After the success of Prime Video’s hit series Maxton Hall, author Mona Kasten’s German-language book trilogy will be translated in English and published in America for the first time, and she’s ready to share her stories with an even bigger audience.

“There wasn’t a demand for the translation in the U.S. at first. But thanks to the success of the series, the books are now being translated, and I think that’s wonderful,” Kasten tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Berkley will publish an English translation of the trilogy between the summer and fall of 2025 with the first book releasing July 1.

Following its release last year, the series, starring Harriet Herbig-Matten and Damian Hardung, became Amazon’s biggest-ever international launch and the most watched international show of all time in its first week. The series’ second season, based on the second part of the novel series, will debut on Nov. 7 and already scored a season three renewal.

The books and series follow star student Ruby and wealthy heir James Beaufort falling for each other despite their differences.

A fan of teen dramas she grew up with, the author says she wanted to offer a story akin to “the kind of stories where you’d count down the days until the next episode. I wanted readers to feel fully immersed in that world, to fall in love, gasp at secrets and root for characters.”

Ahead of the publication of the English-language version of Save Me — the first book in the trilogy — Kasten chats with THR about seeing her books come to life onscreen, gaining a new international audience and the “beautiful thing” about the YA genre.

Maxton Hall has become such a success in the U.S. thanks to the show adaptation. So much so that now the books are being published in America. How do you feel about the success of the show and eagerness to read the original series?

I’m incredibly happy that English-speaking readers are finally getting the chance to read the books! There wasn’t a demand for the translation in the U.S. at first. But thanks to the success of the series, the books are now being translated, and I think that’s wonderful.

What was your take on the series’ portrayal of your books? What scenes did you enjoy being brought to life, and which of the different things explored in the show that weren’t in the book did you enjoy and why?

Watching Damian and Harriet bring my book characters to life has been truly special. They perfectly captured Ruby’s determination and eagerness, as well as the many layers of James’ personality. I especially loved the Victorian dress scene. It was already one of my favorite moments in the book, and seeing it on screen made me quite emotional. I also really appreciated the scenes that included word-for-word dialogue from the book, those were very special to me.

Ahead of writing the series, what inspired the Maxton Hall stories? Can you talk about crafting the stories and these characters at the time and what you hoped to get across to readers?

I wanted to write a story that had all the emotional highs and lows, unexpected twists and intense character dynamics I loved in the teen dramas I grew up with; the kind of stories where you’d count down the days until the next episode. I wanted readers to feel fully immersed in that world, to fall in love, gasp at secrets and root for characters. By the end, I wanted readers to feel like they had been through it all with them and come out stronger on the other side.

We may watch and read Ruby fall in love but we also follow her through personal highs and lows when it comes to school, her family, herself and, of course, James. Can you talk about creating Ruby and who you wanted her to be in your stories?

With Ruby, I didn’t want her to be defined only by her ambition. I wanted her to be empathetic, quick-witted and full of depth. I wanted her to fight for her dreams and achieve what she wanted, even if the path was harder for her than for others. Her longing to shape her own future resonated with me deeply; it’s something I had to learn to do in my own life as a young adult.

Meanwhile we follow James present himself as one way given his name and privilege, but we also learn of his struggles to really know who he is and live a life for himself. What did you want to get across when creating James and the complexities of his character?

James is a very layered character, and I wanted to explore the painful truths behind his family’s polished facade. I wanted to show that even when it feels like your story has already been written for you, you still have the right to question it and choose a new path. And that sometimes, the people you surround yourself with become your real family when the one you were born into doesn’t give you the support you need.

When writing the series, was there always an intent to give Ruby and James a happy ending or did you consider keeping them apart?

Yes, always! I knew I wanted them to face many trials but ultimately come out stronger together. 

Maxton Hall is one of the many young adult love stories we’ve seen onscreen and read about in books. What do you think it is about the romance genre that has made it continue to grow in popularity now amongst readers? When writing the books, what made you want to explore love with young adults? 

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the stories that kept me going when I was a teenager. That’s the beautiful thing about Young Adult books — you find more than love. You find stories about fighting for your dreams, discovering who you really are and becoming stronger with each chapter. Over the years, many readers have shared how Ruby inspired them to pursue their dreams and gave them the motivation to graduate. It’s incredible to see how these characters have resonated with readers in such a meaningful way, and I’m incredibly thankful for that. 

Despite the Maxton Hall books publishing in 2018, more readers will now be introduced to the books for the first time. What do you hope that they take away from this series and characters?

I hope readers take away that no dream is too big or too small, and that no matter how difficult it may seem, you always have the power to take your life into your own hands. 

Do you have any upcoming books that will also publish in English? What kind of stories do you hope to continue to tell?

I will keep on writing the stories closest to my heart, full of romance, adventure and everything in between. There’s no news on more English translations, but I’m hopeful for what’s to come!

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Save Me releases on July 1, with Save You out Sept. 2 and Save Us on Nov. 4.