Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I am not sure what to say right now. So this book follows Winter and Bobby as they are forced into a shared college trip. I enjoyed Winter's and Bobby's points of view. They just felt like teenagers trying to make the right choices for themselves. Seeing them break the rules and grow from their mistakes and new experiences was just so refreshing for me. I can not wait to read more from this author.

talia tucker's rules for rule breaking is young adult romance at its finest. for the author's debut novel, this book is extremely well done. bobby and winter's story is nothing short of charming. their road trip quarrels, their discoveries about one another, and the snippy/witty banter truly give the story life and natural appeal. this book is delightful, innately comforting, and humorous. i highly recommend to fans of ann liang, rachel lynn solomon, or emma mills. thank you to netgalley, penguinteen, and talia tucker for the arc!

Winter and Bobby have been "family friends" and rival for so long. As the two start looking at college their parents think it's a good idea for them to road trip together to knock them all out at once. They both disagree but decide to break a few rules if their parents plan to give them so much freedom.

I loved the idea of a road trip and enemies to lovers concept. Winter and Bobby had a lot of funny banter and her grandma was hilarious.

However I was very confused throughout the book. First of all Bobby has like 3 different names he goes by so I wasn't really sure what to call him so I stuck with Bobby. I was also confused because they are touring college and she said she beat him at the top spot but she's a year younger and grade below him. It's possible she moved up a grade at some point but in past tense she mentions being a grade below him.

The characters personalities also changed a lot in between the book because at one point Bobby is a super emotional person but then later in the book his character is talked about being rude and never being emotional so I was very confused.

The book overall felt very conflicting, the characters act a little more like 14 and 15 years old than almost adults going to college. I just don't think it was for me unfortunately.

Rules for Rule Breaking is a cute, fun book about two childhood friends who currently can't stand each other who are forced to take a college tour roadtrip together, and the surprising ways that their feelings toward each shift throughout that trip. I thought that the book was a great YA book for anyone who likes complex family histories and friendships.

3.6 rounded up to 4/5

In "Rules for Rule Breaking," Talia Tucker delivers a delightful YA rom-com featuring the academic rivals turned road trip companions, Winter Park and Bobby Bae. While the book is a quick and engaging read with entertaining moments, certain aspects, such as character conflicts and pacing, leave room for improvement.

The novel introduces familiar tropes, including academic rivals, a college tour road trip, and breaking rules for the first time. The vibrant cover and the promise of a fun journey make the book appealing, and it lives up to the expectations of being a cute and entertaining read.

The author successfully captures the essence of a road trip, with Winter and Bobby navigating the challenges of being stuck together for 700 miles. The engaging narrative and humorous situations keep readers entertained throughout. The book's exploration of self-discovery and the evolving relationship between the two protagonists adds depth to the overall story.

However, there are areas where the novel falls short. The conflicts involving Bobby and his family or Winter and her friend Emmy could have been more developed to provide a richer emotional landscape. The book's potential could have been better realized with deeper exploration of these conflicts.

Additionally, the pacing of the story feels uneven. There are moments where too much is happening, creating a sense of overwhelm for the reader. The road trip, a central element of the plot, feels rushed at times, leaving less room for the depth and detail that could have enhanced the overall experience.

The decision to use third-person POV may not be to everyone's taste, and while it doesn't necessarily detract from the story, it creates a certain distance from the characters. Incorporating more elements of Korean culture, given its significance to both families, could have added an enriching layer to the narrative.

In conclusion, "Rules for Rule Breaking" is a fun and engaging YA rom-com that delivers on the promise of a cute and quick read. Talia Tucker's debut novel has its strengths, but it could have benefited from deeper exploration of conflicts, more consistent pacing, and a closer connection to Korean culture. Despite its shortcomings, the book remains an enjoyable option for those seeking a lighthearted romantic comedy with academic rivalry and a road trip twist.

I absolutely adored this slow burn enemies-to-lovers rom com! It had amazing banter and jokes that had me snorting. The side characters were some of my favorite parts of the book (Halmeoni!!! iykyk). Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I thought this was a very cute YA romcom that kept me interested in what the two main characters would do next. My only complaint is the pacing towards the ending. I love overachieving teen stories and this did not disappoint!

This book was cute but a little over the top. I still greatly enjoyed reading it though!

Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC!

This book has Asian American identity, family friends turned rivals and a road trip to see colleges while breaking rules and breaking barriers.
Rules for Rule Breaking has Winter and Bobby breaking and pausing the rules they come up with. Their parents are family friends and they don't like each other but have to travel up the east coast to go explore schools
The characters were charming and they spend time reflecting on their relationships with friends, family and identity.

Funny and easy to read YA romcom. I really enjoyed the characters and their little quirks. Also the Asian American representation was appreciated. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes and went “aww” at some of the romantic moments. It was also great to read about a family dynamic similar to my own. Thank you!

Thank you to Penguinteen and Netgalley for an eARC.
This was really cute, I originally wanted to read this because I enjoy academic rivals to lovers, and slow burn romance. This is a cute fun read that also takes a look into Korean/Asian culture and some snippets of the asian-american experience of teens who want to learn more about their culture or weren't taught their native language by their parents. The character chemistry was fun but I had a bit of trouble staying engaged with the plot and the road trip. I think this falls more on the younger YA reading age and I tend to gravitate more towards upper YA. Non the less this was an enjoyable read.

