So, you just finished that gut-wrenching final page. Your heart is basically a puddle on the floor. Now you’re scouring the internet because you aren't ready to let Drix and Elle go. It’s the classic post-book blues. You’re asking the big question: Is Say You’ll Remember Me part of a series? The short answer? No. Not really. But also... kind of?
Look, if you’re searching for a direct sequel titled Say You’ll Never Leave or something similar, you’re going to be disappointed. Say You’ll Remember Me is technically a standalone novel. Katie McGarry, who is basically the queen of making us sob over "wrong side of the tracks" romances, wrote this as a self-contained story. You get the beginning, the messy middle, and the resolution all in one go. However, if you know anything about how YA contemporary romance works—especially with authors like McGarry—"standalone" is a bit of a flexible term.
Why People Think Say You'll Remember Me is Part of a Series
It’s an honest mistake. Most of McGarry's most famous work belongs to massive, sprawling universes. Think about the Pushing the Limits series. That thing has four main books and several novellas. Then you have the Thunder Road series, which is a trilogy about a motorcycle club. When an author spends their entire career building interconnected worlds where characters from Book 1 pop up to give advice in Book 5, readers naturally assume every new release is the start of a saga.
Say You'll Remember Me feels like it should have a sequel because the world-building is so vivid. We meet Drix, a guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up with a criminal record that wasn't his fault. Then there’s Elle, the Governor’s daughter who lives in a literal gilded cage. The political tension, the social divide, and the supporting cast are so well-developed that it feels like there’s enough juice there for three more books.
But honestly? Sometimes a story is better when it breathes on its own.
The Standalone Magic of Drix and Elle
There is a specific kind of pressure that comes with writing a series. You have to save conflict. You have to stretch out the "will-they-won't-they" until the reader wants to scream. By keeping Say You'll Remember Me as a single volume, McGarry was able to go full throttle on the emotional stakes.
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We see the entire arc of Drix trying to clear his name. We see Elle’s entire journey of breaking away from her father’s curated image. If this were a series, we’d probably still be waiting for them to have their first real conversation by the end of book one. Instead, we get a complete, satisfying meal.
The Katie McGarry "Multiverse" Connection
Even though is Say You’ll Remember Me part of a series results in a "no" on paper, savvy readers often look for "Easter Eggs." In the world of contemporary YA, authors love to drop hints. While this book doesn't officially share a world with Echo and Noah from Pushing the Limits, the vibes are identical.
If you are craving more because you loved the "good girl meets bad boy with a heart of gold" trope, you aren't actually looking for a sequel. You’re looking for the McGarry Brand.
What to Read if You Want More Like This
Since there is no Book 2, you have to pivot. Here is the move: if you loved the grit of Drix’s life, you need to dive into the Thunder Road series. Specifically, Nowhere But Here. It deals with similar themes of prejudice, family loyalty, and falling for the person your parents warned you about.
- Pushing the Limits: This is the OG. If you liked the chemistry in Say You'll Remember Me, this is your next stop. It follows Echo and Noah. It’s raw. It’s heavy. It’s perfect.
- Dare You To: This is technically Book 2 of the Pushing the Limits world, but it focuses on different characters. This is how McGarry usually handles "series"—she shifts the spotlight to a new couple while the old ones occasionally wave from the background.
- Walk the Edge: This is for the people who liked the "legal system is messed up" subplot of Drix's story.
Breaking Down the Plot: Why a Sequel is Unlikely
To understand why this isn't a series, we have to look at how the book ends. Spoilers ahead, obviously.
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The resolution of Drix’s legal issues and the exposure of the corruption surrounding his arrest pretty much ties up the external conflict. In a typical YA series, you need a "Big Bad" or a lingering mystery to propel a second book. Here, the antagonist—social perception and political corruption—is tackled head-on.
Could there be a spin-off? Sure. Elle has friends. Drix has people in his circle. But as of now, years after its 2018 release, McGarry has shown no indication of returning to this specific playground. She’s moved on to other projects, like her Witches of Echo Park series (which is a massive departure into urban fantasy, by the way).
The "Companion Novel" Confusion
In the publishing world, there is a difference between a sequel and a companion novel.
- Sequel: Continues the story of the same characters (e.g., Twilight to New Moon).
- Companion: Takes place in the same world, maybe at the same time, but follows a different person (e.g., most of McGarry's other work).
Say You'll Remember Me doesn't even have a companion novel. It’s an island. It’s a beautiful, tragic, romantic island.
Dealing With the "Incomplete" Feeling
It’s weird, right? You finish a book and you feel like you've been left hanging, even if the ending was "happy." That’s just good writing. McGarry makes you care so much about Drix’s rehabilitation and Elle’s freedom that you want to see them at age 25, 30, and 50.
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But the reality of the YA market is that unless a book becomes a massive TikTok sensation (like It Ends With Us did years after release), standalone stay standalones. The "Say You'll Remember Me" keyword often gets mixed up with Taylor Swift lyrics or other books with similar titles, which adds to the confusion. There are actually several books with very similar names, but McGarry’s is the one that sticks in your ribs.
Real-World Themes that Make it Feel "Big"
One reason people search for a series is that the book tackles heavy, real-world issues. It isn't just a fluff romance. It deals with:
- The School-to-Prison Pipeline: Drix’s struggle isn't just fictional drama; it reflects real systemic issues.
- Political Optics: How families in power sacrifice their children's happiness for poll numbers.
- Trauma Recovery: Both characters are healing from different types of scars.
When a book handles these things well, it feels like a "saga" even if it's only 400 pages long.
Final Verdict on the Series Status
If you are looking for more Drix and Elle, you won't find it in a sequel. Say You’ll Remember Me stands alone. However, if you are looking for the soul of that story—the intense emotion, the social commentary, and the high-stakes romance—you have an entire library of Katie McGarry books waiting for you.
Don't let the lack of a "Book 2" tag stop you from enjoying what is arguably one of the strongest standalone contemporary romances of the last decade.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Check out the Pushing the Limits series if you want the same emotional intensity.
- Read Nowhere But Here if you liked the "wrong side of the tracks" dynamic.
- Follow Katie McGarry on social media or sign up for her newsletter; she’s known for occasionally dropping "bonus scenes" for her older books that didn't make the final cut.
- Write your own headcanon. Seriously. The ending of the book leaves enough room for you to imagine their future without a published sequel getting in the way.