderness, trying to save their own lives, Maddie and Logan's banter is pretty great. The story is dramatic at times, but also romantic and cute at others. It's complete and utter escapism, but that's what I wanted when I picked it up.
Overall, a really fun, quick read. I felt transported to Alaska, and I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Maddie and Logan. 3.5 stars.
I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, , where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
May 23, 2018
Entertaining, humorous, suspenseful and just a whole lot of fun. I listened to the audiobook which I think was better because the narrator was able to give Maddie a fun personality. Maddie is strong, silly, girlie yet knows how to survive and take down dangerous Russian men. Her Secret Service father has taught her well while living in Alaska for six years. Maddie's father is the head of the Secret Service who protect the president. Logan is the President's son. At 10 they witness Logan's Mom being kidnapped and Maddie's father being shot. Fast forward and they are both 16. Logan is sent to Alaska to spend time with Maddie and her father but then Logan is kidnapped. That is where all the danger begins. I really enjoyed this book and it is a very fast read. All girls should have mad skills like Maddie and know how to protect themselves.
June 23, 2018
Review to come!
February 12, 2019
This book was sooo cute!!!! I could not put it down, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,128 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.