Series: None
Author: Ally Carter
Published March 27th 2018 by Orchard Books
Goodreads Synopsis
Dear Logan,
Someday I'm going to write a book: How Not to Die in Alaska - A Girl's Guide to Fashionable Survival.
I bet you don't know that a hair pin can make an excellent fishing hook. You may think you can use just any kind of mud for mud masks, but trust me, you CAN'T! In a pinch, nothing starts a fire like nail polish remover. Alaska is tough. You might know this, if you ever replied to my letters.
After Maddie's Secret Service dad takes a bullet for the president, he takes Maddie somewhere he thinks they'll be safe - far away from the White House and the president's son, Logan.
But when Logan comes to Alaska, so does the danger.
If there's one thing Alaska has taught Maddie, it's how to survive. And now her best friend's life depends on it ...
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
I simply adore all of Ally Carter's books, and Not If I Save You First is no exception. Set in Alaska, it follows Maddie, who, apart from her father, is all alone in the wilderness. Once working on the President's security detail, her ex-Secret Service dad had to leave, and the safest place for his daughter, to him, was in Alaska. Never telling her why he felt they were at risk, Maddie has only had her magazines, and the various animals that appear as company. That all changes when Logan, the First Son, is sent to Alaska as well. He's being hunted by Russian terrorists who had originally tried to kidnap his mam, and ended up shooting Maddie's dad instead. Now that he's in Alaska, the risk is even greater, as though he is hidden, he's also in the middle of nowhere, with only Maddie, and when the terrorists come to get them, that have to use every skill they have in order to survive.
I loved how Carter explained the relationship between Maddie and Logan, and how their relationship went from strained - for very good reason - to relying on each other for survival. Once best friends, Maddie and Logan did everything together, knew all the shortcuts and hiding places inside the White House, and and were simply inseparable. That all changed when they were attacked, and Maddie had to leave. It's now been 6 years later, and there's been absolutely no contact between the two, so to say when they meet again, now 16, not knowing where they stand, it's awkward. Maddie had to grow up quickly at 10, being forced into the frigid landscape that is rural Alaska, and learn survival skills, if not social skills. When Logan reappears in her life, he's a hindrance, who's brought problems that she'd rather do without. We slowly learn that though Maddie never received a reply, she'd been sending letters to Logan about life in Alaska, and the fact that he never responded aggravates her, and makes her disinclined to be welcoming. Logan, on the other hand, didn't want to reply because he felt guilty that Maddie had to leave because of his family, and who he is, and thought a clean break would be for the best.
If you've read any of Ally's other books, you'll know how good she is at writing strong characters, and that's clear in Not If I Save You First. Both Maddie and Logan are strong in their own ways, and they go through a massive amount of character growth over the course of the book. I do wish that this wasn't a standalone book, as I'm always wanting more from Ally - I'm actually re-reading her Gallagher Girls series right now, and would've loved to see how Maddie and Logan's relationship continued to grow. I think everyone needs to read Ally's books, and if you want one to start with, without the pressure of a series, this would be a good one.
Dates Read:
January 4-5, 2018Rating
5 Stars
