I loved the setting of Martha’s Vineyard. I love the tradition of the family and summering there every year. I liked Meredith. She’s cheeky, spunky, and funny. I liked her and Wit together. A lot happens in one week, but when you’re 18 you think you have all the time in the world. I can remember being that intense at that age. I loved the ending, and the epilogue so that readers could follow up. It was a fun read.

The story follows Meredith on holiday in Martha’s Vineyard with her extended family for a huge summer wedding. Meredith is struggling after losing her sister Claire over a year ago, and on top of that, has been unexpectedly dumped. She is determined to make the most of the holiday and is excited for the family tradition game of Assassin – a strategic water fight involving hunting down a given target. Claire loved the game and Meredith is determined to win, to honour her memory. Meredith forms an alliance with a charming groomsman, Wit, but finds herself getting distracted by him. As the holiday progresses, she realises that she is not only risking losing the game, but also her heart.

This book was so much fun to read. I loved the holiday setting, the characters and the humorous relationship between Meredith and Wit. This book reminded so much of summer and I desperately wanted to be there taking part in the game of Assassin!

This book was deeper than a romance, it explored loss and grief, but also had a strong coming of age element involving difficult decisions and trying to decide what you want in life. Particularly as a teenager after high school, making those challenging next steps.

Overall a fabulous YA romance in a summer setting. I enjoyed this so much that I am going to purchase it when it comes out on 4th May. The cover is also very pretty!

5 ⭐️

This book was as close to perfect as you can get and I loved every second of it. I’ve never bought. NetGalley preview book after I read and review it but I might break that for this one. First off, the setting is lovely, I saw another review that said a map would’ve been helpful to refer to and I agree! It was a tad hard keeping track of all the different places and characters, maybe a more extensive family tree? Anyways, lovely setting, perfect writing. I was giddy and giggly. The story was sexy and fun, respected the grief but wasn’t cheesy or overly sad. There was no part of this story that dragged or dwelled on unnecessary aspects or storyline, if anything I wish there was more to delve into. The relationship between Wit and Meredith was perfect, the one liners, the emotions, everything. It made my heart so happy to read and go along on their journey. I enjoyed their challenges, even thought their story was quick I didn’t find it unrealistic. The game of assassin was such a fun element, a bit confusing because of the many characters but it played alongside the story so seamlessly. I’ve played this game in life and it’s so fun! This book was just fun, one you want to live in real life. Living in this story was amazing, and I’ll revisit soon. This is a must buy!! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

I truly ADORED this book.

For me, it was everything I wanted in a YA, and in any book: characters with depth that immediately draw you in, a setting that transports you, engaging pacing, and swoonworthy romance. K.L. nailed it in all of these respects. Not only is it the PERFECT summer beach read, but it's a warm and tender and charming story that you'll come back to again and again -- no matter the season.

The synopsis: Meredith Fox has been going to Martha's Vineyard for the summer as long as she can remember. But this summer is the first one back since the death of Meredith's sister. It will all be overwhelming, but even more since since the entire extended family will be together for her cousin's big wedding.

Unfortunately, Meredith's longtime boyfriend unexpectedly dumped her two weeks before the wedding, leaving her dateless. Luckily, she has the perfect distraction. Her family has a tradition of playing the ultimate game of Assassin every summer, and this year it will take place during the week of wedding festivities.

But her target just happens to be a very cute groomsman. She's determined to not let herself get distracted, not let herself be lost in another doomed relationship. But as the week progresses, she can't help falling for him, which may cost her not only the game, but also her heart.

Doesn't this concept immediately engage you? And it's just so well done. Between the takes-you-there descriptions of Martha's Vineyard, the mouthwatering food, and this lovable family, you're immediately tucked into this dreamy, but achingly real world. You can feel the hope and the grief and the wildness and the heartbreak that Meredith feels and you experience it alongside her. I felt like a teenager again, and that is my marker of a great YA. I truly felt *there.* Plus, there are Taylor Swift references (love!), fun and games and family dynamics, and a boy that will make you blush.

