Member Reviews

I truly loved this book. The characters, the plot, the writing, everything. It all just WORKED. there are many times authors try to do the “Vegas wedding thing” and it feels forced or silly and this was NOT one of them. Nora and Derek are a match straight from the start and it’s so fun to watch as they recognize it and figure it out together.

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I loved this sports romance featuring college exes who still weren't over each other but had to pretend they still didn't want each other! The chemistry and banter between Nora and Derek was sizzling and I loved every minute of their second chance romance. Sarah Adams is becoming one of my favorites and a go-to for rom-coms!

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Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for providing me with an EArc of this book.

This is my favorite Sarah Adams I have read to date. I enjoyed this so much that I think I am going to go back and read more of her back log.
Nora Mackenzie is doing her best and bubbliest to succeed as a sports agent in an industry that doesn’t like her very much, whether it’s for her over the top personality or just the fact that she is a woman in a field dominated by men. Her agency has just given her the chance to take on her first client, the problem that no one knows is that this client is her college ex boyfriend.
Derek Pender was the best tight end the LA Sharks NFL team had, that is until he snaps his ankle in a game and his entire career is now up in the air, will he ever play again? It's hard to say when his agency has just assigned him a rookie to revive his career, who also happens to be the girl he never got over.
I really like Adam's Heros. I think they are realistic and fun and honestly swoon-worthy, Derek Pender is no exception.
Her Heroines on the other hand I struggle with, they are usually just too quirky and “not like other girls” for me. I think this is especially evident in the over use of parentheses within the narration of the book. There are at least SEVENTY in this book, and I believe that to be rounding down. Yes, I did count them.
While Nora did grate on my nerves just a little, I think her personality actually fit the story really well. She was overly quirky but she admitted it about herself, acknowledged that it affected her career and relationships but also didn't compromise what makes her her for a job or a relationship.
This is also the most explicit Sarah Adams book I've read and while it definitely isn't the most smut there is out there, there is far less fade to black than I've seen from the author before.
I really enjoyed both The Cheat Sheet and now The Rule Book. I hope Adam’s writes more within the LA Sharks universe, I think she does sports romance really well and I’d like to see more from her in the future.

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Lovers to enemies to lovers again! This follows former college sweethearts who ended badly…never expecting to be reunited through work. Nora is a sports agent on the rise and her career all rides on NFL hot shot Derek, her new client. The problem? Derek is that ex and he’s ready for so friendly revenge but she’s not going to back down so easily. When work brings them to a Vegas and they wake up after a night of reconnecting with rings in their fingers, their game plans have to change.
I thought this was a cute sports romcom and appreciated the toned down spicy scenes, limited to one that wasn’t too graphic and warned ahead of time by the author! I don’t mind that content but sometimes it can be a bit much and Sarah handled it perfectly.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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I am obsessed with Derek and Nora. Seeing how Derek's later in life dyslexia diagnosis has impacted him professionally and personally was handled so well, and for a second chance romance, it felt so authentic that their breakup needed to happen and their reunion arc went the distance. Sarah Adams writes beautiful, funny, loveable characters and I am so glad we revisited the LA Sharks and these characters again. Thank you PRH Audio & Dell for the Review Copies.

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this book was INCREDIBLE. i adored it in every way possible. it felt like coming home to a world that i love so much. nora and derek’s relationship was so sweet and filled with passion and understanding. i don’t think i’ve ever smiled and laughed out loud so much while reading. 🏈💛🌴

*a huge thank you to netgalley and Random House for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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i really liked this book!! the dyslexia representation was nice and the overall romance was nice. i'll say im not a fan of vegas marriage and athlete x agent but i really liked sarah adams' previous book, so i still took a chance on this book.
i wasn't disappointed but this wasn't my favorite romance book ever. it was cute and second chance which i liked (and there was a specified smut chapter which can be useful for people who don't want to read this type of stories).
definitely great to get out of a slump tho!!

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honestly i was kind of nervous to read this because the cheat sheet wasn’t my favorite book, and i thought this would be too similar, but i was so wrong! nora & derek were wonderful and just felt like they belonged together. you could feel how much they loved and cared about each other the whole time

i really liked derek in the cheat sheet & loved him in this but nora was PERFECT. she was cute & quirky but not in a way that feels forced and annoying. she was genuinely relatable and SO easy to root for; i just wanted to see her happy and achieve all her dreams <3

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Sarah Adams can do no wrong. This may be my new favorite. Her banter and angst is always top tier and I adored every page of this one

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Super cute. I always appreciate that Adams is able to weave interesting characters with swoony moments and fun banter that keep things going. There’s also a poignancy to her writing that I really enjoy. This book is perfect for people who don’t love sports romance either, as the focus is on a couple rather than too much on the sports.

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A tender romance, wonderful side characters, second chance is one of my favorite tropes and this one was so perfect. There’s something so cozy about her books it feels like watching a well loved episode of friends. 1 open door scene (low explicit)

I loved how Nora was confident in herself and her love for bright colors and little quirks made the story so much fun to read.