3.5 stars/5

Really cute romcom with two adorable nerds both utterly focused and fun! Thanks fo r the arc! Would rec!

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!! I really enjoyed this book; definitely something I will tell my friends about!

Rating: 5/5 stars!
I loved reading this book so much! It’s a cute story involving two Korean-American academic rivals, Winter and Bobby. From the start, I was quickly intrigued by the dynamic between them. As we progress, we can truly see the development in their relationship, from avoiding each other at all costs to learning that this person is not only tolerable but fun to be with. Ever thought how you would never get along with someone and now you’re both inseparable?

As an 18-year-old, I relate to their experiences – the decision of what we wanna (or need to) be in the future, pre-university, and the realization of how things are changing so fast – and it made me love the book more. To be honest, I was expecting a timeskip at the end because I really wanted to know if they achieved their goals that we get reminded of a couple of times. However, I still enjoyed the ending that we got!

If you’re a Young Adult fan like me, I recommend you pick up Rules for Rule Breaking. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Kokila for allowing me to read this book. This was such a cute and fun romance. I had a fun time reading this book.

This was such a joy to read! I quickly fell for these two flawed overachievers, and their resistance to each other. Bobby might be the most anxious leading man I've come across, yet somehow he's all the more charming for it. Winter is intimidating, yet so confident in her sense of self, and prioritizing her comfort over public opinion.

When neither of their parents want to go on a college tour with them, Bobby and Winter are forced to make the journey together. They've been rivals for as long as they can remember, and they've developed rules to help them stay civil around their families. Winter's grandmother encourages the two to use this trip as a chance to live a little, to not be so hemmed in by the rules they've built for themselves.

A great YA roadtrip book, with a wonderful supporting cast of friends and flawed family. I was so interested in how Bobby and Winter's experience with their family culture shaped them. Their rivalry wasn't too hurtful, which is always a tough line to walk, and I loved their banter when they forgot to guard themselves.

Thank you to the publishers through Netgalley for the ARC! I can't wait for this book to come out, and for everybody to get a chance to meet these two!

I think this can be another cute enemies to lovers story. I am not sure if the ending is going there, but it is setting the story up to do that. I think this will work well for the target audience, but I can tell early on that the writing style isn't working for me. There are some awkward references that I don't even think the target audience will get, let alone like it enough to laugh. I think this one is just not for me.

“How did you know to do that?” Bobby asked in a low, tired voice.
“We’ve known each other a long time, Robert. I’ve observed a few of your deactivation codes throughout the years.”
Bobby pouted. “I’m not the Winter Soldier.”
“Is that why you’re never ready to comply?”

———

Rules for Rule Breaking is a sweet, romcom with a dash of a coming-of-age story swirled in. Bobby and Winter are childhood frenemies who embark on a college visit roadtrip that upends both of their lives. While they bicker their way to Boston, they find more than what they bargained for in the small space of their car, college campuses, and some of the most historic cities in the US. Fans of contemporary YA fiction will enjoy the exploration of the feeling of going from high school to college. And if you’re a child of immigrants, like myself, you will enjoy seeing Bobby and Winter strive to navigate teenage life in America with their culturally packed home lives. A cute but thoughtful rivals-to-lovers story through and through.

Rules for Rule Breaking is Talia Tucker's debut novel featuring a childhood frenemies turn academic rivals as they found out that their parents set them up to have a roadtrip together as they do college visits over the summer.

Cute, heartwarming, and fluffy, Rules for Rule Breaking is perfect for YA romcom fans looking for a summer read featuring nerds who surely know how to throw a joke.

What I liked the most is the cover, it's eye-catching and will surely get your attention when your browsing on bookstores. I like how it portrayed both Bobby Bae and Winter Park.

I also enjoyed this one because I always tend to enjoy books with Korean culture and influences. Though this one has a bit minimal exposure since the two MCs are raised in US, I still enjoyed reading about their struggles as someone who grew up in a different place than what their parents/relatives experienced.

The chemistry is also overflowing! Love how Bobby and Winter turned from childhood friends to academic rivals and then wrapped up their story with a fairytale ending. Their hate-to-love chemistry and banters are on-point and I enjoyed reading their on and off flirting.

In terms of what didn't work well with me, it's the pacing. There are moments that there's a lot of happening in a chapter which felt too overwhelming to read. Also, I am not the biggest fan of third person POV SO it's also a factor in my overall enjoyment.

Still, this is a solid debut and I'm excited for everyone to read this one one.

2.5 stars.

i was so ready to love this book, but unfortunately, i just could not get behind the writing style. there was a lot of showing instead of telling, and the dialogue felt very stilted. a lot of the time characters would be completely honest with each other and just spell out their entire character arcs, and it made me so aware that i was reading a book. i did love the few kiss scenes that we got, but the moment the characters started talking again i was taken out of the scene. there was also some really weird breaks in the writing, like characters who've supposedly known each other for a very long time would ask questions that they should know the answers to... it was very strange and i'm wondering if that's just because i read an unfinished version of the book. this book does get huge props for the cover because it is absolutely adorable.