(And can you believe that cover?! Heart eyes!)

Loved, loved, loved.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-ARC! Full review (and pencils!) to come to @longhandpencils near the release date.

This book hit all the right notes for me - so much so I read it one sitting!

Meredith lost her sister 18-months ago, so when her family returns to Martha's Vineyard (an annual summer trip) for her cousin's wedding, it's both hard and a turning point for Meredith.

While the annual game of assassin is played this year in honour of Claire, Meredith wants to win this year since Claire had won every year before. But when Meredith meets a cute groomsman and forms an alliance, will she be risking her chance of winning or will she win the game and his heart?

y’all I can’t even summarize my thoughts on the summer of broken rules bc I just finished it and am still reeling. here are some bullet points:

- 5 stars for sure because this has everything I could’ve ever wanted in a book: an amazing backdrop (martha’s vineyard, a place I’ve always dreamed of going), a huge tight knit quirky family, an incredible sisterhood bond, a super cute love interest, a romance that develops quickly and doesn’t have a ton of drama, a killer game of water gun assassin, AND a wedding?!? yes. oh yes please

- I NEED to go to martha’s vineyard now! I’m such a sucker for beautiful backdrops in books. and the farm?! what a cool family place!!! I love how it’s based on the real place that kl walther has spent summer family vacations. a new england extended family and friend vacation sounds like so much fun. there is so much detail on the island: the cast goes to different towns, local restaurants, and shops. the description made the island really come alive for someone who’s never been there

- THE GAME OF ASSASSIN!!! what a neat tradition that brings everyone together. I love how everyone has their different strategies, and how meredith really comes out of her element this year by going offensive instead of hiding, and how she wants to win to feel close to claire. I really was cracking up the entire time they were playing, and I was so on edge trying to figure out who would win. and wit’s epic rooftop assassination? yes

- takes place over the week leading up to cousin sarah’s wedding. but it didn’t feel unrealistic time wise; like some books that take place over a short period have way too much happening each day, but this one nailed it

- and the wedding! super extra matching shirts, a perfectionist mother of the bride, a pinterest board worthy reception, and the hashtag #HurrayShesADupré. so dreamy

- meredith and wit start flirting from the get go and it’s amazing. their assassin pact? the perfect way to start a friendship! and them trying out different pet names — too cute. I love when romances develop quickly

- what kind of dreamboat even is wit?!? he’s smart, funny, flirty, adventurous (dude reads travel guides. of new zealand. for fun), watches friends, and is so clearly in love. yesss. I want one

- this book is CLEVER. “By 11:50 am, there were plenty of Foxes sneaking around the Farm.” get it? the fox family? sneaking? around the Farm? for assassin? too good

- sometimes the timeline is hard to follow. like it’ll switch to a past conversation and I don’t notice until I’m confused, but it gets easier to follow these switches as the book goes on and as meredith lives more in the present

- it would’ve been helpful to have a farm map and a family tree at the beginning. there were a lot of houses and names, and it was kind of hard to keep track of at first. it gets easier to remember everyone as the book goes on, but it felt like we were just kind of thrown in at the beginning and expected to swim

- overall: some good stuff. summer vibes. realistic grief. a quality read; I finished reading this in two sittings because the cuteness and energy really drew me in! :)

I love, love, loved this book! The whole idea of a family compound and a huge family game of Assassin is beyond fun. The characters were like friends by page two and I was plotting along with them in the game. A super fun book with characters and relationships to root for. I'll be rereading this one every summer!

Lots of characters, including the island itself! A fun premise with somber undertones. We get the backstory in dribs and drabs, somewhat clumsily.

My first 5 star YA book this year! First of all, when you say there’s a book set in either, Cape Cod, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard - I am immediately sold. I’ve spent time in all three so I know I’m going to have a connection with that story.