Derek was a goner for her from the get go and I loved how we got to see his POV. The sweet gestures he did for her had me melting in a puddle the whole time.

Overall I loved this book so much. Second chance romance is one of my favorites. The memories and history that they shared prior to this book added so much depth to the story and made it that much sweeter watching them find their way back to each other.

If you loved The Cheat Sheet you will love this book too. Bree, Nathan and The Sharks all make appearances in the best way!

#bookstagrammer #sarahadams #therulebook #arcreader #netgalley #fivestarreads #booksbooksbooks #romcombooks

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This was great! I thoroughly enjoyed it ! 5 star read for me . The characters were down to earth and relatable. The story was fresh, quirky, witty. The plot kept you interested and engaged. I adored how as the story went on you slowly kept getting more info pertaining to Derek and Norah’s college relationship/ breakup. It made me happy and sad and tearful and stressed! Just kept rooting for the happy ending. Definite must read and will recommend .

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I loved this book! The second chance romance was done to perfection. It did not move too slowly where it was unrealistic or too quickly where I lost interest. The main characters were adorable. I thought Nora, the main female character, was so much fun. Quirky, smart, driven, goofy and real. Derek, the main male character, is a professional football player, but he is also sweet, supportive and just overall wonderful. Their banter is amazing. Their chemistry can be felt through the pages. This book was everything I wanted and completely unexpected. A must read for any contemporary romance fans!
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

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Just like other Sarah Adams books, I was giggling uncontrollably and blushing! This book was pure perfection and so much fun to read! I loved the characters so much, as well as seeing cameos from the characters from The Cheat Sheet. This was the perfect spring book!

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The Rule Book wins for my favorite romance book of the year, so far! I am not a big sports fan, so I honestly didn't have high hopes going into this book with it being sports themed. But whoa, this book delivered and took me by surprise!! I loved Nora's character so much; she kept me giggling all through the book. Her quirkiness and her silly little sayings were hilarious. I enjoyed her tenacity and her drive. I could feel Derek and Nora's chemistry jumping off the pages. Their conversations and bantering back and forth was so entertaining, I loved every minute of it! Derek and his tight-knot friend group were hilarious, too. I need to go back and read The Cheat Sheet by this author that is about his friend, Nathan's story. Definitely looking forward to more from this author and am putting her on my radar!!

Thank you, Dell Books, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.

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This was SO CUTE and I loved it!!!! Thank GOD Sarah Adams is starting her open door romance journey!!!

At first I was wondering what the heck was going to happen (tbh I would have known what would have happened if I would have just read the synopsis but I always just go in blind lol), and then when I hit the 50% mark I FLEW through the second half of the book.

-college sweethearts second chance romance
-dual pov
-football romance
-marriage of convenience/fake marriage
-tension
-only one bed!!! (my fav)
-disability rep (dyslexia)
-strong fmc! (F the patriarchy am I rite???)

Overall, I loved this book. I loved reading about Nora & Jonah falling back in love with each other and seeing Jonah rooting for Norah every step of the way with her career (and her with his!) my heart is just bursting after reading this rom-com!! This NEEDS to become a movie!!!

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This charming and heartwarming story captivated me. It's about Nora and Derek, two college exes who unexpectedly reunite and become allies in a delightful mix of humor and romance. Their journey from foes to lovers, sparked by an accidental Vegas wedding, is hilarious and touching. Adams skillfully blends lighthearted banter with deeper moments of connection, making the characters' evolution genuinely captivating. The supporting cast enriches the story, making every page a joy. This book is a perfect mix of fun and genuine emotion. It's a story that warms the heart and leaves you smiling long after the last page.

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This book was such a fun time! I absolutely love a second chance romance trope (when it's done right) and The Rule Book was done SO RIGHT. There's plenty of tension between the two exes when their forced to work together. I loved the push and pull in the beginning between Nora and Derek. It added the perfect amount of humor to the fact that the break-up wasn't super amicable. And then the book pivoted and Nora and Derek had really good communication as they rekindled a relationship. The banter between them was adorable - especially Nora's jokes. They were so corny and got a laugh out of me every time. I loved that there were some deeper topics this book discussed, like learning disabilities and sexism in the work place and the way Nora and Derek handled these challenges was done so well. All in all, I had such a fun time reading this, as I do with so many of Sarah Adams books!

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Such a fun story full of life, Nora is a sports agent working hard to prove herself in the industry, Derek is a grumpy NFL player. After a wild night things take a turn when a joke turns into their new reality. Can they stand each other long enough to get what they need out of this unfortunate dilemma, or will they break, only time will tell.

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I didn't love this as much as the first one, but The Cheat Sheet is one of my favorites. With that being said, it was still a wonderful read. I enjoyed the second chance romance in this. How they worked together and how we get to see both point of views. I recommend this to anyone who likes second chance romances and sports romances.

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