From the TBR Pile: Blog Tour: Excerpt #4 from Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

We are so excited to participate in a a 2-part tour for the release of Say You’ll Remember Me!

Follow along the excerpt tour beginning in early January, with long excerpts in consecutive order at each tour stop, followed by a review tour beginning on 01/29, release week!

This is excerpt stop #4. Make sure to come back on February 22 for a review on the book!

Author:Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date of publication: January 30, 2018

Doesn’t matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It’s over.”

When Drix was convicted of a crime—one he didn’t commit—he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the 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.

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Enjoy the excerpt

“It’ll be good to have you playing again,” Axle continues, desperate to find the easier. “No one can play the drums like you.”

The drums. For months, I’ve dreamed about playing the drums. Being away from my family and the drums was the equivalent of someone chopping off my arms. Part of the reason I didn’t want this party was because I wanted to come home, go straight to the garage, sit in silence on my stool behind my set, then play. Feel the beat in my blood, the rhythm in my heart, the music filling an empty soul. Just me, my drums and the comfort in knowing that at least one good thing about me didn’t change.

But the thought of playing the drums also causes my stomach to dip. If I play again, do I become the same asshole that I was before?

“When is the press conference?” I ask.

Part of my penance, part of the deal, is that the state needed ten troubled teens, and out of those ten, they needed a poster child to prove to the public their hard-earned tax dollars were going to stop the school-to-prison pipeline. In other words, the voters need proof that this program could prevent teens, who don’t do well in school and get expelled, from wandering in and out of juvenile detention, and after eighteen, beelining it straight to prison.

Last year, Axle had lost his mind when the DA had mentioned if I didn’t accept the deal and plead guilty they would charge me as an adult. My brother then begged me to agree to anything they were offering, including them owning me for my senior year of high school. Appearing whenever they want, saying whatever they want, all while I keep my nose clean. Can’t say terror didn’t seize me at the thought of being charged as an adult. I might be strong, but real prison has never been on my bucket list.

Axle pops his knuckles, and my stomach sinks. I’m not going to like his answer.

“The press conference is tomorrow.”

Bullet to the head. “Where?”

“May Fest in Louisville. I guess they already had a general press conference planned, and when they found out you’d be out in time…” He trails off.

Makes sense to go from one prison sentence to another.

“It won’t be bad. They said they’ll have what you need to say written out. Ten minutes. Twenty, tops. I thought we’d all go together. Spend some time on the midway, bring a change of clothes for you, get it done, and then we’ll head home.”

All in a neat package, to be done and repeated until I graduate from high school. That’s the deal, and it’s the deal I’ll see through. The only reason Axle agreed to take on custody of Holiday, getting her out of her crap situation, was because I agreed to come home and help him take on the burden. Financially, emotionally and whatever the hell else it requires to be a parent, since our biological parents can’t find their way out of a wet paper bag.

“Guess I should get a good night’s sleep then,” I say.

“You probably should.”

But neither of us move. Instead we keep staring at my fire. Both amazed I created this. Both scared of what the future is going to bring.

ellison

Fair midways are my happy place. Rides with merry, shrieking people are to my right, and to my left are the bells and lights of games.

Dad and Mom brought me to May Fest so I could be present for Dad’s press conference, and they allowed me a few hours this afternoon to explore. I should be in my zone, filled with so much joy I could combust, but I’m not. There are two guys who have been stalking me for the past five minutes, and they’re ruining my mood.

My cell buzzes in my hand, and I step away from the crowd and between two game booths to read the text. I’m hoping if I appear interested in my phone, the two boys will keep walking—away from me. I’m also expecting a text from my cousin Henry. He’s twenty-four to my seventeen, in the army, and should be home any day now. It’s been too long since he’s been in Kentucky, and I miss my best friend and older “brother.”

To my complete happiness, it is Henry: I’ll be in state tonight. Can you drive down to Grandma’s tomorrow?

I sigh because I’d rather he put aside his differences with Dad and come home to stay with us during his leave, but I won’t push him on this…for now. Some things are best done in person.

Me: I should be able to. I have nothing planned then. I’m at May Fest now. Dad has a press conference later this afternoon.

Henry: Sounds like hell.

Me: It’s not so bad.

Henry: Liar.

Really, the press conference will be boring. The fund-raisers and campaign events are often soul crushing, but admitting so will only add fuel to Henry’s current anger at my father, so I switch subjects.

Me: I have good news.

Henry: What?

Me: I’m a finalist for the internship!!!!

Henry: That’s awesome! Congrats, Elle!

About Katie McGarry

Katie was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

She is the author of the Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road series. Say You’ll Remember Me will be released in 2018.

Katie loves to hear from her readers.

Connect with Katie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Excerpt tour for SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME:

Monday, January 8th: What is That Book About

Tuesday, January 9th: Girls in Books

Wednesday, January 10th: Just One More Chapter

Wednesday, January 10th: @everlasting.charm – IG feature

Thursday, January 11th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, January 12th: Stuck in Books

Tuesday, January 16th: Books and Spoons