This book was so much more than that. It felt like summer to me. The story follows Meredith, a young woman who just graduated high school and is starting college in the fall, following a difficult two years including the loss of her sister Claire. Meredith & her family are returning to Martha’s Vineyard for her cousins wedding. While a newly single Meredith, goes on this trip with no expectations especially when it comes to boys, she meets Witt, her cousins fiancé’s stepbrother and everything gets tangled up from there.

The reason I loved this book so much is that it reminded of what it feels like being a teenager during summer wondering what the next steps in life are. It’s a bit of a cliche of a coming of age story, although I really did find Meredith & Witt’s story as beautiful, charming and heart breaking. I loved being able to see Meredith coming back into her own after such a terrible loss.

If your a fan of a good summer romance. I say read it.

Thank you to Netgalley & Source Fire Books for the earc in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve been reading quite a few murder mystery/thrillers lately. When it came to picking which book I should read next, I decided a fun summer contemporary was what I was looking for. Enter The Summer of Broken Rules.

Every summer, Meredith Fox and her family goes to Martha’s Vineyard where they hang out and play a summer-long game of Assassin with water guns. This year, though, is the first year Meredith has been back since the death of her sister. Her cousin is getting married this summer at the Vineyard, and the extended family will also be staying there and participating in a bunch of family events, including a game of Assassin. On top of everything, Meredith’s boyfriend unexpectedly dumped her two weeks before the wedding.

This story was super adorable. I love the idea of a big close-knit family playing a game of Assassin all while doing wedding things together before the big day. Meredith’s family was super warm and welcoming. I loved the awkwardness between cousins, and the sense of connection between family members and doing things like buying pies or getting donuts. The romance was easy-going and not over the top. I appreciated the uncomplicated summer romance vibe and how it bundled into Meredith dealing with the grief of her sister’s death.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this YA/New Adult tale. Meredith Fox is returning to her grandparents' Martha's Vineyard complex for the first time since the loss of her older sister, Claire, at the hands of a drunk driver. Their cousin Sarah is getting married and the whole fam damily has gathered for a week's worth of festivities. The family tradition is a big game of Assassin, which was Claire's specialty. Meredith has to navigate through not only facing a family gathering for the first time without Claire, but also her anxieties about college in the fall. It's all compounded by the feelings she develops for the groom's stepbrother, Overall, a well-written and touching story.

Thanks NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

This book was the ultimate summer read.

I fell in love with the setting, characters, and story immediately after picking up this novel .

There wasn’t a lot of waiting around when it came to getting to the meat of this novel. It got straight to the point without giving every little thing away.

There were a lot of characters in this novel but not to the point where it was confusing. Meeting all the aunts and uncles and cousins was exciting and I would always look forward to seeing what each and every character would do next.

The relationships in this novel were also incredibly written. The grief felt throughout this book was also shown in the relationships between characters. The realistic way these relationships were progressing and impacted by grief was great to read. Walther didn’t portray relationships in unrealistic ways and didn’t sugar coat anything, which I appreciated.

The setting of this book definitely made me feel all the summer feelings. It also made me want to move to the middle of nowhere and live on a huge plot of land with my entire family.

This novel did contain a pretty amazing romantic arc, but it was understated and didn’t feel cheesy or forced in the least. It was cute and real and so fun to follow.

Overall, this novel was such a great read and I would definitely recommend everyone read it. Wait until it’s hot outside and you will have the ultimate reading experience.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This was a quick young adult read that I think that teens will really connect with.

This was an absolutely adorable New Adult romance read that I just devoured. Here, Meredith joins her extended family at her grandparents' compound in Martha's Vineyard every summer. This is the first time she's been back after her sister died, so grief content warning, and it's her cousin's wedding weekend. She's dealing with her sister's death, grief, a fresh breakup from her ex, and heading off to college for the first time in a few weeks. She needs a distraction, which their annual family Assassin game comes at the right time. In her quest to win to honor her sister, she teams up with a cute groomsman in the wedding, Wit. She can't help falling for him during this weekend fling, but that may very much cost her both the game and her heart. This read is full of compelling language that just draws me in from the first page. It's a fun summer romance that's for sure, however, the title doesn't seem to make much sense to me and that's a little awkward, I guess. But, all in all, it's a very cute and absolutely precious NA romance.

