Save Me by Mona Kasten is a romance novel about Ruby Bell, a scholarship student at the elite Maxton Hall private school, and James Beaufort, a wealthy golden boy. Ruby wants to stay unnoticed and get into Oxford, but she accidentally discovers a family secret belonging to James, forcing them into a high-stakes dynamic of forced proximity and unexpected romance. Plot and Conflict The Secret: Ruby stumbles upon a scandalous secret involving James's twin sister, Lydia, which puts the powerful Beaufort family reputation at risk. The Clash: James tries to buy Ruby's silence with cash and arrogance, but she fiercely rejects him, shocking a boy used to controlling everyone with money. Forced Proximity: After James ruins a school event Ruby organized, the headmaster suspends James from lacrosse and forces him to work under Ruby on the events committee. The Romance: Working together breaks down their defenses; they grow closer during a trip to London, revealing vulnerabilities beneath their opposite social worlds. Ending Cliffhanger Tragedy Strikes: James and Lydia discover their mother has suffered a fatal stroke, which their cold father intentionally hid from them to protect business/interview schedules. Emotional Spiral: Devastated by grief and pressure, James relapses into self-destructive behavior with drugs and alcohol, leaving Ruby heartbroken and the relationship fracturing at the close of the book.