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther was the perfect mix of romance and self-discovery. This book follows our main character, Meredith Fox, who is returning to Martha's Vineyard with her family after her sister's death. Sarah, Meredith's cousin, is getting married, and the bridal party, the groom's family, and the bride's families are all staying at the Fox family's summer home. Filled with family traditions, romance, friendship, and nostalgia- this book has it all. As if I wasn't already invested enough by this story, this book follows the Fox's annual game of assassins that makes you wish you were physically in Martha's Vineyard with the Fox's and a water gun. I could not get enough of it!

trigger warning: death of a loved one

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this ARC on NetGalley.

A wonderful read that really sucked me in. So sweet and heartfelt! I’ll be looking out for more books by this author.

I really, really, really enjoyed this. So very much. The story was....let’s just say I laughed, I cried, and sometimes I did both at the same time. This was such a well written story and there was great balance between happy and sad and finding the happy again. All the characters were relatable, believable, and people I would want to hang out with. And the setting, oh what fun!

This was pure summertime in book form - I could smell the sunscreen and hear the beach waves through the pages as I read.

The Summer of Broken Rules is rich with a strong sense of setting and great supporting characters. You not only get to know Meredith but her entire family and the family’s treasured estate in beautiful Martha’s Vineyard. I truly felt like I was there as an observant wedding guest the entire novel, the author did an incredible job really bringing in the reader to this magical world. While this is predominantly a love story, there is so much great character development happening over the course of the entire novel. Meredith struggles with the loss of her sister, her breakup from her long term boyfriend and the distance she created between her and her friends after her sister’s death. She definitely isn’t a perfect protagonist (and will annoy you at certain times) but it makes her feel like a real person.

This novel is out in May so grab an ice cold glass of lemonade and plop by the pool while you read it!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. This book is the perfect summer read-romance, family,fun, tradition and nostalgia. The story of Meredith and her family, celebrating a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard as they grieve for her sister is touching and raw at times. The sadness is overcome by love of family and tradition with their annual Assassin tournament. What made this novel feel unique to me though is the sense of place. Martha’s Vineyard is my own summer slice of heaven and the place I have established traditions and made memories with family and friends. The author does a spectacular job of representing the Vineyard and many of its quirks and sacred places from Morning Glory Farm to Back Door Donuts. This novel is special for its portrayal of family and the resiliency and healing that comes with time, but for those who love the Vineyard too they will feel it deep in their heart.

Last year I fell in love with K.L. Walther’s debut novel If We Were Us. I loved the author’s writing. During a time when I struggle concentrating on books, I’m grateful for the books that manage to ensnare me easily, and turn into one sitting novels.

The Summer of Broken Rules was just such a book.

I loved the story, the premise, and most of all the characters. I’ve always loved the idea of long standing family traditions, and vacations that included huge families, with multiple cousins and friends. A paradise for kids and teens with weeks of games, get togethers, eating and chatting.

The Summer of Broken Rules had all of it, and so much more. What I loved above all else was the MOST AMAZING summer vacation game – truly, I’m not exaggerating. I wished I was there, part of a game that had teens and adults equally passionate about the outcome. And although the ‘family’ was quite big, I had no trouble keeping track of everyone. From teens to adults, the cast was endearing, genuine and extremely likeable.

Also, I loved the romance between Meredith and Wit. They were so easy and comfortable around each other. And their summer romance was uncomplicated to a point, full of sun, sand and fun. Surprisingly it wasn’t just sunshine and rainbows, and I thought the author did a great job of balancing the summery and charming novel with some more emotional and somber moments.

All in all, the book was an easy and entertaining read. I had a wonderful time, and I can’t wait for her next book.